Author's notes: I want to publicly thank those who have reviewed. I love writing about Nick and would continue even if no one was reading but it makes my day to know that they are being read and enjoyed. Love you thoughts and insights.

Thanks to Mossib, ngocquevt, janesbiotch Anna and guest from chapter 4.

Burton pulls up in front of Nick's house. Nick's release from hospital came after the doctor examined him. His ribs are sore and it seems to him that every bone in his body is aching but it is good to see his house. He gingerly exits the car and takes his keys out of his trouser pocket, Burton follows. Once he enters the house Nick goes up to his bedroom to shower and change clothes, as he is wearing his clothes from the day before. His Dad puts on the coffee machine. As Nick stands under the shower letting the hot water pound on his aching body, the thought crosses his mind that he is doing this a lot lately. He closes his eyes and relaxes in to the water, images rush in to his mind.

Half and hour later he is back downstairs nursing a cup of coffee, leaning back in to the couch with his eyes closed, attempting to make sense of the memories that have returned. Burton has left to pick up something for lunch having found that Nick had nothing suitable in his cupboards. The doorbell rings. When Nick answers, it is Detective Grainger standing on the stoop. Nick closes the door so that his body fills the remaining space and glares at the detective.

"Mr. Fallin can I come in I need a statement."

Nick gives no verbal response.

"Mr. Fallin, Urm Nick. If I am going to catch who beat you I need you to make a statement."

"Detective unless you have a warrant for my arrest I suggest you leave."

Mr. Fallin I...

Nick closes the door.

Burton returns before Nick has sat back down.

"Was that Grainger I saw driving off."

"Yea, he wants a statement."

"Don't you give one without Belden present."

"I know Dad."

As they eat lunch Burton can see Nick's energy levels sag.

"Shall I call Belden and postpone the meeting until tomorrow? You look done in."

"No, I need to talk to him, I'll just rest up a bit until he comes. Thanks for lunch."

Nick lays down on the couch while Burton clears away the dishes. Nick is soon asleep.

Belden arrives an hour later. Nick leaves to refresh himself and Burton shows him in to the room.

"Burton I need you to leave Nick and I alone."

"I think I should stay. Nick was attacked last night and he is still pretty fragile."

"I can't let you stay, you're not covered by client/attorney privilege."

" There is nothing Nick has to say that he can't say in front of me."

"Burton please."

"Dad I'll be fine. It's best you're not put in the position of being called to testify against me."

Burton lifts his hands up in surrender,

"Alright, but call me later."

"I will."

Burton leaves and Nick invites Belden to sit at the table. Nick delves in with no preamble:

"How does it look? What have they got? I don't understand how they managed to get signed off on a search warrant in the first place."

"It seems there is an informant."

"What? Who? they're lying"

"I haven't been able to find out the name yet. But he claimed he that you were taking drugs and selling them."

Nick leans back in his chair and moves to rub his hand on the back of his head, blowing out his cheeks, but it turns to a grimace as his ribs protest against the movement. Belden looks on in concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, just a little sore and fighting a headache."

"Can you tell me what happened? Burton said last night that you couldn't remember the attacked, as anything come back to you.?"

"Some. Grainger came by the hospital this morning with a photo of me in my car from a traffic camera taken at the corner of Band and Stonewall."

"Do you remember being there or why?"

I remember getting in my car and driving with no particular destination in mind. I was just driving, trying to occupy my mind with something other than the events of the day. It didn't work and I wasn't aware of the directions I was taking. I found myself in my old haunts. After that it gets hazy. I have images of being attacked while in my car and being on the floor. There is an image of a baseball bat coming at me but it is all fragments."

"Was there more than one?"

"Yes I think at least three."

"Did they say anything?"

Nick shakes his head:

"All I have are images, nothing else."

"Anything else you can tell me?"

"No that's all. I don't know how I ended up back at my house but I don't think I drove."

"It's all very strange Nick. Can you think of anyone who would want to set you up like this?"

"Not really. There may be a couple of people connected with LSP but this seems to sophisticated for them, they would have just done the beating."

"Let me have their names and I will check them out."

An hour later Nick shakes hands with Belden and closes the door behind him. He leans against it, his ribs hurt and his head is pounding. The meeting with Belden brought up more questions than answers and Nick didn't like it one bit. The fact is they found drugs in his home and it's not going to be easy to prove they are not his. He takes out his phone and calls Lulu's number again but no reply. This time he leaves a message saying that he is coming over at 7pm to see Anne and to let him in. He then calls his Dad and gives him a quick run down of the meeting. He rings off, pulls a bottle of water out of the fridge and downs some tablets. Once again he is sprawled out on the couch but sleep takes a while to come as his mind flits restlessly from one disaster to another. Finally sleep comes.