Voices of Conflict

Chapter 6

Cap's surprise birthday party continued on until late evening.

More guests came and left.

The kids played a huge game of dodge ball in the yard. Some of the "bigger" kids joined in on the game. Jeff was the biggest kid out there. If Gary hadn't been injured he would have been right there beside him.

Things began to settle down and most of the people still there were the familiar A-shift crew and their families and close friends.

Gary had grown very quiet. Anyone who knew him well was aware that for Gary to be that quiet he either had a lot on his mind or he was extremely tired.

With his eyes still covered from his injuries the day before it was hard to tell.

Gail came over beside him. He felt her presence. "Hey Gail," he said quietly.

"You okay?" she asked him as she placed her hand on his forehead pretending to brush his hair back, but actually checking for a temperature.

"I don't have fever Gail," he tiredly told her with a deep sigh.

"I can tell, but you look like you need a break from all this activity. Why don't you let me help you inside to lay down while things finish up out here?"

"Okay." Gary didn't have the energy to argue. He was tired and the events of the day had stressed him out. He still did not understand why someone would be watching him, and he still wondered if it could have been the same person with Beth on the deck?

"I'll be right back." Gail walked away to find Charlie.

Together Gail and Charlie took Gary inside to the spare bedroom on the first floor. Once he was settled in bed for a nap, they returned to the party.

Jimmy had been watching from his spot behind the barn for hours. The voices that plagued his mind had quieted, and he was left temporarily with his own thoughts. 'These people are very close. They have enjoyed being here together for the whole day. I could have had that with Amber. I could have had many friends. When she was alive we did things, went to parties. It's not fair that this guy has so many friends, and I'm alone.'

Tears slid silently down his cheeks. 'There he is sitting up there on the deck with everyone waiting on him hand and foot. Well he is injured. It's kind of hard to do much with your eyes covered and your leg in a cast.'

Jeff threw the dodge ball and missed. It bounced into the woods by the barn. Chris, Charlie’s son ran after it. He spent a lot of time at Gary's and was not afraid to go into the trees around his yard. The ball came to rest near the tree where Jimmy hid. He tensed, picked up a large stick holding it in the air ready to strike, and held his breath.

Chris ran over and grabbed the ball quickly turning back toward the yard he threw it.

He hesitated for just a minute before returning to the yard. He thought he heard something.

Looking around thinking it might be a rabbit or something, he stepped closer to the big tree he was near. It would be fun to chase a rabbit.

"Come on Chris," Jeff yelled. "We need your help out here."

Chris gave up his pursuit of the noise and ran back to the game.

Jimmy lowered the stick and let out the breath he had been holding.

He settled back against the tree he'd been hiding against. After a while he drifted off to sleep.

"Is Gary alright?" Cap asked Charlie when he rejoined the group of friends now gathered on the deck.

"Yeah, he's just worn out."

"Do you think we need to get started cleaning up?"

"I think that would be a good idea, but I think we should wait a while before we start taking things inside; give him a chance to fall asleep. I'll check on him in a few minutes to see if he's out. Then we'll get started." Charlie grabbed another beer and found a deck chair. The few minutes turned into another hour before he checked on his best friend.

Finding that Gary was indeed asleep and soundly, Charlie and the others began the arduous task of cleaning up.

“Dr. Bushard, why don't we just let Gary sleep here tonight? I'll stay here with him and bring him back to the hospital in the morning. I'll ask Charlie to come by and help me get him loaded in the car," Gail suggested.

"I think you may be right Gail, it has been a long day for everyone," Dr. Brushard agreed. "I could come out and help you."

"I think Charlie would want to check on him anyway."

Dr. Brushard laughed at the thought, "I think you're right. Okay I'll see you at the hospital in the morning then."

Between Cap's men and their families Gary's yard and deck were returned to their normal state. The tables and folding chairs that he kept for parties were all stored away, and the food all covered and packed away.

Charlie’s wife Chloe had made up several meals from the leftovers and had put them in Gary's freezer for when he returned home from the hospital. The kitchen was cleaned and everyone said their goodbyes.

Charlie’s family was the last to leave. Chloe had wanted to help make Gail comfortable. She showed her to one of the spare rooms upstairs, turned down the bed and set out fresh towels in the guest bath.

"Thank you Chloe. We'll be just fine now," Gail hugged her friend. "Charlie if you could swing by tomorrow sometime. I'm off, so there's no rush even if it's noon or after. He'll probably sleep late anyway." She walked them to the door.

Charlie carried his sleeping daughter, Gracie, in his arms. Chris yawned deeply. "I think your kids will sleep late too," Gail smiled at the two children.

"Okay Gail, I'll see you tomorrow," Charlie said as he stepped off the porch.

Gail locked the front door and headed to take a much needed bath. She wanted to soak in the tub for a while. She'd enjoyed herself today, but she was tired. A long hot bath was exactly what she needed.

Outside behind the barn the sleeping man woke to a cacophony of voices screaming in his head. 'Why are you sleeping? What were you thinking? They've all gone. You missed your chance to get him. You're stupid Jimmy. You should have done it while he was in the hammock. You could have ripped those bandages off and done it then. No one was watching him. They were too busy to notice. Now you've really messed up. He's gone back to the hospital and you'll have to go there. You'll have to find a way to get him there.'

He stood and looked around the darkened yard. Everyone was gone, the house dark.

He rammed his hands in his pockets and hung his head to his chest.

Slowly he began to walk around looking at the orderliness of the once crowded yard. Everything was put away. He noticed that Gary's home was very well kept. He must have been very proud of it to keep it so nice.

'If he hadn't let her die you could have had a nice place like this. You should go inside and see what it's like. Maybe you could still take him and that nurse and bring them here. Maybe you can set things up for when you do. Yes you should break in and get ready.' The voices started again.

"I don't want to break in. I want to go home," he spoke aloud to the darkness.

'You can't go home. You haven't done what you came here to do. You need to get inside and arrange things to bring him back here. It's the perfect place to end it.'

Realizing the voices were right, Jimmy decided to see if he could get inside.