| Chapter 64 Nick was sitting in the sand on the beach. He felt so content just to sit there, but he knew he was there for a reason. He looked around, but didn't see anyone. He turned to look back towards the ocean, Tracy was sitting in front of him. He jumped, "Geeze Tracy, give me some warning next time." She smiled, "Sorry." She had a concerned look on her face, and Nick got a little worried. "Tracy, why am I here? I thought I was feeling better." "I'm not sure why you're here yet," she said, "I just know that I'm suppose to be here with you." "You don't know why you're here?" Nick asked, not really believing her. Tracy shook her head, "He lets us know when we need to." Nick stared at her for a moment, then went back to watching the waves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tracy? Who's Tracy?" Lyn asked. Nick had been mumbling in his sleep. Tara looked across the bed, "She's an angel. She was kinda like my teacher when I was one. She's been looking out for us lately." "Do you think he's talking to her, like we used to?" Brian asked. "I don't know," Tara said, "He's only seen her once, last year." Lyn sat down in the nearest chair, and Tara could tell she was upset. "Lyn, what's wrong?" she asked. "What does she look like?" Lyn asked, almost shaking. "She has shoulder length brown hair, and brown eyes. And she's shorter than you, and petite, why?" Tara asked. Lyn's face went completely ashen. She got up and fumbled through her purse, pulling out a picture and handing it to Brian, "Is that her?" Brian looked at it, and the look on his face told her the answer. "My God, that is her. Lyn, how do you know her?" Tara asked. "She's my sister," Lyn said. "Your sister?" Brian said, sitting down. "Yeah, she was several years older than me, she died when I was 12. That was ten years ago," Lyn said. Tara looked at her, "That's how I knew you, it wasn't the concert at all, it was Tracy." Lyn looked her in the eyes, and Tara could tell she was still a little upset, "It was her in here before Nick woke up wasn't it?" "I believe it was," Tara said. "God I can't believe this," Lyn said, leaning back in her chair and wiping away a tear. Tara walked over to her, "Lyn, if it helps, she is very good at what she does." Lyn laughed, "That doesn't surprise me. When she was alive, she was a perfectionist. I just don't understand why she hasn't come to see me? You've all seen her right?" "Yeah," Brian said. "So then why couldn't she just come by and see me once?" Lyn asked. Tara put her hand on Lyn's shoulder, "I think she has, you just haven't seen her." Lyn got a chill, "I think you're right, and I think she's here now." Tara looked over at Nick, "So do I." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick looked back over at Tracy. She had her eyes closed, almost as if she were listening to something. He watched as she opened her eyes and looked at him. "You know why you're here now?" he asked. "Yes," she said. "Well?" Nick asked, not one to be patient. Tracy took a deep breath, "Nick, when you wake up things won't be the same. You're life is gonna change, and you will have to make some adjustments." "Like what?" he asked, not liking the fact that she was being so vague with him. "I can't really tell you, cause I don't know. All I know is that your life and your career will change," she said. He stared at her for a few seconds, "I'm not sure I like the sound of that." "Nick, just remember that everything happens for a reason. You may not be able to see it at first, but in time you will know why," Tracy said. "Tracy, are you gonna be with me? I'm not sure if I wanna face this unknown by myself," Nick asked. She smiled at him, "Nick, you are never by yourself. God is always with you, and we are always around you. You may never see us, but we are always there." Nick took a deep breath, and looked out at the ocean, "OK, I guess I'm ready." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian, Tara and Lyn stayed close to Nick. He had become restless in his sleep, and was mumbling every once in a while. His fever hadn't returned, and they were hopeful about that. Ted had been in once to check on him, and was going to come back after he made his rounds. Lyn and Tara had talked about Tracy for quite a while. Tara had told her everything she could about her time with her, and Lyn had shared memories from when she was younger. Brian could tell that Tara and Lyn were becoming fast friends. They had so much in common, and now he knew that Tracy had put them together. Sneaky little angel, he thought. "And just what are you grinning at?" Tara asked, looking at Brian. "Huh, oh nothing," he said with a smile. "Bri, I know you to well, out with it," Tara said. "I was just thinking that maybe Tracy put us all together. That she had a hand in Lyn finding Nick, and the friendship that you two have," he said. "Now that wouldn't surprise me at all," Lyn said with a smile, "That would be exactly something she would do." "Yeah it definitely would," Tara said. Lyn was standing next to the bed with her hands on the rail. Nick reached up and touched her hand. She looked down and into his blue eyes, "Nick! You're awake!" Brian and Tara rushed to the side of the bed. "Man, you're starting to outdo me with this hospital thing," Brian said with a smile. Nick looked from one to the other, and Tara noticed something wasn't right. "Nick, what's wrong?" she asked. He looked at her, he knew she was talking to him, but he couldn't hear her. He couldn't hear any of them. He started to panic, and tears came to his eyes. "What the hell is wrong?" Brian asked. Tara took his hand, "Nick, tell me what's wrong." Brian and Lyn watched as Tara's eyes filled with tears, "He can't hear us." "I'm goin to get the doctor," Brian said heading out the door, almost at a run. Lyn looked down at him, and wiped the tear from his cheek, "Nick, calm down, everything will be OK." "Why can't I hear anything?" he asked. "I don't know, but my uncle's on his way," Lyn said. Nick watched her, trying to read her lips, "Lyn, I'm scared." "I know so am I," she said. After a few minutes, Brian came back in with Ted. Tara moved out of the way, as Ted raised the bed and began examining Nick. Nick tried to watch Lyn's face to get a clue as to what was going on. "I'm going to order some tests," Ted said, "And also call in a specialist." "Doc, could the fever have caused this?" Brian asked. "It's a strong possibility. We'll know more after we do the tests," Ted said. "Guys, don't talk about me like I'm not here," Nick said, wanting to know what was being said. Ted faced Nick, and talked slowly so he could read his lips, "I'm going to run some tests, and get a specialist." Nick nodded his head that he understood. Ted left the room to order the tests. Brian looked at Nick, he looked terrified. "Tara, ask him if he wants anything," Brian said. Nick looked from Brian to Tara, as she asked him. "No," Tara said. "God why is this happening?" Brian said to no one in particular. Lyn dropped the rail, and sat down on the edge of the bed. She looked in Nick's eyes, seeing his confusion and fear. "Nick, no matter what happens, I'm here," she said. He looked at her, then let go of Tara's hand and hugged Lyn, crying on her shoulder. Tara walked over to Brian and pulled him into a hug, "I don't know why this is happening, but there must be a reason." "Please God let this just be temporary," Brian said, holding on to Tara for dear life. Lyn held him for a long time, trying her best to comfort him. Nick's sobs grew louder as he started to realize what Tracy had told him. His entire world revolved around him being able to hear. How could he ever sing another note if he couldn't hear the music? God, not this please, anything but this, he prayed. Lyn was holding him as tight as she could, stroking the back of his head trying to calm him down. Nick pulled away and wiped his face. He could see Brian and Tara silently crying on each other's shoulders. He looked back to Lyn, she had tears streaming down her face. He reached out and wiped them away, "Please don't cry." She smiled at him through her tears, "Nick, I..." He put his fingers on her lips to stop her, then pulled her into a hug. "Tracy told me things weren't going to be the same, but I wasn't expecting this. Lyn, please don't leave me, I don't think I can handle this without you," Nick whispered in her ear, at least he thought he was whispering. Lyn pulled away and looked at him, "Nick, I would never leave you. I love you." Nick smiled as a tear trailed down his cheek, he leaned in and gently kissed her, then pulled her into a hug, "I love you too." Chapter 65 |