| Chapter 38 Nick walked in the front door of his house and stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around and looked at the house number to make sure he was in the right place. "Hey, everything OK at the hospital?" A.J. asked. Nick just stared at him dumbfounded. A.J. was in a pair of jeans and a wifebeater with one of Tara's aprons tied around his waist. He had a dust clothe in one hand and a can of Pledge in the other. Nick looked around, the house was cleaner than he'd seen it in a long time. "Nick?" A.J. said. "Uh, yeah things are fine there, I just came home to take a shower and..." Nick started but then cracked up laughing. "What?" A.J. said looking around, then focused on his apron. He held one corner of it out, "Tell me Nick, does this make my ass look big?" Nick laughed even harder, "Bone, it's gonna take more than that to make your ass look big." "Aww, don't flatter me like that Nicky," A.J. said in a teasing voice. "Man, thanks for doin this," Nick said. "Hey no prob, I know Tara's not gonna feel up to anything for a while, so I'm just helpin out the only way I know how," A.J. said. "Well I'm off to the shower," Nick said heading for the stairs. "I'm goin back with ya," A.J. said. "Alright, I'll be ready in a while," Nick said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Why are you here?" Brian asked. Gary was standing on his side of the bed, his leg in a brace. "Oh you know, just fulfilling your wish," he said with a smile. Brian looked confused, "My wish?" "Yeah, let me see, �You said you were gonna kill me, you've taken everything I love away from me, so why don't you just finish the job'; that wish," Gary answered. Brian could feel the fear creeping up inside him, he reached for the nurses button, but Gary caught his hand before he pressed it. "Now, we'll have none of that," Gary said. "Gary, you can just walk away right now, you don't have to do this," Brian said trying to reason with him. "No, see that's where you're wrong, I do have to do this," Gary said reaching behind him and pulling out a gun. Tara woke up and immediately could feel Brian's fear. She looked over to see Gary pointing a gun at Brian. She reached over and took Brian's hand. "Aww, look who just woke up," Gary said. She gave him a look that sent chills down his back. Brian looked at her, What do I do? I don't know, I can't help you with this thing on, Tara thought. Brian squeezed her hand, I love you. Tara stared at him as in one swift move Brian pulled every monitor lead off him and his IV out, then jumped out of bed to face Gary. "You actually think you have a fighting chance?" Gary asked amused. "Maybe, maybe not, but I refuse to let you do this," Brian said. Tara reached for the nurses button, Gary pointed the gun at her, "Honey, I wouldn't do that." That was all Brian needed, he rushed Gary and knocked the gun from his hands. Gary grabbed Brian and pushed him against the wall, his hand on Brian's throat choking him. "We can do this the hard way, makes me no difference," Gary spat. Brian tried to push Gary off him, but the size difference was just too much, he did the only thing he could think of, he kicked Gary in the leg. Tara was trying desperately to pull the ventilator off. She knew she wasn't ready to be without it, but she had to do something to help Brian. Please God, help him! she prayed. Brian ran past Gary on his way to retrieve the gun, when Gary caught his leg and tripped him. Brian fell to the floor, and Gary was on him immediately. He straddled Brian and grabbed him by the hair, slamming the back of Brian's head into the floor. Brian was trying desperately not to pass out, he reached up and raked his fingernails across Gary's face and eyes. Gary let go of him, and Brian pulled himself out from under him. Gary caught Brian's foot and pulled him back, taking Brian's head and slamming it into the side of the bed. God please help him! Tara prayed, she was pushing the nurses button over and over, but no one was responding. Suddenly Tracy appeared next to Tara, she put her hand on Tara's and stopped her from pushing the button. Tracy, help him! Tara pleaded. "I can't, he has to do this on his own," Tracy answered, "You're the only one that can see me, I'm just here to keep you from hurting yourself." Tara looked at her, shocked and scared, Tracy please, he'll kill him! Tracy shook her head, "Honey neither you or I can save him this time." Brian put his hand up to the side of his head, it was wet with blood. Gary was sitting next to him rubbing his leg. Brian tried to sit up, the room was spinning and he couldn't focus on anything. "Ready for round two?" Gary asked. Brian closed his eyes and thought, "Hathath