Chapter 6
Brian couldn't
sleep.
He pulled
Leighanne closer to his restless body, needing to feel her warmth. He
breathed in the scent of her golden blond hair and sighed. She was the
only one in his life that was keeping him sane since Nick's
disappearance. But lately, he hadn't been sleeping well. He kept
dreaming of Nick begging him to keep believing that he was still alive...that
he could find him if he keeps the faith... But how can I have faith in
you Nick when you've been gone for so long...I can't keep doing this anymore...
Tears sprung to his eyes. Maybe everyone was right. Maybe it was
time to put Nick to rest and move on.
He was going
to miss his best friend.
The phone rang
suddenly and both Brian and Leighanne's heads jerked off their pillows.
"Ugh!" Leighanne groaned and switched on a lamp, "who could
possibly be calling this late at night?"
Brian reached
for the phone. "Hello?"
"..."
He
frowned. "Helloooo?"
"...Bri..."
His eyes
widened. The voice sounded so quiet, but he'd know it without a doubt in
his mind...it was his voice....! "Nick?!?"
"..."
I wasn't
hearing things...I know I wasn't! "Nick, is that you?!"
"..."
"Please
Nick," he pleaded, "talk to me man! Tell me where you
are?!"
Click.
NO! Brian panicked.
"NICK! NICK!!!" He listened to the dial tone in
devastating sadness. He was so close...
"Brian,"
Leighanne said softly, "are you okay?"
"It was
him Leigh...it was him."
"Brian..."
He put the
phone back in its place and faced his wife. "Leigh, I'm telling you,
it was Nick! I heard his voice!"
"But..."
she sighed, "Brian, you can't keep doing this--"
"Doing
what?" Brian exclaimed, "He's alive! I HEARD him! Why
doesn't anyone believe me for cryin' out loud!" He rubbed his head
in frustration. "My own wife thinks I'm crazy!"
"I never
said that!"
"You
didn't have to."
"Brian,"
she took his hand, "I don't think you're crazy at all. I just...I'm
just worried that Nick's dea...disappearance is
taking a toll on your health." Her blue eyes flooded with tears,
"I don't want to lose you Bri..."
He wrapped his
arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "You won't lose
me Leigh...I won't let anything separate me from you no matter what...I
promise."
They stayed
that way for quite some time until she finally pulled back slightly, "Do
you really believe he's out there?"
Brian's eyes
held her gaze firmly, "I was starting to lose hope, but now more than
ever, I believe that he's alive...and we're going to find him."
She stared at
him pensively for a few moments before a tiny smile curved her lips.
"Then so do I..."
***
"Thank
you Mr. McGregor," Caroline called out and waved to the grocery store
owner as he drove away. She turned to look at Nick, who still had the
same crestfallen face he had when they left the grocery store. "You
forgot to thank Mr. McGregor for taking us to his store this late."
"I called
him again." Nick rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I tried to
say something...but I can't...I can't go home..."
Caroline
frowned as she unlocked the door, "Nickolas, you can't keep doing that to
him or yourself."
"I
know!" He grabbed the groceries and furiously moved to the kitchen,
"I know that what I'm doing is wrong, but I can't help it! There's
still this part of me that won't let me let go..." He put down the
bags and sat down at the table, on the verge of tears. "I'm not the
same person anymore...I'd only hurt them if I came back..."
"That's
not true."
"Yes it
is Caroline," Nick shouted, "LOOK at me! I'm a FREAK and I'm
going to DIE a FREAK!" He stormed out of the room.
"Nickolas!!!
Come back here this instant before I give your fanny a whooping!"
As expected,
he didn't listen.
She sighed in
frustration. That's it. From now on he's not going into town
with me. She cringed when she heard his door slam shut.
It's going
to be one of those nights...
***
"I
need you now Rina."
She looked
at his glimmering blue eyes. They looked so sad... "I'm right
here with you...I'm not going anywhere."
"Go
see me, Rina. I need you to see me..."
Now she was
confused. "I don't under--"
He suddenly
began to fade away and her eyes widened. "Where are you
going?!"
"Please
Rina...there's not much time..."
"But I
don't know what you want from me!"
"See
me Rina...that's all I want...see me...see
me..."
Her eyes
opened and there was nothing but darkness surrounding her. She rubbed her
eyes and slowly adjusted to the gloominess around her. I'm supposed to
do something, she thought to herself in bewilderment, but what?
She knew she'd been having the oddest dreams since she arrived at this
mysterious house, but she often had vague or no recollection as to what those
dreams were about. She sat up and listened for any noise from downstairs.
There was nothing.
No
Caroline...no Nick.
Nick.
She
frowned. She'd been thinking of him quite a bit since their encounter
earlier. He was just so mysterious, so interesting...
So sad.
She had asked
Caroline about him, but that was a dead end.
"It's
not my place to tell his story, dear. Perhaps, he'll tell you himself
someday..."
Nick
Carter...why can't I get you out of my head? Sighing, she got out of bed,
feeling much better health wise, and stepped outside of the room she'd been
sleeping in all day. She wished she could remember where the bathroom
was. It was so dark in the hallway...
"What are
you doing out here?"
His cold
whisper made her jump in alarm. "God!" She stared at his
icy blue eyes. "Do you have to sneak up on me like that?"
