| Chapter 10 Nick sat in his room praying. His nerves wouldn't allow him to sleep, and as the sun peeked over the horizon, it finally hit him that it was now �tomorrow'. He was anxious about seeing Brian and Lyn face to face. He knew that what happened between them today would stay with them for the rest of their lives, and he didn't want to screw it up. He valued his friendship with Brian more than anything, and he still loved Lyn. He didn't want to lose the relationship he had with either one of them. He'd been thinking all night about how this could have happened. Not that he was angry, he was just confused. He knew when it happened for him and Tara. That was easy. He'd never stopped loving her, and when they started working so closely together during his training, everything started to click again. But Brian and Lyn, that was something he didn't see coming. Nick replayed things in his head all night, memories that at the time he didn't think anything about, but now looking back started to make since. Even when he was faking amnesia he saw things between them. At the time he'd dismissed them as just really close friends helping each other out during a rough time, but now.....now it was different. Now he could see the love they had between them, even back then. It'd just taken them this long to realize it for themselves. Nick sighed and looked out the window, watching the sun make its way into the sky. He loved sunrises, though most of the time he slept through them. But the ones he did see took his breath away. It amazed him that God would bless him with such a wonderful show of colors every morning. It amazed him how God worked period. He could take the most awful situation, and make something good come out of it. Nick smiled, thinking about everything that he'd been through in his life. Even before he accepted God into his life, He was working to prepare him for what he would eventually be. Everything steered him in the right direction. Sure there were bumps in the road, but those bumps helped make him who he was now. And he was sure he was exactly where God wanted him to be right now. Nick looked towards the door as Tara and Jade came in. "Morning," Tara said. He smiled, "Morning. I take it you couldn't sleep either?" Tara laughed, "Not much, no." Nick looked at Jade, "Are they up yet?" "Yes, it seems they had somewhat of a sleepless night to," she answered, "Tracy went to get them." Nick stood up and took a deep breath, reaching over and taking Tara's hand in his, "Well, let's get this over with." Tara squeezed his hand as they walked out of the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian, Kevin, and Lyn were sitting at the table talking quietly and drinking coffee when Tracy appeared in the room. "Hey, what's up?" Kevin asked. Tracy smiled at him, "I need borrow Brian and Lyn for a while." Lyn almost dropped her cup, shooting Brian a nervous look. "Right now?" Brian asked. Tracy nodded, "Yes, right now." Kevin watched as the two got up, placing their cups on the counter and followed Tracy to the door. He could see how nervous they both were, and it confused him. At the very least he would've thought they would be happy to finally get to see Nick and Tara, but he didn't see happiness. He almost thought he could see some since of dread in them. Tracy turned back to Kevin, "We may need the rest of you later on today, so be ready." "Alright," Kevin said, getting up to go wake Howie and A.J. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn had a death grip on Brian's hand as they walked out the door and down the beach to the other house. Brian looked over at her, "It's OK, we're in this together, remember?" "I know, I'm just really nervous," she said. "I am to," Brian admitted. Tracy turned to face them, "Guys, it will be alright. Just let them know how you feel, I'm sure they will understand." They both laughed, "Yeah, that's easy for you to say," Brian said. Tracy smiled at them, then turned back around, leading the way. When they were halfway to the house, they saw Nick and Tara come out. They were also walking hand in hand, with Jade leading them. Brian and Lyn exchanged confused glances. "Tracy, we aren't going in the house?" Lyn asked. She shook her head, "No, we thought it best for you to meet out here." Lyn looked at Brian and he shrugged his shoulders. As both couples approached each other, Tracy and Jade stepped to the side out of the way. This was it, they were standing in front of each other. All four at a loss as to what to do or say. Brian and Lyn tried to hide the immense guilt they were feeling, and Nick and Tara did their best not make it obvious that they knew what was going on. After a few awkward moments, Tara stepped over and hugged Brian. "I missed you," she said, holding him tight. Tears came to Brian eyes, "I missed you too." Nick looked over at Lyn and smiled, "Hey, come here." Lyn let him pull her into his arms, and they to hugged. Nick could feel her guilt, but he could also feel her love, for him and for Brian. He sighed as he held her, knowing exactly how she felt. Lyn pulled away from the hug, "Are you ... um..." Nick smiled, "I'm alright now. I'm back where I belong, and I'm not leaving again." Tara looked over, catching the double meaning of what Nick had just said. "Guys, we ... uh...we need to talk," Brian said. All four stepped off the path they were on and headed down to the beach. They found a place to sit, forming a circle. "Guys we need to