Thanks for your patience...real life got a little nutty, and when I stress, I can't write. Well, I write, but it's shit...and you deserve better, so I held off and revised...a few times. I hope it's enough...
Ch. 88
4:20 a.m.
"Th-the bag. Open it…please. Please open the…the bag…" Nick said, his voice low and so strung with emotion that the nurse clearly knew something was wrong. "These things…the bag…" he began again, but his knees picked that moment to buckle and he grabbed the counter for some little sense of stability. "Whose things…." He tried again.
"Sir, these things belong to a patient…he was brought into the E.R.-"
"Please….just-"
"…after a hit and run accident-"
"…I need to know if –"
"…personal property –" she tried again.
"OPEN THE FUCKING BAG!" Nick bellowed, finally finding his voice and startling the nurse. She jerked back from the counter with wide eyes.
"Nicholas!" Meredith gasped, jumping up to approach the nurse's station as well.
"Sir, these items belong to a patient who was-"
"I'm sorry…I… I heard you…I did…but…my husband….the phone…when I call, it rings…." Nick tried to shove the words out, but it felt as if his lungs had collapsed and he couldn't take a deep breath. He struggled to remember what Jeff was wearing when he left, willing it to be anything but what was left of the dark stained shirt and jeans in the clear bag. This wasn't happening. Jeff was at Blaine's, right? He couldn't have been with Bailey….couldn't have been. "Check his wallet….there has to be I.D. in there…please…."
"Nicholas…what are you saying?" Meredith asked. They'd now drawn the attention of all four brothers who were at the counter as well.
"There's no wallet in the bag, sir. Clothing, a cell phone and what looks like a wedding band-"
"Which is identical to this one, isn't it?" Nick asked softly, sadly, his eyes unfocused as he held out his own hand. Sure enough, the rings were identical. He pulled the ring across the counter with one shaking finger and there, inside, were the engraved words: Forever my heart, my love, my Pretty Boy. "Where is he?" He demanded. "Please….tell me where he is." Nick begged, his knees giving out as he slumped against the counter. "I need to see him….I only got one day….ONE DAY!" He nearly screamed.
"Ok, hey….alright, Nick….step back…sit with me, man….c'mon…." Steven said, practically wrapping his arms around his brother and half carrying him, half leading him back to the chair. Nick went, because frankly he knew he couldn't stand up much longer. He didn't want to. He didn't want anything at all…except Jeff.
"Please say it's not his stuff….it's someone else's stuff….just like Jeff's. Jeff's on his way here…from Blaine's. He'll be here, right? He's coming to me…." Nick said softly, breaking down. "The phone. Unlock it. It's 0321…the day we met, and I saw him at the bar…finally got to touch him…kiss him…. Please…."
"Ok…alright, buddy, lemme see if she'll let me have it." Alex replied, his voice tender and scared. He returned with the phone and cringed when the screen unlocked with the numbers Nick had given him. "Nick….."
"No….please no…." He cried, silent tears trailing down his cheeks. The sound was that of a dying animal, and Meredith's heart was breaking. "But I only got one day….." Nick whined, a long, breathless emptying of his soul, and then he collapsed.
1:55 a.m.
Jeff was startled awake by the sound of the bedroom door clicking open and then footsteps padding out into the living room where he slept. He heard whispering and then the steps retreated back to the room and the door closed again. He had started to roll over on the couch when his phone lit up, without sound.
"Nicky…c'mon, man…" he said to himself, then glanced at the phone. Not Nick…Bailey. He swiped he screen and unlocked it and saw that he had a slew of messages from his new sister in law. "What the hell, Bay?" When he read them, his blood ran cold.
Jeff: BAILEY, Jesus…where are you? My phone was on silent! I just got this!
Bailey: Unsure….I ducked into a little hole in the wall coffee shop and I'm just sitting here. I asked the waitress about getting a cab and she laughed at me. I don't know WTF that means. The clientele here isn't the greatest.
Jeff: Ask her where you are and I'll come and get you right now. Don't leave the coffee shop, Bailey. Stay there!
Bailey texted him back with an address that made him sweat and his blood run cold. Even as a newbie in the city, he knew that neighborhood wasn't the safest.
"That fucker dropped her all alone in East Flatbush at night!" Jeff hissed quietly to himself, rage blooming in his gut.
Jeff: I'm leaving Blaine's now. It'll take me time to get there. Don't go outside, Bay. Promise me you'll stay put. Bad things happen there…it's not a safe neighborhood at all. When I get there, we'll leave together, ok?
Bailey: I've watched 8 drug deals go down in 30 minutes outside this window, Jeff. I've never seen weapons like that outside of T.V. I'm not moving, I promise.
Jeff grabbed his stuff and shoved his feet in his shoes. He couldn't find anything to leave a note on, but he could just as easily call Blaine and Kurt in the morning and let them know why he'd left early. He didn't want to wake them anyway. It wasn't like they'd argue with him about going to get Bailey out of that neighborhood. Hustling down the steps, he closed the door quietly, hearing the lock click, and made his way down the next flight of stairs to the ground floor. He slipped out and walked to the corner, praying there'd be a cab somewhere close by. When he didn't see one, he started walking and pulled up the app on his phone to call for one.
