Title: On a Bed of Angels
Author: A. Beautiful. Disaster
Rating: PG.-13 to R
Summary: How can such a cruel thing happen to the most undeserving? A man so sensitive, a man so sweet and gentle How can someone have such a beautiful thing taken from him? A nick piece.
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em
Notes: Thanks you all for the reviews. Keep them coming, I appreciate feed back. ^_^
Okay so I'm a Canadian teen with little knowledge of Nevada. This is, most likely, inaccurate.
Longest chapter yet. Worked on it all night, between homework. Enjoy! ^_^
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The tears that were welling up in Nick's eyes blurred his vision and he nearly stumbled over his own feet. He cursed under his breath as the tears spilled over and slowly made their way down his cheek. He wiped them away furiously and snatched his keys from his pocket. With a vicious turn he unlocked his Tahoe and climbed inside. He jabbed the ignition with his keys, missing each time. He growled in frustration before he gave a finale stab and heard the satisfying click. His hand paused, hovering over the keys before it slacked and fell limp.
He crossed his arms over the steering wheel and slowly lowered his head. Burying his face into the crook of his arm, he began to cry. Tears streamed down his checks and left their wet path on the steering wheel. His breath hitched in his throat as he choked on a sob. His lungs burned and his throat was raw. It was so hard to breathe past the tears, past the sobs, past the guilt. It was his fault. All his fault.
~~
"Lillian" She glanced up as she heard the familiar voice utter her name. Her hair spilled across her shoulders at the movement. She smiled brightly once her brown eyes landed on her uncle. He stood leaning against the door way to the spear room, where she had created a make-shift place for herself.
He grinned at her, before lifting himself off the door frame. He crossed over to the bed in two swift strides and planted a kiss on Lily's head. A soft smile came to her lips at the gesture. How she had missed her uncle. She remembered when she a little girl, with freckles that dotted her nose and a few missing teeth that created a truly juvenile grin. She remembered how Uncle Nick used to take her for a full day, picking her up at nine o'clock, lifting her small body and swinging her skinny legs over his shoulders. She giggled, loving the feeling of being so high in the air. Feeling like nothing could touch her. She knew that nothing could, not while she was with her uncle.
He would take her out for ice cream and take her to so many exciting places her head would be dizzy with the adventures of the day. She remembered how at the end of the day he'd tuck her in and kiss her good night. Reading bed time stories until she feel asleep, her eyes too tired to stay open. Her body to exhausted to listen to the rest of the stories. Come to think of it, she still never really found out how the stories ended.
She laughed at the memory of one night when she had slept at his house, during the worst storm she had ever seen as a child. The night was darker than she had ever seen it before, the moon had hid it's face from her and she was saddened that he didn't want to watch over her. How innocent a child can be. She had been awaken by thunder booming outside, rattling every window in the house. She had pulled the covers up to her chin, her brown eyes wide with fear and her little body trembling uncontrollably. She had made a mad dash down the hall. blanket fluttering after her like a kite on a windy day. She had made it to his room before the next crack of thunder. She squeaked in fear before crawling under the covers and squirming to find her uncle hidden beneath the sheets. How she missed those days.
"I have to go to work." His words brought her back to reality with violent jolt. He had to leave. Leave her alone. She chided herself for being so childish. She was fifteen, she could survive on her own for the night. How foolish of her.
Alone at night, it didn't sit well with her.
"When will you be back?" She asked with a light tone and was relieved when her voice did not faultier. Nick eyed his niece suspiciously, he knew she was trying to hide her fear.
"Soon, I get off early." He told her with a smile as he sat next to her on the bed. She smiled brightly, but Nick noticed that the smile never reached her eyes. She was frightened. He grinned and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her protectively towards him. She dropped her eyes to the floor not wanting to catch his gaze.
"Wake me when you get in?" He smiled and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
"With a steaming cup of coffee." He promised her, before he let go of her and walked out the door. He caught a backward glance of her smiling before she disappeared from his line of sight.
~~
His tears slowed. His sobs dissipated. His chest heaved with every in take of breath, before it slowed. In and out. In and out. In and out. In and out, he focussed on the rhythm. In and out. In and out. In and out. He closed his sore eyes and imagined Lily asleep, her limbs tangled in a blanket. Looking more innocent than ever as she dreamed. His niece, an angel, safe from the dangers of the world. Safe from the wandering eyes of strangers. Safe from harm. Safe from pain. He imagined her chest rising and falling. In and out. In and out. In and out. In and out. Just like his own.
