First, Best and Always

Chapter 51 Help From All Sides

Preparations for Standing Elks’ journey on the medicine wheel where quietly underway. Aaron had spent the better part of the night trying to talk his father out of his decision. Nevertheless, the elder Andrews’ was adamant; he’d been experiencing an almost overwhelming sense that time was running out for Craig Scott, he knew he had to act now.

Devon; the quieter of the twins had withdrawn from the others and spent most of the morning in his room writing in his journal; praying that his father would change his mind, knowing full well that he wouldn’t. Jarod did as he was asked and lit a small slow fire in the sweat lodge, he too hoped that his father would change his mind but knowing how stubborn his dad could be he had almost resigned himself to the fact that this was a done deal. At this point he knew that the only person who might be able to stop him was Ric; and Jarod was determined that he was going to track down his brother just as soon as he got back to the house.

Dr. Millieux led the way to the office of the Chief of Staff. A million and one things were racing through Ric’s mind, the procedure, his situation with Raven, Vin’s continued combative attitude and this feeling…this feeling that something was wrong somewhere. Try as he might he couldn’t shake it, it seemed to almost engulf him, there were forces working here…working against them, all of them. The last thing he needed was to have to fight two battles, one for Craig’s life and one against whatever this was that filled him with such dread. Having laid out the game plan for the Chief, Eric exited her office and headed for the phone at the nurse’s station. He quickly dialed the number and waited patiently for someone to pickup.

“Hello?”

“Bran?” “Hey it’s me…what’s going on?”

Brandon hesitated momentarily, deciding how to say it, then finally resigned himself to the fact that there was no easy way to tell it. “You felt it too?”

“Yeah…It’s so strong it’s almost suffocating.” “What’s happening back there?”

“It’s Pop…I’ve tried everything I know to stop him…”

“Stop him from what?” Eric said, the fear in him intensifying.

“He’s gonna walk the wheel…he says Craig doesn’t know the way…” Eric abruptly interrupted his brother..

“Walk the wheel…he can’t Bran, he’s not strong enough for that…you know he’s not strong enough for that!” “Where is he?” “Let me speak to him.”

“He’s upstairs getting ready..”

“Tell him I need to speak to him now!” As he waited for his father to come to the phone the feelings he’d experienced earlier began to make sense.

“I hope you can talk some sense into him cause he’s not listening to us…I sat up with him for most of the night and…he’s determined Ric.” “He won’t even consider anything we say that will keep him from it.”

“Put him on…he’ll listen to me…” he said into the phone, but in his head the doubt was there, strong and unrelenting.

“He has to listen me…” he thought to himself…“he has to.”