| Chapter 28 Kevin and Aleisha watched as Brian seemed to be talking with himself. "What's he doing?" Aleisha asked. Kevin thought he knew, but just shook his head in response. They continued to watch as Brian cried, then closed his eyes. "Thank you God," Kevin whispered. Aleisha stood in the window, watching him intently. She knew he was praying, and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't lose the hold she had on him, or the others, not now. Damn you Nick, even when you're in a coma, you're messing things up, she thought. Just then Ted and Lyn came around the corner. Kevin smiled at them, "He finally let go." Lyn looked at him, then into the room. She smiled, the first smile since she'd gotten there. "Let's give him some time," Ted said. Lyn nodding in agreement. "It's sad," she said. "What's sad?" Aleisha asked. "That it took this to bring him back," Lyn answered. Aleisha stared at her, then walked over to the waiting area and sat down. Kevin talked with Lyn and Ted for a while before they decided to go into the room. When they had gone back in, he walked over and sat down next to her, "You OK?" Aleisha looked at him, "Yeah, why?" "I don't know, you seem kind of angry," Kevin said. "I'm not. I'm just frustrated," she said. "Bout what?" he asked. "Just that this all happened. That Brian's been blaming himself for it, and that everyone is hurting so much," she said, looking up at him. Kevin smiled at her, "Well, I'm glad that Brian has you to help him. We'll get through this, just like we've gotten through everything else." "You're all like one great big family, it's great that Nick and Brain have you all to count on," Aleisha said. "Well, you're included in that family now. We all stick by each other, no matter what," Kevin said. She smiled, "Thanks Kevin." He smiled back at her, picking up a magazine and looking through it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn and Ted made their way into the room. Brian was sitting by the side of the bed, gently holding Nick's hand. "Brian," Lyn said. He looked up, his face stained with tears. She smiled at him. Brian wiped his face, "I didn't realize you guys were back." "It's OK," Lyn said, walking over to him, "You're welcome to stay here as long as you want." Brian shook his head, "No, you go ahead. I'll be outside." Brian started to get up, but stopped, looking back at Nick with a shocked look on his face. "What is it?" Lyn asked. He looked at her, "He won't let go of my hand." Ted walked around to the other side of the bed. He scanned Nick's monitors and noticed a slight change in them. Brian and Lyn watched as he started to examine him. "Look," Lyn said, seeing Nick's eyes flutter. "Come on Nick, open your eyes," Brian said. Nick slowly opened his eyes, blinking them. He looked at everyone, then closed his eyes again, releasing his grip on Brian's hand. "Ted, what's going on?" Brian asked. "He's trying to wake up, that's what's going on," Ted said, a smile on his face. "Why can't he stay awake?" Lyn asked, looking down at Nick. "Honey, his body has been through a horrific trauma. It'll probably take him a while to fully wake up. But his vital signs are improving," Ted answered, looking over the monitors once again. Brain and Lyn smiled at each other. Both their faces full of hope. "Brian, run down to the nurse's station and get a nurse down here," Ted said. Brian nodded his head and ran out of the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin saw Brian run out of the room and yelled at him, "What's going on?" Brian stopped, "Nick, he's trying to wake up." Brian continued on his way, as Kevin and Aleisha got up and walked over to the window. Ted and Lyn were talking. Ted was pointing to several of the monitors, apparently explaining something to Lyn about them. Kevin pulled out his cell phone, "Guess I'll call Howie's and let them know." "Let us know what?" A.J. said as they all came around the corner. "Nick's trying to wake up," Kevin said, a smile on his face. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Brian came back with a nurse. He stayed outside as she went in. "Bri, what happened in there?" Aleisha asked. He smiled, "I got up to leave and he wouldn't let go of my hand. Then he opened his eyes, but just for a second." Aleisha took Brian's hand in hers, squeezing it, "I know you must be relieved." "Oh, I'm so much more than just relieved," he said, leaning close and gently kissing her on the cheek. "So when's he gonna be awake?" Kira asked. "Ted said it may take a while for him to fully wake up," Brian said, looking through the window. "Well, I guess we sit and wait then," Howie said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The day passed by slowly. Nick's vitals improved throughout the day. He had also started fighting against the ventilator to breathe on his own, so Ted took him off of it and put him on oxygen. They moved him from ICU to a regular room, and were just getting him settled. The longer they waited, the more nervous Aleisha became. She didn't know what she was going to do if Nick woke up and remembered what had happened. Every time Nick moved, or made a sound she would jump. Everyone was in the room. The TV was on, mostly just for the noise. A.J. had struck up a card game with Howie and Kevin. Leighanne, Kristin and Kira were talking. Lyn was sitting by Nick's side, and Brian and Aleisha were sharing a chair. "What's wrong?" Brian asked her. She looked at him, "Huh?" "You just seem a bit nervous. Is something bothering you?" he asked. She smiled at him, "I just don't like being cooped up in this room, that's all." "We could take a walk if you want," Brian suggested. "Naw, I know you want to be here when he wakes up," she said. Brian stared into her eyes, "Thanks for being here with me." "Bri, I would go to the ends of the earth for you," she said. He smiled and kissed her, feeling the desire flow through his body. "Nick?" Lyn said. Brian broke the kiss and looked over, seeing Nick's eyes open. Everyone stopped what they were doing and crowded around the bed. Nick was blinking his eyes, and trying to look at everyone. "Guys, where's his hearing aid?" Lyn asked. They looked at one another. "I don't know, he had it on when they brought him in," Brian said. "I'll go down to the nurses station and see if they can find it," Kira said, leaving the room. Lyn touched him on the shoulder. Nick looked at her. "How are you feeling?" she signed. A look of confusion came over his face. "Do you understand what I'm signing?" Lyn asked. Nick just stared at her. "He doesn't understand," Leighanne said. Ted came into the room with a nurse, followed by Kira. Ted handed Lyn Nick's hearing aid. Lyn started to put it in his ear, when Nick raised his hand, pushing her away. She looked at him trying to figure out how to make him understand. She held the aid in between her fingers and pointed to it, then to her ear, then to him. Nick stared at her for a moment, then put his hands down, letting her place the aid in his ear. He winced at the sound bombarding him. "Shit," A.J. said, running over and turning the TV off. Everyone started to talk at once, then stopped. "Nick, can you hear me OK?" Lyn asked. Nick was looking around, seemingly trying to figure out where he was at. "Nick?" Lyn said, reaching over and touching his face. He turned his head around and stared at her. "Can you hear me?" she asked again. He nodded his head, fear and confusion in his eyes. Ted walked over, "Can everyone leave the room for a few minutes?" Everyone reluctantly complied. Nick watched as they all filed out, then looked over at Ted. "Nick, do you know where you are?" he asked. "Hospital," Nick whispered. "Yes. Do you know how you got here?" Ted asked. Nick shook his head. Ted smiled at him, "That's OK, I didn't expect you to know." Nick stared at Ted, and the look in his eyes sent chills down his back. "I need to ask you something," Ted started. Nick looked at him expectantly. "The people that were just in here, did you recognize any of them?" Ted asked. Nick's gaze went from Ted to the people standing outside. He could see them through the window, staring back at him. "No," he said. Ted closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Can you tell me what you're name is?" Nick started to speak, then stopped. He looked up at Ted, "I don't know," his eyes filling with tears. Ted's heart felt like it was breaking. Nick reached up, "Why can't I remember who I am?" Ted sat down on the side of the bed, "Nick, you were in a terrible accident. You've sustained a serious head injury, and were in a coma for several days." Nick stared at him through his tears, "Doc, what's my name?" "It's Nickolas Carter. Everyone calls you Nick," Ted said. "Do you know me?" Nick asked. Ted smiled as a tear fell down his cheek, "Yes I do. I'm your girlfriends Uncle." "Girlfriend?" Nick asked, looking outside again. "The one that spoke to you," Ted said. Nick found her standing outside, worry in her face. "What's her name?" Nick asked. "Her name is Lyn," Ted said. Nick wiped his tears with the back of his hand, noticing