"Zoe, I – " Nick knew she was right, but how the hell was he going to do it? How was he supposed to turn and tell his friend that the woman who still held his heart, the woman whom he had devoted his life to – even though she was dead – was alive? That Maggie Doyle, the other half of the Dynamic Duo, was alive and not only that, but she was the mother of his twin sons?
How the hell was he supposed to do that, Nick asked himself, and found no reply. The thing was, he had to do it. Had to tell PJ, because the man in question was standing right behind him, his concern for Nick, and for whatever it was Nick was going through, palpable in the room. The footy was forgotten, PJ's sole concern now was to find out what on earth was going on, and Nick's sole concern was finding the words to tell him.
"Nick?" PJ gently reached up and took the phone from his pre-occupied friend. "Zoe, it's PJ. Look, Nick's fine, he's just – "PJ paused, before opting for the truth. "He looks like he's got something on his mind. Listen, I'll talk to him, and get him to phone you back in a little while. He'll be fine Zo, don't worry about him, he'll be fine"
At her end of the line, Zoe couldn't help but grin, shaking her head in exasperation, the whole situation spiraling out of control. Here was PJ trying to get Nick to talk about what was worrying him, when the very thing that was worrying him was how to tell PJ that – Zoe gave up trying to sort it out in her mind. "PJ, you're a good man. Nick's lucky to have you as a friend, and you're lucky to have him."
"Ok, now I'm even more worried. You're being nice to me Zoe, and that's unheard of," PJ joked, trying to lighten the moment, trying to alleviate what he imagined were Zoe's worries about Nick. "Leave him to me, Zoe, I'll talk to him about whatever it is that's tied him in knots, and report back, ok?"
"Ok. You - you talk to him. And remember, I'm just on the other end of the line if you need me" Zoe said, her voice soft, wishing she could be there with Nick. Wishing she could hold him tight, reassure him, help him choose the right words as he opened hell once again for PJ. Opened hell, and – hopefully – found the only way out that PJ had ever wanted.
PJ hung up, and turned to find Nick watching him, a series of emotions playing across his face momentarily, before he settled himself back into - well, what PJ had only ever been able to describe as 'Nickness'. A smirk, a smile, loyalty and curiosity all wrapped into one giant best friend – someone who PJ had missed a lot more than he had thought he had.
"So. Sit down Shultz. Sit down and talk to Uncle Peej'" Pj said, pushing Nick to wards the kitchen table, and tossing him a beer as Nick sat down. Opening the bottle, Nick gratefully guzzled almost two thirds of it. "Whoa, slow down there, mate, it can't be that bad!" PJ said, watching as Nick drank the last of the bottle.
"Mate," Nick ran the back of his hand across his mouth, the words, the explanation still eluding him. "I – "
PJ's blue eyes narrowed. This - this was, whatever it was, it was big. Nick was rarely speechless, he had a quip for each and every occasion. He was the joker of the pack, the words to suit the moment, the way around everything. The only time he'd ever really seen Nick this tongue-tied was when Maggie –
"Nick, is Zoe ok? Is – mate, do you need to go up there? This woman and her baby, she's not real is she, there's something wrong with Zoe, and you've stayed down here to stop me going off my head about Mags, when you should have been with the woman you love, mate, I'm so sorry - " PJ couldn't have stopped if he'd tried. His heart was breaking for Nick, whatever was wrong with Zoe, they treasured him enough as a friend, as part of the family to put him first and to try to put him back together instead of dealing with their own situation first. PJ had never felt both so honoured, and so gutted before.
"PJ, stop. Just stop, ok?" Nick stood, and wandered over to the sink, the clink of the glass as he set the beer bottle down, loud against the sudden silence. He turned, finding that PJ too had risen to his feet, and was standing near enough to be supportive, but far enough not to invade Nick's space. Nick sighed.
"Sit down PJ."