| Chapter 25 "Nick, stop biting your nails. They're gonna end up looking like Brian's," Diane teased. Nick sighed, placing his hand in his lap, then started chewing on his lip. "Baby, I know you're nervous, but everything is gonna be fine," she said, bringing him a drink from the kitchen. Nick took it, gulping half of it down in one swallow. He had already had a full day. His physical therapist arrived around ten and stayed for an hour and a half. Nick liked physical therapy, although it tired him out. He actually felt like he was accomplishing something, and he liked his physical therapist. He was a kind older man by the name of Caleb, he reminded Nick of his dad in a lot of ways. They quickly fell at ease with each other and before Caleb left, he had set up a schedule with Nick for three mornings a week. After Caleb had left, Nick took a shower, ate lunch, and was now sitting at the kitchen table, waiting on his speech therapist to arrive. The door bell rang, making him jump. He nervously looked at Diane. "If you don't like him just let me know and I'll ask him to leave," she said, kissing his forehead before she went to answer the door. Nick stood up, watching as Diane let the man in. Nick couldn't help but feel somewhat intimidated. The man was huge. He had to be at least four inches taller than Nick, with huge muscles. He looked like a professional wrestler, not a speech therapist. He was tan, with jet black hair and brown eyes. Nick had to smile to himself though, the man probably had more tattoos than he did. "This is Nick," Diane said, introducing them. The man smiled, offering his hand, "Hi Nick, John Martin." Nick nodded, shaking his hand. "Have a seat John," Diane said, "Would you like something to drink?" "No thank you. You have a beautiful home," John said. Nick smiled. "So I guess you'd like to know a little about me first," John went on. Nick looked at Diane. "Yes, if you don't mind," she said. "Of course not," John smiled, "I'm thirty-one, single, I live here in Marathon, have for about six years now. Moved here from Orlando, where I grew up. I've been in speech therapy for about eight years, and I really love it. I do amateur body building on the side, in case you hadn't noticed," he laughed, "And well I guess that's about it." Diane glanced at Nick, and he smiled at her. "John, I'm sure you know who Nick is right?" she asked. John smiled, "Yes, you can't live here and not know who he is." Nick laughed. "Well then I'm sure you know that Nick and his family value their privacy," Diane said. "Of course," John said, "I've already signed a confidentiality clause with the agency. What we do here is strictly between Nick and I, no one will ever know what the nature of my work is with him, or that I work with him at all." "Good," Diane said, seeing that Nick was more relaxed now. "So, would you like to get started?" John asked. Nick nodded, squeezing Diane's hand to let her know he was OK. She smiled at him, getting up from the table, "I'll be right over here if you need anything." Nick watched as she walked into the living room, grabbing a magazine and sitting where she could see them. He smiled, knowing his insecurities must seem odd to her, but she reassured him anyway. Never making him feel like he was overreacting, but making him feel comforted and loved. John cleared his throat, getting Nick's attention. He smiled at him as he placed his cards in front of him. "I'm sure that you went through this with your speech therapist at the hospital, but I need to know where you are, alright?" John said. Nick nodded, seeing the familiar cards in front of him. "OK, I'm gonna show you a card and you point to the word that best describes it," John said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that evening Nick sat on the computer. Kevin had called earlier wanting to know how Nick's first day went. Diane told him it went well, Nick seemed to like both his therapists. Then she asked how Brian's day had gone. Kevin told her it was grueling for Brian, and he was in a lot of pain, but wanted to talk to Nick. So they set up a time for them both to be on the computer, and now Nick sat waiting for Brian to come on so they could talk. As he waited he noticed Carter had gotten on line, so he IM'd him. Snickers: Hey Carter, it's me Nick. Sirtalksalot: Nick! Hey, how r u doing? Snickers: OK, had my first day of speech today. Sirtalksalot: yeah, how'd it go? Do you like ur therapist? Snickers: He's nice, and massive hehe Sirtalksalot: Massive? Snickers: yeah, he looks like a body builder, freakin huge, but he seems nice Sirtalksalot: well as long as u like him, what's his name? Snickers: John Martin, he's from Orlando, but moved down here a few yrs ago Sirtalksalot: OK, sounds cool. Im glad ur doing well Snickers: ty, I was worried about it, but I guess I worried for nothing lol Sirtalksalot: well, all this can b scarey, im glad it's all working out tho.. Hey, how's my favorite brunette doing? Snickers: fine *large grin* Sirtalksalot: haha, im not even gonna ask lol, it's great talking to u Nick, but I've gotta run Snickers: OK, ttyl Sirtalksalot: u bet man, tell Di I said hi and if you need anything just let me know, k? Snickers: I will, ty Sirtalksalot: np, ttyl, bye Snickers: bye Nick closed the IM box, still