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"You are recovering quite fast Mr. Lachey. Much faster than I would have expected you to," the doctor remarks after going over Nick's chart and a physical examination. "I am a bit surprised that your wounds healed so cleanly and quickly."
"Is that a good thing Doc?" asks Nick from his bed.
"Whenever a person heals, that is a good thing Mr. Lachey, but I am concerned about how fast you have healed. Did you notice anything unusual with your body these past few days?"
'Well there was that nurse… Nick! If you mention her and the warmth you felt when she touched you, he'll think you are nuts!' After shaking his head Nick says, "No, everything feels normal besides the pain here and there."
"That's another thing. I would have expected that you would have suffered more pain by now. However, the fact that you are recovering so nicely is a really good thing. At this rate, you'll be leaving here in two or three more days!"
"Great!" Nick exclaims, feeling a smile spread across his face.
"I'll check in with you tomorrow. I'll have a nurse come in to give you a sponge bath. I'm sure you'll love that," the doctor says, giving Nick a wink and leaving the room.
Nick closes his eyes and reflects on what has been going on in his life the past week or so. 'First, there were those awful dreams with that girl that is eerily familiar. Then, there was the accident. Then, the nurse that healed me and seemed to have known me from before. Finally, there is that constant feeling of being watched, just like I feel right now.' Nick opens his eyes immediately and spots the tall black haired girl again. "Who are you?"
"You really don't know me Nicholas?" she asks.
"Why do you keep calling me Nicholas?"
"That's your name, isn't it?" she asks, coming closer and placing the wash bin and sponge on a side table.
"My friends and family have always called me Nick. Do I know you?"
"Would it help ease your panic if you did?"
'That voice sounds so familiar! Where is it from? Oh my gosh, my dreams!' Nick stares harder at the girl.
"Is there something wrong?"
"It's you! You've been in my dreams and you were the one that healed me with your warmth!" he exclaims, sitting more upright in bed, wincing in slight pain.
"Lay back down Nicholas. You'll feel better. What dreams are you talking about?"
"I've been having dreams of dying on a battlefield and being killed in a house after reading a note, as well as seeing you dead after leaving you just for a few minutes. What gives?"
"You've had those dreams?"
"Yes! Why would I lie about it?"
The girl takes in a deep breath. "I know you aren't lying because I've lived through those moments."
"You've what? How could you? They are just dreams!"
"They are just dreams to you but they are a reality to me. You once lived them too. I don't think this is the time or place to talk about this though," the girl says, starting to untie his gown and moves it down to his waist. She grabs her sponge and dips it into the soapy water and starts washing Nick. All Nick could do is just stare at her.
"So you are real. What does all of this mean?"
"I told you. We have to wait until we are in private. I'll explain more to you once you get discharged. It should be this afternoon I think," the girl says, pausing to look at his chart that is on the table. "You are recovering really well."
"Thanks to you. I don't know what you did to me but it helped a great deal with my healing process. If you refuse to tell me what is going on, you could at least tell me your name."
The girl smiles. "My name is Carrie."
'Carrie, why does that sound so familiar? The dream idiot! But wait, I never said her name. But you have a strong feeling that the name matches the girl. What the hell is going on?' Nick wonders. "Carrie is a nice name for a beautiful young woman."
"Thank you," she replies. "You always seem to think that."
"Always?" Nick asks with a puzzled look.
"Never mind," Carrie says, trying not to kick herself for her stupid outburst. "I'll check with you tomorrow." She puts the table to the side and empties out the water into the sink. "You should be safe today. Until we meet again Nicholas."
"Wait!"
"I have to go. I will be nearby, don't worry. Good-bye."
With that, she is gone from Nick's sight. 'What is it with this girl always doing that? If she is from my dreams and what she says is real, that means I've lived multiple lives yet I don't remember a single one. Well duh Einstein, why would you remember them? So if those dreams are true, what does that mean about me and Carrie?' Nick slowly feels his eyes closing on him again and drifts off to sleep.
"Man! I can't believe you've been discharged!" Drew exclaims. "We've all been so worried about you! Management even sent you flowers and everything!"
"Hey! It's a good feeling to be back in my own house Sprout, especially without all of that tubing and wires all around me," Nick replies, sitting on his favorite couch. "Remember though, the doctor said I won't be up to complete speed for another week or so."
"I know. What am I going to do to you anyway? Tackle you to the ground and wrestle with you? I don't think so!"
"I know that's what you want though. To get a beating from your big brother."
"Yeah right! I could whip you in no time right now. You have like no energy available to really fight!"
"Enough! I get your point. Geez."
Drew laughs. "I just want to make sure you remember who is in complete health here and who isn't! It's okay, you are just getting old anyway."
"I am not!"
"Right… Anyways, I am going to go call the guys and let them know I have taken you home so they can come shower you with their attention too," Drew says, leaving Nick in order to search for the portable phone.
