I deeply apologize for the lateness of this chapter and the shortness but I just don't know where I want to go with this anymore. I'm expecting to be able to end it in the next few chapters but if anyone wants to suggest anything to me to extend the story then I would deeply appreciate it, though the suggestion might not be used.

Hope that you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for reading.

Chapter 6

Nick tried to get off the car himself but knew that he was probably bleeding down on his bottom because of Tom's impatience and sat still not wanting to feel any pain just to save his useless pride. Gatsby quickly came out to the side of the car and gently lifted Nick off the car and into the grand house. Gatsby dropped Nick off in the bedroom but thought better of it and took Nick to the bathroom to wash off. Both were feeling uncomfortable because of the recently past events so when Gatsby turned to leave, Nick sighed softly in relief.

He quickly bathed then found a change of clothes on the counter. Reluctantly, he changed into them and limped back to the room he was put in but ended up in the library by mistake. Following his impulse, he walked into the room and picked a random book off the shelf and began to read, drifting out of the messed up world and wandering into a new one. He found himself so enraptured with the book that he fell asleep in the chair with it open on his lap.

A few hours later, Gatsby walked in to the room to cool down after the event with Nick and Tom then with Daisy and her daughter but when he walked into his private library he found Nick in his favorite chair with his favorite book in his lap. Nick was breathing softly in his sleep. Gatsby walked closer and found that Nick sleeping was a very interesting sight. Tired from the day, Nick neglected to fully dry his hair, making drops of water drop from the tips of his hair to dampen the shirt he was wearing. His borrowed shirt was also only partially buttoned, revealing his smooth chest and if Gatsby leaned forward slightly, he could see the darkened skin of his nipple. When Gatsby found himself doing so he righted his posture immediately and blushed a deep shade of red.

He turned to walk away, to leave Nick in peace but when a soft, strained moan came from his friend he turned to stare and help if needed. Nick writhed slightly in his sleep. His eyes moved back and forth beneath his smooth lids in a panic stricken fear as his hands gripped the nearest objects. His left gripped the chair arm until his knuckles grew white with the pressure while his right hand moved over the book and held the spine. Gatsby moved closer, noting the small actions and put his hand on Nick's shoulder in comfort. Nick reacted almost immediately. His arm lashed out in panic as his eyes opened. "No! Stop!" Gatsby stood back, his arms still outstretched with a stunned look on his face. Nick's eyes widened in realization as he took in Gatsby's uncertain posture. Slowly, he calmed his features as smiled palely. Gatsby felt a bit sick, having seen the effects of what Tom had done to Nick. Most likely, more than once.

He pulled back as Nick rose from his sitting position and caught the look of pain that passed through Nick's features. Feeling a welling urge to rush and help him, Gatsby gritted his teeth in anger and self loathing. Nick caught the look that presented itself on Gatsby's face and thought that he was ashamed of him and of what he had been through. He was not enough for this fantastic, out of the world man. After all, he had been… the word failed to erupt from his thoughts as he knew that if he admitted it he would face his own weaknesses and in the presence of the only person he wanted to impress, it was impossible. Nick walked forward and stopped in front of Gatsby.

He inhaled briefly to compose himself then spoke. "We need to talk." Gatsby stood in shocked silence as he heard Nick's proposition. He had expected the matter to be avoided entirely, after all, that was how most people in the world got through their problems with other people. He stared back in all seriousness and responded appropriately to Nick's brave step forward.

Both men walked down to the living room to discuss more comfortably what was needed to be said. Nick stared harshly at the ground as he contemplated how he would dive into the conversation but failed to dredge up anything. When he sighed in complete defeat Gatsby stared at him deeply, pondering what he was thinking about. Giving up, Nick groaned uncharacteristically and glared up at Gatsby in frustration. Gatsby stared back blankly, waiting for his friend to take the first step.

Angry at his incompetence Nick said, "Gatsby…" softly. Gatsby shivered when he heard his name and felt his blood rush to his cheeks but inhaled deeply to calm himself. "What do you want to know…" Gatsby held his breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm himself down before he questioned the man before him.

"Nick…old sport." Nick twitched at the familiar call though it wasn't for him exclusively over time Gatsby came to reserve the call for Nick and Nick only. When he realized this he froze but pushed it to the back of his mind for later contemplation. "When did Tom first…" Gatsby was sure that he would be able to say it but found that he couldn't. Nick smiled softly, tugging at Gatsby's heart strings and making him want to rush forward and comfort his battered friend.

"It began I suppose when Daisy first decided to live with you and I was left alone with Tom." Gatsby grit his teeth in frustration with his inability to be there for any of the people he cared about. Nick shook his head lightly and said, "It wasn't so bad at the beginning but I suppose that it got progressively worse." Gatsby sighed and dropped his head in his hands. It pained him greatly to see the pained expression on his friends face and the resignation as well. Nick seemed to be a man who had been stripped of everything and left with only humiliation to cling to. Gatsby rose his head to ask his second and last, most painful question but suddenly Wolfstein burst through the door. He was panting heavily as he calmed down enough to get some words past his mouth between each heaving breath.

