| Chapter 17 Brian rolled over, stretching his arm out to Lyn's side of the bed. He lifted his head and looked over when he didn't feel her there. He sat up and looked around, not seeing her in the room. Brian ran his hand through his hair, smiling as he heard her in the kitchen. The smell of coffee invading his senses. He got up and walked out into the living room, looking towards the kitchen. Lyn was busy making breakfast for them. Her back was to him, and she hadn't noticed he was up. Brian stood there and watched as she checked on whatever was in the oven, quietly humming a song. He smiled, thinking how lucky he was to be with her. She was his best friend. They could talk about anything, and often did. And now, she was so much more to him. He was completely in love with her. His every thought consumed by her, and he never wanted it to be any other way. Lyn turned around, and jumped. "Jesus Bri, you scared me!" she said. Brian laughed, "Sorry, I didn't mean to." Lyn walked around the counter and over to him. "You hungry?" she asked, wrapping her arms around him. He nodded, "Yeah, it smells good." Lyn smiled, "Thanks, but it'll be a few minutes before it's done." "Do I have time for a shower then?" Brian asked. "Yeah," she said. He smiled at her, "Wanna join me?" She laughed, "I would, but then the food would burn. Besides I've already had mine." "Aww," Brian pouted, "And I missed it." Lyn playfully slapped his arm, "You're suppose to be taking it easy, remember?" Brian pouted even more, "Yeah, I remember." Lyn shook her head and laughed, "Go on, it should be done when you get out." "OK," Brian said, turning to go back into the room. Lyn watched him for a moment then went back into the kitchen, smiling. "God I love him," she said, checking on the food. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara walked out of the bathroom fussing with the tie on her blouse. She looked up at Tracy and Jade, "So? How do I look?" Both girls mouths were on the floor. Tara laughed, "That good huh?" "Honey, you look..... beautiful," Tracy said. "Drop dead gorgeous," Jade added. Tara was dressed in skin tight black leather pants, black boots with very high hills, and a black lace top over a black bra. Her hair was done in several small braids, with the small braids intricately braided together into one long braid down her back. "Well, I have to look the part," Tara said, looking in the mirror. "Oh you definitely do," Jade said. Tara laughed, "I hope this goes fast, I hate dressing like this." "Well, I'm sure Nick won't mind it," Tracy teased. They all laughed. "No, he probably won't," Tara said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick ran his hand through his hair, taking one last look in the mirror. "You're sure that if we need you, you can get in quickly?" he asked. Gideon nodded, "Yes Nick. If you need us, we'll be there." "OK, how does this look?" Nick asked. "Good," Gideon replied. Nick was dressed in black leather jeans, black boots, and a black t-shirt that hugged his physique. Nick picked up his jacket and sword and walked out of the room with Gideon. They headed downstairs. Nick and Gideon both stopped in their tracks when they saw Tara standing in front of the windows. Nick's mouth was gaping open, his eyes wide. Gideon reached over and gently shut Nick's mouth, trying not to laugh at him. "God, she looks....." Nick said. Gideon nodded, continuing down the stairs. Tara turned around, facing them. She and Nick stared at one another for a moment before he finished his way down the stairs. "You look handsome," she said, hugging him. Nick dropped his jacket and sword on the couch, wrapping his arms around her. "You look divine," he whispered in her ear. Tara smiled and blushed, as they parted. Nick looked at the three, "I guess this is it." "We're going on ahead, so we'll be there when you arrive," Jade said. Nick and Tara nodded. "As soon as we say goodbye to Lyn and Brian, we'll be there," Tara said. Gideon handed Nick his sword, "Don't lose this. I've fought many a demon with that, and I'm kind of partial to it." Nick laughed, "I'll take good care of it." Tracy hugged them both, "Be careful, and stay strong." "We will," Tara said. Jade took her turn hugging them. "Remember, as long as you're together, nothing can touch you," she said. "We know," Nick said. Gideon looked at the two, "God is always with you, giving you strength and love. Don't forget that." Tara hugged him, "We never will." Gideon walked over next to Tracy and Jade, taking their hands. "See you there," he said, as they vanished from the room. "Well I guess the sooner we do this, the sooner this will be over," Tara said, picking up her jacket and sword. "Yeah," Nick said, picking up his own. Tara started towards the door, but Nick grabbed her wrist, turning her around. He stared into her eyes, "Anytime you need to stop this, just