CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
"When do you see the doctor again?" Lance asked Lizzy as he sat with her and Martin around Angus's bed.
"Next week. I'm healing nicely, but due to my age they want me to take it… Betty?" Lizzy's eyes went wide.
Lance stood up the moment he saw her appear to float out of Angus's body. "Betty!"
Betty smiled as she settled beside Lizzy. "It's so good to see you again." She grinned at Lizzy. "You didn't think I'd leave you, did you?"
"How? Where were you?" Lance asked.
"I was with Angus." She held up a hand. "Don't worry. I think he's going to be just fine. We just had to give his spirit time to heal. He loves you and is fighting to get better so he can come back to you."
"Come back? You mean he's not in there?" Lance gripped Angus's hand.
"Easy, he's in there. Let me explain. When the explosion happened, I saw Angus start to leave his body.
I wasn't sure if it would work, but I tackled him.
I knew from experimenting with Ray and Bethany that I could manipulate energy around spirits a little, but I wasn't sure I had enough power to hold him in his body.
Luckily, I did. I saw his cord start to tear apart and I wrapped my energy around it and held it together.
He settled back into his body, but I didn't dare let go until I felt he was strong enough and his cord healed so he wouldn't float out again.
" Betty stared at Angus's body. "So far so good, but I promised him I'd stick close until we are sure. "
Lance shook with emotion. He'd been so worried that Angus wasn't still in his body.
To hear Betty say he was alive and healing was the best news.
His hand trembled as he stared at Angus.
"Thank you. God, thank you for saving him for me.
" Tears rolled down Lance's cheeks. "I saw him.
I thought we'd lost him, but then his body was alive.
I feared there was some kind of mistake and his spirit might have moved on. I owe you everything, Betty."
"You owe me nothing. I did what I could. Thankfully, it looks like it worked. The spirit heals quickly. It's going to take a bit of time for the physical body to catch up." Betty smiled at Lizzy. "You had to know I wouldn't just leave you."
"You flew at Angus's body and were gone. I wasn't sure. I thought maybe you two fell into the light." Lizzy wiped at her tears.
"Will someone please explain?" Martin finally asked.
Lance let Lizzy explain. He couldn't stop staring at Angus.
He was really in there. He was alive. He would be okay.
The tension in his body gave way to relief and exhaustion.
He'd been so worried. He trusted Betty. If she said Angus was there, he was.
He would wake up, open his eyes, and be okay.
As long as that would happen eventually, Lance could wait.
It was the not knowing that had had him so worried.
He bent and kissed the back of Angus's hand.
"Can he hear me?" he asked once Lizzy had explained everything to Martin.
"Sometimes. He's still learning how to manage his spiritual skills and as he heals, he rests a lot.
He's been resting almost the whole time I was with him.
Still, keep talking to him. He does hear.
He knew who was in the room today. It's why I decided it was a good time for me to reappear.
" Betty smiled at Lizzy. "I'm so sorry I scared you, but I didn't have time to do anything but act. "
Lizzy cried openly. "You did the right thing. You protected my son. You kept him alive for me. That's something I'll never be able to repay you for."
"I don't want anything for doing it. You know he's like a son to me as well. I would have done anything to protect him. I just wish I could have kept him from being injured." She looked at Martin and Lizzy's injuries. "What happened that night?"
"We don't know really. There was an explosion, but they're still trying to work out how and why it happened. If they know, they aren't sharing it on the news. Franks is working on the case, but he hasn't shared much with me." Lizzy glanced at Lance. "Do you know anything?"
"Not really. I heard it might have started in the bakery next door, but that wasn't official.
Last I heard, eight people died and there were a ton of injuries.
The news says people are spooked and wondering if it's safe anywhere.
" Lance still held Angus's hand. "I don't know what to think, but I want answers.
I want to know why he got hurt. Why all of us were hurt.
" He sighed. "Could you tell how his physical body is? "
Betty shook her head. "No. I was focused on keeping that cord together.
He's not in pain. I could tell that from his aura.
He's strong. I'm sure he's healing. I don't think his cord would heal if it was really meant to be his time.
The fact it only took a few days for his cord to heal is good news.
I had no idea what I was doing, but thankfully it worked. "
"If I could hug you, I would." Lance smiled at her, filled with so much love for the woman that he fought back tears of gratefulness for what she'd done for Angus. "Will he remember you being with him?"
"That is the question, isn't it? I'm not sure.
I hope so. We had some good conversations.
I hate the reason I had to stay with him, but I'll never regret the time together.
It was so sweet to be able to speak with him and have him hear me.
" Betty smiled. "Even if he doesn't remember, I always will.
" She glanced at Martin, then at Lizzy. "Tell me about your injuries. "
Lizzy sighed. "Martin broke his leg and I had some pretty bad cuts to my legs. We're both healing. We'll both be taking it slowly for a few weeks, but we'll be okay. Lance dislocated his shoulder and had some severe cuts, but again, he's healing. We honestly got lucky compared to Angus."
