For Cassie: Recovery

The aftermath of Cassie's death still have some residual effects on Nick and the team. One year later, what has changed? But what happens when something threatens his sobriety? We are only as sick as our secrets.


Break

Mandy reaches and grabs the hem of his shirt pulling it off, and grabbed the empty whiskey bottle discarding them as the sirens grew louder. She told her friends to scram as they watched the scene unfold with mixed emotions. She turned around and saw the patrol unit pull up to her and Nick. Two officers got out of the vehicle. Mandy did not recognize the officers but judging by Nick's chuckle she assumed he did.

"Still running the beat... Mr. Clean? I mean... Hank..." Nick said chuckling.

"Shut up," the bald headed officer said with a harsh scowl. "We've gotten numerous reports of a couple fighting in the street... Not to mention a BOLO out for someone matching your description." The officer said grabbing Nick separating them.

"A BOLO for what?" Nick said putting his hands on the back of the patrol vehicle.

"An assault. Not to far from here. Know anything about that?"

"Nope." Nick said looking over to see Mandy speaking with the other police officer.

"Officer, I'm just trying to bring him home. We are not in a relationship. No one hit anyone. We were just friends arguing... He's had a really bad day." Mandy pleaded.

"We have a BOLO out for a person that matches his description for an assault." The officer said.

"Assault?"

"Yes. Outside of the Brew Bar. A man was beaten badly and then was left in the roadway."

"Oh gosh. That's terrible. You don't think Nick did it? Do you?" Mandy pleaded crossing her arms looking apologetic. "He's had his moments but he's not a violent man, officer."

"How'd you get that bruise on your face?" The bald officer asked Nick.

"Your mother's thighs..." Nick said softly. Nick was then slammed into the trunk as the other officer came over. "Alright... Alright..." Nick said surrendering. His battered body could not take much more.

"What we're you and her fighting about?" The other officer asked Nick.

"I... I messed up and she wanted me to go home... I didn't want too..." He confessed and felt the grips on his wrists and neck loosen. "I didn't hit her, and she didn't hit me... I didn't hit anyone." He said surprisingly sober. They heard the radio squawk.

"I swear. I'll bring him home." Mandy said. The officer released his grip and the bald officer pushed Nick towards Mandy. Nick stumbled but stayed standing.

"Bring him home." The officer said. Mandy nodded relieved. The bald officer continued to stare Nick down.

"Thank you!" She said but as she looked up she saw Nick blow the bald officer a kiss. "Stop. Are you trying to go to jail?" She whispered elbowing him.

"I ain't got no beer this time." Nick chuckled.

"Stop..." She said again as she discreetly held him back.

"Are you trying to get locked up?" The bald officer said aggressively.

"I haven't done anything... Don't y'all got some parking tickets to write?!" Nick said still looking for a fight. Nick could no longer hear Mandy's pleas for him to stop. He wanted to fight. Nick took a step forward but Mandy pulled him away and towards her. She kisses him. She feels Nick relax. She lets Nick go, and takes ahold of his hand.

"I'll bring him home." She says practically dragging him away. She did not want the officers to change their mind. Luckily, Mandy's car was nearby. She had not planned on doing much drinking and was too frugal to pay for a cab, or to spend ten bucks on a drink.

The car ride was less eventful than the street fight. Mandy had many questions about what happened before she found him. She did not know what bruises were new and what were old. Nick held his head and just looked out the window. Mandy was not even sure if he was awake. His body and psyche were run down. He just felt like giving up.

"I'm sorry." Nick whispered still looking out the window. She was not sure what to say. She could see his sadness. He sought out the relief that he once found at the end of the bottle but judging by his shaky hands e found no relief. "I just... I... I don't know..." He said defeated. "I have had a shitty couple days..." When they approached Nick's house there was a car out in front of his house that he recognized. He sighed, as Mandy saw all of Lauren's belongings on the porch. She saw Lauren and her parents trying to gather her things.

