| Chapter 29 By the time they reached the hospital Brian was slipping in and out of consciousness. Ted had called on the way, so they were ready for him. Lyn watched as they placed Brian on a gurny and wheeled him into the emergency room. She followed them down the hall at a run and into a small exam room. Several nurses were waiting and as soon as Brian was wheeled in, they went to work. They quickly stripped Brian of his clothing and got him into a hospital gown, then began the process of attaching him to several monitors and inserting an IV. Ted was barking orders at them, and watching the monitors at the same time. "Pam, call Dr. Skinner, get him here now," Ted instructed. The nurse nodded and walked over to the phone in the room and dialed several numbers. "Get him on some oxygen," Ted told another nurse. The nurse quickly complied, pulling the mask over Brian's face. Ted ordered several tests and the nurses left the room to go schedule them. Lyn walked up and stood next to Brian, gently running her hand through his hair. He was still struggling to breath and she could tell he was still in pain. Even in unconsciousness the pain registered on his face. She fought to hold back her tears, but a few escaped. She knew she had to be strong for him, but she was having a hard time finding her strength. "Pray Lyn," she heard Tracy's voice behind her. Lyn looked over, but didn't see her. She looked back at Brian, God please help him. Please don't take him from us, please... "Lyn," Ted said, putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. "Honey, as soon as we get him stable enough we're gonna run a few tests," he told her. She nodded, "Do you know what happened?" Ted sighed, "The tests will confirm it, but I'm sure he had a heart attack." "Is he gonna be OK?" she asked, almost in a child's voice. Ted shook his head, "It doesn't look good right now. You may want to go ahead and bring his family and the guys in." Lyn looked at her uncle in horror. This wasn't how this was suppose to happen. Ted pulled her into a hug and held her as she broke down. "I know honey, I'm so sorry," he told her. After a few minutes Lyn pulled away, trying to compose herself. "He can fight this, I know he can," she said. Ted looked at her with sad eyes, "Baby, I'm not so sure." Lyn shook her head, "He will. He's cheated death before, he can do it again." Ted started to say something, but stopped himself. This wasn't an issue he wanted to fight with her on. Truth be told, he hoped she was right. Lyn took Brian's hand in hers and softly whispered to him. She didn't know if he could hear her or not, but if he could, she wanted him to know that she was there and she loved him. Dr. Skinner came through the door and quickly looked over the monitors and talked with Ted for a moment. "Lyn, we need to take him now," Ted said. She nodded, kissing Brian's forehead before they wheeled him out of the room. Ted stayed behind for a moment. "You can go down to my office and wait if you want," he said. "Thanks," she said, taking the keys he offered her. "I'll come get you when we get him settled," he told her. Lyn nodded, leaving the room and heading for the elevators. Ted watched her until she stepped on, then he hurried down the hall to help with Brian. Lyn rode the elevator down to the office complex and let herself into Ted's office. She flipped the lights on and sat down at his desk. She was numb. How could things get so bad so quickly? She wiped her eyes and picked up the phone. She called the piolets in Kentucky and LA and had them ready the planes. Then she paused for a moment before dialing. She didn't know what to say. Silently she prayed for the right words as she dialed. It seemed like an eternity before anyone answered the phone. She knew it was the middle of the night there, so she let it ring. "Hello?" a sleepy voice answered. "Hi Mr. Littrell, it's Lyn," she said. Harold sat straight up in bed, "Lyn, did we get beeped?" Lyn bit her lip, "No, but something's happened. You need to come as soon as possible." "What happened?" Harold asked with fear in his voice. "Brian... um... "Lyn stammered, as her tears fell, "Brian had a heart attack, and ...... it's real bad." "Oh God," Harold said, "We're on our way." "The piolet will meet you at Gate 3," Lyn said. "Alright honey, we'll be there soon," Harold said, hanging up. Lyn held the phone in her hand. She took a deep breath. She still had to call the guys and Leighanne. This was going to be a long night. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was standing in some sort of valley. He looked around. The place looked familiar to him, though he knew he'd never been there. He walked for a while, trying to figure out just why he was there. After a bit he saw a house in the distance. He made his way to it, knocking on the door. He could hear someone inside, then the door opened. Nick sucked in his breath and stared at the woman. He knew her, but from where he wasn't sure. She resembled Tara but with dark hair and chocolate eyes. The woman smiled at him, "So you've kept your promise?" Nick looked confused, "Promise? What promise?" The woman laughed, "Nickolas, don't toy with me. Did you bring them or not?" Nick felt the panic rise in his stomach. "Luna?" he asked. She smiled at him, "Well, did you or didn't you?" Nick cleared his throat, "No I didn't." Luna glared at him, "And why not? We had an agreement." "I couldn't," Nick said. Luna shook her head, "You can do anything. Now why are you breaking our agreement?" "Because it's not right," Nick told her. The woman pushed him against the wall, "My kind will be extinct if you don't do this. Is that what you want? To never feel this again?" she asked. Nick winced as the most intense pleasure coursed through him. He closed his eyes, trying to push it away. Luna laughed, "I didn't think so. Now when are you bringing them?" Nick opened his eyes and stared at her, "I can't." Luna sighed, pulling him to her and softly kissing up his neck. "Don't," Nick said. Luna didn't listen. She kept going, moving up his neck and finally to his lips. Nick tried to push her away, but she wouldn't let him. As she kissed him, he could feel the desire taking control of him. She parted his lips with her tongue and began exploring his mouth. He moaned at the feeling, letting her pull him toward the bed in the room. Luna never broke the kiss as she pushed Nick onto the bed and crawled over him. Her hands roamed his body as she moved from his lips to his ear lobe. Taking it in her mouth and gently sucking on it as she ran her tongue over it. "Shit," Nick mumbled. His entire body was on fire. He'd never experienced anything like this, and he craved more. "Now, you'll bring me what I want," Luna whispered in his ear. "Yes," Nick said breathlessly. Luna smiled, "That's my Nickolas." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "NO!!!" Nick screamed, sitting straight up in bed. "Nick, what's wrong?" Tara asked, concerned. Nick was trembling and breathing heavily. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a shaky hand, "I... I'm OK." Tara turned on the light and looked at him, "Yeah right you're OK. What happened?" "I just had a bad dream, that's all," he said, getting up. "Are you sure that's all?" she asked, still concerned. He took a deep breath, "Yeah, go back to sleep." "Where are you going?" Tara asked. "I need to talk with Ephah, go back to sleep," he said, throwing a pair of boxers and a t-shirt on. Nick headed to the door, looking back at her and smiling, "I'm fine. I just need to ask him something." "And it can't wait until morning?" she asked. He shook his head, "No, now get some sleep and I'll be back before you know it." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn stood out in the hall waiting for them to get Brian settled in his room. Ted had sent one of the nurses down to get her when they had finished with the last test. Now she waited while they got him settled in his bed and arranged all the monitors he was on in the room. She leaned against the wall and rubbed her eyes. Just then her cell phone rang. She jumped, then fumbled to answer it, "Hello." "Ms. Jackson, this is Frank. I just wanted to inform you that we are on final approach," the man said. "Thank you. Walk them through customs and to the car," she instructed. "Yes mame," Frank said, hanging up. Lyn sighed, walking down to the nurses station. "Melissa in about ten minutes can you go down to the back entrance and wait for my car to arrive and lead them up here via the service route?" Lyn asked. "Yes mame," the nurse said. Lyn nodded, making her way back down the hall. Ted and Dr. Skinner exited the room as Lyn approached it. "How is he?" she asked. Both men glanced at one another. "Lyn, the tests did confirm that he had a heart attack. He's very weak right now," Dr. Skinner said. "So what does