When Nick sees that Drew has left, he lets his mind start working on the puzzle again. 'So if Carrie and I have met in previous lives, we must be soul mates or something like that but I don't believe in that stuff. I must be going delirious. I've seen Carrie twice and in my dreams. She could easily be a figment of my imagination, right?'
"Jeff wants to know if you saw that nurse of yours ever again!" Drew shouts from the other room.
'Then again, maybe not.' Nick turns his attention to his brother. "Tell Jeff I did. Did you tell him about her?"
"Of course! I had to tell him about your fascination with your nurse. It is so typical of you to fall in love with one of your nurses when you are in critical condition!"
"I wasn't that bad!"
"Sure you weren't. They're going to come over tomorrow to give you some rest. Jeff and Justin send their love!"
"Tell them I say hello and look forward to finally seeing them tomorrow!"
Nick turns on the television and flips the channels. For some reason, he stops on the History Channel. Drew comes in and notices what Nick is watching. "Wow, your near death experience definitely has changed you. I've never seen you watch this channel before."
"I have too!"
"Right. Anyway, I'm going to go and let you get your rest. I'm sure you will be okay here by yourself but I'll have my cell phone on if you need me."
"I won't be calling but thank you little brother."
"No problem big brother. Take care! Remember. Don't open the door to strangers. They could be deranged fans!"
Nick laughs. "Whatever! Have a good time."
Drew waves and leaves. As Nick listens to Drew taking off in his car, Nick turns his attention back to the History Channel. 'Vampires huh? I wouldn't think this supernatural nonsense would be on here.' He tries changing the channel but nothing happens. 'What in the world?'
"Perhaps you should watch that. You would learn at least some truth about your girlfriend," a mysterious voice says. Nick looks around quickly. "You can't see me but I can see you. It's been a long time since I've seen you. You look better than you did in your last life but I thought I had killed you for good. It's interesting to find that I was wrong. Maybe I can fix my mistake this time around though."
"Who's there?"
Nick hears a deep chuckle. "You've forgotten already have you? Well, I don't blame you. You didn't get the chance to know about me last time. Carrie kept you well hidden up until the end. I still don't understand why she always chooses you over me."
"Carrie? What does she have to do with any of this?" Nick asks, trying to fight off the fear that is building. "I hardly know her."
"Don't try lying to me boy!"
"I honestly don't know her! She was a nurse and that was it!" Nick exclaims.
"Hmm…" After a few minutes the voice says, "I guess you are telling the truth. Your mind shows no evidence to disprove your claim. I'm really surprised. I guess I honestly don't have a purpose here right now then. I'll get you later though, I'm sure."
"Wait!" Nick screams into the silence. There's no reply. 'What in the world is going on with me now? God, I'm getting tired of hallucinating so badly. I think I need to go to sleep. I haven't had those bad dreams for a while now so I should be safe.'
Nick begins to prepare for bed, enjoying a hot shower and changing into his favorite pair of boxers. Once in bed, he closes his eyes and falls fast asleep.
"Nicholas? Can I come in? I need to talk to you." Carrie says.
"Of course! I would never shut you out, no matter what. What's bothering you?" Nick asks.
"I have to tell you something but I don't think you'll accept it very easily."
"You know you can tell me anything."
"I wouldn't have even told you this way but you need to be hidden and I know you. You won't do anything I say unless I tell you the reason. Nicholas, I am a creature of the night and the man who changed me is out to kill you."
Nick laughs. "Right. Martians are going to come down tomorrow night and abduct me too. Come on, what do you really have to tell me?"
"I'm serious. I am a vampire."
"Sure, and you want to suck my blood, right? Come on, prove it."
"Nicholas, I am not going to suck your blood just to convince you that I really am a vampire. Just know that I am telling you the truth. Why would I lie about something like this? Like I said, you are in grave danger here, you need to come with me if you don't want to die and I know that I don't want you to die."
Nick grabs Carrie. "You really are telling the truth, aren't you?"
"Yes!"
"Someone is after me? Why?"
"Because he wants me to be with him but he knows that my heart belongs to you. There is no way he will ever compare to you so he has decided it would be best to kill you. Please, come with me now and let me keep you safe," Carrie pleads, looking deeply into Nicholas' eyes.
"God, how can I resist you? I know you are telling the truth but it is just so much to handle. How did you go outside so often in the sunlight? How is it that I can see you in the mirrors?" Nick asks, trying to find the answers to the millions of questions in his head.
"I have a special ring that allows me to go outside and appear human. Think though Nicholas. Have I ever eaten in front of you? Have I ever truly slept?"
Nick racks his brain. 'Oh God, she's right. She never has done any of those things. How in the world did I miss that?'
