| Chapter 18 Brian slowly opened his eyes, blinking them. He was staring directly at Aleisha's chest. Feeling something on him, he slowly turned his head and looked down. Aleisha's hand was resting on his crotch. Brian laughed a little at their situation. Angel stood up next to Brian and stretched, looking down at him. "Morning girl," he whispered, trying not to wake Aleisha up. Angel wagged her tail, and barked at him. Aleisha jumped, and opened her eyes. Brian looked over at her, "Morning." She smiled at him, "Morning." Aleisha raised her head and realized where her hand was, she blushed, "Sorry," she said removing it. Brian laughed, "It's OK." Angel walked over to the entrance to the tent and whined. Aleisha got up and unzipped it, letting her out. "Man it's cold," she said, zipping it back up and returning to the sleeping bag. "Yeah," Brian said, shivering a little. Aleisha reached over and grabbed the pack, digging around in the pockets until she found a couple of energy bars. She unwrapped one and helped Brian sit up so he could eat. "If we get going pretty soon, we may be able to make your car by nightfall," she said. "Good," Brian said, chewing the bite he'd taken, "How long will it take to get to your house from there?" "About an hour or so," she said, finishing her bar. "You ready to get outta here?" she asked, putting her shoes on. "Yeah, I'll be glad to be somewhere warm tonight," he said, letting her put his shoes on him. "OK then, lets get this stuff together so we can get going," she said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn walked down to the kitchen. It was fairly early, and she didn't expect anyone else to be up yet. She was surprised to find Kevin sitting at the kitchen table, his head down, seemingly lost in thought. She walked over and sat down next to him, "Kevin?" He jumped and looked up at her, not realizing she'd come into the room. He swiftly wiped away the tears on his face and smiled at her, "Morning Lyn." "Kevin, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned. "Nothing," he said, getting up to make some coffee. Lyn turned around in her chair, "Kevin, you don't cry over nothing. Tell me." He finished pouring the water into the pot and turned it on, returning to his chair. "I'm just worried," he said. Lyn put her hand on his shoulder, "Kevin, we all are." "I know, but he's been gone for almost two weeks now. The rangers haven't found anything yet, and it's almost Christmas," he said. Lyn looked at him, "You guys always spend Christmas with each other?" Kevin nodded his head, "Haven't missed one yet." "Kevin, you know that he's coming back. Tracy told us that," Lyn said. "I know, but still. I hate it when he does things like this. I don't understand why he can't just stay here and let us help him," Kevin said. "I know, but maybe Brian just needs time to himself right now. To figure out what it is he's gonna do. I know that Nick needed that time when he lost his hearing, and I did when I lost my parents," she said. Kevin sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're right. I just wish he'd at least call and let us know he's OK." Lyn nodded her head, "Yeah, he could at least do that." Kevin got up and poured them both a cup of coffee, coming back to the table. He handed Lyn hers, smiling. She looked at him suspiciously, "OK, why are you smiling at me?" "I was just thinking how much you reminded me of Tara just now," he said. Lyn smiled, "Yeah, I guess." "No, I'm serious. Somehow she always knew what to say. I see that in you now," Kevin said. Lyn blushed at the compliment. "You know, it's weird, but I feel like she's always gonna be a part of me," she said. Kevin nodded, "That's not weird. You two were best friends, and you shared a lot of the same qualities. It'd be weird if you didn't feel that way." Lyn laughed, "Now who sounds like her?" Kevin chuckled, "Guess she rubbed off on me too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kira, maybe we should," Howie said. Kira rolled over and looked at him, "What?" "Go ahead and set a date for the wedding," Howie said. "With everything that's happening right now?" she asked. "Well, after Brian gets back, and we see that things are gonna be OK," he said. Kira thought about it, "Yeah, it'd be OK then." Howie smiled at her, "Do you have to go in to the store today?" "Howie, it's the week before Christmas. I should be living there right now," she said laughing. "I know, but I miss you when you're gone all day," he said, pouting. "Aww, that's sweet, but it's not gonna work," she said, sitting up. "Go to Brian's and play with your friends while I'm gone," she suggested. Howie rolled on his side propping his head up with his hand, "I don't wanna. They think I'm the cook when I'm over there," he said smiling. "Aren't you?" she asked, getting up and walking over to the closet to pick something out to wear. Howie lay back down pulling a pillow over his head and groaning, "Not you too?" Kira laughed, "Well, you could come to the store with me." "No, that's OK. I'll go play," he said, teasing. She laughed as she walked around the bed and sat down on the side. She leaned over and kissed him, "You are such a spoiled Boy aren't you?" Howie nodded and smiled, "Yup." Kira laughed and swatted him with the shirt she was holding, "I'm taking a shower." Howie grabbed her hand, a wild look in his eyes. "Oh no, you'll make me late for work," she said, pulling away from him and turning towards the bathroom. Howie jumped out of bed, laughing, as he chased her the rest of the way, slamming the door behind him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hello?" "Ted, hi, it's Nick," he said. "Hey Nick, how are you feeling?" Ted asked. Nick sighed, "OK. I guess Lyn told you?" "Yes, she did. She also called last night and said that I'd be getting your results in the next couple of days," he said. "Yeah, I hope you don't mind," Nick said. Ted laughed, "Not at all. When I get them I'll call you." "Good, I just wanted to call and let you know that. Lyn didn't tell me she called you," Nick said. "You were already asleep," Ted said. "Oh," Nick said. "Nick, are you really alright? The headaches aren't to bad?" Ted asked. "I can handle them. I don't get that many," Nick said. "OK, but if you need anything you let me know," Ted said. Nick smiled, "I will." "Has there been any word on Brian?" Ted asked. "No, not yet," Nick said. "Nick, I'm sure that he'll be OK," Ted said, trying to reassure him. "I'm not so sure. I just have this