The guy picked him up less than 3 minutes later and Jeff was off.
"Yes, sir. I know it's late, but you said if he left-"
"I know what I fucking said, Shane. Are you following him? I'm getting in my car now."
"I did follow him, Mr. Duval. He's in Flatbush….walked into a diner and he's sitting with a girl. She looks young…not exactly his type. Well, she's a girl, so-"
"And the other man who was watching him for Nicholas?" David asked.
"He fell asleep, sir. I hot wired the car in front of him and backed it up to his bumper. He's wedged in…no way to get the car out. He won't be following us this evening." Shane grinned.
"Give me the address. Look for my car."
"Bailey, Jesus….." Jeff said as he pushed through the door of the hole in the wall where a frightened Bailey waited for him. She stood immediately and ran to him, eyes wide. "C'mon, I asked the cab to wait-"
"Yeah, how's that workin' out for ya?" She said, glancing over his shoulder out the window as the cab quickly drove away, the driver clearly frightened of the group approaching his car.
"Fuck!" Jeff hissed, clearly upset. He flopped heavily into the booth she'd vacated and when the waitress came over and merely raised her eyebrow at him in question, he shook his head and said "nothing…no thanks." And she walked away without another word. Bailey sat back down in the other side of the booth. He was stunned at the girl seated across from him. This wasn't the Bailey he'd hung out with all week long.
"What's with the outfit?" He finally asked. Skimpy black leather and skin tight denim didn't suit her at all. Gone was the cute, innocent little girl he'd met last week, that's for sure.
"You like it? I thought it was hot. Nicky hates it. All of them hate it…screw 'em." She pouted.
"I can't imagine why, what with 93% of your skin showing. You don't need to dress like that, Bay. You're beautiful enough in clothes that don't make you look like a…a…um….well, not like the innocent little sister I never had." He shrugged, blushed and rolled his eyes.
"I happen to like this outfit!" She said, defending her choice of clothing. "I've always felt too chunky to try to pull off something like this. Now that I've lost all that weight and I CAN wear it, I don't intend to miss the opportunity. I like that I look and feel different. It's like a new me, and I'm ok with it…and the outfit."
"Yes, well I'm sure it'll be fine when you locate the rest of it." He snarked, mindful of their location and what her choice of outfit implied here. "No wonder the cabbie thought he could proposition you, Bay…and of course Nick wants you to take back everything you bought if it's all like that! C'mon…..I've seen pictures. You weren't anywhere near overweight and you could pull of anything you wanna pull off with the figure you had. Ok, so you lost some weight, and you still look just fine, but don't sell yourself short. You're pretty awesome in here…" he said poking her in the chest where her heart would be, then trailing his finger up to her head and tapping it on the side at her temple. "You don't need to put on airs and make statements with this kinda stuff." He added, twirling his finger around in front of her.
"I think it's the least of my worries right now, and it's not your business…so there." She said, turning her nose up.
"Brat! It is when I'm probably gonna have to walk your ass out of this neighborhood to a subway stop and you look like you're out here workin'!" He snapped. This wasn't a good scenario. She just pouted and stared at the booth next to him, refusing to make eye contact.
Bailey kept her back to the window all the while, afraid of seeing anything that happened outside it. The less she saw, the fewer questions she could answer, she figured. And she was loathe to admit to her new brother in law how utterly terrified she was here.
Jeff pulled up the app on his phone again, giving the address and sitting back to wait for a cab to arrive. He seriously doubted it would, but thought he'd give it a shot anyway. If not, they'd have to walk to the subway, and he wasn't looking forward to that.
"What the hell are you doing in this neighborhood to begin with? Scratch that, what the hell are you doing out at this time of night in this neighborhood, Bailey? Your brother is going to kill us both if we make it out of here alive!" Jeff hissed at her. When he saw the tears in her eyes, he backed off. Clearly she was shaken up and scared.
"That jerk wouldn't take no for an answer and when he pushed it and I got pissy with him, he stopped and told me to get out! You didn't come home, Jeff. I wanted to talk to you…you weren't answering. I was afraid you'd run from him again, like when Daddy tried to buy you off before. It would kill him, Jeff. He loves you so much…." She said, her tears spilling over now. "And I do, too…"
"Bailey….damn. I'd never leave him, especially not over something like this. We said forever…not 48 hours ago. I was upset, yes, but I'd never just leave him!" Jeff assured her.
"I didn't know. I was afraid you were so angry with him…."
"God, Bay…" Jeff said softly, reaching over to hold her hand. He thought better of it, got up and slid into her side of the booth, putting his arm around her and tugging her into his lap. She snuggled her head under his chin and then felt Jeff place a kiss in her hair. "I love you, too, you brat."
"So the money grubbing punk marries my son, clearly for his money, and now he's snuggled up with some tramp in the worst neighborhood in the city in the dead of night." David Duval remarked as Shane slipped into the front passenger seat of the luxury car. "Are we certain the son of a bitch is even gay?!" David boomed. Shane thought the windows would surely rattle in the car. The tinted glass pretty much prevented anyone from seeing inside as they sat across the street from the diner and waited for Jeff and his little friend to come outside.
