| Chapter 1 Brian sat near the windows looking out at the ocean. It was midday and his head was still pounding. He vowed never to drink anything that A.J. fixed, ever again. He was consumed with guilt and confusion. His heart was being pulled in two different directions, and he was stuck in the middle, not knowing which way to go. He thought about Tara, about how much he loved her and all that they had been through together. Nothing in this world could replace her, and he missed her desperately. But then his thoughts turned to Lyn. Their friendship had grown over the past year, and she truly was one of his closest friends. He loved her more than words could say, and he'd do anything for her. He sighed and rubbed his head. He didn't know what to do, and that confusion alone told him that something somewhere was missing in his relationship with Tara. If it wasn't, then why would he even be thinking about someone else? Lyn quietly walked over and sat down next to him. He looked up and half smiled at her. "Your head still hurt?" she asked. Brian nodded, "Yeah, I don't think I'll be drinking that much ever again." Lyn laughed, "Me either. You need some more aspirin?" He shook his head, "I think I've taken to much already." Lyn looked across the room. Kevin, Howie, and A.J. were trying to watch a movie, although they kept glancing at the monitors from the other house. Several more angels had showed up since Tracy had left, and they were busy readying things. All the guys were nervous, not knowing what to expect when they returned, and almost afraid to know. Lyn looked back to Brian, "We need to have a serious talk," she whispered. He nodded his head, looking over at the other guys, "I know. We need to work this out." Lyn nodded, "We don't need to wait either, it needs to be soon." Brian looked back to her, "As soon as we can get away by ourselves without it looking suspicious, we'll talk." Lyn sighed, wondering just when that would be. She knew the other three guys wouldn't think anything about her and Brian going to another part of the house by themselves. She figured that Brian wasn't ready to talk, or maybe he just didn't know how to resolve it yet. "Shit, they're back," A.J. said, getting everyone's attention. They all gathered around the monitors watching. Gideon and several others appeared in the room they had readied with Nick. He looked like he was unconscious. The others quickly put him the bed, securing his hands and feet with double chains. At the same time Jade and Tracy appeared in another room, calling for the others to help them with Tara. She to was unconscious. They quickly made a makeshift restraint system for her, and placed her in the bed, as they had Nick. "What the hell?" Brian said, watching them cuff Tara's hands into the restraints. Kevin put his hand on Brian's shoulder for moral support. He was just as confused as to why they were treating Tara like Nick. They watched in silence as Tara and Nick were settled in, and guards were placed in each of their rooms with them. Gideon, Tracy, and Jade met in Tara's room, talking in their language. None of them understood what they were saying, but from the looks on their faces and their body language, it looked serious. The three ended their conversation and Gideon gave the guards some instructions, then they vanished from the room. A second later the three appeared in Lyn's living room, facing everyone. "What happened?" Kevin asked. "Why is Tara being restrained?" Brian asked. "Are they OK?" Howie asked. Gideon put his hands up, waiting for them to all quiet down. "Lets have a seat, we need to tell you some things," he said. Everyone sat down on the couches, looking up at him. Gideon took a moment before he spoke. "Let me tell you what happened, then you can ask questions," he started. Everyone nodded, waiting. "Tara's plan was to distract Nick enough that we could go in and grab him without him putting up to much of a fight. The four that were with them in the house left, giving us our opportunity. Tara was able to distract him, but not without paying a price. She's lost herself in the emotions of what they were doing. We aren't sure when she wakes up if she'll still be lost or she'll be herself again. That's the reason for the restraints," Gideon explained. "What do you mean she's lost herself? What where they doing?" Kevin asked. Gideon sighed, and looked at Lyn and Brian. "She gave herself to him. I'm sorry," he said. Brian closed his eyes trying to avoid the tears he felt coming. He knew exactly what that meant, and why Tara was lost now. Lyn reached over and took his hand in hers. He looked at her, the look on her face, matching his own. They were both shocked, and saddened. "What does that mean?" A.J. asked. "It means they were having sex," Brian said, flatly. Kevin's mouth dropped open, and Howie put his hand over his mouth. "No, they wouldn't," Kevin said. "They were. She knew it was the only way to distract him enough that we could get the drop on him. She also knew that she was risking herself in the process," Jade said. "So what happens now?" Lyn asked, wiping away a tear. "We try to get them both back," Tracy said. "It won't be easy. Nick isn't the person you all know right now, and we're just not sure about Tara," Gideon said. "You may want to turn the sound off if you're going to watch the monitors," Jade said. "Why?" Howie asked. "Because if Tara's still lost, they will both be screaming for each other when we wake them," she answered, "You may not want to hear that," she said, looking at Brian and Lyn with compassion in her eyes. "Alright," Kevin said, "But when can we see them?" "Not for a while. It will be dangerous for you to be there until we get a handle on them. Don't come over, don't even walk out on the beach near the house. Nick will be able to feel you, and we're not sure what he'll do," Gideon said. "We need to get back and get started. If you need anything, just let one of the others know, and we'll come as soon as we can," Jade said. Brian looked at them, "Please