Beyond the Sea

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Ch 4
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My Loved One Stands On Golden Sands
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Rick was pushing the wheelchair out to the Land Rover that Higgins would drive TM home in. He patted Thomas on the shoulder, saying. "Got your eyes closed...?"

Magnum responded, "Yep, Orville, and emesis basin handy, just in case. I know the routine."

"Good boy."

When silence was his answer, Wright frowned. Thomas always had a witty come back. He must be feeling pretty lousy to not make a peep. "You with me, Thomas?"

"Sort of... I keep seeing my Mom standing on the shore at Robin's Nest."

Rick's frown deepened. "What?"

The private investigator sighed, heavily. "It started after I came back from being support while Annie was told. At first, it was Bast, a little while later, it went sort of wavy and it was my Dad for just a minute or two. Then, it was Mom. It's been Mom ever since. I keep seeing her, everywhere, man.

"I know it's not real, but...damn...it looks so real. That's why I keep singing that song. When I do, she doesn't look so sad, she sorta smiles at me. I can handle that better. I don't know why I'm seeing them, but it is not just because I'm depressed; because seeing my Dad, even for a few seconds was a kind of a happy-sad thing, not just sad. I didn't have a head injury before these sightings happened, so it isn't concussion-related hallucinations." He sighed again. "I don't know what's going on. A part of me, the part Aunt Marlita fascinated, thinks it may be some kind of omen."

Rick tried to lighten the mood by humming the Twilight Zone theme. Tommy's lips did curve briefly into a half-smile, but it didn't last long. And Wright could understand why.

What in the hells was going on with Tommy? Why was he seeing dead people whom he had cared for? Why? Rick always got the heebie-jeebies when this type of stuff happened.

God, where was TC? The big black man always had a better handle when things got spooky. He probably loved The X-Files, while Rick had had to watch it with all the lights on. He liked the show well enough, but it creeped him out way too often.

Rick froze for a moment when the next words came out of TM's mouth. "I saw Katiedid too, but she looked different than the others and she spoke to me, Rick. She said, 'Thomas, come find me. There is still time.' "

"What in the hell was that supposed to mean?" Rick demanded, resuming pushing the wheelchair.

"Hell if I know...it kind of freaked me out. I wish I knew what was going on."

"Me, too. Could Tia Marlita help?"

"Maybe, if she wasn't dead, Rick... That would be a real, long-distance call, buddy."

"I'm sorry, Tommy. I didn't know."

"It is okay, Rick. I know you didn't know. She was older, so it wasn't unexpected, you know?"

"Maybe she'll show up on the sand and explain things to you."

"It'd be nice, but I never do things that easy, you know that, Rikki. I wish. And Dia de Los Muertos is passed, so I don't know why I'm being 'embrujado y encantado, mi amigo'."

"Ummm, Thomas, I know un poquito en Espanol, my friend..." Orville told him.

"Basically it means haunted and bewitched...variations on the same."

Rick swallowed harshly. "Thomas, did you ever watch the series The Dead Zone?"

"It was a movie, first. I saw that and a few episodes of the series, why?"

"Do you think ... I mean you did suffer cardiac arrest a while ago...could you have crossed over just long enough that you got the gift?"

Thomas made a face. "Dios, I hope not. I don't know if I could handle this being an ongoing thing."

"Ditto on that, buddy." Rick patted his friend's shoulder, again. "Whatever is going on, I'm here to support you any way I can, okay?"

"Even though this kind of thing creeps you out?"

"Abso-frickin'-lootely." Rick retorted. "And yes, it does, but YOU are more important than my being creeped out...okay?"

"Thanks for that, Rick." Thomas smiled. He was so blest to have friends willing to support him, even when things got really crazy. He opened his eyes and jerked when he saw his grandfather near the sliding doors to the driveway where Higgins waited with the car.

"Tommy, you okay?" Rick asked from behind him.

Thomas quickly closed his eyes again. "Uh, yeah. Things just keep getting weirder."