"Because you never thought twice about my oddities. I was just this woman you fell for and you never thought twice about why. I think our attraction and history from the past has worked into your feelings and thoughts so you now feel everything we've experienced all together."
"That could be it. You are just so amazing Carrie."
Carrie smiles. "I appreciate that but we really do have to go if I am going to get you to safety. Do you trust me?"
"With my life."
"Then come with me."
'This is crazy,' Nick thinks.
"I know but you need to just have blind faith with me."
"Wait! You've been responding to my thoughts."
"Yes, I can mind read. I can do a lot more than you realize but we have to go now. I can sense he is getting nearer and we are running out of time. Will you come with me or not?" she asks, holding out her hand.
Nick hesitates for a moment but places his hand in her hand. "Let's go."
CRASH!
Nick's eyes fly open and he sees Carrie trying to upright a picture frame she knocked over on the table on the other side of the room. "Carrie?"
Carrie looks up and smiles. "Sorry. You invited me in so I came right on in. I didn't realize you were dreaming."
"I was talking in my sleep?"
"Actually, you were. I asked if I could come in and you said yes. That's the only way I could come in."
"Right. What are you doing here? Did the hospital send you?"
"Are you feeling all right Nicholas?" Carrie asks, coming to sit down right next to Nick. "Don't you remember I said I would check on you tonight?
"I remember the check up comment but not at my house! How did you get here?"
"Nicholas, you are starting to remember things aren't you? You're starting to figure things out again, I can feel it."
Nick looks away. "I wish you would stop calling me that. I'm not Nicholas. I'm Nick. Besides, I don't even know you."
Carrie places her hand on his cheek and Nick feels a million of memories flood his mind. "I think you do but you're shutting them out in disbelief. Accept them Nicholas. They are real as the hand that is touching you. Allow them to explain to you what you don't want to acknowledge."
Nick closes his eyes and watches as moments of him and Carrie pass by his eyes. Images of them outside, inside, together, apart, alive, dying, and everything else. 'Oh my… She's telling the truth. These have to be memories from the past. Wait, that would make her… a vampire.' Nick looks up and into Carrie's eyes.
"Yes, I am a vampire but I am also your soul mate. You don't know how many times I have seen you die and reborn in my one lifetime. Every time I go through this with you, it breaks my heart how clueless to my existence you are. At least this time you seem to accept it a little bit better."
"You've been haunting my dreams lately."
"You mean after I met you in the hospital?"
"No. I mean before that. I couldn't sleep because I dreamt of dying and I dreamt of finding you dead. They were horrible nightmares I thought."
Carrie closes her eyes. "They were horrible nightmares all right but they all happened. I know those moments you are talking about."
"So the last one I had just now must be true as well, right?"
Carrie nods her head. "That was the last time you lived if I am seeing your thoughts correctly. You must have been going in chronological order. I am supposing you have a lot of questions for me now. Look, I don't blame you if you never want to see me again but I wouldn't have materialized tonight except for the fact that I've managed to put you into danger once again. We need to go into hiding, just like the dream."
"Wait! This is happening all too fast. Is whoever this guy is close by again?"
Carrie closes her eyes. "No, not yet. He doesn't know I know about you."
"Hang on! That must have been him! That mysterious voice from earlier tonight."
"What mysterious voice?"
"There was a male voice that spoke to me in this room earlier, asking if I had seen you and everything. When he found that I knew nothing more than you were my nurse, he left me alone. I never saw him."
"You didn't invite him in that's why. He was only able to project his voice. God, I am so glad I didn't tell you anything more before now then. I didn't think he would find out so fast. I guess Leo was right."
"Leo?"
"I have a lot to fill you in on. Nicholas, please, if you believe me just a little bit, please just come with me. I need to keep you safe and I can't do that here."
"Where would we go?"
"Far away."
"For how long?"
"For however long it takes to keep you safe. I can't lose you again Nicholas. It kills me a million times over each time you die and I will not let you die without me this time."
"But vampires don't die!"
"There are ways. Please, just come with me."
Nick just stares at Carrie. "So if I go with you, there is a chance I could live but if I don't, I could die in my own bed?"
"Basically, yes."
"Well, you don't give me much of a choice now, do you? I guess I'll tell Drew and go with you in the morning."
"No! You can't tell anyone and we have to leave right now. Please Nicholas, we can't lose a single minute."
"You're dead serious aren't you?"
"Yes. Please, let me help you."
Nick sighs. "Okay, I'll go, but I'm driving my car and you have to fill me in on all of these gaps. I could be making the biggest mistake in my life but my gut tells me to follow you and that there is something big involved so I want to know what."
Carrie nods. "I'll tell you everything. Let's just go."
"Let's go then." Nick holds out his hand to her. "I'll lead the way to my car and you can start figuring out how you are going to explain and convince me about everything you have to say to me."
Carrie places her hand in his and smiles. "It's a deal."