| Chapter 34 Brian sat in bed, playing with the seam on the pillow that he held in his lap. Tracy had finished telling him the entire story and he was somewhat in shock. He couldn't believe that Nick actually was Nickolas, and that everything was leading up to a war, and he was somehow an important part of it. He felt a great weight on his shoulders. What if he messed up? What if he didn't realize what it was he was supposed to do until it was to late? Tracy took his hand in hers, sensing his worry. "Bri, He wouldn't ask this of you if He didn't know you could do it," she said. Brian closed his eyes and nodded, "I know, I'm just at a loss as to what I can do." "He will let you know, don't worry," Tracy reassured him. Brian took a deep breath and looked up at his friends and family for the first time since Tracy had stopped telling the story. Everyone was staring at him, smiles on their faces. "We'll all be here for ya, whatever you need man," A.J. said, everyone else agreeing with him. Brian smiled, "Thanks guys." Lyn sat on the edge of the bed and took Brian's hand in hers, "What do you say we see about getting you released?" "Yeah, I'm ready to go home," he said, squeezing her hand and smiling. "OK, I'll be back in a bit," she said, getting up and leaving the room to go track down Ted and Dr. Skinner. "Bri, would you like us all to stay in Vancouver for a while?" Jackie asked. "You don't have to. I'm fine now, really," Brian said. "We know that, but if you want us to stay we will," Kevin said. Brian shook his head, "No, you guys should go home and relax." "Why don't we stay for a day or two anyway," Howie suggested. Brian smiled, knowing that after everything that happened, they all wanted to stay together for a little while at least. It always brought them comfort in times of crisis to be together, and draw from each other's strengths. "Yeah, a few days wouldn't hurt anything," Kira agreed. "And us girls could go shopping," Leighanne suggested. "Oh yeah, we have to do that while we're here," Kristin agreed. Brian laughed, "I guess it's settled then huh?" "I guess so," Harold said grinning. Lyn returned to the room with Ted and Dr. Skinner in tow. "I hear you'd like to go home," Ted said. Brian nodded, "That's an understatement, but yeah I would." Ted and Dr. Skinner smiled at one another. "Well Brian, there's nothing really keeping you here. I'll have the nurse start your paperwork, and we should have you outta here in about an hour," Dr. Skinner said. "Great," Brian said. "Oh, Brian...I'm going to publish a study on your case. I'll change the names of course, but I'll need your consent," Dr. Skinner said. Brian nodded, "You have it, but don't change the names." Everyone looked at him shocked. "Brian, are you sure?" Jackie asked. He nodded, "I'm positive, use the real names," he told Dr. Skinner again. Dr. Skinner glanced at Brian's parents then back to Brian, "You realize what this will do if I use your real name, right?" Brian nodded, "I'm well aware. I want you to use my name, don't change it." "But Bri....." Kevin started. Tracy held her hand up, "Do as he says, this is the beginning of his task." Everyone exchanged hopeful glances. "Alright then," Dr. Skinner said, "I'll add the consent form to the discharge papers." "Thank you," Brian said. Dr. Skinner patted Brian on the back, "You're welcome, I'll go get things started," he said, walking to the door and leaving the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Micah, Jade, and Gideon waited outside the counsel room. They had been there for hours, waiting on Tara and Nick to finish. Micah wondered the halls close to the room, looking at the architecture. He remembered every part of it, but he marveled at being able to see it again. It was still sinking in to him that he was finally home. Back to a place he had resigned himself never to see again. Gideon and Jade watched him. They could feel his joy, and smiled at one another. Nick stuck his head out of the door, "Micah, they want to see you." Micah turned and looked at Nick, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. Nick smiled at him, "Come on, Tara and I will be with you." Micah took a deep breath and walked into the room with Nick. He looked around, remembering this room well. He had held many counsel meetings in this very room. Nick put his hand on Micah's shoulder, pushing him on into the room. The two walked up to stand in front of the counsel. Tara was waiting on them. Micah looked at each counsel member, recognizing them all. "Micah, Nickolas and Tara have told us of your return. Welcome home," the man in front of them said. Micah smiled, "Thank you Jarab, it's good to be home." Jarab smiled at his old friend, "Now, we come to the matter of where to place you in the battles that lay ahead. We have considered many positions for you, but Nickolas insists on just one." Micah glanced at Nick, then back to Jarab, "And that would be?" "Nickolas has asked for a counsel of advisors to assist him in leading our armies. He would like you to be a part of this counsel," Jarab said. Micah's mouth dropped open and he looked over at Nick, "Really?" Nick laughed, "Yeah really. I need someone like you to help me keep the generals in line," he teased. Micah smiled, "Then I would be honored to serve on your counsel." "Great, now that that's settled, Jarab, you have the groups assembled?" Nick asked. "Yes, they are waiting for you in the training center," Jarab answered. "Good, Tara and I have one more stop before we head over," Nick said, taking Tara's hand in his. "Micah, take Gideon and Jade on over, we'll meet you there," Nick said. Micah nodded, "Good luck." Nick smiled, "Thanks, we're gonna need it," and with that he and Tara vanished. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian sat in front of the windows looking out at the ocean. He was glad to be home, but still felt the heavy burden of his task on his shoulders. His mom and the girls were busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, talking and laughing as they did. The guys had gathered around the TV, watching a basketball game. Normally Brian would be right in the middle of it, but he felt compelled to sit by himself for a while. He laughed as the guys yelled at the TV, as the opposing team scored. Brian got up and slipped out the door without anyone seeing him. He slowly walked down to the beach, taking his shoes off and wading ankle deep in the water. He stood there, letting the water lap around his feet. Closing his eyes and feeling the summer breeze on his face he silently began to pray, God, I know that I've been given an important job to do. Please don't let me screw it up........ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Tara appeared on a small road in the country side. Tara looked around and smiled at the scenery. "It's really beautiful here," she said, as she and Nick began to walk. "Yeah it is. We should have a place out here," he said. "We could, all we have to do is ask," Tara said. Nick nodded, "Then we'll do that when things settle down a bit." The two walked in silence for a moment, just enjoying the scenery and each other. "Nick, do you think she'll help?" Tara finally asked. "I'm not sure. We can't make her if she doesn't want to though," he said. "I know, and I would understand if she didn't," Tara said. Nick looked up the road, seeing a house, "Here we are." He and Tara made their way to the door. They could hear someone inside, singing happily as they went about their work. Nick smiled, remembering that voice well. "Well here goes nothing," Tara said, knocking on the door. They waited a few moments, hearing the person inside, moving around the house. Then the door opened. "Nick! It's so good to see you!" the girl said, reaching out and pulling Nick into a hug, "What are you doing here?" Nick smiled as they parted, "We need your help Aleisha, can we come in?" Aleisha looked at them both, then stepped aside, letting them in, and closing the door behind them. Chapter 35 |