"Who did you see now?"

"My grandpa Magnum..." The private investigator knew better than to shake his head, but - "Maybe I need to ask Father Mike for the number of a good exorcist..."

"Oh, boy." Rick shook his head enough for him and Magnum's discomfort. No wonder Tommy was struggling with wanting to off himself if the dead were visiting him this often. What gives?

Higgins had come around from the driver's side of the car. TC was waiting next to her. "Rick, don't talk about what's been happening with Higgy, I don't want her to think I'm losing my marbles."

"Tommy, she's from England...that island has all kinds of spirits."

"Doesn't mean she believes in them, hombre!"

"True...I'll keep it on the down low, but I AM telling TC."

"That was understood before I ever told you, Rikki."

"Good." Rick nodded, took out his own sunglasses and put them on Magnum. "Stay put a minute, don't move." He went into the gift shop and came out with a bucket cap large enough to not be constricting on TM's head and put it on. "Okay, let's get you to the car." A hospital volunteer made sure the power sliding doors stayed open and Rick wheeled Magnum out to the car.

Higgins and TC gently helped Thomas up and into the SUV. Higgins smiled at Rick. "Good idea with the sunglasses and the hat, Orville. The glare from this sun would really make the trip home painful without your thoughtfulness."

"Yeah, it's a beautiful day, but, with the headache he has, it wouldn't do him any favors to be overexposed to the sun today, no matter how much he loves it. Now TC and I are going to run pack our go bags and we'll be out to the estate as soon as we can to join you, okay?"

"Yes, of course. Kumu and I will hold down the fort until you arrive. Do you want to stay in the main house with us? You would be more than welcome."

"No, thanks, Jules, but Thomas is likely to get the urps later on and he'd rather not be hurling around you ladies...it would embarrass him."

"Oh, tosh...but I understand that making him uncomfortable is the last thing he needs. If at any point, you need anything...just call and we'll take care of it, okay?"

"We will, thank you again, Higgins."

"Not a problem."

TC had gotten Magnum settled in the passenger side of the SUV and fastened his seat belt for him, gently putting the emesis basin in his lap and the rest of his belongings in the back seat. "See you soon, out at the nest, TM."

Thomas managed a smile, but he looked a bit sleepy. "Thanks, Theodore."

"No problem, my friend..."

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A/N: I know this may have just made a left turn that will throw some of you, but it's my story, so... Yes, I have seen spirits my whole life. I'm the 7th child of a 7th child (which is a thing in England where my mum is from that is considered evidence of being born with the blessing/curse of what the Brits in my mum's part of the country of 2nd sight I see dead people...always have since I was very young). When I was 7, a neighbor of ours died and the wake (with the coffin with the dead man in it) was taking place in their home...and I went over with my mom to the house and saw Mr. Geske standing next to the coffin looking at the big doll that's what it looked like to me of himself in the funnily shaped bed and trying to talk to his wife who was standing next to the coffin crying. She couldn't hear him, but I did and I pulled on my mom's dress and asked her. "Why is Mrs. Geske looking at the big doll when Mr. Geske is right there trying to talk to her?"

My mom took me aside and explained that I had a gift, but most people couldn't see what she and I could see. She asked if he was talking to me and by this point he was...I told her he was trying to tell Mrs. Geske where the will and valuables were, so she would be taken care of. She went to Mrs. G and told her to come with us. I followed Mr. G upstairs and in front of a little half table that leaned against the wall, he showed me a loose floorboard and told me how to pry it up. I did and handed Mrs. Geske the will and a cloth wrapped package which literally had the family jewels in it. I told her what he told me to say to her...and then he disappeared. My mom explained to me that that meant he had crossed over...that all he was waiting for was to make sure she knew what he needed to tell her, but never got the chance in regular life. From that day on, to myself and my mother this was the most natural thing in the world to have happen and I was never afraid of the spirits I saw. Not even the bad or angry ones. So there is that.