| Chapter 48 And work they did. Six months had passed since Nick was released from the hospital and Carter moved in with him and Diane. They worked nonstop to catch Nick up to where he should have been if he'd been getting therapy the whole time. Nick was improving everyday, and his happy, carefree, fun loving self was back in full force. He was still seeing Dr. McKenna once a week. The doctor was amazed at how far Nick had come. He was facing his past openly now, and was even considering telling his story to the media. He knew it would cause shock amongst his fans, but also knew that if he told what happened, then maybe that would help someone else have the courage to tell also. He and Diane had settled into a wonderful life together. They were never apart, and they wanted it that way. It felt as if they were complete when they were together, a whole person. That both of them had been waiting their entire lives to feel this way, and now that they did, they were never going to let it go. Sure they argued some. What couple doesn't? But they were always able to talk things out. Diane didn't really know Nick when he could speak, so the last few months had been an exciting learning process. As Nick improved, they had vast conversations about everything. By now they knew each other inside and out. It amazed her how much emotion he carried in his voice. He could say the most mundane thing, and give her chills because of how he said it. Carter liked it so much, he ended up moving to Florida. Leaving the mountains behind for the ocean. He bought a house not far from Nick's, and was able to get a position with the Speech Clinic in Tampa. Seems they'd been looking for someone since John was killed. He had also developed a small crush on B.J. Much to Nick's teasing and warnings of major ass kickings if B.J. got her feelings hurt. But so far that hadn't happened, and he and B.J. were slowly getting to know each other. Brian ended up leasing the house he and Kevin were renting and moved Leighanne and Baylee there. He continued his therapy at the hospital so he could be close to Nick and the rest of the guys. Nick had a lot of questions and insecurities about his surgery and the scar it left behind. Brian found himself talking to his best friend a lot, encouraging him that it would get better. He knew how it felt, seeing the scar as it healed, then what it would ultimately look like for the rest of your life. It was a scarey thing, and he was glad that he could help Nick through that. He wished he'd had someone to talk to when he was going through it, but he had learned on his own. But there was no way he'd let Nick do that, he loved him to much to let him struggle with something that he could help him with. So as the winter months passed and spring came into bloom, so did Nick. He'd gone from the dark hole he'd been in with John, to a bright happy person. He was full of hope for the future, and had set tons of goals for himself. Many of which he'd already met. But there was still one thing he hadn't done�sing. He wanted to, and as his speech improved he got closer to it everyday. But he was still slow to speak, still having to think about his words, and still freezing on some. Sure he could carry on a conversation with little trouble, but if he got nervous he stuttered and stumbled over his words. But he was working on it, and he knew that it was just a matter of time before he'd be back on stage with the guys, doing what he loved. Kevin had called a few days ago. It seemed with the one year anniversary of the accident coming up they were getting a lot of offers for interviews. None of them had done an interview since the crash, and he thought it would be good for them to get together and do one. Nick agreed, but was a little nervous about it. He knew he still didn't sound normal talking, but the fans knew what was wrong, they would understand, wouldn't they? They decided to do 20/20 with Barbara Walters. She seemed the logical choice. Anyone who was ever anyone did interviews with her. And she seemed like a fair person, that she would report the truth and squash any rumors that might be floating around. So it was set. The guys would do one on one interviews with her, then one as a group. Also, it was decided that they would go back and visit the crash site, letting the film crew come with them. That was the part that worried Nick the most. He still didn't remember much about being there, and he wondered just what might come back when he saw it again. Diane walked outside and looked down the beach. Their bags were packed and waiting by the door for the car that was coming to pick them up and take them to the airport. Nick had disappeared, and she instantly knew where he was. She walked down the path to the pier. "Nick, the car should be here soon," she said, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. He smiled down at her, "OK, I'll be ... there in a sec." "Baby, don't be nervous," she said. "I can't help it. This trip ...is... um," he struggled with the word