| Chapter 66 A.J. was the first to arrive. It was early evening, the sun was setting and casting a brilliant light through the window. Nick was asleep. He had cried himself to sleep on Lyn's shoulder. She sat next to the bed keeping an eye on him, afraid to move, in case he woke up. Brian met A.J. at the door. "Rok, man, what the hell happened?" A.J. asked. "His fever got really high early yesterday morning. They put him in ice for a couple hours until it finally broke. The doctors think that the fever along with him already having a viral infection caused it," Brian said. A.J. looked over at Nick, he looked pale and noticeably thinner. "What are they gonna do for him?" A.J. asked. Brian dropped his head, "They said there wasn't anything they could do. The damage is already done." A.J. looked back to Brian, "You mean he's never gonna hear again?" Brian shook his head and wiped away a stray tear. A.J. sat down and put his face in his hands, "This isn't how it's suppose to be!" Tara walked over and put her hand on A.J.'s shoulder, "Alex, we are gonna have to help him with this." He looked up at her, "You tell me what to do and I'll do it." She smiled at him, "He needs us to be strong for him. Don't treat him like anything is different." "But how am I suppose to talk to him? He can't hear what I'm saying," A.J. said. "He can read lips pretty good, just look at him when you're talking and talk a little slower than you normally would, he'll understand you," Brian said. A.J. nodded his head and looked back over at Nick. He noticed Lyn sitting next to him. "Who's that?" he asked Brian. "Oh, I'm sorry. A.J. this is Lyn; Lyn, A.J.," Brian said. Lyn got up and shook A.J.'s hand. "Your the girl that's been taking care of him?" A.J. asked. "Yes," Lyn said. Brian pulled A.J. to the side and filled him in on who Lyn really was, and about her and Nick's relationship. Tara walked over to Lyn, "You want me to go get you anything?" "Naw, I'm OK," she said. "Lyn, none of us have eaten since yesterday. You sure you don't want anything?" Tara asked. Lyn just shook her head. Tara sat down next to her, "He told you something didn't he?" Lyn looked at her, "He said that Tracy told him things would change when he woke up, but he never dreamed it would be this. Tara, he's really scared, and I don't know what to do for him." Tara smiled at her, "Lyn, your being here is helping him more than you know." A.J. walked over to the other side of the bed and looked at Nick. He reached down and took his hand as he fought the tears. "A.J., would you like anything to eat or drink?" Tara asked. "No. When's Kev and D getting here?" he asked. "Not for a few more hours. They rented a plane and are on their way," Brian said. Lyn got up and headed for the door, "I just realized it's gonna be almost impossible to keep the media from finding out you guys are here. I'm gonna go talk with the administrator for a little bit, see what we can do. If he wakes up, tell him I'll be back soon." "OK," Tara said as she left the room. After the door closed A.J. looked at Brian and Tara. "So she's really Tracy's sister?" he asked. "Yeah," Brian said. "And they really love each other?" he asked. "Yes they do," Tara said. A.J. half smiled, "Well at least one good thing came out of all this damn mess." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne pulled her cell out of her purse, "Hello." "Lee, it's Kev," he said. "Hey Kevin, what's up?" she asked. "Lee, we are on our way to Vancouver. Nick's umm, Nick's lost....," he started. She could hear Howie talking to Kevin through the phone. "Lee?" Howie said. "Howie, what's going on?" Leighanne asked. "Leighanne, Nick has lost his hearing. I don't know how, but the doctors are saying that it's permanent," Howie said. "Oh my God!," Leighanne said, sitting down. "Everyone is on their way there. I'm sure he'll want to see you," Howie said. "I'll be there as soon as I can," she said. "OK, be careful," Howie said. "I will," she said and hung up the phone. "What happened?" Gary asked, seeing how upset she was. "I need to go to Vancouver," she said, getting up and gathering her things. "Anne, what happened to Nick?" Gary asked concerned. "He's deaf, and they say it's permanent," she answered. "Damn. OK, I'll you run by your house, you pack, and I'll come get you in an hour," he said. She stopped and looked at him, "Gary, you don't have to come." "I know I don't, but I want to be there for you," he said. "Thank you," she said. He helped her get her things, and they headed out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin and Howie finally landed. Lyn had a car waiting on them, and someone waiting at the hospital to lead them through the back way, just as she had with Brian and A.J. They walked into the room. Nick was still sleeping. Tara and Lyn were talking, as were Brian and A.J. They all got up to greet them. Brian introduced Lyn to them, and filled them in one what was going on. "Lee is on her way too," Howie said. "OK, I'll call her and see when she'll be getting here," Brian said, pulling his cell out and walking to the side of the room. Kevin stared at Lyn. Lyn leaned