Part 39

Voices echoed around him as Tom found himself again standing in the long stone corridor. The light at the end was much closer

to him this time, but he hesitated to move toward it as the familiar voices directed. Though he still couldn't put any faces with

them, he knew he should obey their instructions. He took one step forward, surprised that this time the movement was

effortless. A broad smile lit his face as he prepared to take a second step. Tom started to bring his foot forward, but stopped in

mid-step, suddenly acutely aware of a feeling that stepping into the light would bring him terrible pain and anguish. The smile

disappeared and was rapidly replaced by fear as the voices grew louder, though they remained gentle as they urged him

onward. He tried to ignore the ominous feeling and comply, but his foot remained frozen in place. Undaunted, the formless

entities continued their encouragement.

Still, Tom hesitated. With downcast eyes, he softly announced, "I-I don't want to go back."

The voices quieted to a faint hum before fading completely. Tom sank to his knees, his entire body trembling in relief; he was

certain that his wish had been granted. Suddenly, a lone male voice echoed down the long hallway. "It's time to wake up now,"

he insisted.

As the voice spoke, the light began to move toward Tom. Though fearful at first, he stared into it. As he gazed into the

brightness, his fear evaporated and he calmly waited for it to wash over him. He was startled when suddenly it stopped within

inches of him. He continued to peer into it, waiting for it to resume its movement and overtake him. Seconds passed, though

they seemed to last hours, when Tom suddenly realized what had to be done. Taking a deep breath, he shakily rose to his feet

and turned to face the voice in the blackness. "I understand," he reluctantly answered.

The brightness behind him cast an eerie glow over Tom's features as he peered into the darkness, waiting for a response. He

was mildly surprised to hear a female voice answer, "That's good."

He nodded in acknowledgment before slowly turning back to the light. Pausing to gather his strength, he bowed his head and

prepared for what he knew he must do. The humming whispers resumed their gentle encouragement, patiently waiting for him to

act. Closing his eyes, Tom took a deep breath and took the final step forward.

*********************

Lyam started as he reentered the small waiting room, nearly dropping the two large cups of coffee he carried. "Frannie, I didn't

expect to find you here. I was just coming in to check on Cassy before taking Margaret another cup of coffee. Do I take it

Harry is in with Margaret and Tommy?" His eyes moved past the woman in front of him to his former daughter-in-law. Cassy

had finally succumbed to exhaustion and fallen asleep on one of the two small sofas in the room. A couple of armchairs, two

end tables with lamps, and a television rounded out the room's furnishings. The subdued tones of the room offered a peaceful

haven and, if not for the nearly constant pages of medical personnel, it would have been easy to forget they were in a hospital.

Frannie Lipschitz rose from one of the armchairs to greet the weary father, careful to keep her tone low as not to waken the

slumbering Cassy. "Hello, Lyam. Yes, Harry went in to see Tom a few minutes ago. He promised to let me take him home to

get some sleep if I agreed to let him check on Tom first." As Frannie relieved him of the two steaming cups, she did a quick

inventory of Lyam's appearance. Noticeable bags underneath framed his red, bloodshot eyes. His jaw was set tight, while lines

of worry deeply creased his forehead. "You look like you could use a little rest yourself," she admonished as she led the way to

the vacant sofa, glancing over to see that the younger woman remained asleep.

As Frannie placed the steaming coffees on the table next to the sofa, Lyam settled heavily into the soft cushions. "I'll get some

rest later, after Tommy wakes up again. To be truthful, I don't think I could sleep right now anyway, no matter how hard I

tried," he confessed, matching Frannie's hushed tone.

Frannie watched with concern as the worried father rubbed his eyes and forehead in an attempt to stave off the exhaustion that

was so apparent in his features. Taking a deep breath, she plunged forward with a suggestion. "Then maybe it's time you get

some help, Lyam."

Lyam promptly dismissed the suggestion with a crooked grin reminiscent of his son's. "Thanks, but those damn pills make me

feel worse when I wake up than if I don't sleep at all."

Before Frannie could respond, the pair's attention was diverted to the sofa across the room as Cassy began to moan and

mumble unintelligible words. When Frannie leaned forward to go to her, the detective suddenly quieted, remaining asleep.

Settling back into the sofa cushions, the older woman turned her attention back to her companion. With carefully chosen

words, she returned to the topic of their conversation. "I wasn't talking about sleeping pills or tranquilizers, Lyam."

