I haven't forgotten this little fic ;)
The hum of the car as it moved along the freeway had a soothing effect on Nick. They'd left the loft at six am in order to make the long drive to Portland for Jess's birthday and he had taken the first eight hour driving shift. As much as he had protested that six am was a ridiculous hour to be rising, Jess had insisted - she didn't want to fly, she wanted to drive. So reluctantly he had agreed. Now he found himself with his face squished against the glass window, body twisted in the somewhat uncomfortable seats of her car trying to get a little more sleep to add to the three hours he had managed before they left.
The dark had descended on the highway but the regular flash of the overhead lights as they passed under them had stopped Nick from falling fully asleep; instead he had descended into a half sleep of partial consciousness…
The alleyway was dank and smelled of rotten garbage; he hid in the shadows, inching along the crumbling wall with his fingertips, trying not to make a sound. He could hear the breathing of his pursuer; deep rumbling breaths, angry sounding even. Inside his chest his heart raced, the ball of muscle rattling against his bones sending reverberations throughout his whole body. Desperately he tried to calm himself, resting his body against the cool wall behind him as he collected his thoughts. Suddenly he saw a chance – across the alleyway he could see the smooth outline of a metallic door, glinting in the faint moonlight. If he could make it -if he could only reach it… Taking a deep breath, he lunged across the ten feet of space between him and the door, crashing into the opposite wall as he did, his head making contact with the wall, causing him to grimace. Quickly he fumbled for the handle, urgently grabbing it, twisting and turning the smooth knob until realization dawned – it was locked. His breath shuddered as he heard the heavy, purposeful footsteps behind him before they stopped. Slowly he turned, keeping one arm on the wall behind him, pivoting his body until he was face to face with that which scared him most.
"What are you doing to my daughter?" came the snarl of Bob Day, one hand holding a large wooden mallet, the other curled in a fist. Nick cowered, shirking away from the hulk of a man. "You don't deserve her Rick, I'm going to teach you a lesson." And with that, Bob Day opened his mouth to show a line of shiny gold teeth, his arm raised brining the mallet with it. With that Nick let out a shrieking, high-pitched scream…
"Arrrghhhh!"
"What the hell Nick," came the urgent voice of Jess as she began to prod him awake, "What's wrong? Are you okay? You sound like you are being murdered!"
He began to pant a little as he pried his eyes open and took stock of where he was – still on the highway, in the car. Feeling his body he checked for marks and bruises – no, it was just a dream. His body slowly relaxed into the seat. "Sorry," he said shuffling a little in his seat, "Just a dream."
"Aw Nick, you had a bad dream, poor baby," Jess reached out and tickled his ear with her finger causing him to squirm.
"Jess," he whined.
"Sorry," she said returning both hands to the wheel with a smile, "What was making you scream? By the way, did I ever tell you that you scream like a girl? Like a twelve year old girl?"
"Um, thanks Jess, you always say the nicest things…" she looked at him in the rear-view mirror with her big blue eyes and he decided to drop it, "And, if you must know, I was dreaming about your dad. Chasing me."
Jess sighed and chewed her lip a little, "Nick, I thought we had talked about this. My father likes you; he just needs a little adjustment time."
"Jess, he told me I wasn't good enough for you, he basically said I was a loser, a bum," he grimaced at the memory. Jess reached over and placed her right hand on his knee and squeezed it gently.
"Trust me, he is going to love you, he's just overprotective is all," she flashed him a quick smile, "Oh hey, here is our turn off!" she finished excitedly, quickly signalling and pulling the car over into the right hand land. Nick placed a small smile on his face, for her benefit; inside however his stomach was churning and twisting into knots and a worried feeling was filling him inside out.
The next morning they lay sprawled together on the king sized bed at the Hilton Garden hotel. His arm was scooped around her bare stomach, his face buried in her fragrant hair as he listened to her slow, regular breathing. Underneath his fingers her skin felt so soft, like silk. Still, after all this time, he hadn't got used to this - this intimacy. Something deep inside him kept expecting her to wake up one day and realize she was making a huge mistake and take all this away - so every moment, every embrace, every feeling he drank in and soaked almost into his very being. Savoring it and creating a sense memory.
Whimpering a little she slowly began to turn in his arms until her face was mere inches from him, giving him that gorgeous, bright morning smile that made his heart flip. Reaching forward, she placed a small kiss on his mouth, "Morning handsome," she said flirtatiously, taking hold of his hip with one hand.
"Good morning to you too," he replied, shifting their bodies a little closer together. He found himself staring into her blue eyes, almost getting lost in them as a comfortable silence fell. "So," he finally said, "What are the plans for today?"
She reached up and pushed her fingers through his thick dark hair before resting her hand on the side of his face, "Well, we do have a lot of people to see before the party tomorrow and later we have to meet my dad for dinner." He groaned loudly and his face dropped at the prospect of seeing Bob Day for the first time since he had admitted to him he was sleeping with his daughter.