really bad feeling about it," Nick said, "Um, Ted, can this problem with my head, can it um, cause nightmares?" "Well, I'm not sure, Nick. Have you been having many?" Ted asked. Nick looked around to make sure he was still alone in the room, "Yeah. Every night." "I see," Ted said, "Do you think that maybe they're stemming from the fact that you're stressed over Brian's disappearance and your own health?" "I don't know. They could be I guess, but it just feels like there's more behind it than that," Nick said. "What are they about?" Ted asked. "That's just it. I can't remember, I just know that I had one. And I feel awful for a while after I wake up," Nick answered. "What do you mean by awful?" Ted asked. "Just, anxious, like I need to get away from something, but I don't know what that something is. And then I just feel this immense feeling of dread," Nick said. "Well you can't be sleeping well with all that going on. If you want I can prescribe you some sleeping pills," Ted suggested. Nick laughed, "Um, no that's OK. I'm sure I'll make it without them." "OK, but if you change you're mind," Ted said. "I'll let you know," Nick said. "Alright. I've got to make my rounds, but I'll call when I get the results," Ted said. "OK, thanks again," Nick said. "Anytime. Tell Lyn I said hello," Ted said. "I will, goodbye," Nick said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sun was starting to set, and the light was fading fast. Brian kept walking, although he was almost to the point of collapsing. He didn't want to spend another night in the woods, freezing. Aleisha looked over at him, "Brian, we should stop." He just shook his head, "No, I'm OK." Aleisha stared at him for a moment, knowing that he was pushing himself. "It won't be long now," she said. Together they walked in silence. Angel ran ahead, making a path through the snow for them. Finally they came to the trail head, Brian's car was sitting there underneath a good six inches of snow. Aleisha dropped the pack off her shoulders and found the pocket with the keys in it. She scraped the snow away from the door handle and unlocked the car. Aleisha helped Brian into the passengers seat, and popped the trunk before starting the car. She put the pack in the trunk, then went about digging the car out from under all of the snow. Brian was watching her from inside, glad the heater was working. Angel barked at Aleisha and walked over to the car door. "You want in too?" she asked. Angel jumped up on the door, then looked at her and barked again. Aleisha laughed, "OK," she said, walking over and letting the wolf in the backseat. She finished clearing the snow off the car and jumped in the drivers seat, "Damn, feels good in here." Brian smiled at her, "Yeah it does." Aleisha warmed her hands under the vents for a moment, then put the car in gear, and backed out. They slowly made their way down the country road to the highway. "It won't be long now," Aleisha said. "Good, I can't wait to get out of these clothes and into a warm bed," Brian said. "Yeah, me too," she said. An hour later they were pulling up to Aleisha's house. It was a small farm house, out in the country. She had no close neighbors. She helped Brian out of the car and into the house. Brian made his way over to the couch and sat down, as Aleisha turned on the gas logs in the fire place. "We'll leave this on till we get warm," she said. Brian smiled, his feet were already beginning to warm up. He looked around. The living room and kitchen were one big room, decorated in a country motif. "I know this place isn't what you're used to," Aleisha said, seeing him look around. "No, it's great," Brian said. She held out her hand to him, "I'll show you where your room is." Brian followed her down the small hall to his room. "Do you need help changing, or do you think you can get it?" she asked. "I'm sure I can get it. If not I'll yell," he said. She smiled and set the pack down on the bed. She then pulled all of his clothes out, leaving them there, and taking the pack with her as she left the room. Brian kicked off his shoes and picked out the sweats he wanted to wear. He started trying to unbutton the shirt he had on, and found that with his hands bandaged as they were, he couldn't. The same with unbuttoning his jeans. Angel whined at him. "I know. I'm freaking helpless," he said, frustrated. He sat down on the side of the bed and hung his head, "Aleisha?" After a minute she knocked on the door, "Did you yell?" "Yeah, looks like I need help after all," he said, slightly embarrassed. Aleisha smiled and came in. Brian stood up and watched as she unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off his shoulders. She then took the sweat shirt and put it over his head, guiding his arms through the sleeves. Brian fidgeted nervously as she undid his jeans and pulled them down. He stepped out of them, and into the waiting pair of sweat pants she was holding. She pulled them up and looked at him, "There you go." "Thanks," he said as he followed her back to the living room. Brian sat on one end of the couch. "That reclines," Aleisha said. "That'd be nice," Brian said. Aleisha walked over and reclined it for him. Then she went down the hall and got a blanket from a closet and brought it back, laying it over him. She handed him the remote to the TV, "Think you can work this?" "Oh yeah, I can work this," he said excitedly. She laughed at him as she walked into the kitchen and found something to fix to eat. Brian was flipping through the channels when Aleisha came back with a plate of food. "God that looks good," Brian said. Aleisha smiled as she fed Brian. "I'll call my doctor friend in the morning and see if he can get you in," she said. Brian just nodded his head as he ate. "I'll also have to call the station and report in," she said. He stopped eating and looked at her. "I won't tell them," she said, knowing what he was going to ask. "Thank you," he said, continuing to eat. Brian finished eating, and Aleisha went to put his plate up, and eat. She watched as Angel made her a spot on the floor next to Brian, and in front of the fire place. She was still amazed that this wolf was as tame as she was, and as intelligent as she seemed to be. She finished eating and walked back over, finding Brian asleep on the couch. She smiled at him, reaching down and taking the remote out from under his hand and turning the TV off. She made sure the blanket was secure around him, and turned the light off, heading to her own room. Chapter 19 |