A/N: I know, I know. Another story! Why can't I just finish the ones I've started? I don't know. But I don't really feel like it right now.

Disclaimer: I do not own "The Nanny" or any of its characters.

The Story of Life

Chapter 1

kateandharvey

CC sighed as she got out of the shower. She'd had a long day. A long, boring day. The Sheffields were gone on vacation to some tropical island, and Niles was home alone. No Maxwell, no work. No work, bored CC. Bored CC, cranky CC. Well, more cranky than usual. She was just about to pull her pajama top over her head when she heard the phone. Her brow furrowed. Who could be calling this late? She wondered, and then it dawned on her. She picked up the handheld, put it to her ear and sharply greeted, "Niles, I'm in no mood for pranks. So just take your lazy, no good-"

"-Excuse me?" She was greeted with a woman's soft voice.

CC cringed. "I'm sorry, this is CC Babcock."

The woman was quiet for only a moment before speaking, "Yes, Ma'm. Do you know a Niles Brightmore?"

CC's face turned ghostly white. "Yes."

"This is New York General. Mr. Brightmore's had an accident, and he's currently in our care. You were listed as his emergency contact."

CC nodded fiercely, trying to comprehend so much information in only a few moments. "Yes, this is CC Babcock." She stated dumbly. She didn't realize how long she'd been quiet until the woman on the other end spoke.

"Ma'm? Are you alright?"

"Um... Yes, yes. I'll be right down." CC hung up the phone, and ran to get dressed.

CC literally ran into the nurse's station. "I'm CC Babcock. I'm here looking for Niles Brightmore."

The nurse behind the desk smiled at her. "Hello. I'm Clara. We spoke on the phone."

CC nodded, "Where's Niles?"

Clara smiled apologetically. "He's here, but you can't see him yet."

"What?" CC looked at Clara as if she had two heads, "And just why the hell not?"

"Ma'm." Clara addressed her, "I'm going to need you to calm down."

"Calm down?" She was on a Babcock roll, "Calm down? You call me at-" She checked her watch. "Twelve A.M. to tell me he's hurt, and I can't all the way down here and can't see him?" Her eyes grew big, "And now you have the audacity to tell me to calm down?" Her fire burnt out almost immediately, and she rubbed her hands over her face. "I'm sorry." She spoke two words that rarely come out of her mouth, "I'm cranky, and I'm tired, and I'm worried."

Clara nodded at her, "It's alright. I understand what you're going through."

You don't have a clue what I'm going through.

"Why don't we just take a seat over here, and I'll have the doctor come to fill you in on his condition."

CC nodded, "Thank you." And she took a seat.

It wasn't but a few minutes later when the doctor appeared. "CC Babcock?" He asked.

She stood up in greeting. "Hello."

He smiled sadly, "Mr. Brightmore was in a fight earlier today."

CC's brow furrowed, "A fight? Are you sure? Niles doesn't get into fights."

The doctor nodded, "We had a man who brought him in. Said that Mr. Brightmore was in a fight with a young man, and took a good punch to the noggin. The younger man ran off, and Mr. Brightmore was out cold on the sidewalk in front of the grocery store."

CC shook her head, "And? How is he?"

The doctor sighed, "That's why I wanted to speak with you. Mr. Brightmore seems to have what I'm lead to believe is a temporary case of amnesia. He doesn't remember who he is, the fight, how it started, or anything else."

CC just stared blankly at the doctor. Eventually, she nodded her head. "Okay... When can I see him?"

"Right now." The doctor told her, and he stood up smiling.

Shaking his hand, CC smiled. "Thank you."

He winked, "Room 427." And he walked off.

CC entered room 427 quietly, as not to wake him if he were sleeping. But as she was closing the door, she heard him move behind her, along with a raspy, "Hello."

CC turned, and smiled sadly at his face. The deep purple and blue bruises were enough to upset her, and she took a seat near the window, just looking at him. "Hi." She whispered.

He put his arms behind his head, sitting up some. He chuckled, "I'd probably have something to say to you if I could remember who you were."

She smiled, "I'm CC."

"CC?" He asked, "What's your real name?"

She shook her head, "You'll never know." She smirked, and then her face grew serious. "Are you alright, Niles?"

He nodded, "Yeah. A little sore, but I'm alright. Apparently I got into a fight or something." He paused, "Is that like me?"

She shook her head, "Not in a million years."

He smiled, "Good. I didn't really want to be a fighter."

She chuckled, and looked at him deeply.

"What's wrong?" He asked, "Everything you do is half-heartedly. If you're trying not to cry, you can cry. It doesn't bother me any... Does it?"

She smirked, and shrugged in response.

He scooted over on the bed, and raised his arm. "C'mere." She looked at him. He patted the bed. "Come here." She sighed, knowing it probably wasn't a good idea, but walked over and sat where he had offered anyway. He pulled her down next to him, and held her close. "See?" He whispered, "The world isn't going to open up and swallow you." She sighed.

He grabbed her hand, and gently placed it on his heart. They sat in silence for a few moments, and then he whispered to her, "Can you feel it? You looked like I was going to die when you first came in here... I'm okay." She made the mistake of looking into his eyes, and before she knew it, she was trapped within them. She looked over his face. He must've noticed this because he moved her hand from his heart to his face. Then, he leaned down and kissed her head. "It's alright." He whispered, "I'm okay..." He began to drift off to sleep with her, "We're okay..."