A/N: Sorry for the long update, I was working on one of my other stories and got stuck with this one, but now I´m back and I hope I can finish this one in a week or two.

Thanks for all the reviews, guys. They really keep me going-)

This chapter wasn´t beta readed, though it´s on the way, but I thought you don´t want to wait much longer. So bear with any mistakes, please.

Disclaimers still apply.

NOBLE MEMOIRS

by Nicol Leoraine

Chapter 3:

Once behind the doors, Derek turned at Rachel and Philip. They were rather confused by the situation, as none of them saw Gerry, but both knew about the Sight.

"It seems Nick had a guest" Derek started, casting an apologetic look at the door, where Gerry stood. Rachel took a few steps away from the spot and Philip touched the cross around his neck.

"Gerry" the young priest asked and Derek nodded. "He´s still here"

"Yes."

"Why"

"It didn´t end. Nick can still be in danger, and Gerry thinks there´s another person who could be a target."

"Why is he assuming this" this time it was Rachel who voiced the question.

"I don´t really know myself" Derek admitted and turned to the ghost. "What happened, Gerry"

"I was returning to our house. It was dark outside and the lights were turned on. The road was empty, it was late. I just picked up my phone to call Mandie to tell her she didn´t have to wait up for me, because it was going to take me another hour or so to get home. But I never dialled the number" Gerry stated smugly. "I swear the road was empty when I picked up the phone, but when I looked up - there was the biker, heading straight at me. It was too quick and I reacted, turning the wheel to the right, but my car swerved down the road. I only saw a tree then... nothing" Gerry muttered.

Derek was silent for a minute to give him time and cope with his emotions. The others though were not so tolerant, as they didn´t heard the silent conversation between the two, and could only judge by Derek´s expressions, which was not the easiest thing.

"Okay, maybe you hear him, but we don´t" Rachel protested, but quickly lowered her voice as one of the passing nurses threw her a warning look. Rachel smiled apologetically, then turned back to Derek.

"This isn´t the best place to discuss this, Derek."

"I agree with you, Rachel. I think we should return to Angel Island."

"What about Nick"

"He´s asleep" Derek said, getting the information from Gerry. Rachel frowned at him but didn´t comment.

"One Moment" Philip stopped them. "You said he could be in danger - and you want to leave him there, alone"

"Not alone. Gerry will stay with him."

"Oh, great. And what will he do if a situation arise? Scare everyone away? Derek, if he doesn´t have a form, he can´t do a thing to help Nick" Philip objected.

"He can inform us, and we can inform Goddard." Thus said, Derek headed from the hospital, the others following. Gerry lingered behind the door, but took a glance inside and decided. Derek sat behind the wheel as Gerry appeared on the backseat, next to Alex. She looked up, then closed her eyes, trying to focus on the misty figure. Maybe she can get a feel for him, so Derek won´t be the only one to hear his voice.

"We´re home, now tell us, what did this ghost said to you" Rachel harshly asked. Her daughter was at sleepover, and the psychiatrist was fully prepared for the situation relating to Nick, at least she thought so before the whole "ghost" thing.

Derek repeated Gerry´s words and watched as his colleagues tried to absorb them.

"Can you give us any description of the biker" Philip asked and looked through the room, searching for Gerry.

"He had helmet, but I know it was a man."

"Why are you so sure" this time it was Alex who asked and Gerry realized she can also hear him.

"Because I saw him again at Nick´s accident."

"You was there" Derek´s shock was quite clear.

"Where was who" Rachel inquired.

"Yeah, I saw what happened to Nick" Gerry conceived, not so flustered by the fact.

"Why didn´t you stop it" Alex was angry, too.

"And how? I´m a ghost if you didn´t notice" Gerry snarled, then shook his head. "Sorry, but I was a little surprised myself. You see, coming back to living, just so you can stand on the road and watch as your own death is replaying isn´t such a great experience. I had no time to react, no telling if it would´ve helped any. And I also didn´t realise it was Nick sitting in the car and not me."

"Okay" Derek sighed. "So can you tell us what happened with Nick"

"The same as me, I presume. It was the same man on the same bike. Nick tried to get out of his way, but wasn´t any more lucky than I. On the other side, he´s still alive" Gerry mused.

"It was you" announced Derek a moment later, scaring the hell out of everyone.

"What"

"Are you all right, Derek" Philip asked, followed by Rachel´s probing look.

"The man who called the help. You were there, waving at the pair in that car, wasn´t you"

Gerry simply nodded.

After Derek related the news to the others, he looked back at Gerry.

