Disclaimer & Summary : See chapter 1. Plus flashback of this chapter don't belong to me, it was greatly inspired by the song of Simple Plan "Untitled" which I don't own even though I share the same city.
Author's Note 2005/03/25: I want to thank everyone who reviewed or emailed me to continue this story even after a year or more without updates. Special thanks to Arlene(Angel Moon Princess) for helping out with the grammar and spelling. Well, this fic is definitely back and is completely revised. If you had already read this story, all of the chapters have changed, maybe not plot wise, but character wise it did change. If you are a new reader, welcome and I hope you enjoyed it so far and will love this new chapter. Enjoy!
Didi
The Seventh Stranger
Chapter 13: Shadow Of A Thread
Right after the valet brought the silver Porsche in front of the restaurant; Tristan helped Rory climb into the car, and then walked to the driver's seat himself. Before he ignited the engine, he turned to face Rory and huskily said, "What would you say if we parked the car somewhere quiet and…" He stifled a laugh as he saw her body tense while she attempted to raise an eyebrow, "…take a walk and talk?"
Rory smiled brightly, "I would love that, but if we could find an ice-cream stand, it would be even better."
He turned the key, shaking his head as the car sped away and muttered, "Common ice cream after a five stars meal."
She hit him playfully, "Hey! I heard that."
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They walked randomly; they saw a park and passed across it slowly. Rory saw a beautiful looking street and they explored it. Tristan saw a candy stand and bought some to Rory. They talked about everything and nothing but mostly nothing. They were having fun, and as they passed by a coffee shop; Rory squirmed and exclaimed, "Coffee!"
Tristan followed quietly, amused and bought her a cup that she sipped while they went back outside to walk.
After a couple of steps, Rory faced him excitingly, "Let's try to guess who is doing what." Tristan quirked an amused eyebrow questioningly and she continued, "Okay, I'll show you. It can be very funny." She searched the crowd in front of her for her first victim; she spotted a woman dressed in a plain black middle knee skirt with a similar jacket over a white blouse. The woman's hair was dirty blonde with tiny waves cascading down her back and she looked overly serious for a Saturday night. She discreetly pointed out, "Girl barely out of college taking life way too seriously, she just started her first job as secretary of a small firm and hopes to be promote to be the president's assistant by the age of thirty."
Tristan pointed to a bench across the street, "We might as well be sitting down to play this game."
As they sat on the bench, Rory told him, "Your turn."
He looked for an interesting person to analyze and pointed out a dark haired girl with very sexy clothes on her, "Girl screams I'm easy and way too sexy but I'm looking for a rich husband to finally be able to gain weight and buy some real clothes."
Rory laughed and pointed to a man with a black briefcase and perfect clothes on, "Young lawyer who thinks he's invincible in court but has yet to achieve his first victory."
Tristan burst out laughing, "Okay… this game is disturbing. That man works with me and so far he lost five cases and won his first one this week." He stood up; held out his hand to her, "Let's keep walking for a bit."
Rory took his hand and smiled, "Ok." She stood up and tried to retrieve her hand from Tristan's but he wouldn't let go of it. She blushed and he smirked as they continued to walk.
They crossed the park and the moon shone full bloom over the small lake in the middle of the park. Rory gasped and leaned against a tree trunk, "It's beautiful!"
Tristan whispered while facing her, "You are beautiful." Rory looked into his blues orbs with eyes filled with stars; he wrapped his arms around her. "I've wanted to do that ever since I picked you up." His lips met hers in a slow kiss filled with promises and wanting until she responded to it. At that moment, they met in a passionate embrace, lips and hands everywhere, he held onto her tighter as if scared she would disappeared. Rory steadied her hands around his middle back and brought him closer to her. She sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder, her nose against his neck. He kissed the top of her head and took a step back. "Do you want us to stay over night?"
She glanced at him with confused eyes, "You mean... sleep here?" She motioned her hand over the park questioningly.
Tristan stifled a laugh and kissed her softly, "I meant… we could get a room and spend the night here." He saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes and decided to lighten the mood, "Come on Mary, just you and me, in a room, we'd take a bath, I'd scrub your back then you'd return the favor."
She quirked an eyebrow, "If you're trying to seduce me by asking me to scrub your back, then…" She licked a finger, "You better rethink your strategy."
Tristan pushed her forcefully against the tree, his body pressed closely against her, "I just don't want the night to end right now." He kissed her, invaded her mouth leaving her weak in the knees. She moaned under the ferocity of his kisses as he dipped his head to taste her neck and sucked softly on her skin.
She was about to say something when the theme of 'I dream of Jenny' echoed around them. She heard Tristan curse quietly and gave her space to pick up her annoying technology that just interrupted the game he was almost certain of winning. She answered the phone, "Hello?"
On the other side of the line, a panicked voice was contained not to scream, "Rory! Is my brother with you? All I can reach is his mailbox and it's really an emergency. Is he there? Is he?"