tell me and we're outta there." "I know," she said, "I love you." Nick smiled, "I love you to," he said, bending down and kissing her. Tara breathed into the kiss, enjoying the feeling of it. Even though they had given up some of their ability to feel emotions with each other, it was still more than what normal people would feel. It just didn't take them to the point of being dangerous for them. They were still aware of their surroundings, it really was the best of both worlds. Nick smiled at her as they parted, "I really do love that outfit on you." Tara laughed, "I thought you would. Come on, we need to be going." Nick took her hand, and together they walked out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian and Lyn were sitting in the living room, drinking coffee and talking about what they wanted to do that day, when Tara and Nick walked in. "Hey guys," Nick said. Lyn almost choked on her coffee, and Brian dropped the papers he was holding, his mouth gaping open. Tara and Nick laughed. "Yeah, we know. It's a bit extreme isn't it?" Tara asked. Brian shook his head, "Nu....Um no, not at all." Nick smiled at the looks on their faces, "You don't think? What about you Lyn?" Lyn shook her head, "No, just........ damn you guys look hot." They all laughed. "That was the reaction we were going for," Tara said. "Well you got it," Brian said. "Well, we just wanted to come say goodbye," Nick said. Suddenly everyone got quiet. Brian and Lyn really didn't want them to leave, and Nick and Tara didn't want to go, but it had to be done. Lyn walked up to Nick and hugged him, "Please be careful." Nick held her for a moment, "I will. You two take care of each other." Lyn stepped back, tears in her eyes, "We will." Brian and Tara were hugging as well. "Stay safe OK," Brian said. Tara nodded, "We will. You take care, alright?" "I will. We'll be praying for you until you return," he said. Tara held him tighter, "Thank you." They parted and Lyn and Tara hugged one another. "I'm gonna miss you," Lyn said. "I'll miss you to. Remember what you promised, if you need us, we'll be here," Tara whispered. Lyn nodded. Brian and Nick hugged. "Take care man," Nick said. "You to. I want you both back in one piece," Brian said. Nick laughed, "You got it. If you need us though, all you have to do is say it and we'll be here." Brian shook his head, "I won't risk that." Nick looked at his friend, "Brian, you are more important than anything we're doing. If you need us, we'll be here, no matter what." "Thanks Nicky," Brian said, hugging him once more. Just then Angel walked up, wagging her tail and barking. Nick and Tara listened to her for a moment. "Are you sure?" Nick asked her. Angel barked, hopping from one foot to the other. "What's she saying?" Lyn asked. "She said that now that things are looking good for everyone, that she want's to go back," Tara answered. "Go back? Where?" Brian asked. "To her home," Nick said, "The woods." "She said that she'd done what she was here to do, and she's ready to go back," Tara added. Brian bent down on one knee, petting her. "You're sure?" he asked. She barked. "She said yes," Nick translated. "OK," Brian said, hugging her, "Thank you for everything you've done. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Angel whined, licking the side of Brian's face. "She said, she loves you to," Tara said. Brian smiled, standing back up and wiping his face with his hand. Nick bent down, hugging her, "Anytime you want to come back and see us, all you have to do is ask. Someone will bring you." Angel wagged her tail. Tara bent down, running her hand along the wolfs face, "Thank you for helping us." Angel barked and Tara and Nick both laughed. "What?" Lyn asked. "She said, no prob Bob," Nick laughed. "Lord, she has been around us to long," Brian said. "Lucas?" Tara said. Just then the man appeared in the room. "Can you take her back, and make sure someone watches over her?" Tara asked. Lucas smiled, "I'd be glad to." "Goodbye Angel," Brian said, as she walked over next to Lucas. Angel looked at them all, her green eyes piercing into their souls. She whined once more as Lucas bent down, putting his hand on her head, and they disappeared. Tara wiped a tear from her eye. "What was that last whine?" Brian asked, doing the same. "She said that she would always love us," Nick said. "Aww," Lyn said, "Darn that wolf." Brain laughed, "What?" "She always did know how to make me cry," Lyn answered, brushing away her own tears. They all laughed, knowing exactly how she felt. Nick sighed, "Well, we need to be going." "Yeah," Tara said. They hugged Brian and Lyn once more, then walked over next to the windows. They both put on their jackets. They both had long leather jackets. Each one had a hidden pocket in it, where their swords normally would be. Brian and Lyn watched as Nick took Tara's hand. "You