"Hey My Grumpy," said Jess, tipping up his chin with her hand, "It'll be fine." She engaged him in a look that made him soften a little. "And, well, we do have a little time this morning where I was thinking, that maybe…" her voice trailed off as her other hand reached across the small gap between them, her fingers tracing down his chest, lower and lower. He took in a sharp breath at the feel of her touching his skin.
"Yeah," he said, his voice a little ragged.
"Well, maybe, if you're up for it-" she paused and licked her lips as he watched her pinky tongue swirl around; he swallowed hard. "But, if you're not interested-" she began, rolling away from him quickly. Swiftly, he grabbed her arm, pulling her onto his lap as he rolled on his back. His other arm reached up and wound itself into her hair, pulling her into him for a scorching kiss.
"You're not going anywhere Day," he said breathlessly before pressing her against him once more.
That evening they arrived at the small Mexican restaurant where they would be meeting Bob Day. The walls were a vibrant terracotta shade and the main lighting source was the multitude of candles that adorned the tables and walls, casting a somewhat eerie yet intimate shade on the diners. The small table they sat at was near the rear of the restaurant, already busy with dinners chatting and eating, as in the corner a small mariachi band played. The cheerful music was at odds with the feeling of dread that consumed him.
Sensing his nervousness she reached across and wrapped his hand in hers, "Hey Nick, it'll be fine. Dad's going to love you," she promised. Nick reached across and took a drink of his margarita, not really answering her, his eyes studying the menu that lay on the table in front of him.
"Dad!" Jess cried, jumping out of her seat and letting go of Nick's hand. He looked up and saw the large figure of Bob Day approaching them and watched as Jess wrapped her arms around her father's neck, placing a kiss on his cheek as she greeted him. Nervously, Nick stood, straightening his shirt as he waited for the greeting between father and daughter to end.
"Dad," Jess said as she stepped to one side, "You remember Nick." Bob answered with what sounded like a clearing of his throat. Nick held his hand across the table and Bob reluctantly took hold of it, a perfunctory handshake taking place.
"Nice to see you Bob- I mean Mr. Day, er, sir," Nick babbled as Bob extracted his hand from him.
"Yeah," Bob said non-committedly as he turned his attention to his daughter, taking hold of her hand and spinning her around, "Honey, you look beautiful." He finished with a glaring look at Nick, making him feel like an intruder in this family moment.
"Thanks Dad," she replied with a smile. Nick sighed as he sunk back into his seat; this was going to be a long night.
Before long they had ordered and Jess had told her father about her plans for the weekend. Whilst waiting for the food, she stood, "Excuse me while I go powder my nose, you boys play nice!" she teased as she walked away from the table. The two men sat in tense silence, each nursing their drinks. Nick's foot tapped nervously against the floor.
"Would you stop that tapping? It's giving me a headache," Bob snapped. Nick froze, pressing his legs together, filling his mouth with a mouthful of his tequila laden cocktail. Bob cleared his throat, "Hey Rick-"
"Nick," he interjected.
"Whatever," said Bob with the wave of a hand, he placed both hands on the table in front of him and interlaced his fingers, "What are your intentions towards my daughter?" Nick's eyes began to dart around the room as he processed Bob's unexpected questioning – he certainly didn't waste any time.
"Um, well," he coughed nervously, pulling a little at his collar which suddenly felt tight, "Well, I really care about your daughter, sir-"
"You do? Great," Bob scoffed, "You still a bartender?"
Nick squirmed in his seat, feeling the other man's hot gaze upon him, "Well yes, but-"
"Well, Nick, if that is the case how do you intend on supporting my daughter?"
"Supporting?" Nick asked in a high pitched voice.
Bob leant over the table, his hands flat on the linen clad surface, "Yeah, support her. Last I heard, bartenders weren't earning much."
"Well," Nick began, flustered, "I'm actually planning on, you know, going for manager soon-"
"Oh, so then you'll be a bar manager, hmph," Bob folded his arms and shrugged his shoulders. Something inside Nick clicked at this moment; Bob Day had judged him without even knowing him. He resented not having the chance to prove himself, not being able to show him that he did deserve his daughter.
"Mr Day - Bob- I think we have got off on the wrong foot. Yes, I am a barman, yes I have meandered through my 20's with little to no direction. But you have to know, I would do anything, anything for Jess," he spoke pleadingly, giving the older man an earnest gaze. "And all I want is to prove to you that I am good enough for her."
Bob looked at him and the seconds ticked by as Nick held his breath, waiting for a response. Finally, Bob leant across the table and spoke in a low voice, "I'm watching you Nick, you hurt my daughter, I kill you." Nick felt a cold chill go through him at Bob's words, only stopped by the feel of Jess's arm on his shoulder.
"Hey, how are my two favorite boys getting on?"