that mean? Is he gonna get better?" she asked. "No honey he's not," Ted said, "His heart is to damaged to keep going much longer." "But he's still on the list, right?" she asked. Dr. Skinner nodded, "He's been upgraded to number one now." "So there's still a chance," Lyn said. "There is, but you have to understand that even if he was to receive a heart the surgery would be very risky. He's much to weak right now to even consider it," Dr. Skinner said. "So you're telling me that even if he got a heart right now you couldn't do the surgery?" Lyn asked. Dr. Skinner nodded, "He'd never make it through the surgery. He has to gain some strength first." Lyn sighed, trying to keep herself together. "Can I see him?" she asked. "Yes," Ted said, walking with her into the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick made his way down the hall to Ephah's room. He tapped on the door, waiting for him to answer. Ephah opened the door looking like he'd just woken up. His hair was a mess and his eyes were still half closed. "Can I talk to you?" Nick asked. Ephah blinked a few times, "Something wrong?" "No, I just need to talk to you," Nick said. Ephah ran his hand through his hair and walked out into the hall, leading Nick to the kitchen. He motioned for Nick to sit down at the table, then began to make a pot of coffee. When the coffee was finally brewing he sat down, "So, what's on your mind?" Nick looked at him, "Do you know how Nickolas came to give Luna the girls to train?" Ephah yawned, then looked at Nick, "I've heard stories, why?" "Can you tell me?" Nick asked. "Well, let's see, there was one where Luna blackmailed him, then there were the stories of seduction," Ephah said. Nick shuddered, remembering his dream. Ephah stared at him, "But something tells me you already know, don't you?" Nick nodded, "I had a dream." "Or a memory disguised as a dream," Ephah offered. Nick shrugged. Ephah got up and poured them both a cup of coffee bringing it back to the table and setting it down. Nick grabbed his cup and sipped the liquid. "Well are you going to tell me, or am I gonna have to guess?" Ephah asked. Nick blushed, "It was seduction. She used her powers to get what she wanted." Ephah nodded, "So I'm not getting any details am I?" Nick shook his head, "No, it's to weird." Ephah laughed, "It always is with their kind. So is this why you woke me up, because of this dream?" "Partly," Nick said, taking another sip. "Well?" Ephah asked. Nick sighed, "Tara and I are leaving soon. We want you to come with us." "Nick, you know I can't," Ephah said. Nick shook his head, "No, I know you can, you just won't let yourself. He will forgive you if you ask, you have to know that." Ephah said nothing, but stared into his coffee. "I feel your struggle. You're making it harder than it is," Nick said. Ephah sighed and looked up, "You don't understand." "What's to understand? God loves you, He always has and always will. You are keeping yourself from Him. He wants you back," Nick said. "How do you know that?" Ephah asked. Nick stared into his eyes, "Because He told me." Ephah looked at Nick, feeling small under his gaze. "He talks to you?" Ephah asked, amazed. Nick nodded, "On occasion. When something is really important. I didn't used to hear Him, but lately I hear Him all to well." Nick noticed the look in Ephah's eyes. It was one of awe and fear. "What?" Nick asked. Ephah shook his head, "Nickolas used to talk with God when he was on your side. I gathered that God had great plans for him before he was cast out." Nick sighed, "I still don't think I'm him." "What does God tell you?" Ephah asked. Nick bit his lip, remaining silent. Ephah nodded, "I see." Nick looked at him, "We're getting off track here. I can't leave you here knowing how you feel. If they find out they'll kill you." Ephah put his hand on Nick's shoulder, "If that's my fate then so be it, but I can't go with you." Nick sighed in frustration, "Don't tell me this is about honor?" "Nick, I come from a time where honor meant something," Ephah said. "Well it means something to me to," Nick said. "Nick, I chose this, this is where I have to stay," Ephah said. Nick looked down at his mug, "Tell me something? Is it more honorable to stay where you put yourself, or to admit you made a mistake and ask for forgiveness?" Ephah stared at the young man, unable to give an answer. Nick got up and put his coffee cup in the sink, "I thought so," he