| Chapter 38 Angel walked down the hall and over to Nick's door. It was shut, but not all the way. She pawed at it until it opened enough for her go through. She walked in, looking around. Nick was laying in bed sound asleep. Angel walked over and sat down next to the bed, licking his hand that had fallen off the side. He didn't wake up, so she quietly whined at him. Nick still didn't stir. Angel got up and jumped in bed with him, settling in next to him. She could see the other's in the room, and she stared at them. Jade and Gideon looked at her, smiling. "So, little one, why are you here?" Jade asked. Angel wagged her tail and whined. "Helping? Who are you helping?" Gideon asked. Another whine. "Brian and Nick. Who sent you?" Jade asked. Angel looked down, then back at them, a soft bark leaving her mouth. Jade and Gideon looked at each other, surprised. "Angel, when did she send you?" Gideon asked. She looked at him, no sound leaving her, but he got his answer anyway. "This kinda throws things for a loop," Jade said. "Yeah, I'll go see what I can find out," Gideon said. He turned to Angel, "Thank you little one." She wagged her tail as he disappeared. "Angel, you can't let on that we're here. We're also trying to help them, OK?" Jade said. She nodded her head. "Good wolf," Jade said, wondering how Tara had managed to send her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne, A.J., Howie, and Kira were sitting in the living room watching TV. A.J. kept fidgeting, looking at his watch every so often. Leighanne knew he was biding his time, waiting for something, or someone. He finally got up and stretched, "I'm bored as hell. Think I'll go into town, mess around for a while." "OK man," Howie said, not taking his eyes off the TV. A.J. gathered his coat and keys, heading out the door. As soon as he was out of the house, Leighanne got up, "You know, I think I'll go down and see Kris for a while." She quickly got her things and left the house. Howie looked over at Kira, "What's with the mass exodus?" Kira laughed and shrugged her shoulders, leaning over and whispering in his ear, "We're alone, I don't care." Howie smiled, reaching for the remote and turning the TV off. A.J.'s car was pulling down the drive when Leighanne walked out. She ran to her car and got in, starting the engine. Leighanne slowly followed the same path as A.J. She kept a good distance between them, hoping that he wouldn't see her following him. A.J. drove into town and Leighanne almost lost him a few times, before he pulled into a small motel. She drove past and circled around, coming up behind the building. Leighanne got out and walked around the side of the motel, carefully looking around the corner. A.J. was just entering a room, and she waited until he was inside for a few moments, before slowly walking down to the door. She noticed that Brian's car was in the parking lot also. That gave her chills. Leighanne got to the door, stopping and listening. She could hear them talking. "God, don't make me wait that long again. I thought I was gonna lose my mind," A.J. said. "Alex, you gotta focus for a minute. Did you find anything?" a female voice said. Leighanne knew it was Aleisha, it couldn't be anyone else. "No. She came in the room before I could," A.J. said. "A.J. I need to know what they're doing. You have to do better than this," she said. "I'm trying, I'm just not good at this stuff," A.J. said, almost in a whine. "I know you are, but you have to do better, or we'll have to stop meeting," Aleisha said. "NO, please, just tell me what you want. I'll do anything you say, but please don't. I have to be with you," A.J. pleaded. Leighanne had tears in her eyes. A.J. was so completely controlled by her, and there was nothing she could do to help him. "OK, I'll give you one more chance, but that's it. If you can't do it, I'll find someone that can," Aleisha warned. "I'll do what ever you want me to, just name it," A.J. said. At that moment, Leighanne leaned in, brushing against one of the metal chairs that were outside all the doors. It screeched on the concrete. "What was that?" Leighanne heard Aleisha say. "Oh hell," she muttered to herself, as she quickly turned and started walking toward the side of the building. She could hear the door starting to open, and she knew she was about to get caught. As Leighanne passed one of the neighboring rooms, the door flew open, and someone grabbed her pulling her inside, just as Aleisha stuck her head out and looked down both sides of the motel. Leighanne was frightened until she saw who it was. Tracy smiled at her and put her finger to her lips. They waited until they heard the door close again before speaking. "What are you doing here?" Leighanne whispered. "Saving your butt," Tracy said. "Yeah, thanks for that by the way," Leighanne said. "Lee, you need to get back to the house. Leave this kinda work to us for now," Tracy said. Leighanne sighed heavily, "Alright. I have to get a few more things for Nick while I'm here anyway." "And find a new hiding place," Tracy said, "The one you have won't be safe for much longer." Leighanne nodded, "Tracy, is this gonna be over soon?" She looked at her, "I don't know. We still don't have what we need yet, and Nick's not recovered enough." "Why are you waiting on him to recover?" she asked. "Because, he has to be the one to confront her," she said, "No one else can." