| Chapter 26 Howie leaned over in front of Nick blocking his view through the window into Brian's room. "You like her don't you?" he asked smiling. Nick just smiled. "Yeah, that's what I thought," Howie said. Leighanne walked up, "Howie are you giving Nicky a hard time?" she asked jokingly. "Who me?" Howie said innocently. "I'm gonna go check on Kevin," Howie said as he turned to walk down the hall. "Wait, I'll go with you," A.J. said catching up to him. Howie gave A.J. a stern look, "You're gonna behave yourself right?" A.J. looked at him with a hurt expression on his face, "Yes. I'm just gonna find out what happened that's all." God help me, Howie thought as they walked down the hall toward Kevin's room. Leighanne waited until they were out of ear shot, "Nick, Can I talk to you?" she asked. "Sure Lee, what's up?" Nick asked as he sat down. Leighanne sat down next to him. They could still see into Brian's room, Brian and Tara were laughing about something. "What do you think is going on between them?" Leighanne asked still looking at Brian. Nick looked at Leighanne with shock, "Not what your thinking I'm sure!" "But how do you know for sure?" Leighanne asked feeling shut out of her husband's life for the first time. Nick put his finger on Leighanne's chin and pulled her around to look at him, "Lee, Brian loves you and only you." "Yeah, I know, but I get the feeling that those two know a lot more than what they are telling us. It just makes me feel like he's lying to me or something," Leighanne said. Nick looked back through the window, Brian returned his stare for a moment. "Lee, you need to be talking to Brian about this, not me," Nick said looking back at Leighanne. "I know, I will as soon as Tara leaves," she said. "And I'll talk to Tara too, maybe between the two of us we can get what's really going on around here," Nick said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie stuck his head in Kevin's room, "Kev, you awake?" "Yeah come in," Kevin said. Howie and A.J. walked in and sat down in the chairs. A.J. was glaring at Kevin, "Kev, what the hell happened?" he asked. Kevin turned his head away from him, not wanting to look him in the eyes, "It was out of my control," he started. "What do you mean it was out of your control?" Howie asked. "It was me, but it wasn't. It was like I was watching myself do these things and I couldn't do anything to stop it!" Kevin said as a tear dropped down his cheek. "That is the biggest bunch of shit I have ever heard!" A.J. said. "A.J. cut it!" Howie said in a stern voice. "Kevin, was it really you that did all those things to Brian?" Howie asked. Kevin closed his eyes, "It was a part of me, yes." "Why?" Howie asked. Kevin didn't want to answer him. "Kevin, why?" Howie asked again. "He wanted Leighanne," Kevin whispered. "Who wanted Leighanne? Your not making any sense," Howie asked confused. Kevin looked at Howie, "The other me, he wanted Leighanne for himself." A.J. got up from his chair, "Jesus Christ, I can't listen to this!" "Wait!" Kevin yelled, stopping him from leaving. "What?" A.J. asked through clenched teeth. "Is Brian OK?" Kevin asked. "How dare you even ask that!" A.J. spat. Howie stood up and stepped between Kevin and A.J., "Alex, stop it!" "No, he asked so I'm gonna tell him!" A.J. said, "So you wanna know how Brian is huh? Well thanks to you, Brian died!! That's how Brian is, if it weren't for some miracle he'd still be dead!" Kevin was crying uncontrollably now. "I had to stand there and hold Leighanne while she watched the doctor shock Brian over and over! That's how Brian is!" A.J. spat then stormed out of the room. Howie walked over to Kevin and put his hand on Kevin's shoulder, "Brian is holding his own now." "Thanks," Kevin said through his tears. "Kev, I don't understand what's going on, but we will get you all the help you need," Howie said, "What do you want me to tell Kristin?" Oh God Kristin! Kevin cried even harder. "They are admitting me for a psychiatric evaluation, I have a feeling I'm going to be here awhile," Kevin finally said. Howie nodded his head and turned to leave. "Howie?" Kevin called after him. "Yes?" Howie said as he turned back around. "Will you tell Brian and Leighanne that I'm sorry?" Kevin pleaded. Howie stood there with pain in his eyes, "Kev, I don't think I can." Howie turned and left the room with tears in his eyes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara walked out of Brian's room and Nick called her over to sit with him while Leighanne went in with Brian. As she walked in, she could see that Brian was deep in thought about something. "Hi honey," she said as she sat down. Brian looked over at her, "Hey baby," he said as he took her hand in his. Leighanne looked at him and started to say something but stopped. "What's wrong?" Brian asked knowing something was bothering her. "I don't know how to ask this," Leighanne said not wanting to look him in the eyes. "Lee, your starting to scare me, what is it?" Brian asked. "What's really going on between you and Tara?" she finally asked. Brian paused for a moment, "Lee, we told you the other day....." Leighanne looked him in the eye, "Brian you didn't tell me everything!" Brian looked down at Leighanne's fingers, and played with her wedding band. "Lee I can't tell you everything that is going on right now," he said softly. Leighanne pulled her hand away from Brian, he looked up at her. There was pain and anger in her eyes, "Do you love her?" she asked as a tear fell. Brian was in such shock he almost couldn't breathe, "Lee, there is nothing like that going on at all!!" Brian reached out and took Leighanne by the hand and pulled her in close, "Lee, Tara was sent here to help us. Please believe me, I could never love anyone else but you!" Leighanne broke down in tears. She felt really stupid for even thinking what she did. Brian held her, stroking her back comforting her. Leighanne finally composed herself, "Bri, what do you mean she was sent here?" Brian looked at her, "That's the part your gonna have to trust me on. I can't say just yet." Leighanne looked into Brian's eyes, they were full of love. She was still confused but eventually nodded her head. "All right," she said, "I'll wait." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara sat down next to Nick, she could tell that he wanted to ask her something, but didn't quite know how. "You wanna get some air?" she asked. "Yeah, I guess," Nick said. Tara got up and took Nick's hand, "Let's go up to the roof OK?" Nick got up and followed her. When they were finally on the roof, Tara walked over to the ledge and leaned on the rail. The wind was gently blowing her hair. Nick couldn't help but think how beautiful she was with the sun gleaming in her hair. He walked over and leaned on the rail next to her. Tara looked over at him and smiled. Nick reached over and moved a stran of hair from her face. He stood there with his hand on her cheek, he leaned in and kissed her. Tara kissed him back for a few seconds before she realized what she was doing. She pushed him away, "Nick, this can't happen," she said. Nick looked at her confused, "Why not?" Tara looked at him, the pain was back in her eyes, "I'm just not ready for this," she said trying to find some reason other than the real one. "Tara, I don't understand," Nick said knowing she wasn't telling him something. God this wasn't suppose to happen! Help me here! Tara thought as she looked at Nick. "Nick, I just lost someone not to long ago, and I'm just not ready for this." she said hoping that would suffice. "I'm sorry, I didn't know," Nick said taking a step back. "It's OK, not very many people know," Tara said. Nick looked at her, "May I ask what happened?" Tara looked away from him, "I was engaged to be married. On the way to the wedding, my fianc� was in a car wreck and was killed." Oh God why did I even ask? Nick thought. "I'm so sorry," he said. Tara looked back at him, "Nick, I really value your friendship, but that's all I'm capable of right now." Nick looked at her, she could see the hurt in his eyes, "That's OK, I understand," he said. I can be friends for now, he thought. Tara took his hand in hers, "Thanks." Chapter 27 |