| Chapter 30 Brian woke up to the sound of people in the house. He sat up looking around, Aleisha wasn't there. He got out of bed and walked out looking over the banister, "Leish?" She came around the corner, "Did we wake you?" "What's going on?" he asked. "Cleaners are here," she answered. "Oh, already?" he said. "Bri, it's nine a.m." Aleisha said, as she walked up the stairs. Brian watched her come up, stepping on the blood stains as she did. "Why don't you get ready and go see Nick, and I'll come up after they're done," she suggested. "You sure? I could stay here until they're finished, then we could go together," Brian said. "Naw, you two need to spend some time alone with each other," she said, smiling. "OK, you'll come after they get done?" he asked. She nodded her head, "Yeah, we could go have lunch while we're out." "Sounds good," Brian said going back into the bedroom to get ready. She watched him go smiling to herself, Putty in my hands, she thought. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn sat next to the bed watching Nick sleep. She was tired of reading, and Nick's sleep had become restless in the last hour. He moved around a little, mumbling something intelligible. She was watching his monitors, and getting concerned. His heart rate had increased dramatically. Lyn reached over and hit the nurses button asking them to send Ted in. A few minutes later Ted came in the door, "Something wrong?" "I don't know," she said, "I think he's having a nightmare or something." Ted walked over and scanned the monitors, then looked down at Nick. He was breaking out in a sweat and his breathing was becoming erratic. Nick moved again, "No, don't," he mumbled. Lyn looked at Ted, "Do you think he's dreaming about what happened?" "I don't know, but we need to wake him up," he said, "He can't be moving around like that." Brian came through the door seeing Nick squirming in the bed, "What's going on?" "He's having a nightmare," Lyn said, as Brian walked over to the side of the bed. Ted reached down to try and wake Nick up, just as he sat straight up in the bed, "NO!" Nick looked around his eyes wide with fear. "Nick, it's OK," Brian said, reaching out to him. Nick jerked away from his hands, pulling the oxygen off and trying to get out of the bed. "Nick, stop," Ted said, grabbing his arm. Nick swung around and punched Ted in the mouth, "Let go!" Brian pushed Lyn out of the way and grabbed Nick, "Nick wake up!" Nick was struggling against him, "Don't do this to me! I didn't do anything!" Brian fought his own tears, "God, Nicky wake up!" Lyn ran out of the room to get a nurse, coming back a few moments later. Nick managed to pull his IV out and was pushing Brian off him when Ted took the sedative from the nurse and plunged it into Nick's arm. Nick was gasping for air, holding his chest with both his hands, "You can't have it!" he yelled, tears running down his face. The drug started to take affect and Nick lay back in the bed, "Why?" he whispered as he fell into unconsciousness. Brian and Lyn looked at each other, both shaken to the core. Ted was wiping the blood from his mouth, "Nurse, go get a suture kit." She nodded and left the room. Brian looked down at Nick, seeing the blood coming from his side, "Oh God." "I'm sure he tore his stitches," Ted said. Lyn wiped the tears from her eyes, "His nightmares were that bad?" Brian shook his head, "This is the worse one I've seen." The nurse came back in. "Why don't you two wait out in the hall," Ted said. Brian put his arm around Lyn and they left the room. They both stood outside the window, watching as Ted re-stitched Nick's side and then checked his hands, having to re-suture some of the wounds there as well. Lyn couldn't stop her tears, and Brian held her as she cried. "God, what happened to him?" she asked. "I don't know, but I swear if I ever find out who did it, I'll kill em," Brian said. Ted came out into the hall, "You can come back in now." Lyn and Brian went in, watching as the nurse changed the bed sheets with Nick still in the bed. Another nurse had come in and was putting his IV in the other arm. Brian watched as Nick was placed in restraints. "No, please don't put those on him," he begged. "Brian, I can't keep re-stitching his wound. If he wakes up and is calm, I'll take them off," Ted said. Lyn made her way to his side and took his hand in hers. "Brian, you need to tell me everything about Nick's nightmares," Ted said. "Um, OK. He started having them when I was gone...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin and Kristin were sitting at the table eating a late breakfast. Angel was sitting in the floor next to Kevin looking up at him. He looked down, "You hungry?" She barked at him. Kevin sat his plate down in the floor and watched as she licked it clean. "Honey," Kristin said, disgusted. Kevin looked at her, "What?" Kristin shook her head and got up, taking the empty plate from Angel and heading into the kitchen. Kevin laughed, "Girls just don't get it do they?" Angel wagged her tail, then looked down the hall. Kevin watched her, "What you looking at?" Angel whined but kept staring down the dark hall. Kevin got up and walked over looking in the direction Angel was. "There's nothing there," Kevin said, looking back at Angel. She looked at him and half barked, half whined, prompting him to look again. Kevin's eyes widen with shock and his mouth dropped open, "Oh my God," he whispered. Kristin came out of the kitchen and saw Kevin staring down the hall. "Kev, what are you looking at?" she asked. He looked over at her, and