show yourself I know you're here." Gary looked at him confused, "Who are you talking to?" Brian ignored him, "Hathath you coward, show yourself now, and bring Shaaph with you!" "Boy has lost his mind," Gary said reaching for the gun. Suddenly Hathath and Shaaph appeared in the room. "You rang your holiness," Hathath sneered. Brian got to his feet, "I just thought of something." "And what's that?" Shaaph asked. "You guys can't hurt me anymore," Brian said smiling. "And what makes you think that?" Hathath asked taking a step toward him. "Because I'm a child of God, He lives in me, and you can't touch that. You don't have the power anymore, I do," Brian said. Gary was sitting on the floor with the gun in his hand, although he couldn't use it, he couldn't even lift his hand. He was completely shocked and scared to death of the sight before him. Hathath and Shaaph stopped in their tracks. "Why do you think that protects you?" Hathath asked. "Because up until now I've been letting you do this to me. I forgot the power that God has. I'd been placing my faith in other things to help me, and not fully trusting Him, I'm not doing that anymore," Brian said, "Now I'm telling you to leave and don't come back!" Hathath and Shaaph looked at each other, knowing that they couldn't touch Brian now. Hathath disappeared and Shaaph turned toward Gary. "No, you leave him too," Brian said. Gary was dumbfounded, after all that he had put Brian through and he was telling this creature to stay away from him. Shaaph turned back toward Brian, "You don't have a say in this one." Gideon and Jade appeared next to Brian. "Maybe not, but we do," Jade said. "Now leave while you still can, and don't return," Gideon said fingering his sword. Shaaph stared at them then disappeared. Brian made his was over to Gary and sat down in front of him. He was still riling from the blows to his head, but he focused on Gary's eyes. "Gary, I know that you really didn't do all this. They had alot of control over you, but I just want to tell you that I forgive you," Brian said. Gary's mouth dropped open, "How can you? I did such horrible things to you?" Brian was fighting to keep his vision clear, "Because I know it wasn't all you. I'm not the only victim here." Brian reached over and took the gun from Gary's hand, "You don't need this anymore." Gary was trembling, and a tear fell down his face, "I'm sorry," he cried. Brian put his hand on his shoulder, "It's OK, just know that God loves you, and I forgive you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie and Kira walked down the hall of the hospital holding hands. It was later than Howie had wanted to get there, but they made it, and he was hoping beyond hope that the test results were promising. They walked by the nurses station, and Howie glanced over at the displays of Brian and Tara's monitors. His heart flew to his throat. All of Brian's monitors were flat lined, and Tara's were racing off the charts. "Holy fucking shit!!!!! Kira go find someone!" Howie yelled. Kira ran down the hall in search of anyone that could help, while Howie raced to their room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy and Jade looked at Gideon, he smiled and nodded his head. "Everything's gonna be OK now," Tracy said to Tara. Tara sat up as best she could and saw Brian and Gary sitting on the floor. Gideon walked over and put his hand on Brian's shoulder, "That's what we needed you to do." Brian and Gary both looked at him confused. Jade walked over and stood behind Gary while Gideon squatted down and took Brian's head in both his hands. Gary could see Brian's eyes roll back in his head as his body went limp. Gideon gently laid him back to the floor. "Is he OK?" Gary asked, almost to afraid to speak. Jade smiled at him, "He is now." Gideon picked up the gun, "You need to leave now." Gary got to his feet, "Thank you, all of you." Jade put her hand on his shoulder, "I'll walk you out so you wont be seen. Take this opportunity to do something good, OK?" "I will I promise," Gary said. And with that Jade walked him out the door, and Gideon and Tracy disappeared. Howie ran into the room. Tara was sitting up looking over the other side of the bed. He ran over to where she was looking, Brian was laying on the floor unconscious. His head was bleeding from the temple. "Oh God, Brian!" Howie said as he dropped to the floor next to him. Tara found the paper and pen and quickly wrote a note and threw it to Howie. It simply said, HE'S OK. Howie looked up at her just as Kira came through the door with the doctor and a nurse. Howie moved out of the way and grabbed his cell, "Kev, get everyone and come to the hospital now." Chapter 39 |