She blinked. She could've sworn she saw a glint of humor in his eyes.
"You
shouldn't be out here. You need your rest dammit!"
he hissed.
Obviously she
was just seeing things.
"I...I'm
looking for the bathroom," she gulped. Does he have to scrutinize
me like that? You'd think he'd never seen a girl before! "What
are you doing out here?"
"Nothing."
It was then
that she noticed that his eyes seemed a little on the red side. "Are
you...are you okay?"
"Just
fine thank you," he replied abruptly, "never been better
actually."
"Oh."
He definitely wasn't a great liar.
"How are
you feeling?"
She looked at
him in surprise and then shrugged. "Better. I guess all I
needed was rest."
"You
should get more."
Now she was
feeling a little agitated. "You know if you want me to go away, why
don't you just say so?" She began to move past him, "I've got
to find the bath--" She felt his hand wrap around her arm and she
sucked in her breath, feeling a current of tingling shocks race throughout her
whole body.
"That's
not what I meant," he growled as his eyes bore into hers.
She couldn't
even blink, his eyes inspiring both anxiety...and something else she didn't
dare to even think about.
See me Rina...See me...
There was
something in his eyes...she could almost see right into them...
Can you see
me Rina? I know you can...
He was
battling something...she could see it. The expressions on his face kept
construing into so many different emotions. Why is he fighting so hard?
And suddenly
she saw nothing.
He stepped
back and let go of her arm. Confused, she shook her head. What
just happened?
"Caroline's
in the bathroom. You can use the one in my room." Without
waiting for her response he began to retreat down the hallway.
Still a little
bewildered, she followed as far behind him as possible. She had no idea
what had occurred between them in that instant when his eyes locked so deeply
with hers, but whatever it was, it scared her half to death...
And at the
same time, she'd give almost anything to feel it again.
***
What was
that?
Nick sat on
his bed, twiddling his thumbs as he thought about their 'connection.' It
had been amazing. It was something he'd never experienced in his entire
life. When he looked into Katarina's eyes it
was like he could see into her heart, into her soul...he could see her.
What scared him half to death even more than that realization was that he also
felt her searching for him...for that Nick Carter who loved the ocean, that had
a great sense of humor, that could play Sony Playstation 2 for hours on end...
The Nick
Carter who could love and be loved in return.
Tonight he
realized that he was still there...still fighting to resurface... Nick
scowled. Like hell he was going to let that happen. But how could
he prevent it when every time she was near he ached to be that man?
His bathroom
door flung open and she stepped out hesitantly, looking in all directions
except his. It irritated him that she was scared stiff of him, although
he didn't understand why. It wasn't as though he liked her or
anything. Freaks and angels don't mix.
"Uh,
thanks again," she murmured and hurriedly moved toward the door.
He watched her
retreating figure with sudden conflicting emotions that further confused his
racing mind. Don't go yet...
She stopped.
His eyes
widened. Did she hear me? But I didn't say it out loud...
Katarina turned, her wary eyes falling on his. "Are you sure you're
okay?"
He looked
away, not wanting to respond, but somehow feeling that he needed to.
"I'm fine."
"You can
at least try to sound convincing."
He could hear
the smile in her voice and he wanted to smile...damn, he wanted to so bad...
The next thing
he knew, she was sitting right beside him. "I know we don't know
each other very well, but if you need someone to talk to..."
He met her
gentle gaze. "Aren't you scared of me?"
She smiled
faintly. "A little, but not because of how you look, if that's what
you're thinking." Sadness suddenly flooded her eyes. "No
one seems to understand that it's not the outside that counts but what's
inside..."
He looked at
her curiously. Something about the way she said that told him that she
had her own share of demons to deal with. He wanted to ask, but asking
would be getting too close. He couldn't do that.
"I'd
better go," she said quietly and stood, "my offer still
stands..."
Nick kept his
eyes glued to the floor.
"Goodnight
Nick."
"Goodnight,"
he mumbled.
Just as she
was about to shut the door he lifted his head. "Katarina?"
She peered at
him expectantly.
"Thank
you."
She gave him a
smile that caused his heart to quicken its pace.
This is not
good at all.
"Your
welcome."
***
Rachel rolled
over on her side and grimaced. He's all the way in L.A and I'm stuck
in Nick's damn house all by myself. What a joke! Her plan to
seduce Kevin had backfired and she was furious. She heard only
hours before his flight that he was leaving early. That ruined all her
ideas completely. And damn Howie for getting in the way. To
think I actually thought he was nice...stupid ass. He'll get what's
coming to him.
Her frown
deepened, contorting her blemish free face. And Kevin! Who does
he think he is? God's gift to women? Hah! I'll show Mr.
Eyebrows who's boss! She got out of bed and stomped to her
closet. Seething, she grabbed her suitcase and began to pack the necessities.
She rushed to her drawers and smiled. Good ol' lingerie. Where
would I be without you? She pulled out a raunchy little black number
that worked wonders with Nick. Yup, it'll be perfect. He'll be
putty in my hands and his wallet will be mine for the taking! Within
an hour, she was all set. Grinning she picked up her cell phone and
dialed the airport.
"Hi, I'd
like a ticket on the next flight to
***