He opened his eyes slowly, the image of his sleeping niece still fresh in his mind. He turned the keys and the engine roared to life. He backed the car out quickly, tires squealing as he speed off into the dark. He rolled down the window and the cool desert night air hit him like a brick wall. He closed his eyes for a moment and let the wind whip his face. He loved the feeling. It reminded him of his youth. It made him feel alive.
He drove, far faster than he should on a residential street, speeding down the road in a blur. A nameless shadow, like the one that took Lily. He turned a corner sharply, narrowly missing three garbage can's, and continued to gain speed. His dark eyes mimicked the coolness of stone and when Nick caught a glance of them in the mirror he was shocked. He wasn't even sure if those were his own eyes, starring back at him, cold as ice.
His gaze returned to the road and he eased up on the gas. He knew exactly where he was going but he was not exactly sure that he wanted to go there. Seven miles. Seven miles. Only seven miles.
~~
"Hi!" Catherine chirped, confusion etched in her voice. Her eyes widened with shock as she found a fifteen year old staring back at her from the door way. She even leaned over to check the numbers next to the door, just to be sure she had the right home. She hit the palm of her hand with a folder as she leaned on the balls of her feet trying to see past the young girl, who seemed quite familiar.
"Uncle Nick!" The girl turned and called into the house. She opened the door wide welcoming Catherine in with her hand. The smell of food sizzling on the stove assaulted Catherine's nose and she winced when she heard her stomach growl. God she was hungry. The girl, who she had finally realized was Lillian, Nick's niece, smiled kindly at Catherine as she strained her neck to peer into the kitchen.
"Uncle Nick!" She shouted again, taping her foot against the floor waiting for her uncle to tend to his guest. Catherine and Lillian both jumped at the sudden sound of pots clattering to the floor.
"Shit!" Catherine smiled as Nick's curse carried above the shattering sound of metal against the floor. Catherine raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Moments later Nick appeared around the corner with a grin on his face. Lily brusted into a fit of laughter and Catherine chuckled at the domesticated Nicholas Stokes.
"Lily." He ordered over the sound of her laughter. "Cook!" He pointed towards the kitchen and Lily left to tend to the food.
"Hey Cat!' Nick greeted as Catherine smiled handing him the folder she hand been holding in her hand. "Sorry to darken the mood." He opened the folder and was met with grisly photos of a bloody young girl, not much older than Lily herself. The girl's short brown hair was caked in blood and Nick squinted to see her face through the crimson. Her porcelain skin was marked with bruise after bruise, creating sick constellations on her flesh. He noted that her legs were twisted. spread obscenely. Her skirt, ripped and tattered, barely covered her. Her underwear was missing. Nick swallowed loudly, as his gaze drifted away.
"Christina Brookes, age fifteen, found rapped and murdered on the side of the highway." Catherine's voice was calm and steady but the case unnerved her more then she would have liked to admit.
"She had been missing for a month, but she had been dead for less than twelve hours." Nick walked into the living room and Catherine followed, watching him as he studied the photos with disgust in his eyes.
"Who could do such a thing?" He asked her his voice sharp but hushed. He threw the file on the coffee table and crossed his arms over his chest. Catherine shook her head, she didn't have an answer, for she had been asking herself the same question. Who could commit such a brutal crime?
~~
Nick pulled into the drive way of the modest home in Henderson, only seven miles for Vegas. He cut the engine and watched as the beams of light from the headlights died and faded away. He sighed heavily and leaned back in his seat, covering his face with his hands. He pocketed his keys and opened the door.
~~
"I can't go back Uncle Nick!" Lillian shouted angrily, her eyes glassy. "I can never go back not to them." She hissed through gritted teeth. Anger burned in her eyes like embers, before they were smothered by the tears that she couldn't fight any longer. She broke down and cried.
~~
With Lillian's words echoing through his mind, he reached the front door. His eyes dropped to his feet and he watched as he kicked at the dirt that was on the front step. What was he to say? How could he even face them? He gaze returned to the door but he couldn't build up the courage to form a fist and knock. He noticed that a few light in the house were on, which was peculiar, considering it was three or four in the morning.
With a sharp in take of breath he raise his hand and pounded on the door. He heard a familiar female voice chattering inside and he jumped when the door was opened quicker than he expected. His sister-in-law's tired blue eyes were etched with worry. Her blond hair was mused from a night of tossing and turning. She wrapped her terry cloth house coat around her body.
"Nick," She whispered almost accusing, "Where the hell is my daughter." Her eyes were red and Nick could tell she had been crying. "She wasn't here when we woke up." He voice cracked and she put a hand over her mouth. "She ran away Nick." She shook her head, strands of her hair falling in her face. "Where is she?"
