| Chapter 24 Aleisha was just finishing breakfast when A.J. walked in the kitchen. "Where's the Bobsy Twins?" he asked. She laughed, "I think they're still upstairs." A.J. sat down as she handed him a plate, "Man, I don't know about Nick. He's having that dream every night now, and it just seems to get worse. He didn't even know Brian for a few seconds after he woke up." Aleisha sat across from him, "Yeah, I could see he was pretty shaken. Wonder why he's having such bad dreams?" A.J. shook his head, "It has to have something to do with his head injury." She looked up at him, "What head injury?" "Brian didn't tell you?" he asked. She shook her head. "Well several months ago, Nick had brain surgery. Where they did it, hasn't healed yet," he said. "I didn't see a scar," Aleisha said, taking a bite. "No you wouldn't, it's under his hair. But every time he gets a headache he holds his head there. You see the bone hasn't grown back together, and now he's gonna have to have another surgery to fix it," A.J. said, sadly. "Aww, that really bites," she said, "No wonder he's having a hard time." "Yeah," A.J. said. Brian came into the room and sat down. Aleisha got up and fixed him a plate, setting it down in front of him. He didn't say anything, but started eating. A.J. and Aleisha glanced at each other, just as Nick and Angel walked in. "I'm going out for a while," Nick said, "Is it OK if Angel comes with me?" Brian didn't answer him, didn't even look up at him. "Yeah Nick, that's fine," Aleisha said, wondering what was going on. "Thanks," Nick said, turning and leaving the room. A.J. raised his eyebrows at Aleisha as the front door slammed. "Brian, did something happen with you and Nick?" Aleisha asked. He didn't answer her. "Bri, what the hell is going on?" A.J. asked. Brian shoved his plate away from him and looked at A.J., "It's between us." A.J. could see the look on Brian's face, the �if you say another word, I'm gonna jump over the table and kick your ass' look. "OK, fine," he said. The three of them sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes. "Um, I called Sarah this morning. I think I may leave tomorrow," A.J. said. "Oh, I was just getting used to having you around," Aleisha said, smiling. A.J. laughed, "Well, I miss my baby, what can I say?" Brian stood up and looked at them, "I uh, I'm gonna go out...I need some air." He grabbed his coat on his way out the door. "OK, I've never seen those two act like that," A.J. said. "I hope they didn't get into a fight," Aleisha said. "No, they've done that. That I've seen. This..I don't know that this is," A.J. said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick pulled his SUV into the drive and jumped out, Angel on his heels. He walked up to the door and rang the bell. After a moment the door opened, "Nick, come in," Kristin said. "Hey, is Kev here?" Nick said, walking in. "Yeah, he's in the office," she said, a little unnerved that Angel was following Nick down the hall. "Thanks," Nick said, turning and heading for the room. Kevin was sitting at his desk, looking over the papers for the groups upcoming promotional tour. Since Brian was back, and seemed to be doing alright, he thought they better get the show on the road, so to speak. "Kev?" Nick said, sticking his head in the door. Kevin looked up, "Hey Nick, what brings you by?" "I need to talk to you," he said, walking in and sitting down, Angel sitting next to him in the floor. Kevin looked at her, "Are you the keeper of the wolf now?" Nick laughed, "Something like that." "So what do you want to talk about?" Kevin asked. Nick looked down, not sure where to start. "Um, I wanna talk to you about Aleisha," he said. "Yeah, what about her," Kevin asked. "Just, um, what do you think about her?" Nick asked. "She's a sweet girl, really friendly, and what she did for Brian, she saved his life,..." Kevin started. "OK, I get the picture, you like her," Nick said. "Well yeah," Kevin said, "Why, don't you?" "I don't know. I mean, how much do we really know about her? It just amazed me that you didn't ask her anything the other night," Nick said. Kevin looked at him funny, "Ask her what?" "Anything, something, hell I don't know. It's just not like you to not want to know all you can about someone we bring in, ya know," Nick said. Kevin thought for a moment, "Yeah, that's not like me is it?" Nick shook his head. "Well, I'm sure she's fine. I mean, Brian really likes her, so she can't be all that bad," Kevin said. Nick sighed, frustrated. "OK Nick, I know that sigh. What is it?" Kevin asked. "I just, I have a really bad feeling about this," Nick said. "Because it's so soon after..." "Partly yeah, but there's just something not right," Nick said. "Have you talked to Brian about it?" Kevin asked. "I tried to this morning, but he wouldn't listen," Nick said. "Well, give him time," Kevin said. "That's just it Kev, I don't know how much time we have," Nick said. Kevin looked at him confused. "Tracy...she told me something was going to happen, and that she couldn't help," Nick said. "And you think it's about Brian?" he asked. "I don't know," Nick said, "I don't know anything anymore." Kevin got up and walked around the desk, sitting next to Nick. "Nick, this is taking a toll on you isn't it?" he asked. Nick nodded his head, trying to fight the tears welling up in his eyes. Angel whined, looking up at him. "Nick, you can't keep all this worry bottled up inside," Kevin said. "I know," Nick whispered. Kevin stared at the younger man, his heart breaking for him, "Nick, you know you can tell me anything." Nick looked at him as a tear trailed down his cheek, "I'm afraid." "Of what? The surgery?" Kevin asked. Nick nodded his head, wiping away his tears, "Yeah, and I'm losing my mind Kev. The dreams are horrible, and they just keep getting worse. I don't know what I'm gonna do...." Kevin reached out and pulled Nick to him, letting him cry on his shoulder, "Nick, we will all be with you through this. Everything will be OK." Nick just continued to cry, knowing that everything would not be OK. Angel walked around so she could see Nick's face, staring at him. Nick saw her through his tears, and pulled away from Kevin. "Nick, why don't you stay here today. We can hang out, talk, whatever," Kevin suggested. "I'd like that," Nick said. Kevin smiled, "Good. Now first things first, how did you get stuck with the wolf?