tell you some things..." Nick started. "Please, let us go first," Brian said, cutting him off. Nick and Tara glanced at one another, then nodded for Brian to continue. Brian and Lyn stared at one another for a second before Brian spoke, "There's no good way to say this, so I'm just gonna say it. Lyn and I have fallen in love with each other. I don't know how or when exactly it happened, but it has. We tried to ignore it, but we couldn't. We both feel so guilty about this, but......" "Bri," Tara said, cutting him off. Brian looked up at her. "We know," she said. "I'm sorry, we never wanted to hurt you," Lyn said, looking at them both. Nick took her hand in his, "Oh honey, you didn't hurt us. We were a little shocked, but...." "Wait, how long have you known?" Brian interrupted. "Since last night. We saw you on the beach, and we made Tracy tell us what was going on," Tara said. Brian and Lyn looked at one another, somewhat relieved, and somewhat mortified. "Guys, we need to tell you something to," Nick said. They both looked over at him. "Tara and I somehow found our way back to each other," he said. "What?" Brian asked, looking from one to the other. "We figured out that we never really stopped loving each other, and that for the last several months we've been making our way back to each other," Nick said. "So you two....?" Lyn asked. Tara and Nick nodded. Brian started laughing. All three looked over at him. "I can't believe this. All this time we were so worried about telling you this, and the whole time you guys were doing the same thing," he said, laughing hysterically. They all smiled. "Yeah, ain't it funny how things work out?" Nick said. Brian nodded wiping away his tears. "But wait a minute," Lyn said, "I thought that you guys couldn't be together. Isn't it forbidden or something?" "Yes it is," Nick said. "Then how?" Brian asked. "Gideon is petitioning the counsel for us," Tara said. "But what if they won't listen?" Brian asked, becoming concerned. "Then we just deal with it," Nick said. "I hope they listen," Lyn said. Nick and Tara both smiled, "We do to." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie handed A.J. some tissues. "Thanks man," A.J. said through his tears. The three had been standing at the windows watching as the two couples talked. Kevin looked over, "I'm glad there's no anger between them." "Yeah, I was afraid that Brian was gonna do something to Nick for what he did to Tara," Howie said. "Yeah, me to," A.J. said, blowing his nose. "Damn Bone, do you have to be so emotional?" Kevin asked. "Well excuse me for having feelings," A.J. said, "Not like I didn't see you tear up or anything." Kevin blushed, "Yeah well." "Look," Howie said, pointing out the window. They looked down to see Brian and Tara walking off in one direction, and Nick and Lyn going the opposite way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Lyn walked in silence for a while. Nick could feel that she was uncomfortable with him, and he hated that. He'd expected it though. How could she not be a little afraid of him, after what he'd done? "Lyn, I'm sorry for what I put you through. I'm sorry you worried about me when I was gone, and I'm sorry that I became someone you were afraid of," he said. She looked up at him, "I'm not afraid of you. I know you couldn't help what you became, but I see you now. You're the Nick I know, the one I remember. I could never be afraid of you." He smiled at her, "Thanks. I can tell that you're uncomfortable though." Lyn nodded, "A little. It's just that what happened with me and Brian, I never expected to happen. And when you guys came back, we didn't stop, we couldn't. I feel guilty for doing that to you." "Don't," Nick said, stopping and looking down at her, "Don't feel guilty for loving him. I'm happy for you, really. I'm glad that you two found each other and that you share this amazing love. I can feel it between you, and I know that you two were meant to be with each other." She smiled, "Thank you for understanding." "Lyn, I want you to know, that just because I never stopped loving Tara, that doesn't mean that I didn't love you," Nick said. "I know," she said. "I mean, you helped me though one of the worst times in my life. I don't think I would have made it without your love and support. I'll always love you," Nick said. Lyn looked up at him, "I know, just like I'll always love you. Its just that what we feel for each other now is different than it used to be." Nick nodded, "Yeah." "The connection we used to have, it hasn't been there for a while now," she said. "I was wondering if you felt it to," Nick said. Lyn nodded, "I have. And when I see the way that you and Tara look at each other...." Nick laughed, "It's exactly what I see when you and Brian look at each other." She smiled, "Yeah." "So I guess this is it huh?" Nick said. "I guess so," she said. "Lyn, would it be OK if I left my stuff here for a while?" he asked. "Sure," she said. "Thanks. It's just that, as soon as they let us leave, Tara and I are going back," Nick explained. Lyn looked concerned, "Going back?" He nodded, "Yeah, we have to. We have to learn how those girls hide themselves from us, and whatever I can learn from Jered and Ephah about what they do will help our side to." "Nick, why does it have to be you two? You've already been through so much," she asked. "Because, as far as they know, we never turned back. We can make up some story as to where we've been this whole time, and get