CHAPTER TWENTY SIX - COMATOSE
Nick sighed as he sat down beside Brian’s bedside and for a moment he found that he was unwilling to look at that pale face. Brian looked so close to death, even though Nick knew that his condition was not worsening. Brian still looked like a ghost. A spirit. A shade that did not belong in this world anymore.
He carefully placed the photograph of Brian, B and Sammy on a table beside the bed, propping it up against the wall. He had brought it down from Brian’s room, hoping that somehow it might be a lucky charm into bringing all three of them back.
Nick stared at the picture for a long moment, his eyes lingering on B and Sammy. He could still remember the tow of them when they had been kids. He had a small photograph collection of them both. After Brian had ‘died’, himself and the other boys had promised to help B’s mother out. She had so much to cope with… not only B and Sammy but her terminally ill sister as well. Nick had spent a lot of time with B and Sammy. He had always loved Sammy and B was a part of Brian.
Nick had missed him. Brian had helped him a lot when they had been in the band. It wasn’t easy touring at thirteen but Brian had taken care of him… and Kevin… and AJ… and Howie. None of them were here anymore. Howie was still on a spy team somewhere and the other two were missing.
He finally allowed himself to look at Brian, feeling sick at the greyness of the skin. “I tried to take care of them,” he whispered, closing his eyes as B and Sammy flashed into his mind. “I tried, but I couldn’t.”
Kevin, Sammy, AJ and Carl were supposed to return over five hours ago but no one had seen them. Darren was almost tearing his hair out, Nick had never seen him so… angry? Upset? Frustrated? Nick did not know how to describe the mood that had gripped the older man but he knew that it was caused by this latest disappearance. He may have been harsh at times, but he cared about B and Sammy as well. Losing B had upset everyone, and worried all of the seniors as they knew what he was carrying in his arm, but now they had lost Sammy, the calm, level headed man that everyone loved.
“I shouldn’t have let him go, I shouldn’t have let him go!” Darren had muttered to himself over and over again while he rested his head in his hands. It wasn’t just Sammy, but Kevin as well who was near enough Darren’s second in command. Then of course there was AJ. Nick had left AJ’s eight year old daughter crying in the arms of Tessa earlier. There had been so many tears recently and so many losses. They were feeling the strain strongly and everyone was confused, lost and angry at the trouble and menace the Gerai had caused.
He bowed his head and thought of them. He had looked after them when Brian wasn’t around. He felt responsible for them sometimes, the other boys felt the same. They had an obligation to protect those two boys that had belonged to their best friend.
And now Nick hadn’t just lost B and Sammy, but his oldest friends as well.
“Brian, we need you,” Nick said softly. “Our friends are missing and B and Sammy…” He shook his head, now knowing where they were. “I’m sorry.”
Could he have stopped this somehow? He should have taken more time to come and see Brian. When his friend had moved to the village, Nick had stayed at the base. He had visited them, but not nearly as much as he should have done. He had missed them.
It was getting out of hand. Too much was spinning away from them now. The Gerai were growing in power and slowly they were kidnapping members of the resistance. People had been going missing from other bases for months. They should have done something about this sooner. The Gerai seemed to rule the surface at the moment. It was obvious that their base was being targeted.
He reached out and covered Brian’s pale, limp hand with his own, as if he could give some of Brian his own warmth and life. He pressed his fingers in between Brian’s, but they felt like ice.
“Bri, come on. Wake up…” he whispered.
“Nick?”
“Hey Aaron,” Nick replied, not even turning. “I thought you’d be asleep. There’s no one else up apart from the nightshift.” He released Brian’s hand and then carefully made sure that the blanket was tight about Brian’s body.
“Are they going to send anyone after them?” Aaron asked as he slowly came to stand beside his brother.
