| Part Ten: Previously: The crew at Station 51 learn of Nicci Authors notes: Three Days Later ******** Morning Mr. Gage." Paster Daniels greeted seeing Johnny walking up to the counter " Good morning, I hope you dont' mind me coming here so early. I have to work tonight and I wanted to stop by and see Nicci. " Johnny explained " Oh no I don't mind she needs you right now." Paster Daniels said with a long and troubed face. " Why what happened?" Johnny asked " Well one of her friends on the street was killed last night."Daniels said with a sigh " What? how? Who was it?" Johnny wanted to know " From what I gather she was a prostitute. I think they said her street name was Bambi and apparently she was beat up and stabbed to death by one of her customers" Daniels explained " How is Nicci taking it?" he asked feeling a bolt of saddness wash over him. He knew that if it wasn't for Bambi, Nicci wouldn't have left the streets. " I don't know, I think she's still in shock. She hasn't showed any emotions. And she won't talk to any of the counselors. If you have some time, maybe you can talk to her." " I'll certainly do what I can. Where is she now?" Johnny asked " She's out on the patio." .............. Johnny spotted Nicci sitting on the ground next to the building. She had her knees drawn to her chest and had her head buried in her hands. The closer Johnny got to her he could here her soft whimpers." Nicci I'm so sorry, Is there anything I can do?" Johnny soothed sitting down next to her. " No." Nicci sobbed trying hard to cover up her tears. " Nicci it's okay, don't be afraid to cry. Bambi was a very good friend and you shouldn't be ashamed to show your feelings." Johnny soothed Nicci looked up to Johnny with tear filled eyes." Oh Johnny it's all my fault she's dead, the guy that killed her was one of my customers. If I wouldn't have left she would still be alive." she cried " Shhhh, don't blame yourself, it's not your fault Nicci. You didn't put that knife in his hand. He's the one to blame. not you or her or anyone else." Johnny soothed " Maybe, it's just that she was my best friend hell she was more like a sister then a friend. We use to talk about everything. including our Prince Charmings. Johnny her Prince never came." Nicci stooped to sob at her memory." Johnny I know how she ended up on the street, her step dad molested her and when she went to her mother and told her what was going on her mother didn't believe her. Her mother didn't do anything to stop it. He knew that he was getting away with it so one night he went to far and raped her. She was only thirteen years old." Nicci whimpered hanging her head. Feeling her pain, Johnny place his loving arms around her and without any hesitation she allowed herself to fall deeper into his embrace. Johnny then found himself grieving over the loss as well." I want so much to go to her funeral tomorrow." " I know you do, and you need to go. I'll see what I can do okay." Johnny said " You will?" Nicci said looking up at Johnny " You bet I will." Johnny promised then peeking at his watch he realized it was time for him to leave." Nicci I have to go to work now." Johnny said. Then noticing the nurse walk up with her breakfast tray. " Half Pint you eat your breakfast and I'll be back in the morning." .......... Roy as well as the others could see the sad and troubled face on Johnny as soon as he walked into the day room. As Roy looked closer he learned that his partner had been crying." Junior, Is something wrong with Nicci?" He asked worriedly " What Nicci oh no, she's okay, it's just that one of her friends was killed last night. Her and Nicci were pretty close and well she's taking it rather hard." Johnny explained Captain then headed to the office and then returned fifteen minutes later." Gage go on get out of here." Captain Stanley ordered " Capt?" Johnny questioned " You heard me, beat it. I just called Brice and he's willing to come in and cover for you since he was off yesturday and off today. I figure Nicci needs you a lot more then we do." Johnny stood up from the table with the Captain's words still bouncing inside his head." Capt. I don't know what to say." He said walking over to Stanley " Don't say anything just go and spend the day with Nicci. And tell her that the rest of us is thinking about her." Captain said with a warm and understanding smile. Johnny didn't know what to think but he knew his Captain was right. Nicci needed him and he wasn't going to let her down. " Okay Cap thanks." He said with a grin. Without changing his clothes Johnny left the station to go to his Nicci ............... " Nicci." Johnny whispered seeing that she was laying on her bed resting her eyes Nicci raised up seeing Johnny standing there in his uniform." Johnny what are you doing here? I thought