| Chapter 23 "So, did she tell you what happened?" Howie asked Nick. They were standing outside of Kevin's room waiting for Tara to come out. "No, she said she didn't remember anything," Nick replied. "Do you think she's hiding something?" A.J. asked, "I mean if she can't remember anything, why is she in there with Kevin?" "She has no reason to lie to us," Nick said, getting annoyed at A.J. "Hey man, just cause you got a thing for her, don't turn a blind eye to what's going on," A.J. said. Nick shot A.J. a �go to hell' look. "Guys!" Howie intervened, "Let's not do this OK?" Nick was about to protest when Tara came out into the hall. "Nick, I think I need to go lay down for a while," Tara said. "See, I told you, you got up to soon," Nick said taking her hand. "Tara, did Kevin wake up?" Howie asked. "No, he didn't, but I got some things off my chest anyway," Tara said with a smile. A.J. came up behind Tara with the wheel chair, "Your ride Madame." "I can walk, it's just down the hall," Tara protested. "Yeah, but I like to drive these things," Nick said with a goofy grin. Tara laughed and gave in. She and Nick were on there way down the hall, "You think she's hiding something?" A.J. asked Howie. "I dunno, she seems sincere," Howie said as he went back into Kevin's room. A.J. stood there for a moment, There's just something not right here. He turned and went back to Brian's room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick helped Tara back in bed and sat down next to her. "You don't have to stay," Tara said, knowing Nick wanted to check on Brian. "It's OK, I'll stay until you fall asleep," Nick said. Tara took his hand in hers, "Thanks." "No problem," Nick said as he stared into her eyes. Tara gave him a smile and closed her eyes, soon she was asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne was sitting next to Brian's bed, watching him breath. He looked so pail, much worse than last time. "Brian, I know you can fight this," she whispered, "Please fight this!" Suddenly an alarm on one of the monitors went off. Leighanne's heart was in her throat. A.J. walked into the room. "What's going on?" he asked hearing the alarm. "I dunno, go get the doctor!" Leighanne cried. A.J. ran out of the room, and Leighanne was again alone with Brian. She could tell now that he wasn't breathing, Oh God!! Please help him! Just then the doctor and a couple nurses stormed into the room. Leighanne moved out into the hall, and fell crying into A.J.'s arms. "Lee, they'll take care of him," A.J. said fighting back his own tears. Nick and Howie came around the corner and saw Leighanne and A.J. in the hall. "What's going on?!" Nick asked feeling a surge of panic. "He's not breathing!" Leighanne cried. "Oh God!" Nick said staring at his friend through the window. He could see the doctor and nurses frantically working on him. Nick felt so helpless, his best friend was dying and there was nothing he could do. Well, there was one thing, Nick sat down and began to pray. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara was standing in the hallway outside Brian's room. She could see A.J. and Howie comforting Leighanne, and Nick was sitting in the corner. Suddenly Brian appeared next to her. "Why are they crying?" Brian asked. Tara looked at Brian, and then into his room, he was still being worked on by the doctor. "Brian, you have to go back," Tara said, "It's not your time yet." Brian looked at her confused, "My time for what?" Tara took his face in her hand and pointed him in the direction of the window. Brian could see himself being worked on by the doctor. "Am I ....?" he started to ask. "Brian, you have to go back now!" Tara insisted. Brian looked at her with pain in his eyes, "But it hurts so much, I wanna stay here." "Brian, I know it hurts, but there are things left undone, you have to go back," Tara pleaded. Brian started to say something and was stopped by the sound of Nick's voice. He looked over at Nick, who was still sitting in the corner praying. "I can hear his prayer," Brian said. Tara smiled at Brian, "You can hear all your loved ones prayers here." Brian listened for a moment, Nick was pleading with God not to let him die, he even offered to trade places with Brian. Then Brian looked over at Leighanne, she was also praying. A tear fell down Brian's cheek. "Brian, go back," Tara said. He looked at her, nodded his head and disappeared. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The doctor was unhooking Brian from the monitors, "OK, time of death ....." Suddenly Brian opened his eyes and gasped for air. One of the nurses quickly put the oxygen mask back on him. The doctor and nurse started replacing the monitor wires, "Someone up there really likes you," the doctor said to Brian. Brian weakly smiled at the doctor and drifted off to sleep. Chapter 24 |