Chapter 2: Wrapping Up Loose Ends
The gray mists of limbo began to swirl and part as Patrick
made his way to see his friends. Although movement was relative
in this plane and a thought would take one where one wished
to go, Patrick fancied the idea of taking a walk and clearing
his mind before beginning this first part of his mission.
As Patrick neared his destination, the mists parted and Patrick
could hear his favorite Christmas song being played and sung
by his beloved Lance.
I sent out Season's Greetings to
all our same old friends
The tree is trimmed and in your favorite place
I decked the boughs with holly built a snowman in the lane
I sang jingle bells in a one horse open sleigh
But White Christmas makes me blue
Every time I hear it played I think of you
I remember all the good times we knew
Now White Christmas makes me blue
I'm tryin to be happy I know you'd
want me to
Cause being sad at Christmastime ain't right
I'm keeping the traditions wishing you were here
On Christmas Eve I still sing Silent Night
But White Christmas makes me blue
Every time I hear it played I think of you
I remember all the good times we knew
Now White Christmas makes me blue
Oh…White Christmas makes me blue
Patrick sighed as tears came to his eyes, proving that spirits
could indeed shed tears of love and loss. Patrick remembered
how the one spirit said to temporarily re-gain his mortal
form and he did so as he emerged from the fireplace. All eyes
in the room turned to face him and he smiled slightly.
"That was so beautiful, Lance", Patrick said as
he walked over to the sofa. Lance's eyes widened and he shook
his head. "Thank you for playing my favorite song."
"Patrick? Is that really you?", he whispered.
Patrick shook his head and leaned over, embracing Lance and
Mike.
"How", Mike asked, "you died."
"Lance's Christmas wish was to be able to see me…just
once more. And…anything is possible at Christmas.",
Patrick's said with a smile. "The greater spirits have
requested my assistance on Christmas Eve and so I was granted
some time here with you all tonite, to make Lance's wish come
true. You see…in life, I got to know all of you, and
I knew there was a purpose behind it. This purpose is to help
someone in your lives take a second look at life, and the
choices that have been made. I have been given the opportunity
to repay the debt I owed you all in life for helping me through
my last days."
Lance's face was covered in tears as he looked up to Patrick.
"You never woke up…I was there…you broke your
promise…and faced death alone."
"Oh Lance", Patrick said as a tear fell from his
eye, "I knew you were there, you were holding my right
hand, and Nicky there was holding my left. I couldn't wake
up to tell you how much I loved you before I died. I wanted
to so bad, but I just couldn't get awake."
Patrick's eyes filled with tears as he watched Lance began
to sob, his small body racked with shakes. Patrick sat beside
him and pulled his chin up to face him, "I love you still….you
know…I'll never stop. But you promised me something too...",
Patrick and Lance looked over at Justin who face was red and
puffy. "Hey Curly….C'mere."
Justin smiled and walked over, sitting down between Lance
and Patrick.
"…you promised me that you would give your love
with Justin a chance. He loves you so much…and it hurts
him to see you sad and in pain.", Patrick finished
"I love you, Lansten", Justin said quietly, "please
don't shut me out."
Patrick watched as Lance's closed his eyes for a second,
then open as he looked into Justin's eyes, realizing how much
love Justin had for him down in his heart. Lance knew he was
wrong in shutting out his friends and his hope for love with
Justin because of Patrick's death, and knew now that his life
would move forward and that he would be able to let go of
Patrick now…and begin in love anew.
"I love you too, Justin", Lance said quietly, "I
just never realized how much til now."
Patrick smiled at the two young men as they held each other
and then he looked over at Mike and JC.
"Hey JC…is Mike keepin' ya straight?", Patrick
grinned and the whole room burst into laughter as JC blushed.
"Nope", JC chuckled, still blushing furiously,
"He's making me very happy though. I love him…like
you said I would."
Patrick smiled and nodded, "I am glad of it. Be true
to each other and everything will be fine for you two."
Nick walked over to Patrick then and threw his arms around
him, "I miss you so much….but I can feel that you're
with me sometimes…ya know?"
Patrick smiled and kissed Nick lightly on the lips, "I
am only as far away as inside your heart. And I keep an eye
out on all of you. Speaking of that….Nice stick and move
at the airport, Mike. Man….Lou never saw it comin'! You
beat him like a rented mule! Whoo! I was impressed. That wasn't
one that I taught you, was it?"
Patrick chuckled as Mike grinned and blushed scarlet and
the guys began to chuckle then Mike rolled his eyes in his
head,
"I knew you wouldn't let that one go by.", Mike
giggled at Patrick, "Yeah. You taught me that move. He…..got
what he deserved."
"Well..", Patrick said under his breath, "He's
gonna get more than that sooner than he knows."
The clock rang then and Patrick looked over, and sighed seeing
the time.
"I am almost out of time, guys", Patrick said sadly,
"time for one last dance."
Mike and JC smiled as Lance looked away from Justin and stared
sadly at Patrick.
Patrick got up and waved his hands in the air, and a song
began to play on the speakers. He then walked over to Justin
and Lance.
"Curly, do you mind if I have Lance for one last dance?",
Patrick asked quietly.
Justin smiled and nodded and Lance got up and began to slow
dance with Patrick.
The lamp is burning low upon my
table top
Snow is softly falling
The air is still in the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly calling
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winters night with you
The smoke is rising in the shadows
overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon each page
The words of love you send me
If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winters night with you….
Patrick swayed with Lance, ingraining to memory all the little
details of this time with his beloved friend, the way the
light glinted off his hair, the light smell of cologne and
the sweetness of his breath as their heads touched together.
Patrick realized that his visit with Lance was nearing its
close and he began to sing the last verse aloud to Lance.
The fire is dying…my lamp is
growing dim
The shades of night are lifting
The morning light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are drifting
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winters night with you
And to be once again with you
Tears filled both Patrick's and Lance's eyes as the two finished
the dance. Patrick looked up behind Lance and nodded for Justin
to come over. As Justin circled his arms around Lance's waist,
Patrick's form began to dissolve. He looked down at Lance
and smiled slightly
"I'll always love you Lance. You and Justin take care
of each other.",
"See ya around you guys", Patrick said to the room
and the guys smiled through their tears.
"Patrick….", Lance cried sadly as Patrick's
light dissipated.
"No goodbye's Lance….I'll see ya around.",
Patrick said and then he was gone.
Lance smiled and nodded his head, "See ya around Patrick."
Patrick stood crying as he watched Lance for a few seconds
more before the scene again faded. Lance knew only a glimmer
of the love that Patrick held in his heart for him…and
it was better that he never know any more than that, since
he was now gone from Lance's world. It was a difficult fact,
but one that Patrick had known all too well before he had
died.
"Good Job!", said a voice from behind him suddenly.
"I guess so.", Patrick sighed, then turned to look
at Ebeneezer Scrooge.
"You really loved him, huh?", Scrooge said softly.
"More than he shall ever know…more than I could
ever admit.", Patrick said sadly, "But my love for
him and my friends is why I will do anything in my power to
change Lou's direction in life. No more harm will befall them
from Lou…it will end, one way or another, this Christmas
Eve night!"
Scrooge nodded, obviously stunned by the intensity of Patrick's
resolve.
"Let's get going then. Let's go see if we can scare
the Dickens outta Lou Pearlman!", Patrick said with a
laugh
Scrooge looked at him puzzling.
"Oh oops!", Patrick said with a giggle then explained
the joke to Scrooge who took it well and the two laughed as
they made their way off to their visitation.
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