Chapter 32
(Brian's Point Of View)
I leaned back against the wall in relief...Nick's Dad was here for him, he was here to hold him and tell him it was going to be all right. Thank God. I smiled at the two of them hugging and Dr. Turtle updating Mr. Carter on Nick's condition.
"Well, Nick, I'm going to give you something to lower your fever and help you sleep, sometimes sleeping can help a fever greatly, so lets hope this works. I'll send in the nurse with the medication right away."
Nick nodded, still clutching his Father's arm. Kevin had settled back in his bed after the reunion and was fast asleep. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was still very fatigued. The doctor had said he could leave in the morning if he took it easy. Ha! Kevin take it easy? With the four of us around? The stress itself would put him back here! But I was planning on taking care of him just like he had taken care of me. Hehehe. I glanced at Nick's dad settling down in a chair next to his bed and thought of something I wanted to do.
"Nick, buddy?" I said walking up to his bed. He turned his flushed face to me. "I'm gonna go take a little walk and check in with Howie and AJ, I'll be back soon okay." He nodded and opened his arms for a hug. I grinned and pulled him to me.
"Thanks for staying with me Frick when I was so sick before." He whispered in my ear. I rubbed his back.
"Anytime Frack, anytime. Now I'll be back and I want you to sleep, you hear? Or I'll wake up Kevin and he'll beat you with his IV stand." He laughed weakly.
"Ok bro, see ya later."
"Later Kaos." I hoped he would soon be living up that nickname again.
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I don't know how I wound up in the chapel, but here I was. Pausing in the doorway, I took in the site before me. It was empty except for me and an elderly man in one of the middle pews. Slowly I made my way to the front and slid into a pew. I think it's my faith in God that gets me through times like these and here I was coming to him for answers, or at least for help.
Kneeling down I glanced up at the huge crucifix that hung on the wall. I shut my eyes and said a prayer that my little brother would pull through this soon, that he would find the faith in him to get well and overcome whatever illness had become of him. I also said a prayer for my other bandmates and myself, that we would be okay and be able to help Nick in anyway we could. We had overcome so much as a group and I just wanted the reassurance that we could overcome this. As I was finishing, I heard someone sit down next to me and looked to see the elderly gentleman from before to my left. He smiled at me with tears in his eyes. It was the saddest smile I had ever seen before. I smiled back with concern in my eyes. "Hello." I said.
"Hello young man." I pulled myself up from my kneeling position and sat down.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
"Well, son, my wife passed away this morning." He told me wiping his eyes.
"I..I'm so sorry sir."
"Thank you, it's just hard right now, you know? We were married for 50 years and she was everything to me, she was my life." I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Well, just think she's in a better place right now." I told him.
"Yes, I know she is and I know she'll wait for me." He smiled. "But, I saw you and I was hoping someone as young as yourself wasn't going through what I was right now." He said. I leaned back in the pew.
"No, thank God I'm not. But my friend...my little brother is sick and they don't know what's wrong with him. They've done every test possible and..and I'm scared he's gonna die," I said softly. It was the first time I was vocalizing my worst fear. "He...he's only 18, he's just a kid! Why is this happening?" I asked him. He sighed, looking at the cross.
"Well.." He paused.
"Brian." I told him. "My name is Brian."
He started again. "Well, Brian, I don't know. I can't answer that question and I think the only one who can is God. But your friend is so young that I think God would want him to go on living his life. My wife was taken from me but she had lived a beautiful, long, and happy life. She was very sick and I think God didn't want her to suffer anymore. If that's the case with your friend, you have to let fate do its thing, but I have faith and I know you do too that your friend will be okay. Why else would you be here praying for him if you didn't?"
I listened to his advice while thinking how wise it really sounded. He was like an older Kevin. He had replenished the lost hope back into me again and I wanted to go tell Nick and let him know he was going to be fine. I wanted to do what this man had just done for me; encourage him. I stood up.
"Thank you sir, thank you very much." I shook his hand. "And I know right now your wife is looking down on you and smiling, because she's proud that you are still carrying out the kindness you two shared all these years."
Again he smiled. "Thank you Brian, best of luck to you and your friend."
I walked up the isle and turned around to see him yet again staring up at God. Taking one last glance myself, I hurried out the door.
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"Rok! Hey man wait up!" I heard as I walked quickly towards the elevator. I turned to see Howie and AJ hurrying towards me on their way back from the cafeteria. "Where've you been bro? We've been looking all over for you."
I hesitated in answering. Should I tell them where I was? They might freak out, especially AJ who was so emotionally unstable right now. Not right now. I decided. I'd tell them eventually, when the time was right. But right now I wanted to tell Nick.
"I was just taking a little walk and getting some air." I told them.
Howie nodded. "Okay, you going to see Nicky now?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Yeah finally we can see him and Kevin, they lifted the family rule."
"They should have let us in in the first place! we are family!" AJ yelled.
Howie rolled his eyes. "Say it a little louder so the whole hospital can hear Bone." AJ blushed and pressed the button for Nick's floor. Howie turned to me. "How was he the last time you checked?"
I sighed. "In pain from his spinal tap. The doctor was giving him something to sleep and lower his fever, it was back up again." I told him. He shook his head.
"Poor kid."
"Yeah D, I know." We exited the elevator and walked towards Nick's room as the doctor was coming at us from the other way. I smiled at him but he didn't notice me. I entered the room to hear him say something that made me hopeful and terrified at the same time.
"Mr. Carter, your test results are in..."