Shane took in his words and sat there in the car with David recalling the events at The Dive the night of his fight with Jeff. When he had finally come to and went to grab his stuff from the break room to leave, he couldn't get in because the door was locked. What was going on behind that door with Jeff and Nick was no secret with the noises seeping out under the door. His cock stirred just thinking about it.
"Yeah…yeah, he's uh….or at least bi, for sure." Shane muttered.
"I will not allow him to make a fool of my son this way! Clearly Sterling's playing him, keeping a little bit on the side with this…girl.
He thought of his own little girl, tucked in safely at home, he was certain, with her mother watching over her. Bailey, his only daughter, his baby girl, with her long, beautiful, rich chestnut hair, her strong, gymnast's body and her cherub like face. He missed her desperately, and as much as he hated to think it, probably more than anyone else since he'd been away from home. Bailey was nothing like this girl with Sterling, who was much thinner, had harsh, dark blonde streaks in her shoulder length, brown hair and wore such awful clothing. He couldn't see her face from the angle she was sitting, but he was certain his Bailey would put her to shame. "She's probably not even old enough to be out at this time of night. What sort of parents allow this sort of behavior!"
"Maybe she's a hooker. From what I saw when Sterling first got here, she's wearing clothing that doesn't exactly scream "I'm going to church today." Shane suggested. He grinned at his own joke.
"I'd take my own daughter over my damn knee if she ever dressed that way…and out at this time of night. What is the world coming to. Trash…just like Sterling. Absolute trash." He ground out.
"Bay…I don't think a cab's coming…not into this neighborhood at this time of night." Jeff said, checking the time on his watch. They'd waited plenty of time for a cab to show, but it hadn't.
"Actually, I think we should just call Nick and—"
"NO! No, please don't. Don't call Bubby, he'll be angry with me and…and he's already gonna be angry with me. I just want to get out of here and go home, please." Bailey pleaded. Jeff sighed, looking out the window at the dark street.
"The train's a few blocks off. I think we should just go. The sooner we move, the sooner we're out of here, ok? Stay close to me, don't look anyone in the eye, don't speak and for God's sake, keep up. STICK. WITH. ME. Like glue, baby girl. Ok?" Jeff asked, and his tone was so serious that Bailey knew it was bad. He wasn't joking…and he might even be a bit frightened as well. She nodded her head and stood up with him.
"Let's do it. Ready when you are."
Jeff stepped out of the diner and surveyed the street. It sure as hell looked deserted, but he was sure it wasn't. At any given moment someone, or a few someone's, would pop out of the crevices in the decrepit buildings and stir up some trouble. He wasn't worried about being able to defend himself. One on one, he knew he could take anyone in a fight, but with Bailey hanging on, he wasn't so confident. With a nod to Bailey, they started off.
"Stay on me like glue. If you look like someone I've paid to be with me, maybe-"
"Don't even finish that sentence, Blondie, or it's on." She growled. He wanted badly to laugh, but he didn't dare.
"Let's go then." He said, and they left the safety of the doorway and walked out into the night.
David stared at them through the window and fumed inside. The thoughts in his mind weren't pure, and he wanted to kill that blonde devil. He'd seduced his son, convinced him, somehow, to marry him, and less than 48 hours later, he was out with some whore in plain sight. And where was Nick? Where did Nick think Sterling was? Clearly not home in their 'newlywed bed'. Well, David knew where Sterling was, alright…He was strolling down the street with some tramp on his arm, and David wasn't having any part of it.
"Nobody makes a fool of my son…of any of my sons. Nobody!" He bellowed, scaring the life out of Shane, who sat in the passenger seat, shaking. If ever there was a time to second guess your 'boss', this was it, he was sure of it. Mr. Duval looked like a man possessed, and it frightened Shane. He didn't like Jeff Sterling, with what had happened at The Dive that night, but the vibe he was getting from Nick's father was murderous. He hadn't signed up for this shit. Watch and tell me what he's up to…those had been his instructions, nothing more.
"Mr. Duval, perhaps we could just follow them to see where they go, and—"
"They'll go nowhere. Their night is officially over, Shane." David said, low and deadly as he put the car in drive and slowly pulled out onto the street. The locks clicked as he did so and Shane panicked.
"Sir, I don't think –"
"Then don't speak. If you don't think, I have no room for you in my world."
"No, sir, it's just that, I think I'd like to get out of the car." Shane said, his voice cracking now. He'd never seen anyone look so angry. Something was gonna go down tonight and he wanted no part of it. None at all. "Sir, please stop the car and let me out." He asked again, watching Jeff and the girl make long strides up the dark street away from the diner and it's light. Shane searched for the door's lock button in the dark car, but couldn't see it.
"I don't think so." David said, low and serious. He watched them, gauging distances and the speed at which they walked, the girl tucked into Jeff's side intimately, his other arm wrapped around her as he watched around them and over his shoulder constantly. "Not tonight, Mr. Sterling…." He said, then gunned the engine. The tires squealed and the engine roared as he shot down the street toward them. It was forever and no time at all before Shane realized what he planned to do.
