| Chapter 20 Hours went by as Tara and Kevin watched the others sleep. Kevin made no attempt to talk to her, knowing she was furious with him. They glanced at one another for the hundredth time. Kevin stifled a yawn, and saw Tara do the same thing. They were both tired, but there was no way either one was going to sleep tonight. Suddenly Tara stood up, bringing her sword to the ready, "Kevin, wake the others and get out of here now." Kevin got up and quickly woke the guys. "What's going on?" Brian asked. "They're here," she answered, "Now leave." He shook his head, "I'm not leaving you with them." "Brian, this is not a time to argue. Do what I tell you," Tara said, her anger showing in her eyes. "We aren't leaving you," Kevin said, before Brian could. "Guys please, I can't protect all of you. Someone will get hurt," she begged. All four stood there, planted where they were. "Well, we having a party? And no one invited us, how rude," Jered said, appearing next to the bed. Tara swung around and faced him, "There's a reason for that." Jered smiled, "Hi honey, you miss me?" Ephah laughed, appearing next to Kevin. Kevin jumped and stepped back, staring at him. Jered sat down on the side of the bed and looked at Nick, "Who did this? Whoever it was I want to thank them, they just made my job that much easier." Tara put the tip of her sword on Jered's chest, "I don't think so. Get away from him, now." Jered put his hands up in defense, "Temper, temper. You know that was always your problem, you let your temper get the best of you." Tara glared at him, "I don't need a lecture from you. Now leave, before I make you leave." Jered looked around, "You and what army honey?" "Us," all four guys said. Ephah and Jered looked at them amused, "Oh really?" Brian was staring at Ephah, and he noticed it. "You, you're the hubby right?" Ephah asked. "Yeah," Brian said. Ephah pointed his finger at him, "I've heard of you. You spent some time with a few friends of mine." Brian looked at him a moment, then remembered Tiras and Hathath, "Oh I seem to remember they were beaten and left with their tails tucked between their legs," Brian taunted. "Aren't you spunky? Lets see how much," Ephah said, and with a single movement from his hand, slammed Brian into the wall, dropping him to the floor. A.J. and Howie ran to him, helping him up. Kevin lunged at him with everything he had, only to be thrown to the floor, the wind knocked out of him. "Stop it!" Tara yelled. Everyone looked at her. "Guys, stop fighting them. You can't win," she said. "Better listen guys," Jered teased. Tara turned on him, bringing her sword down. Jered barely got out of the way, and brought his own sword to bare. "You really want to do this?" he asked. "I want you to leave. If this is the only way to get that, then yes," she said. "We aren't leaving," Jered said. "Fine," Tara said, circling Jered. She kept an eye on Ephah, knowing he wouldn't stay out of the fight for long. The guys watched, knowing they couldn't help her. Suddenly Jered lunged at her, and they exchanged blows. Tara quickly got the advantage, and was able to knock Jered's sword from his hand. "Now leave," she said, her sword at his throat. Jered smiled, "Don't think so honey." "Look out!" Brian yelled, as Ephah came up behind Tara. Tara ducked and countered his attack. The guys watched in horror as Jered retrieved his sword and joined in. Tara was now fighting both of them, and holding her own. But the guys knew it couldn't last. The fighting brought them closer to the guys, and Kevin glanced over at the rest. When Ephah stepped back, they made their move. All four jumped him, knocking him to the floor. Ephah lost his sword in the fall, and was enduring a beating from the guys. Tara took the opportunity to go after Jered with all she had. He countered her moves, and managed to get a shot in, hitting her on the arm. Tara screamed and stepped back, tripping over Nick's shoes that were next to the bed and falling backwards. She landed on her back on the other side of the bed that Nick was on. Jered was on her in seconds. He had her pinned down, all his weight on top of her. He smiled, "This brings back memories." She tried pushing him off her, but wasn't able to. "Tell them to stop or I swear I'll kill hubby," Jered spat. Tara looked at him in horror, "You wouldn't." "Oh yes I would," he said, smiling. Tara looked over at the guys still beating on Ephah. "Guys," she said. They all looked up, seeing her situation. "I suggest you all stop now, or Tara here might get hurt," Jered said, looking at them. Brian was the first one up, "You son of a bitch, let her go!" Ephah got up and positioned himself between the guys and Tara, holding his sword on them. Jered smiled at Brian, "I will, once I get something from her. Since you won't let us play with Nick, I guess you'll have to do," he said to her. Tara looked at him, wondering what it was he wanted. Jered smiled, and the light in his eyes sent chills down her back. He reached up and grabbed her hair, holding her in place, he bent down and kissed her. "NO!" Brian yelled, trying to get to her. Ephah held him off, along with the other guys. Tara struggled under Jereds weight, trying not to take his emotions in as he kissed her. As the kiss went on, Jered moved his hand down Tara's chest. She closed her eyes, desperately trying to think of a way to free herself. His emotions were overwhelming and she was on the verge of losing control. Brain could take it no longer and lunged at Ephah. Ephah saw him coming and swung his sword catching Brian across the stomach. "NO!" all three guys yelled, moving to catch Brian as he fell. Tara saw what happened out of the corner of her eye. Jered was still forcefully kissing her, and moving to pry her legs apart. Tara looked up at him, and opened her mouth to receive his tongue. Jered laughed, thinking she was giving in. As soon as he had inserted his tongue into her mouth, Tara bit down with everything she had. Jered screamed and pulled back, blood pouring from his mouth. When he lifted his weight off her, Tara kicked him in the groin, dropping him to the floor. She then got up and punched him in the face for good measure. She reached out