Valley of the Shadow of Death

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Please Review! Here's the final part of Nick's near death out of body experience, I hope you enjoy it! Thank you, for all of you reviewing! Please Review!

Ch12: Awake My Soul

Nick pushed Warrick down as both men fell just completely exhausted and sore and beaten. Nick could feel the lumps on his face as it began to throb and could taste blood in his mouth. Neither man would give up and now were feeling the effects of that, they were both stuck in this room until one of them won. However this wasn't a fight they wanted to win nor lose.

Nick slowly crawled his battered body towards the door over all this broken furniture. He feels Warrick grab his legs. Nick struggles and tries and tries to kick him away but Warrick barely loosen. Warrick forces Nick on his back and punches him in the chest knocking the wind out of him. Nick folded in pain bringing his hands to his midsection. Nick looked up and saw Warrick raise his fist again. Nick saw his fist back blindly and connected with Warrick's jaw causing him to fall on his face and release his hold on Nick. Nick frantically crawled away and bursting through the door as he finally got to his feet on wobbly legs.

Once he went through the door he found it very difficult to breath as he started to hyperventilate. He felt like he couldn't get enough oxygen and felt his hands and feet soon get tingly. Nick continued to struggle and he fell on all fours. He looked around to take in the scenery, it looked like he was stuck in the Nevada desert. It was slightly windy, blowing the sand around. Nick looked around and saw a stray ashy tree about ten feet away. Nick realized he wasn't beaten up anymore, the lumps on his face gone and he no longer tasted blood in his mouth. He felt someone's hand around his sides and saw that it was Warrick, Nick struggled against him for a bit.

"Let me help you, Nicky." Warrick said softer. Warrick helped Nick get to the tree so that Nick could sit against it. Once Nick sat against it he looked up and saw more and more people coming up, they weren't as clear as Warrick but there was a lot and Nick felt loved. That he wasn't alone during this scary situation.

"I'm sorry… I couldn't leave Mandy… she's…" Nick said really struggling to breathe. Warrick knelt beside Nick and put a hand on Nick's shoulder but it did little to comfort a scared Nick.

"I know, Nicky. I want to thank you for watching over Tina and Eli, I know that it isn't easy… I know she's angry with you guys. So, I wanted to let you know I appreciate it." Warrick says, Nick found his voice strangely calm and collected.

"I… can't breathe…" Nick said scared grabbing Warrick's arm. Warrick didn't flinch.

"Take care of yourself, Nicky. I don't want to see you for a long time… you're needed down there." Warrick said smiling at his friend as tears filled his eyes.

"Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack?" Nick heard from his other side. He turned his head and saw his father looking at him. Nick couldn't help but chuckle a little bit, remembering all the times his father said that when he was younger.

"Pa… Cis… Cisco…" Nick panted struggling to get every last bit of air he could.

"Easy there, boss." Roger said putting his hand on Nick's chest. "Listen, Poncho, I don't want to catch you up here for a while. You have stuff to take care of down there. Tell your ma I love her and take care of her for me." Roger said grabbing Nick's hand squeezing it tight. "If I catch you up here again, I'm going stick my boot up your ass. You hear me?" he said with a smile, Warrick chuckled. Nick smiled because he heard that a lot as a boy too. "I love you, son."

"I love you, too, Pa… Mandy… she's…" Nick said trying to make his friend and father understand but his lack of air made it difficult.

"We know, Nicky. We've seen your little girl." Warrick said and Nick was instantly brought to tears.

"It's… it's a… girl?" Nick cried squeezing Warrick's shoulder and Roger's hand as they stood up only to move closer and pull Nick in an embrace. Nick broke down in his friend's and father's grasp.

"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and staff, they comfort me…" Warrick said and Nick found relief in his breathing not a lot but some. Then it went quiet, he couldn't hear Warrick's prayer or Mandy's pleas for him to wake up anymore. It was just silence.

Mandy stood quietly at the foot of Nick's bed. She had been waiting two days for him to wake up. She was now waiting for his doctor who seemed to just blow her off every time he went past saying that Nick would wake up soon. DB had brought her a change of clothes but Mandy felt that as soon as she would leave he would wake up. However she did want to get out of these dirty clothes and get into her yoga pants.

"Where is this doctor?" Jillian said she too was growing just as agitated as Mandy but Mandy didn't know what a little spitfire she was. She paced back and forth giving the occasional peek out of the door looking for the doctor. She crossed her arms showing her displeasure. "These people are about to have to deal with an angry Mama Stokes, and nobody wants that." She said making the same angry face that Mandy has seen Nick make many times.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to change." Mandy pouted and went to the patient bathroom in Nick's room. She knew that if Nick didn't wake up soon that she would be stuck in this depression. She was already to put her hands on his doctor especially if he tried to blow her off again. She heard a knock on the door.

"Mandy? You might want to hurry up…" DB said knocking on the door. Mandy opened the door as she put her shirt on. She wore a gray shirt and a pair of yoga pants nothing special this outfit was mainly for comfort. Mandy went to Nick's bedside and grabbed his hand, while Jillian was on the other side holding his other hand that had all the IVs in it.

