Chapter 13

Tess was all of a flutter for the first time in her life. "Tim stop it, we will get lost again! Just sit down a moment will you!" Tim looked at her and at the full seats nearby and she conceded. "Okaay just standing still will be fine." and immediately moved as a person nearly walked through her making her huff good humouredly. "There are so many people around."

She slowly turned round in a circle as she continued. "Mind you the buildings are beautiful and so different from home … the places I've been through." She looked at Tim with a smile and added gently. "Hey hold me a moment." He gently put his arm around her shoulder and they stood side by side, he stayed silent glad they could still hold each other in nothing else and let her carry on. "Umm ... that's nice...now you keep thinking of the ground for a moment. While I talk not think."

Tim smiled and held her round the waist amazed that she'd lost a lot of the porcelain type beauty and devious attitude she had around Derek, this was a nicer Tess and said. "Okay I'm thinking of staying here so ask away. Then you do the same while I answer."

Tess giggled wondering why she ever thought he'd just been an obsessed, thick, selfish farmer's boy. "Right, back on the plane if I glanced at those white clouds do you think I could have sat on one?"

Tim could hardly stop laughing to answer and Tess gave a smile and explained. "Yeah I know but as a kid I always thought of angels sitting on the clouds and Dad used to say rain and snow were the angels having fights or playing games, and storms were them getting angry."

Tim let go and they both laughed which seemed to sweep around them and as he calmed down he shook his head and said with a tease growing more serious as he thought about it. "You could try it on the way back if you like, but watch out for the thunder and lightening clouds now they could tickle. … I suppose we could get lost in them and I'm not going to try think of falling from one of those you were lucky the mountains were close … what if it had been the sea you might never have got out. Come on lets walk in the Park or along the harbour we've got lots of sights to see!"

oxoxo

Meg smiled as she walked over to Ben's bed in his hospital room. She bent over him as he slept and in a loud whisper said. "Hey! Sleepy head you're going to miss the best part of the day!" then kissed him gently on the cheek. He stirred and opened his eyes and smiled at her. "That felt good. … Perhaps another just to make sure I'm not dreaming."

She laughed and happily complied. Then Ben shifted his position and they kissed properly. When they broke apart he said. "What do you mean best part of the day? I thought that was earlier when you brought presents."

She laughed again and sat on the edge of the bed remembering all the clothes that needed uwrapping. "No, but it was good to see a little boy on Christmas morning, even if it's not Christmas and your not little. What's more they all fitted, I always thought you looked good in black silk..." She had to stop because he kissed her again she broke away but left her hand resting against his arm feeling not only him but his new pyjamas and carried on. "Tyus said you check out Ok and as you managed to walk all right this afternoon, we can go to the end of the corridor and see the sun setting and have something to eat."

"Sounds great, will you promise to carry me if I do not make it?" Ben said mischievously.

She laughed at the thought she was shorter and lighter than he was. "No! Casey's outside he's good at rescuing us remember, and Sara's guarding the food. I thought it would be nice to be all together for part of the time at least."

Ben smiled putting the new dressing gown on. "Sounds good, catch up on gossip as well. Ricardo's been in about Tess's body, it was where Tim said so the newspapers will have the story by morning. His boss didn't like the story about the dog so Ricardo told him about the ghost." Steadying Meg as she nearly doubled over laughing he carried on. "So they are going with the stray dog barking story, but don't tell anyone else. He also said Maria's going to explain the official story to Benjy rather than have someone say something out of the blue. Are you okay?"

Meg nodded and wiped her eyes and they walked across the room. Ben stopped for a moment and looked a bit apprehensive at Casey as they met in the corridor and said "Sorry about before."

Casey understood what he meant and realised this wasn't the time to remember the bad times and smiled saying. "It's all right if I had seen Sara kissing you I would have felt cross as well. I want our friendship back to what it used to be, I want you to know I will always care for Meg but only as a friend."

Ben nodded and they hugged then he took Meg's arm and as they started to walk along the corridor added rather sheepishly. "That's good because this corridor looks rather long." Casey smiled hearing the edge in the voice but seeing the smile and hearing Meg's giggle which was covered by Ben carrying on, quietly hoping that talking would make the miles shorter. "Thinking about past relationships how are your parents taking everything I'm sure your Mum will be all right but if I remember rightly I was not in your Dad's good books … I don't suppose Derek being around has helped much."

Meg was not quiet sure how much she should say when Casey chipped in. "Let's just say Meg told him a few home truths; including the fact he brought her up to be independent like Sara, and as she is over 21 she can make her own mind up. Oh yes I think 'can even feed herself now' was the last remark before she stormed out the room! Give it a day or so and he will be back to normal."

"Casey!" Meg exclaimed at his look she carried on. "Oh come on Dad's not that bad. He's still upset about Tim being murdered once he's over that he will be fine."

Ben smiled and sighed "That's Ok then I'll try and be good for a few days, then remember to duck when I see him and especially when I ask for your hand in marriage again."

Both Casey and Meg laughed, she said gently. "Ben you've already asked once and he said yes so why push your luck!"

He looked at her and said gently. "Yeah good point, I'm assuming of course that you will still have me?" She looked at him smiling and nodded, his eyes matched hers with sparkling brightness for a moment then he seemed unsure of himself so she gently said. "Go on."