"Jesus Christ, Duval, NO!" Shane screamed, leaning over for the steering wheel and yanking it as hard as he could in the other direction, away from the pedestrians. David Duval yanked the wheel back toward his target like it was nothing, the vehicle jerking harshly as Shane hit the dashboard. He looked up just in time to see everything happen as if in slow motion. They hit the curb at an odd angle and he heard the scream, the thud and the brief scrape of the front of the car against a building all at once. Duval didn't even hit the brakes. He was back on the street and speeding away without a backward glance. The devious smirk on his face was enough to make Shane want to vomit after what he'd just witnessed. What the hell had he gotten himself into?
Shane felt the blood trickling down his face where he'd hit the dash and he felt dizzy. When Duval slowed under a street lamp at a traffic light 4 blocks later, Shane hit the lock, grabbed for the door, did a tuck and roll and hit the sidewalk running in the opposite direction. The snap and pop in his shoulder didn't even register as he ran, watching behind him to be sure David Duval didn't come after him. He ran until he found a bar to duck inside and he leaned against the wall on a throbbing shoulder, breathing heavily, his head swimming with what had just happened.
"Hey man, we're closing up…" the bouncer said as he stumbled in the door.
"One drink…and the restroom…" Shane mumbled, hoping the guy would just leave him alone. He moved past him, determined to get off the street for a few minutes. The nausea brought on by his thoughts wouldn't let him go.
Jesus Christ….Jeff and the girl could both be dead. He'd be responsible…he led Duval to them. He allowed this to happen. He helped….
Shrugging away from the wall in the dingy bar, he stood and looked around for a restroom. From the looks he was getting, he needed to clean himself up and get the hell out of there, preferably to a hospital to be checked out. He wasn't able to move his left arm without dizzying pain, and his right arm was scraped and bleeding from jumping out of the car as well. Wiping the blood away from his head with his sleeve, Shane made his way through the scattered, socializing bodies to the back of the room and blessedly found somewhere quieter, with nobody to witness his sudden sick tears and the bile forcing its way out of his gut.
"Blaine…"
"Hmmmm?"
"Honey…wake up…please." Kurt said, breath hitching. "Blaine, please…." He said again, rubbing Blaine's arm softly.
"Didn't sleep well…just a 'lil bit longer?"
"Honey, no…we have to go….we have to go to the hospital, B." Kurt tried again. His heart was hammering and he didn't want to have to explain to Blaine what was going on, but he knew he'd have to. "Hunter called. Baby…there was an accident…."
"I know…Nick told me…Bailey…she's ok, right? He didn't seem too frantic…I thought it wasn't serious. Wait...Hunter?" Blaine said groggily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah….yeah, baby, she's ok, but….Blaine, Jeff was with her."
"No, he was here…on the couch." Blaine said, a little more awake now.
"He left to go get her. Apparently she was stranded and called him, or texted him, I'm not sure…but….they were together and they think a drunk driver hit them as they crossed an alley, Blaine." Kurt told him.
"But…no, he was…he was here…then he went to Nick. Kurt, he's ok, right?" Blaine said, his breathing picking up as he grabbed his jeans off the floor and pulled them on quickly. "Kurt, tell me he's ok." He said again when Kurt didn't answer quickly enough. But one look at Kurt and he knew it wasn't going to be simply a scratch. "Tell me…" He croaked.
" It's not good, baby…he has broken bones…internal injuries…he's not responding like they want him to. They think maybe…" Kurt tried, but he couldn't choke out anything else.
"He's alive, right? He's breathing…he's ALIVE…right?" Blaine demanded, grabbing his phone and wallet. He headed for the door with Kurt on his heels.
"He's alive, Baby….he's alive." But that's all Kurt could say positively at the moment.
Shane had been kicked out of the smoky bar with all of the other patrons and he walked until paranoia took over and he was sure David Duval was behind every parked car he passed on the street. Every car that drove past had him shaking in his shoes and he couldn't shut off the little voice in his head screaming that he'd been the reason it all went down. He'd ducked into the doorway of an abandoned building and huddled there for a time, just thinking, shaking, and feeling sick. He'd had enough in just that short time. There was no other option. He'd come clean about what happened tonight, and hope and pray his own father would listen to him, understand, and keep him safe from Duval, despite their friendship and business dealings.
He stood, still in horrendous pain, and shuffled down the street, the sun rising and casting a glow over the city as he walked, keeping his head down, but staying alert. He wasn't sure what David Duval was up to, but he didn't want to run into him again, and 'ever' was too soon. His thoughts were dark as he thought of everything that'd gone down since he followed Jeff Sterling out of Nick's penthouse on his way to get pizza. It seemed a lifetime ago, but it had barely been 12 hours. His life had irrevocably changed in those twelve hours, though, and so had Jeff Sterling's…not to mention that of the young girl who was with him. He couldn't help but say a prayer to anyone who would listen that, by some stroke of divine intervention, they'd be ok after last night.
