"How ya doin' Pete?"
Nick's words were so short, so small, yet they had such a profound effect. Gasping for air, Pete turned to Nick, wearing gauze over his eye, to shield anyone from seeing the surgical operation that he had gone through.
"How do ya think? I'm not exactly jumping through hoops am I," Pete whispered feebly and Nick suppressed an urge to sob into his fathers figure, who was inevitably deteriorating from the cancerous infection that had consumed him.
"Pete...we both know that you don't have much time left," Nick said firmly and Pete nodded, and Nick took a deep breath, trying to keep tears from spilling out of his eyes "a-and I want you to know how important you are to me."
"Oh Nick, please don't be sad," Pete requested of him quietly, his voice laced with thick emotion "boy, I'm surpised you have emotions at this point...you've been through hell and back, and it kills me inside, no pun intended."
"B-But I d-don't know if I can go on without y-you," Nick started to dissolve into tears and Pete patted his back, trying to convey as much of his feelings as he could into it "y-you're all I h-have left P-Pete.."
"Now boy, you know that's not true," Pete reminded, giving him a slightly disappointed gaze "you have Rebecca, Alvin, Carlos...and definitely not forgetting Luke...I'm not the only person left."
"B-But you've been with me through it all," Nick whispered "you've always been there for me...I just don't know if I could handle this-"
"Don't you dare say that again Nick," Pete said with surprising firmness, grabbing Nick by the shoulders "Nick, you are the strongest person I know...you've been through hell and back and you're still standing."
"B-But I'll miss you-"
"Aw hell Nick! When your mom died, I missed her everyday. Every step felt like a knife in the heart. But you...you were still there, still something to fight for...and I'm happy I didn't give up," Pete said sincerely and Nick gave a teary chuckle.
"I'm really gonna miss you Pete," Nick said and Pete gave a happy look to Nick.
"I'm scared, you know that Nick," Pete admitted and Nick's eyebrows knotted together "it's true. Just thinkin' that...someday I won't around to see my own grandkids...to see you and Steph get married...I'm scared I won't see the happy moments."
"I'm scared too," Nick nodded and Pete smiled, closing his eyes slowly, his breathing becoming slower, and Nick gave Pete's hand a reassuring squeeze who returned it slowly.
Nick watched Pete, completely uninterrupted, just knowing the inevitable was going to happen. Nick started to cry loudly, his sobs racking his body, seeing that Pete was growing weak.
"I-I love you P-Pete," Nick cried.
He got no reply.
He started to howl with pain, knowing his own uncle- no, dad, had died. He sobbed and cried, and didn't stop. He could comprehend how such a bad thing could happen to someone so good.
"G-Goodnight d-dad," Nick sobbed and pressed a kiss to Pete's forehead.
Dedicated to my grandfather who is currently suffering from such a disease.
See you all next time, lots of love,
Rebloxic *hugs*