| Chapter 88 "OK Nick, take them off," one of the techs signed to him. Nick took his headphones off, glad to be done. This was the last day of testing, and the longest. They'd already been there for five hours. "Are we done?" Nick asked. "No, not yet. You guys go grab some lunch and be back in a couple hours, we should have this thing programmed by then," the tech said. Nick sighed as he got up and walked over to Lyn. "We have to come back in a couple hours," he said. "Oh, OK, what do you want for lunch?" she asked, getting up and walking out of the room. Nick was walking beside her, "I dunno." "What about Chinese?" she suggested. Nick crinkled up his nose and shook his head. "OK, how about the pizza place around the corner?" she said. He smiled at her, "That sounds good." She laughed, "You know if you're gonna live here full time, you're gonna have to start eating more Asian food." "I don't have to," he signed. "If you're living with me you will," she said laughing. "OK, but not today," he signed, flashing her his best I promise smile. "Stop that, you know that doesn't work on me," she said, as they walked into the restaurant. "What is it with you Tara's anyway?" he asked. "We are immune to your charm," she answered. Nick laughed, "Yeah, right." Lyn walked up to the counter, looking at their choices. She ordered hers and looked over at Nick. He pointed to what he wanted, and she ordered his. They sat down, waiting for their food. The restaurant had music playing, and Lyn was nodding her head to the beat. Nick smiled as he watched her. He could just imagine what song was on, although he heard some sound here and there, he couldn't tell what it was. Lyn noticed he was watching her and blushed. "You're cute when you do that," Nick said. She smiled at him. "What song was on?" he asked. "No More Drama," she said. "Oh I love Mary J, she's so sweet, really down to earth," Nick said. Lyn laughed, "You sound like a fan." "I guess I am," he said. Lyn heard them call their order, and got up to get their food. She brought the tray back to the table and set it down, handing Nick his pizza. She started eating, then realized Nick was just staring at his. "Something wrong?" she asked. "I just realized when we go back we're gonna find out if all these tests worked or not," he signed. She looked at him, seeing he was torn in his emotions. "And you're not sure how to feel about it?" she asked. "Yeah. On one hand I want to stay the way I am now, and on the other I want it to work," he said. Lyn looked around the restaurant, it was pretty busy and her and Nick's conversation was gaining spectators. Even though she was pretty sure no one understood what they were saying to each other, this wasn't a conversation you have in public. "Nick, why don't you eat, then well go down to the park and talk," she said. Nick looked at her, then looked around, realizing what Lyn had, "OK." He hurriedly finished his lunch, and he and Lyn got up and left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "So, have you heard from Bri and Tara lately?" Kevin asked. He and Howie were standing in the kitchen of Nick's house. "No, not since the night we got back when everyone came over," Howie said, turning off the stove and taking out his latest cooking creation. Kevin laughed, "D, your momma would be proud." Howie smiled, "She's always proud of me." "OK, so back to Brian and Tara," Kristin said. "Yeah, it's not like them to just drop off the face of the earth for a few days," Kira said. "Yeah true," Howie said. "Has anyone called them?" Kristin asked. "I did yesterday, got the machine," Kevin said. "So did I," Howie said. "OK, they live what a couple miles down the road, after we eat lets drop by, see how they are," Kira said. "A woman of action, you gotta love it," Howie said. Everyone laughed. "OK, sounds like a plan," Kevin said, "Let's eat, I'm starvin." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Nick, I know this whole thing has been a hard decision for you," Lyn said. They had walked to the park and found a bench in a secluded spot. "And you can't figure out why?" he asked. "It's not that, I understand how you feel. It's just that, if you are able to hear again, what are you gonna do?" she asked. Nick looked down for a moment, "I don't know." Lyn watched him as he struggled with his thoughts. "I guess it depends on how much I can hear," he signed. "So if you can hear enough to go back to singing would you?" Lyn asked. "I'm not sure I would. I mean I love to sing, it makes me happy, but it's the life that comes with it. I'm not sure I want to go back to that," he signed. "But you miss it too," she said. "Yeah, when those girls came up us in the restaurant the other day, I miss that, some. But sometimes it really gets to be to much," he said. "Nick, I've never been put in that situation, so I don't know how that feels, but your life is what you make it. If you want to do that again, make some changes so it's not so hectic," Lyn said. He smiled at her, "Baby, it's not that easy to do. Especially when there are four other guys in it with you." "I guess not," she said. Nick looked at his watch, "We need to go." Lyn took his hand getting up, "I will be with you no matter what happens, don't forget that." Nick smiled, and leaned down, gently kissing her, "I won't." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Ring the bell again," Howie said. "Man, they aren't here. I've rung it like ten times already," Kevin said, turning around to leave. "Kev, both their cars are here," Kristin said. "Yeah, they have to be here somewhere," Kira said. Howie reached over and tried the door, it opened. He and Kevin looked at each other. "Um, girls, why don't you go back to the car and let us check this out," Kevin said. "You think something's wrong?" Kristin asked. "I don't know, but go back just in case," he said, walking into the house. The girls went back to the car, as Howie followed Kevin inside and shut the door. Howie stopped in his tracks, "What the hell?" He and Kevin looked around. The entire house was a mess. End tables knocked over, lamps on the floor, papers everywhere. "Do you think they got robbed?" Howie asked. "I don't know," Kevin said, proceeding through the house and into the kitchen. "Jesus freaking Christ," Kevin said. The entire kitchen was covered in food. The refrigerator door was left open, and food was everywhere. Howie walked in, careful not to slip on the floor, and closed the door to the refrigerator. "That hasn't been open long," he said, "Stuff in there was still cold." Kevin walked down to Brian's office, it too was completely trashed. "I'm starting to get a very bad feeling," Howie said. "Yeah, me too," Kevin said, as he stopped at the bottom of the stairs, almost afraid to go up. Howie pushed him up, "We've come this far, might as well see the rest." They made their way upstairs, looking in every room on their way down the hall. Each room was trashed. Furniture turned over, things strewn on the floor. When they reached Brian and Tara's room, the door was shut. Kevin was almost shaking as he reached for the door knob. Just as he was about to turn it, he heard Brian laughing from inside the room. Howie looked at him, a little surprised. They both stood there, not sure what they should do. Then they heard Tara's voice, and again laughter from Brian. "Oh my God, do you think they did this?" Howie whispered, trying not to laugh. Kevin looked at him, realizing what he was saying, "No, they couldn't." "I don't know, it sounds like they're fine to me," Howie said. "Maybe we should look, just to make sure," Kevin said. Howie put his hands up, "Not me buddy, he's your cousin." Kevin glared at Howie for a moment, then gently turned the door handle and peeked in. He shut the door, and headed down the stairs, not saying a word. Howie was right behind him, "What? What'd you see?" Kevin left the house and got in the car. Howie got in, and they started down the road. "Is everything OK?" Kira asked. "Kev, what'd you see?" Howie asked for the hundredth time. Kevin drove in silence until they reached Nick's. "Kev, what'd you see?" Kristin asked, starting to get worried. Kevin turned around and looked at them, then burst out laughing, "All I'm gonna say is, A.J. and Sarah have nothing on those two." Howie and the girls looked at each other in surprise, then joined Kevin in his laughter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "OK Nick, I'm gonna put this in your ear, and then we'll see what happens," Dr. Jansen said. Nick was watching Lyn, as she told him what the Dr. said. Dr. Jansen reached around and inserted the tiniest hearing aid Nick had ever seen into his right ear. Then he sat back and looked at Nick. Nick looked from Lyn to Dr. Jansen, "Am I suppose to be doing something?" he signed. "He want's to know if he's suppose to be doing something?" Lyn told the Dr. "He already is," Dr. Jansen said. Lyn looked back over at Nick, he had a surprised look on his face, and was trying not to cry. "Nick, did you hear what I just said?" she asked. He nodded his head. "And you understood it?" Dr. Jansen asked. "Yes," Nick said, surprised to hear the sound of his own voice again. "Oh Nick," Lyn said, coming over and hugging him. "Nick, I want to do a simple hearing test with you," the doctor said. Nick got up and followed him over to the machine, and put the headphones on. Dr. Jansen ran him through the test, and was smiling when he was finished. "So, what's my verdict?" Nick asked. "Well, with the aid you've gained about 75% of your hearing back," he said. Lyn was so happy she was about to burst. Nick smiled, "So as long as this thing works I'm good right?" "Yeah, pretty much. I want to see you in a week to see how things are going," he said. Nick looked over at Lyn, "When do we leave for Brian's?" "Eight days," she said. "OK, doc, in a week," Nick said. He and Lyn left the office, stopping at the receptionist and making his appointment on the way out. Nick was being quiet, and Lyn wasn't sure if he was just taking in all the sounds, or he was still wondering about what he should do. When they reached the street, Nick stopped. "What?" she asked. "It's so loud," he said, holding his hand over his ear. They hurried to the car, and started down the road. "I guess I'm gonna have to get used to how loud everything is again," Nick said. Lyn looked over at him and smiled, "I just can't believe it." "I know, it's so weird hearing my voice again, and hearing yours," he said. They pulled into the house, and walked in. Nick made his way to the couch and collapsed on it, "I'm so tired." Lyn was at his side, "Yeah, it's been a really long day." Nick looked up at her, "Lyn, please don't tell the guys about this." She looked at him perplexed, "Why not? You know this would just surprise the hell outta them." He smiled, "Yeah, that's what I want to do, but they can't find out, not yet." "What about Tara? She knows you were having the tests done," Lyn asked. "Yeah, you can tell her, I'm going to need her help if I'm gonna pull this off," he said. "What are you planning?" Lyn asked. Nick laughed, "Yeah, this just might work." Chapter 89 |