Disclaimer: I do not own Haven or any of the characters
Foreword: This takes place just at the end of Audrey Parker's Day Off
Always Too Late
He was always too late.
Nathan sat with his back to Chris Brody, looking at the floor. He wished he had listened to Dave and Vince when they said that when it comes to Audrey, he couldn't wait. He had picked his cell phone up and looked at it, was just about to call, before setting it down. And when he finally called, he was too late. He kept waited for ten minutes, and when she didn't pick up then, he hung up and thought, 'I didn't call early enough…'
As he stared at the floor of the Gull, he fought the urge to look out to where Audrey was. He knew it was probably a bad idea. If he's always too late, why should he be afraid of being just a bit early? He still fought the urge. He knew when he woke up that morning… or maybe it was five or six mornings ago, but still, when he woke up, he regretted his decision for calling to late even more than he had the day before.
Maybe that was another one of his afflictions due to the Troubles. Maybe in addition to being numb, he would just always be too late. He certainly hoped that it wasn't the case. The urge to look at the doorway out to the deck became too strong. He looked to the doorway, only to find that Audrey wasn't there. He was always too late. Seconds before, maybe she had still been there. Maybe he could have given her a reassuring look or smiled a bit, seeing as she always made him smile. Then again, in the situation she was in didn't need smiling. But maybe he could have done something. But he couldn't because he looked too late and being too late was starting to sicken him.
He slowly stood and shielded the right side of his eyes so he didn't look at Chris as he walked to the door. Giving Duke a nod in means of goodbye, Nathan made his way to the door of the Gull. He stopped in the doorway when he heard Audrey's slow footsteps go up to her apartment. When he heard the door on the upper deck close, and he knew Audrey was inside, he walked towards his Bronco, which was waiting for him in the gravel parking lot.
He stopped to look out at the ocean. He shut his eyes as he felt the very dull pressure of his teeth clenching. He couldn't leave. No. He couldn't leave Audrey alone when she's going through such a tough time. She was there for him when Jess left Haven, and there was no way that Nathan was leaving her alone. He wasn't going to be too late. He was through with being too late. He opened his eyes and stared up at the upper level of the Gull. With a slow step he walked up to the staircase. He slowly and silently made his way up to Audrey's apartment and stepped inside, knocking on the door as he entered.
" Audrey?" Nathan said quietly. He saw Audrey sitting at the piano, her head in her hands. At the sound of his voice, she looked up at him. When he saw her tear stricken face, red eyes, and shaky hands, he knew he wasn't too late. He slowly walked over to her and knelt by the piano bench. " Don't worry. I'm here." He said comfortingly. Audrey smiled a bit before more tears ran down her cheeks and she hugged him tightly.
Nathan wrapped his arms around her, feeling her hot tears pool on her cheeks as she buried her face in his neck. He just held her and knew he'd done something right.
Nathan was finally just on time.
Afterword: Hoped those who read this liked it! I got the idea when Nathan looked up and saw the empty door way and Audrey was just standing off to the side. Anyway, reviews are welcomed!