Reviews are well come. ^_^
I'm sure there are errors in this and I will try to have them fixed by tomorrow night. But I'm much to tired tonight.
take care
Author: A. Beautiful. Disaster
Rating: PG.-13 to R
Summary: How can such a cruel thing happen to the most undeserving? A man so sensitive, a man so sweet and gentle How can someone have such a beautiful thing taken from him? A nick piece.
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em
Notes: Thanks you all for the reviews. Keep them coming, I appreciate feed back. ^_^
Okay so I'm a Canadian teen with little knowledge of Nevada. This is, most likely, inaccurate.
Longest chapter yet. Worked on it all night, between homework. Enjoy! ^_^
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
The tears that were welling up in Nick's eyes blurred his vision and he nearly stumbled over his own feet. He cursed under his breath as the tears spilled over and slowly made their way down his cheek. He wiped them away furiously and snatched his keys from his pocket. With a vicious turn he unlocked his Tahoe and climbed inside. He jabbed the ignition with his keys, missing each time. He growled in frustration before he gave a finale stab and heard the satisfying click. His hand paused, hovering over the keys before it slacked and fell limp.
He crossed his arms over the steering wheel and slowly lowered his head. Burying his face into the crook of his arm, he began to cry. Tears streamed down his checks and left their wet path on the steering wheel. His breath hitched in his throat as he choked on a sob. His lungs burned and his throat was raw. It was so hard to breathe past the tears, past the sobs, past the guilt. It was his fault. All his fault.
~~
"Lillian" She glanced up as she heard the familiar voice utter her name. Her hair spilled across her shoulders at the movement. She smiled brightly once her brown eyes landed on her uncle. He stood leaning against the door way to the spear room, where she had created a make-shift place for herself.
He grinned at her, before lifting himself off the door frame. He crossed over to the bed in two swift strides and planted a kiss on Lily's head. A soft smile came to her lips at the gesture. How she had missed her uncle. She remembered when she a little girl, with freckles that dotted her nose and a few missing teeth that created a truly juvenile grin. She remembered how Uncle Nick used to take her for a full day, picking her up at nine o'clock, lifting her small body and swinging her skinny legs over his shoulders. She giggled, loving the feeling of being so high in the air. Feeling like nothing could touch her. She knew that nothing could, not while she was with her uncle.
He would take her out for ice cream and take her to so many exciting places her head would be dizzy with the adventures of the day. She remembered how at the end of the day he'd tuck her in and kiss her good night. Reading bed time stories until she feel asleep, her eyes too tired to stay open. Her body to exhausted to listen to the rest of the stories. Come to think of it, she still never really found out how the stories ended.
She laughed at the memory of one night when she had slept at his house, during the worst storm she had ever seen as a child. The night was darker than she had ever seen it before, the moon had hid it's face from her and she was saddened that he didn't want to watch over her. How innocent a child can be. She had been awaken by thunder booming outside, rattling every window in the house. She had pulled the covers up to her chin, her brown eyes wide with fear and her little body trembling uncontrollably. She had made a mad dash down the hall. blanket fluttering after her like a kite on a windy day. She had made it to his room before the next crack of thunder. She squeaked in fear before crawling under the covers and squirming to find her uncle hidden beneath the sheets. How she missed those days.
"I have to go to work." His words brought her back to reality with violent jolt. He had to leave. Leave her alone. She chided herself for being so childish. She was fifteen, she could survive on her own for the night. How foolish of her.
Alone at night, it didn't sit well with her.
"When will you be back?" She asked with a light tone and was relieved when her voice did not faultier. Nick eyed his niece suspiciously, he knew she was trying to hide her fear.
"Soon, I get off early." He told her with a smile as he sat next to her on the bed. She smiled brightly, but Nick noticed that the smile never reached her eyes. She was frightened. He grinned and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her protectively towards him. She dropped her eyes to the floor not wanting to catch his gaze.
"Wake me when you get in?" He smiled and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
"With a steaming cup of coffee." He promised her, before he let go of her and walked out the door. He caught a backward glance of her smiling before she disappeared from his line of sight.
~~
His tears slowed. His sobs dissipated. His chest heaved with every in take of breath, before it slowed. In and out. In and out. In and out. In and out, he focussed on the rhythm. In and out. In and out. In and out. He closed his sore eyes and imagined Lily asleep, her limbs tangled in a blanket. Looking more innocent than ever as she dreamed. His niece, an angel, safe from the dangers of the world. Safe from the wandering eyes of strangers. Safe from harm. Safe from pain. He imagined her chest rising and falling. In and out. In and out. In and out. In and out. Just like his own.
He opened his eyes slowly, the image of his sleeping niece still fresh in his mind. He turned the keys and the engine roared to life. He backed the car out quickly, tires squealing as he speed off into the dark. He rolled down the window and the cool desert night air hit him like a brick wall. He closed his eyes for a moment and let the wind whip his face. He loved the feeling. It reminded him of his youth. It made him feel alive.
