Chapter 3

It had been a very woeful and boring week for Nicholas since Tamara Johansen's death. Everybody apologized to him, saying how it was too soon…blah, blah, blah. Rush appreciated these statements, but it was getting old. Besides, it only made him more depressed hearing these comments, and when Nick was depressed he tended to drink a little more than usual.

One particular night, Rush passed out on the couch after drinking quite a few martinis. He felt something lightly brush against his face and he abruptly touched the spot. After Nicholas realized there wasn't anything on his face he opened his eyes and looked up, gaping his mouth open in complete awe because he was seeing T.J standing in front of him.

"It's really me, Nick. There's no need to doubt," said Tamara, grinning slightly.

"No. No, it can't be you. You're dead," Nicholas answered, trying to maintain his sanity, or however much was left of it, as much as possible.

T.J walked closer to Rush and smoothly caressed his face. "How can this not be real," she inquired.

Dr. Rush closed his eyes, savoring ever moment of her touch. He didn't know if this was really happening or if it wasn't just a horrible reaction to some bad liquor. Of course, Nicholas chose to believe the latter at first.

"If it is really you, then what could you possibly want with me," questioned Nicholas as he re-opened his eyes.

"The only thing I wanted to tell you is that what Colonel Young said to me the day before I died wasn't what you thought it was," Tamara began to explain.

"So, you could hear what people were saying when you were unconscious," Rush inquired, now standing up from the couch.

Nodding her head as to say 'yes,' she replied, "Every word."

"No, no…I refuse to-this isn't happening. You're just a figment of my subconscious," insisted Nicholas, shaking his head in the hopes of awakening himself. "I will wake up, and-"

"-realize this was all just a bad dream? You are awake, Nick," T.J sternly interrupted. "…a little drunk, but… you're definitely not asleep."

"Fine. Okay. I'll play along for the time being. What was it that Colonel Young told you, then?"

"He apologized to me for how he treated us that night," Johansen began. "He even mentioned that he thinks you're a good person."

Nicholas crossed his arms over his chest and suspiciously raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Now I know you're just in my head. The Colonel hates my guts, so I happen to know for a fact that he would never say such a thing about me," he remarked.

"How do you know," skeptically inquired Tamara. "You hardly ever talk to the man, so can you honestly tell me that you know what he thinks of his crew members?"

"Do I need to be buddies with him or something? Is that some sort of dying wish of yours," Dr. Rush coldly asked in response.

Rolling her eyes in disgust, T.J answered, "No, of course not! All I'm saying is to try to understand his point of view."

"Right…. Tell you what: I'll start doing that when he stops being an asshole. How's that," suggested Nicholas.

With a snap of her fingers, Johansen disappeared. Nicholas opened his eyes, sat up on the couch and peered about the room; everything was where it was supposed to be. Yes, he thought. I knew it was all just a dream!