Chapter 13:

 

Sentry

 

Brian was granted permission the following morning to go back up to ICU. He was given a nurse to chauffer him around, and he had her bring him into Kevin’s room. Ann Richardson was there with him. The nurse informed Brian that she had been by Kevin’s side religiously since the accident. Seeing her now, she looked absolutely terrible. Brian wondered if she had even slept since it had happened. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her hands shook slightly. She had dropped by his room yesterday on a rare venture away from Kevin’s tiny enclosure, but only briefly.

 

He spoke with her for a while and convinced her to go to her hotel and get some much needed rest, assuring her that he would stay in the ICU with Kevin and Nick until she returned. After she left, Brian came across Nick’s mother for the first time since the accident. It was more difficult to see her than he was expecting. She gave him a hug, and told him how much better he looked.

 

“Thanks, but what I would really like is to get rid of this oxygen mask,” he said, pointing to the tube that still encircled his head.

 

“Well, I’m sure they’ll let you take it off soon.” Jane Carter smiled at him, but it was a sad smile. Brian wanted to cry seeing her hurt so much, but he held it in.

 

“He’s gonna be ok, Jane,” Brian told her. “I know it. He will be.”

 

“Thanks, honey,” she said, ruffling his hair.

 

“Where’s the rest of the Carter clan?”

 

“Bob was here with the kids, but they flew home yesterday. They couldn’t miss any more school.”

 

“I’ll bet Aaron was pissed,” Brian said with a chuckle.

 

“Yes, he was. I told them they could come back on the weekend.”

 

“Tell them I want to see them when they do.”

 

“I will,” she said with a tiny smile.

 

Nothing had changed with either Nick or Kevin; they both looked the same as they had before. One of the doctors who had been in charge of Kevin came in to check on him, and Brian spoke with him for a little while about his cousin’s condition. Dr. Westin had told Dr. Hite, Kevin’s doctor, that Brian was going to be there, and to answer any questions he had. He showed Brian the machines that were connected to him and explained their purpose and what their readings meant. Brian concentrated on everything he had to say, wanting to be sure he could keep track of his cousin’s condition. For a moment he had almost been able to forget that it was in fact Kevin who was lying in that bed. It seemed too surreal. He just never even moved. No twitching from whatever he was dreaming, no shifting around to get more comfortable, no talking in his sleep. It was like he was a mannequin, something plastic and artificial, instead of his flesh and blood cousin whom he loved as a brother.

 

The same routine was repeated in Nick’s room, although it took a little less time because he was already familiar with some of the devices he had just seen in Kevin’s room. This time it seemed harder to deal with though. The respirator almost drove him crazy, that unfailing pattern that made Nick seem more like Darth Vader than Nick Carter. Brian wondered if he would ever be able to watch Star Wars again. “He’s more machine now, than man…” He shivered as his mind recalled a line from the movie.

 

After the doctor left, Brian spent the time talking to Nick. He told him about everything that had happened, and what was going on now. The entire time he searched for any sign that Nick could hear him or understand him, but received none. The only response was the rhythmic sound of the respirator.

 

“Nicky, come on. I know you’re in there,” he said, frustrated.

 

Nothing.

 

*     *     *

 

“The press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon,” Howie told Dr. Westin. “I think around four or so. The Marriott hotel on the Riverwalk is giving us the space, so I’ll be going there.”

 

“Why the Marriott?” Westin asked.

 

“That’s where most of our families are, and it’s where we stayed for the show that we did here.” He shook his head. “Damn, that seems so long ago.”

 

“I’ll bet it does. Who is taking you over?”

 

“My mother has a rental. She’s going to come and get me. My body guard is going to be there too,” he added quickly when he saw Westin’s doubtful look. “I may need help getting out of the building though.”

 

“We can help take care of that. We’ve been keeping the emergency doors clear of people. You can have her pull up there, and we’ll sneak you out that way.”

 

“How many people are still out there?” Howie asked out of curiosity.

 

“As many or more as before,” Westin told him.

 

“Wow.”

 

“Yes. It is pretty impressive. We have gotten more get well cards and fan mail for you and the other four in the last several days than we know what to do with.”

 

“I’ve read some of them,” Howie said with a smile, indicating the pile of letters on the floor. “It’s great to know they care so much.”

 

“Well, we’ll get you out and then bring you back here, if that is what you want. There’s no real problem with you staying here with A.J. for now, we certainly wouldn’t put him in a room with someone else. That could be pandemonium.”

 

“Good. I want to stay here at least until the other two wake up,” he said. If they wake up, he thought silently. He refused to let the thought go any farther. Dr. Westin agreed to the plan.

 

*     *     *

 

After a rest, Brian went back up to the ICU. Westin was slightly concerned about the amount of time he was spending out of bed, but he seemed to be doing all right, so he allowed it to continue. The last thing he wanted was to take back some of the progress Brian had made.

