Seeing Ghosts
Chapter 17
By Dottie
Copyright 2015
Nick can’t sit still on the plane. He barely wears his seat belt long enough for the take off. Once the plane is airborne, he spends the entire flight, short as it is, shadow-boxing up and down the aisle. He’s so happy for Kevin and Elena. He’s beyond excited his friend is home alive.
He’d be the first to admit when they were told Kevin’s plane went down, somewhere in his mind, he just knew Kevin couldn’t be gone. But he couldn’t tell his friends that. They always thought he was crazy when he said he believed in ghosts and the super natural. But he believes there’s a connection between him and the people he’s closest to. When they are in trouble, he knows it. In his heart, he knew Kevin was in trouble, but he never thought he was dead.
The pilot’s voice comes over the loudspeaker. “We’ll be landing in about twenty minutes Mr. Carter. Please make sure your seat belt is fastened.”
Nick falls into a seat and snaps the seat belt into place. His knees bounce constantly as he fidgets. He needs to get Elena home to Kevin. Where she belongs.
When Nick clears the door of the hospital, he can hear Elena sobbing. “Please, just let me go! I need to go home! He’s alive…my babies are alive and I just want to go home!”
Nick follows her voice. When a police officer stops him, he says, “I’m Nick Carter. I’m here to take Elena home.”
She hears his voice and calls out hysterically, “Is that you Nick? Nick?!”
The policeman steps aside and he pushes past the curtain. When he sees Elena sitting on the bed cradling her arm, he could just cry with relief. He walks closer and cups her face. “Elena, calm down. You have to let them take care of you.”
She sniffles and falls against his shoulder. “Is it true? Nick, tell me it’s true!”
He rubs her back. “He’s ok Elena. They are all ok and waiting for you. So let’s get you fixed up so I can take you home to your family.”
She sobs into his shirt. “Where were they? What happened?”
Nick holds her gently and whispers, “Elena, I’ll tell you everything on the way home. For now, just let them take care of you ok? I promise, I’m not going anywhere.”
She pulls back and looks up into his face. “Nick…is he really ok?”
Nick smiles. “He said to tell you he loves you.”
She sniffles. “Stay with me Nick. Please?”
Nick looks up at the doctor. “You can stay. We just need to get her arm set and in a cast and clean up the cuts.” He looks at Elena. “You’re going to be fine and on your way home to your family soon.”
Three hours later Elena is in a car on the way to the airport with Nick sitting by her side. She glances at him. “What happened?”
Nick smiles. “No one knows. The accident is still hazy for Kevin. He remembers getting the kids out before the fire. He wandered around a while before an old lady that lives in the mountains found them. She took care of them.”
Elena feels tears sting her eyes. “I want to meet her…to thank her.”
Nick smiles. “We all do.” He wipes his own eyes before continuing. “One of the forest rangers found Kevin’s phone. He snapped a picture after the crash. That’s how they knew he was alive. We did a press release and Maggie saw it.” At her puzzled look, he says, “The woman that found them. She called the rangers and told them where to find Kevin.”
She reaches for Nick’s hand. “Is he really ok?”
Nick nods. “He had a pretty severe concussion and had amnesia for a while. But he’s remembered now.” Reaching over, he brushes her hair back. “What happened Elena?”
She shivers. “He came in after you left. He said I was in danger. I told him I didn’t want to run and he just lost it. He kept saying we could be together now.” Looking down at her lap, she whispers, “I don’t know why.”
Nick pats her hand. “He fell in love with you. He told his boss you guys fell for each other. The Marshal Service didn’t know he was still hiding you.”
Her head snaps around to meet Nick’s gaze. “Wait, what? HE was hiding me?”
Nick nods. “The guy you put away…he was small time. The mob washed their hands of him a long time ago. You haven’t been in danger for over two years.”
She can’t stop shaking. “He…he kept me from Kevin because…Nick, what the hell? Where was the Marshal Service?”
Nick slides closer and puts his arm around her. “They didn’t know Elena. They thought he cut you loose and you had chosen to stay with him. He fooled everyone because he was obsessed with you.”
She sniffles against his shoulder. “And he got away with it.”
Nick shakes his head. “No he won’t. He’s a wanted fugitive in both the U.S. and Canada. They’ll get the bastard and he’ll pay. One way or another I’ll make sure he pays for what he did to you and Kevin.”
She sighs deeply and whispers, “Thank you Nick. Thanks for coming for me.”
Once on the plane, Elena falls into an exhausted slumber. Nick sits quietly watching her. The co-pilot comes out and says, “Mr. Carter, you have a call on the radio.”
Nick unbuckles his seat belt and heads for the cockpit, not at all surprised to find Kevin on the radio. “When will you be here?”
He sighs loudly. “Why aren’t you at home?”
Kevin’s voice is strained. “Nick, I just have to see her. Now. When will you be here.”
Nick looks at the pilot. “How long until we land?”
The pilot checks his instruments. “Maybe half an hour. We have a good tail wind.”
Nick turns back to the radio. “Did you hear that? Who’s with you?”
Kevin sounds relieved. “AJ and Jenn. Brian and Howie are watching the kids at my house. Nick, I don’t know how to thank you…”
Nick cuts him off. “Don’t. Just take care of yourself. We’ll be there soon.”
When Nick goes back to the cabin, he sees Elena is awake. He sits across from her. “How do you feel?”
She gives him a small smile. “Excited. Nervous. Tired.”
He reaches over and takes her hand. “Why are you nervous?”
She shrugs. “I believed him Nick. Kevin missed his children’s milestones because I believed Grant.”
Nick cups her hand in his. “Elena, all that matters to Kevin is you’re coming home. You had no reason not to believe him. He lied to you.” She sniffles and he whispers, “Elena, you’ve got to let the past go. All that matters is you and Kevin can be a family now with your children.” When she smiles and nods, he whispers, “Kevin’s at the airport. I just spoke to him. We’ll be there before you know it.”
She unbuckles her seat belt to lean forward and hug him with her good arm. “Thank you so much Nick. For everything.”
He pulls back and kisses her cheek. “Name your next kid after me and we’ll call it even.”
She laughs with him and wipes her eyes. “That’s a promise.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
I'm SO sorry guys!! I keep trying to update but life has become a roller coaster of stress. I'm posting the last two chapters of the story tonight so you don't have to wait on me. (And yes, part two is in the works. I hope your patience can be rewarded soon. I love you all for your encouragement, support and understanding as of late with my many issues. :)
Chapter End Notes:
Let me know! :)