Rory sighed and passed the phone over to Tristan, he looked at it questioningly before picking it up. With an angry voice, he almost screamed, "This had better be good."
The voice on the other line chuckled between two sobs, "It's important… I guess I caught you at a bad time. But it's Jeremy... I'm sorry, I know how important tonight was…"
He didn't let her finish, "What about him?"
Rory watched Tristan blench and heard him say, "I'm coming right over." He flipped the phone off and looked at Rory panicky, "I'm sorry Rory, I'll have to cut the date short, an emergency." He looked at his watch, "I have just enough time to drive you back but we have to hurry." He took her hand without waiting for an answer and hurried toward the car.
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They were already on the bridge to leave New York City when Rory spoke, "Can I do anything?" He just watched the road and shook his head. "Can you tell me what is happening?"
He whispered, "Jeremy needs to see me." Then thinking more about his answer, "I need to be there, but I'll drop you off first."
She took hold of the hand that was resting on the gears, "Just go straight to the hospital." Then she looked out the window and murmured, "He needs you more now."
He grasped her hand and squeezed it before changing gear as he had reached the highway.
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Tristan shook Rory awake gently without results. He kissed her softly, "Rory, wake up, we're here."
The urgency in his voice made her open her eyes slowly, she stifled a yawn, "Do you want me to come along?" She saw him shake his head about to say something, "I could wait in the lobby in case you need the moral support or something."
He kissed her lightly, "Okay, let's go."
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Tristan looked at the time on his watch, almost five in the morning. He quietly opened the door, the room almost completely in darkness. He was able to make out the forms of Jeremy sound asleep in his bed and of Gabrielle sleeping in a chair by the bed, her head resting on Jeremy's shoulder. Tristan pulled a chair on the other side of Jeremy's bed and motioned Rory to come closer but she shook her head and stayed by the door. Tristan sat on the chair, took Jeremy's hand in his, "Jey? Are you asleep?"
His eyes flickered open, "Not really, I must have dozed out." His emerald eyes fell on Rory and he whispered, "You look radiant this morning Rory." Rory smiled sadly, feeling like an intruder but that was changed as soon as Jeremy asked softly, "Come and sit with us." Once Rory was seated on the side of the bed, Jeremy turned his attention to Tristan, "What time is it?"
Tristan choked out, "Almost five."
Jeremy looked at Rory then back at Tristan, "I'm sorry I interrupted your date."
Tristan brushed him off, "Don't worry about that. Tell me what happened, I couldn't understand anything that Gabrielle was telling me."
Jeremy tried to smile but his lips couldn't move enough to become a real smile, "Your specialist came in. He said that he was willing to try to remove the tumor but that it was a really risky operation. I have a fifty/fifty chance of surviving." He breathed deeply, "But he also explained why I'm losing more functionality on my body as time passes." A tear escaped his eyes, and Tristan whipped the tear away, "If he would have seen me five years ago, while I was still able to move my arms, it might have made a difference but it's not certain. When brain damage is concern, nothing is guarantied."
In panic, Tristan whispered, "Then don't let him do it, we'll find something else."
Jeremy's eyes moved in negation from left to right, "Don't you see big T? If I do, I might die but if I don't I won't even be able to speak or think next year. I don't want to keep on living like this. This is not a life, I can't do anything, I can watch TV and talk and wait for people to visit me. I can't even do simple things anymore, at least I was able to draw before but I can't anymore." Silent tears escaped Rory's eyes, "When I woke up and you were out cold, they told me that with a lot of work I might be able to walk again. I had hoped and I was certain that I was the one coming out with the less damages and I felt sorry for you." He closed his emerald orbs for a second, trying to regain control, "But not anymore, today will be either my death or the day I'll get better. I have to try." He looked at Gabrielle's sleeping form. "I have to try for her. I need you to promise me something."
Tristan held his tears, "Anything."
"If I don't make it, tell her everything, tell Gabrielle that I love her with all of my heart, and that I did ever since my eyes fell on her, a little fury ready to scream the world apart to wake you up. Tell her she was my light."
Rory bit her lip to contain the sob threatening to escape as Tristan held Jeremy's hand tighter, "I'll tell her."
Jeremy glanced at Rory, "Promise me you'll take care of them."
She nodded unable to utter a word.
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Tristan looked at the clock, 9:15, three hours since they took Jeremy to the surgical ward. He looked at Gabrielle sleeping in his arms after crying herself to sleep. He felt Rory squeeze his hand slightly and heard her ask, "Can I get you a coffee?"
He shook his head no. He picked up Gabrielle in his arms and laid her down on Jeremy's bed. He went back to sit beside Rory. "I'm sorry, you can go back if you want. Take my car, I'll take a cab."
Hurt, she asked, "Do you want me to leave?"
He squeezed her hand, "No, but it could be a very long wait."