the look on his face scared her. "Kevin, what is it?" He looked back, seeing nothing. "I, um, I just saw Tara," he said. "What?" Kristin asked, walking over to him and taking a look down the hall herself. "Honey, there's nothing there," she said. Kevin was shaking as he walked back over to his chair and sat down, "I know, but there was...she was." "Was she just standing there?" Kristin asked. "It was like she was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't hear anything, then she just disappeared," he said. "Are you sure you saw her? Sure the light wasn't just playing tricks with you?" Kristin asked. "No, it was her, I know it was," Kevin said. "Kevin, what's this gonna do to Brian? You have to tell him," she said. He shook his head, "I don't know, but you're right, I have to say something." Angel put her head on Kevin's lap and whined. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aleisha walked into Nick's room. Brian and Lyn were talking quietly with each other, Nick was asleep. "Brian, did something happen? Why does he have restraints on?" she asked. Brian walked up to her, giving her a hug, "He had a nightmare. He couldn't wake up from it, and he was fighting us. He tore his stitches, so they put those on him." "Oh, that must've been awful," she said. "It was, it was almost like watching him relive what happened to him," Brian said. Aleisha looked at him concerned, "What was he saying?" "He was trying to get away from us, saying that he didn't do anything, and for us to leave him alone," Brian answered. "And then he said that we couldn't have it, whatever it is," Lyn added. Aleisha breathed a sigh of relief, "So what does that mean? Is he getting his memory back?" Brian shook his head, "We don't know." Kevin and Kristin walked in. The look on Kevin's face was disturbing. "Cuz, I need to talk to you for a minute," Kevin said. Brian looked at him with concern as he followed him out the door into the hall. "Kev, you look like shit. What's going on?" Brian asked. Kevin stared at him, his green eyes blazing, "Brian, I saw Tara this morning." Brian glared at him, "That's not funny." "Do I look like I'm joking?" Kevin asked, "Brian, I saw her in my hallway." "Kev she's gone. Tracy said she couldn't come back, so just stop it," Brian said, turning to walk away. Kevin grabbed his arm, "Brian, she's was there. I would never lie to you about this, you know that." Brian pulled his arm away from Kevin's grip, "Just stop it. I don't know what you want to accomplish by doing this, but don't ever say her name to me again!" he yelled. "Brian, I'm not...." Brian pushed Kevin against the window of Nick's room, holding him there by his throat, "Not ever Kevin! You got it!?" Everyone ran out of the room, just as Howie and his crew came down the hall. "What the hell is going on?" A.J. asked, seeing the cousins. Brian let Kevin go, grabbing Aleisha's hand and storming down the hall. Kevin dropped to his knees holding his throat, gasping for air. Howie and A.J. helped him up, and they moved back into the room. "Damn that little prick is strong," Kevin said rubbing his neck. "You mind telling us what just happened?" Leighanne asked. Kevin told them what he'd seen that morning and how Brian had reacted to it. Everyone was in shock. "But she couldn't come back," Howie said. "Well obviously she found some way to," Kevin said. "But what if that was the only time we're gonna see her?" A.J. said, "What did she say to you?" Kevin shook his head, "I couldn't hear her." "Tell me you read her lips," Lyn said. Kevin shook his head, "I was so shocked I just didn't think." Nick groaned, and everyone turned their attention to him. He opened his eyes and started to raise his hand up, realizing he was tied down. "What happened? Why am I tied up?" he asked, looking at them. "Nick, you had a violent nightmare and tore your stitches," Lyn told him. "I don't remember," he said. She smiled at him, "It's OK. I'll take these off." She removed the restraints and raised the bed up some. "Thanks," he said, looking at the others. "Why does everyone look like they just got back from a funeral?" he asked. They all exchanged glances. "What? Did I say something wrong?" Nick asked. "No Nick, there are just some things we haven't told you that you need to know," Kevin said. "OK," Nick said, staring at him. "Now you have to listen to the whole thing, it's kinda out there and you need to keep an open mind about it," Kevin said. "Kalvin, just tell me," Nick said. A.J. and Howie laughed. "I got it wrong again didn't I?" Nick asked. Kevin nodded, "It's Kevin." "Damn, sorry," he said. "At least you're trying," Leighanne said, patting his leg. Nick smiled at her, "Well?" Kevin sat down on the side of the bed, "It all started about two years ago. We were on tour and Brian started getting these letters......." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian was furious. He didn't say anything until he and Aleisha had left the hospital and were in the car. "Brian, tell me what happened," she asked. "Kevin, that asshole. He told me he saw my wife this morning," Brian spat. "Your wife? Your dead wife?" she asked. Brian nodded. "Bri, what would make him say something like that?" Aleisha asked. "I don't know. I'm just so pissed that he did that," he said. "Bri, calm down," she said, reaching across the car and putting her hand on his knee. He looked up at her, his blue eyes burning into her soul. "There isn't that better?" she asked, seeing him relax some. He took a couple deep breaths and finished calming down, "I don't know how you do that." "Do what?" she asked. "Thirty seconds ago I was ready to tare someone's head off and now, I just feel peaceful," he said. She smiled at him, "Honey, violence never solved anything. Now shopping on the other hand, that can cure what ails you." Brian laughed, "OK, shopping it is." Aleisha smiled as she started the car and they left the parking lot. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin had stopped talking several minutes ago. Nick was sitting in the bed staring at him. "Nick, say something," Kevin said. He looked at them all, "You all believe this?" Everyone nodded. "Nick, everything he just told you is true," Leighanne said. "Angels, angels came and saved us and I lived with one for over a year? What kind of sick joke is this? Ohh he can't remember anything so let's mess his head up worse than it already is...." Nick started. "Nick, this is no joke," Howie said. "Like hell it isn't! There are no such things as angels that come and interfere with our lives, that's just insane," Nick said. "Nick, we wouldn't tell you this if it wasn't true," Lyn said. He looked up at her, "Not you too. You were the one person I thought I could trust, don't tell me you believe this too." Lyn nodded her head, "I do, with all my heart." Nick looked at them all, "You're all nuts," he laughed, "And I'm the one with the head injury." "Nick, we...." A.J. started. Nick put his hand up, "No, no more. Will you all please leave?" They all looked at him. "I want to be by myself," he said, "Please leave." Everyone got up and left the room. Lyn stayed behind, looking at Nick. He looked up at her, "I just want to be alone right now." He could see the hurt in her eyes as she nodded and left the room. Nick watched her break down through the window, Howie and Kevin comforting her before they moved from his sight. He sighed, trying to hold back his tears, "I don't know how much longer I can do this." Tracy appeared next to him, "Nick you know this is the only way." He looked at her, "I know, but I can't stand what it's doing to them." Tracy reached out and wiped his tears away, "Nick, if she finds out you know, she'll kill you." "I know," he said, "I have to get out of here. God knows what she's doing to Brian." "You concentrate on getting well right now. She's not going to harm him, she hasn't gotten what she wants out of him yet," she said. "Which is what?" Nick asked. "His money, status as his girlfriend. Nick she wants everything she can get her hands on, from the rest of them too," Tracy said. "Can you guys fight her?" Nick asked. She stared at him, "Nick, until now we didn't know anything like her existed. Somehow her kind have hidden themselves from us. It's gonna take us a while to find out what her weakness is, then we can." "What if it's to late by then?" he asked. She held his hand, "Pray that it won't be." Tracy started to leave. "Tracy?" "Yeah?" "Is what Kevin said true? Is Tara back?" Nick asked. "Not that I know of," she said. "Then why is he so adamant that he saw her?" he asked. "I don't know. I guess it's possible that she's found her way back, but I would think that I could feel it if she did," she said. "I hope she is," Nick said. "I hope so too. Now get your rest, we'll be close," Tracy said, as she vanished. Nick sighed, looking around. He noticed the books on the table and reached over pulling the one on top over. He smiled, "Thank you Kira," as he read the title. Nick opened the book and started reading. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian and Aleisha were unloading the car from the days shopping extravaganza. "Man, I didn't think we bought this much stuff," Brian said, carrying in the last load. She smiled at him, "I guess we did go a little overboard." "Naw, you deserve more than this," Brian said, reaching inside a bag and pulling out a box. "I got this for you," he said. She looked at him then down to the box, "What is it?" He smiled at her, "Open it and find out." Aleisha took the box from him and carefully opened it, "Oh my God." Brian was staring at her, "Do you like it? We can take it back if you don't like it." "No, I love it," she said, pulling the necklace out. "Will you help me put it on?" she asked. Brian took it from her and put it around her neck fastening the clasp. She walked over to the mirror and stared at it. "God Brian this must've cost a fortune," she said, watching all the diamonds glitter in the light. Brian wrapped his arms around her, "Nothing is to expensive for you. Anything your heart desires, I'll get for you." She looked up at him, "Anything?" He nodded. She smiled at him and pulled him into a deep passionate kiss. Brian walked her over to the couch, clearing all the bags off, he sat down, pulling her down on top of him. Aleisha started kissing down his neck, and Brian ran his hands down her back. Brian looked over and saw the bag from the pet store, "Oh crap." Aleisha stopped, "What?" "We forgot to go get Angel," Brian said, sitting up. She laughed, "Can't we leave her there and pick her up in the morning?" Brian stared at her, "I guess. I really don't wanna see Kev right now anyway. Let me call them and tell them I'll pick her up tomorrow." He pulled his phone out and dialed the number, as Aleisha continued to kiss his neck. He laughed, "Stop that...oh hey Kev it's me. I'm gonna pick Angel up in the morning, thanks for keeping her...and sorry bout the way I reacted this morning," he laughed again, "Anyway, I'll see ya tomorrow, bye." "What'd he say?" she asked. "I got the machine," Brian said smiling, "Now where were we?" Chapter 31 |