 

When he was wheeled in, he greeted Kevin’s mother.

 

“Hey, Aunt Ann. I was gonna chat with my cousin for awhile.”

 

She smiled at him. “Sure Brian. He’d like that. I think he’s probably tired of hearing my voice. I’ll go run and get something to eat, and leave you two alone.”

 

“Yeah, go find my mother. She’s around here somewhere. Harold flew home last night, he had to go back to work.”

 

“I think I’ll do that.”

 

A nurse kept an eye on him from a distance as he chatted with Kevin. Brian read him an article from a magazine about themselves, his eyes watering only once. The nurse almost came in to take him out, but thought better of it. Brian quickly calmed and continued reading.

 

“We are all over the news, Kev,” Brian told him, one he had finished. “Howie’s going to hold a press conference tomorrow afternoon and try to set the record straight. A.J. and I want to go, but we’re still invalids. I know that you would want to go, but you kind of have to wake up first. Wake up, sleep walk, snore, something.” He sighed. “And another thing, Howie said he’s going to stay here in a room with A.J. even though he’s been given the ok to be released just because he wants to be around when you wake up. So if you don’t want those two to kill each other, you’ll open your eyes.” Brian stopped speaking for a moment and glanced at a few of the monitors hooked up to Kevin. He frowned at one and called a nurse.

 

“Does that reading look a little off to you?” he asked. “It’s changed a little from what Dr. Hite showed me earlier.”

 

She examined the reading in question. “Nope, it’s all right. It’s still within the parameters that it was set for, but I can have Dr. Hite look at it if you’re concerned.”

 

“Would you?” Brian asked gratefully.

 

“Sure, no problem.”

 

Dr. Hite appeared shortly, and took a look at the data of several of the machines. “Everything’s normal,” he reported when he was done. “It was good of you to be concerned though,” he told Brian.

 

“Yeah,” Brian said, looking relieved.

 

“Over all, I think he’s looking better every day,” Hite confided to him.

 

“Really?” Brian asked, getting excited.

 

“I can’t make any promises, but we’re hopeful that he’s through the worst of it. The question that remains is whether or not there are any lasting effects from the head injury.”

 

Brian thanked him, and he left.

 

“Did you hear that, Kevin? You’re running out of excuses. You’re gonna have to wake up soon, so you might as well get it over with.”

 

He sat in silence with him for a while longer, trying to think of what to say. He remembered singing with Howie earlier, and realized that that had been the best he’d felt in a long time. Why not try it again? He drew in a deep breath and exhaled, and thought of a song.

 

“This one kinda seems appropriate. Just don’t get the wrong idea, ok? I’m not your lover.” He grinned, thinking it would have made Kevin laugh. Summoning his strength and his courage, he began to sing.

 

I try to pick the pieces up, and I can’t think of starting over,

We used to share the stars above,

I don’t wanna think of change

But now I’ve gotta move on

I’ve gotta catch up to the world.

Even though I gave you my life

As wrong as it seems, I know its right.

But is there a place that I can go away

To escape the love that I will forever know,

Where can we go from here

All I know is that I love you still.

Sometimes we do things against our will

I know I cry lonely tears,

Where can we go from here

Why, why do I cry inside for love that’s gone away,

And how, how can I carry on

When I know all the love is gone,”

 

Brian paused. He could have sworn that he saw Kevin’s finger’s twitch. He watched him carefully for a few moments, hoping against hope. Nothing happened. Trying to conceal his disappointment, he continued singing.

 

Once again, had he noticed, he would have found that everyone within earshot had grown quiet, and was listening to him. Including Ann, who had returned from the cafeteria. Her eyes welled up with tears as she listened. A nurse gently took her by the arm and led her away to sit down. Brian sang on, blissfully unaware of what was going on outside the room.

 

Tell me where can I go to get away from the pain of loving you

Tell me where

Where can we go from here

All I know is that I love you still

Sometimes we do things against our will

I know I cry lonely tears

Where can we go from here?

 

He held the last note, but broke it off abruptly. That time he was sure. Kevin had moved his hand. The movement was slight, but it was there. He had no doubt.

 

“Kevin?” he asked hopefully. “Kev, can you hear me? It’s Brian. Come on, man. Wake up. I know you can hear me.”

 

He searched Kevin’s face for any sign that he could hear him. Sure enough, he saw his features contort slightly, and he groaned softly.

 

Brian’s heart leapt into his throat.“ Kevin! Come on buddy, I know you’re in there.”

 

Kevin’s eyes fluttered slightly, and he took in a deep breath, flinching as he did so. He turned his head in Brian’s direction.

 

“Brian?”

 

***

 

 

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