He stumbled forward and slumped to brace himself with his hands on his knees while he delivered his message. "The police are onto us. Someone tipped them off." Gatsby rose quickly and nearly ran to his phone. Some words were exchanged before he swiftly hung up the phone and walked to Nick. He kneeled before him and put his hand on his knee in comfort. Uncertainty laced his voice for the first time since he began to create his empire.

"Are we going to continue this conversation? Old sport?" Nick smiled, tears threatening to well up in front of his eyes. He placed his hand on top of Gatsby's and for a moment it seemed that they both felt something strange was happening to their relationship but Wolfstein coughed uncomfortably and Nick continued.

"Only if you want to." With that Gatsby rose and walked upstairs pausing only to talk to his butler to have Nick escorted delicately to his room. The room beside Gatsby's. Nick laid down on the bed in relief and frustration but eventually, while listening to the faint clatter of life in the large house he dosed off the sleep.

Nick was woken up by the banging of the front door of the house. The harsh knocks resonated through the empty rooms and echoed in the large hallways. Sitting up and ignoring the pain that throbbed from his butt Nick stood and made his way to the door but stopped when he heard Gatsby's voice from down the stairs. Slowly, he opened the door and walked down the hallway to the stairs and from the top he saw the butler dealing with a rather large group of the cops, trying to prevent them from coming into the house. He felt a tug of anxiety but ignored it. Not knowing what to do, he stood still simply waiting for something to happen until from behind him Gatsby's voice came.

In a calm, controlled voice Gatsby instructed the butler to let the police do their job and allow them to search his house for any illegal activity. When the cops began to enter the house Gatsby turned to Nick and smiled while offering him breakfast next to the pool. A couple days passed in silence and disturbed serenity as the police came and went but eventually, like all things it came to an end.

Klipspringer had left as soon as signs of trouble started to happen so Gatsby and Nick were left alone. But peace never lasts, nor does it last long, for Tom showed up as soon as Nick began to get comfortable. He had that arrogant smile on his face as he waltzed through the hedge into Gatsby's yard, heading straight for Nick. Gatsby stood and intercepted Tom, holding himself ready for anything that Tom might do. When Tom saw this he held his head back and laughed, as if he had been told the worlds funniest joke.

He reached forward and roughly pulled Tom to him, angry for everything and finally acting upon his anger. Nick stilled at the table, completely and utterly surprised at Gatsby's reaction to Toms presence. Tom on the other hand smiled and pushed Gatsby away and rushed to Nick and kissed him deeply. Overcome by anger Gatsby reached forward in a now familiar move and hefted Tom away from Nick. Angry at being disturbed Tom turned to face him and growled.

"What do you think your doing?" Gatsby was appalled that Tom even had the gall to ask such a question.

"I am merely getting you away from Nick." Tom sneered and childishly glared at Gatsby.

"What right do you have to do that? Daisy is the one you want so let me have Nick." Gatsby froze at that suggestion. He had realized that as time passed he gradually began to realize that he didn't truly care about where Daisy was. He was steadily beginning to treasure the time that he shared with Nick and the moments when his heart sped up and his sight clouded ever so slightly. But… Daisy was his goal, his dream, she was the light that he stared at constantly ever since he moved to west egg.

…

Nick glanced up at Gatsby's house from out his window. It was nighttime so it was lit up brilliantly with party lights of all colors. Watching the lights, Nick felt a frown crease his smooth forehead for he knew that Daisy would be there. He turned and sat heavily on his couch, reaching forward for his tea while he thought back on what had really happened the other day.

…..

Tom had left soon after he had rattled the small amount of peace that Gatsby and Nick had allowed themselves. Nick recalled with renewing anger that he had a large arrogant smile plastered on its face. When he had left his last words were… "I'll bring Daisy to see you, then I get Nick." Hearing such news Nick rose and punched Tom hard in the face. He remembered with pleasure that the feeling of impact when his knuckles painfully collided with Toms face and sent the big man stumbling backwards. Then, riding the coattails of his anger, Nick walked back to the hedge and said back to Gatsby that he would stay at his house from then on.

…

Coming back to present times, Nick gazed down into the depths of his tea. Watching the remnants of the leaves he pondered over what would happen during the party. This party. Abruptly, he stood and ran to his front door and made his way across the hedge to Gatsby's back yard. From there he began to comb the crowd, looking for Gatsby. When he finally found him as the time turned to midnight what he saw shocked him.

There stood Gatsby, in the hallway with Daisy. The world slowed as if in slow motion as Nick saw Gatsby bend down and seal Daisy's lips with his own. Signaling the end of his happiness.