But, he wasn't counting on divine intervention to help him. No, he was determined to handle it, and for once in his life, to do the unselfish thing and make it right. He walked into Brookdale University Hospital, unable to stand the excruciating pain in his shoulder even one more minute. He'd get checked out and then immediately turn himself in to the police. Maybe if he helped them in any way he could, they'd go easy on him. Maybe. At this point, he knew he didn't deserve it.
"Nicholas…" Meredith said, as he came around. "Honey…." She soothed, brushing carefully over his forehead with a cool washcloth.
"Mama…." He whimpered. He'd been dreaming…God, the worst nightmare. Jeff had been hurt…his Jeff, his Pretty Boy had been with Bailey when—
"Honey, open your eyes. The doctor wants to check to see –"
"Jeff…" He croaked, voice breaking as he realized it hadn't been a dream.
"Baby, he's out of surgery."
"He's ok? Please say he's ok."
"I won't lie to you, Nicholas….I don't think things are good." Meredith said softly.
"Head hurts." Nick said, sitting up. Since when had he been in a hospital room?
"Bound to happen when you black out and pitch forward onto the hard floor, man." Alex told him. Nick felt Alex's hand on his shoulder.
"Where's Jeff? I need to be with him…I need to see him." Nick said, sitting up too quickly and wavering. When the doctor approached, Nick waved him away and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Just let me see my husband."
"I'm Dr. Gillen, Mr. Duval. I'd really like to make sure you didn't do any real damage when you hit your head. Then I'd be happy to take you to see Mr. Sterling immediately." The doctor said, patiently.
"Sterling-Duval…my Jeff…he's my…" he choked. "He's my husband now….Jeff Sterling-Duval….."
"I'll be sure to remember it." The doctor smiled kindly. "Let's get this over with quickly and be on our way, shall we?" He asked. Nick allowed them to look at him, briefly, but he rushed everything along. He didn't need a concussion slowing him down. Jeff would need him in top form, he was sure of it.
"I feel fine, please…I need to see him." Nick said, fed up with their fussing.
"Well, as far as I can tell, it doesn't look like you have any lasting damage…no concussion, or anything." The doctor told him.
"Great…I'm thrilled, but please, I need to see Jeff." Nick pushed on.
"Absolutely…this way, then."
Nick rose, slowly, and followed the doctor down the hall, his own family behind him, minus Steven and Robby. Suddenly Nick paused.
"Bailey?" He said, turning to Meredith.
"…is fine, darling…the boys are with her. She's….quiet. She says she needs to speak to you, and you alone. I told her you'd want to see Jeffrey first, and she said she'd wait. And Nicholas…I've called your father. He should know she was hurt. I don't know where he is… if he'll come, but I wanted to give you a heads up." Nick just gave her a curt nod.
It felt like they walked for miles and hours just to get to Jeff, but when they stopped outside of a glassed off area that housed numerous curtained off spaces, not even real rooms, Nick looked perplexed. He raised his eyebrows and the doctor noticed.
"This is the ICU, Mr. Duval-"
"Sterling-Duval. You know what, let's stick with just 'Nick', can we? Nick is just fine."
"My apologies…Nick it is, then. Nick…your husband…he's been in a very serious accident, and although I know each of you probably wants to go in and say everything you've been holding in all night, unfortunately I can only allow Mr—Nick in at this time." Dr. Gillen explained, looking at the family around him. "The general rule for the ICU is three immediate family members, one at a time, preferably." The doctor smiled sadly and put his hand on Nick's shoulder, leading him through the door and into the area with all the curtained off spaces. He followed the man in his white coat with his name carefully embroidered on the front pocket at his chest…what was his name? It didn't matter. He was pulling the curtain aside, and there, looking small, broken and bruised, with tubes everywhere, was his Pretty Boy.
His stomach turned, and Nick was certain he'd be gagging up anything in his belly…if there had been anything there. As it was, he just felt the muscles lock up and revolt several times before he took a few deep breaths and settled down.
"Oh God…Jeff….my Jeff…" Nick whispered, tears now streaming freely down his face. He pulled a chair over to the bedside and just stared, watching the machines move, the numbers move, the lines on the equipment move….and Jeff stayed deadly still. His face was bruised and swollen and he was nearly unrecognizable to Nick this way. "Can I….um…." Nick asked, turning to the doctor, and motioning to Jeff's pale hand laying on the bed beside him.
"Absolutely, of course…in fact, we ask that you do. He hasn't woken up, Nick. Not yet…."
"And this is bad? I mean, wasn't he in surgery? Surely you gave him something to keep him unconscious, right? It's only been a few hours. He'll come out of that slowly...won't he?"
"He uh…yes, we did…that."
"Ok, be straight with me…just give it to me all at once, please?" Nick asked.
"We've done tests and scans and, unfortunately, I don't have a lot of positive things to say. We actually lost him on the table, once, and had to shock him. He…he's a fighter, Nick, that's for sure. He has a strong, healthy body, and I think that will work in his favor very much, but in the big scheme of things, please understand that only time will tell us if Jeff will recover…fully…both physically and mentally."