back in with them easily," he said. "Nick, I don't like this," Lyn said. He sighed, "I know, neither did Tracy and Jade, but it's really the only way. We have to know how they do what they do if we ever have any hope of beating them." Lyn looked at him concerned. Nick smiled at her, "Don't worry. I'm not struggling like I was. When I came back, I was given the control I've been trying to grasp for so long. I'm no longer in training." "So you're fully trained now?" she asked. "Yup, as much as they can teach me anyway," he said, "They still aren't quiet sure what to do with me. I've got abilities that none of them have, and that puts me in a unique position to do this." "As much as you're trying to reassure me, you know I'm still gonna worry about you," she said. Nick laughed, "I know, but don't worry to much. Brian might get jealous." Lyn slapped his arm and laughed, "Yeah he might." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Brian, I'm sorry," Tara said, as they walked. "For what?" he asked. "For putting you through this. Tracy told me what happened with you when I was gone. I'm sorry you had to feel that," she said. Brian shrugged, "It's alright. The funny thing is that when you came back, it all stopped. I can't feel you anymore like I used to." "I know, it's the same with me. The bond we had just isn't there anymore," she admitted. "You think this is His way of letting us know that this is OK?" he asked. Tara thought for a while, "Could be." Brian looked at her, "You aren't angry with me?" She smiled at him, "No, I was a little shocked, but I'm not angry." "I was to. Shocked that is. This thing with Lyn just kinda hit me by surprise. Before I knew it, I found myself doing things I never thought I would have. I didn't mean to cheat on you, I just....." Brian said. Tara put her hand on his arm, "I understand. I felt the same way. I kept telling myself that it couldn't happen, but then I just came to realize that it already had. I'd been in love with Nick for so long and the whole time I kept lying to myself about it." "Exactly," Brian said, looking over the ocean and sighing. "Bri, I still love you," she said. He smiled at her, "And I still love you. You can't go through what we've been through and not." She laughed, "Ain't that the truth." "Tara, do you think that this whole time, everything that's happened, that it was suppose to happen, so it would lead us to this point?" he asked. She smiled, "I think so. It's been a crazy way to get here, but God never does anything simply that's for sure." Brian laughed, "Yeah." Tara looked down at her wedding ring, twirling it around her finger, "So what do we do about this?" Brian looked at her hand, then his own. He bit his bottom lip for a second before looking up at her. "Divorce?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess. Lyn and Nick have it easy. They can just separate their stuff and go on. Us. We have to file papers, and listen to the media when they get ahold of it." "Yeah, I hate that," he said. "I hate what it'll do to you," she said. He looked at her confused, "Me?" Tara nodded her head, "Yeah, this is number two for you now. You know what the media will do with that." Brian shrugged, then smiled, "Well, they say third times a charm." Tara laughed at him, "I think they're right. At least in this case." They walked for a while in silence. Brian finally looked up, "Is there something you aren't telling me?" Tara nodded, "I'm not sure how." "Just say it," he said, stopping and looking deep into her eyes. "Nick and I are going back as soon as we can," she said. Brian's mouth dropped open, "But why?" "We're going undercover so to speak. We have to find out how they do some of the things they do. That way we'll have the upper hand with them," she answered. Brian looked deeply concerned, "I don't like this. Why can't someone else go?" "Because we are the most suited pair for the job. We may never have another opportunity like this again, and we have to take it," she said. Brian took her hand in his, not knowing what to say. "Bri, Nick and I will watch out for each other. Nothing bad will happen, I promise," she said, trying to comfort him. "You can't promise that. You don't know what will happen," he said. "We won't be alone. There will be others with us, ready to pull us out if we get in trouble," she said. He sighed and looked at her, "When are you leaving?" "We don't know yet. We will tell you before we go. I just hate that you're gonna be left dealing with the fallout of the divorce on your own," she said. He shook his head, "I don't mind, as long as I know you both are safe, I don't care what I have to deal with." Tara hugged him, "Thank you." "For what?" he asked. "For everything," she said, slipping her ring off and handing it to him. He looked down at it for a second, then pulled his own off, holding them in the palm of his hand. Brian looked at her, then glanced out at the ocean. Tara nodded, walking with him to the waters edge. He handed her his ring, "I'll pray for you while you're gone. All I want is for you to be happy." "That's all I ever wanted for you too," she said. "So this is it," he said. She nodded, "Yes it is." Brian pulled her into a hug, holding her there for several minutes. When they parted they were both wiping tears away, and smiling at one another. "You ready?" he asked. She nodded, and together they threw the rings into the water, watching as the waves took them, carrying them out to sea. Chapter 11 |