ready?" he asked. She nodded her head, and Nick closed his eyes, as she did to. After a moment they both opened them, and Lyn and Brian took a step back. Their eyes had changed from the loving, compassionate look they normally had, to a cold, dark, evil look. "My God," Brian said, shocked at their change in appearance. Nick smiled, "Gotta play the part. You guys take care." "We love you," Lyn said. Tara smiled, "We love you too, see you when we get back." Brian nodded, watching as Tara picked her sword up, holding it in her hand. Nick slid Gideon's sword into his jacket, holding his own in his hand. Tara and Nick took each others hands, interlacing their fingers, and took one last look at their friends, then vanished. Brian and Lyn stood there for several minutes just looking at where the two had been standing. Both their hearts were heavy with worry for them. Finally Lyn reached over and took Brian's hand, pulling him over to the couch, and sitting down. "God I miss them already," Brian said. "Yeah, me to," Lyn agreed. "I just pray everything works out," Brian said. Lyn nodded, "So do I." Lyn snuggled up next to him, "Bri, why don't we forget about going out today. I really don't feel like it now." "Yeah, me either," he agreed, wrapping his arms around her, and getting comfortable. "Can we just stay like this all day?" she asked. Brian held her tight, "There's nothing I want more." Lyn smiled, holding him with everything she had, comforting him, just as he was comforting her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Tara appeared in the great room of Serenity's house. Evi and Serenity were busy entertaining Jered and Ephah, and no one noticed that they'd appeared. Nick and Tara smiled at each other. Nick pulled Gideon's sword, then cleared his throat, "Hey honey, we're home." All four jumped, looking over at them. Jered and Ephah were immediately on their feet, their swords drawn. "Where the hell have you been?!" Jered demanded. Nick laughed, "Funny you should ask. We were wondering why you guys didn't come and find us." "Where were you?" Ephah asked, eyeing the two. "If you must know. We decided to take off on our own for a while," Nick answered, "We were having a great time, until they found us, and took us." "They? They as in who?" Serenity asked. "Gideon and his crew," Tara answered. "Yeah, they kept us for days, trying to turn us back," Nick said, "Like that's gonna happen," he laughed. "They had no idea how powerful we are now," Tara said, "All we had to do was bide our time, and wait for the perfect situation to just fall in our lap." "Yeah, and it did. Those idiots put us together, that was all it took," Nick laughed. "So you escaped?" Evi asked. "Uh huh," Nick said, brandishing Gideon's sword, "And I got a nice souvenir too." Jered and Ephah stared at the sword, then up at Nick and Tara. "You killed him?" Jered asked. Nick grinned, "So what if I did?" "Nothing, it's just that none of us have ever even come close," Ephah said. Nick shrugged his shoulders, "None of you are me." Jered walked closer to Tara, "So you're one of us now?" Tara glared at him, "Would I be here if I wasn't?" "I dunno, you tell me," Jered said, eyeing her. Tara laughed, "You always were the skeptic weren't you?" "Just protecting number one," Jered retorted. Nick stepped in between them, glaring at Jered, "Back off. She's mine." "Yours?" he asked. "Yes, mine," Nick said, taking Tara in his arms and delivering a searing kiss. When he broke the kiss he glared at everyone in the room, "And if you touch her, you'll have to deal with me. Got it?" No one said anything. "Got it!" Nick yelled. They all mumbled that they did. Tara put her sword back in her jacket, "Nicky, I'm tired. Let's go to bed for a while." "Alright," Nick said, putting both his swords away and helping Tara take off her jacket. They walked towards the hall. As Tara passed Jered and Ephah she laughed at them. "Close your mouths, you're starting to drool," she said, following Nick down the hall. The girls waited until Tara and Nick had gone into one of the bedrooms and shut the door. "OK genius, what the hell are we gonna do now?" Serenity asked, glaring at Jered. "Well, it looks like the deal is back on," he said. "Yeah, you guys get your �sister' after all, and we get Nick," Ephah said. "Yeah but you saw them," Evi said, "I don't think they're gonna want to be separated." Jered sat down, thinking. "Maybe they won't have to be," he said, "If they work that well as a team, let's just leave them together." "You girls teach her how to be one of you, we'll teach Nick what he needs to learn, then they can work as a team," Ephah said. "This could be profitable for all of us," Jered said. The girls looked at one another, shrugging their shoulders. "It could work," Evi said. Serenity nodded, "OK, then the deal stands." Jered nodded, "The deal stands." Chapter 18 |