Nick shook his head. “Not today. There’s more guards and sentries posted about the base and Darren has sent people out to our observation post. He’s not letting anyone go after them until he’s certain there’s no more Gerai out there.” It could take hours, even days for Darren to be certain, but he would not risk the lives of anymore people. Nick understood that, but hated it all the same.
“All the other teams came back,” Aaron commented.”
“I know, but Robson’s team was attacked by Gerai. They’re still out there. They’re watching our base and planning something.” The uncertainty was the worst part. They had been out of this battle atmosphere for too long. They had become too comfortable. This was too unexpected and they weren’t prepared. The Gerai were secure, they had a plan. All the resistance had was eerie confusion.
“Darren won’t let anything happen to this place,” Aaron said confidently. “He’s worked too hard to let it go.”
Nick sighed and rested his head in his hands. His head hurt and ached and throbbed. It had felt like this for days now and there seemed to be no end to the stress. He had been run off his fete ever since the explosion and the worst part was to discover that they had a possible traitor or Gerai within the base, but nobody had any clues as to who it was. Darren had restricted access to all the important parts of the base and there was a quiet investigation happening as well that only the seniors were aware of.
Nick thought had found himself staying in the med centre with so many injured. All the others had recovered now apart from one woman who had died and then of course there was Brian.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen Aaron,” he confessed.
“Hey, don’t worry.” Aaron gently placed a hand upon Nick’s shoulder. “It’s just a group of Gerai riff raff. We have more people and more weapons… and we’ll find a defence against the virus.”
Nick leaned back in the chair he was seated upon and closed his eyes. “He had been helping two researchers with the work on the virus but one of them had been killed in the attack. Besides, it wasn’t looking too good. They had been slowed by the destruction of a research lab and Nick still had not checked the blood samples he had been working on. They had to come up with something though, there had to be a cure.
“I met Lance,” Aaron said after a few moments. “Good kid.”
Nick nodded. “yeah, he must be worried about B. They’re real good friends.”
“Actually I think he’s more worried about his uncle. He says he thinks he’s gone missing.”
Nick frowned slightly. “That’s odd. He better tell Darren so that we can check it out.” He suddenly found himself yawning, the ach in his head lulling him into much needed sleep.
Aaron tilted his head. “You need rest bro. You’re tired. You’ll make yourself ill and there isn’t time for that.”
Nick laughed slightly. “When did you get so responsible?” He smiled up at his brother, remembering the little blonde thing that used to chase him about incessantly and slaughter everything on Mortal Kombat. Now he was a full grown man…
Aaron smiled. “We don’t stay kids forever.”
“Might be simpler if we did,” Nick murmured. He suddenly thought of B’s innocent face. “I can’t stop thinking about B. As long as Sammy’s alive, and I pray to God that he is, he can take care of himself. So can Kevin and AJ, but B is so young still. He’s just a little lost and confused. If he’s with the Gerai, I hope Sammy finds him.”
“I like B,” Aaron said softly. “He needs time to grow up though.”
“Tell me about it.”
Nick leaned his head against the Brian’s bed, his hot forehead burning and temples throbbing painfully.
“Nick, go to sleep.”
Nick raised his head and smiled. “I will, I promise but I just wanna stay with Bri a little while longer. I don’t like to think of him down here with nobody to talk to him.”
“You always were Frick and Frack,” Aaron said with a smile. “All right, I’ll leave you here, but if you’re not in your room asleep in an hour then I’ll be back down here to drag you!”
Nick grinned. Years and years ago he would have picked Aaron up and swung him around to show him his threats meant nothing, but Aaron was just as tall as Nick nowadays and as strong. He playfully punched his brother’s arm but Aaron caught his hand and then embraced him. “Night Nick.” He smiled at him and then sadly looked at Brian for a moment.
Nick watched him go. It was nice to have Aaron around again. He had missed him and he had never seen him when Aaron had stayed at the village helping out. It felt good to have his family with him. He would have to make time to go and see his elderly parents as well soon in the neighbouring village.