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian sat in his car, staring out the window. He sighed and got out, walking the short distance to the grave. There was only a small marker, the tombstone wouldn't be placed on the grave for a few months yet. Brian sat down on the cold ground and played with a strand of grass for a moment. He took a deep breath, "Hi Tara. I know this is silly, me sitting here talking to a marker, but...Well, I know you can't hear me, but I'm gonna say what's on my mind anyway. I think I'm in love. She's a really great girl, and I think that you would've liked her. The only problem is Nick. He thinks she's controlling me or something, I dunno. Anyway, I just, well, I miss you. I think I always will, some part of my heart will always belong to you. But, Aleisha...oh that's her name by the way, Aleisha, she stirs feelings in me that I can't explain. I...I just have to be with her, and just the thought of her leaving makes me sick. I don't know what I'm gonna do if I have to choose between her and Nick. I hope it doesn't come to that, cause I'm afraid of the answer." "Nick's been having these awful dreams, and he thinks that something is gonna happen. When did he become you?" he laughed. "I mean, I know why we had the dreams we had, but him, I don't know. I'm not sure I want to. All I want right now is to feel loved and wanted, and Aleisha makes me feel that way, and more. I know you understand how I feel. You were angry for a long time too, right? So you know why I'm doing this. Tara, he asked me to pray for him. I..I just can't explain how I feel to him so he'll understand. I can't talk to a God I don't believe in anymore." Brian shook his head, "I know he's scared about his surgery...oh I didn't tell you, he's having to have another surgery. His skull didn't grow back together like it should have. So, I know he want's me to pray for him, but I just can't." Brian looked up as a crow flew over head, cawing. "Tara, I have to follow my heart right now. And my heart want's to be with Aleisha. I'll be there for Nick when he has his surgery, but I'm not promising him anything. Maybe someday I'll be able to, but not right now. Not when it's so fresh, and raw. I still love you, but I have to think about the rest of my life. I have to think about moving on, and I think that Aleisha is the one to do that with. Well, I guess I'm gonna go, I can't feel my ass anymore," he said laughing. He ran his hand over the ground, "Bye Tara." He got up and brushed his backside off, turning and heading to his car. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick pulled in the drive, feeling better after having been at Kevin's all day. Angel was dancing in the seat next to him, anxious to get out. He laughed at her, "Let me turn the car off first." He did and opened the door, only to have Angel jump over him and out of the vehicle. Nick let himself in the house and found A.J. in his room packing. "You leaving?" Nick asked. "Yeah, got a flight out in the morning," A.J. said. "Oh, I bet Sarah is happy you're coming home," Nick said. A.J. smiled, "Yeah, I can't wait to get home." "Where's the love birds at?" Nick said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Well, Bri left after you did, and he hasn't come back yet. Aleisha was in the kitchen, last I saw her," A.J. said. "OK," Nick said, getting up and heading to the door. "Nick, go easy on her. She really is a nice person," A.J. said. Nick just stared at him for a moment, then left the room. He walked downstairs and into the kitchen. Aleisha was sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading a book. She looked up at him when he came in, "Hey." "Hi," Nick said, sitting down across from her. "You hungry, I could fix something," she offered. "No thanks," he said. She stared at him, "So what's on your mind?" "You," he said flatly. "Me?" she asked, "Why?" "I don't know. I'm just wondering what you did to make Brian do a complete 180," Nick said. "What do you mean?" Aleisha asked. "Just that, when Brian left, he was devastated. He left a note that sounded like he didn't intend on coming back. We all thought that he was gonna, well you know," Nick said. Aleisha nodded her head. "And in a matter of what, two weeks, he comes back with you, acting like nothing happened," Nick said. "Nick, he puts on a good front," she said, "He's still missing her." "Then why are you with him?" Nick asked. "Because I care about him," she answered. Nick was glaring at her, "How can you care about him that much. You two haven't known each other long enough." "Nick, I can't explain it, it's just there. We both feel it, and we both want it," she said, meeting his stare. "Nick, you know it hurts him that we don't get along," she said. "Yeah," Nick said, looking down. "Did I