waiting on Brian. "Was that Brian you were talking to?" Diane asked. Nick shook his head, pulling his little computer over, Carter, he says hi. She smiled at him, "Good, I'm glad you got to talk to him." He nodded, just as Brian IM'd him. Caramello: Hey Nick, sorry it took me so long Snickers: np, how r u? Caramello: np? Snickers: np=no problem Caramello: ohh ok, hehe, I hurt like hell but the pain killers are finally kicking in. How was your day? Snickers: pretty good, I like both my therapists. My physical therapist reminds me of dad lol Caramello: that's cool, lol? Snickers: lol=laugh out loud don't worry ull get it Caramello: eventually I guess, I'm not all down with this chat language haha Snickers: abbreviate ur words it helps to type faster that way Caramello: Ok, so tell me bout your speech therapist, what's he like? Snickers: big, like body builder big, but nice Caramello: body builder huh? Snickers: yeah, like bigger than Kevin ever thought bout being, but its cool. He even said he'd help me with some of my physical therapy on the days I don't have it. Caramello: that's cool Nick, he sounds really nice Snickers: yeah he is...u sure ur doing alright? Caramello: yeah im fine, just to much moving around today. They wanted to stop after two hours and I made them go for three *smacks head* Snickers: well that's what u get for being a stubborn ass haha Caramello: I know, but I want to b on my feet as soon as I can, ya know? Snickers: I know Bri, just like I can't wait to b talking again Caramello: yeah, listen I need to get off here, the meds are kicking in and im nodding off as it is Snickers: Ok, take it easy in therapy, don't rush it Caramello: when did you become Kevin? lol talk to you soon man Snickers: u too, take care, love ya Caramello: love ya too, bye Snickers: bye Nick shut down his computer and walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch next to Diane. "How's Brian?" she asked. OK, in a lot of pain tho, Nick typed. "Yeah Kevin said something about that when he called earlier," she said. Nick started watching the TV, as Misha crawled into his lap. Diane watched them. Nick was petting her behind the ears and Misha looked completely content. "So are you ready for therapy again tomorrow?" she asked. Nick looked at her nodding: I like John, he's funny. "Yeah I noticed a lot of laughing going on during your session," she smiled, "I'm glad you like him, cause I really didn't want to have to throw him out." Nick laughed: I couldn't see that happening. "Yeah, neither could I," she smiled, getting up to go into the kitchen. "Nick, I found something today that I don't know what it is,"she said, pulling the device out of the kitchen drawer. Nick looked back, reaching for the object. She handed it to him, "What is this?" Tazor, he typed. "You mean like a stun gun?" she asked. He nodded: Only more powerful. "Why do you have it, and why's it in the kitchen?" she asked. For protection. I don't like guns, so this was the next best thing. I keep it in the kitchen cause no one would suspect it in there, he typed. "Oh, OK. How does it work?" she asked. Nick pointed to the button on the side: that turns it on. Then he pointed to the trigger, then you aim and shoot. It has wires that spring out and they shock whatever they hit. "How long are the wires?" she asked. Ten feet I think, he answered. Diane stared at him for a moment, "Have you ever used it?" He shook his head. "Is there a reason you got it, or just to have, just in case?" she asked. I got it for a reason, he typed, Several years ago I started getting threatening letters from a fan. Somehow she found my house and showed up one day. I was able to hit the panic button on the security system without her noticing and the police showed up and took her away, but after that I got this, just to have, incase something like that happened again. Diane took his hand in hers, "I'm sorry Nick, that must've been frightening." It was, but things worked out OK, he typed, smiling at her. Diane took the device from him and placed it back in its hiding place, coming back to sit next to him. They didn't say anything for several moments. Nick wondered if the price of his fame was beginning to scare her. He chewed on his lip: Tell me what you're thinking. She smiled at him, "Just that you've had to deal with so much in your life...that it's not fair." He nodded, looking away from her, If she only knew how much. Diane looked over, seeing the troubled look on his face, scared that she had sparked some awful memory for him. "Nick, are you alright?" she asked. He looked at her, smiling, but there was sadness in his eyes. I'm OK, I think I'm just tired. It's been a long day, he typed, hoping she couldn't see what he was feeling. "Yeah it has, why don't we go to bed then," she suggested, getting up and pulling on his arm. He smiled, letting her pull him up. Before he knew what hit him, she pulled him down and crushed her lips to his in a searing kiss. When she let him go he looked at her a �what was that for?' look on his face. Diane grinned, "I love you Nick, don't ever forget that." He smiled, this time it reached his eyes and stayed there: Never, he typed. Diane turned off the TV and shut off the lights, taking Nick's hand in hers and leading him to their bedroom. Chapter 26 |