Chapter 2: Trouble in Paradise

The Newman Ranch: Thanksgiving

The whole family and crew had just finished dinner, Miguel and Ester had out done them selves this year.

Victor, Ryan, Nick, and Neil and the boys sat in front of the TV watching the last football game of the day.

The girls were still sitting at the dining room table talking about the latest gossip in Genoa City. Lily and Cassie were sitting in the atrium talking about the cutest boys at school.

"Yes! I knew Quincy could throw the pass! Ha – we Cowboys have it in the bag!" Ryan said.

"Yes! Ha- I think we'll take lunch at Gina's new place!" Neil said.

"Don't worry m'boy. We still have five minutes left, and Brady will pull it out." Victor said.

"Yeah, he better!" Nick said as the phone rang.

In the dining room....

Nikki heard the phone ring and slipped off her earning as she yelled to Miguel, "I've got it. Excuse me ladies, I will be right back." Nikki said as she grabbed the portable phone and sat on the back stairs.

"Hello.."

"Why yes.. I remember..."

"Nicholas?"

"Alright, hold on one second."

Nikki set the phone down and went into the family room, with a perplexed look on her face.

"Brady throws... touchdown Patriots. All they need is this field goal and the game is over, if not we go to overtime. And Josh Miller gets ready the snap is good and ... IT'S GOOD! Patriots win the game! I bet Jeff Robinson is getting pretty pissed at himself for missing that last field goal. And we will be right back the after the game reports after these words from our sponsors." Madden's voice rang out into the living room.

"Way to go Dad! I think we should have our lunch at the Russian Tea Room?" Nick said as Ryan and Neil paled considerably.

"Ah I think you may be right! My dear what is it?" Victor asked stepping towards Nikki. He had just noticed her in standing in the entryway to the family room.

"Nick, there is a phone call for you. The phone is on the back stairs." Nikki said as Victor led her to the couch and made her sit down.

The girls moved out into the family room to see everyone surrounding Nikki. As Victor tried to figure out what was wrong, Nick took his phone call.

"Hello, this is Nicholas Newman. How can I help you?" Nick said.

"What... wait... are you saying... no... WHAT? I'm on my way." Nick hung up the found and headed into the family room.

Nikki had regained her color by now and was insisting she was fine, just a warm-up Braxton-Hicks contraction. Nick entered poured himself a more the liberal amount of the whiskey which sat in the decanter in the family room.
The adults watched as he downed the glass and poured another. He downed that too, and poured himself a third when Victoria stepped in.

"Nick, what is going on? Why are you drinking Dad's whiskey, you don't even like the stuff." Victoria said as Nick downed the third glass anyways.

"Girls, why don't you take your brothers and crew upstairs and play for a little while?" Katherine suggested knowing whatever was causing Nick to drink didn't need to be heard by their young ears.

After some grumbling the girls took their brothers upstairs. Along with an escort form Miguel and Ester, who had come in from doing dishes in the midst of the commotion.

"Alright, Nick spit it out. Hunny, what's wrong?" Sharon said as Nick downed his fifth glass.
After two more glasses, Nick spoke or at least attempted too.

"I have to go to Switzerland. Back to my old boarding school. Brenna dying. Gotta go gas the jet." Nick said as he grabbed his coat and stumbled out the door.

Nikki, Victoria, and Victor sat their stupefied. Brenna was dying. Brenna had been Nick best friend during his years at his boarding school. She was the only reason he had done well, her friendship kept him alive. Then he had left, he came home, fell in love with Sharon and the rest well, was history.
Sharon, Katherine, Neil, Dru, and Ryan sat there feeling as if they had missed something. Who was Brenna?
Sharon stared after her husband. She was clueless... (A usual state for her! Okay I don't like her. I'll admit it.)

Victor broke the silence and filled them in on just who Brenna was. Yet little did they know Brenna was more then what they thought.

Several hours later.....

Nick had sobered up on the long plane ride to Switzerland. He walked off the plane entered the car and told the driver to go straight to the hospital. He walked into the hospital, his mind scattered.
He stopped at the Nurse's desk. "Where is Brenna O'Connor's room?" Nick asked.
"I'm sorry, I am not allowed to give that information out." The Nurse said.

"I JUST FLEW HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE MY BRENNA! WHERE IS SHE?" Nick screamed at the nurse.

Sister Mary-Catherine had been in the waiting room waiting for Nicholas to show up. She couldn't believe that tall stranger was little Nicholas, champion heartbreaker.

"Nicholas, is that you? Come with me, I will take you to Brenna." Sister Mary-Catherine said.

"Sister Mary-Catherine, is that you? Yes it's me Nicholas. Where's Brenna? How is she? What happened?" Nick asked as he gave her a hug before following her down the hall.

"She had a fight with her daughter, and her daughter ran out of the house. She slipped on a patch of ice and slid in front of an oncoming car. She had knocked her self unconscious, and the car was barreling straight for her. Brenna had run out of the house after her, and slowly pushed her daughters body out of the way and she was hit by a car. After she got to the hospital they found out she had breast cancer, which had spread. She asked for you." Sister Mary-Catherine summed up as they reached the door to Brennna's room.
"She has a daughter? Oh, God! I wish I had kept in contact with her. Who's the father?" Nick asked.

"She has to tell you that. Be quiet she's probably resting." Sister Mary-Catherine said and with that she left.

Nick entered the room.