| Chapter 33 Lyn had almost drifted to sleep herself when Brian quietly walked into the room. "Lyn, Ted's on the phone for you," he said. She smiled at him, looking down and seeing that Nick was holding her like a child would hold a favorite stuffed animal. "Bri, a little help please," she said. Brian walked over and helped her scoot out from under Nick's arm without waking him up. She left the room to take her call. Brian sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his friend. He looked so peaceful, but then Nick stirred, mumbling. Brian knew this was the start of another nightmare, and debated on waking him up. Then he remembered something he hadn't thought about in years. He used to play a game with Nick when they first started touring and they were sharing rooms. He could get Nick to talk about anything in his sleep, he wondered if it would still work. Nick moved again, "No." Brian moved closer to Nick, "Nick, what's happening?" he whispered. "Don't touch me," Nick mumbled. "Tell me what's happening to you," Brian said. "Please don't do this. I don't want to," Nick said. Brian stared at him, trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. "Nick, is someone doing something to you?" he asked. "Uh huh," Nick said. "What are they doing?" Brian asked. Nick mumbled something and pulled the pillow closer to him. "Nick what are they doing? Brian asked again. "Kissing," Nick said. Brian was really confused now, "Someone is kissing you?" "I don't want this," Nick said with more force in his voice. Brian watched as Nick's breathing became more rapid, and he started to break out in a sweat. He looked up as Lyn walked back in, putting his finger to his mouth. She nodded, and he continued, "Nick, are you fighting them?" "I..can't," he said, a tear running down his cheek. "Why can't you?" Brian asked. "Can't," Nick mumbled. Brian looked at Lyn, "He said someone was kissing him," he whispered. Lyn had a look of horror on her face, "Bri, you don't think someone tried to rape him do you?" He just shrugged his shoulders. "No," Nick said, throwing his hands up. Brian jerked out of the way. "Nick, what happened?" he asked. "Hurts...blood," Nick said. He was crying now, and gasping for air. "Nick, what are you doing?" Brian asked. "Have...to..get...away," Nick said, breathlessly. "Are they chasing you?" he asked. "Yes," Nick cried. Lyn and Brian both had tears in their eyes. Nick screamed and grabbed his side. "Did they hit you?" Brian asked. "No, please," Nick begged. "Nick, what are they hitting you with?" he asked. "Bat," Nick said. "Bat?" Brian said. "Bri, your collection of baseball bats in the hall," Lyn said. "Oh God," Brian said, realizing the amount of torture Nick must've endured. Nick moaned, moving around in the bed. "Nick, what's happening now?" Brian asked, not sure he really wanted to know. "Stairs....don't!" Nick yelled. "Did they push you down the stairs?" he asked. Nick nodded his head, moaning in pain. Lyn had her hand over her face, crying. "Help..me..coming," Nick whispered. "Oh God, Nick you were awake after you fell?" Brian asked. "Can't...move," Nick said, "No...please." Brian didn't think he could take much more, but he pressed on, "What are they doing?" "Candlestick," Nick mumbled. "They're gonna hit you with the candlestick?" Brian asked. Nick nodded. "Nick, can you see who the person is?" Brian asked. He nodded again, and Brian and Lyn looked at each other in shock. "Nick, who is it?" he asked. Aleisha ran into the room, "Brian, you have to wake him up, he's hyperventilating." "But Leisha, he saw who did this to him," Brian said. "Bri, his lips are turning blue," Lyn said, walking over and shaking Nick. "Nick, wake up," she said. Nick moaned, but didn't open his eyes. "Nick, wake up!" Brian yelled almost right into his hearing aid. Nick's eyes shot open and he sat straight up in bed. He was gasping for air, and trembling. "Nick, try and calm down. You had another nightmare," Lyn said, trying to sooth him. Nick grabbed her, "Can't...breathe." Aleisha ran into the bathroom and found a paper bag, bringing it out and handing it to Lyn. "Here, hold his over your mouth and nose and breathe into it," Lyn said, holding the bag up. Nick took it and held it over his face for a few moments, then handed it back to her, "Not...working." "Nick, put your head between your legs," Brian said. Nick looked over at him like he was nuts. "Put your feet on the floor," Brian said. Nick's vision started to go white, and he knew he was about to pass out. He just shook his head no, and lay back in the bed, drifting into unconsciousness. "Nick?" Brian said, shaking him. "I think he passed out," Aleisha said. All three sat there watching as Nick's breathing started to calm down. When Brian was sure he was going to be OK, he got up and