Out of Harm's Way
"What are you doing here? I thought you left."
"I'm playing cards with a friend." Nick answered before taking a seat.
"Whatever." Warrick responded irritably after a few minutes of silence.
"I thought we were friends; I though we were supposed to have each other's backs. When did this become a one-sided deal, Warrick? Why is it that I'm the only one who ever has to accept help?" Nick waited in silence for an answer, but when Warrick remained silent he decided to take the initiative once more, "Why, Warrick? Because I've been a victim since I was nine years old?" He paused again, then sighed in frustration as the man sitting next to him stared idly at his cards. "You were right about one thing though. I don't know you. You know my worst nightmares, you know things about me that no one else ever will, because I trusted you. Maybe you don't trust me enough to tell me anything about your problems; maybe you just want to be alone. Just take it from someone who was alone for over twenty years… it isn't something I could wish on anyone… especially you. Oh, and I'll stay." He finished, returning his attention to the game.
Nick quickly stood up, and Warrick briefly looked him in the eyes. He was surprised to see the tears building up in his best friend's eyes before Nick took off towards the nearest exit. A quiet sigh was all he emitted when he saw Nick stop for a brief moment to wipe his eyes. Then he turned his attention back towards the cards. Each of his piles were nearly impossible to beat, and he smiled once the dealer showed that his cards totaled well over twenty-one. In turn he was handed more chips, and they both paused to look at Nick's top card.
Out of curiosity Warrick slowly moved the king of hearts and flipped over the bottom card to reveal the two of hearts. He had never been big on signs, but he had to admit that the cards seemed to describe the man who had only tried to help him. Yeah, that's you Nick, strong and proud on the inside, broken and hurt on the inside. And yet you stuck with what you had, and you still won. His eyes wandered back towards the large glass doors, but Nick was long gone, and he felt a twinge of guilt creep through him. Nah, you're not weak and broken on the inside, you just don't hide it from the people you trust, and you trusted me… It was with that thought that he quickly stood up, and headed for the exit, only stopping long enough to grab Nick's winnings, and hurrying out the door. Several minutes later he was sitting in front of Nick's home, trying to build up the courage to see his friend.
"Nick, come on, bro, open up." Warrick called out as he rung the doorbell once more. When he was only greeted by silence he began pounding on the door. "Come on, bro, I know you're in there… please, just open the door."
The door swung open, and Warrick was somewhat surprised by the vicious glare Nick was sporting. "You wouldn't talk earlier, so why bother now? Maybe after twenty years of being alone you'll understand why I'm this angry, maybe it'll take decades worth of guilt and shame before you can let anyone help you. I thought we were best friends, 'brothers' even, but I know better now. It's a two way street, Warrick, and I can't go both ways at once."
"I'm sorry, Nick. I was just… being an idiot, I was a jerk, and I let that girl get between us. I know you don't know much about my past, but that's because I've never told anyone before."
"I never told people about my nightmares before I told you. I only told Catherine that I had been molested; it's not like I've shared the details of that night or the effects of it on me to anyone else except you. You wouldn't even let me help you move on from Holly Gribbs. So why not? Is it that you're afraid, or don't you trust me enough?"
"You want to know why? It's because I'm an imbecile, Nick. I should've let you help me, and you did help me, whether I wanted to openly accept it or not. I can't believe I actually left the table; you must be a good influence."
"I doubt it."
"Well, I did collect your winnings. You were lucky the dealer busted." Warrick started, trying a different tactic to fix this setback in their friendship.
"Hmm, must be a one time thing. I've never had good luck."
"Well, you can have some of mine. That is, of course, excluding the luck of getting to be your friend."
Both smiled, and Nick playfully hit his arm. "So, why didn't you tell me you could play the piano, and actually write songs?"
After a deep sigh Warrick ploughed into the story. Nick listened intently as Warrick explained how he had come to live with his grandmother, and some of the harder points in his youth. About never knowing his father. How his mother had died, and he still wasn't entirely clear what had happened to her, and how, when he was seven, he had to live with his grandma. He was about to continue when Nick broke in.
"Ok, Warrick. If you want to keep going you can, but I think we're at least even now."
"Yeah, there isn't much more, I became a runner, gave my Grams a lot of scares… that whole deal." Warrick smiled, relieved that Nick had had the heart to let him stop. They both knew that the other still had secrets and even more nightmares from their pasts, but they also knew how hard it was to share some of those secrets.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. So, how are you holding up?"
"I'm fine, or I will be."
"Damn, Warrick, didn't we just go over this? If you were fine, you wouldn't be here. Besides, I know 'fine' and I know that you're hurting." He sighed heavily before finishing, "Listen, if it helps any… I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to get hurt, and you deserved to know the truth."
"Nah, man, you shouldn't be sorry. I was the jerk. I didn't want to believe you, and I let myself run away into some fantasy world. Actually, I want to apologize for not trusting you before; you've always had my back, and I just pushed you away."
"It's ok, bro. It'll take a lot more than some woman to break up this friendship, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. We're like brothers-"
"Nah, we're not like brothers, Warrick. We are brothers; even you ought to know that." Nick grinned, and Warrick couldn't help but laugh.
