Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies, I don't own them all characters are the property of MGM Studio's and all afillated companies.

By Kay De'Vil.

'Stood in the warehouse Nick watched as his friends fought to save his life. He watched the fear and grief that crossed all their faces as the chances of reviving him grew smaller and smaller "Let me go!" he mentally pleaded with them, unwilling to cause them anymore pain than he already had, over the years.'

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As Derek worked on Nick, he heard a faint voice in his mind "Let me go!" looking at Alex she looked at him shocked, for she too had heard the voice. Continuing to pound on Nicks chest Derek said out loud "Not a chance Nick, you're coming back to us". Rachel looked up at him confused, but didn't say anything, she just continued to work on their fading friend. "Nick don't give up, please don't give up" pleaded Alex as tears ran down her face unchecked.

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'Sorrow filled Nick's heart as he watched them, and saw the tears on all of their faces, even Derek's. He watched as Philip returned from calling the Paramedics "Any change?" Nick sighed as he listened to them'

"We're not giving up on him, he's still here, we just have to get him back" stated Derek, then to everyone's surprise he looked around the warehouse and shouted "DAMN YOU NICK... DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP ON US!"

'A familiar voice called out to him from the distance "Nick!" he spun round immediately recognising the voice "Julia!" She appeared before him, looking as lovely as he remembered her to be "Julia! ..." He stood there unable to think of anything to say to her. She however knew what needed to be said to make him go back "Nick you have to go back, your not ready yet... you have people who need you people who love you"

"So did you, Julia" he countered. She smiled at him and gently caressed his cheek for a moment "I know my love, but my work was finished... yours isn't". His mind raced through images of his time with Julia, tears began to stream down his face as he looked at her. "Please Julia I want to stay with you" he pleaded, she smiled at him, gently returning her hand to his cheek, caressing the tears "I will always love you" she stated. Embracing him, allowing her own tears joined his, and then in a gentle seductive tone she stated "You must go back... they need you"

"The Legacy will go on without me" he stated unwilling to go back to the world of pain he had just left.

"Yes it will, as it has done for hundreds of years... but your work is not solely with the Legacy, you have responsibilities you are unaware of yet. Responsibilities that are of great importance". He looked at her confused but didn't question her statement. "I can't leave you again, not again" he stated unable to look at her. "You have never left me Nick, as I have never left you" replied Julia as she drew him close and kissed him passionately.'

Rachel looked at Derek and had to fight to hold back her tears. In the distance they could hear the sound of the Paramedics sirens. They were loosing him and there was nothing they could do about it. "Come on Nick!" said Derek in a low voice as he continued to pump his friends' chest. Suddenly Nick uttered a gasp and they all looked at him shocked, immediately Rachel checked for a pulse and almost burst into laughter when she found one "He's got a pulse" she stated relieved. Derek breathed a sigh of relief and stood to hug the group, as they did the Paramedics arrive and Rachel filled them in on what had happened.

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When Nick awoke in the hospital room, his friends where gathered around him. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw his friends smiling faces "Hey Nick, how you feeling?" questioned Alex as she squeezed his hand. He tried to answer her but couldn't "Don't bother trying to speak Nick, the doctors had to stick an almighty big tube down your throat" explained Philip smiling. Nick just nodded that he understood, and looked up at Derek and Rachel, although he was unable to speak, he was able to mouth the words he needed to say to them "Thank you". Both understood and smiled down at him "You get some rest Nick, you need it" comment Rachel as she began to guide the others from the room. "We'll see ya' tomorrow Nick" said Philip as they left him alone in his room. He quickly drifted back of to sleep after they had left.

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After almost 3 weeks in the hospital Nick was finally allowed to go home, to Angel Island. The drive back with Derek was very quiet, no one had spoken of the events that had happened, but Nick doubted that would last long. He could tell they wanted to know what had been happening, but hadn't considered him strong enough to be questioned about it.

