Nick woke up later than afternoon only moments before the guys returned from their photo shoot, banging on his door,
"What?" He opened the door and immediately turned around rubbing his head. He made it back to his bed but before he could lay down Kevin began to yell,
"Don't even think of going back to bed. Get your ass up. What is your problem and why do you feel the need to blow off your job?" Howie sat down next him,
"What's with the drinking Nicky?" He looked over at Howie, then over at AJ before emphatically shaking his head,
"No, its not like that. I just had some stuff on my mind and I started drinking. I just drank too much, that's all." AJ nodded,
"That's how it started for me too. Drinking to make the demons go away." Nick shook his head,
"No, I'm serious. I'm not an alco-" He looked at AJ before looking down in his lap. AJ sighed,
"An alcoholic? You can say it, that's what I am. Its not an insult." Nick nodded,
"I...I know but I'm not, it was just a mistake, I just drank too much." Brian sighed,
"Doesn't this seem familiar Nick? We went through the same thing with AJ. The drinking to chase the blues way, missing appointments, denying the problem. Look, if you have a problem let's just save all the bullshit and get some help. But we can't afford to go through what we did last time. Financially or emotionally. The tour will be over in about a month and a half, two months. Do we need to bring someone out until then and you go to rehab afterwards?" Kevin shook his head,
"Why are you ASKING him? He has no choice." Nick shook his head,
"I don't have a problem, I swear you guys. It was one time, it won't happen again, I promise. One more chance, please." Howie nodded,
"Ok Nicky-" Kevin's voice entered the air like a knife,
"Hello people, this is the same as last time." He looked over at AJ,
"From experience what do you think we should do?" AJ looked at Nick but Nick's pleading eyes were so pathetic that he had to look away,
"Bring someone on the road, keep a close eye on him." Tears stung Nick's eyes, he felt so betrayed,
"Don't fucking talk about me like I'm not here. I said I'm fine now get the fuck out of my room now." Howie shook his head and placed his hand on Nick's shoulder,
"Nicky, we just want to help you." Nick shrugged Howie's hand off his shoulder and stood up,
"You don't want to help me you just want to control me like you always do. Well, I got fucking problems none of you could begin to understand." Howie seemed to be the only one who had any sensitivity towards Nick at this point,
"Like what Nick?" Brian sighed,
"Like how to not drink?" Nick whirled around,
"Fuck you Brian. I don't need your holier than thou bullshit. Everyone just get the fuck out right now." He picked up a lamp and threw it. He didn't mean to but it flew awfully close to Kevin and Brian. Kevin yelled,
"You little shit. You better get your shit together." He walked out of Nick's room dutifully followed by Brian. Howie smiled sympathetically at Nick,
"Get some rest we're leaving in a few hours for Atlanta." He handed Nick the piece of paper that he had been holding,
"Here's the schedule. If you need to talk Nicky..." his words trailed off Nick knew he could talk to him if he needed to,
"Thanks D man." Howie nodded and glanced over at AJ who was off in the corner sitting in a chair before he walked out. Nick turned to see AJ looking at him,
"I want to give you the benefit of the doubt but that's why I was able to go on as long as I did. Because people had faith I could get my shit together, they believed in me. Thats the worst thing you can do." He stood up,
"You can't give an addict the benefit of the doubt." Nick shook his head,
"J, man I swear, its not like that. This was one night where I fucked up." AJ nodded,
"Everyone has a first night, first time they miss work. Nick, you got drunk in a hotelroom by yourself. Why?" He walked out the door and Nick sat on the edge of the bed. It wasn't what they thought it was but he could understand why they thought the way they did. Everything he did, everything he just said was exactly what they all saw in AJ before.
Larry knew the guys were back and there was no doubt they were all going to Nick's room to confront him. He sighed as he turned off the TV when his cell phone rang,
"God, they killed each other." He closed his eyes,
"Hello?"
"Why did you tell Nick Mac was his? I told you Nick wasn't Mac's father." Larry sighed, he knew eventually he would be getting this phone call but not this soon. He had just told Nick the night before,
"Who told you I told Nick?" He could tell she was angry,
"He told me last night, drunk and stupid. I told you she wasn't his why did you do that?" Larry sighed, he wasn't going to tell her Chris told him, that was a promise he made,
"Look, I can do the math and the baby is biracial. Just admit it Quinn, he's the father." If she denied it until the day she died there was nothing he could about it, he didn't have proof and he would not sell out Chris under any circumstances,
"Nick is not the only white guy in the world. Larry, it's none of your business. Nick is not the father, its that simple." He sighed,
"Ok Quinn if you say so." She screamed,
"He's not, he is not the father." He nodded, he knew she was breaking down,
"I said ok. If you say so, I believe you."
"Don't do that. Say you believe me when you obviously don't, I hate that." He smiled,
"Why are you getting so defensive about this. If he isn't the father why are you so hell bent on trying to convince me he isn't even after I said I believe you?" She sighed,
"Larry-" He cut her off,
"He's the father isn't he Quinn, be honest. This is your chance, I know its been killing you. No one wants the father of their baby to be absent. This is your chance, admit it." She whispered,
"Yes, ok. Yes, Nick is the father." He nodded and the smile that was on his face soon faded when she continued,
"But if he asks again I won't admit it." And with that she hung up. He thought he had a break through, what the hell happened? Why was she being so stubborn about this?
Chapter 14
Reunited
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