He sighed as he looked down at Brian. “Now where were we? Oh yeah, I believe I was nagging you to wake up.” He paused for a moment and gripped Brian’s hand again. “Bri… B needs you. Sammy needs you.”
Nick looked down at their clasped hands and suddenly he could see himself as a fourteen year old boy, crying because he missed his mother and father. He had wrapped himself up in a thick blanket alone on the tour bus while the others went out somewhere and he had cried.
He remembered hearing the footsteps and he had still been unable to stop crying and then the warm arms had wrapped about him as he had been pulled into an embrace. He had not noticed who it was at first, he had just been grateful for the warmth and security they offered. They had sat together for some minutes before Nick’s sobs had finally died to sore eyes and a blocked throat. He could remember looking up into Brian’s kind face. He had never thought Brian was particularly interested in him before. Brian was fun and popular and Nick was just a kid who was a hindrance most of the time. Brian had not been at all annoyed though when it came to helping Nick.
Ever since Brian had become Nick’s idol, his guardian angel. He looked at him now, so devoid of the life Nick had loved within him.
“Bri…” Nick’s eyes were growing wet. “Please, don’t do this again.”
He could remember when Darren had arrived at their makeshift base carrying Sammy in his arms. Sammy’s face had been grey and he had been unable to speak except for a few unintelligible murmurs. Nick had known that moment that something terrible had happened and then Sammy had begun to cry and scream for Brian. Nick had never seen anything more heartbreaking as Sammy cried helplessly, stopping occasionally to gasp in pain at his bloody leg.
Nick had held him in his arms that night and cradled him for days after until they had managed to reunite him with his mother and unborn brother. Brian had not even know about the baby.
Nick had cried himself when he was alone. He had felt so selfish for the tears when Sammy was in such despair but he had been unable to help his pain or ease it. Brian had helped him so much, even when they had grown apart Nick had still loved him and suddenly finding that he was dead had wrenched his heart into pieces.
He stared at Brian and sniffed miserably. He rubbed his hand against his face and felt the wet tears smearing against his cheeks. His head was worse than ever as it filled with memories as well as hot tension that made his skull feel as it were expanding and ready to burst any second.
He rested his head against the bed. “I need to sleep,” he murmured, doubting however if he would rest at all without any nightmares haunting him. He leaned over to check the photograph was still standing and smiled at them all. He turned back to Brian. “I’ll see you tomorrow Bri, don’t you give up on me.” He rubbed his hand and then replaced it beneath the blanket. “Night.”
Slowly he walked away, his feet dragging in guilt. It felt wrong to leave Brian all alone in this cold cavern with no one to sit by and keep him company. It was wrong. He sighed and shook his head.
“Sammy…?”
Nick froze, his heart hammering loudly. He hardly dared to turn, but somehow he did. Brian’s hand was stretched out weakly towards him.
Nick gulped slightly, sweat beading all over his body. He took a few steps forward and a faint cry emerged from his lips as he saw that Brian’s eyes were half open and blinking in the faint light.
He gasped and rushed to his side, quickly clasping the hand in his own. “Bri!” he cried. “Bri, thank God.”
Brian stared at him, confusion evident in his sleep eyes. “Sammy?” he asked.
Nick could feel his skin going cold. How would he tell him?
He shook his head slowly. “No, it’s Nick,” he said softly. Softly and regretfully.
“Nick… I had a strange dream…” His voice was quiet, weak and faint like that of a dying spirit, but Brian wasn’t dying. Not anymore.
“Shush,” Nick soothed. “Shush, don’t you worry about anything. God Bri, you scared us so much.”
Brian stared at him, eyes still half closed and misty as if he were looking at Nick through a thick fog. “You look like Sammy,” he whispered. His fingers were weakly trying to tighten their hold on Nick’s hand. “Where is…?”