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian walked into the kitchen. He and Lyn had been watching movies while Nick slept and Aleisha had gone into town. He put the popcorn bowl in the sink, glancing out at the gazebo as he did. Someone was standing in the gazebo. Brian blinked his eyes for a moment, not believing what they were seeing. When the figure was still there, he dropped the bowl, breaking it in the sink, and ran outside. He made it out the door in record time, but was only greeted with an empty gazebo when he got out there. "Where are you?" he yelled, looking around. "Please, let me see you," he begged. Lyn came out the door, having heard the commotion, "Brian, what's wrong?" He turned facing her, "She was right here not two seconds ago!" "Who?" Lyn asked. "Tara, I saw her right here," he said, still looking around. Lyn wasn't sure what to think. She knew how adamant that Kevin had been when he'd seen her, and now Brian was searching the back yard frantically. After a few moments he stopped searching and walked back into the house, a defeated look on his face. Lyn followed him in, deciding this wasn't a time to let him be alone. Brian walked back into the living room and sank into the couch. "Bri, maybe she can't appear when she wants to," Lyn said, hoping that made sense. He just stared blankly at the TV, a tear falling down his cheek. "I just wanted to see her, talk to her. I miss her so much," he whispered. "I know you do," Lyn said, sitting down next to him and putting her arm around his shoulders. Brian rested his head on her shoulder, thankful for her friendship. "Lyn, have you talked to Tracy since...well since Nick was hurt?" he asked. "No I haven't," she answered. "I've only seen her once. Don't you think she would know if Tara was back?" he asked. "I would think she would," Lyn said. Brian closed his eyes, trying to sort out his thoughts. "I'm so confused. I don't know what to think anymore," he said. "About what?" she asked. "Everything. Not knowing if Tara is really back, or I'm just finally going nuts. And if she is back, how do I explain Aleisha to her? And what do I say to Aleisha?" Brian said. Lyn smiled, "Bri, you know in your heart that if Tara came back, she would understand. And that Aleisha would have to understand that she's still your wife, and the one you truly want to be with." "But that's just it. I don't know anymore. I love Tara with every fiber in my soul, but when Aleisha is around me, I just get so confused. She makes me feel like I've never felt before, not even with Tara," he explained. Lyn was taken aback by Brian's confession. "Bri, are you sure it's real with Aleisha, and not just out of loneliness or lust?" she asked. He looked up at her, "I'm not sure about a whole lot of anything anymore." "Well, I only have one suggestion for this situation," she said. "What's that?" he asked. "Ask God what is real and what's not. You know He'll tell you the truth," Lyn said. Brian sighed, "I know. I just don't feel worthy of even talking to Him after what I did." "Brian, you of all people should know that you are. You accepted Him into your heart, you are worthy to talk with Him, and I'm sure He's waiting to hear from you," she said. Brian laughed, "You sound just like your sister." "Hey, what can I say? It runs in the family," Lyn said, smiling, "And Brian, I'll pray for you too." "Thanks Lyn. I think I need all of it I can get right now," Brian said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gideon appeared in the room. "Find anything out?" Jade asked. "Yeah, she's not there. I think she came back on her own," he said. Jade had a surprised look on her face, "She can do that?" "Wether she can or can't, she did. That may be why we can't feel her, and she hasn't been able to come and go as she pleases," Gideon said. "Yeah, she probably lacks the strength," Jade agreed. Angel whined at them. "Oh, I'm sure she is fine, little one," Gideon said. "We need to find her, help her out a little," Jade said. "Already on it. You stay with him and let Tracy know when she returns," he said. "Will do," Jade said as Gideon left. Angel sighed, looking at Jade. "I'm sure he'll find her soon. You just do what she told you to, and we may all make it through this," she said. Chapter 39 |