said, leaving the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J., Sarah, Leighanne and Gary made their way into Brian's room. Lyn looked up at them from where she was sitting, next to the bed, holding Brian's hand. A.J. swallowed hard, looking at his friend. He was whiter than the sheets on the bed and he had more tubes and wires attached to him than he thought humanly possible. Sarah took his hand and lead him into the room, up to the bed. "How is he?" Leighanne asked. Lyn shook her head, "Not good. He's really weak." "Are Harold and Jackie here yet?" A.J. asked. "They should be in about an hour," Lyn told him. "Has he been conscious at all?" Gary asked. "Not since they brought him up from his tests. Ted said he woke up a couple times during them, but it was just for a second and he was out again," Lyn explained. "How are you doing?" Sarah asked. Lyn sighed, "I'm trying to be strong for him, but I don't think I'm doing a good job of it." Leighanne reached over and pulled Lyn into a hug, "No one said you have to be." "But I don't want him to wake up and see me upset. It'll worry him if he does," Lyn said, fighting the tears that pooled in her eyes. "It's OK to cry," Leighanne soothed, "He'll understand. You love him and you're scared for him. Don't hold it in." Those words where all Lyn needed to hear, she broke down, leaning on Leighanne for support. A.J. and Sarah stayed by Brian's side as Leighanne and Gary walked Lyn over to some chairs in the corner of the room. They sat down, Leighanne holding Lyn as she finally released all her fears. "I don't want him to die," she cried. "I know, none of us do," Leighanne told her, "We just have to pray that he'll get better." "I've been praying but I don't think anyone hears me," Lyn sniffed. "Oh Lyn, you know they do. God just has His own time in doing things," Leighanne said. Lyn wiped her face, "Well let's hope it's not Backstreet time or we're screwed." Everyone snickered through their tears. "I think you've been around Brian and Nick a little to long," A.J. said. Lyn nodded, "Yeah, and I hope I'm around them for a lot longer to." "So do we," Leighanne said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ephah sat in the kitchen nursing his coffee. It had been hours since Nick had went back to bed, but he couldn't sleep. Nick's last question haunted him. For someone so young, the boy had wisdom beyond his years. But then, if he was Nickolas, he wasn't so young after all. Ephah sighed, considering the possibilities. What if he could go back? What if what Nick said was true, that all he had to do was ask? But he'd been in darkness so long, he wasn't sure if he knew how to pray anymore. He laughed, Darkness�that had become his name when he turned. He'd had it so long he'd almost forgotten his true name. Ephah sighed, looking out the window. It was dawn and soon the sun would come over the horizon. He got up and placed his cup in the sink next to Nicks. Maybe he could get a few hours sleep before the others in the house began to stir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jackie and Harold sat close to their sons bedside. The others had found places in the room to sit and sleep. Lyn was on the other side of the bed from Jackie. She held Brian's hand, wanting him to know she was there. The only sound in the room was the beeping of the heart monitor. It's slow melodic beeps lured them all into a daze. Lyn looked up, feeling Brian's hand move. She stood up and watched as Brian struggled to open his eyes. "Brian," she said, squeezing his hand. He squeezed back. It wasn't much, but she felt it just the same. Everyone gathered around the bed. "Brian wake up," Lyn said. Brian slowly opened his eyes, letting them focus on her. He smiled weakly, "Lyn.." "Shhh, don't try to talk," she told him. Brian looked around the room, seeing his friends and family around him. He looked at his mom and dad next to him. He could see the worry in both their faces. He smiled at them, "Don't... worry." Jackie leaned down and kissed him on the cheek, "You should rest." Brian stared at her for a moment, to weak to say anything. He then turned back to Lyn, looking up into her loving eyes. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but words escaped him. She leaned down and whispered in his ear, "I know, now rest OK." He nodded slightly then closed his eyes. Moments later he had slipped back into unconsciousness. Chapter 30 |