Exhaustion clouded his reasoning process, but it didn't take long for the anticipated explosion when Lyam finally realized her

meaning. "What?!" At Frannie's frown and nod toward the sleeping woman across from them, Lyam lowered his voice to

whispered shout. "You can't be serious! I don't need a shrink. I'm not the one who was kidnapped and tortured here," he

indignantly reminded her.

"No, but you are every bit as much a victim." Frannie gently prodded. Before she could push further, a scream from across the

room interrupted.

Cassy sat bolt upright as she cried out, "No! Tom!" She desperately gulped air as she attempted to reorient herself to her

surroundings.

Lyam and Frannie were by her side in a flash, with Lyam pulling his former daughter-in-law into a tight embrace and offering

words of comfort. "It's okay, Cassy. Everything is fine--Tommy is doing just fine."

Frannie rested a hand on her shoulder, also attempting to offer comfort. "It's all right, dear. It was only a bad dream. Why don't

you tell us about it?" she encouraged.

Cassy rested her head on Lyam's shoulder just long enough to get her pounding heart under control and slow her rapid

breathing. At Frannie's question, she abruptly pulled away. "No, I'm all right now. It must have been a nightmare, but it's gone.

I-I can’t even remember any of it." Still shaking, she brushed a stay lock of hair back from her pale face and held it next to her

neck. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go splash some cold water on my face."

"Would you like me to come with you, dear?" Frannie offered.

Cassy shook her head as she answered. "No, really, I'm fine. I just need a minute." She stood and exited the room in a near

run, leaving no doubt to the two remaining that she was anything but fine.

Frannie quickly turned her attention back to a helpless looking Lyam. "She needs professional help, too." Lyam simply nodded

in agreement while he stared out the door after Cassy, so Frannie continued. "She's not going to accept the idea easily." Again

Lyam nodded in agreement, but remained silent. Sensing her opportunity to help them both, she pushed on. "It will be easier for

her to admit she needs help if she sees that others are going."

Her last suggestion brought his attention fully back to the conversation at hand. Again, he balked at the notion. "I already told

you that I don't need a shrink, so let's just drop it, okay?"

Frannie considered her response carefully before responding. "Okay, Lyam. I'll drop it if you answer one question for me."

Reluctantly, Lyam nodded. "All right. Fine. One question and then the subject is closed," he snapped.

Frannie nodded in agreement. "Okay. Answer me this--how do you propose to help your son deal with what's happened to

him when you haven't been able to come to terms with it yourself?" Not waiting for an answer, she rose and strode to the door

before turning back to him. "I'm going to go check on Cassy. Think about what I said, Lyam. For everyone's sake."

***************

The oppressive heat again enveloped him as Tom floated through the edges of awareness. As he arrived at full consciousness,

his eyes fluttered in an attempt to adjust to the brightness. When he was finally able to keep them open, all he could make out

was a blur of white interspersed with indistinct patches of color. Tom slowly blinked several times in attempt to bring the picture

into focus, each attempt only partially succeeding in clearing his vision. A very familiar female voice sounded next to him,

enticing him to fully waken. "You need to wake up now."

Though her features were still blurred, Tom immediately recognized the voice of his mother. Filled with a sense of peace and

comfort from her presence, his mouth curved into a trace of a smile as he spoke her name.

His peaceful feeling shattered in the instant he croaked out a barely aural "Mom," and panic filled the fever-bright hazel eyes.

Tom grimaced as he attempted to lift a hand to investigate his immobilized jaw, but Margaret stopped his wavering hand at

chest level. Too weak to break her grasp, he conceded defeat as she tried to soothe him. "It's all right, Tom. I need you to stay

calm for me, okay? Do you remember what happened?"

The heart monitor's steady rhythm increased to a dramatic tempo as Tom searched his fuzzy memory. Unable to find an

answer, he began to struggle for air as his body's demand for oxygen became more than his damaged lung could handle. Fire

seared the inside of his dry throat with every breath, but he managed to force out a confused question for his mother.

"W-Wh-What?"

Alarmed by Tom's reaction and his shortness of breath, Harry could only think of one way to help his injured friend. "I'll get the

nurse," he suggested. At Margaret's nod, he quickly turned and exited the room.

--------------------

End Part 39