UnProfessionalism 4: Milestones

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Ch6: Broken Record

Nick races to Finn's house, subconsciously glad that Greg was with him, because of the fact that he has no idea what he was going to do. Nick had lost Austin on the phone call and tried and tried to call him back, which only added to his worry. When they arrived at Finn's they heard a commotion going on inside but Nick took off finding Austin's window. Austin was Nick's first concern and only concern. Nick knocked on the window, as Greg watch in just about shocked hearing horrific sounds from the outside.

"Austin, its daddy. Can you hear me buddy?" Nick asked feeling his fear also get the best of him not seeing Austin. "Austin." Nick said finally seeing Austin crawl out from underneath his bed. "Come here." Nick said relieved. Austin struggled to open it but once he opened it a little Nick and Greg pulled it the rest of the way. Nick pulled Austin out and stood him in front of him, making sure he wasn't seriously hurt. Nick saw a bruise on Austin's face. "Are you alright? Who did this?!" Nick asked angry, touching Austin face kneeling in front of him.

"Daddy, you got to help mommy!" Austin cried trying to pull away from Nick. Nick led Austin to the car. "Please, Daddy!" Austin cried as he stopped walking. Nick picked him up and brought him to the car but Austin's sobs made Nick angry, not with Austin but rather at whatever was going inside Finn's house. Hearing Austin's sobs broke Nick's heart as Austin begged Nick to help Finn. "Daddy…" Austin whined looking at him with puppy dog eyes. Nick wiped his face.

"Sit with him?" Nick asked Greg.

"Nick?" Greg said trying to talk Nick out of whatever he was about to do.

"Lock the doors." Nick instructed, he had a look in his eyes that Greg had never seen before. This look scared Greg. Greg nodded, sitting in the driver seat of Nick's jeep. Nick headed towards Finn's door, Greg called DB.

Nick knocked on the door, as he still thought of what he was going to do or if he would even be able to control himself. Nick already felt his angry and rage start to engulf him to a point where he couldn't even see straight. Nick could feel his adrenaline pumping and his breath quicken.

"Go away!" Nick hears a man yell from inside.

"What? Is everything alright?" Nick said playing dumb, knocking on the door again and jostling the handle.

"Go away!" the man yelled.

"What?! I can't hear you." Nick lied.

"GO AWAY!" Nick heard the man yell from what Nick could tell he was standing on the other side of the door.

"What?!" Nick said putting his hand back on the doorknob. Nick felt the handle turn and once he saw Finn's so-called friend… Declan, or Dale. Nick felt something inside him snap.

"I said…" Declan said but was met by Nick's fist. Declan held his nose as it spurt blood. Nick pushed the door open with such force that he thought for a brief moment that it would fly off the hinges but that was where Nick's thinking ended. Nick punched Declan again as hard as he could. Declan stumbled back and fell on his butt.

Declan blindly reached out grabbing Nick's torso. Declan tried to push Nick away but was met by a fury of fists by Nick. Nick takes out all of his frustration with each strike. Declan had put his hands not only on Finn but also his boy. His son. Nick couldn't believe that Finn had allowed this. Nick felt like he failed his son which only further angered him.

Declan wasn't just Declan, he was Finn's terrible judgment, Rachel's wrong assumptions, but he was also another Patrick, and all of Nick's demons showcase in one physical form. Nick felt Finn pulling on his shirt trying to pull him away. Declan had pushed Nick. Nick stumbled back felt something in his thigh pop and felt a pain, Nick couldn't support his weight as he hit his side on the counter of Finn's end table. Declan hit him in the face and Nick buckled under his pain in his leg. Nick saw Declan raise his fist again, and Nick used the remainder of his strength to stand and slug Declan knocking him down. Both men fell battered, beaten, and tired.

Nick felt beyond exhausted, and his hands felt they had been run over several hundred times by 18 wheelers. Nick panted as he reached for Declan, as Declan crawled away. Nick tried to grab his pant leg as Declan took off running. Nick lays back completely exhausted as he tasted blood in his mouth.

Finn tried to help Nick up but Nick shrugged her off. Finn tries again but Nick pulls away again trying to scoot away but grimacing in pain from his leg. Finn tries to take his hand but he pushed her away.

"Don't touch me." Nick says disgusted. "I'm calling the police." Nick says taking out his phone but Finn knocks it out of his hand.

"No! No! You can't!" Finn begged.

"Have you lost your mind?! Austin is scared to death! Not to mention the big black eye he has!" Nick says beyond angry. "How could you put our son in danger like this?!"

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen!" Finn argued.

"You knew this was going on and you could have told me! This whole time I was thinking that Austin was angry with me and he wants to protect you. Our seven year old son wants to protect his mother from another abusive man!" Nick says struggling to pull himself to his feet, hiding the pain he was in.

"Make this about yourself, you always do!" Finn said pushing him.

"No! I'm making this about our son because someone has to! I'm going to file for sole custody of him… I can't believe you." Nick said limping away, Finn pulls him so that he is facing her. They stood in the doorway still angry.

"You will never win because you work all the time."

"I may work a lot but I keep him safe!" Nick yelled and a sad awkward silence fell between the arguing pair. "How come we are back at square one? How could you just undo all of this? I sound like a broken record. How could you do that?" Nick asks upset. Finn felt ashamed and looked down and remained quiet. Nick clinched his jaw. "I think it will be a good idea if Austin stays with me for a bit." Nick said not asking. Finn nodded.

"Let me say goodbye." Finn said but Nick blocked her.

"No. the only thing that will do is just further upset him, he shouldn't see you like this. You can wave from the door but you will see him when your bruises heal. Stay somewhere safe place, please. Go to Rachel's at least for the night," Nick said still very frustrated, Finn was covered in bruises and her appearance was disheveled. "I'm really disappointed." Nick said limping to the jeep.

"Are you alright?" Greg asked helping Nick to the passenger seat.

"Yeah, yeah… let's just go." Nick grimaced leaning forward.

"Daddy, is everything alright?" Austin asked worried.

"What you saw tonight Austin is very wrong and it is very important that you know that it wasn't right. You never raise a hand to a woman." Nick said trying to keep his thoughts clear as he felt the pain from his leg radiate through his whole body.

"Is mommy alright?" Austin asked looking back as Finn waved. Greg drove off unsure where he was headed.

"She's got some boo-boos but she's going to go stay with Aunt Rachel for a little bit." Nick said hoping that that would be the end of the questions for now.

"I called DB, he wants us to head over." Greg said looking at his battered friend.

"Good call." Nick groaned. Nick's hands shook with pain, anxiety, and rage. He was in disbelief and wanted to go back at it with Declan for round two but knew his body wouldn't go for it. "Austin, did that man hit you?"

"I tried to get him off mommy and he elbowed me… that's when I called you… I was scared." Austin said getting upset.

"You did good. Not a lot of kids would have done what you did. If anyone asks what happened it's important that you tell the truth… even if it hurts your mom or me, okay?"

"Yes daddy." Austin said wiping his eyes.

"I love you kiddo and I'm really sorry you felt scared tonight." Nick said feeling his own emotions get the best of him.

Please Review! If you were Nick what would you do? What about Finn? Is that the last we will see Declan? How will this effect Austin? Nick seeks help from DB, Nick needs some guidance, is that understandable? What do you think?