Nick's hands still cold but they saw his legs start to twitch. They weren't as squirrely as when he usually sleeps but to see him move the slightest filled her heart with hope. She watched him continue stir. DB watches Mandy and smiles, as Mandy kissed his hand. His face fell as he saw Nick fighting to open his eyes. He opened them very slowly and just a crack but enough before closing them. Mandy got excited and stood up, knocking over her chair.

"Nick…" Mandy whispered as she squeezed her hand fighting the joy from seeing him open his eyes even if it was for just a second. Nick squeezed her hand lightly as he opened his eyes again looking at Mandy. "Hey there." Mandy said smiling as Nick looked at her with glassy eyes. "Don't try and talk the doctors put a breathing tube in." Mandy said feeling a tear escape her eyes as Nick looked at her. Jillian couldn't even speak she was so happy to see her son pulling through.

"How are you feeling, Nicky?" Jillian asked, Nick made a weak thumbs up with the hand she was holding and raised it about an inch or two of the bed. Mandy smiled and gave a little chuckle. He looked completely exhausted, as he pulled his hand away to put it on Mandy's stomach. Mandy couldn't help but cry but these tears were different then the other tears she had shed, these were good tears, almost and she could see the same ones falling from his eyes. Mandy wiped his tears away and kissed his forehead. Nick grabbed her hand.

"I love you, Nick. I'm sorry I've been such a…" Mandy started but Nick just shook his head no as he squeezed her hand. Mandy smiled and kissed his hand. Just then Nick's dreadful doctor came in.

"Hello, hello, I heard someone is awake." The doctor said looking at Nick's charts then his monitors. "Alright, Mr. Stokes, we are going to take you to run some tests." The doctor said, Mandy was disappointed because now that Nick was awake she most definitely didn't want to share him. Mandy held his hand all the way to the MRI room.

"I will be right outside." She said kissing his hand as he was wheeled away… again. Mandy waited outside on the bench while DB went to the cafeteria to get some snacks.

"I figured you were hungry?" DB said handing her a banana and some orange juice, and giving Jillian a cinnamon roll.

"I called Catherine and told her he was awake… thank you." She said taking the food, she couldn't think of the last time she ate.

"How far along are you?" DB asked sitting back. Mandy sighed as she leaned forward.

"Almost three months… we weren't trying to hide it from you guys." Mandy said looking down.

"You never said anything?" DB asked.

"We were going to wait… I put in for a shift change and I'm just waiting for Ecklie's approval. Once I moved, we were going to tell you guys." Mandy said looking at her orange juice.

Mandy paced around the living room as she rehearsed what she was going to say in her head once Nick came home. She was so nervous her hands shook and she began to sweat as she continued to pace around the couch. She didn't know how he would react or what he would want her to do. She saw his truck pull into the driveway, and saw him get out and check the mail and walk inside.

"Hey babe…" Nick said giving Mandy a kiss as he tossed the mail on the counter.

"I gotta to talk to you." Mandy said holding Nick's arm. Nick's face changed as he looked at her confused, but he continued to walk to the bathroom.

"Can it wait a second I gotta use the bathroom? It's going to be a photo finish." Nick stuttered as he frantically walked to the bathroom fighting with his belt.

"Just don't get any of the seat." Mandy teased as she sat down on the couch. Nick's phone went off and she heard him sigh lightly.

"I hate this phone…" Nick growled as he dropped his phone. Nick cursed under his breath, when he reached for it he kicked it causing it to hit the garage in the bathroom. Nick froze forgetting about his full bladder as he looked down seeing an empty pregnancy test box that had fallen out of the garbage can. Nick picked up the box and walked out of the bathroom his face in total shock. He looks at her as she stands giving him a worried smile. "Are you pregnant? Nick asked walking towards her.

"I thought you had to pee…" Mandy said.

"Mandy?" Nick said serious.

"Yes, I am." Mandy said, Nick's face fell as he sat on the couch releasing a sigh. Mandy sat on the couch next him as she crossed her legs and studying his reaction, he buried his head in his hands.

"Oh man." Nick said worried.

"I'll call Ecklie… I'll call my…" Mandy said shooting off ideas as she started to panic.

"Stop." Nick said holding her hand. "Don't panic, we can do this. This is a good thing." Nick said laying back on the couch pulling Mandy close.

"We can…" Mandy said trying to convince herself this wasn't as scary and overwhelming as before but she was trying.

"I'll call Ecklie." Nick said.

"No, I can't pull you away from the team. I will change shifts." Mandy said pulling away getting a better look at him.

"You sure?" Nick asked touching her face.

"Yes…" Mandy smiled.

"I love you." Nick said kissing Mandy.

"I love you." Mandy said moving to sit on his lap. Nick pulled away and put his hands on her stomach before kissing it gently.

"I love you." Nick said, even though she wasn't showing. The action alone was brought Mandy to tears. "We will be alright." Nick said looking up at Mandy smiling.

Hope you liked the flashback as well! What did you think? Please Review!