"Derek, I still think it´s a risk leaving Nick alone in the hospital" Philip said with concern. Derek simply nodded.

"I agree. Though Jason informed the nurses not to reveal Nick´s room number to anyone and look out for strangers, it´s not so hard to break the hospital´s security."

"I´ll take the first watch" Philip proposed.

"All right. I´ll relieve you later, I want to talk with Nick. Till then" Derek turned at the others in the room"we need to answer few questions. First - who attacked Gerry and Nick. Second - what was the motive. And third - was it somehow related to the Legacy"

Philip left and Gerry left with him, only to appear few seconds later.

"Where were you"

"Checking on Nick. He´s sleeping. I also looked at the hallway, but I saw only a nurse. Can I help you there"

"Sure. So why you and Nick? Did you work on a case I wasn´t told about"

"No, we were just friends. It wasn´t about work. Even if he was in New Orleans because of work, we mostly got out to release some tension."

"What do you have in common" mused Derek, but there was only one answer popping up in his head and it was written in red.

"I see only the Legacy" Gerry voiced his thoughts. "Of course, if this killer doesn´t hold a grudge because we took his seat on the baseball or something" Derek dismissed this option with a wave of hand.

"You know each other from childhood. Both of you are living at the Legacy house, and you´re both the youngest members. But I don´t see why it should be a reason to kill you. Didn´t you date the same woman" asked suddenly Derek and Gerry smiled, little surprised.

"We? No, God, no. If I´d took his girl, I would be dead a long time ago" Gerry joked, then turned serious.

"No, we never did that. The times we spent together, we were mostly kids and later - we didn´t meet too often, not often enough to get to know each other´s girl. Why did you ask"

"Ah, nothing. Just if it was a revenge of some jealous husband, it would be much easier." Derek shook his head to dismiss this idea and started pacing the control room. Alex was still there, watching Gerry and trying to understand him better, while Rachel was in the kitchen making coffee. Normally it was a work for Mitchell, but Rachel needed to do something, and standing in a room, listening to half conversations no one cared to translate, was bugging her. She rather made some sandwiches, knowing how the Legacy members tended to forget eating, when there was an exciting case.

"Gerry, what did you say about your childhood... you get to know each other thanks to the Legacy"

"Well yeah, in a way. Both our parents were working for the Legacy and they had few common cases. If so, Nick and I were often left with the, ah - babysitter. It was an older woman. But at the time I didn´t know what were my parents doing, I suppose Nick didn´t too."

"Parents - that could be the connection" Derek stated and stopped his pacing, concentrating purely on Gerry. Rachel just walked in and put the sandwiches on the table, everyone looked tense and thinking. She felt like a fifth wheel.

"But we can´t ask them now" objected Gerry a little angry. "They´re dead. My parents died five years ago investigating some case, and Nick´s father also died."

"But you should know it better, Derek" Gerry said after a moment. "You worked with Jonathan Boyle for quite a time."

"That´s true, but it´s also true that Jonathan was in New Orleans often, helping out with cases, when one of the New Orleans house got sick. He - and his family, stayed in New Orleans for several weeks. After they returned, we had enough work there and Jonathan wasn´t very forthcoming with informations about the New Orleans house. Don´t forget, that at the time, William Sloan was the precept, not me. And we can´t really ask him now."

"So you think it´s someone from the past who want´s revenge on our parents, but can´t get it, because they´re dead? But why now? Why not then"

"Good question, but maybe he wasn´t able to do it then. He could be incapacitated - maybe the investigation of the Legacy pushed him into shadows for a while. He could be hiding or even in prison."

"We need to look at every case our parents solved together" said Gerry"and find the right one."

"Something else is bothering you" Alex asked, watching the ghostly appearance before her.

"Yeah, one thing. I doubt our parents were the only one to solve the case. Remember, those times, it was normal for the whole team to solve the case, or at least four or five people working on it. What if there´s someone else in danger? I don´t remember any other kid, but... who knows? I just know that none of the old members of the New Orleans house is alive, so we can´t really ask them." Gerry was trying hard to remember some details, some names, but he couldn´t and for the tenth time that day cursed Nick´s amnesia. Maybe the ex-seal would´ve had a better luck in remembering.

"Alex, call New Orleans and ask them to send us every case that Jonathan Boyle worked on with Gerry´s parents."

"And what should I tell them if they ask why we need them"

"Tell them that we´re investigating something concerning Joanthan, and need all of his cases. Don´t mention Gerry."

"So I need to ask for every case Jonathan Boyle worked on. Not just the ones with Gerry´s parents."

