***
Frank, Shay, Cody, and Alex followed the ambulance on its way back to the medical center. After Nick had time to receive a thorough examination, they would be allowed to 'interview' him. Cody was compiling photographs of all known Patriaka associates to show Nick. If he could identify the bastard who tortured him, then they could begin hunting him down.
--
Inside the ambulance, Michelle had assisted the EMTs in swabbing down a portion of Nick's forearm and then inserted an I.V. needle. While the EMT finished with the I.V., Michelle had begun gently cleaning the filth from Nick's face. The nurses on duty would attend to those needs, but she could not stop herself from doing it. His eyes watched her face steadily and she assumed he was looking for her reaction to the state he was in. She prayed he only saw love in her eyes. She had an overwhelming feeling that if he saw pity there, he would push her away and never see her again.
"No one else can do this," Nick spoke suddenly, his voice a hoarse whisper.
She had almost jumped when he spoke, but had managed to keep her composure. "Do what, baby?" she asked as she cleaned away more filth under his chin.
He reached out unexpectedly and grabbed her hand, stopping her busy little activity. He had no idea how hard he was squeezing, until her face drew into a painful expression and she whimpered softly and tried to pull her hand away.
"Nick, you're hurting me," she whispered calmly. Grief registered instantly in his dark eyes and his grip on her hand loosened, although he did not let go completely. "What is it, Nicky?"
"I don't want anyone else doing this," he explained. "Only you...you see and you look past the horror to the real man."
"Yes," she agreed simply. She knew where he was going with this. He could not bear the looks of pity and repulsion that he might receive. Something he had already experienced with many of the police and rescue personnel that had been on the scene.
A single tear escaped his eye and she reached out with her free hand to wipe it away as it slid across his temple and made a path for his hair. At that moment, his eyes locked with hers and he released her hand to touch her cheek softly. "You stayed with me the entire time. When I wanted to let go, you held me together." He squeezed his eyes closed and laid back into the tiny pillow. "God help me, Shelley...but I think I let go." His eyes opened and locked onto hers, searching for a lifeline he had thought he had lost.
Michelle could not stop the tears that filled her eyes. "No, baby, you didn't. I promise you." She leaned down and pressed her lips to his cheek, kissing him tenderly. When she rose up, she noted the appalled look the attending EMT had on his face. She held back the hateful words she wanted to throw at the man, but for Nick's sake she kept quiet. In actuality, she could understand his reaction. The days that Nick had been held captive had left him covered in his own filth, blood, and God knew what else. But she did not care about that, and Nick had no control over it. If she were to react to any of it, it might send him to a place where he would not let her follow. This moment in time was precarious for his psyche and she would do her best to keep him from disappearing. She focused her attention back on Nick. She put aside the swab and cupped his face gently with her hands. "You were with me...you never let go, not for one instant."
Nick nodded and closed his eyes again, comforted by her words and presence. She was his heart and she would know above all others. When he had doubted himself in the past, she had put him back on the path. This time would not be different.
Michelle leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I promise you...no one else will see you. I'll take care of you."
"I love you." He turned his head slightly and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He still half expected her to pull away from him. Instead, she touched her forehead to his and said, "I can't tell you how good it is to hear those words from your lips, my Adonis. I love you..."
--
Michelle had used the ambulance's radio to call ahead to Matt. He promised to take care of everything. When they arrived at the hospital, she was surprised to see how few people milled about the emergency room. When Nick had been removed from the ambulance, she pulled the sheet over his head. She was worried he would find that morbid and told him that because there were still people around, it was the only way to keep them from seeing him. Once she had him in an ER room, she would make sure no one would get near him until he was ready. He understood, after a brief conversation, that Matt would be waiting in that ER room to treat him. He had accepted that without fuss.
--
Frank waited impatiently in the waiting room along with Shay, Alex, and Cody. He was not sure how long he had been pacing, but on his umpteenth trip across the room, he turned and nearly collided with his wife. She offered him a cup of coffee, which he accepted from her with a weak smile. "I put a call into Monica. She said to give Nick her number. If he doesn't contact her within a couple days, she'll contact him. She said it would be best if he contacts her."
Shay nodded. "It shows he wants and understands he needs help." She touched a hand to Frank's cheek and softly stroked it with her thumb. "Do not take this on yourself, Tiger. You didn't do this to him."
"Didn't I?" he questioned, exasperated. "I don't have the first clue as to what I'm even doing in San Francisco."
