| Chapter 85 Over the next few days, Nick continued to improve, and struggle with his decision. Ted had decided to let him come home, with the condition that he took it easy, and came back for regular check ups. The guys had managed to finish writing the music to Nick's lyrics, and had found all the equipment they needed to record the demo. They recorded one with the words, which Brian sang, and one without, just the instrumental. Kevin and Brian went to pick Nick up from the hospital, while everyone else got the house ready for him. They had decided to surprise Nick with the song, and have somewhat of a party. The girls had decorated Lyn's house, and the guys had brought some of the equipment from upstairs down to the living room and set it up. They hooked up several speakers and laid some of them face down on the floor, hoping that Nick could at least feel the music. The phone rang, and Leighanne answered it, "Jackson residence." "Lee, hey we're on our way," Brian said. "OK, how's he feeling?" she asked. "Pretty good, still tired, but in a good mood," he answered. Leighanne smiled, "Good, so you'll be here in five?" "Yeah," Brian said. "K, you and Kevin walk in first, and tell Lyn to walk in behind him," she said. "OK, see ya in a few," Brian said, and hung up. Brian looked ahead, not wanting Nick to see him talking. "Kev, you and me will go in first, Lyn stay behind him," he said. Kevin nodded his head, and Lyn looked into the rear view mirror and smiled. "Is something going on?" Nick asked. "No, why?" Lyn signed. "Because you guys are talking, and you don't want me to see it," he signed, smiling. Brian turned around and faced Nick, "So how's your head? You still have a headache?" "Brian, I have 103 stitches in my head, how do you think it feels? And don't change the subject," Nick signed. "Really, you have that many? Did you count them?" Brian asked, smiling. Nick rolled his eyes, knowing he wasn't gonna get an answer. "We're here," Kevin said as he pulled the car into the drive. He honked the horn before he turned the engine off and got out. He and Brian grabbed Nick's stuff and headed into the house, leaving Lyn to help Nick out of the car and walk with him to the door. When they reached the door, Lyn held it open for Nick, and held his hand as he stepped up the few stairs into the house. When he got in, he looked up to see everyone standing there, smiling at him. Howie and A.J. held up a sign that said SURPRISE on it. Nick looked around to see the house was decorated. "What's all this for?" he asked. "This is sort of a getting out of the hospital, cheating death, hope we don't have to do this again party," Tara signed to him. Nick laughed, "Well, let's party then." Kevin and Gary walked over and picked Nick up, carrying him into the living room and depositing him in the recliner. Kira and Sarah came over with a crown and a scepter they had made and handed them to him. "Um D, did you get this at Burger King?" Nick asked, holding up the crown. Howie laughed, as he walked over, gently taking the baseball cap off Nick's head and putting the crown on. Leighanne came over with the afghan and laid it across Nick's lap. Lyn walked over and sat down on the floor next to Nick. The girls ran off to the kitchen, coming back with their hands full of plates with cake on them, and cups filled with punch. Kristin handed Nick his. "Cool, this is my favorite," Nick said. Kevin smiled at him, happy to hear him actually say something. Nick ate his cake, and drank half his punch before everyone else even got theirs. "You want some more?" Lyn asked. Nick shook his head no, and handed her his empty plate, "Guys, what's all this stuff doing down here?" The guys looked at each other, and decided there was no time like the present. "Nick, we've been working on something for you," Brian signed. Nick looked from one to the other, seeing them smiling at him, "OK, why am I scared?" "No, it's good," A.J. said. "Well, what is it?" Nick asked, impatiently. Howie walked over and handed Nick the sheet music with his song on it. Nick smiled as he looked it over, imagining what it sounded like in his head. Kevin tapped him on the shoulder, "There's more." Nick watched as they turned on the equipment, and moved the speakers closer to him. Brian hit the play button, and turned the volume all the way up. Everyone watched as Nick got a surprised look on his face, then his eyes filled with tears. "I can feel that," he signed. Only Tara and Lyn knew he could probably hear some of it