Derek looked at her apologetically.

"Sorry, but if you tell them about Gerry, we´ll have them here in a moment. And I don´t want any other house dugging into Nick. The later they got to know about the amnesia, the better."

Alex only sighed, feeling that once again the hard part of cajoling some Legacy members was on he shoulders. Derek closed himself in his workroom and Gerry vanished, probably returning to the hospital. Rachel sit next to Alex and offered her a sandwich. Alex took it with a thanks, then picked up the phone.

When Philip arrived at the hospital, Nick was still asleep. He don´t wanted to disturb him, so Philip settled in the chair before his room. In a short time there was Dr. Goddard.

"The nurse thought it weird you´re sitting here and called me" explained the doctor with a smile.

"Seems they´re taking your warning seriously" replied Philip with a grin and looked at the young nurse, watching them intently. After Dr. Goddard waved at her, she blushed and turned.

"So why are you here, Mr. Callaghan"

"It´s just Philip, please. Did you talk with Derek"

"Sure, in the morning. He said we should make some safety precautions. Why, did something change"

"Yeah. I thought he´ll call you, but it looks like he forgot."

"So"

"We now know that it wasn´t an accident but an attempt on Nick´s life. We´re afraid there could be another one."

"Why didn´t you call the police"

"It concentrate´s our work" Philip said quietly, but emphatically and Dr. Goddard made the connection.

"What is it" asked the doctor in same hushed voice and Philip seemed confused.

"What"

"If there´s a danger to my patient, or the others in this hospital, I need to know what it is" and Philip understood.

"No, doctor. We think it´s a simple case of revenge, but we can´t very good hand the police all our files."

Dr. Goddard smiled, relieved. He don´t wanted any repeat of the last incident with that vampire jumping out of the window.

"Okay. I take it you´re here to guard him"

"Yes."

"Ah... and wouldn´t it be better to sit inside his room"

"I don´t think Nick would be very grateful, doctor. And we don´t want to scare him more than he is, by our presence."

"Now I must argue, Philip. Nick needs his rest, that´s true. But I don´t think it´s wise to conceal anything from him, not now. Your presence can help his memory and he won´t feel so alone. He needs to know you, because he doesn´t know anyone. He needs to start trust in someone."

"Maybe you´re right, doctor... But I still think it would be better to wait till he´s awake."

"Okay, I´m going to check up on him. If you´ll need anything, tell the nurse."

"Thanks" said Philip and when doctor Goddard vanished in Nick´s room, Philip used the free time to grab some coffee.

It was late afternoon when Nick woke up. The sky was getting dark. He looked around the room, but saw no one. Even Gerry wasn´t here. Nick gingerly get out of bed, testing his body. He was glad to find it capable of moving, even if he was pretty sore everywhere. After few swaying steps, he get to the bathroom. Washing his hands, Nick looked up into the mirror and saw a stranger.

He didn´t remember his own face. Now, slowly brushing his fingers through the growth on his face, Nick realised just how badly he needed a shave. Looking around the bathroom he found the electric razor and used it to clean himself up. After he finished, he looked back at the mirror.

The young man with brown hair and hazel eyes was looking back at him, almost defiant. His skin was dark from bruises covering most of his face, and there was some swelling around his left eye. The eyes locked, searching for some memory, the stirring of past. But they found nothing and the challenge was replaced by anger and something else. Was it desperation - or simple fear?

Someone was there. He broke the contact with the guy in the mirror and turned. As Nick entered his room, he felt a little twinge of apprehension. But it quickly faded away. Doctor Goddard was watching him intently before he spoke.

"I see you´re feeling better."

Nick shrugged then slowly nodded.

"Good. The headaches will go away, Nick. It´s normal after concussion, you´ll probably feel them several days."

"You just made my day" grumbled Nick.

"How´d it go with your friends"

Nick wanted to say that they are not his friends, that he doesn´t know them. But he didn´t. There was something between him and those people, he just wasn´t sure what.

"I think you should start trust them, you have nothing to lose. What are your instincts telling you"

"That I should believe them, but my mind is a little more careful."

"So, when can I get out of there" Nick asked after the doctor examined him.

"Tomorrow. You should take it easy for few days, but I think return to familiar settings can help stir some memories."

"So there´s still the chance of regaining my memories"

"Of course, but don´t except it to be the moment you walk inside the house. It can take time, and it´s more likely that you´ll have dreams. Some of the patients regained memory after being exposed to the situation they experienced in the past. I´m not saying your memories will come back, not straight away. I just think that being home can help you."

