Prompt: "I have to tell you the truth." (season five spoilers)
"I have to tell you the truth."
Nick watches her face crumble. He thinks about words hastily, lovingly, written on the inside of his vest. Words that have lived in him for longer than he was willing to admit. Words ripped off his chest as Andy rushed to Sam's side. Words thrown out as he tossed the vest into the dumpster behind the hospital on his way home.
"When I was in the ambulance with Sam, I had to keep talking, keep him awake. Um, I-I didn't really know what to say but I ended up-I ended up telling him I still love him."
"Do you?"
This is it. He can feel it coming. Can already hear the words that are going to break his heart. From the moment Sam went down, taking a bullet meant for him, he knew he had lost her. Their entire relationship was already on thin ice by virtue of the way they began; on the dying fumes of his and Gail's relationship, and it would only take the slightest weight to break them apart. And who can forget the overbearing shadow of Sam Swarek? If there was one thing Nick knew, it's that proximity to an ex meant never truly moving on.
But he loved Andy, loved her down to his bones, and so he lied to himself. Believed she had moved on from the infamous Sam Swarek, and had moved on to him. (In his defense, Andy did a great job of convincing him - and herself - that she was no longer in love with Sam. Then again, she was also probably lying to herself. After all, Nick was her break up buddy for god's sake, and he had a first row seat to the heartbreak and bitterness, and immense love built up inside her. Feelings like that don't just die.)
"Yes."
As soon as the word leaves her mouth, fast and sure and breaking his heart all over again, he can feel the panic well up in her, the chaotic need to do damage control, her chest rising and falling quickly, gearing up for a fight.
But he's tired. He's so goddamn tired, and he just can't find it in him to fight her or even be angry with her, especially after everything that went down tonight.
So Nick does the only thing he can do.
"I'll see you around."
He walks away.
Okay, so confession time. I haven't been watching Rookie Blue. I knooooow, I know. I've only seen the premiere and haven't felt the need to keep up? I don't know if it's the whole super quick Andy/Nick breakup or the fact that LUKE IS NOT COMING BACK THIS SEASON AND HOLY HELL AM I BITTER ABOUT THAT, but I'm just not into it. I'll probably end up marathoning the entire season at the end of the summer, who knows.
I really want to thank all of you for the kind words and prompts! It makes me feel so happy and is sometimes the only thing inspiring me to write! =)