She rested her head on his shoulder, "Then I'm staying." After a couple of minutes of silence interrupted only by the tick of the clock, "How long were you in the coma?"
He rested his head over hers, "Almost a month. But I have flashes of that, as if moments of clarity, I was there without being there."
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Tristan opened his eyes and tried to see but was blinded by a white light. He tried again to see and this time he saw a white room with two beds, Jeremy on one reading a book as Tristan was lying on the other one. He tried to remember how and why he was lying there tonight, for all of it seemed like a hospital room and not his regular room.
Then, Tristan looked carefully at himself, lying on the bed, sleeping with monitors plugged on him; he blinked a couple of times as he felt a floating sensation from within. He saw his own reflection asleep, it was as if watching into a mirror except his reflection was asleep. He fought the urge to scream and reasoned that it must be a weird dream and floated to check the area. This could be fun; he passed by the door of the bathroom and checked inside, typical for a hospital. Then, his gaze met the mirror, for a moment he looked at it wondering what was abnormal. He had no reflection, he tried to scream but no sound came out, he tried again still no sound.
Completely freaked out, Tristan returned near his body watching as his reflection remained motionless. Then memories of the shower area in school flashed; him and Jeremy, too many guys fighting, his head hitting the ceramic wall in a weird bang, to hit the watery floor in a splash.
'No! How can I feel pain if I'm not even in my body? Am I dead?'
He tried to sleep over his body; he felt his feet melt with his body, his legs, and his hands. 'I can't stand this pain! I can't make it go away!' He retrieved out of his body. 'How could this happen to me? I made my mistakes but now I got no where to run.' The night goes on and Tristan thought, 'I'm fading away, I'm sick of this life, I want to scream but I can't. How could this happen to me?'
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Rory was listening intensely to Tristan's words, "Where did you go?"
Tristan smiled melancholically, "I don't really know, I saw a golden string following me, attached to my body, I decided to go away. I saw you; you were walking in the snow with an Asian girl and explaining something. You were radiant under the sun light and you were smiling at me like you never did but you couldn't see me. I felt an urge to go back to my body at that moment."
Rory raised her head hurriedly, "You saw me? Then what did you do?"
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Tristan floated inside the room he was sharing with Jeremy, Jeremy was by the window sitting on a wheel chair. Then he heard screaming and watched closely. If he could have smiled he would have, there beside his bed where he was still motionless, was his mother sitting properly with the proper tear a mother should shred for her comatose son without ruining any make up, a doctor dressed in green talking about brain damage the longer he stayed in this state. And what broke his heart the most was a little teenager girl with long golden braids, crying her heart out with her head resting on his shoulder. She was screaming at him, "You can't leave me! You always told me we were a team. I need you."
He saw his mom trying to calm her down, "Come on Gabrielle, this is highly inappropriate."
Tristan tried to scream, "I'm here!" but no one heard him.
He saw Jeremy wheel his chair to his bed, beside Gabrielle. He whispered, "Come here, little fury."
He watched as Jeremy comforted Gabrielle, he wanted to scream 'it is my task! I'm the one supposed to hold her when she cries!'
And then Jeremy spoke softly, "he is strong, he will come back."
He shifted his attention to his mom and the doctor, "You have two options Miss. DuGrey, you either keep hoping or we unplug."
His mother sniffed graciously, "Let's say my son wakes up today, what are the chances that he keeps all of his functionalities?."
The doctor spoke softly, "I'll be honest with you, everyday that passes, chance are less and less that he comes back fully functional or wakes up at all. But I can tell you that some people came back fully functional after a twenty years coma. Of course, that is not in every case."
His mother looked at him coldly, "I'll live with the fact that he will never wake up."
He heard Gabrielle scream at the top of her lungs, "NO!"
He saw the doctor unplug the monitors slowly, Gabrielle, his sweet little sister barely coming out of childhood, trying to fight him to stop him, Jeremy calling back the little fury to him. Tristan wanted to scream, he felt his body release him and saw the golden thread hanging on to him falter, he tried to hold on to it… but it was fading away and he was floating more. He screamed to himself, 'I want to start over again!'
Next thing he felt was the need to breath, he coughed and his lungs hurt, he flickered his eyes open and tried to talk but his throat was too dry. He managed to whisper "Water."
A little fury jumped in his arms, crying and laughing in his arms.
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Rory embraced Tristan in her arms and whispered, "I'm happy you followed your thread."
Tristan held her back, "I'm happy also." He kissed her forehead. "Thank you for staying."
Rory kissed him softly, eyes watery but a second later they were interrupted by Gabrielle sitting up in the bed, crying, "NO!"
Tristan jumped to the bed, "Gab, wake up." He saw her eyes glazed and got scared for a minute. Then he smiled as he thought about his lingering.
She buried her head in his shoulder and said, "I think I love him."
"Maybe you should tell him that."
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Author's Note: Don't forget to drop a note to let me know how you liked it.
Didi