He drove, far faster than he should on a residential street, speeding down the road in a blur. A nameless shadow, like the one that took Lily. He turned a corner sharply, narrowly missing three garbage can's, and continued to gain speed. His dark eyes mimicked the coolness of stone and when Nick caught a glance of them in the mirror he was shocked. He wasn't even sure if those were his own eyes, starring back at him, cold as ice.
His gaze returned to the road and he eased up on the gas. He knew exactly where he was going but he was not exactly sure that he wanted to go there. Seven miles. Seven miles. Only seven miles.
~~
"Hi!" Catherine chirped, confusion etched in her voice. Her eyes widened with shock as she found a fifteen year old staring back at her from the door way. She even leaned over to check the numbers next to the door, just to be sure she had the right home. She hit the palm of her hand with a folder as she leaned on the balls of her feet trying to see past the young girl, who seemed quite familiar.
"Uncle Nick!" The girl turned and called into the house. She opened the door wide welcoming Catherine in with her hand. The smell of food sizzling on the stove assaulted Catherine's nose and she winced when she heard her stomach growl. God she was hungry. The girl, who she had finally realized was Lillian, Nick's niece, smiled kindly at Catherine as she strained her neck to peer into the kitchen.
"Uncle Nick!" She shouted again, taping her foot against the floor waiting for her uncle to tend to his guest. Catherine and Lillian both jumped at the sudden sound of pots clattering to the floor.
"Shit!" Catherine smiled as Nick's curse carried above the shattering sound of metal against the floor. Catherine raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Moments later Nick appeared around the corner with a grin on his face. Lily brusted into a fit of laughter and Catherine chuckled at the domesticated Nicholas Stokes.
"Lily." He ordered over the sound of her laughter. "Cook!" He pointed towards the kitchen and Lily left to tend to the food.
"Hey Cat!' Nick greeted as Catherine smiled handing him the folder she hand been holding in her hand. "Sorry to darken the mood." He opened the folder and was met with grisly photos of a bloody young girl, not much older than Lily herself. The girl's short brown hair was caked in blood and Nick squinted to see her face through the crimson. Her porcelain skin was marked with bruise after bruise, creating sick constellations on her flesh. He noted that her legs were twisted. spread obscenely. Her skirt, ripped and tattered, barely covered her. Her underwear was missing. Nick swallowed loudly, as his gaze drifted away.
"Christina Brookes, age fifteen, found rapped and murdered on the side of the highway." Catherine's voice was calm and steady but the case unnerved her more then she would have liked to admit.
"She had been missing for a month, but she had been dead for less than twelve hours." Nick walked into the living room and Catherine followed, watching him as he studied the photos with disgust in his eyes.
"Who could do such a thing?" He asked her his voice sharp but hushed. He threw the file on the coffee table and crossed his arms over his chest. Catherine shook her head, she didn't have an answer, for she had been asking herself the same question. Who could commit such a brutal crime?
~~
Nick pulled into the drive way of the modest home in Henderson, only seven miles for Vegas. He cut the engine and watched as the beams of light from the headlights died and faded away. He sighed heavily and leaned back in his seat, covering his face with his hands. He pocketed his keys and opened the door.
~~
"I can't go back Uncle Nick!" Lillian shouted angrily, her eyes glassy. "I can never go back not to them." She hissed through gritted teeth. Anger burned in her eyes like embers, before they were smothered by the tears that she couldn't fight any longer. She broke down and cried.
~~
With Lillian's words echoing through his mind, he reached the front door. His eyes dropped to his feet and he watched as he kicked at the dirt that was on the front step. What was he to say? How could he even face them? He gaze returned to the door but he couldn't build up the courage to form a fist and knock. He noticed that a few light in the house were on, which was peculiar, considering it was three or four in the morning.
With a sharp in take of breath he raise his hand and pounded on the door. He heard a familiar female voice chattering inside and he jumped when the door was opened quicker than he expected. His sister-in-law's tired blue eyes were etched with worry. Her blond hair was mused from a night of tossing and turning. She wrapped her terry cloth house coat around her body.
"Nick," She whispered almost accusing, "Where the hell is my daughter." Her eyes were red and Nick could tell she had been crying. "She wasn't here when we woke up." He voice cracked and she put a hand over her mouth. "She ran away Nick." She shook her head, strands of her hair falling in her face. "Where is she?"
Reviews are well come. ^_^
I'm sure there are errors in this and I will try to have them fixed by tomorrow night. But I'm much to tired tonight.
take care