"Umm ... Thinking about a few days time I'll have to find somewhere to live I'm not going back to Ocean Drive. Tyus has told me the hotel is likely to ban me they don't seem to like people just out of hospital something about relapses and ambulances at the door. Maria wants to find some where else to stay so I will have to sell the house anyway I'm not sure what's going to happen about my money..." It was getting a bit too much for him and he looked ahead and brightened exclaiming. "Sara that looks great and so do you of course!"

Sara laughed and came over giving him a hug and kiss then went over to Casey and kissed him before sitting opposite Ben and Meg and look out the window.

The view was across the town and out to the sea with the evening was drawing in with lights where being switched on in some of the buildings giving them that lived in feeling. The sky was clear apart from a few grey clouds around and just below the red and gold sun. As it started it's decent towards the dark blue water the rays gave the clouds silver linings, contrasting with the tones of the sun and the reflection rippled across the calm water made a stunning picture.

Ben's voice was soft with emotion as he broke the silence, needing to say what was going on in his mind. "I do not know what to do; eat this wonderful food, sit gazing at the sunset or just at Meg and two very good friends. None of which I thought I would see again."

Meg put her hand on his feeling it tremble and said gently. "You are here and we've got all evening. So let's drink a toast while watching the sun for a moment, then eat before the food gets cold."

Casey smiled at Meg giving a slight nod of approval and hoping the lump in his throat would let him said. "Sounds good, you suggest the toast, Meg."

They raised their drinks and Meg said. "To the future and the new roommate at Surf Central!" They drank and watching the sunset for a moment then silently ate as the sun finally disappeared.

Sara's sudden giggle broke the silence at the end of the meal they looked at her. "I was just thinking Dad's not going to win another fight." She looked around at her sister and friends surprised they needed to be told and explained. "Oh come on if he argues with Meg, Casey, Ben and I will fight her corner … then he will have to face Mum … poor thing is just not going to win."

They all smiled and Casey reminder her about the shop and they chatted about the past months filling Ben in on all the gossip relaxing and enjoying themselves until Tyus's gentle cough interrupted them. "A certain young man needs his sleep... alone Meg."

Meg started to complain as they made their way back to Ben's room Tyus laughed and said firmly. "No Meg he is not ill enough to have you sleep down the hallway either. You both need time on your own, anyway he will most probably knock you out of the bed when he's having nightmares so get some sleep while you can. … Ben don't encourage her!"

Once in the hospital room he watched Meg fuss over Ben making sure he was comfortable then let them kiss each other goodnight and promise over and over to see each other in the morning till Tyus gently guided Meg out of the room, he understood their fears and this was the best way to face them each know each was safe.

Meg still tried nagging him again as they walked down the corridor till Tyus stopped and said gently. "Meg last night was a different matter, he is going to have nightmares tonight it's better that someone is around who can help him cope." She started to huff and he cut in quickly. "Yes I know you can hold him and he will calm down. But Meg you have got things to sort out for tomorrow he needs someone who he can shout at and leave behind, and someone who is paid for being kept a wake."

She ran her fingers through her long dark hair as she started to complain again, he knew the signs and said very firmly. "No Meg, he will feel guilty about waking you up and the fact he cannot love you at the moment. Part of him is still in the basement let him come to you in a settled frame of mind. He will still have nightmares for a long time to come so enjoy the peace."

Meg laughed she could understand what he was saying but so longed to hold Ben and gave in. "Ok but ring me if you need me." Tyus knew he had won and let her join Sara and Casey who were waiting.

oxoxo

The shops were closed and lit up for the evening, with only a few people out and about. Tess looked at the window showing clothes and slipped inside to get a closer look at a model while Tim who's attention had been drawn to an entrance of what looked like a dance club, he thought they could visit called out to Tess he was going in and didn't hear her yell "Tim not in there!" as she came out of the shop window and he went in the club.

She waited by the entrance as he came out looking embarrassed she smiled at him and laughed. "You should know better!" Tim stormed off she called after him. "Come on Tim what positions were they in!"

"None you would want to be in!" He yelled back.

He had to stop quickly to avoid an old lady who seemed to walking straight at him no matter what he did. She stopped as he stopped and smiled at him saying quietly "You should think of going home now you've still got a job to do."

Tim and Tess looked at her aghast "You can see us!"

She smiled and her whole face lit up. "Yes and I've been waiting for years and tried many times, now you have been given the job to do. He has been waiting for so long to join his family and friends don't fail him. You have the information and the will to do it. You have already saved 'the link' now you must pass on all the information so he can let all of you find the peace you need. When you are ready just think of your room Tess and it will be a pleasant ride back. My job is done I will see you in the bigger place, but not as you see me now though."

With that she disappeared leaving them looking at nothing but the empty street and they realised time had passed night had fallen. They looked at each other and smiled without any hesitation Tess said gently "Thank you Tim."

"That's Ok" and kissed her, lovingly and as they broke apart they were whisked into blackness but it was different this time, as they got used to it they felt comfortable, no fear of falling as they realised they were flying with the wind over the countryside, mountains, over the lights of Seattle, along the coast line and then a warmer feeling went through them as they neared Sunset Beach and were guided to Ocean Drive.