| Chapter 11 Diane followed the guys down the hallway to Brian and Nick's room. Several hours had passed since they arrived at the hospital. First they had to endure being thoroughly checked out by the doctors, then they where taken to the doctor's lounge so they could get cleaned up. Now they where following a nurse to see Brian and Nick. The nurse lead them to the door and left. Kevin walked in first, seeing Brian in the bed by the windows. He was in some sort of brace that went from his chest past his hips. He was glued to the TV and didn't notice them as they entered. "Brian," Kevin said, walking over to him. Brian turned his head and smiled, "Hey cuz, what took you guys so long?" "Doc's wanted to do all kinds of tests and stuff, just to make sure we were alright," he answered, "How you feeling?" "Great! I love drugs," Brian laughed, "I can't feel anything, its wonderful." Everyone chuckled. "I bet it is. Has the doctor told you anything?" Kevin asked. Brian shook his head, "Nope. They did some tests and then brought me in here." "Brian, where's Nick?" Diane asked. "I dunno, when we got here they took us to different places. I haven't seen him since," Brian answered. "So, what's so interesting?" Howie asked, gesturing to the TV. "Us," Brian said, "We're on every channel." "Oh that's great," A.J. said. "Yeah, did you guys see the plane from the air? How the hell did we live through that?" Brian asked. "We saw, and I dunno," Kevin said, sitting down in the chair next to Brian's bed. "Did someone call Leigh?" Brian asked. "I did, and Aunt Jackie too," Kevin said, "They're on their way." "Where are we anyway?" Brian asked. "Montana," Howie answered. Brian nodded, staring at the TV as another news bit on them came on. Diane watched as images of the plane and their camp site played over the screen. She really wasn't hearing the words though. She was worried about Nick. Afraid that he would wake up and she wouldn't be there like she promised. She didn't want to let him down, still feeling compelled to take care of him, even though they where in a hospital full of care givers. Everyone looked up as the doctor entered the room. "Would you all mind stepping out in the hall for a moment?" he asked. They all got up and stepped out, seeing a couple orderlies bringing Nick down the hall on a gurny. He seemed to be asleep as they passed by them and went into the room. A.J. looked over, "What where all those wires hooked to him?" Kevin shrugged his shoulders. "I think it's a monitor for brain function," Diane said. "Oh," A.J. said quietly. The group paced the hall for several minutes as the doctor and nurses got Nick settled. Finally the doctor opened the door, letting them back in. The four cringed at the sight of Nick lying in bed. He was hooked to several monitors with wires attached to various places around his head. He had an IV and his left hand was in a cast. "How is he?" Kevin asked. "As good as can be expected," the doctor answered, "We don't have all the test results back yet, and there are more that I want to do in the morning. After those come back I'll have a better answer for you." "He broke his arm?" Howie asked. "His wrist, yes," the doctor said. "He never said anything about it hurting," Diane said. "Well I'm sure the head injury was all he could feel," the doctor said. Diane sat down in the chair next to Nick, taking his hand in hers, "When will he wake up?" "We had to sedate him for one of the tests, so he'll probably sleep for a few more hours," the doctor answered. She nodded, sighing heavily. "What about Brian?" A.J. asked. The doctor looked over at him. "Yeah, what about me?" Brian asked. "Again your test results aren't all back either, but I can say that I don't think your condition is permanent," he said. Brian smiled, "That's good to hear." "Well I'll leave you all to get settled. I know that asking you to leave is out of the question after what you've all been through together, but please let them get their rest," the doctor said. "We will," Kevin assured him. "I'll have the orderlies bring in a couple more fold out chairs for you and send someone in to get you something to eat. I'm sure you're all hungry," he said. "Now you're talkin," A.J. said, "Please tell me there's a McDonalds around here somewhere." The doctor laughed, "Yes there is. Try and get some rest, and I'll see you in the morning." "Thanks doc," Kevin said as the man left the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Diane sat sipping her soda feeling quite full after their fast food feast. She watched as the guys talked with the people that had started trickling in over the last few hours. The first to arrive was Leighanne with Harold and Jackie. Diane couldn't help but cry when Leighanne walked into the room and saw Brian for the first time. The look on her face was heartbreaking, and then hearing them talking to each other, hugging, kissing. The love between them filled the room. Diane felt a twinge of jealously, she wanted a love like that, and so far had never experienced it. The next to arrive was A.J.'s mom along with Kristin. Then Howie's mom and brother showed up. Diane could see where Howie got his sweet nature by watching his mom. The room was packed, but it was unusually quiet. Each group