Chapter 4

Jennifer leaned against the door frame of her bedroom. She had been trying unsuccessfully to get Alex out of her head all night. It was like he refused to leave her thoughts alone. His face was healing; and under all the bruising and cuts, he was turning out to be one of the most attractive men she had ever layed eyes on. Sighing, Jennifer turned and walked out of her apartment, deturmind to get Alex out of her head once and for all.

Walking into the hospital, Jennifers eye's were filled with determination and strong will. Unfortunately, she didn't know if her heart would be able to take it. Some how she started fallining in love with this nameless, hurt person left in her care and it was staring to drive her out of her mine!

"Ah, Miss Trickle, I see you're early tonight," Dr. McKenzie said smiling.

"Yea, well, I just can't stay away," she relpied with false enthusiasm.

"Eager to spend another long night with Mr. McLean?"

"I'm sorry, what are you talking about."

"The patient in room 311. We discovered who he was. His name's Alexander James McLean. We discovered a slip of paper with a name and phone number in his pocket. The person knew who he was, they just didn't relise what was going on.

"Well, at least now he has friends and family to be here with him. Guess that means my job with him is done."

"Actually, I'd like you to check in on him now and then when they're not here. That is, if you don't mind."

"It's ok, Mac. This is part of my job, of course I don't mind," Jennifer said, hiding the secrets that were trying to excape from her heart.

Slowly walking twards AJ's room, Jennifer braced herself against the pain that was going to try and overtake her when she said goodbye.

"Hey Alex, you look good tonight. Have you been working out behind my back again? You know, it's never a smart idea to do shit like that alone. What if you hurt yourself?" Laughing softly, she sat in the chair next to him. Taking his hand in hers, Jenifer felt overwelmed with love for him.

"You know, Dr. MacKenzie found out your little secret. Before you even star into me, how was I suppose to know your name was Alexander? I guess that's why Alex fits you so well. I guess a friend or family member told him after finding someones number in your pocket. You shouldn't keep secrets like that from us! We could have helped you out a lot more than we have if we knew.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't yell at you. You need to consintrate on getting better. Oh God, Alex, I don't know what to do. You're so sweet, and gental, yet vonerable at the same time. I don't want to leave you, but I have to. You need me almost as bad as I need you.

"What am I talking about? For all I know you're some mass-murderer the police haven't even come close to catching and you'll come after me when you get better. But I know you're not. I don't know how, but my heart believes in you. It trust's you.

"Oh, Alex, what am I going to do?" Laying her head next to him on the bed, Jennifer let the tears she had been holding back fall.

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

Alex looked at Anya in disbelief. What in the world was going on? One minute he was looking at his fiance who was gorgeous even though she was dead, then he was with this...this...psycho chick!

Anya smiled at AJ sadly. "I'm truely sorry about Sarah. Someone with as much life and love as she had didn't deserve to enter Etheria as soon as she did."

"How do you know about Sarah?" AJ asked, suspition filling his eyes. "And what's this Etheria you keep talking about?"

Sighing, Anya shook her head sadly. "I met Sarah as she moved from life to Etheria. You see, part of my job is helping others cross over into Etheria as easily and quickly as possible. Etheria is the plane where people go before they coss into heaven or...hell. Most go on to bigger and better things. But then there are those...

"Sarah was only conserned about you. She told me she loved you more then humanly possible, but if she saw you join her anytime soon that it wuldn't be a pretty sight. She's got fire, that's for sure. She's deffinately going to need it as she ajusts to her new life."

'Great, I'm stuck here, wherever that is, with this...this...this crack-pot,' AJ thought to himself.

"I'm not what you think. I'm just like you, only not as lively. I had a family and friends once like you do now. I was ripped away from them, in a sence. Before you judge a person, know them first. Isn't that what you keep telling everyone?"

"How the HELL do you know so much about me?"

"It's my job."

"Great. So, how do I get out of this place?"

"That's entirely up to you."

"Up to me? What do you mean? If it was up to me I'd be..."

"Right where you are now. I told you earlier, you're here until you deside in your heart whether you are will to face the pain and trials of life, or if you want to join others in Etheria. Not much is different there. Well, unlike life, there are medicinesthat cure what you believe are the uncureable. Men have children just as offten as women. And the love life...Well, let just say, Etheria's the same as life yet completely different."

"What do you mean I have to deside? I want to be with my Sarah."