do something to make you mad at me?" Aleisha asked. Nick shook his head, "No, I just....I'm just concerned." "About?" "About where this is going," he said, "Are you gonna be here in two months? Are you gonna stay with him when he's out touring? Or are you in it for what you can get, and then out the door at the first sign of trouble?" "I assure you, I'm here for as long as Brian want's me to be," she said, offended. "What if tomorrow he changes his mind, would you leave?" Nick asked. "If he asked me to," she said, "I would. But I don't think that'll happen." "Why not? People change their minds about things all the time," Nick said. She smiled at him, and a chill went down his back, "I think I know him well enough now. I don't think he would." Nick stared at her for a few moments. She reached over the table and took his hand in hers, "Nick, I know that you're concerned for Brian. What kind of friend would you be if you weren't. But I promise you, I would never hurt him. I care for him to much." Nick was trying to be angry at her, but he couldn't. As soon as she touched him, and he looked into her eyes, all the anger just left. "I want us to be friends Nick, for Brian's sake," she said. "Yeah OK," he heard himself saying. She smiled at him, and his heart melted. How could he be angry with her, she was so cute. She let go of his hands and got up. "I'm gonna go watch some TV, wanna join me?" she asked. Nick's mind was spinning, wasn't he angry at her not five seconds ago? "Um, no that's OK," he said. "OK, suit yourself," she said, leaving the room. Nick sat there for a little while, trying to figure out what just happened. He heard Brian come in a few minutes ago, but didn't go meet him. He knew their conversation that morning had upset him, he meant for it to. He figured if Brian wanted to talk to him, that he would come find him. Nick was rubbing his head, trying to will off another headache. He got up and was heading upstairs. Brian followed him up and went into his room with him, closing the door. Nick looked at him. "Nick, I'm sorry for running out on you this morning, it's just that I can't do what you're asking me to," he said. Nick sat down on the bed, "Why Brian?" Brian walked over and sat down, "I'm not the same person I used to be. I don't believe in the things I used to." "Brian, I don't understand why. In the worst of times you always held on to your faith, and it always got you through. Why is this different?" Nick asked. "It just is Nick. I lost my entire world, that changes you," Brian said. "But you're doing better right? You wouldn't be with Aleisha if you weren't," Nick said. "I am, but I'm not willing to give up that much of my life anymore," Brian answered. "Bri, aren't you the one that told me that believing never cost anything. That I didn't have to give anything up to believe," Nick said. Brian sighed, knowing he wasn't going to make Nick understand. "Nick, lets just agree to disagree on this right now," he said. Nick shook his head, "I can't Brian. I just can't." Brian started to say something when Nick grabbed his head, "Damn it." "You got another headache?" Brian asked. Nick nodded his head, "Bri, they're getting worse." "Where's your medicine?" Brian asked. "On the dresser I think," Nick said, laying down on the bed. Brian looked but didn't see it. He walked in the bathroom and looked around, still not finding it. He walked through the room and out the door, leaning over the banister, "Leisha, do you know where Nick's medicine is?" She and A.J. were watching TV. She looked up, "It's not in his room?" "No, I can't find it, and he really needs it," Brian said. She got up and went upstairs, walking into Nick's room and looking around. Nick was holding his head, his eyes closed against the pain. He felt like his head was going to explode any second now. She finally saw the bottle in the floor next to the bed, "Here it is." Brian took the bottle and poured out the capsules, sitting next to Nick. "Here, take these," he said. Nick just shook his head, he was beyond them helping him now. "Nick come on, you gotta take them," Brian said. Aleisha walked over, sitting on the other side of the bed. She took Nick's hand in hers and started massaging it. "Nick, take your pills and go to sleep. You'll feel better when you wake up," she said. Nick looked over at her, he didn't know why, but every time she touched him he had a hard time thinking. "Nick, please," Brian said, getting worried. Nick reached up with his free hand and took the pills from Brian, swallowing them. Nick started to drift off to sleep. Aleisha looked over at Brian, "This one hit fast." "Yeah it did. I'm worried about him," he said. She smiled, "Well, I'm sure he'll feel better when he wakes up." "I hope so," Brian said. "Why don't you go down and spend some time with A.J. before he leaves. I'll stay and do this for a while, make sure he's resting OK before I stop," Aleisha said. Brian nodded his head, "OK. Don't be to long," he said, getting up. "I won't," she said as he left the room. Aleisha looked down at Nick. She massaged his hand for a while longer, then moved over to the other side, and did the same. All the while she was thinking. When she was done she gently laid his hand down, looking at him. "I know what I have to do now. I can't have you causing trouble with me and Brian, not when I'm so close to everything I've ever wanted," she said, reaching up and gently touching his face with her fingers. Nick moaned in his sleep as she ran her fingers down his cheek. She smiled, getting up and leaving Nick to his dreams. Chapter 25 |