| Chapter 28 Lyn helped Brian through the door and over to the couch. "I'll be right back," she said, going back out to get the food they had picked up. Brian sat his new will on the end table then kicked his shoes off and made himself comfortable. He was still feeling tired, but the dizziness had gone away. Lyn came back in and set the McDonalds bag on the coffee table, pulling out Brian's sandwich and handing it to him. "Thanks," he said, unwrapping it and taking a bite. Lyn sat across from him and watched as he ate. Brian looked at her, "You aren't eating?" "I will, I just don't feel like it right now," she answered. "Lyn, we knew I was going to feel like this sometimes. All I need is a little rest and I'll be alright," he said, trying to reassure her, and himself. Lyn stared at him for a moment. "I promise, if I feel bad I'll tell you," he said, seeing the look in her eyes. Lyn sighed and grabbed her sandwich, "OK, but I'm still calling Ted." Brian smiled, "That's fine, but don't drag him away if he's busy. He's coming over tonight anyway." Lyn nodded, taking a bite of her food. They both finished eating in silence. Brian placed his empty wrappers in the bag then stretched out on the couch. Lyn got up and walked over to him, "You need anything?" Brian shook his head, "No, I'm fine." "OK, get some rest then," she said, kissing his forehead. Brian smiled at her as she grabbed the bag and headed into the kitchen to throw it away. Lyn grabbed the phone in the kitchen and dialed Ted's number. "Dr. Jackson's office," Lydia said. "Hey Lydia, it's Lyn. Is Uncle Ted there?" Lyn asked. "Yes, hang on," she said, placing Lyn on hold. A minute later Ted picked up the phone, "Lyn, is something wrong?" "I'm not sure. Brian had a �spell' a little while ago," she said. "What kind of �spell'?" Ted asked. "Well, we were sitting in the car and his face went pale and he broke out in a sweat. He seemed to have trouble breathing and he said he was dizzy," she explained. "Why didn't you bring him in?" Ted asked. "I wanted to, but he refused. He said he was just tired and he just wanted to come home and lay down. He started looking better and his breathing seemed to be back to normal, so I just brought him home," she said. "What's he doing now?" Ted asked. "Resting. We came home and ate, now he's laying on the couch," Lyn said. "OK honey, I'll try to leave here a little early today and come over. If he has another �spell' bring him in, no matter what he says, OK?" Ted said. Lyn nodded, "OK, see you later." Lyn hung up the phone and returned to the living room. Brian looked up at her, "What'd he say?" "He said if you feel like that again to go to the hospital," she told him. Brian nodded, "OK." Lyn walked over to him and sat down on the coffee table facing him, "You sure you don't need anything?" He smiled, "Just you, and maybe a blanket. It's a little chilly in here." Lyn laughed, reaching up and pulling the afghan on the back of the couch over him. "That better?" she asked. He nodded, "Much." She took his hand and held it, "Now, close your eyes and go to sleep." Brian smiled, closing his eyes. After a few minutes Lyn could tell he was falling asleep. His grip on her hand began to loosen, until finally he let go. She placed his hand under the afghan and kissed his cheek before getting up and leaving him to his dreams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick walked into the kitchen to get a drink. His mind was swimming with the new information Tara had just given him, and he didn't notice Ephah sitting at the table. Nick grabbed a beer from the frig and opened it, downing half of it in one long drink. "It's a little early in the day to start drinking, don't you think?" Ephah said. Nick jumped and looked over, "Sorry, I didn't realize you were there." Ephah shrugged, "You alright. You look a little shaken." Nick walked over and sat down, "I am." Ephah looked concerned, "You wanna talk about it?" Nick shook his head, "I don't think I can." Ephah stared at him for a moment, "Does this have something to do with that book Tara had in her hands when she dragged you off?" Nick nodded, but didn't say anything. Ephah leaned over, "You don't have to tell me, I already know," he whispered. Nick looked at him wide eyed, "But how?" "I'm one of the �originals' Nick. I was around when the alliance was formed. I know of Nickolas and what he did," Ephah confessed. "But if you knew all this time, why did you take me? Why didn't you just kill me instead?" Nick asked. Ephah shrugged, "I guess curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see if you really were Nickolas or not." "You know I'm not," Nick said. Ephah just stared at him then shook his head, "No I don't. You have to remember that