Nick hung his head, tears still slipping down his cheeks as he stared at Jeff's still frame. He raised a hand to touch his leg, which rested under the blanket covering him from his armpits down to the bottom of the bed. One leg was obviously bigger and bulkier than the other, and Nick raised a questioning brow to Dr. Gillen.
"Can I….I'm afraid to touch him. I don't want to hurt him…what's….what's wrong? Where can I…?" Nick sputtered out, unsure.
"It would probably be easier for me to tell you what's not broken, bruised, scraped, cut or punctured, Nick." The doctor replied gravely. "Mr. Sterling-Duval has a compound fracture to his right leg, his right wrist and arm are broken and his lung is punctured. Those are the worst of the 'visible' injuries…although I know you can't 'see' his lungs, the bruising in his chest is extensive, and when he's conscious again, it's going to hurt like hell to breathe. His internal organs are, for the most part, ok, but there will be some bruising. He's very lucky the man who stopped to help him was a med student, Nick. Had he not known how to deal with the punctured lung, things could be much worse right now. We were able to surgically repair the lung, and God willing, it will heal fully. There are other breaks…several fingers, a hairline fracture to his jaw and near his eye socket as well—"
"Stop…please, God….stop…" Nick begged, unable to hear another word. His hands shook as he reached for Jeff's left hand again. It looked perfect, not a single scratch or blemish, and he held it as if it was the most precious thing he'd ever held in his life…indeed, it may have been. Leaning over, he placed a kiss on Jeff's fingers that was so gentle it was more like a breath. He considered the doctor's words, replayed them in his mind and then it hit him.
"What did you say? There was a med student there when Jeff was hit? There was a witness to the accident?"
"Mr. Clarington was in the vehicle behind the one that hit your husband and sister, Nick. He was with another man who followed the vehicle, but Mr. Clarington got out to see if he could help your husband and Ms. Duval."
"Hunter…Hunter Clarington?" Nick asked.
"Yes, it was. Are you acquainted with him?"
"I am, yes….so he…was he with Sebastian?
"I'm not certain who he was with, Nick, just that they were driving, saw the accident happen and whoever was with Hunter left to pursue the vehicle that fled the scene." The doctor explained.
Nick dropped his chin to his chest and heaved in a great lungful of air. He was quiet for a few minutes, thinking, and the doctor let him have his silent reflection. At least Sebastian….well, he assumed it was Sebastian…would have an idea who it was. He'd get a plate number, make and model of the vehicle and all that. Maybe he was able to stop the car? Maybe they already had someone in custody? But it didn't matter, did it? The damage was done. Regardless of who was driving the car that hit them, Jeff and Bailey had a long road to recovery ahead of them. Nick sighed, long and loud, shaking his head.
"Well, then, doc, let's get to it, shall we? It seems my husband has his work cut out for him, and I plan to be here every single step of the way in any capacity that he requires of me. Tell me what I need to know to get him back on his feet, ok? He's a dancer, ya know? He's gonna need those limbs to heal strong, because he's very good at what he does, and I won't let him lose that." Nick said, his tone confident and upbeat. At the doc's raised brow, Nick smiled. "Look at that face, Doc. He's been my husband for not even 48 hours, and I don't think we've had nearly enough time together. If it is possible, in any way, we will get him back to full health no matter what. Get used to seeing my face because I'm not going anywhere. The love of my life needs me, and I'm gonna stick to your ass like glue until we have him back to 100%." Nick smiled.
"I can see that Mr. Sterling Duv—"
"Jeff…"
"Jeff, then…." He chuckled. "Jeff is a very lucky man. We have our work cut out for us, Nick, make no mistake about it. It's going to be a long, hard, road ahead. I welcome any and all help….but we have to get him through the next 24 hours first…it's critical right now."
"I'm in, sir. Just tell me what to do, what not to do, and where to start. Fill me in completely, because I have to call his mom, and I know she'll want the full report.
"You'll need to list the other two individuals who are immediate family that should be able to see him. Is his mother here in the city?" Dr. Gillen asked.
"No, she's back in Ohio." Nick replied, but looked away from the doctor as someone moving outside the glass doors caught his eye. Oh God, Blaine…. How was he going to get Blaine in here to see Jeff? It wasn't an option to tell him he wasn't "family"…it just wasn't. "Uh, listen Doc, I don't want to be a pain in the ass right from the start, but there's every chance in the world that Ms. Caroline, Jeff's mom, will bring his Grandmother with her, as they live together. They're extremely close, she and Jeff. That would be three people…but I can see that Jeff's…um….his uh…his step brother, Blaine, has just arrived, and those two are best friends…have been since they were kids. Would you consider bending the rules a bit to allow him four members of the family?" Nick asked, his sad puppy dog eyes working their magic as the doctor glanced over his shoulder at the obviously stricken boy at the doors. "If anyone can get through that thick skull of his to make him fight harder, it's Blaine." Nick said, feeling slightly guilty for the fib.
"I think we can make an exception." He said with a sad smile for Nick.
"Make everybody leave." Bailey whispered, staring blankly out the window of her room high above the streets below. Her arm was casted and in a sling, resting close to her body. She had a scrape on her cheek, her knuckles and her knees from where she'd fallen. But all in all, she was awake and sulking.
