| Chapter 3 A.J. pulled into the hospital parking lot and into a parking space at break neck speed. He slammed on the breaks and threw the car in park. Everyone piled out and ran to the entrance. Gary had pulled up to the emergency entrance, and two nurses were helping Leighanne out of the car. Brian ran past them and into the emergency room. There was a nurse at the desk, he ran up to her, "Tara Littrell, they just brought her in." The nurse looked up at him, "Sir, they are working on her, let me take you to a more private waiting room." Nick and Lyn exchanged glances as the nurse left the desk and led them down a hallway and into the room. "The doctor will be in to talk with you as soon as he can," she said, leaving. Kevin came in, with Howie and A.J. "Any news yet?" he asked. "Nurse said the doc would be in as soon as he could," Nick answered. "Where are the girls?" Lyn asked. "They went with Lee and the baby. They are getting checked out," Howie said. Brian was pacing the floor, praying with every fiber of his soul that Tara would be alright. "Brian, please sit down," Kevin said, walking up to him and putting his hand on Brian's shoulder. "I can't," Brian said, "Kev, what am I gonna do if she....?" "Don't even think it," Nick said, "This is Tara we're talking about." "Yeah, Bri, she's strong. She'll make it," A.J. said. Brian looked at his friends, he knew they were as scared as he was, but they were trying to be strong for him. He turned and looked out the window. The storm was just now subsiding, and the moon shown through the clouds for a moment. Please God, please just let her make it, Brian prayed. He looked down at his left hand. He had placed Tara's wedding ring on his pinky finger when she'd handed it to him. He stared at his ring and her's next to each other on his hand, that's how it should be for the rest of their lives. Both of them together, never apart. They had been waiting in the room for what seemed like an eternity, in actuality it had only been a little over an hour. Finally the doctor came in. "Mr. Littrell?" he asked. Brian turned around and faced him, fear and hope in his eyes. "How is she?" he asked. "Mr. Littrell, maybe we should sit down," the doctor suggested. Brian stepped closer to the man, "I don't wanna sit down, I wanna know how my wife is." The doctor nodded his head, "I'm sorry, Mr. Littrell, she's gone." Brian stood there staring at the man, his entire world crashing in on him. Lyn was in tears, and Nick looked like someone had just punched him in the stomach. Kevin was trying to hold it together, but despite his best efforts, he could feel his own tears stain his cheeks. Howie and A.J. both sat down, in complete disbelief and shock. Suddenly Brian lunged at the doctor, pinning him against the closest wall. "You're wrong! She's not dead, she can't be!" Brian screamed in the man's face. Kevin pulled Brian back, and the doctor gave the nurse that was with him some instructions, and she ran out of the room. Brian was struggling against Kevin's hold, and managed to turn around and punch Kevin in the mouth. Kevin let Brian go, but Nick caught him before he made it back to the doctor. "Let me go, damn it!" Brian yelled. "No," Nick said, tightening his grip. A.J. and Howie came over to try and help. Brian kicked A.J. in the chest as he walked toward him. A.J. fell to his knees, the breath knocked out of him. The nurse came back in carrying a syringe. She handed it to the doctor. "Guys, if you can hold him down," the doctor said, walking toward Brian. "No!" Brian screamed, "She promised she wouldn't leave!" "Brian, calm down," Nick said. Brian stomped on Nick's foot and almost got loose. Howie grabbed one of his arms, as Kevin grabbed the other, forcing Brian to the floor. Nick grabbed his legs to keep him from kicking, and A.J. and the doctor held Brian's arm still while the doctor administered the injection. Brian's screams soon turned to small cries as the medicine took effect. "She promised," he whispered as he drifted into unconsciousness. The guys let Brian go, and got up. They were in complete shock that Brian would do something like that. "I'll get a room ready for him," the doctor said. Kevin bent down and picked Brian up and carried him out, following the doctor. "What the hell just happened?" A.J. said, rubbing his chest. "I've never seen Brian like that, ever," Howie said. Lyn looked at them, "He just lost his entire world, how do you expect him to act?" Nick was sitting in a chair rubbing his foot, "She can come back, can't she?" They all looked at him. "I don't know," Lyn said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gary sat next to Leighanne's bed, holding their daughter. Kira and Kristin were there too. Leighanne was worried that they hadn't heard anything about Tara yet. "What's taking them so long?" she asked. "I don't know," Kira said. Just then Howie and Lyn came in the room. The others could tell by their faces that the news wasn't good. Gary looked up at them, "Guys?" Howie and Lyn looked at each other, then to the others. "Tara didn't make it," Howie said. "What?!" Leighanne said, in shock. Kira went to Howie and they held each other as they both cried. Kristin had her hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "How's Brian?" Gary asked. "Not good. He completely freaked out and attacked the doctor. They had to sedate him," Lyn said. "Oh my God," Leighanne said, "This is all my fault." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin, Nick, and A.J. watched as the doctor and nurse put restraints on Brian's arms and legs. "Is that really necessary?" Kevin asked. The doctor looked over at him, "Yes, just until he wakes up and we see how he is." "How long will he be out?" Nick asked. "A few hours, at least until morning," the doctor answered. He and the nurse finished with Brian and turned toward the guys. "Come with me and I'll get you something for your face," the nurse told Kevin. Kevin hadn't noticed until then that his lip was hurting. He looked in the mirror and saw that his lip was split open and swelling. "Go on, we'll stay with him," Nick said. Kevin reluctantly followed the nurse out of the room. The doctor stayed behind, looking at Nick and A.J., "Guys, I know that this has been a very trying day for you all, but I need to ask about arrangements." "Arrangements?" A.J. asked. "Yes, funeral arrangements. We have a great counselor here at the hospital that can help with anything...." the doctor started. "Thanks, but I'll be taking care of them," Lyn said, coming through the door. Nick looked over at her, "Honey, you don't have to." "Yes, I do," Lyn said, "She was my best friend. This is the least I can do for her and for Brian." "OK," the doctor said, "If you need anything have one of the nurses call me." "Thanks doc," Nick said, "And doc?" "Yes?" "I know that Brian didn't mean to do that. He's just not that kind of person," Nick said. The doctor smiled, "Son, I've seen the meekest person do things you would never believe. If I was in his shoes, I don't know that I wouldn't have done the same thing." Nick nodded his head, as Lyn walked over and sat with him. "I'll be back in the morning," the doctor said. "Night, doc," A.J. said, settling into a chair for the long night ahead. The doctor left the room. Lyn walked up to the bed and stared at Brian. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, but she knew his heart had been torn in two. Nick walked up behind her and put his arms around her. Lyn turned to face him, and buried her head in his chest, "I can't believe this happened." "Neither can I," Nick said. They held each other as they both released their tears for their friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian walked through the wheat field. The sun was shining, and he closed his eyes to the brightness, letting his hands drift over the tops of the wheat as he walked. He felt so peaceful here. He opened his eyes and looked around, hoping to see Tara. He didn't. "Why am I here?" he asked, looking towards the sky. Brian stood there for a moment before he walked on. He had taken a few steps when Tracy appeared in front of him, her eyes full of compassion. "Tracy, where's Tara?" Brian asked, looking around. "Brian, she's not here," Tracy said. He stared into her eyes, "What do you mean she's not here? Where is she?" Tracy took his hand and walked with him for a few moments, not saying a word. Brian stopped and looked at her, "Tracy, I need an answer." "Brian, she can't come back," Tracy said. A tear left Brian's eye, "Why not? She has before, we have before. Why is this so different?" "Brian, she sacrificed her life for Leighanne. You both knew that she'd been losing her abilities over the last few months. She was human Brian, and the last thing she did was give her life for someone else. She's in heaven now where she belongs," Tracy said. Brian pulled his hand from Tracy's, "Don't say that. She belongs with me." "Brian, you both knew that if something was to happen she couldn't come back," Tracy said. "I don't care, I can't be here without her," Brian said, crying. Tracy reached out to comfort him, but Brian backed away, hurt and anger in his eyes. "What did I do to deserve this?" he asked. "Brian, you did nothing, you know that," she said. "Then why wouldn't He answer my prayers?" he asked. "Brian, honey, it just doesn't work that way," Tracy said. "Then how the hell is it supposed to work? Why am I wasting my time believing in a God that doesn't seem to care?" Brian said, anger dripping in his voice. "Brian, you don't mean that," Tracy said. Brian backed away from her, glaring into her eyes, "Just leave me alone." "Brian," Tracy said, walking towards him, her hands outstretched. Brian slapped them away, "I mean it, leave me the hell alone!" Tracy looked at him, "Alright, but when you need me, I'll be here for you." "I won't, don't worry," Brian spat, turning and walking away from her. Tracy watched as he walked away. Jade and Gideon appeared next to her. "What are we gonna do?" Jade asked. "We can't do anything until he let's us," Gideon said. "I'm really worried, he's turning his back on the one thing that can get him through this," Tracy said. "I know," Jade said, "This is gonna be a time when his beliefs are tested, and for him to turn his back on God now...." "All we can do is stay close, and wait for him to ask for help," Gideon said. All three watched as Brian left the field, never looking back. Chapter 4 |