"Jackson and Megan?" Betty asked.
"Cuts, but they were fine. They've been taking care of Haunt and the house while Lance is here. The ghosts drop by to visit often. Everyone has been worried we'd lost you." Lizzy narrowed her eyes at Betty. "If you hadn't been saving my son, I might have a mighty big bone to pick with you."
Betty laughed. "Wouldn't be the first time."
"You're sure he'll be okay without you now?" Martin asked.
"He'll be fine. I made sure before I fully left his body. The cord looks strong and healed. His aura is also strong. I wouldn't have risked his life if I wasn't sure," Betty told him.
Lizzy repeated everything for Martin.
"Thank God." Martin used his crutches to stand.
He stared down at Angus and shook his head.
"We are so lucky to have you in our lives, Betty.
I know you and my wife drive me insane most of the time, but I am so blessed to have you as part of our lives.
Thank you for saving my son. For being there for him when I couldn't."
"I'm glad I could do it." Betty glanced at Lance. "Tell me what the doctors are saying about him."
Lance explained about the induced coma and how they wanted Angus's neck to heal.
The rest of his injuries were minor and healing.
The biggest worry was whether his neck caused any problems with his voice or swallowing, but they didn't think so.
"They'll take him for tests on Wednesday and we'll know more then.
I was warned they might keep him in a coma for a week or two depending on how he's healing.
" Just the thought of several weeks of this had him feeling exhausted, but he could get through anything as long as Angus survived.
It was amazing how he'd gone most of his life without Angus around, but now, just a few days without speaking with him felt like a deep vacant hole inside his heart.
He'd taken to playing old voicemail messages on his phone just to hear Angus's voice.
"Betty, you're back." Bethany rushed into the room, Ray right behind her. "Where have you been?"
Lance listened as Betty explained everything to Ray and Bethany.
He was glad for the break. If he were honest, he would rather be alone with Angus.
He was tired of everyone asking how he was and worrying about him.
He had everything he needed and just wanted to spend his time beside Angus.
The quiet was comforting. All the noise when everyone was visiting bothered him, and he was always worried someone might trip and bump into the bed.
Still, he couldn't tell them to leave. Lizzy and Martin had every right to be here, and so did Angus's other friends when they dropped by.
Thankfully, with them being in ICU, visitors were limited to a select few.
He pulled his chair closer to the bed and sat down, keeping his hand on Angus's.
He glanced over at Ray. "How are things at home? "
"I think Haunt misses you guys, but she's started sleeping with Jackson.
He's good with her. Megan's been staying too, but they said they'll get their own place or stay at Megan's once you two are home and everything is back to normal.
" Ray smiled. "Kel's been fun to have around.
He's got a ton of stories. He spends a lot of time with Megan's father, talking politics. "
Lance shook his head. "I feel like I've missed so much, but it's only been a few days."
"You really should go home and get some sleep. Especially now that you know Angus hasn't crossed over. Let one of us stay with him for a while. We can get you if anything changes." Ray waved his hand toward Betty and Bethany. "Let us do something to help."
Lance shook his head. "No, not until he wakes and I can look him in the eyes. I just can't. I need to be here, especially if he knows I'm here, and from what Betty says, he does."
"Then tell me what else we can do to help. I know I can't do a lot, but I'm feeling helpless. You've done so much for me and Bethany, and we want to help you now." Ray glanced at Angus. "Do you want one of us to stay with you?"
"No. Honestly, I like being alone with him.
There's nothing you can do. I've got all I need.
Jackson is making sure I have clean clothes.
Everyone brings me food. You guys have been great about checking on Lizzy and Martin.
It keeps me from worrying about them. If anything, see if you guys can find out anything going on behind the scenes on the investigation.
What direction is the case going in? Franks has updated me, but I'm not sure he knows everything that ATF and the fire marshal know.
See if you can hear conversations that might hint at the cause.
I need answers, and I know Angus will want them too when he wakes up. "
"We'll get on that. Kel and others will help. Between all of us ghosts, we'll cover all areas. I'm just worried about you. You look exhausted."
"I am," Lance admitted. "But more mentally than physically. My shoulder still hurts and the cuts on my legs itch and burn, but Christine has been checking on me for that stuff. None of that would change if I were home. Just get me answers to why this happened."
Ray nodded. "Let's hope there are answers."
"There has to be. Explosions like that don't just happen. Something went wrong with the gas line, or someone messed with something. Hell, maybe someone placed a bomb there. I don't know, but I know something happened that wasn't normal." Lance stared at Angus. "This wasn't an accident."
"We'll find the answers. I know you're not the only one who wants them. Half the town knew someone that was affected by this. Everyone wants to know why it happened and if it's safe to go places. People are nervous. I'll talk to the other ghosts and we'll see what we can find out."
"Thanks," Lance told him.
They fell into silence, listening to Betty talk with Lizzy for a while, then as Lance relaxed back in his chair, he fell asleep, content that Angus was safe thanks to Betty.