Chapter 17

"What's going on Nicky?" Warrick questioned, spotting Nick lying on the break room couch. Their shift had ended earlier and there weren't any cases that required anyone to stay later.

"Lucy and I had a fight-"

"That's nothing new." Warrick interrupted with a teasing chortle.

"Yeah, well, this time she kicked me out." Nick bemoaned with a heavy sigh.

"Nicky, you're getting married in two days!" Warrick shook his head in disbelief. "How can you two manage to fight so much?"

"I don't know. We just seem to always find something to fight about." Nick complained. "I'm beginning to wonder if we should even get married."

"You guys are in love. Except for the fighting, you guys are perfect for one another." Warrick offered out his hand. "Come on, you can't sleep here. Day shift will just sit on you."

"You think Gemma will have a problem with me coming home with you?" Nick questioned, accepting the hand up.

"Naw, she'll be asleep when we get there. Besides, she's not one to take sides between the two of you." Warrick slung an arm around his pal as they began to head towards the exit.

"But…taking me in, isn't that sort or choosing sides?"

"Naw man, that's just being family." Warrick clucked. "We're an odd bunch, but we're family."

"Rick? Did you ever get nervous about marrying Gemma?" Nick's question was so quiet that Warrick almost missed it.

"Come on Nick; let's go catch some breakfast at the café before we head home. Sounds like you need a heart to heart." Warrick opened his truck, pushing the unlock button. "Get in, I'll drive."

Once firmly ensconced in a quiet booth with coffee and menus before them, Warrick decided to address Nick's question. "I made my mistakes well before I asked Gemma to marry me. When I sent her away from the hospital, that was my mistake. I was frightened by the raging emotions she created in me."

"So, you're saying, that was when you had cold feet? Before you got engaged?" Nick played with his coffee instead of drinking it.

"Exactly! I'd never experienced the things that I was experiencing with Gemma, so I sent her away. I was miserable without her. She was miserable without me." Warrick flushed as he admitted this. "She changed my whole world and the way I looked at it. I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. Being with her……it's too wonderful for words. I could describe it to you for anything."

"But, you guys don't fight. That's all Lucy and I do." Nick shook his head. "I don't think it's the same thing."

"Yeah it is Bro." Warrick nodded sagely. "I've always argued with anyone and everyone. Heck, look at Sara and me….. You and me…..It's just part of me. Gemma calms me. She soothes me." Warrick gave him a smile that seemed to use his entire body. "She's my perfect fit."

"So, you're saying because Lucy fights with me, it's a good thing?"

"Yeah. You're the calm one; you're the one that soothes. Lucy brings out the spunk in you. I knew it was in you, but it just wasn't something that raised its head very often. Lucy brings it out in you. It's a good thing. Proves that she is your perfect fit." Warrick ended with a shrug, before motioning the waitress over.

"I don't understand." Nick admitted with a shake of his head. "How is it that she's perfect for me by making me miserable?"

The waitress caused the discussion to pause as she came over to take their orders. As she walked away, Warrick turned his attention back to the conversation. "She ain't making you miserable, you are! Stop fighting it. In our relationship, it was Gemma that fought it at first, because she'd been burned before, she was frightened of getting hurt again. Then she gave in to it, and I got frightened. I ran her away." Warrick finished the last of his coffee before adding. "Nicky, you're doing the fighting and running. Stop, think about it and just let it all go. You'll find it."

"Find what?"

"It." Warrick said simply. "You'll know it when you find it."

"Nick, for the last time, the answer is No!" Warrick snarled. Nick had been on him about it since Warrick had convinced him to go ahead with the wedding. Now that it was the eve of his wedding, Nick had taken to whining and wheedling as much as possible. "You know I do not sing in public!"

"Come on Warrick, I really want this. Lucy wants this. Even Gemma wants this. If you won't sing for me on my wedding day, just pretend you are singing for your wife!"

"I do sing for my wife, just not in public." Warrick said stubbornly.

"Come on Rick! Man, I never ask anything like this….just this once! I swear I'll name my firstborn after you!"

"Warrick Stokes? Doesn't really have a ring to it." Warrick quipped.

"How about Edward Stokes? We could call him Eddie. Or maybe Ricky Stokes?" Nick pleaded.

"I'll think it over. I'm not sure what song I would sing….." Warrick sighed, taking a swig from his beer. "I can't think of any of my songs that would be fitting for a wedding."

"I have faith in you. Besides, it's just gotta be a song about love. I'm sure you sing at least one of them for Gemma."

"Yeah, but that's private." Warrick shook his head. He didn't want to share those emotions with others. Nicky simply stared at him with his big puppy dog eyes until, with a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Okay, I'll do it."

"Thanks Warrick! You're a true friend." Nick was giving him his brightest smile. When the Texan smiled like that, it was hard to stay irritated at him. Warrick figured that was what the guy was banking on. Quietly Warrick moved to a corner where he could give the request some serious consideration. He nursed his beer and nervousness, wanting some privacy. Nick could see that he needed to be alone, and steered the others away from him.

