I'm out ch8

Ch8: Good Men


Lauren was awoken by someone knocking on the door. She feared that whoever it was, was going to wake Nick. She couldn't believe that she too fell asleep. Trying to get Nick calm enough to sleep was a major feat. She snuck out of Nick's arms and froze as he started to stir. He rolled over and remained asleep. Lauren ran to the door and opened it slowly squinting because of the bright light.

"Mr. Russell?" Lauren said opening the door confused on why he was here but more so why he brought his family. "what can I help you with?"

"yes Lauren, is Nick around?" he asked leaning in the door frame.

"sorry Mr. Russell, Nick is asleep." Lauren said releasing a sigh.

"is he being a pain in the butt?" DB said Lauren smiled.

"nothing I can't handle." she says turning her head.

"who is it, babe?" Nick said opening the door more with the most sleepy expression on his face. "DB, what are you doing here?" Nick asked waking up.

"whoa! He got a haircut. Well, we were in the neighborhood and we wanted to know if you, both of you of course, wanted to get ice cream. Our treat." DB said looking at them both. Lauren looked like she wasn't go for it, Nick needed to rest and she wasn't sure if quitting then having ice cream with your boss was a good idea.

"Mr. Russell..."

"let me get dressed." Nick said interrupted her.


Nick sat at the picnic table as DB ordered ice cream with Lauren. Katie and Mrs. Russell also sat at the table across from Nick. Charlie and Maya were off talking by DB's car.

"I don't think we've ever been introduced, Mrs. Russell. I'm Nick." he said reaching over the table to shake her hand while remained sitting.

"hello Nick, call me Bari."

"alright, ma'am." Nick said smiling.

"are you going to get chocolate?" Katie asked Nick. Nick paused for a moment when he heard Charlie and Maya arguing.

"ah... Yes! That's my favorite. How'd you know?" Nick asked pretending to be shocked.

"you told me!" Katie said excited.

"are you going to get chocolate?" he asked.

"yeah... How is your belly?"

"it's a lot better."

"that's good. I just have these bruises. You have some too?"

"yeah, I do."

"what about your friend? Is she alright?" she asked picking at the table.

"yes, she is alright."

"can I see your cut?" Katie asked leaning closer to Nick. Nick and Bari smiled awkwardly.

"Katie..." Bari said.

"I would show you but it's got a big bandaid on it."

"okay. Who's the lady? Is she your wife?" Katie asked squirming leaning closer.

"sadly no." Nick said as DB and Lauren came back. Lauren sat next to Nick handing him his ice cream. She gently rubbing his back as she ate her ice cream.

"how are you feeling Nick?" DB asked giving Katie her ice cream.

"I'm doing a lot better." Nick said.

"that's good. Do you ladies mind if I talk to Nick alone?" DB said, the women quietly left.

"what's up, DB?" Nick asked.

"rumor around the lab is that..."

"I quit?" Nick said putting his head down embarrassed.

"so did you?"

"I don't know, DB. I was angry when I said it."

"how do you feel now?"

"confused and tired. I feel like our job is worthless, there's always going to be new evils."

"what about the people you've help?"

"what about them?" Nick said shrugging his shoulders.

"exactly, what about them? Are you saying that they thought your job was worthless?"

"well no, but I can't speak for them."

"why? When that's our job, Nick?"

"maybe I've lost sight of them." Nick said shrugging his shoulders.

"all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." DB said taking a bite of his ice cream.


Nick was watching tv as Lauren just got out of the shower. She had taken some time off to help Nick while he thought of what he was going to do next. Lauren came out to the couch and shook her head at Nick. He said when she was going to take a shower he was going put his pajamas on but there he sat his shirt ruffled like he tried to take it off with no luck and his jeans still on.

"Nick..." she said shaking her head.

"oh yeah, I need your help." he said looking up at her smiling but still embarrassed. Lauren smiled and straddled his hips and slowly pulled his T-shirt over his head.

"that's better," she whispered kissing him.

"thanks," Nick said kissing her and then pulling her shirt off. "that's better." Nick moved to get on top of her kissing her.

Then there was loud knocking at Nick's door. Nick pulled away immediately and

Lauren's eyes went wide with fear. Nick handed Lauren her shirt back and got off the couch as they heard the knocking again. Nick grabbed his backup weapon and moved his door. He releases a sigh of relief and tucks the gun in his waistband in the back and opens the door.

"Charlie?" Nick said seeing Charlie at his door seeing a gun in his hand. "Charlie, give me the gun."

"no, mr. Stokes, I need it."

"why?" Nick said nervous.

"because men hurt my sister and niece. They have to pay."

"give me the gun, Charlie."

"tell me who they are!" Charlie demanded.

"I'm not telling you a damn thing unless you give me the gun, Charlie. You're a good kid. You're above this, don't let this bring you down."

"I'm sorry, I just don't know what to do." Charlie said handing the gun to Nick ashamed by his actions.

"yeah, join the club. Where did…" Nick said as gun shots rang out. He watched as his windows exploded and his wall splintered from bullet after bullet pass through. "get down!" Nick yelled pulling Charlie down to the ground.


What do you think is going to happen next now?