you had to work." Nicci asked " I did but plans change. Anyway we can spend the whole day together. And tomorrow we are going to that funeral. But first we need to call and find out where it's going to be and what time. Nicci feeling a sudden burst of happiness jumped up and gave Johnny a hug." Oh Jhonny do you mean it? I can really go?" Nicci said " You bet I mean it." Johnny said entrapping Nicci in his arms picking her up off the ground. " Excuse me but it's time for Nicci's group." Daniels interupted. " Okay, you'll wait for me Johnny?" Nicci asked with a smile " Yes Half Pint, I'll wait right here." Johnny assured. ........... One hour later..... Nicci returned to her room to find Johnny sitting in a chair reading a magazine. " Hey Johnny do you think it'll be okay if I went back to my apartment and get some money out of my stash so that I can buy Bambi some flowers?" " Oh Nicci I don't know it could be dangerous and it could be hard for you. " Johnny hesitated Johnny thought it over in his head and then agreed. " Okay we can do this but I want to call a couple of friends first just to make sure nothing happens." ........... Leaving a police unit parked outside, Johnny followed Nicci into the two story apartment house. Nicci stopped in front of the door to her tiny apartment." Sorry it's not the Hilton." Nicci apologized as she pushed the door open. " I'll only be a sec." She said disappearing into the bathroom While Johnny waited he looked around the tiny shell of a room. It was a dark and dreary place the sun light beaming through the broken dirty window being the only sourse of light. In the corner of the room rested a table cluttered with a combination of beer and whiskey bottles. As he walked closer to the table he noticed a tray with about 3 or 4 rocks of cocaine and a small amount of grass. Shaking his head he walked back to the middle of the room. Suddenly a crash coming from the bathroom brought him back to reality. Thinking the worst, Johnny pushed open the door." Nicci are you okay?" Johnny asked " Yeah I'm okay, I just dropped the toilet tank lid. See I was getting my stash and the lid slipped out of my hands." She said walking out of the bathroom with a make up pouch and a small plastic bag full of money. " Okay if your sure." Johnny said " Yeah I'm sure, I just have to grab something to wear to the funeral then I'll be ready to go." Nicci said picking up a black mini skirt and tank top and a pair of black high heals. ........ Johnny and Nicci were soon walking out on the porch to leave." Hey Johnny wait a sec." Nicci said as she stopped to talk to a black elderly man sitting on a rocking chair. With a nod of his head, Johnny walked over to the Land Rover and climbed in. As Johnny watched Nicci from a distance he could see that she cared for the man very much. The way she fluffed his pillow and the way she smiled at him when they hugged goodbye. Nicci then hopped into the passengers side." Her funeral is at the Maple Hill Cemetary at 10:00 in the morning." She announced tossing her clothes on the matress in the back. *****The next morning********* Johnny walked into Nicci's room stopping short as he noticed her slim figure underneath the black cloth." You look very nice." Johnny said walking up to her " Thanks, you don't look to bad yourself." Nicci said seeing that he was dressed in a suit and tie. .............. Johnny rolled to a stop in front of the grave. Looking at his watch he asked." We didn't miss it, did we?" Seeing that there were only three people standing at the sight. " No we didn't miss it, this is how it is Johnny." As soon as they walked up to the proceedings they were greeted by two of Nicci's groupies." Hey what's up." Nicci greeted her friends giving each of them a hug." There's someone I want you to meet. Tricks, Candy this is Johnny." Nicci introduced " Hi." Johnny said shaking each of their hands " Boy he's a cute one Nicci. So your Nicci's Prince Charming, Bambi told us about you." Tricks said Before Johnny had the chance to respond the proceedings were underway. Almost as quickly as they started ther were done. Johnny was amazed to learn that the whole funeral lasted only Ten minutes. " Johnny what's wrong?" Nicci asked " Nothing, I'm just surprised that it went so quickly. I mean we just got here." Johnny said " This is how it is Johnny. This is how white trash gets buried." Nicci said as her eyes began to tear." That's what we are Johnny white trash and that's all we will ever be." She whimpered Taking her in his arms Johnny pulled her close while she wept." Shhhhhh there there it's okay Nicci let it out." Johnny soothed As Nicci stood there being captured by his strong embrace, she didn't know what to think. She didn't know what she was feeling but she knew it wasn't fear. TBC |