| Chapter 54 Days pasted by and still Nick slept. Lyn had called Ted, asking him to come and care for Nick. When he'd gotten there, Lyn and the others came clean and told him everything that had happened. They told him about who Tara was and what had gone on with Nick while he was there. Ted thought they all needed psychiatric help, until Tracy appeared in the room with them, ceasing any more doubts. When Ted had regained consciousness, and recovered from the shock, he agreed not to tell anyone, and went about getting the things he needed for Nick. Tara and Brian had gathered all of the things he'd bought Aleisha and returned what they could. The rest they boxed up and donated to charity. Brian's accountants were working on straightening out the mess, happy that most of the items could be returned and credited off his account. Brian hadn't realized the extent of what Aleisha had taken him for until his accountants added it up for him. He was shocked that he'd let it get so far out of his control, but as Tara reminded him, he couldn't help it. As the others took turns sitting with Nick, Brian helped Tara unpack her things and get the house back as it was. It was almost as if she'd never left. Their love and their bond was still as strong as ever, maybe even stronger now. Brian thanked God every day for her and for what she meant to his life. Tara had tried to set Angel free, but the wolf would have nothing of it. She wanted to stay with Brian and Nick, having grown fond of them. And so they waited for Nick to wake up, hoping it would be soon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn and Tara were in the kitchen preparing lunch. They had picked right back up with their friendship. Lyn hadn't realized how much she had missed Tara, until she was back, and they were trying to catch up on things. Leighanne had gone home to be with Gary and the baby, promising to come back in a few weeks and see how things were going. Howie and Kira were taking their turn sitting with Nick, and Kevin was in the living room with Brian, and Ted watching a movie. A.J. had gone out, getting bored, saying he would be back before lunch. Kristin had gotten a call for an audition off Broadway, and she had left the day before. "Tara, when you first came back, how long did you sleep?" Lyn asked. Tara smiled at her, knowing she was still worried about Nick. "It was a long time. I think fourteen days, something like that," she answered. Lyn looked at her in shock, "That long?" "Yeah, you see when you first come back, the body and the spirit have to merge again. It's hard to do that when you don't know how, so your body shuts down, spending all it's energy on trying to merge," Tara explained. "Oh," Lyn said, "I didn't realize it was so complicated." Tara laughed, "I don't know about complicated, time consuming for sure." Lyn looked down at the vegetables she was cutting, not sure how to ask what she wanted to. Tara glanced at her, "Just ask whatever it is. There is no stupid question, you know that." Lyn smiled, "Um, well...when Nick wakes up, are his abilities gonna affect us?" Tara stopped what she was doing and looked at her, "Us as in what?" Lyn blushed with embarrassment, "Us as in, you know," she said, gesturing with her hands. "Ohhhhhhh that," Tara said, smiling at how embarrassed she was. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms, "Lyn, I'm not gonna lie to you, it will." "How?" she asked. Tara thought on the best way to explain it, "Well, you and Nick have a bond, similar to mine and Brian's. I can't speak for what he feels,.... wait, yes I can," she said laughing. "Nick will have to learn to control his emotions when it comes to that. If he doesn't he could hurt you," Tara said. "Hurt me? How?" Lyn asked, not liking this answer. "It's kinda hard to explain," Tara said, "Like when Brian and I, um, you know. We can feel what the other does, but I have to keep what I let him feel in check. If I were to just let him feel everything he wouldn't be able to handle it, and he would most likely go into shock." "So you're telling me that when Nick wakes up, we shouldn't do that until he learns how to control it?" Lyn said. Tara nodded her head, "It would be best to wait." Lyn sighed and went back to cutting the carrots she had in her hand. Tara smiled, feeling how frustrated Lyn was at the outcome of the conversation. Brian came into the kitchen, walking up to Tara and hugging her from behind. He looked at the two and smiled, "Why do I feel like I've been the topic of conversation?" Lyn grinned at him, "Because you were." "Yeah, don't you know? We talk about you all the time, just can't help ourselves," Tara teased. Brian laughed and shook his head, "Just as I suspected." That sent the girls into hysterics. Brian feigned an offended look, then went over to the frig, looking for something to drink. "Honey, are we out of...?" he started. "Yup," Tara said. "What about....?" Brian asked. "That too," Tara said, "Just get some tea." Lyn laughed at their lack of conversation. "Oh, don't laugh, you and Nick will be doing it soon enough," Tara said. "God I hope so," Lyn said, smiling at Tara. She laughed, "I didn't mean that." "I know, just wishful thinking," Lyn said. Brian looked from one to the other, wondering what on earth he'd walked in on, then decided it was best he didn't know. He headed back into the living room to finish the movie. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie and Kira were sitting in Nick's bedroom, watching him sleep. "Man, I wish I could sleep like that," Howie said. Kira laughed at him, "Honey, you do. Wild horses couldn't wake you up sometimes, believe me I've tried." He smiled at her, "Sorry." "Don't be sorry, that's just who you are," she said. They sat in silence for a few minutes. "Kira, now that Tara's back, and things seem to be on track again, do you want to think about setting a date?" Howie asked. She looked at him, "I'd love to. If there's one thing this whole mess has taught me, it's that you are never promised tomorrow. I want to be your wife so bad I can taste it, the sooner the better." He laughed, "That was kinda what I was thinking." "See, great minds think alike," Kira said, leaning over and kissing him. Howie wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer and kissing her more passionately. They kissed for several minutes, then Howie pulled away. "What?" Kira asked. "Well we are suppose to be watching him, not doing this," he said. Kira rolled her