Unfortunate Reunion

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Ch14: Have You Any Wool?

Nick was silent the whole car ride. Even though he didn't speak, he looked extremely upset and anger. Catherine knew there was more to the story but didn't ask. She knew Nick was ready to explode but she also knew he was trying not to do it in front of her. As she pulled into her driveway, Nick flung the door open and threw up outside.

Nick just wished he felt numb, like he had been all these years. His nerves felt like they were exploding, his anxiety was making him dizzy and the butterflies in his stomach made him physically ill. Nick never felt as out of touch of reality then he did now.

"Come on, Nicky." Catherine said putting a gentle hand on Nick's shoulder as he wiped his mouth.

"I can't do this, Cath." Nick said looking down like a scolded child.

"Nick..."

"I can't... If Jake doesn't take the plea bargain and this goes to trial... What if his lawyer asks..." Nick says nervous and scared, pausing for a brief moment to address his dry mouth. "Asks why I hate Dana or what happened? I can't..."

"Nicky, you didn't do anything wrong."

"It doesn't matter, everyone is going to find out! I can't do this. I can't testify."

"Nick, if you don't testify there is no case." Catherine said crossing her arms.

"At this point, Cath, I don't care." Nick said giving up.

"Let me call your family..."

"No!" Nick said really agitated, and startling Catherine. "Sorry, I mean... No."

"Nick, I feel like there is more to all this and I can't help you if you don't talk to me." Catherine said, Nick looked away and chuckled before grimacing in pain. "I'm serious, Nick. If you don't talk to me I'm bringing you to a therapist. This whole thing is extremely unhealthy."

"I know."

"So, what is it?" Catherine said, Nick bawled something fierce on his bottom lip. He started sweat as he debated telling Catherine what was on his mind.

"It's nothing..."

"Then just tell me."

"You will think it's dumb,"

"Test me," Catherine said quickly back. Nick has always admired Catherine's stubbornness to a point but didn't like it right now.

"After... After it happened. I tried to tell my ma and Cisco but I couldn't talk to them. They were never home. I started to act out in school and they pulled me from school and I went to a private military discipline school from fourth grade to eighth. They just whisked me away..." Nick said finally expressing his anger. "I already felt like an outcast after... What happened and then they did that. But they brought me back to public school so I could play sports and get a college scholarship. I lost all my trust in my parents, anytime I went to talk to them about something it got uncomfortable. I was their burden and they made that clear to me. That's why I moved away. That's why I gave you power of attorney. I do love my parents but not the way I should... Silly right?"

"No, Nick it's not."

"The funny part is. I hate going to the family reunions and stuff because I didn't have the same memories as the rest of my brothers and sisters and when

Jake started to see Dana that was the final straw I guess. I am the black sheep of my family, its funny."

"Why do you say that?"

"Have you notice after everything that has happened to me all the times my family came to help? The only reason they came for when I was buried and now is because someone else called. They didn't want to look like the cruel parents."

"I don't believe that Nick. I think she realizes now that she messed up and she's trying to fix it." Catherine said Nick shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. How many times can someone bend over backwards just to keep getting broken?" Nick asked.

That night Catherine had great trouble trying to fall asleep because she didn't know if Nick was sincere about his threat to not testify. Catherine could only imagine what Nick was feeling. In Catherine's mind more parts of Nick started to make sense while others didn't.

Nick's trust issues started to make sense and his emotional detachment that he had from his family. But how could Nick still be some happy after carrying the weight of those terrible secrets for so long. How could he not be insane, but it's Nick. That's just how Nick does things, he puts the memories away and acts like its didn't exist.

After Nick was buried alive he returned to work a week later smiling and joking around just like he had done before, except he was a little more risky and fearless. After he was shot he came to his next shift like nothing was wrong, but he was too risky almost reckless and Catherine helped him. And now, Catherine thought Nick was just about out of his mind.

Nick tossed and turned all night and the only reason he was able to sleep was because of the pain meds he was on. He had nightmares of what happened and dreams of his childhood.

Catherine woke up before Nick and started to do some cleaning. She was very quiet because Nick was on asleep on the couch. There was a loud knock and startled Nick and Catherine. Catherine ran to the door as Nick fell back asleep.

"Jake, what are you doing here?" Catherine said harshly stepping onto her porch, to speak with Jake.

"I got to talk to Nick,"

"No..." Catherine said blocking him from going in her house. "He needs to rest. What are you doing here?"

"I never knew she did... That, to him. I swear on everything, that I didn't know. If I did best believe I wouldn't have had anything to do with her." Jake pleaded. "I swear on my kids I never knew."

"How are your kids?"

"Fine, she never touched them." Jake said showing great relief.

"You lucked out. That's why Nick did what he did, he was trying to protect your kids."

"I know. I just want to tell him I'm sorry, and I know sorry doesn't even begin to cover everything that I did and have done but I love my little brother. So I took the plea. He won't have to testify... Just please tell him for me," Jake said smiling nervously. He released a deep breath before leaving. Catherine shook her, what a mess. She opened her door and Nick was standing there and by his face she knew he heard his brother.

"Nicky..." she said trying to read his expression.

"So what's going to happen now?"

Probably only one more chapter. Tell me what you think so far?