Chapter 8

Nick carried his sedated wife through the door of their home. It hadn't even occurred to him that the Tack house might not been in livable, but he was quickly relieved to see that Lily and Lauren were busily working to make it comfortable at least for the night.

Lauren walked out of the kitchen and held a trembling hand to her mouth.

Nick smiled a small smile, "She's sedated, but she's home."

"Oh Nick, do you think it's ok to bring her here? I mean, I want her home too, but should we put her in the hospital over night… at least until you can hire someone, or find some place…"

"No… no more hospitals… She's home… and I've already arranged for twenty-four hour care starting tomorrow. Right now, I just want to get her into our bed… Is our bed still here?" Nick asked ruefully.

"The bed was here, but Lily had to bring over some fresh sheets. Unfortunately, most of the little things are still in storage. Hi honey!" Lauren rushed over and threw her arms around her husband.

"Where's our boy?" He asked huskily as he observed Nick carrying Phyllis' limp body up the stairs.

"Colleen is watching him for me. Everything went ok?"

"I guess. It got a little ugly, but nothing the Three Muskateers couldn't handle. Daniel ran into town to pick up some groceries and pizza. I thought you wouldn't mind us hanging out here for awhile… just to give Nick a hand."

"That's fine with me. I just wish that there was something we could do… some way to fix her… I just, oh, I guess I am just glad to have her home."

Lily walked in from the kitchen, "Where's Daniel?"

"He went to the store… You guys expecting company?" Michael turned and went to answer the door.

"Sharon? Wow, word travels fast." Michael ushered Sharon into the house.

"So he really brought her home? You can't possibly think this is a good idea." Sharon whined as she looked around the house.

"He's taking care of his WIFE… and actually, it's a great idea…" Lauren huffed as she sat down on the couch next to Lily.

"Sharon?" Nick was only mildly surprised to see his ex-wife standing in the center of his living room.

"Oh Nick!" She rushed to the bottom of the stairs with tears in her eyes.

"Were you just in the neighborhood? Or did you come to help us get settled?" He asked a little impatiently as he finished walking down the stairs.

Throwing her arms around him she clung to him, "You're alive. When you called it was like a dream…"

Gently untangling himself from Sharon's clutches Nick smiled, "You know me… always expect the unexpected… I told you I would come over tomorrow afternoon when Noah came home from camp."

"Aren't you happy to see me? I mean, I may be your ex-wife, but that doesn't mean I wasn't devastated when I thought you died." Sharon sniffled as a tear drop rolled down her cheek.

"I am sorry that you suffered… I am sorry that the people I care about suffered… and I care about you, I do, but right now my main concern is getting my wife well and putting my family back together."

"Oh Nick, didn't you tell me that something can't be fixed? I am afraid this is one of those things. Phyllis is broken… you should have just left her where people that know what they are doing…"

"Enough! My wife is not BROKEN… and I'll be damned if she is locked away in a tiny little cell and sedated out of her mind…" Nick was getting really annoyed with Sharon.

"I hate to be the one to point it out, but she's already out of her mind… and if you think I am going to allow Noah to come over and be around… that… that dangerous…" Sharon drew back as if she were offended by the very idea.

"Dangerous… you are going to see dangerous if you try and keep my son from me… Now, if you don't mind I have IMPORTANT things to do and you are in the way… you can let yourself out." Nick hated that it had come to this but he reached his ignorance tolerance level.

With a look of indignation Sharon stalked out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

Wincing Nick turned toward Lauren, "Thanks for bringing some pajamas for her, I know she'll more comfortable in them then that prison outfit she was wearing. I hate to be a pain in the ass, but if you wouldn't mind sitting with her Michael, I'd like Lauren to come with me…"

"Sure, no problem, but I am kind of curious as to where you are taking my lovely wife." Michael rested a hand on Nick's shoulder in a show of support as he started up the stairs.

"We are going to get my daughter back." Nick grimaced as Lauren gave him a giant smile of encouragement.

"I have a feeling this is going to be another one of those unpleasant things I would rather not deal with, but my daughter should never have been taken away from Phyllis in the first place." Nick sighed as he followed Lauren out the door.

Lauren ran back in, "Hey Lily, I put some of Summer's things that Phyllis had bought for her in the trunk, would you mind grabbing them and putting them out for her?"

"Not at all!" Lily smiled. Things were looking up, she thought. And then with a look of hope for the woman upstairs, she turned and headed toward the garage.