"Bad break up?" Mandy asked, and Nick chuckled. Mandy watched the suppressed anger take control of him again.

Mandy did not want to be in Nick's business, but she also did not want Nick to get in trouble. The usual thoughtful man had a fuck the world attitude at the moment. Nick leaves the car and is almost immediately met by an angry Lauren.

"Who is she?" Lauren asked but Nick did not answer as he just pushed past her. "Are you kidding me, Nick?!" She said upset.

"Stop." Nick said coldly but she could see that he was upset... And drunk.

"Are you drunk?!"

"Leave!" Nick yelled trying to get past her but she grabbed him.

"You are, aren't you?" She said frustrated. "Typical." She said under her breath and that word had struck a nerve in his brain and lit a fire that he had not felt before.

"Typical?!" He yelled walking up to Lauren.

"Hey, now, you listen here! You need..." Lauren's father said marching over but was interrupted by Nick grabbing ahold of his throat. The noise gave everyone goosebumps. The scene began unfolding in a terrifying manner, between the gasps by Lauren's father or the cold stare that Nick gave. Lauren attempts to separate them but Nick pushes her away with his other hand. Mandy got out of her car. She held her phone tight unsure what to do or how to help.

"Listen, I have had a real shitty day. I am going to ask nicely once more. Get off off my property before I lose my patience." He said coldly. Nick threw the father towards the gate. Lauren ran to her father's aid as did his wife. "Go!" Nick shouted and Lauren helped her father up and they left just as fast as they came. Nick went into his house slamming the door behind him.

Mandy stood outside alone. She appreciated the quietness. Her adrenaline began running on fumes. She looked in her phone for doc Robbins' wife number not that she expected to have it. Mandy planned on calling someone. She was not sure who, but knew she could not leave Nick like this. Not to mention, she did expect the police to come now. She hears crashing and glass breaking inside his house. Mandy goes inside.

Everything goes quite. Between the nighttime sky and no lighting on inside Nick's house. The darkness was relaxing given the chaotic events that led up to this moment. She heard a faucet and tries to follow the noise while carefully stepping around debris. She decides to ditch her heels hoping to gain more momentum but her bare feet quickly find the broken glass. She turns the corner and sees a light illuminating from the bathroom.

"Nick?" She asks seeing his face buried in the toilet. She sees blood on the counter and wall. The mirror of the medicine cabinet ripped off and destroyed. She took a towel and laid it on the floor hoping to spare her feet. Nick rested against his tub and looked at his bloody hand, and laughed.

"I... I did..." He stuttered. Mandy grabbed a cloth that was near the faucet, and carefully wrapped his hand. "I drank too.. Much.." He burped. Mandy takes her phone out and turns to leave planning to call Sara. "What... What are you doing? Who are you calling?" Nick said reaching for her. He grabs her leg. "Please, don't leave me here."

"Let me call Sara." Mandy said but was met by saddened eyes as Nick looked up at her from his knees.

"Please, don't..." He said ashamed. "I'm... I'm okay, now. I got it out of my system... I just needed.. Needed a... Break."

"A break? You were almost arrested, and you destroyed your house? That is not a break."

"I'm an asshole alcoholic with a shitty coping mechanism. Don't make your expectations too high. I'm fine now." He said staggering to his feet.

"Fine? You call this fine?" She argued. Nick made a face.

"I don't know, what you want from me? I've worked so hard... And nothing. I just need a break." Nick said falling to his knees hanging his head in defeat.

"You won't get a break here." Mandy said looking around at the scattered criminalistic books, journals, and old copies of case files. Nick's home looked like an extension of his office. She heard Sam whimpering as he came up to Nick and sat with him.

"I know." He said hanging his head.

"I have a place... I have a place that is far away from here. You can stay there as long as you need. You can even bring Sam. Go pack a bag, and we can go." Mandy said pulling the words out of brain as she went.

"Thank you..." He whispered as reached out and hugged her.


Sorry for the wait. Let me know what you think!