"But your heart isn't sure. You're torn between your love for Sarah and your love for life. Only you can make the choice. Here," pulling a silver covered book with gold embroidery on the cover, Anya handed it to AJ. "Looke through here, it may or may not help. I'll return, and if you have any questions or problems, just call out."

Without another word, Anya disapeared into the forest. The mist covering up any signs that she had been there.

Puzzled, AJ looked down at the book in his hands. Shrugging his shoulds, he opened the cover to the first page.

"Nick, you know what AJ would do if he caught you! He didn't go through rehab for nothing."

"Leave me alone, Frick," Nick slured, almost incoherently. "I can...can do...whatever...I...want! You're not my...father."

"God, look at you. You're a mess. Come on, let's get you home."

"I'm not leaving!"

"Oh, yes you are. If I have to call Kevin and have him drag you out, I will."

"You...wouldn't...dare."

"Try me." Putting his arm around Nicks waist to steady him, Brian started walking to the doors.

"I'm not done."

"Yes you are. Now let's go."

"I...love...you...Frick. I...love...Boners...more. And...I...love...Kevin. You know...I'd fuck...Boners 'til..." As he passed out, Nick continued babbling nonsence.

Closing the book, AJ let the tears fall down his face. "God, Nick, what did you get yourself into? How could you let yourself do this again? Oh, God, what am I going to do?"

Looking up, AJ set his mouth into a firm line. "I'm not leaving Sarah, she needs me. Hey, if this thing showed me Nick, it can show me my baby too."

Eagerly, he opened the book to a different page. Looking shock, he stared at the girl he was looking at. She was beautiful.

"Hey, Alex, it's Jennifer. Just came to see you one last time before I have to leave you. I know, I know, I promised I wouldn't, but Mac has other plans. How about I sneak in here when I can. That way you're never completely alone.

"You're friends and family are really worried about you. I don't blame them. After all, if I were in their possition, I'd be doing more then just passing the floor. I guess that's what love does to you, huh? What's that? Are you asking me who I'm in love with? Why you, you big dolt, but no...that's impossible. I haven't even officially me you. How can I be in love with someone who doesn't know what day of the week it is? I can't be, I just can't be...OK, I'll admit it, just not out loud, if that's ok with you."

AJ's tears fell harder as the relisation that he was still wanted no matter how bad look looked hit him. Eagerly turning the page to find out more about Jennifer, AJ found himself staring into Sarah's big blue eyes.

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

"Here's you're coffee, Baby, just the way you like it," Elizabeth said, handing Kevin a cup filled with extreamly hot coffee.

"Thank you, Angel," Kevin almost wispered. Looking up at her, Kevin gave a weak smile. His eyes were red and bloodshot.

"It's going to be ok. You know Alex. You said yourself he loved to pull stunts like this and he's always came out on top, hasn't he?"

"But what if that doesn't happen this time? A person can only go so far before their luck runs out..."

"Whoa, wait a minute, Mr. Richardson. Luck? I thought God was in controle, not luck. At least, that's what you're always telling me."

"Yea, and what if God wants AJ and Sarah to continue being togeather? We'll loose him. I don't know what I'm going to to if he...He's one of my best friend, Elizabeth. He's..."

"One of your closest brothers. All we can do right now is pray and not loose hope."

"Yea, that's what dad said right before he died. forgive me if I don't believe in the powere of prayer and hope like I use to."

"You prayed that he'd get better, that he wouldn't be in anymore pain. It was dad's time to go. Would you rather him be here suffering more and more everyday then being up with the father he loved the most?"

"You're just trying to make me feel better."

"Yea, I guess I am a little. But Kevin, think. You know it's not Alex's time to go. You told me that yourself. Are you going to turn your back on everything you believe? I know it's hard. After all, for the longest time I lost faith and hope myself. But you showed me that if I gave up I might as well be dead."

Smiling, Kevin took her hand. "You're right. I guess I just needed to be hit upside the head pretty hard to see that."

Elizabeth let out a small giggle. "Not like it's going to damage anything up there."

"Oh really? Is someone being a bad girl again? Do I need to punish you?" he teased, wrapping his arms tighly around her waist and pulling her into his lap.

"Hmmm, nope. I'm not the one being bad."

"I love it when you talk like that," Kevin murmered, buryng his face into her hair.

Before they got any farther, and eargent alarm ran through the halls. "Code Blue. Code Blue. Patient under cardiact arrest. All avalable personel to room 311. Code Blue."

Kevins face paled. AJ was the only patient in room 311.

***

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