too. Nick closed his eyes and concentrated on the sound he was hearing. He could hear some of the notes, but not all of them. And he thought he could hear Brian singing. When the song finished, Nick looked up at them, tears trailing down his cheeks, "It's beautiful. This is the best surprise I could ever get." Everyone was smiling at him, glad to see joy in his face. They all settled in, talking to each other, and joking around. It seemed like they'd been talking for hours when Howie looked over and realized Nick was asleep. "Guys, I think we tired him out," he said, pointing at Nick. "Yeah," Kevin said. "Bed patrol?" Brian asked. Lyn got up and gently took the crown off Nick's head, and headed to his bedroom, turning down the bed. The guys followed her, carrying Nick and placing him in bed. "It still amazes me that he doesn't wake up when you do that," Lyn said. "We've been doing it for years, it's almost like a ritual with us," A.J. said. "Yeah, one I'm actually gonna miss on our next tour," Howie said. "Well as much as you sleep, we'll just have to do it to you now," Kevin said. "Oh great," Howie said, rolling his eyes as Kira laughed. Everyone filed out of Nick's room, Lyn being the last one, and closing the door. They all went back to the living room and sat down. "Lyn, if it's OK, we'd like to stay for a few more days. Just to make sure he's gonna be alright," Tara asked. "Of course, you guys can stay as long as you like," she said. "Well, we still have the party to plan for," Brian said, putting his arm around Tara. "Yeah, about this party," Howie asked, with some nudging from Kira. "What about it?" Tara asked. "Exactly what kind of party is it?" Kira asked, not waiting on Howie. Brian and Tara both laughed. "It's a before we go into the studio, our first party together, party," Tara said. Everyone laughed. "What? That's what it is," Brian said. "And it's formal? I'm sorry, but Tara I've never seen you in a dress, and I know how much Brian hates dressing up," Leighanne said. "I don't hate it, per say, I just don't do it that often," Brian said. "Well we wanted it to be special, one we could look back on and remember," Tara said. "Um hum," Sarah said, "And should we bring anything?" "Nope, just yourselves," Brian said. "Lyn, do you think Nick will be up to traveling then?" Tara asked. "Whether he is or isn't, he'll be there, you know that," she said. "I know, but we don't want him relapsing again," Brian said. "I'm sure he'll be fine. It's still two weeks away right?" she asked. "Yeah," Tara said. "Wild horses couldn't keep him from coming," Lyn said. "I can't believe the sun is already setting," Kevin said, looking out the windows. "Yeah we really must've been on a roll with those jokes, cause it doesn't seem that late," Brian said. "Well girls, let's clean up our mess," Kristin said, getting up and heading for the kitchen. All the girls followed her, while the guys unhooked the equipment, and put it back upstairs. "Guys, he really liked the party," Lyn said. "Yeah, it was almost like watching him on is 14th birthday again," Kristin said. "Ohh, what'd they do for that?" Kira asked. "Well they had a concert that night, so after the concert they threw him this huge party," Kristin started. "Oh this is the one where they flew all his family in, right?" Leighanne asked. "Yeah, he was so surprised," Kristin said. "That sounds so cute, I wish I'd known him then," Sarah said. Kristin laughed, "Well, he had his cute moments, but he also had his �other' moments too." "Yeah, I've heard stories," Leighanne said. "What'd he do?" Lyn asked. "Oh just basically being a little spoiled snot," Kristin said smiling. "That's the nice way of putting it," Leighanne reiterated. "Oh, with the lifestyle he grew up in, I could only imagine," Kira said. "Yeah, all of them really. It's a wonder they all turned out as good as they are," Sarah said. "I don't think you could've put five other guys together and gotten such a rounded, down to earth, group," Kira said. "Yeah, that's true. They all look out for each other," Leighanne said. "Well they have to, most of the time no one else was," Kristin said. "Yeah, until Tara showed up," Leighanne said, smiling at her. Tara blushed a little, "Hey, I didn't start this." They laughed. "What you guys laughing about?" Nick asked walking into the kitchen. "You didn't sleep long," Lyn said. Nick just shrugged his shoulders, "Is there any more of that cake?" The girls laughed at him, and Nick looked at them wondering what was so funny. "I'll