Issues by SLynn
Disclaimer: I own only the thoughts in my head and the characters you don't recognize.
Notes: Honest to goodness, I think this is my first entirely Greg free chapter!
Chapter 21: It Will Do
The ride to her place had been nearly silent. It would have been completely silent if Nick hadn't needed to ask her directions. He'd never been to her place before.
She lived in one of the nicer condominium complexes in the area, not too far from work and just far enough away from the strip. Not sure if she wanted him to accompany her up, he erred on the side of caution and walked her to the lobby.
"I'm on the seventh," she said to him as she pressed the elevator call button and he took that as an invitation.
Amy was otherwise quiet.
They got out of the elevator together and he'd followed her down the hall to her place. 708. Greg had returned her keys before they'd left the garage, and now she fumbled with them momentarily trying to unlock the door. The problem was her hand wouldn't stay still long enough to get the key into the slot.
Without being asked and before she could become too embarrassed by the situation, Nick just stepped up, put his hand over hers, and helped her.
"Thanks," she said, smiling up at him briefly, as it came undone before them.
Her place was nice. Very nice. It had a sunken living room complete with a view of the strip and a fireplace, a large kitchen and dining area and at least two bedrooms that he could see.
"Wow," Nick said taking it in, "I didn't think you made this much more then me. Kind of makes me wonder why Greg quit working in the lab."
Amy laughed. A real genuine laugh.
"No," she corrected, "I don't pay for this. I couldn't pay for this."
"You got a sugar daddy I don't know about?" he asked, smiling at her for the first time all night.
"Hardly, just a regular one. And a mom. They bought it for me. Kind of a late graduation gift."
"You got this for graduating from college?"
"No need to remind me that I'm spoiled."
"No," he said, trying to back peddle, "I didn't mean it like that. It's just, most people get cars or something. Heck, all I got was a pat on the back and a congratulations."
"Well, my parents weren't very excited when I said I was moving here for this job. They knew what I'd be making and didn't think it was enough to afford a nice enough place on my own."
Nick nodded understandingly. If he had a daughter going off alone to a city like this, he'd do everything he could to make her safe too. Of course, a lot of good it had done. Amy had been attacked just outside of work. No where was completely safe.
"So," she asked, "do you want a drink?"
"Sure, let me help."
"No," she said, motioning him off to the living room "have a seat, really. I've got it. Soda, beer or wine?"
"Beer is good," he said not sitting down, but looking around a bit. He briefly scanned her bookcase, recognized most of the titles because Greg's were nearly identical. It wasn't surprising seeing as they were both chemist.
She'd come back and caught him holding a picture frame in his hands, examining the picture inside.
"My family," she said to his back.
"Sorry," he said hastily putting it back, "habit."
"I bet," was all she said as she handed him his drink. She'd opted for wine.
"I'd of thought you were an only child," he said as he took a seat on the couch.
"Nope, I'm the Jan," she said, settling uneasily into the nearby chair. "Two sisters, one older and one younger. Jennifer and Karen. What about you?"
"I'm the baby of the family."
"That I can believe," she said with a laugh. "Out of how many?"
"Seven including me."
"What?" she asked in disbelief. "You're mom had seven kids? That's amazing. I'm not sure how I'm ever going to even have one. My mom's an OB and let's just say I've seen things."
Nick laughed then noticed how Amy's hands were shaking a bit still; it was only obvious because of the wine glass she was holding out before her. As if she needed something to do with her hands. She was talking and laughing, but she still wasn't alright. Not yet.
Aware that he was watching her hands, she set the glass down and stood up abruptly.
"Do you mind if I go and clean up?" she asked, already starting to head towards the back. "Just help yourself to whatever and I'll be out in like ten minutes."
She didn't wait for an answer, just turned and left. Amy needed to be alone for a second. To collect her thoughts. Hurrying into her bedroom, she was nearly to the bathroom when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. It was startling, frightening even because at first, she hadn't know it was her.
Amy hadn't really seen it until now. The whole time, even with that giant mirror in the interrogation room, she hadn't looked. She knew how sore she felt, could feel the swelling, but she hadn't seen it. But there it was, staring back at her now.
Slowly she took of the jacket, Nick's jacket that had been way too big for her. The one she'd worn all night. She could picture the look on his face still, the one she'd seen when Bobby had helped her inside and they'd ran straight into him. The first thing he'd done was to take off his jacket and wrap it around her protectively, and then he'd put and arm around her waist and sent Bobby off for help. It had been just them for a few moments and she'd felt safe again.
Amy kept undressing right there in front of the mirror. She had to see it. Had to see what had happened to her. The cuts on her face weren't bad. She felt a small knot form just above her forehead, where he must have knocked her unconscious, but mainly that was it. Her neck was the worse part. Her neck was completely bruised, black and blue. She'd always thought that was just an expression until now. But Amy's neck really was black and blue, a little yellow even.