"That would be great" Nick exclaimed, but the joy quickly dissipitated from his voice.

"What´s that" Dr. Goddard asked.

"Just... I don´t even know where I´m living."

"Don´t bother with it, Nick. Your friends will take care of it." The doctor smiled at Nick encouragingly prepared to leave, when he remembered something and turned back to Nick.

"I don´t want to scare you Nick" he started and Nick frowned at him"but your friends are thinking that you can still be in danger. Father Callaghan is sitting outside, guarding. He´s there several hours and well... I just thought if you don´t want to talk with him."

"Several hours? They´re truly convinced that he´ll come back"

"It´s a precaution, Nick. I´m sure you´re safe here" the doctor said with calming tone, Nick absently nodded. Dr. Goddard left the room, and soon there was a knock on the door.

"Come in" said Nick and watched as Philip sat down with interest. The man looked shy, almost nervous and Nick felt a bit better, feeling he can´t be his enemy.

"You´re a... priest" finally Nick asked and Philip let out a relieved sigh.

"Yeah, I´m a priest. But you can call me by name, Nick."

"Uhm, and that´s..."

"Philip. Philip Callaghan."

"Sorry, Philip. I´m not really into names" Nick snickered and Philip smiled. The tension eased though it was still there.

"That´s okay, Nick."

"So - what is a priest doing in... damn, I don´t even know what´s my job."

"I - I don´t work with you, Nick. Well, I did, but then I left and now... I was visiting when you had the accident" explained Philip.

"Oh. And why did you leave"

"I think I wanted to help people - in other way than the Luna foundation does. Have more contact with them" Philip abruptly stopped, trying to hide his nervousness behind a smile, but Nick saw it.

"And what is that Luna foundation"

"Antiques."

Nick stared at him dumbly.

"Digs" Philip said with a slight smile and Nick remembered his earlier conversation with Derek.

"The Foundation also support several other organisations helping people in need."

"Oh. So I was doing exactly what" He knew that already, but wanted to make sure that both Derek and Philip are telling the same story.

"Security chief" Philip answered without hesitation. At least this answer seemed to satisfy Nick.

When Derek arrived an hour later, he found Philip and Nick idly chatting about sports and news. He didn´t supress the smile, because it was good to see the two of them talking so freely. Before the accident, Nick was angry with Philip for leaving, now though the anger was forgotten, literally. The smile on his face faded away as he realised that once Nick will regain his memories, the anger will most probably return, same as the tension between the two.

Along with Derek, the ghostly body of Gerry appeared right next to Nick. He startled, almost jumping from the bed. Philip was equally startled by Nick´s reaction.

"What the" Nick supressed the curse, remembering Philip was a priest, but didn´t try to hide the glare. Gerry smirked, then shrugged.

"Sorry, don´t wanted to scare you" though his voice sounded amused.

"Ehm" Derek cleared his throat from the doors and all eyes fell on him.

"Philip, Nick" he greeted"How are you feeling"

"I see it wasn´t just a dream" stated Nick, looking at Gerry then back at Derek. "Better than yesterday, though I don´t remember a thing. But Dr. Goddard said that I can go home tomorrow" Nick answered the question in a better mood.

"That´s good."

"Yeah. So, what did you find out"

"What do you think"

"Well, Philip was guarding my room, Gerry was nowhere to be seen, and the doc mentioned something about a second attempt. I take it you found something, otherwise this would be really useless."

"We get the connection between you and Gerry and we wanted to make sure, there won´t be any second attempt. It´s just a precaution."

"As everyone keep saying" muttered Nick.

"Why would someone try to kill me? And what´s with Gerry"

"Looks like our parents pissed someone off" commented Gerry, earning a warning glare from Derek, but Nick saw it and frowned.

"Our parents" he repeated, slowly mugging at the word. "Who were my parents? And where are they now" This didn´t make much sense. He never even thought about his parents, his family. Did he had any? The confusion was replaced by growing panic. Wasn´t there someone related to him? Did he have any girlfriend? Child?

Suddenly Derek´s face was next to his, grey eyes deeply looking into his hazel ones.

"Nick, calm down" said the man and Nick heard his own short gasps, realized a little late that he was hyperventilating. The shame for this manifestation of his weakness made him blush, then another thought ocurred to him - who adressed him as a weakling? Who was pushing him, yelling in his brain to stop being a kid, to start acting like a man. He heard the voice of a man, angry and demanding, felt his own fear and hate building, mixing into a new emotion - determination. He was determined to prove himself to - who?