get you some," Lyn said. "OK," Nick signed, turning and heading back into the living room. Lyn went about getting Nick his cake. "I still can't hardly stand to see him like that," Sarah said. "What? His scar?" Lyn asked. "Yeah, it's so awful looking," she said. "Well, when his hair grows back you won't even be able to see it," Tara said. "Yeah, and it's really growing fast, you can almost grab his hair between your fingers," Leighanne said. "I'm afraid when he goes to get his stitches out they won't be able to find them," Lyn said. The girls followed Lyn out of the kitchen and into the living room. The guys had finished putting the equipment away, and were watching TV. Lyn handed Nick his plate, and sat down next to him. Everyone talked for a while, until they were all fighting the yawns. "Hey, I just realized with Nick here, we're a bedroom short," Kevin said. Lyn looked up, "Where has everyone been sleeping?" "Well, me and Kira, A.J. and Sarah, and Kevin and Kristin have been next door," Howie said. "And the rest of us have been over here," Brian said. "Ohh, well I could stay in Nick's room with him, and that solves your problem," Lyn said matter of factly. She could feel everyone's eyes on her and Nick, and fought the urge to blush. "OK then, that being solved, I think I'm going to bed," Leighanne said, getting up, Gary following her. They went upstairs to the bedroom they'd been staying in. "I still can't believe they're having a kid," Kira said, after they'd left the room. "Yeah, and don't you know Lee's gonna be one of those girls that's just too cute when she's pregnant?" Kristin said. Everyone laughed. "Well, I'm tired too," Sarah said, pulling A.J. along behind her. "Yeah, guess we'll go too," Howie said, pulling Kira up from the couch. "Yeah, be glad you don't have the room next to them," Kira said, pointing where A.J. and Sarah had just left. Brian laughed, "Why's that?" "Cause they are seriously freaky," Howie said. Everyone laughed, and Kevin and Kristin got up to leave also. Nick watched as they all left. Brian and Tara were the only ones left. "So Nick, you liked your surprise?" Brian asked. "Yeah, it was great!" Nick signed. Brian smiled, "Good, we almost didn't get it done. We got stuck on the chorus." "Again? How many songs have we done that on now?" Nick asked smiling. "I don't know, to many to count," Brian said. "So, did you have to call Andrew or something?" Nick asked. "No, Tara figured it out," Brian answered. "Really? Cool," Nick said, "See I told you a long time ago you should've been in the business." Tara laughed, "No thanks, I'm happy where I'm at." Nick got a thoughtful look on his face, "Yeah, so am I." Lyn squeezed his hand and smiled at him. Tara and Brian looked at each other, "Well, I guess we're off to bed too," Brian said. "Night," Nick signed, as Brian and Tara went into Lyn's room and shut the door. Lyn looked at him, "You ready to go to bed?" "I guess, everyone else has abandoned us, so might as well," he signed. "You go ahead, and I'll turn off the lights," Lyn said, getting up. Nick walked into his room, turning on the lamp on the nightstand, and sitting on the bed. Lyn came in a few minutes later and shut the door behind her. Nick was looking at himself in the mirror, gently touching his scar. "Does it hurt?" Lyn asked. "Not much, I just can't believe it's this big," he said. Lyn turned his face towards her, "When your hair grows back no one will even know you have it." "I know, but it was so weird watching them do this," he said. Lyn looked at him, "Nick, how much do you remember?" "I saw everything that happened. It was so weird looking at myself, and seeing them operate on me. I even remember the conversation the surgeon had while he was doing it," he said. "Weren't you scared?" Lyn asked. "Yeah, at first I was. But Tracy was there with me the whole time, and she helped alot," Nick said. Lyn smiled, "I'm glad she could help you." Nick yawned and crawled into bed. Lyn walked into the bathroom and put some of Nick's pajama bottoms on and one of his T-shirts. She came out and headed to the bed. "I like you in those," Nick said. Lyn laughed, "Yeah, I'm sure this just screams Victoria Secret model." Nick held the covers up, while she crawled in next to him. He then turned out the light, and snuggled next to her. He looked up at her, and softly kissed her goodnight. "I love you," he whispered. She smiled at him, "I love you too." Nick laid his head down, and they held each other until they fell asleep. Chapter 86 |