CHAPTER FORTY-THREE ~ A Time to Say Goodbye
Nicole ripped out the IV that was running into her arm, the pain in her heart over the loss of Aaron over riding the pain that she would feel after the meds wore off. She could tell by the look on Maggie's face that they weren't going to allow her to see Aaron unless they didn't know about it. She walked slowly down the hall looking into every room, until she was unexpectedly stopped by Ashley who has also been looking for his friend.
"Nikki, what are you doing out of bed?"
"Ash, I have to see Aar. Now either you tell me where he is, or I'll continue looking on my own."
"Nic, you really shouldn't be out here. You heard Maggie, you have to concentrate on getting yourself better before you worry about anything else."
"Ashley, tell me now," Nicole yelled collapsing into her brother's arms.
"You need to get back into your room. Nic, you've scared us all enough tonight, please don't do it anymore. You're my sister, and my best friend and when I heard you were in an accident it nearly killed me. If anything ever happens to you I don't know how I'll go on. Jacob was is a mess, but still trying to be strong for everyone else. You mean a lot to everyone out there in that waiting room, Nicole. Please stop jeapordizing your chances of a full recovery and let me take you back to your room."
"No! I want to see Aaron and I want to see him now!"
"If I take you to see Aaron then will you go back to your room and take it easy until it's time to go home?"
"I promise, but you have to let me see him Ash. I have to make closure before he's all made up to be something that hes not."
Ashley went to the main desk while Nicole sat in the hall wrapped in his jacket as to not draw so much attention to herself. "Could you please tell me where Mr. Aaron Neville is being held?"
"Are you a relation to the patient?"
"His brother," Ashley lied knowing that they would only let family in.
"Down the hall on the left...Room 1017."
"Thank you Miss," Ashley went to get his sister. "Down here, sis. Now are you sure you want to do this?"
"Positive," Nicole took a deep breath before turning into the room. "Noooooooo!!!" she screamed falling to the ground seeing Aaron lying in the bed lifeless.
"Come on, Nic. I knew this wasn't a good idea. Let's get you out of here."
"Don't touch me! Leave me alone!" she made her way over to the bed and draped herself over the body lying there, surviving only by the help of machines. "Aaron, I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I should have seen the signs. I should have helped you more then what I did. It's all my fault that your lying here now and that your not going to have a second chance at love. I should have stayed with you in Redding and taken care of you. Why didn't you tell me that you still needed my help? Why did you let me believe that you were ok? Aaron, I love you, and I don't want you to leave me. Please, wake up and laugh and tell me its just another of your practical jokes. Aaron, I'm sorry, please forgive me and love me again. Don't leave me! Your too young to die, and I'm not ready to say goodbye to you. We used to talk about oneday getting married, and I promise you that if you just wake up I'll marry you and take care of you for the rest of your life. Please, Aaron wake up. Ashely, tell him the joke is over! Tell him to wake up! Please."
"Nikki, I'm sorry," Ashley wrapped his arms around his sisters tiny trembling body. "I wish I could tell you that it was all going to be ok, but its not. Aaron isn't going to wake up, sweetheart. He's gone."
The Angel siblings sat in silence for nearly an hour before a doctor came in followed by Jacob and Rachel looking for Nicole. "What are you two doing in here?"
"My sister wanted to see Aaron, and we knew that you wouldn't let her, so we had to come here ourselves. She needs to say goodbye to him, whether you agree with it or not."
"Come on, princess," Jacob picked Nicole up as Ashley and the doctor continued their conversation. "Let's get you back to your room, so you can rest for tomorrow." He started out the door and down the hall before whispering, "I promise to take care of you, and to not let anything like this happen to you again."
"Jacob, why did it have to be like this? Why are they taking Aaron away from me?"
"Nikki, you should be thankful that your still here. Aaron was very stupid drinking and driving. Not only did he put his life in danger, but he put your life and many other lives in danger. I know its hard to say goodbye to someone that you once loved, but we'll all be here to help you through it."
The remainder of the night all the members of O-Town and Rachel took turns sitting with Ashley by Nicole's bedside. Around 6 there was a light knock at the door, which startled Ashley and Trevor, who was "on duty", both. "Mr. Angel? Mr. and Mrs. Neville are here and have asked to see both you and your sister. Will you be able to meet with them?"
"I'll wake Nicole up and we'll be right there. Are they with Aaron?"
"Yes, they just arrived a few minutes ago so you may be facing a difficult situation."
"It's one we're ready to deal with. Thank you nurse."
"You're welcome. I'll see you in the room."
"Nikki. Nicole. Wake up, sweetheart."
"What?"
"Aaron's parents have arrived in from Cali and want to see us. Are you up to it?"
"Ashley, they are going to blame me! This is all my fault and they know it! They want to see me so that they can hurt me for killing their son," Nicole sobbed.
"Nikki, I'm sure they don't blame you. This isn't your fault at all," Trevor tried to calm Nicole. "Would you like me to go with you? I can make sure they don't hurt you."
"I want Jacob! Where is Jacob?"
"I'll go get him," Trevor nodded at Ashley. "I'll have him meet you at the room."
Nicole and Ashley slowly made their way down the hall. When they arrived there Mr. and Mrs. Neville were waiting outside tears falling freely from both of their eyes. "Nicole, we're so glad that your alright," Mrs. Neville hugged the girl that had become like a daughter to her in the short time that her son had dated her.
"You mean..." Nicole started.
"We don't blame you, if thats what your getting at," Mr. Nevilled wiped the tears from Nicole's face. "We know what our son was into and we're just glad that he didn't take you down with him."
"But it is my fault. I KILLED AARON!"
"Nicole, why don't you go and say your final goodbye, while we talk to your brother."
"It isn't final," Nicole yelled as she ran passed everyone and into the room. She climbed up onto the bed and laid herself in Aaron's arms. "Aaron wake up!!"
A few minutes passed before a doctor accompanied everyone that had been in the hall, including Jacob, into the room. "It won't be long after the machines are turned off," he said as he slowly cut the power from the life support machines.
"STOP THAT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!! YOUR KILLING HIM!" Nicole sobbed into Aarons chest as she felt him rise and fall for the last time.