whispering to each other, telling their stories about what happened. Diane was introduced to everyone as they came in, but she didn't interfere with their reunions. She sat quietly next to Nick, waiting for him to wake up and smile at her. It had taken Kevin a while to get ahold of Bob and Jane, so they where the last to arrive. Kevin met them at the door, not letting them in until he prepared them for Nick's condition. Jane was already in tears as they walked around the corner and saw their son. Diane got up and moved, offering Jane her seat. Jane sat down, taking Nick's hand in hers and shedding silent tears as Kevin and the rest of the guys told them what had happened. Their story was laced with how much Diane had helped them, and how Nick wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for her. Diane looked at the floor, not able to take the grateful stares of everyone. She didn't feel like the person they made her out to be, and was embarrassed by their gratitude. Bob walked over to her and pulled her into a hug, "Thank you so much." Diane wasn't sure what to say, she nodded, "I just did what any one of you would've done in our situation." Bob squeezed her tighter, then let her go, going to stand next to Jane. Kevin walked over to Diane and smiled, "Modesty is a good characteristic to have, but we all know what you did. We owe you everything." "Kev, stop please," Diane said, feeling her face turn hot with a blush. "OK, we won't mention it anymore," he laughed. "Thank you," she said. Kevin glanced at the other guys and smiled. "Ai, ai Captain," they all said in unison. Diane rolled her eyes and shook her head, not able to contain the laughter. Once she started, the guys did, and soon the entire room was booming with laughter. Nick awoke to the noise, opening his eyes and blinking a few times. He looked over, seeing his mom and dad standing next to the bed, looking down at him. He smiled, reaching up to hug them. Jane held him for several minutes, not able to hide her tears. Bob held Nick's hand while Jane continued to hug him, crying on his shoulder. Nick scanned the room, finding Diane standing in the corner with Kevin and Kristin. He motioned for her to come over as Jane finally let him go. Diane smiled at him, "Hey, how you feeling?" Nick reached up to point at his head and noticed the cast on his wrist, looking at her. "You broke it, and I know your head hurts," she said. He half smiled at her, pulling on her hand. She moved closer and he reached up to hug her. Diane took him in her arms and held him for a few moments before she let him go. He stared at her, his blue eyes filled with more emotion than he was capable of expressing. "It's alright," she told him. He nodded, taking her hand in his and not letting go. Everyone gathered around the two beds, talking for a while. It was getting late when Nick squeezed Diane's hand. She looked down at him, "What is it?" He stared at her with tired eyes. "You're tired?" she asked. He nodded his head. "Well it is getting late, we should all go and let them rest," Harold said. "Go where?" A.J. asked. "We all have rooms in the hotel down the street," his mom informed him. Everyone said their goodnights slowly filing out of the room. Nick watched as Leighanne and Jackie stayed behind. "Nick, do you want me to stay?" Jane asked. He looked at his mom for a moment, then nodded his head. She smiled at him, knowing it wasn't an easy thing for him to say yes. He had always been independent, even at an early age, and with all that had happened between them over the years, it was a big thing for him to do. Diane squeezed his hand, "I'll see you in the morning." Nick shook his head, pulling on her hand. "You want me to stay too?" she asked. He nodded, his eyes pleading with her to do so. Diane looked up at Jane, "Do you mind?" "Of course not," Jane said. Diane smiled down at him, "OK, I'll stay too." Nick grinned at her, waiting for her to get settled in a chair next to him before he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep. Jane smiled at her from across the bed, "How do you do that?" "Do what?" Diane asked. "Know what he wants just by looking at him," she said. Diane shrugged her shoulders, "I dunno, I just do." "He depends on you," Jane noted. "Yeah, I'm starting to realize that," Diane said. "That's a hard thing for him to do, ya know. He's been hurt by so many people that claimed to love him, me being one of them, that it's difficult for him to trust anyone," Jane said, sadness in her eyes. "I've heard," Diane said, "But I think in the situation we where in, he didn't have much of a choice, ya know?" "True, but you're still here," Jane pointed out, "That says something about you." Diane looked down at Nick, "Like what?" "It says that you care enough about him to stay, even when you have your own life to get back to," she said. Diane laughed, "Trust me, it's not much of a life." "But still, you stayed when you could've left. Most people wouldn't do that," Jane said. Diane nodded, not taking her eyes away from Nick. "Why don't we try and get some rest," Jane said, "I have a feeling tomorrow's gonna be a long day." "Yeah, so do I," Diane said, settling into her chair. She turned so she could see Nick and slowly drifted to sleep. Chapter 12 |