A/N: HOLY SHIT. Three years, and I got back to this story. So sorry, guys, I kinda abandoned for a really long time… so as promised I will end the story, as well as put up the epilogue.
Chapter 10: Bleed it Out
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"When's the last time you saw her?!"
Nick and Greg stood in the living room, not moving an inch so they wouldn't contaminate the crime scene.
"We saw each other before my shift this morning." We talked, she left." Greg answered nervously. Nick read Greg's thoughts through his face. "Kirsten uh… wanted me to drop her purse off here. She forgot it." Greg continued, fibbing. Sweat beaded on his brow. Nick, noticing this, grew suspicious.
"Greg, I'm gonna need your prints, and a sample of your DNA." he said, pulling out a swab. Greg was taken aback. "What? You think I kidnapped her?!" Greg protested. "Hey, listen pal," Nick jabbed his finger on Greg's shoulder. "I can tell you're hiding something from me, and you better cough it up!" Greg himself was now also upset. "What makes you think that? Don't you trust me?" Nick clenched his teeth.
"Ever since Kirsten came, you've been acting unusual, and not like your usual self. I knew you'd develop some puppy dog crush on her, but I expected that it wouldn't last long. Just answer this: Are you in love with my sister?" Both were staring at each other coldly, fixated on each other's eyes.
Greg answered. "Yeah, I do. You have a problem with that?"
Nick sighed with gritted teeth. "Listen… if you hurt Kirsten in any way, I will make you pay back. Kirsten's been through dozens of bad break-ups, and each one has scarred her emotionally. I don't want some other heartless guy to make it worse."
"What kind of guy do you think I am? Besides, Kirsten's still out there, and it's not gonna help if we just stand here and argue." said Greg. He handed Nick the note he found earlier. "I recognised the writing. I think I know who wrote it." Nick looked from the note to Greg.
"Who?" he asked.
"Madison. " was Greg's reply.
--
Greg frantically knocked on Madison's door, Nick, Brass and some cops behind him. He yelled through the door.
"Madison! I know you have Kirsten! Let me in, so we can talk!" There was no response. Greg pleaded again. "Madison! Let me in!"
After a moment, he received an answer.
"Come in. Alone."
Greg nodded to Brass and Nick. Brass patted Greg on his back. Greg gave a big sigh, and stepped into the room.
Madison was sitting on her couch, looking at him calmly. She then smirked as he closed the door behind him. "You're wearing a bullet proof vest? Do you think I'm psychotic?" she asked him. Greg folded his arms against his chest. "Police procedure. Plus you would be, if you're dumb enough to kidnap a cop." Madison laughed. "What makes you think I kidnapped the girl?" Greg pulled out the note from his pocket. "Who else that I know likes Billy Talent?"
Madison rolled her eyes, and raised her hands in the air. "Caught red handed! It's a good thing you do this for a living." she said, making her way to the closet, and pulled out a bound and gagged victim. Greg clenched his fists.
"Let her go."
Madison pulled out a gun from the drawer. "Or what? You'll call the cops on me? You know, I could kill her before another soul enters this room." Madison cocked her gun. Greg looked away for a minute.
"Fuck you." He stared at her now in hate. "Fuck everything about you. I FUCKING HARE YOU!" Greg yelled, and with that, he dove at her and punched her. Madison's wiled shot at the window before she dropped the gun compelled Brass and Nick to storm in. As Brass arrested Madison, Greg quickly freed Kirsten, who flung herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Are you alright?" he whispered to her. "I… I was so worried… that she might've harmed the baby…" Kirsten sobbed. "What? What baby?" Nick asked, shaken. Kirsten wiped some tears away, then turned to her brother.
"Nick, I don't know how I should tell you this, so I might as well tell you straight up." said Kirsten. She could tell that Nick still saw her as his baby sister, and how much what she was going to say to him was going to hurt. She breathed in, and told him, as the wise, mature young woman she had become.
"I'm pregnant."
Nick froze, looking at them in disbelief. Before Kirsten could say another word, Nick had left the room, slamming the door behind him.
-- Five months later --
Nick heard someone knocking on his door. He groaned, too tired to get off his couch. The persistent knocking finally convinced him to get up and answer the door. The door swung open, and Kirsten was standing at his door, glowing in her pregnancy. She smiled, and waved him a small 'hello'. Nick sighed.
"Come in…" he moaned, and stood aside.
"I haven't seen you in a while." she said. Nick sank into his armchair and said nothing. "The baby's kicking… the doctor says it's going to be a boy." Kirsten continued. Nick's eyes shifted a little to softness.
"What do you want, Kirsten…?" he asked quietly. Kirsten placed her hand on Nick's.
"Why are you bothered with me and Greg?"
Nick looked down. "Kirsten… if Greg hurts you like your other boyfriends have, the pain will be worse if you're left with a kid." Nick said. Kirsten gave him a comforting smile.
"Nick… you're my big brother. You're always looking out for me, warning me to not make a dumb move, and forgiving me when I do. I love you for all that you do for me, but I'm not a little girl anymore. You gotta back off a little. And Greg… I know he will never hurt me. He wouldn't do something like that to me, or you. You're like a brother to him." Kirsten watched him shift in his seat. "There's another thing. Greg proposed to me two weeks ago. But we're not getting married until you give us your blessing."
She then gave him the sweetest, cutest pair of Bambi eyes she could muster. The corner of Nick's lips then curled up. "So I can't be an overprotective brother, but I gotta play the father figure now?" he teased. Kirsten laughed and gave him a hug.