before Nickolas was a demon he was an angel. A very powerful angel. He held abilities that others didn't have, much like yourself. When �Satan' was cast out, Nickolas went with him, just as I did. But just like me, Nickolas doubted his decision. He wanted to go back, but knew he could gather information needed to defeat the demon world if he stayed as a spy. But he was found out and killed." Nick stared at Ephah in shock. "Sounds familiar doesn't it?" Ephah asked. Nick nodded, "But Tara said he was killed in a battle with the angels." "The demons made that up to keep the alliance going. They had come to rely heavily on them and didn't want to lose them, so the truth was never told," Ephah explained, "So you see why I'm still not sure you aren't him?" Nick looked down at the table, "I'm not some reincarnated demon/angel whatever, you have to know that." Ephah put his hand on Nick's arm, "Tell me something. During your life have you had memories that you knew weren't yours? Have you seen places and knew you'd been there before but you really haven't?" Nick bit his lip and nodded. "And when you were brought back, things came more easily to you. Like you'd done them before, but just had to be reminded of how to do them?" Ephah asked. Nick sighed, "Yeah, for the most part." Ephah looked deep into Nick's eyes, "Then what makes you so sure you aren't him?" he asked, getting up and leaving the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn opened the door and let Ted in. He gave her a hug, "How's he doing?" "He's still sleeping," Lyn said, motioning to the couch. "Well, let me check him out," Ted said, making his way over and sitting on the coffee table. He pulled his equipment from his bag and carefully checked Brian's blood pressure and heart rate without waking him up. He looked up at Lyn, "Everything seems alright." Lyn breathed a sigh of relief, "Thanks. I'm gonna go finish dinner, make yourself at home." Ted smiled going over to sit in the recliner. He reached for the remote to change the channel on the TV when he noticed some papers laying underneath it. He picked them up, noticing what they were. Ted sighed, getting up and walking into the kitchen. "Lyn honey, when did Brian have this done?" he asked, holding up the papers. Lyn looked over, "This morning. We were in the parking lot when he got sick." "Where you in with him when he did this?" Ted asked, thumbing through the pages. "No, I didn't feel right being there, so I waited outside, why?" she asked. Ted looked at her, "I think you should read this." Lyn looked over at him, seeing the serious look on his face, "Why, what does it say?" Ted said nothing, but handed her the papers. Lyn started reading. A feeling of shock came over her, "Oh my God. He can't do this." "He did," Ted said, pulling his niece into a hug, "He obviously loves you more than anything." Lyn wiped the tears from her eyes, "But I can't take this, it's to much." "Honey, you can't refuse it. It's his wish for you to have it, don't deny him that," Ted said. Lyn sat down at the table, reading through the rest of the will. Brian had named certain personal things that were to go to his family and the guys, but he had left everything else to her. His house, the half interest in the production company, and his share of the royalties and profits from all of the Backstreet Boys music as well as his own solo effort. All of his financial holdings for the most part went to her. There was a small percentage that went to his family and his charity, but the rest was in her name. Lyn sat the papers down feeling completely overwhelmed and shocked. Ted squeezed her hand, "Take it for what it is. He wants to make sure you are taken care of and won't have to worry about things, and if he can't be here to do it himself, then he's gonna make sure of it after he's gone." Lyn shook her head, "I can't believe he did this." "Look at me," Ted said. Lyn looked up at him. "You love him right?" he asked. She nodded, "More than I can ever say." "And you would sacrifice everything you have for him if he needed it, right?" he said. She nodded. "So that's what he's doing for you. He knows that if things don't work out that he won't be around to take care of you like he wanted to. So this is his way of making sure it gets done. Making sure that you won't ever have to worry about the material things needed to get through life," Ted said. Lyn sighed, "But I don't need this, I need him." Ted hugged her, "I know, but this the best he can do for you, if things don't go well." "He's right ya know," Brian said. They both looked up to see him standing in the door way leaning against the door frame. "How long have you been there?" Lyn asked, folding the papers back over. Brian smiled, "Long enough. Ted's right though. If I can't be here, that's the next best thing I can do." Lyn got up and walked over to him, "I don't need this." "I know," Brian said, "But I want you to have it. I love you, and if I can't be here to show it, then I'm gonna make sure you get everything I can give you." "I don't know what to say," Lyn said. Brian smiled, "Say you love me." Lyn grinned, "I love you." Brian pulled her into a hug and softly kissed her, "That's all you have to say," he whispered in her ear. Ted cleared his throat, reminding them he was still there. The two parted, walking back into the kitchen. Brian sat down, "What's for dinner? I'm starvin." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick sat on the patio staring out over the desert sand. He needed to get out of the house and think. His mind was reeling with everything he'd learned. In the span of one day everything he thought he was had come into question. He used to think he knew who he was, now he wasn't so sure. He leaned his head back and looked up at the sky. "Is this your way of telling me what I am? Am I this person that they all think I am? This demon that made a mistake, and now I'm back to fix it?" he asked. What if you are? Is that so bad?, he heard a voice say inside his head. Nick sat back up and looked around. He didn't see anyone. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands, "Yes, that means my entire life has been a lie." No Nick, not a lie. Your life has been a journey to bring you here, the voice said. "But where is here? I'm so confused, I don't even know who I am anymore," Nick whispered, feeling his tears wet the palms of his hands. You are my child Nick. Trust in me and in time you will see your true self, the voice soothed. Nick nodded, releasing the tears he'd been trying to hold back. *Gideon watched from a distance. "What's happening?" Jade asked. Everyone could feel the presence of God over Nick, and wondered what was going on. "He knows," Gideon said. Jade looked at him confused, "What does he know?" Gideon shook his head, "It doesn't matter right now. Make sure everyone is ready, I have a feeling things will happen quickly."* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hey, that's cheating," Brian protested. Ted laughed, "No it's not. Where in the rules does it say you can't do that?" Lyn laughed and shook her head, "Men." Brian and Ted looked at her and laughed. "Anyone want something to drink?" Brian asked, getting up from the table. They had already eaten dinner and the three of them had been playing a board game for the past few hours. "No thanks," Ted said. Lyn shook her head. "OK," Brian said, walking over to the frig and pulling out a bottle of water. As he shut the door a wave of dizziness came over him. He held on to the handle, hoping it would pass quickly. It didn't. Brian could feel his heart pounding in his chest, so much so, that it hurt, and he couldn't catch his breath. "Lyn....help," he said, still hanging onto the refrigerator door for dear life. Lyn and Ted were at his side in an instant. "Brian, what's wrong?" Lyn asked. "Hurts," was all Brian could manage to say. Ted reached down and scooped Brian up carrying him into the living room and placing him on the couch. He quickly took his equipment out of his bag and began examining Brian. Brian kept his eyes closed, his head swimming with dizziness. He grabbed his chest and moaned as waves of piercing pain shot through him. Lyn could see the pain in his face and gently stroked his forehead, "It's gonna be OK, just hang on." Ted frantically searched through his bag, pulling out a bottle and quickly retrieving one of the pills inside it. "Brian, open your mouth and lift your tongue," he instructed. Brian did as he was told. Ted placed the pill under his tongue, "Don't swallow it, let it dissolve, OK?" Brian nodded, his body tensing as another wave of pain shot through him. Lyn watched as Ted readied a shot. "What's going on?" she asked. "I'm pretty sure he's having a heart attack," Ted said, as he pulled Brian's arm over. Brian moaned, seeing the needle, and closed his eyes as Ted inserted it and administered the shot. "Brian we're taking you to the hospital," Ted said, placing his things back in his bag. Brian didn't respond, he was concentrating to hard on trying to breathe. "Lyn, pull the car up as close to the door as you can get," Ted said. Lyn nodded, grabbing the keys and heading out the door. Brian looked over at Ted, but Ted knew he wasn't looking at him. He seemed to be staring at something behind him. "Tra...cy," Brian whispered. Ted glanced behind him, not seeing her, but knowing she was there. "Hang on Brian," he said as he scooped the younger man up and hurried to the car. Chapter 29 |