“Bri, you’ve been in a coma, you’re tired.” He didn’t want to tell him, not when he had just woken up, not like this…
“Uh…” Brian’s eyes were closing again. He squeezed Nick’s hand. “Sammy…” His voice suddenly grew sadder and more melancholic. “B…” His eyes flickered and when they opened again they were clearer.
Nick smiled in relief as the blue orbs fixed upon him and the light of recognition flashed into them. Brian sighed and blinked, trying to remain awake. “Nick?”
Nick could feel his wet eyes leaking. “Yeah.” He smiled.
Brian’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why are you crying?” His voice was still quiet and far away.
Nick smiled at him. “I was worried about you… God Bri, will you please stop freaking us out like this?”
Brian’s face was still pale but slowly a rosy hue was beginning to creep back into those cheeks. Nick watched as Brian’s lips curved into a smile of their own. Suddenly Brian’s eyes caught sight of something. He slowly reached his hand out, his fingers stretching to point at something and he tried to speak but it turned into a faint mumble.
Nick turned his head and suddenly saw what Brian was staring at: the photograph of himself, B and Sammy.
“You want it?” Nick asked.
Brian nodded, hi hand still straining to reach it.
Nick plucked the photograph from its resting point and handed it to Brian’s eager hands. He watched and a lump slowly began to form and clog his throat as he saw the way Brian stared at it, his fingers gently running over the surface. He looked up at Nick. “Where… are they?”
Nick felt a tear suddenly running down his cheek, a big droplet trailing a red path. He could not lie…
Brian was staring up at him imploringly, but Nick knew he could give him no reassurance. He found his eyes looking away for a moment but when he looked back, Brian’s blue eyes were still glued to his face.
He carefully tightened his hold around Brian’s hand. “B ran away,” he said softly.
Brian’s eyes closed silently. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but eventually said nothing.
“He went after you were hurt and Sammy… Sammy’s missing, presumed captured.” Nick hated the words that came form his mouth, but they were hideous words of truth. He watched anguish beginning to run across Brian’s face and then a tear began to trickle from his closed eyes. “I’m sorry,” Nick whispered.
Brian opened his eyes again and stared down at the photograph. His fingers slowly traced B and Sammy and he sniffed slightly, tears falling faster down his face in silent streams of colourless pain.
‘God, what have I done?’ Nick thought inwardly. ‘He’s just awoken from a coma!’
Looking at Brian’s face, he suddenly regretted Brian ever waking up. He had awoken from one nightmare world of the dead into another. He watched as Brian raised his wet eyes and stared at him, his mouth still trying to form words that did not want to come.
“We’ll find them, I promise,” Nick whispered certainly. “We won’t stop until we have them back. You need to get your strength back so that you can help us.” He rubbed Brian’s hand reassuringly.
Brian’s eyes were devoid of any light. “Are they alive?” he said faintly. “Don’t lie.”
“Sammy’s not even been missing for a day yet and B… well, they wouldn’t kill him. He’s only been gone a few days. We have people out looking.” Nick gulped slightly. He wanted to cry with Brian. He could see such pain swirling in those blue eyes…
“I want to help,” Brian said. He groaned slightly before he slowly tried to manoeuvre himself into a sitting position.
“Woah, don’t move to fast! You’ve just come out of a coma!” Nick pressed a hand to his chest and pushed him back down.
Brian sighed in frustration and Nick could see his eyes drooping again, the photograph still clasped within his hands. “Am I gonna be okay?”
Nick nodded eagerly. “Now you’re awake, it’s looking great. We healed your injuries and…” he froze for a moment and suddenly thought back to the laser injuries. “Bri…”
Brian was lying down again his eyes closed, not even listening anymore but tears still fell onto the pillow.
Nick sighed and pulled the blanker over him, knowing it would be no use to ask him to remember his attacker now. Brian needed rest.
“You rest Bri,” he whispered. “Just rest…”
Brian gulped slightly. “I’ll find them…”
Nick nodded. “I promise.”