and retrieved her sword, immediately bringing it down on Jered. He disappeared a second before it made contact. Tara then looked over at Ephah, and he too vanished. She dropped her sword and ran to Brian. All the guys had their hands over his stomach to try and stop the flow of blood. He was pale and fading in and out of consciousness. "Brian, hang on," she said. She reached over with trembling hands as the guys all moved back to give her some room. Tara took a deep breath, bringing her mind back to focus on what she needed to do. She gently placed her hand over the wound, and closed her eyes. The guys watched for several minutes as she would heal one spot, then move over to the next section. She finally finished, bringing her hand to Brian's forehead. Brian's eyes fluttered open and he looked around. "Tara?" he said, sitting up and taking her in his arms, "Honey, you're trembling." Tara pulled away and looked at him, "You're OK?" "Yeah, I am," he answered. She then looked at the rest of the guys, "Are any of you hurt?" Other than a few bruises, none of them were. "Honey, what's wrong? Why are you shaking?" Brian asked, concerned. Tara looked over at him and smiled weakly, "I'll be OK." Brian stood up, then helped her to her feet, "Here, let's let you sit down," he said, leading her to a chair. She never made it, passing out in Brian's arms. Brian picked her up and laid her on the bed with Nick. All the guys gathered around the bed, looking at them both. "What the hell do we do now?" A.J. asked. Kevin went into the bathroom and got a few clean towels, coming back and getting to work on Tara's wound. "What if they come back?" Howie asked. "Don't even go there," Brian said, holding Tara's arm while Kevin wrapped the bandages around it. "We need to wake Nick up. He's the only one that can tell us what's wrong with Tara," A.J. said. "Yeah, and how do you suggest we do that?" Kevin said, "Since he's had three sleeping pills." A.J. bit his lip, trying to think of something, "I got it. Cold shower, that'll wake him up." "A.J. there's no way a cold shower is gonna wake him from a dead sleep," Howie said. "It will. I've done it before," A.J. said. They all looked at him. "What do you mean you've done it before?" Brian asked. A.J. looked at the floor, "When I was drinking a lot, I forgot how many sleeping pills I took one night and ended up taking twice what I needed to. Sarah stuck me in the shower for like an hour, nothing but cold water, it worked." All three guys glanced at each other. "OK, let's try it," Kevin said. He, A.J. and Howie managed to pick Nick up and drag him into the bathroom. Brian stayed with Tara, holding her hand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The guys managed to get Nick in the tub. "We gonna leave his clothes on?" Howie asked. A.J. and Kevin both looked at him. "Hell yeah, I don't wanna look at his naked ass while we're doing this," A.J. said. Kevin laughed, reaching over and turning on the cold water. He then flipped the lever for the shower. Nick jerked as the cold water hit him, but didn't wake up. A.J. reached in and cupped his hands, letting the water pool in them, then threw it in Nick's face. "Come on Nick, we need you awake," he yelled in his ear. Howie and Kevin joined in throwing water in Nick's face, slapping him, and yelling in his ears. Nick groaned and moved a little. "Stand him up," Kevin said. They pulled him to his feet, holding him underneath the shower head. Kevin slapped his face, "Nick, wake up!" Nicks eyes opened for a second, then closed again. "Oh no, you're waking up," A.J. said, shaking him violently. Nick raised his arms up and tried to push A.J. away, "Stop." Kevin and Howie both joined in. "Nick wake up, we need you," Kevin said. Nick opened his eyes and looked at Kevin. "Nick, Tara's hurt, we need you," Howie said. Nick blinked a few times, still fighting to keep his eyes open, "Hurt?" "Yes Nick, she's hurt. We don't know what to do," Kevin said. Nick was starting to tremble with the temperature of the water, "I'm so tired." "We know man, but you gotta wake up," A.J. said, shaking him again. "Kevin hurry up, something's really wrong!" Brian yelled from the other room. Kevin looked at the other two, with worry in his eyes. He then grabbed Nick by the back of the head and shoved his face right underneath the shower head. Nick jerked, and tried to get free. After a moment Kevin let him go. Nick was still fighting to keep his eyes open, "I'm awake." Kevin looked at him a moment, then repeated the process. Nick pulled away from his grasp, "I said I was awake!" Kevin reached over and grabbed a towel, handing it to Nick as Howie and A.J. helped him out of the tub. Nick was still wobbly on his feet, and trembling from the cold water. The guys helped him back into the bedroom, and over to the bed. Tara was breathing heavily, her face pale, and her wound was still bleeding. "I can't touch her anymore," Brian said, as Nick walked up. Nick reached down, and almost fell. The guys catching him, and setting him down in a chair next to the bed. "I can't think," Nick said, "I'm so tired." "Nick please," Brian begged. Nick took a deep breath and reached over, touching her hand. He gasped and pulled his hand back. "What is it?" Brian asked. Nick just shook his head, and tried to focus. He placed his hand over the wound on her arm, then quickly pulled it back again. "I can't," he said, "I can't touch her, it's to much." All the guys looked worried. "What do you mean it's to much?" Kevin asked. "To much emotion. Her cut won't bleed anymore, but I can't heal it right now," Nick said, sinking back in the chair. "Nick, stay awake," Howie said. "She'll be OK, let her rest," Nick said, closing his eyes. "Nick?" Brian said. He didn't answer. Kevin walked over and nudged him, "Nick?" "I guess he's out again," A.J. said. "Let's get him in some dry clothes and back to bed then. There's nothing more we can do until they both wake up," Kevin said. Brian looked at them both, extremely worried. He silently prayed as he helped the guys get Nick settled, then went back to sit next to Tara. He couldn't touch her, but he could be there for her, and that was what he was going to do. Chapter 21 |