| Chapter 37 Tara woke up just as the doctor came in with Brian's test results. Kevin and Nick were both there, looking worried. She could tell Brian was hiding another headache. Tara reached over and took Brian's hand, You alright? Brian just nodded, but she could see the worry on his face. "Brian, the results aren't what we had hoped," the doctor said, "The tumor is still as large as it was when you were brought in, the miracle in all this is that you are still functioning without the help of the machines." "There's no change at all?" Kevin asked heartbroken. "No I'm afraid not. I want to consult with some of my colleges before I set up a course of treatment. Under the circumstances, this is good news. The tumor had enlarged so fast that I was afraid it had grown more since you've been in here, but it has remained the same," the doctor said. Brian just sat there, not showing any sign of emotion. "Bri, are you alright?" Nick asked seeing his friend in utter shock. He didn't respond, he just lay there staring down at his feet. Tara took the paper and pen and handed a note to Nick. "What'd she say?" Kevin asked. "She said he's devastated, and maybe we should leave them alone for a little while," Nick said. "Alright, we'll be back in a while," Kevin said as he and Nick headed for the door. The doctor looked at Brian, "Son, I promise we'll do everything we can. I'll come check on you both in a bit." Then he followed the guys out the door. Tara waited for the door to close, then squeezed Brian's hand. He looked over at her, a single tear traveling down his cheek. Brian, don't give up. We'll figure something out, she thought. "I was just hoping that it would be like last time ya know. When I woke up, everything was alright, why not this time?" Brian asked. Tara shook her head, Honey, I don't know. Tracy told us it wouldn't be easy, maybe this is what she meant. "But why would they let us come back if I'm still gonna die? Why not just keep us there?" Brian said as more tears joined the first. Bri, I just don't know, maybe there's still something left to be done? But I do know that I'm gonna be with you through it all, I won't leave you even for a second, Tara thought as her own tears threatened to come. "You're the only thing keeping me going," Brian whispered. Tara reached out and pulled him close. "No, I'll hurt you," Brian said remembering her surgery. I'm alright, Tara thought. Brian looked at her for a moment, then laid his head down on her shoulder. Tara wrapped her arms around him, and he cried until he fell asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kira sat in utter shock. Howie had just finished telling her about the past year and a half, and she still couldn't believe it. "Howie, I just...don't know what to say," she said. He smiled at her, damn she was cute when she was confused. "Kira, now you know why we all take everything she says to heart," he said. "Yeah, I mean how could you not," Kira said, "Damn an angel for Christ's sake." Howie laughed, "She's not anymore, she just still has some extra senses I'd guess you'd say." "Kira, remember you promised not to tell," Howie reminded her. She looked at him like he'd lost his mind, "Howie, if I told anyone they'd think I was a raging lunatic. Of course I'm not gonna tell." "Alright, I'm gonna go get ready to go the hospital," Howie said slowly climbing out of bed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to come with you," Kira said. He smiled down at her, "Don't mind at all." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin stared at Nick. They were in the hall both facing the window. Kevin knew no matter how much it hurt Nick, he would never admit that what he did wasn't right. And he knew asking him if he was OK would only bring more lies. Nick looked ragged, he hadn't left the hospital since they had brought Brian and Tara in. "Nick, why don't you go home for a while. They aren't in any immediate danger, and you look like you need to sleep for about three days," Kevin said. "Naw, I'm OK," Nick said still looking out the window. Kevin grabbed Nick's arm and turned him around to face him. His green eyes locked with Nick's blues, "Nicholas Gene Carter, I'm not asking you to go home, I'm telling you to." "Kev, I'm fine. I have to stay here, I don't expect you to understand, but I just do," Nick said, not backing down an inch. "Nick, this isn't good for you," Kevin said. "How do you know what's good for me?" Nick asked, getting annoyed. Kevin sighed deeply, "Listen, I don't want to argue with you. I'm just saying that you look like hell, and there's no since in staying here 24/7. Go home and rest for a while. Make sure A.J. hasn't destroyed your house, then come back." "Oh hell, he is there all by himself," Nick said. "Yeah, he's probably racked up a nice phone bill for ya, callin Sarah too," Kevin said for extra measure. "Yeah, maybe I'll go home and take a shower, then come back," Nick said. "That's a start. I'll tell them for ya," Kevin said turning to go back in the room. "OK, tell Tara I'll be back in a while," Nick said heading down the hall. Kevin watched him until he got on the elevator, then looked in the room. Both Brian and Tara were asleep, Brian's head resting on her shoulder with his arm around her waist. Tara had her arms around Brian. They both looked so content, just to be with each other. Kevin stepped back out of the room, deciding to let them sleep. The extra security hadn't arrived yet, so he walked down to the nurses station to let them know he was leaving and no one would be with them in the room. They promised to keep and extra eye out for them, and Kevin headed down to his car. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They're gonna find out about you, and when they do it's all over. Brian looked around, he was back in Gary's basement. He tried to stay calm, "It's only a dream." You wish it was only a dream. Brian turned toward where he thought the voice was coming from, "Show yourself," he demanded. Still he saw nothing. What do you think you're adoring fans are gonna think about you stealing your best friends girlfriend? And you releasing a Christian album, what a hypocrite! "Shut up, you don't know what your talking about!" Brian yelled. Oh I don't huh? Let me see, last time I checked there was a commandment about not committing adultery, what about that one? "I never..." Brian said. Oh really, what about your feelings for Tara, you are still married you know. Brian stood there trying to find his tormentor. And what about Nick, don't you know what you two are doing to him? "Nick's OK, he understands," Brian said. Oh he may understand, but that still doesn't erase the fact that he still loves her, and seeing you two together, well that's just a bit much. "If he wasn't OK, he'd tell us," Brian said. You'd think so wouldn't ya? "Why don't you leave me alone?" Brian asked. Because I'm not done with you yet. "Haven't you tormented me enough? Why don't you just go back to hell were you came from?!" Brian screamed. Because you're not dead yet. Brian felt the fear return, he ran to the door, but it wouldn't open. He was trapped again. "Tara!" Brian yelled. She can't save you this time. Brian jerked awake. He gently eased off Tara's shoulder and tried to calm himself. That was when he noticed someone in the room. At first he thought it was Kevin, then he realized it wasn't. "Hey there hubby, have a bad dream?" Gary asked. Chapter 38 |