Author's note: I know, I know, I said it was complete. But these stories, they burn inside my head and won't let me go until I write them down! This still doesn't happen.
Father's Day—Part 2
After Nick left, he canceled the plans he had had for the day. The plans were actually a date, but after his conversation with Alex, the date seemed moot. He loved Alex. She was pregnant, whether it was his or not was besides the point to him. He knew if he ever had a chance this was it.
He had hoped she had taken his proposal seriously. And to prove just how serious he was, he spent his now free afternoon at Corbeille's. He wasn't sure about her taste in jewelry, but he did his best. The ring he picked out had a simple band with an emerald cut diamond in a cathedral setting. He only hoped he'd get the chance to give it to her.
Greg's day went differently. He stewed in his anger all day. He had tried to sleep, but only gotten a few hours. He tossed and turned not knowing what to make of his conversation with Alex. He was hurt, betrayed, depressed and, now that the idea of a baby had sunk in, somewhat excited.
Which led his thoughts to Nick. He wondered how he could have done that to him. They were friends, coworkers, and he had slept with Greg's girlfriend. This probably made him the angriest.
Tired and full of bitterness, Greg walked into the lab for the graveyard shift. He headed straight for the locker room, not knowing what he would do when he saw Nick. He tried to calm himself; he knew he didn't want to do anything stupid.
As he walked into the locker room, Nick was at his locker talking on the cell phone and didn't notice Greg. Warrick was also there, getting something out of his locker. The site of Nick made his stomach churn and he just couldn't hold it in.
He walked up behind Nick, who was still oblivious to Greg's presence. Greg tapped him on the shoulder and when Nick turned around, he threw a punch. Warrick turned around just as Greg's fist connected with Nick's chin, and his cell phone went flying across the room.
Greg pulled his arm back like he was going to throw another punch, but Warrick grabbed him before he finished.
"What's going on?" Warrick angrily said.
"Let me go!" Greg yelled, breaking free of Warrick's grip.
"It's alright," Nick calmly told Warrick. "I deserve it." Nick rubbed his chin.
Warrick just stood there in disbelief. He had no idea what Nick could have done to deserve such a hit. Or what he could have done that would have made Greg so angry.
"Just stay away from me," Greg said through clenched teeth, pointing at Nick.
Nick just nodded. He walked over and picked up his phone and then left. He knew he had committed a wrong. He had no right to be angry with Greg.
"What's going on?" Warrick asked Greg after Nick had left.
The look of anger on Greg's face was the only answer he gave. He left before Warrick could ask anything else.
Warrick decided to seek out Nick; maybe he could shed some light on the situation. He finally found Nick in the break room. Nick was sitting by himself, head in his hands.
"What was that about?" Warrick asked as he walked in.
Nick just shook his head.
Warrick wanted Nick to open up. "The last time I saw a guy punch his buddy like that, it was over a girl."
Nick lifted his head and looked Warrick dead in the eye. Warrick knew he had hit the nail on the head.
"Alex?" Warrick questioned.
Nick nodded. "She's, uh," he could barely get it out. "She's pregnant."
"So she and Greg are having a baby?" Warrick didn't fully understand what Nick was saying.
"Maybe," was all Nick could manage to reply.
"Maybe? Are they arguing about keeping it?" Warrick asked.
Nick shook his head. "She's keeping it. It just…" he sighed deeply. "It just might not be Greg's."
A look of understanding came over Warrick's face. "Oohhh."
"Yeah," Nick said, half smiling, half crying. It felt good to admit his sins, but even better to tell someone he might be a father.
"Why?" Warrick had always thought Nick and Alex had a sibling-type relationship.
Nick sighed again. He had wanted to tell someone this for quite some time. "I started visiting Alex when she was in the coma. I felt drawn to her because of our similar experiences. Once she woke up, we started hanging out. I don't remember the exact moment I fell in love with her, but I always swore I'd never do anything. I respect Greg and Alex and their relationship."
"So what happened? What changed?" Warrick was trying to understand.
"One night, we were watching a movie," he started. "And I kissed her. As soon as I did, I knew I shouldn't have. I started to leave, but we kissed again and then one thing led to another. It was just that once, and we haven't even seen each other since, until today."
"Nicky, Nicky, Nicky," Warren shook his head in disappointment.
"It was wrong, but I can't take it back," Nick was disappointed in himself.
Warrick was still in shock. He never would have figured Nick to do anything like this.
"I asked her to marry me," Nick blurted out.
If Warrick's jaw could have dropped any further, it would have. "What?"
"She didn't give me an answer. I don't think she told Greg either. Otherwise…" he didn't finish.
"He probably would have done more than punch you," Warrick finished.
Nick only nodded. He was relieved someone else finally knew.