Unable to stop now, she undid her shirt, button my button. Her left fore arm had visible finger marks around it and she remembered why. When he'd held her up by the hair, he'd also taken hold of her arm. Right there. It looked tattooed onto her skin and the thought made her shudder. Like she'd never shake him off of her.
Her right side was worse. Under her arm is where she'd hit the car. Where he'd rammed her into the side of the car causing her to fall for the first time and scrap her knee in the process. It was nearly as black and blue as her neck, but not quite. It didn't hurt, not really, it was only tender. Amy ran her fingers over it; the bruise was easily twice as big as her hand. It didn't seem real.
How'd she let this happen? How could she have been so stupid?
Amy's mind was filled with all of the things she should have done. If she'd only carried her keys in her hands, instead of putting them back into her purse. If only she'd scratched his face, at least gotten a piece of him as evidence, they might know who it was right now. If only she'd left for work on time. It was all racing back to her, a hundred or more mistakes she'd made.
There was a soft knock at the door that brought her back to reality.
"Amy," she heard Nick ask softly from the other side, "Are you okay?"
She pulled a shirt out of her dresser and quickly pulled it on. Looking back into the mirror she'd only then realized she'd been crying.
"Just, give me a second," she answered, dashing into the bathroom and drying her face on a towel.
"I thought I heard you, um, in here, and I wanted to make sure you were alright."
His voice had been closer this time. Coming out of the bathroom, Amy knew why. He'd just about met her at the door connecting her bedroom and bath.
"Sorry," he said upon seeing her surprise.
"No, don't be. But I'm fine."
She hadn't looked at him once while saying it. Couldn't. She knew she was close to tears again and she didn't want him always seeing her cry. It was bad enough the first few times, now it was just getting ridiculous.
"Amy," he said, his voice imploring her to look up.
Nick gently took hold of her right hand. He rested his other hand on her opposite shoulder before slowly moving it up till his fingertips just rested on the nape of her neck.
If it had been anyone else, she'd have flinched. Maybe even pushed them away. Amy hadn't even let the EMTs touch her neck after what had happened, but Nick she trusted. He wasn't going to hurt her.
They were closer now, much closer. Her hand was no longer resting in his, but on his back. There wasn't any space left between them. Nick was slowly running his thumb along her jaw, gently pressing her to look him in the eyes. Reluctantly she did, a few tears escaping her.
He wanted to kiss her.
He wanted to, but didn't. Nick thought it would be too much like taking advantage. She was hurt and upset and he didn't want to add to that. Instead he just pulled her completely into him and held her as the storm of tears had begun to fall.
Amy had cried until she just couldn't any more. It all came out, how scared she'd been, how angry, how extremely weak she felt. How terrified, how extremely terrified she still was.
Nick did everything he could for her, but mostly all she needed was somebody there. Someone who would hold her and tell her it was going to be alright. Someone to make it alright again. He found he could do that rather easily.
Neither of them was certain when they'd fallen asleep, but as the morning sun crept into the room, it was evident that they had.
Nick woke up first. Nothing had happened between them, nothing physical, but it had still been a bit of an eye opener when he'd realized it was Amy whose head was resting on his chest, curled up next to him. When he'd remembered that he'd stayed the night. Not wanting to wake her, he brushed a few stray hairs out of her face, tucking them back behind her ear like he had one night in the break room, a night that seemed like ages ago.
"Morning," he said as he saw her eyelids flutter.
An amused smile lit his face as he saw the confusion on hers as she looked at him, a moment before she realized that nothing had happened either.
"I drooled on you," she said before she could stop herself.
Nick just laughed, even as she turned red from embarrassment, pulling herself up off of him and trying to come awake.
"That's okay," he assured her, "I slept with my shoes on your bed so we're even."
"I thought that's how Texans did it," she blurted out again as she'd gotten out of bed, if possible turning redder then before as she'd finally thought through all the connotations that statement held.
Nick laughed even harder.
"I, oh man," Amy stammered from the doorway of the bathroom, "in the morning, before coffee, my mouth just says these things. I'm sorry. Please ignore me."
"I should probably go make some coffee then," he said, getting up off the bed.
"Yes, before I speak again. I'm just going to jump in the shower."
Nick nodded and made his way into the main part of her place. He grabbed their half empty glasses out of the living room and headed into the kitchen. After starting up the coffee he decided on breakfast.
"Wow," she said coming into the kitchen her hair still wet but looking much more refreshed, "if I knew you could cook I would had let you stay over here sooner."
"Here's your coffee," he said with a smirk, choosing not to comment on her last statement as he handed her the mug.
She smiled at him and took a sip.
"Thanks for staying," she started, "I know you didn't have too. And I really do appreciate it. It really meant a lot to me."
Nick didn't turn towards her. Thought that if he did he might do something rash, might say something rash. So instead he continued cooking breakfast.
"Amy don't thank me. You're my friend. I'd do anything for you."
Amy nodded and said nothing more. She understood. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but it would do. For now it would do.