"Now, the newly wedded couple will honor us with their first dance." Catherine announced in the microphone. "As a special gift to the couple, the Best Man will do the honors of performing a special song."

Warrick swallowed nervously as all eyes turned to him. He looked down at his best friend, standing with his new bride in the middle of the dance floor. He looked over to where Gemma stood, still holding Lucy's bouquet. His wife gave him a reassuring smile, lifting his spirits. Looking her in the eye, he adjusted the microphone and nodded to the band behind him. Smiling back at his wife as the first beats of the drum was joined by the guitar.

How can I dance without the tune that I grooved with you
How can I move straight ahead when my soul is stuck like glue
How can I smile when all I see is how things used to be
How can I face my disgrace, I guess I had to set you free!

Will it be with a little time
Can we weave back into our lives
All the pictures of our smiles
Don't know how long will I last without you
Without you, without you, without you

How can I swim to shore if you're not waiting there (for me)
How can I ask for more if your precious kiss will not give me air
How can I grasp when you arms are too weak to share
I can't float away cause you wear me down in my despair

Will it be with a little time
Can we weave back into our lives
All the pictures of our smiles

Warrick tore his gaze from his wife to look out onto the dance floor. Nick and Lucy were dancing slowly, deeply engrossed in one another as they swayed in time with the music. The words continued to flow out of his mouth, out of his soul. He saw that everyone was either dancing or swaying to the music as they let his lyrics flow over them. He brought his hungry gaze back to his wife, losing himself in her eyes as he continued the song.

How can I find you so free
When you say you're done with me
How can I stand in your room
When your class is so full of gloom
Why do I feel that all of that
Is little sweet revenge
Why do I stand at the door
Waiting for you to walk in

Has it been with a little time
That is tearing through our lives
Did the pictures fade away
Or think I could stay without you
Without you, without you, without you……..

Warrick's throat clogged with emotion as his eyes closed in the final chords of the song. Opening them, he immediately looked down at his wife. She wasn't there. He looked frantically around. Sara was standing in her place, holding the bouquet. He looked to the dance floor; Nick and Lucy were engrossed in a lip-lock that was soon to set off the fire alarms.

Warrick felt her presence before she touched him, turning to face her as she reached for him. Gemma had found her way up to him. The music began to fade as he moved from the microphone to embrace his wife. Tears were streaming down her face as she captured his mouth in a hot, wild kiss. He crushed her to him as his tongue made love to her. The crowd applauded his performance but Warrick didn't hear them. His entire being was focused solely on his wife.

On the dance floor, the same overpowering feelings had overcome the bride and groom. Nick finally felt what he'd seen in Warrick. Overpowering emotions that threatened to floor him. He gripped Lucy roughly to him, wishing that they were the only ones around so he could make love to his wife. It struck him then, Lucy was his wife. She was his woman. His, just as he was hers. Warrick was right; he had discovered 'IT'.

As he continued to kiss her, oblivious to all but his bride, he began to tremble with this new knowledge. Knowledge that this was where he was meant to be. This was the secret behind Warrick's smiles. He released Lucy's mouth, pulling back so he could look into her eyes. Her amber eyes were full of tears, desire, and sparkled with the same uncontrollable joy that he felt. This was 'it'.

"I love you Lucy Stokes." He gasped hoarsely.

"I love you, my husband." Lucy whispered, leaning forward to resume the kissing.

"No, I mean it! I really do love you." Nick murmured against her lips. "More than I've ever thought I could love anyone. You are….."

"Ssh, Nicky." Lucy hushed him. "You don't have to explain. I feel it too. It's….."

"Magical?" Nick supplied, as she looked confused.

"Like….fate….like……"

"Like you're finally home?"

"Exactly." Lucy laid her head on his shoulder. "Can we get out of here?"

"Soon." Nick promised. Raising his head, he saw Warrick quietly slipping off the stage, his wife in tow. Nick grinned, finally understanding all that he had seen Warrick experience in the last few years. He knew it had hit Warrick sooner, before he and Gemma had married. Nick wondered why it had taken him so long to understand. However, he only wondered for a moment. He didn't care; he just knew that he was going to make sure it stayed with him.

Warrick had chosen the right song, not because of the lyrics, but because of the deep emotion he brought to it. Warrick's song had succeeded where nothing else had. Nick was grateful for his friend, so grateful that he wasn't going to mind that his friend had just cut out on his wedding reception to make love to his wife. He was a little jealous that Warrick could do this. Guests of Honors weren't as lucky.

TBC……

Warrick's song: "How" written, sang & performed by Gary Dourdan. Can be found at http/ LadyDi for helping with the lyrics!

(I hope I was able to portray the emotions in this chapter correctly.)