walked out into the hall. Lyn and Aleisha followed him. Brian was looking at his baseball bats, pulling them out one at a time and looking them over. "Bri, what are you doing?" Aleisha asked. "He said they hit him with one," he said, "Oh God." There on the end of the bat he was holding was a faint blood stain. He stared at it, imagining what it must've been like for Nick being hit with it, and letting the anger rise in his body. "Who the hell could've done this?!" he asked. "Brian, calm down. Getting angry right now isn't going to help Nick any," Aleisha said, putting her hand on his arm and staring into his eyes. Brian glared at her for a moment, then his expression began to calm. "Lyn?" Nick called from his room. All three returned to his room, seeing Nick sitting up in bed holding his side. "Nick, you OK?" Lyn asked, sitting next to him. "What happened? I remember waking up and I couldn't breathe, now my side is killing me," he asked. "Nick, you had another nightmare, and you were hyperventilating when we woke you up," Brian said. "You passed out," Aleisha added. "Why was I hyperventilating? What was I dreaming about?" Nick asked, looking completely confused. "You were dreaming about the attack," Brian said. Nick was staring at Brian, he was still holding the bat in his hands. "Brian," Lyn said, pointing to his hands. He looked down, "Shit. I'll put this up," he said, turning around. Nick grabbed his arm, stopping him. Brian looked back at Nick as he took the bat from him, looking at it. "Nick, are you remembering something?" Aleisha asked. Nick was turning the bat around in his hands, staring at it. "Nick?" Lyn asked. He looked up at her, "Huh?" "Are you remembering something?" Lyn asked. "I'm not sure," he said, handing the bat back to Brian. "What does I'm not sure mean?" Aleisha asked. Nick ran his hand through his hair, "I don't remember anything, it's just a feeling I have. Like I know something, but my brain won't let me see it." "Well, don't force it. Brian shouldn't have pushed you like he did," Aleisha said, putting her hand on Nick's shoulder. It was everything Nick could do to keep from flinching. "What do you mean, Brian pushed me?" Nick asked. "I'm sorry," Brian said, "I remembered that when you were younger I used to talk to you when you were asleep. You wouldn't believe all the secrets I used to get from you, but Leisha's right, I pushed you to hard." Nick looked at him in horror, "What'd I say?" "You were telling me what was happening to you when you were attacked," Brian said. "You said you saw who did it, but we woke you up before you could say who it was," Lyn said. Nick was trying to keep his emotions in check, he almost blew everything in his sleep. "Oh, I just don't remember," he said. "Your conscious mind might not, but in your subconscious mind you know what happened to you," Lyn said. "Maybe we could go see like a shrink or someone that's good with that kinda stuff," Brian suggested. "Brian, I really don't wanna see a shrink," Nick protested. "But Nick, if it can tell us who did this to you," Brian started. "Bri, he said he didn't want to," Aleisha said. "Guys, I don't wanna talk about this right now," Nick said, holding his side again, "Do I have any pain pills left?" Lyn got up and retrieved his prescription, giving him his dose. "Thanks," Nick said, laying back in the bed and trying to get comfortable. Lyn glanced at Brian, he took the hint and he and Aleisha left the room. She sat down on the side of the bed, making sure Nick was comfortable. "You look upset," Nick said, seeing the flood of emotion in her eyes. "It was just really hard hearing you talk about what happened to you," she said. "Lyn, I don't remember any of it," he said. She ran her fingers through his hair, "I know you don't. But some part of your brain does." The pain medicine was starting to take affect. Nick could feel himself start the journey into never, never land, "I feel funny." "That's your medicine," Lyn said, smiling at him. "Lyn, stay with me," Nick asked, his eyes fighting to stay open. "I'm right here," she said. He motioned for her to come closer. She leaned down, looking at him. "You are so beautiful," Nick said, reaching up and pulling her into a kiss. Nick softly kissed her lips, then let go. He smiled up at her, then closed his eyes and let the drug take over. Lyn sat there in shock, but she couldn't help the feeling of happiness that came over her. Even if it was just the drug that made him do that, she'd been waiting for it since he woke up in the hospital. She touched her lips, not wanting the feeling of Nick's lips on hers to fade away. She closed her eyes and silently thanked God for that small bit of hope. Lyn sat with Nick for some time, just watching him sleep. She finally got up and left the room. Chapter 34 |