After dinner, they sat finishing their drinks. Jess had been the catalyst for most of the conversation, splitting her attentions between Nick and her father. If she had noticed the tensions between them she had tactfully avoided mentioning it. Finally, they ordered the bill and Bob stood up. "Be back in a moment pumpkin," he said giving Jess a smile before starting to turn away. Suddenly, he paused; staggering back a little he clutched the back of his chair with one hand, the other reaching up to his chest.
"Dad?" Jess asked, rising out of her chair. Bob didn't reply, he turned to her, his face taking on a peculiar grayish shade as his legs began to bend and he sunk slowly to the floor, "Dad!" Jess screamed, causing the diners nearby to stop and turn to look. As Bob's knees touched the floor, Jess flung herself across the table, chair tipping over behind her, swiftly followed by Nick.
Dashing behind him, Bob sank back into his daughters arms, "Jess," he said breathlessly, "I think-I think I'm having a…a heart attack."
Slowly, Bob's eyes rolled closed as his weight began to push further against Jessica. Quickly, Nick took hold of Bob's body, taking the strain from her and laying him flat on the tiles floor of the restaurant, he was mumbling incoherently as Jess leant over him, distraught.
"Daddy, daddy," she whimpered, tears beginning to flow freely from Jess's eyes, her breathing heaving, "Daddy, no," she clutched tightly onto his arm as he began to slip into unconsciousness.
Without thinking, Nick turned onto autopilot; seeing her so distressed sparked something in him. He moved quickly, running to the front of the restaurant, pushing past patrons and servers as he went,"Quick, call 911, now!" he demanded to the server at the greeting station, "There is a man having a heart attack!"
He'd never seen Jessica Day crumble like that before – as the paramedics had arrived and worked on her father she had clung to Nick, her body wracked with sobs, mumbling into his chest. Later, crouched in the back of the ambulance on the way to the hospital, he'd held her close, whispered words of reassurance in her ear as he felt her begin to strengthen as the journey passed.
At the hospital, things passed in a blur. Nick took charge, organizing paper work, calling Joan – as Jess began to return to her senses after the shock of her father's collapse. Time buzzed by as Bob was taken away; in the family waiting room they sat drinking cups of unappetizing coffee as they waited for news.
"Miss Day?" came the voice of a young looking doctor in mint green scrubs from across the room. She stood quickly, an expectant look on her face.
"Yes?" she cried.
"You can see your father now." Jess quickly raced over to the doctor, followed closely by Nick.
"Now, he's still asleep, but he's stable. Luckily it was only a minor incident, but we will need to closely monitor him and have some discussions about his lifestyle," the doctor warned as they walked along the white, gleaming corridor before ending at room number 117. "Here you go," he said opening the door, "Remember, he's resting." Jess nodded as she slipped thought the door, rushing over to the bed, pulling a small plastic chair to its side.
"Dad," she whispered, taking in the machines and tubes that surrounded her father. Nick walked up to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and laying a kiss on her head. She turned to look at him; her eyes still a little red from her earlier tears. "Nick, I was so, so scared."
"I know," he said, pulling a chair up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, burying his head in her neck, "I know Jess."
"Nick, how did you cope, you know, when you're dad…" her voice trailed off.
"I don't know Jess, I guess, you just do," he smiled, "But you know, whatever happens, I'm right here, holding your hand."
"Thank you, for taking charge back there. I've never felt like that before – I just panicked. I've always been the strong one, the capable one, cool in a crisis…"
"Jess, you don't have to be strong around me, you don't have to pretend. My job is to support you, to take care of you. All I want to do is take care of you," he snuggled into her as waves of relief flooded her body, listening to her father's steady breathing.
"I hope he's going to be okay," she said in whisper.
"He will, I promise," Nick replied.
"How can you know that?" she said, turning her head to face him. He took hold of her face with one hand and stared into her eyes.
"Because I love you and I would do anything, anything to make you not hurt. If I have anything to do with it, your father will be fine. Look, he is in the best hands here. Trust me."
"What would I do without you Nick," she asked whimsically, reaching out her hand, touching her father's arm.
"I hope you never have to find out," Nick replied.
Over the beep of the machinery around him, Bob began to rouse from his slumber. He felt he wasn't alone; looking up at the clock he saw it was two am. He slowly tried to push himself up the bed; his chest throbbed in protest, his body still weak from the earlier collapse. The room was lit only by the light of the machinery and the glowing outline around the door of the corridor lighting.
Sighing, he turned his head to one side and there he saw her. She was curled in a ball, her chocolate curls ruffled and messy, her legs brought up to her chest. Beneath her was Nick, his arms wrapped around her, their heads lay against each other. In her lap their hands were intertwined, whilst a smile played at her lips.
As he watched them, he saw Nick kiss her cheek in his sleep and mumble a dreamy, "I love you," at which her grip on him tightened. The sight made Bob sigh heavily; she looked so happy - she looked safe, taken care of. Maybe I do have to start getting used to the idea of this guy, he thought as he closed his eyes again and tried to get a few more hours rest.
I feel so bad for leaving this this long - so much to do, so little time! Do you want me to keep going with this one?