over to Tara, "Do you want to tell him?" Tara nodded and pulled Kevin and Howie over to tell them who Lyn was. "You have got to be kidding?!" Kevin said. "No, I'm serious," Tara said. Howie was smiling, "What are the odds of that?" "I'd say pretty good when an angel puts you together," Kevin said. Brian walked over, "Lee will be here in about an hour." "OK, I'll go set up another car," Lyn said, leaving the room. "Brian, I wanna know what tests they did, and I want to get a second opinion," Kevin said. "I figured you would," Brian said, "Lyn's uncle should be here in a little while. He can tell you all that, and set up another specialist." "Good," Kevin said. Lyn came back in, and smiled at him as she walked back over to sit beside Nick. Everyone had settled in and were talking when Nick woke up. He looked over at Lyn, she was looking across the room. He reached over and touched her hand. She looked at him and smiled, "Hey, there are some people here to see you." Nick looked at her confused. She pointed across the room, and Nick turned to see everyone. No one had noticed he was awake yet. They were all talking, Nick watched. Kevin had a serious look on his face as he was talking to Brian. Howie and A.J. were talking to each other. Nick smiled, A.J. couldn't talk without using his hands. Lyn tapped him on the shoulder, he turned to look at her, "Do you want me to tell them you're awake?" He nodded his head and watched as Lyn got their attention. "Guys," she said. Everyone looked at her, then noticed Nick looking at them. They all gathered around the bed. Everyone started talking at once, then realized what they were doing. "Hi guys, you didn't have to come all this way," Nick said. "We wanted to," A.J. said. Howie tapped Nick on the leg, "How are you feeling?" "OK, I'm tired," Nick answered. Kevin touched Nick's hand, "I want them to re-run the tests and get a second opinion." Nick sighed, "Kev, I really don't wanna...." "Nick, you're doing it whether you like it or not," Kevin said. Nick rolled his eyes, "Alright, but after this, no more." "Nick, we have so much to tell you," Howie said smiling, "Kira and I got engaged." "Really? That's great D!" Nick said. "Yeah, and tell him bout the parties you been havin in his house," Kevin teased. Nick looked from Howie to Kevin, not catching everything Kevin said. "Howie, what'd you do to my house?" Nick asked. Howie laughed, "Nothing, it's fine." Ted walked in the door, a little taken back at seeing everyone there. "Guys, this is Dr. Jackson, he's Nick's doctor," Brian said. Everyone introduced themselves to him. "Doc, can you go over everything that's been going on for them?" Tara asked. "Sure," Ted said, grabbing Nick's chart and sitting down. They all listened as he started from the time they brought Nick to the emergency room. Ted went over every detail of how Nick was treated, what the medicines did that they gave him, and over the results of his most recent tests. "Doc, no offense or anything, but would it be possible to have those tests re-done and get a second specialist in?" Kevin asked. "Yes we can, if Nick is feeling up to it," Ted said. Everyone looked at Nick, and he was wondering what he just missed. Lyn looked at him, "Uncle Ted wants to know if you're up to having the tests done again." "Oh, yeah, whatever," he said. "Alright, I'll schedule the tests for tomorrow morning, and get ahold of another specialist," Ted said, getting up. Kevin walked over and thanked him. Ted left just as Leighanne was coming in. "Lee," Howie said, walking over to greet her. Everyone said hi as she walked over to Nick. She gave him a hug. "Lee, you didn't have to come," Nick said, "but I'm glad you did." She smiled, "How are you?" "I've been better," he said. Brian walked over and hugged her, "Your trip went OK?" "Yeah, um I came with Gary," she said. Brian smiled at her, "Where is he?" "He's in the hall, he wasn't sure about coming in," Leighanne said. Brian took her hand, "Come on, let's go get him." Nick watched as they walked out into the hall. He never realized how much he'd been missing when he was able to hear. Now that he had to look at everything, he picked up on much more. He could tell that Kevin was extremely worried, just by the way he bit his lip, and avoided looking at him. Howie and A.J. were both upset, but hiding it pretty well. Howie was a little nervous around him, but A.J. was, well, he was A.J. Brian and Tara both were riddled with guilt, he could see it on their faces. And Leighanne was really concerned, but also there was something else, almost like a light in her eyes. She was in love. Lyn leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. He looked at her, "What's that for?" "Just because," she said. He smiled at her. She had been his rock through this whole thing, and he loved her for it. But he could tell it was taking its toll on her. She was tired, and worried. "Lyn, you can lay down next to me if you want," he said. "No, all your friends are here," she said. "So. Come on," he said. She reluctantly agreed and climbed in. Nick rested his head on her shoulder, and soon they were both asleep. Chapter 67 |