"Whatever that reason, it has nothing to do with the fact that Patriaka sent someone to hunt you down," she assured him. "The fact that you were on a road headed away from the airport in Nick's car, leads us to believe that the two of you met there. Now, considering that, the logical conclusion is that is where Patriaka's goons mixed the two of you up." Her arms slid around his back, embracing him comfortingly. "You were chased and run off the road, eventually killing your attackers. Nick must have been seen by a separate set of men, and was not so fortunate."
"Still doesn't leave me off the hook, Shay. If they weren't after me, nothing would have happened to Nick," he argued, burying his face into her hair. He felt her gentle touch as her hands trailed over his back. "I love you, Ash."
She smiled against the purple shirt he wore. "Love you, too, Tiger."
A soft 'ahem' broke them apart and they turned to see Dr. Slingerland. "I wanted to give you an update on Nick before you go in to see him. He's severely dehydrated." He glanced around the room at each of them before centering his attention back on Donovan. "The plastic surgeon assures us that the burns he sustained can be repaired with minimal scarring and his body will need some time to get over the shock it's been through. Physically, there has been no permanent damage. Of course, we are urging him to seek counseling for PTSD."
Frank nodded. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; that would be Nick's biggest battle. He might eventually decide that staying alive had been the easy part. Frank's guilt only increased at that thought. "A former team member of mine has a practice in L.A. We've already been in contact with her..."
Matt nodded. "It would be best if he accepts treatment right away, but he can't be forced."
"I know that. Can we see him now?"
"Of course."
***
Frank approached the room with Shay at his side, Cody's laptop tucked firmly in her arms. Cody and Alex had stayed behind; too many people at once might not be well received by Nick. As it were, Frank was setting himself up for more rejection, knowing how Nick felt about him at the moment. They stood at the doorway for a moment, taking in the sight of Michelle sitting on the edge of the bed, Nick's hand linked with hers.
Nick glanced at the doorway, feeling eyes upon him, and saw Frank standing with his wife. "Get away from me!" he spat as forcefully as he could manage.
Michelle jumped slightly at the sound of hatred in his voice. The feeling was visible in his dark eyes. He blamed his cousin for what he went through and Michelle understood. Nick was taken because he was identical in appearance to Frank and for no other reason than that. He had a right to his feelings, whether they were reasonable or not. Nick needed help; getting control back in his life would not happen over night, control that had been ripped from him without warning.
Frank sighed unhappily and entered the room hesitantly. He would leave, but there was the matter of the scum who had done this to Nick. If Nick could identify him, Frank would see to it the man paid for what he had done. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Nick, and I will leave, but first we need you to look through mug shots."
Nick remained silent. His only response was to fold his arms over his chest as best he could with all the tubes and machines hooked to him.
Shay moved forward and set the laptop on the bed table. She opened the program and clicked through the photos. Although Nick put up passive resistance at first, eventually his eyes focused on the pictures as they cycled slowly. She saw his eyes widen before they closed tightly, as if trying to block out the sight. She stopped the program on that photograph. Rudolf Folterung. "Is this the man, Nick? Was he responsible for what happened to you?"
Nick opened his eyes slowly and focused on the soft blue of Shay's eyes. He saw concern there and sadness, but he had the feeling the sadness was reserved for her husband, not him. He wanted to assure her that he did not hold Frank responsible, but something inside him held back. Because he really did, didn't he? It was Frank's fault. Frank chose the line of work he was in, however dangerous. Each day he put not only his own life, but also those of his family in danger. The sad thing is, that he probably did not even realize it. "It was him. Now go away...both of you."
Shay looked up at Frank, who nodded dejectedly and backed away, leaving the room. She gave Nick and Michelle a saddened look before she turned and followed her husband. This was a lot to deal with for both men and although she loved Nick, her first priority was her husband. She caught up to him and slipped her hand in his.
"He'll never forgive me," he stated sorrowfully.
Shay stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. She held the laptop in one arm and slid the other around his waist gently and pulled him into a soft hug, mindful of his ribs. "Give him time," she whispered before kissing his lips tenderly. "You've helped by calling Monica and we'll give that information to Michelle. In the meantime, he needs just what he asked for...space."
"I know, Ashling," he agreed reluctantly, wrapping his arms around her and drinking in every ounce of comfort she silently offered him. "I'm a constant reminder of his ordeal. I can only hope he'll one day..." he trailed off as he buried his face against her neck.
"Come on, Baby," she urged softly. "Let's get you somewhere that you can get a little rest."
***
to be continued...