Nick raised a brow at Steven and Robby. They both stood up and left to wait outside.
"Ok…they're gone. Just you and me now, Bay. You wanna tell me what the hell was going on?" Nick said, his tone stern. She didn't reply at first, just stared out the window.
"It's my fault…all of this…it's my fault, and I know you hate me for it. I can't stop you from that, but –"
"I don't hate you…but I do want to know the story, and I'd appreciate if you'd just tell me….now."
"I was afraid, Bubby. I know when Daddy ran Jeff off before that you were desolate and depressed. I couldn't see you go through that again, so I went to talk to Jeff. I texted him several times, but he didn't answer. Then the cab guy wouldn't leave me alone and kept hitting on me, and when I said I wasn't interested, he kicked me out of his cab…in East Flatbush. I couldn't get another cab, and I went inside this little diner place and called Jeff. Finally he called me back. When he got there to pick me up, the cab drove off, and another never came, so we left. He wanted to call you to come get us, and I said no. I wouldn't let him call you….God! We were gonna walk to the subway, and then out of nowhere, this car came and…" she paused, in tears now. Nick walked over and sat on the bed next to her and took her hand. Choking on her words, she went on.
"He said stay with him, close by his side, and don't look at anyone…don't talk to anyone. He said he'd keep me safe…so I did. I stuck with him. I heard this car coming…it took off quickly and by the time I turned to see what was going on, it was too close. There were two people in the car, and the one in the passenger side seemed to be fighting with the guy driving…the car swerved away, but then it came right back at us. Jeff…Jeff shoved me away, but when I fell, I felt my arm snap when I hit the ground. There was a pile of old brick in that alley…I landed on it. And when I looked up, Jeff was flipping over the hood of the car…over the top of it like a rag doll and then he just flopped down and….oh God, Nick….the car was gone and Jeff was….Jeff was just bleeding…from everywhere. I crawled over to him and held him…screamed for someone to call 911, and I guess someone did, but I wasn't leaving him.
Some guy came out of nowhere, like…right after it happened…and took his wallet…he had a knife and, at that point, I wasn't worried about the fucking wallet…just Jeff. He took the cash out and threw the wallet. Another car came flying up to us, and that scared the thief off. The car stopped and a guy jumped out and ran over to us…but the car he got out of took off. Maybe it went after the car that hit Jeff, I don't know. I remember talking to someone, he told me his name was Hunter, but I was barely there…I felt like I kept losing consciousness and seeing Jeff like that…and my arm…the bones…God, Nicky…I felt so sick. I told them where you live, and then I woke up here. He wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for me, Nicky, and I'm sorry. I'm so damn sorry…." She cried harshly, hiccuping and gasping for air. "It's my fault!"
"Bailey, it was a random thing. You weren't driving the car, so it wasn't your fault he was hit." Nick said, trying so hard to console her a little with a hug. "It was probably some drunk…who knows?"
"The guy spoke to me as if he knew me, and I've seen him before. I was so shaken up, though, I couldn't remember where I knew him from. He kept screaming at Jeff, saying 'stay with me, man….stay with me, Jeff…' and I don't think I told him his name or anything. I think he knew him."
"Yeah…he's a friend of ours. I should try to get in touch with him…see if he's still here or something. Bay, worry about getting better. I have a phone call to make, ok? I'll be back later. Don't stress over this….Jeff's gonna need all of us to be there for him, so you need to get better. He loves you, ya know?" Nick smiled sadly.
"I know he does, Nicky, and I love him. If I had any doubts, he ripped them all away tonight when he kept me from being run down by that car. Please tell him I love him, Bubby. Tell him to get better, that I need him to help me pick out a new wardrobe, ok?" She replied, attempting a smile, but failing miserably.
The Duvals were split between floors. Meredith sat with her daughter, Robby and Stephen, while Nick sat with Jeff. Kurt, Blaine, Alex and Danny waited for him outside the glass doors. Nick had lost track of time as there were no windows in Jeff's small, curtained off area. He'd also dozed off a couple of times with his head on the sheet that covered Jeff's lower half. Sitting in the uncomfortable chair next to Jeff's bed didn't ward off the complete and utter exhaustion that was overtaking him.
He'd dozed for 20 minutes when the feel of his phone buzzing in his pocket woke him with a call from an unfamiliar phone number.
"H'lo?" he said, still groggy.
"Nick?"
"Yeah…who's—"
"Nick, it's Sebastian…Smythe. Look, man, I know now's not the greatest time, but I need you to come down to the station. We have the guy who…the driver of the vehicle who struck Jeff and your sister. There are things I need to discuss with you regarding…." Sebastian paused, unsure how to word what he was trying to say. "Can you spare me a few minutes?"
Nick took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders and wishing he could just curl up next to Jeff and sleep. That would surely get a rise out of the stuffy ass nurse outside the curtain. She'd already balked at him being there for so long, and all the boys in the hallway waiting. Screw her, he thought, it wasn't the love of her life struggling to hold on. He'd make a huge ass donation to something or someone at the hospital and tell them he was f-ing moving in if need be. Regardless, he'd be here to see Jeff through this til he walked- or rolled- outta here.