let them know we love them." Tracy smiled at him, "We will." Then they vanished from the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The three appeared in the hall, between Nick and Tara's room. "Which one do we wake first?" Jade asked. "Let's wake Tara first. She'll be a little easier to deal with. Then when we get her settled, we can start with Nick," Gideon suggested. The three walked into her room, and over to the bed. They glanced at one another, making sure everyone was ready. Then Tracy put her hand over Tara's eyes, waking her. Tara woke with a start, jerking against her restraints. She looked around the room wildly, trying to figure out where she was. "Tara, you're safe," Tracy said. She looked at her, "Where's Nick?" "He's safe. How are you feeling?" Jade asked. "I want to see him," Tara said, once again pulling on the cuffs that held her to the bed. "We can't do that right now," Gideon said. "Please, I have to know he's OK," she begged. "He is honey," Tracy said, "We need to find out how you are right now though." Tara glared at her, "I don't care about me, I want to see Nick." Tracy sat down on the side of the bed, staring at her, "I know you do, but we need to concentrate on you right now. You need to calm down and focus. We need to rid you of the feelings that are running through you." "I don't want to get rid of them," Tara said, "I want to see Nick!" Jade sat down on the other side of the bed, "Tara, you remember what you did? The plan to distract Nick so we could take him?" Tara stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "That is why you're feeling what you are right now. You did this to save Nick. Now you need to let go of those feelings, so you can help us with him," Jade said. Tara looked away from her as the tears started to fall, "But I love him. Please, I can't get rid of the only thing I have from him," she whispered. "We know you love him, but what you're feeling is hindering you from helping him. Don't you want to see him come back to us?" Tracy said. Tara nodded. "Then honey, you have to let go of this," she said. Tara looked between the two, realizing they were right. She had to rid herself of the emotions that were consuming her, calling to her to fulfill her every desire. She sighed, "Help me, I don't think I can do it on my own." Tracy and Jade smiled at one another, then both took one of Tara's hands, closing their eyes. Tara closed her own, and for a long time, no one moved. Gideon kept watch, knowing the cleansing process was a long one. Finally the three opened their eyes. "Unlock her," Jade instructed some of the others in the room. Tara was crying as they unlocked her and she sat up in bed, wiping at her face. "I'm sorry," she said. Tracy pulled her into a hug, "It's alright honey. We have you back, that's all that matters." Tara continued to sob, "They killed Brian, and I just gave up. I didn't know how to go on without him." "Oh honey, they didn't kill Brian," Tracy said. Tara pulled out of the hug and stared at her, "They didn't?" "No baby, he was hurt, but they didn't kill him. He's alright now though," Tracy said. Tara's heart felt like it was soaring, "Where is he?" "He's at Lyn's. Don't worry, he's fine," Jade said. Tara put her head in her hands, "Thank God." "Tara, we are going to wake Nick now. I want you to stay here and rest," Gideon said. She nodded, "Um, can you give Brian this please?" she asked, pulling his wedding ring from her thumb and handing it to Tracy. "Yes, we will," Tracy said. "Be careful," Tara warned, "He's worse than Jered." The three looked at her, not wanting to hear that. "We will," Jade said, "Now rest. We may need you later." Tara scooted down in the bed and closed her eyes, quickly drifting to sleep. "Stay with her, and don't let her come into Nick's room until we call for her," Gideon instructed the others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone sat in front of the monitors, dumbfounded. They hadn't turned the sound off as Jade had suggested, and they heard every word. None of them could believe that Tara was begging to see Nick. Lyn and Brian held each others hands firmly, the only solace they could give one another. It hurt them all to see her like that, but Brian was completely torn. He let his tears fall freely, hoping that with each one that dropped, he could get rid of some of the pain he felt. He was confused. He no longer felt what she was feeling, and that scared him. He wasn't sure if it was because Gideon and the others weren't letting him, or that the bond he had with her was gone. They watched as Tracy and Jade reasoned with Tara, and were filled with joy when she finally asked them to help her. In that moment they felt some since of relief, but knew the hardest job was still at hand. Lyn reached over and handed Brian a tissue, smiling at him. "She's strong. I knew she couldn't stay lost forever," she said. Brian smiled, wiping his face, "Yeah." Just then Tracy appeared in the room with them, walking over to Brian, "I believe this is yours." Brian took his ring and placed it back on his finger, "Thank you. Is she alright now?" "She's rid of the feelings, but it will take her a while to adjust. She went through a lot, and we still need to deal with that," she answered. "Can we see her now? Can she come over here?" A.J. asked. Tracy shook her head, "No, not for a while. We need to keep them separated from you for a time." "Why?" Kevin asked. "She needs time to heal, and she wouldn't do that if she was to have contact with you. We need to let her focus on herself for a while, then we'll bring her over," Tracy said, "I need to get back. I wanted to warn you though, Nick isn't the Nick you all know and love right now. What you're gonna see and hear from him will probably shock you, but just keep that in mind. He lost all since of himself when he turned, so we are basically dealing with a stranger. I know you guys are gonna be watching, so keep reminding yourself of that, alright?" They all nodded, afraid of what was to come. Chapter 2 |