he wanted, "important," he finally got out. Diane smiled at him, "I know baby, but I'm right by your side OK?" He leaned down and hugged her, "I love you Di." "I love you too baby. Now come on or they'll think we changed our minds and aren't going," she said, pulling on his hand. Nick let her lead him back to the house, just in time to see the car pull up the drive. The trip to the airport was pretty uneventful. Although they had to keep getting on to Misha for chewing on the leather seats. At the airport they met Brian and Leighanne. Brian walked up to them, "I thought you'd changed your mind." Nick shook his head, "Naw, you .. know me." Brian laughed, "Yeah, late as usual." Nick smiled then took the cane from Brian's hand. "Hey dude, give it back! I swear you're worse than Baylee, wanting to play with it," Brian said, reaching for it. Nick laughed, "You don't need it. You're doing .... good," he teased, holding it up where Brian couldn't reach it. Leighanne leaned over to Diane, "Boys." She laughed, "Yeah, always will be no matter how old they get." "Diiiiiiiiii, make him stop!" Brian whined. "OK blondie, give Bri back his cane so we can get going," she said, walking past them up the steps and into the plane. Nick handed the cane back to Brian, "Race ya!" he said, taking off. "Hey no fair!" Brian yelled after them, as Leighanne took his arm and they walked up the steps. They flew to Orlando and picked Kevin, Howie and A.J. up, then were off again. Nick sat in his chair with his eyes closed. Dr. McKenna had been working with him on his fear of flying, and so far he was doing OK. At least he hadn't freaked out yet, that was something. He felt someone touch his arm and looked up. "You doing OK?" Kevin asked. He had that overprotective daddy look on his face. Nick nodded, "I'm fine." Kevin smiled at him, and turned to leave. "Kev?" "Yeah?" he asked, turning back around. "Are you ... nervous about going... back?" Nick asked. Kevin sat down across from him, "A little. I think we all are, but I also think this is something we need to do." "I just .... I don't remember it .... and I..." Nick started, but stopped as Diane walked by. Kevin watched Nick as he made sure she was out of ear shot before he continued. "You what Nick?" he asked. Nick sighed, "I want it to be ...... perfect." Kevin smiled, "It will be. It's the perfect place and she'll love it, you know that." Nick grinned and nodded, "I know but ....it's still .. um fright ...no that's not right." "Scarey?" Kevin offered. "Yeah, that's it," Nick said. Kevin reached over and patted him on the shoulder, "Welcome to the club little bro." Nick laughed, "Thanks." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Baby, did you see this view?" Diane asked, looking out the window of their hotel suit. Nick walked over looking out. They could see the mountains in the distance. Some were still snow capped. The clouds in the sky blending with the tops of the mountains. "Pretty," he said, turning her in his arms to face him, "But not as pretty as you." Diane blushed. It amazed her how the simplest thing he said would cause her heart to skip a beat. Nick started to nibble at her neck, and she gently pushed him away. "We can't. Your interview is in a few minutes," she reminded him. Nick sighed, "Tell me again why I'm doing this?" "Because you wanted to," she said, smiling at him. He laughed, "Oh yeah, that's it." Someone knocked on the door, and Diane went to open it. "Mr. Carter, we need you down in hair and make-up please," a crew member said. "OK," Nick said, picking Misha up off the bed and heading out the door, Diane following behind. She watched as Nick was put through the paces. He seemed bored with it all. He'd done it a thousand times, so it was nothing new to him. But Diane was fascinated with the whole process. When they were finished Barbara came in and introduced herself to them. Nick smiled as he talked with her, but Diane could tell he was nervous. He was talking slower than normal, wanting to get his words right. They walked over to the set and Nick sat down on the couch, Misha jumping up and laying on his lap. Diane stayed behind the camera, right where Nick would be looking. Nick had asked her to sit there, that way when he looked over he could see her, and feel more comfortable. "You ready to start?" Barbara asked. Nick nodded. The cameras began to roll and Barbara went into her introduction of Nick. After she finished that she looked at him, "So Nick, all the fans want to know how you're doing." "I'm getting ... better," he said, taking a deep breath. "Now the accident has left you with some permanent disabilities?" she asked. He nodded, "I have ...um," he shifted nervously in his seat, causing Misha to raise her head up and look at him. Nick ran his hand over her head, "I had a .... serious head injury that left me with permanent brain damage. I have seizures .... and trouble talking sometimes." "Well, you seem to be doing very well now," Barbara commented. "I've had a lot of help," Nick