Chapter 33

(Nick's point-of-view)

"Nick, are you ready to hear the results?" Dr.Turtle asked stressing each syllable in hope of keeping my wandering attention.

I opened my eyes again and again struggling to maintain clear vision. "I...I don't know."

"Frack?" Brian whispered from the back of the small room. "Frack, what's going on?"

My head spun and I was so cold. "I-"

Everything was slowly becoming black.

"NICK!" my father shouted grasping my arm. "NICK, STAY WITH ME!"

My body went limp and my eyes closed. But nothing was black, now everything was bright white.

******************************

"Mmmmm......" I moaned as I opened my eyes.

"Good morning, son," an elderly lady greeted me dressed in a white uniform.

I squinted reading her nametag Regina. Regina? I thought my nurse was named Katie? "Do I know you, Ma'am?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm a new volunteer here at the hospital I was coming in to deliver these flowers," she stated pointing to the roses sitting across from me.

"Oh, thank you. Do you know where my family is?"

"They all went to get something to eat."

I sat up. "They all just left me?"

"No, honey, they just needed a little break. They would never leave you."

I sighed. "Now, if only I knew if I wouldn't be leaving them."

She sat down beside my bed. "Why would you think that?"

"I've been so sick. What if I die? What if I'm not ready? I don't want to die!"

"Sometimes, that's not our choice. It's God's."

"God?" I scoffed. "Does he really exist?"

"Oh, yes," she assured me. She studied me carefully. "Maybe you already have proof..."

I shrugged. "The scariest thing happened earlier. I was feeling so sleepy, so weak and when I shut my eyes, I didn't see black anymore. All I could see was this bright white light and then- I don't know what happened."

She squeezed my hand. "I don't think it's important for you to know what happened, but to focus on what you do know."

"Like what?"

Regina stood slowly walking to the door. "You're still here, Nickolas. It's not your time yet....It's not your time."

*********************************

"Not my time, not my time...."

"Nick....Nick, wake up."

My eyes sprang open.

"Hey, buddy. It's about time you woke up."

I yawned. "Brian?"

He nodded. "Yep, it's me, kid."

I glanced around the room to see my dad asleep in the chair beside my bed. "Where is everyone?"

"Kevin was released a few minutes ago, so, Howie and AJ took him down to the cafeteria to make sure he eats and rests."

"He's okay?"

"Sure is. It's you we were all afraid for. Man, you gave us quite a scare last night. I was so afraid. The doctor came to read your results and you kinda' passed out, I guess. But you didn't wake up right away, it's like you were asleep almost in a trance."

"I was?"

"Yeah, you were burning up with fever and the doctors were afraid you weren't going to make it and then-"

"Then, what?"

"Then, you just snapped out of it. The fever broke."

"I'm okay?" I whispered.

"Yes! The test results were fine! And your temperature is finally normal."

"But what was wrong with me, Bri?"

He stroked my hair. "The doctors still don't know. It's another one of those medical mysteries. Dr.Turtle claimed you making in through the night was God's miracle, not his."

"God does exist. Regina told me."

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Regina? Who's Regina?"

"You know, the volunteer that came in the white outfit from earlier. She brought me the roses by the bed." I paused remembering. "Oh, of course you don't know. You and everyone were getting something to eat."

Brian immediately felt my forehead. "Maybe you are still sick."

"No, no I feel fine. I was just telling you she brought in the roses."

His eyes scanned the room. "What roses?"

I turned my head to show him. "Right there- where are they?"

I saw the roses had been replaced by a angel figurine.

Brian lifted it in his hands. "Is this what you mean?"

I shook my head as he set it back down. "No, I'm telling you she-"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down. You might be getting better but your body is still weak no use wearing yourself out. And it's probably normal for you to be so confused at first."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Maybe you were dreaming."

"No, I don't remember anything like a dream. I remember the doctor talking about test results, then I blacked out. But when my eyes shut I saw a bright white light."

He paled. "You did?"

I nodded. "Yeah." I stared at him. "Are you okay? You look scared."

"No, it's just-just-"

"Just what?" I questioned pleading for an answer.

He spoke quietly. "That's what happened to me, Nick...When I was little and the doctors thought I was gone. That's what I saw. You were that close to dying..."

I smiled lightly. "But I didn't."

"Thank God," he breathed.

I stretched my arms thankful to perform the motion without pain shooting through my limbs. "Maybe now things will get back to normal."

He ruffled my hair. "Maybe, but it won't happen all at once. It might take a little while for you to bounce back. You might not realize how sick you were."

I ran a hand over my stomach. "Believe me I know. This feels kinda' weird, huh? It's almost like I'm going through what you went through. Once we finally got you back, I got sick. Like Frick like Frack....."

Brian looked up at me. "I only wish you would've told me. Then, maybe things wouldn't have been so bad for you."

"I doubt that. That's as likely as me being able to fix your heart."

He smiled. "You help my heart everyday, buddy. Just by being my friend and being who you are."

"Likewise, Frick."

He extended his hand to me. "No more secrets?"

I accepted his handshake. "No more secrets. My best friends for infinity and beyond." I took a deep breath. "When do you think we'll get to perform again? I feel bad for the fans and everything."

"Don't be sad. They all understand, all anyone has wanted throughout all of this is for you to get better."

I grinned. "Think we should sing 'Pooh Corner' when I'm back on tour?"

He chuckled. "Kev knows the words..maybe we could dress him up like Eeyore-they have similar personalities."

I nodded. "Or Rabbit- another self-proclaimed know-it-all."

"It good to have you back, Nick. I don't know what I'd do without you," he whispered hugging me tightly.

I hugged him with all my might. "Same here. Who else could help me annoy the guys?"

"Oh I dunno....AJ does a pretty good job," he stated pulling away. "But you're coming back will be worse than mine. You'll have both me, Kevin and Howie mothering you."

I cringed. "You all make uglyass moms. At least, I'll have AJ to keep things normal."

Brian shook his head. "I cannot believe I just heard AJ's name and the word 'normal' in the same sentence."

I glanced down at a piece of paper sticking out of his pocket. "What's that?" I asked gesturing toward it.

"Oh, that," he placed it in his palm. "It's an obituary."

I gasped. "You guys had already written my obituary!"

"No, no, no," he assured me. "I met this older gentleman yesterday in the chapel when I was praying for you. And his wife had passed away...Yet somehow he gave me so much faith and hope. I wanted this just to remember him and the memory of the wife. And to remember how precious everything is in general."

"May I see?"

He handed it over.

I glanced at the picture and name my heart racing. "B-Brian?" I stammered the paper falling from my trembling hands.

"What, Nick? Are you okay?!"

I grabbed the angel sitting at my bedside as I spoke. "That's her! The lady I saw! That's her!" I pointed at the name. "Regina O'Farell."

Brian shook his head. "I can't believe it...."

I saw a tag hanging around the angel's neck. I flipped it over reading the message.

To:Nick,

Here's to 'TIME'....

Love:Regina

I passed the angel to Brian my hands still shaking in disbelief.

He grinned. "Time.....Hey, that gives me an idea for our comeback show."

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