eyes, "Honey, he's been asleep for days. What are the odds he's gonna wake up while we're in here?" Howie started to say something, when Nick moaned and rolled over. "I'd say pretty good," he said, "Go get Tara." Kira ran out of the room, only to see Tara running up the stairs. She ran past Kira and into the room. "Howie, take Kira and go downstairs. Don't let anyone up until I say it's OK," Tara said, walking over and sitting on the side of the bed. Howie nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him. "Nick," Tara said, taking his hand in hers. He moaned again, turning his head toward her and opening his eyes. Tara smiled at him, "Hey blue eyes, good to see you awake." Nick looked around the room, seeing an IV in his hand. He started to ask how he'd gotten there when it hit him. All the emotions from everyone in the house, hit him like a ton of bricks. He cringed and let out a cry. Tara put her hand on his cheek, making him look at her, "Nick, look at me. What you're feeling I know is overwhelming right now, but just listen. You need to concentrate on your own feelings, and push the others to the back of your mind." Nick looked at her, lost in the sea of emotions. He couldn't tell which ones were his and which weren't. "I can't," he said, as a tear rolled down his cheek. Tara took both his hands, "Let me show you." Nick closed his eyes as Tara helped him sort out the feelings. Showing him how to separate them from his own and push them aside. When she had finished he looked up at her. "You have a lot to learn," she said. Nick knew she was right, he should've known that when he came back he'd have to learn how to control the abilities he was given. In his ignorance he thought he'd just suddenly know how. Nick relaxed a little as Tara let go of his hands. The emotions started to flood back, but he focused and was able to stop them from overwhelming him. Tara smiled at him, "Good. You learn quick." Nick smiled, "Always have. Tara, how long have I been out?" "Nine days," she answered. He looked at her shocked, "That long?" She nodded, "I expected you to sleep for a little while longer actually." "Where is everyone?" Nick asked. Tara looked at him, "You tell me." Nick looked at her confused. "Concentrate and tell me who you feel in the house," she said. "OK," Nick replied, closing his eyes and focusing. "Um, Brian, Kevin, and Howie are in the living room. Lyn and Kira are in the kitchen. And there's someone else,....um, Ted. Ted's in the living room too. And um, A.J. is coming in the front door, and Angel is sitting outside in the hall," he said, opening his eyes and smiling at his achievement. Tara stared at him for a moment. "I'm right aren't I?" Nick asked. "Um yeah you are," she said. "Why do you look shocked?" he asked. "Nick you just did something that took me months to learn. I expected you to feel everyone, but to pin point where they were in the house, that I wasn't expecting until much later," Tara said. "Is that bad?" he asked. "No, I don't think so. It just makes things a little more difficult," she said. "I would think it would make them easier," Nick said. "It really doesn't. See there are things you need to learn along the way, and you just skipped like three of them. I'm gonna have to go through them with you, and you'll probably get bored with it before you actually learn them," she said. "I won't. I know you're here to teach me, and I promise I'll listen to everything you tell me," Nick said. "I'm sure I'll be reminding you of that quite often," she teased. Nick gave her his cheesy grin. "Stop, you know that doesn't work on me," she said. Nick sat up in bed, hearing his stomach growl. "Man, I'm starving," he said. "Well, we are about done with lunch, I'll bring you some in," she said. "Why can't I go down with the rest of you?" Nick asked. "As good as you feel right now, your body is still weak. You need to rest some more," she answered. "Oh," Nick said, looking disappointed, "Can I see everyone?" "Nick, I'm not sure you're ready," Tara said. "You can help me, please," he begged. Tara sighed and looked at him, "Alright, but only for a minute." "Thanks," Nick said, smiling. Tara walked over and opened the door, Angel letting herself in the room and jumping up on the bed. Tara leaned over the banister, "Guys, he wants to see you all." Everyone got up and headed to the room. Tara turned around and went back in, Nick was looked at Angel in shock. "Tara, I can understand her!" he said, excitedly. "Yes, that is one of our abilities," she said. Nick laughed as Angel was telling him how happy she was he was awake, she was tired of playing with just Brian. Tara laughed too, as everyone entered the room. "What's so funny?" Kevin asked. "Angel, she's really talkative," Tara said, going over to sit next to Nick. Nick was trying by himself to handle everyone's feelings, finding it becoming more difficult as everyone came in the room. Tara reached over and took his hand, helping him out. "Good to see you awake," Ted said. Nick smiled at him, "Yeah it is." "We told him everything so you don't have to hide anything," Lyn said. Nick looked at her, "Everything?" She nodded her head. Nick looked back over at Ted, "I guess it explains a lot huh?" He nodded his head, "It does indeed." "How are you feeling?" Brian asked. "OK, a little overwhelmed, but good otherwise," Nick said. "Nick, what you did for us....." Kevin started. Nick put his hand up, "I did what any one of us would've done. You guys are my best friends in the entire world, and I would do it again if I had to." "Well lets hope you never have to," Howie said. "Hope, no. Pray, yes," Nick said. Everyone smiled, glad to have their friend back, and thankful for what he'd done to protect them. Tara could feel that Nick was struggling with all the emotions, even with her help. "Guys, let's leave and let him rest," she said. No one argued with her, knowing she knew what was best for him right now. They all said goodbye to Nick and left the room. Tara smiled at him, "You OK now?" "Yeah, I'll be glad when I can control that better," he said. Tara got up, "It won't be long. I'll bring your lunch up to you in a few minutes," she said, walking to the door. "Tara?" "Yeah?" she asked. "Thanks for being my teacher," he said. She smiled at him, "Thanks for protecting them when I was gone. Now get all the rest you can, training starts in full force tomorrow." Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 THE END Back Back to My Stories Read Part 4--Descent |