said. "Nick, let's change gears here for moment and talk about the accident. What do you remember about it and the week you spent in the wilderness?" she asked. He shook his head, "I don't ... know ...no remember most of it. The one thing I do ... remember is Diane." "Diane, now she's the girl that was on the plane with you. The contest winner, correct?" she said. He smiled, "Yes, she saved me." Diane felt her face flush again. Nick was staring right at her and it was giving her goose bumps. Barbara looked over at her and smiled, "Diane, why don't you come and sit with Nick?" "Oh no, I couldn't," she said. Barbara got up and walked over to her, "Go and get hair and make-up, while I talk with Nick. I have a feeling the rest of the interview will be about you, and when you're done come out and sit with him." "Are you sure?" Diane asked, still uncertain. "Honey, people are gonna want to see what that look was for. You don't stare at someone like that unless you are head over heels for them. Trust me, it'll be fine," Barbara said. Diane looked over at Nick and he nodded to her, flashing her his famous smile. "OK, if you insist," she said, letting a crew member take her back. Barbara walked back over, "Lovely girl." Nick nodded, "She's the only reason I'm still here." "Tell me about her. How she helped you and the other guys," Barbara said. Nick went into his story, telling her about how Diane had saved them and kept them going when they were in the woods. How she knew what to do for him and Brian, and probably saved both their lives. He went on to tell how she had come to live with him and how she once again saved him when his life was threatened by John. Diane stood in the background and listened. The way Nick talked about her, made her look like some kind of saint. That she surely wasn't, but she was completely in love. "So it sounds like you and Diane are a couple then," Barbara said. Nick grinned, he couldn't help it, "I love her with everything that I am. She makes me happy ... and I feel ... whole with her." Diane brushed away a tear, as a crewman spotted her and ushered her forward. "Come in Diane," Barbara said, looking for a tissue herself. Diane walked over and sat down with Nick. Immediately his arm was around her shoulders and they were holding hands. Barbara smiled at them, resisting the urge to go awwwwww. "So Diane, tell us about yourself. I know not much is out about you, so tell the fans what you want them to know," she said. Diane bit her lip, "Um well there's not much to tell. I'm just a regular person, just like anybody else. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time I guess. I know the accident was horrible, but I try to look at the bright side of it. I got four amazing brothers now that I didn't have before, and I found my soul mate," she said, smiling at Nick, "I know people say things happen for a reason, and maybe the crash happened to bring us all together." Barbara continued on with her interview and before long they were finished. Nick and Diane went back to their room to rest. They were going to the crash site early in the morning and would be spending the night there. All the guys thought it would be a good idea to camp there one more time, just the six of them. The camera crew would follow them through out the day, then leave them with just a couple of night vision cameras going that night. Then they would come back the next morning and pick them up. Nick lay on the bed watching TV as Diane made sure they had everything they needed. "Baby, I know your nervous about going. You could stay here if you want," she said. He shook his head, "Oh no, and leave you out there with those four. No way, I'm going." Diane laughed, "I can take care of myself, thank you very much." Nick reached over and pulled her into the bed with him, "I know you can ... but I need to do this." She ran her hand though his hair, "I know. I think in some strange way, we all need to do this." Nick took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. After a moment they broke for air. Nick stared at her intently, "I love you." There is was, that blush again. Nick loved it when he made her do that. He tangled his hands in her hair and brought her to him for another kiss. "Mmmm baby," she said, looking at him, "We have to get up soon." Nick pouted for a moment then smiled, "OK, we can wait till tomorrow." "Nick, we're gonna be at the site tomorrow," she reminded him. "I know," he grinned, "Always wondered what in the woods would be like." Diane burst out laughing and hit him with a pillow, "God you are a perv!" Nick shook his head, "Nope, I'm madly, deeply, in love ... besides, I know you wanna," he teased. She shook her head, "Oh Lord, remind me next time we're telling each other our fantasies to lie." Nick laughed as she reached over and turned off the lights, turning back to him. "Remember Carter, I know yours too," she warned. Nick stopped laughing and looked at her with wide eyes, "Oh I'm in trouble." She nodded, laughing, "Yup, you are." Chapter 49 |