"Nick, you need to come back, now." Another voice, this one with a strange accent and Nick shook his head. Was it his father talking with him? Or was it someone else?

"Where are my parents now" he asked, calming down his breathing and concentrating on the faces around him. Philip looked almost scared, Derek concerned and that ghost - well, how can a ghost look like? Troubled.

"Your father died when you were 17. You soon joined the Seals, but later left and started to work with us."

"Seals" Nick felt like an intruder in his own lifestory. "I was in the Navy"

"Yeah" Derek almost smiled at the surprise on Nick´s face.

"Why did I leave"

The smile quickly left his face.

"Your team was ambushed, you survived. I think you - stopped believing in those, who were supposed to lead you, or that was what you told me later."

Nick only nodded, it sounded right. Stopped believing - but why? Why would he stop? An ambush?

"They died? Everyone"

"Yes, you was the only survivor. But it´s not important now, Nick" Derek dismissed the next questions, before they even came.

"So what´s important"

"That someone is out there, trying to get revenge on you, and maybe someone else."

"You still didn´t tell me why. Why me? Why Gerry"

"Your parents."

"I know, they worked together. So what? What were they doing to piss of someone so bad"

"Just their job, Nick."

"Which was"

Derek was silent. He couldn´t really tell Nick about the Legacy, not in this state of mind, not with his memory wiped away. But what if it never comes back?

"I can´t tell you, Nick. Maybe a little later - if your memory won´t return. But I can´t tell you now."

Nick glared at him, his eyes sparking with anger and deception. He lie down, watching the ceiling instead. Even Philip could feel the anger emanating from him.

"If you can´t tell me anything, why do you bother with me in the first place? Why don´t you just leave me the hell alone" hissed Nick and this time looked pointedly at Derek.

"Because we care. You´re our friend, and we want to keep you safe. Maybe we can´t tell you everything, but we don´t want to hurt you, Nick" said Derek, his dutch accent contrasting in the silence of the room. Nick pouted.

"Someone is out to get you, because he can´t get your father. It´s so simple, Nick. Gerry´s parents were also dead, so Gerry was the logical choice. We´re talking about someone, who waited ten or more years to act. Maybe he was in prison, or gone. Maybe he just waited. Either way, he´s still out and dangerous. And we need your help to catch him."

"How so? Am I the bait"

Philip looked at his friend, completely baffled. How can he think such a thing? Derek on the other side looked simply frustrated and shook his head, while Gerry was thinking.

"No Nick, you´re not the bait. We´re just trying to make sure that you won´t be a victim" explained Derek and tiredly rubbed his eyes.

The answer seemed to calm Nick down a little, even though he watched Gerry´s face with growing suspicion.

"What about you, Gerry? What are you thinking"

"That perhaps it wasn´t such a bad idea."

At least Philip didn´t hear it, but Derek did and glared at the ghost.

"What? I´m just telling the truth. He´s already the bait" Gerry explained. "We only need to let the killer know that."

"No" replied Derek and Philip looked at him, curious.

"What no, Derek"

"I won´t put anyone into risk. We´ll check out the cases and see what we find. Till then - Nick will be guarded. If Jason releases him tomorrow, we can keep him safe on Angel Island."

"What Island? What are you talking about, Derek" asked Nick, but Derek shook his head.

"I think it´s enough for today, Nick. Philip, go back to the castle and get some sleep. You can come back later, I´ll stay here."

Philip shortly nodded, threw Nick a somehow apologetic look, and was gone. Gerry also vanished and Derek sat in the chair which Philip just vacated. Nick was glaring at him silently, but it only worsened his headache, so he stopped.

"You won´t tell me anything, will you" he asked, suddenly tired.

"Nope, not now. Get some rest yourself. I have a feeling we will need it." With that said, Derek closed his eyes and feigned sleep. When he opened them few minutes later, he grinned. Nick´s slow breathing indicated that he wasn´t feigning anything.

The dark figure walked by the door, daring a look inside. Derek was reading some book, often glancing a look at the sleeping form on the bed. The man almost growled, but restrained himself. It would be good to kill them both, but he feared the older one, knowing he´s a psychic. While it didn´t pose the biggest problem, the man in dark coat had to be careful. No, he´ll wait, till they suspicions will abate and they´ll be more reckless. Meanwhile... the man smiled as he walked from the hospital to his waiting bike. As he put up the black helmet, he imagined the next victim.

Yes, he had work to do, people to find. This one could wait for him.

It´s really not so hard to put up a review... please. And it gives the author a reason to write faster g