the bandages. "What happened to me?" he asked. "We really aren't sure. You were at Brian's house," Ted started. "Brian? Who's he?" Nick asked. "He's your best friend. The short blonde one," Ted said. Nick could see him standing close to Lyn, "OK." "The police think that someone broke in, not knowing you were there. Brian and Kevin came back to find the house in shambles and you at the bottom of the stairs," Ted finished. "Doc?" Nick said. "It's Ted." "Ted, will I ever get my memory back?" Nick asked. Ted stared at him, "I don't know. I've seen cases where people got everything back, but then some never get 100% back. I just don't know." Nick nodded his head, looking down. "Nick, all of those people out there are your closest friends. Do you want to see them?" Ted asked. Nick looked up at him, "I'm not sure. I feel like I should though." Ted stood up, "OK, let me go out and tell them what's going on." Nick watched him leave the room, then broke down in tears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ted came out of the room, wiping his tears. "What's wrong?" Lyn asked, worry in her eyes. "Guys, come sit down and talk with me for a minute," Ted said. Everyone exchanged worried glances as they went over to the waiting area. Ted waited until everyone had sat down before speaking. "There's no other way to say this, than to just say it. Nick has amnesia," he said. "What?!" Brian said. "Oh God," Lyn whispered. "Does he remember anything, anyone?" Kevin asked. Ted shook his head, "He has no memory of any of you, or even who he is." Lyn broke down in tears. Kira and Howie trying to comfort her. A.J. threw a magazine across the room, "Damn it!" "Can we see him?" Howie asked. "Does he even want to see us?" Leighanne asked. Ted nodded his head, "He does. But guys remember, he's really confused and upset right now. He needs to rest as much as possible, so don't stay very long." Everyone nodded as they tried to compose themselves. Aleisha walked behind the rest to the room, relieved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick wiped his eyes as everyone entered the room. They all filed around the bed, staring at him. "Um, I guess we should all introduce ourselves," Kevin said, "I'm Kevin, this is my wife Kristin." Nick nodded at them. "I'm Howie, this is my fiancee Kira," Howie said. "I'm Brian, this is my girlfriend Aleisha," he said. Nick looked at them, focusing on Aleisha for a second, then he nodded. "I'm A.J., my fiancee couldn't come, but her name's Sarah," A.J. said. Nick looked over at Lyn. "Lyn," she said, "I'm uh....." "She's your girlfriend," A.J. said for her. Nick smiled at her. They all stood there, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry," Nick said, in barely more than a whisper. "For what?" Lyn asked. "Because I can't remember who you are, and I know I should," he said. "Nick, don't be sorry. You can't help it, and we understand that," Kevin said. Nick moved a little and winced in pain. "Nick, you've got broken ribs, and you had to have surgery. You shouldn't be moving around," Kristin said. Nick laughed a little, "Now you tell me." Everyone smiled. "Do you need some pain medicine?" Brian asked. Nick nodded, "That would be nice." Ted ordered some, and the nurse went to get it. "How do we all know each other? Are we related?" Nick asked. "We were in a singing group together," Kevin answered. "Were?" Nick asked. "Yeah, you had to leave the group when um," A.J. said, pointing at his ear. "Oh," Nick said. "Nick, we've been together for over ten years now. We're more like brothers than friends anymore, so yeah, we are related," Howie said. Nick nodded his head as the nurse came back in. She added the pain medicine to Nick's IV and left the room. "Well, we should all probably be going," Kevin said, seeing Ted looking at him. "We'll come see you tomorrow," Brian said. Nick nodded as everyone but Lyn and Ted left the room. He watched them out in the hall, they were all holding back tears. "Nick, I....um," Lyn started. He smiled at her, "You can stay. I really don't want to be here alone." She smiled at him, "Thanks." The medicine was starting to take affect, and Nick was fighting to stay awake, "Lyn?" "Yes," she said. "How long have we been together?" he asked. "Um, almost a year now," she said, tears in her eyes. Nick reached up and wiped away a tear, "I wish I could remember." She smiled at him, "You will." He closed his eyes, giving in to the medicine, "I hope so," he said, drifting off to sleep. Lyn watched as he fell to sleep, "I hope so too." Chapter 29 |