Un-Professionalism 3: Broken Home

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Ch10: Fatherhood

"This is probably inappropriate for the circumstances but... You look beautiful." Nick said quietly looking down at Finn as he to rested against her jeep. She playfully pushed him giving him a small smile.

"I'm just nervous and..." she said running her hands through her hair as her stomach turned. "And I'm scared." she said defeated. Nick put his hands on her shoulders picking her up so that she was standing straight up.

"Finn, as long as there is a breath in my body I will not let this man hurt you." Nick said his accent thick. She loved his southern accent and twang. Nick let her go and gently wiped her lonely tear from her cheek, with his other hand gently on top of her shoulder.

"Thanks, Nick." she said as Nick pulled her into a hug. "I'm ready."

The next morning Nick woke up to his alarm clock which seemed to be on full blast as it made Nick instantly wince as it rang. He rolled over hitting the snooze button. He had dreamt of going to Dan's funeral with Finn. Nick had the worst splitting headache of his life and felt beyond hung-over. He thought for sure he was going to vomit just from rolling over. He opens his eyes squinting at the light and sees Tylenol and a glass of water with a note at his bedside. Nick rubbed his face hard and felt his sore forehead and a band aid. Nick grew slightly confused only remembering bits and pieces of the nights prior. Nick sat up and allowed his equilibrium to adjust before taking the Tylenol. He saw Maverick lying at the foot of his bed looking at him with his own little puppy dog eyes.

"I'm alright, boy." Nick said petting Maverick's head. Nick never realized how much an animal especially a dog could worry. Nick didn't even realize that dogs had emotions like that. When Nick had a bad day at work, Maverick would keep him company so that Nick no longer just sulked in his depression. He had a buddy.

"Names? You want me to think of a name?! How's Patrick?" Nick said angry and Finn snapped and hit Nick in the head with her coffee cup. Nick felt the shards of her cup cut his skin. Nick immediately brought his hand to the cut and caught himself on the wall. Nick felt the blood just flow from his cut. Nick felt dizzy and weak on his feet. He had to get out of there.

Hearing himself say that to Finn made Nick angry with himself. He stared at the note trying to bring himself to have the courage to read it. He slightly remembered Finn coming to his house but the last thing he remembered was her pulling him in the window and then it was blur. Nick just prayed he didn't do anything to further aggravate the situation, but today was the day they would finally find out who the father was. Nick looked at the note again but left it alone and started to get ready for work.

He couldn't stop thinking about what happened as he tried to remember what had happened last night. He knows he didn't go to work yesterday and couldn't even come up with an excuse as in why. Sorry boss I was too drunk to come in. Nick shook his head at the thought. Nick looked at his appearance in the mirror and shook his head. He looked exhausted, physically and mentally. Nick peeled back the band aid to see the cut. His skin around the cut was tender, sore, and bruised. He had two cuts on the edge of his temple with a couple of smaller cuts around the sore area. As Nick got dressed he couldn't help but stare at note that laid abandoned on his nightstand.

Nick sat on his bed and buried his head in his hands. So much was going through his head. Not only about what did he do last night but what was in store for today. Something in Nick's gut told him he was the father from the start and that something only grew stronger. However the harder Nick thought about it, it wouldn't surprise him if he turned out not be. With his luck Nick thought he couldn't be the father. That this whole thing would just be something to get his hopes up to have the rug pulled out from underneath him like everything else. Nick released a deep breath and reached for the note.

'Nick,

I don't even know where to begin. I know sorry couldn't even begin to cover it, everything. I really do appreciate everything you have done for me because I know that very few would have done what you already have. I'm sorry for hitting and trying to make your life harder. Hopefully today will end all the drama so we can go back to being friends because you are one of my best friends. I will see you at the lab. ~ Finn'

Nick walked into the lab. He was wearing his LVPD ball cap in efforts to hide his bandage. Finn had decided to have DB read the results and has it done at the lab just in case it got ugly. There would be people there to handle the matter better than her doctor's.

Luckily for Nick he was the first one to get the lab. Nick saw the looks he got from everyone and remembered that everyone knew that him and Finn were together. And that word had probably spread about the makeover Lauren had done to his car. Nick lightly knocked on DB's door eager to get on with this and get away from everyone's stares.

"Hey, I thought we were going to have to an APB alert for you." DB chuckled; Nick gave DB a fake smile and sat down.

"I'm sorry I didn't call…"

"Finn called and said that you were really sick. Its fine it was a slow day believe it or not." DB said reading his file. Nick just nodded almost in disbelief that Finn called ahead for him.

"Are those the… the…" Nick stuttered all of a sudden he grew nervous and began to sweat somewhat profusely.

"The results?" DB asked seeing Nick just grow nervous and anxious. Nick nodded and DB shook his head no. "No, these are fingerprint results for a case. Your results are right here." DB said tapping the folder onto another one that was on his desk. Nick felt his stomach churn and prayed he wouldn't throw up.

"Oh…" Nick said fighting the nervous nausea in his stomach. Nick turned and looked over his shoulder and saw Finn coming in alone. Nick felt like he had to make it right whether he was the father or not. He felt the same compassion he felt when Finn confided in him about her ex-husband. He wanted to help her.

"Are you ready?" DB asked and Nick turned back around seeing Moreno follow Finn towards DB's office.

"As ready as I will ever be." Nick mumbled burying his face in his hands knocking his hat off. He started to feel more and more nervous. He thought he was going to pass out before DB could even read the results. Finn sat in between the two nervous men. Finn didn't feel as nervous as them she almost felt relieved. She was finally going to find out her baby's father today. She did feel emphatic for both men that she had brought them along this terrible and stressful journey.

"Is everyone ready?" DB asked, the men nodded. "Alrighty, here we go." DB said opening up the folder and reading the contents. Seconds felt like hours and minutes were like days. Nick couldn't wait anymore he needed to know, now. "Finn you are indeed the mother of the child. The father of Jules' baby is…" DB said turning the page. Everyone in the room was growing beyond nervous and starting to get angry with DB as he was torturing them with suspense.

"Come on, DB!" Finn said growing tired of the angst.

"The father is… Nicholas Parker Stokes." DB said, Nick felt a wave of mix emotions just wash over him as it felt surreal. Moreno stormed off upset and Finn followed him. Nick looked up at the ceiling Nick felt like his nerves would explode and relieved at the same time.

"Congratulations!" DB said, Nick immediately threw up in the garbage. DB chuckled and padded Nick on the back. Nick wiped his mouth and felt embarrassed as Finn came back inside alone. "You do realize that I have to inform Ecklie, and he is going to want one of you to switch shifts? Who's it going to be?"

Please Review? Is there any hope for Nick and Finn? Baby names? Baby shower soon, and Finn sees Nick's family.