"Absolutely necessary, Seb? I don't really wanna leave him, ya know? I mean, if something changes, I wanna be here."
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was of the utmost importance, man. I know you don't want to leave his side, and I don't blame you in the least. If it was Hunter…" He trailed off. "God, I can't even think of it. Nick, I'm so damn sorry this happened. Come down here and help me close this case up so we can all concentrate on getting him back to his old, annoyingly blonde and perky ass self." Seb urged.
With a deep huff, Nick agreed and got the address to the police station where Seb was waiting.
"And Nick? Are your brothers still in town?"
"Yeah, yeah, they're here…a couple with me, a couple downstairs with Mom and Bailey. Kurt and Blaine are here with me, too."
"Leave Klaine with Blondie….but, uh….bring your brothers along, will you? Just a formality and all that."
"O-ok…? I'll see you in a few, Seb." Nick replied, disconnecting and stretching again as he stood. He took Jeff's pristine left hand again and held it up, kissing his fingers one by one. "Baby…I have to leave for a few minutes, ok? I'm leaving Blaine here with you. He'll be right in, and when I'm done at the police station, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere, ya hear me?" Nick smiled. "You feel free to wake up any time now, Pretty Boy. It's been too long since I've seen those gorgeous eyes."
He turned to the glass and found them all staring in at him and it was both comforting and unnerving. He motioned to Blaine to come in and when he did, the nurse began her annoying "one visitor at a time, Mr. Sterling-Duval…" bullshit. Blaine hesitated but when he saw Nick's stern countenance, he continued in to Jeff's bed while the nurse huffed in annoyance.
"Blaine, Sebastian called. I have to go down to the police station and…and I don't know what. They got the guy who was driving the car that hit Jeff and Bay. Would you sit here with him until I get back? I don't want him to be alone if he wakes up."
"Yeah…yeah, man. I'll be here, no worries. Go do what you need to do." Blaine replied, somberly.
Nick turned to go, but came back a few steps, picked up Jeff's left hand again and held it. He slid Jeff's wedding band off of his own finger and placed it back on Jeff's ring finger, then kissed it for good measure.
"Don't leave me, Pretty Boy. I can't do it without you, ya know? I'll be right back. I love you."
Nick walked out to the nurse at the desk and she looked down her nose at him. He smiled, trying to see this from her point of view. She saw shit like this every day, and to get through it, she probably had to tune out or it would drive her crazy.
"Hi…" Nick began. "I'm Nick….that's my husband, Jeff." He stuck his hand out and she took his and shook it, bewildered. "I know…I know you do this, day in and day out, and it's old hat to you. I get that. I thank you for it…really, I do. Without nurses…people like you…Lord, we'd all be in a heap o' trouble, wouldn't we?" He smiled at her. She gave a tentative smile back and nodded. "But look…" he said, pulling his phone out and showing her his photos from the wedding. "This is us…at our wedding….just a day ago. We…we um…" he began, and got all choked up, barely keeping himself from letting tears fall. "We just got married this weekend. He was picking my sister up from…from a bad situation…a bad neighborhood… and a random drunk, we figure, just barreled over him. He's a good man….the very best, and these guys here….Blaine and Kurt….they're close to him…great friends to him, and they're hurting, too. Please….I know there are rules and whatnot. I get that, I really do, but….please don't harass 'em. This is a horrible shock to all of us, and…." He tried to say, but his chest was heaving now with the stress of trying not to break down again. "Please…." He managed.
"Mr. Duval—"
"Sterling-Duval…" he hiccuped, forcing a smile.
"Mr. Sterling-Duval, just go do what you need to do. Your husband is in the best hands. The young man with him….he won't be bothered. Hurry back to his side. He'll want to see you when he wakes up, yeah?" She smiled warmly, feeling for this man before her who had nearly lost his new husband.
"I will…I'll be right back. I will…"
"Go…he's ok for now. Do your thing…come on back. We'll be here waiting." She smiled, patting his cheek as he turned to go. She watched Nick talk to a boy outside the glass for a minute, then he walked away with his brothers, but not without a longing, backward glance at Jeff as he walked. A few more minutes passed and she looked up to see the dark haired boy speaking with Jeff, his smile warm and his voice soft. The other boy outside the glass just stared, concern etched in his features as he sat forward in the chair he occupied, wringing his fingers. With a deep huff, she tilted her head and caught the boy's attention, nodding in the direction of Jeff's bed. When his eyes popped open wide, wondering if he'd understood correctly, she grinned warmly and jerked her head toward the bed again. Kurt got up quickly and came through the doors to sit by Jeff's bedside with Blaine, whispering a quiet "thank you" as he passed her.
A/N Three cheers for Suzanne, whose best friend got married today. She was the photographer...yet made time to edit this for me anyway. Love that woman! :)
Again, thanks for your patience. Sometimes, things just get nutty and ya gotta step back a bit, ya know? Thanks, SO MUCH for the reviews last chapter. Your words always make every late night writing well worth the bleary eyed mornings :) Hugs, guys. Have a great weekend!