"Ok, so what's the agenda for today then, Nick?"
"I'm thinking I kick your butt on some game, and then we call the others and go get some food."
"Sounds like a plan, so what game is it gonna be?"
"Ah, doesn't matter, I can whoop you at any of em."
"You wish little man."
"Oh, well, now it's on, how much you wanna bet I win?"
An hour later they found themselves waiting in the small diner for the others to arrive while Nick grinned triumphantly and flipped through the small handful of twenties he had won. Warrick did his best to glare, and couldn't help but laugh when Catherine showed up from nowhere and grabbed it from his hand. Nick just smirked, and pulled Catherine down onto the bench before managing to free the bills from her hand.
"Oh, and Warrick, I thought you said you grabbed my winnings?"
"You're holding your 'winnings' right there, buddy."
"Hey, then you still owe me for that bet…"
"No way, man, you just got lucky that that car alarm went off; you probably even staged it."
"Oh, come on, you lost, I won, fair and square, now hand over the dough."
"What do you think, Catherine, should I pay him?"
"If you don't you'll be hearing about it all night, so you may as well just give the man his money. Of course if he keeps waving it around then I might just take it for good…" She smirked at Nick who grinned sheepishly, and shoved the money from Warrick into his pocket. Minutes later Sara showed up, and she couldn't help but laugh at Warrick and Nick who had started an arm wrestling contest.
"I got twenty bucks that says Warrick wins." Sara commented as the two struggled to keep their arms straight up.
"Oh, you're on, come on, Nicky, don't let me down." Catherine called as she patted Nick on the back. Nick and Warrick both managed to smile, and neither woman caught the wink Nick sent to Warrick. On cue they both let go, and shook hands. Nick smiled when he saw the confused looks on the two women's faces and they each held out a hand.
"I think you guys owe us some money…"
"What? Nick, you can't be serious, you didn't win!" Sara shot back.
"Exactly, we tied, no one won, which means you both lost. And that means we're up forty bucks, right Warrick?"
"I'd say so, buddy."
"I say we let Gil settle this."
"Settle what?"
"Oh hey, Grissom!" Nick grinned, waving for Catherine to tell him what had happened.
"Alright you two just be patient, now, Gil, Sara and I had a bet on which of these two were going to win a little competition. After a while they both gave up, and now they expect us to actually pay em the forty bucks."
"I'd have to say you two should know better than to make bets on these two; you'll be broke before the month is out."
"You didn't answer her question, Grissom." Sara smirked, expecting him to side with Catherine and herself.
"I'd say just pay them now, and save yourself the pain of hearing about this for the entire shift."
"How can you side with them!" Catherine quipped, feigning shock.
"Because you two will let it go, these two would never let me hear the end of it. Plus, if they got Greg on their side…"
"Ok, fine, here's your twenty, Nick."
"Ouch, Catherine, your own logic thrown right back at you..." Nick chuckled and motioned for the money with fingers, "Why don't we save everyone's time; just pay up..."
"Ok, ok, I'll give you the money this time. You better put that to good use, though."
Nick smiled triumphantly, and after Sara reluctantly handed over the money to Warrick, he piped up, "Ok, since this was questionable, Warrick and I'll pick up the check. Ok? You just can't get anything for over ten bucks."
After the other three had gone Warrick let out a content sigh, and gave Nick a smile before he finally broke the silence, "That was some quick thinking earlier, buddy."
"Ah, it was nothing, besides you inspired me; all those bets we broke even on, ya know?"
"Yeah, we could bring in a lot of money scamming people at the lab."
"You got any ideas in particular?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure I'll have a few by the time shift starts."
"Yeah, I bet you will, hey, uh, we're good, about last night, right?"
"Yeah, Nick, we're more than good. This was a good idea; I needed a nice break from everything."
"Yeah, well, we'd better get going, if I don't get some sleep today I'll never make it through another shift." Nick chuckled softly as he tried to suppress a yawn.
"Yeah, well, sleep well, bro. I'm sure you'll be out like a light."
"Yeah, no kidding, just so long as I make it home."
"You'd better. Now get your butt home and sleep, and, uh, thanks again, for your help, Nick. You're the best friend anyone could ask for."
"Thanks, and don't sell yourself short, Warrick. Nobody expects you to be the 'cool' guy all the time. Everyone has problems, it's ok to talk about them."
"Look who's talking. 'Mr. Secretive' is telling me to share everything."
"Yeah, I must be more tired than I thought. Well, I'll see you tonight."
"Bye, Nick." Warrick smiled as he watched Nick climb into his SUV and drive off towards his house. You'll never know just how great a person you really are. You take whatever you get dealt, and you don't give up. Maybe someday I'll find a way to prove it; after all, you deserve it just as much as anyone else… I am lucky, though. Because I've got a brother who would do anything or me, just like I'd do anything for you…
To Be Continued…
Notes: As always, please review, and thanks for everyone who has reviewed so far (on any of my stories). I just wanted to try out a bit of humor in this story, since a lot of what I write is more action/angst. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and hope you take the time to review. I'll update as soon as I can.