Deciding to discuss the situation with Derek alone, Nick asked him to stop the car "What's wrong? Are you in pain Nick?" questioned Derek concerned. Nick sighed as he stared out of the side window

"No, it's nothing like that" he replied

"Then what's wrong?" questioned Derek concerned

"I know when we get back to the house, there's gonna be a twenty questions session about what happened 3 weeks ago" commented Nick, as he glanced at Derek and saw him shift uncomfortably "I'm not gonna go into details Derek, Tom Wright's death was an accident. An accident I had nothing to do with, but Tom's father never believed that" began Nick, as he returned to staring out of the window. Derek watched his young friend closely "So the man at the warehouse was Tom Wright's father?"

"Yeah, he blamed me for Tom's death, because..." Nick broke off, and sighed

"... Well that's not really important right now" he stated, Derek tried to push him on the matter "Nick what happened, why does Mr. Wright hate you so much?" Nick didn't answer, he simply continued to stare out the window.

"Just leave it Derek" he stated no longer wanting to talk about it. "Is there a chance Mr. Wright will come back?" questioned Derek, his concern for Nick's safety, and that of the other Legacy members growing. Nick just shrugged "Perhaps, but not in the near future" he replied before getting out of the car. Derek watched him for a moment, then also got out "Nick, I understand you're reluctant to talk about this, but I think I should know... what kind of a threat does Mr. Wright pose to us?" Nick began to walk away from Derek towards the woods. Derek quickly caught up with him and took hold of his arm "Nick?" as he turned the younger man to face him, he could see Nick's pain and sorrow

"Please Nick I only want to help you" he said in a gentle tone

"Derek, there's nothing you can do" stated Nick as he pulled his arm free and again turned away from the precept.

Neither man spoke as they resumed their drive back to the house. Derek watched his young friend out of the corner of his eye. It was clear that Nick still had a lot of demons from his past to face, demons he would not let Nick face alone, no matter how hard the ex-SEAL protested, after all they where his friends... his family.

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At the house Philip, Rachel, Alex and Kat awaited them. Gathered in the lounge they stood and moved towards the front door when they heard the car pulling up outside. They smiled at each other, relieved to finally have Nick home, where he belonged. As the door opened Kat raced forward, embracing Nick "Nick I've missed out" she declared happily. He returned the embrace but not with his usual vigour, "Thanks" he replied as he glanced warily at the others gathering in the hall. He was still nervous around them, he remembered everything he had done to them, and despite the fact that they had forgiven him, he still was not willing to forgive himself for the horrors he had put his friends through. Rachel approached Nick, taking hold of his hand "How are you feeling Nick?" she questioned as she tried to lead him towards the lounge, but he slipped his hand from hers saying "I'm a bit tired... I'm gonna go lie down". With that he headed up the stairs towards his room. "Is there anything I can get for you Nick?" questioned Alex as she watched him climb the stairs; he shook his head then vanished round the corner. Concerned Rachel and Alex looked at Derek who sighed heavily "Is he all right?" questioned Alex anxiously. Derek lead them into the lounge, where he told them what Nick had said. "How could this man blame Nick for his son's death?" questioned Rachel angrily. She glanced at the others in the room "Did Nick tell you how it happened?" questioned Philip as he stood watching Derek who was now looking out the window, and across the garden. "Nick's a very private man" stated Derek, not turning away from the window "I think this is something he believes he must face alone" he added sadly

"But that's ridiculous!" exclaimed Rachel angrily "Were his friends... the closest thing he has to family" she added

"Which is exactly why he'll try to keep us out of this" stated Philip. The others turned to look at him; Rachel and Alex looked at him questioningly, while Derek looked at him with understanding. "Nick has lost so much in his life" began Philip "You've all seen how he behaves when we're in danger... he's afraid of losing us. He's afraid that if he allows us to become involved in this, that he might lose us," concluded Philip. As he looked at the two women he could see the realisation of what he had said cross their faces

"So what can we do?" questioned Alex

"The only thing we can... Be here for Nick. When or if he decides to tell us what happened" stated Derek.

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In a cheap Motel room on the East Side of town. Tom Wright's father sits alone in his Motel room; pictures adorned the walls that surround him. Standing he goes over to the mirror and removes one of the pictures, an evil smile spreads across his face as he begins to cut out the figure in the photograph. On the desk lays several pictures of the Legacy team obviously taken without the group's knowledge. He again smiles to himself saying "This isn't over Boyle, not by a long shot", he places the picture on the table "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to my boy... starting with this one, I think". He taps the blade of a hunting knife upon the figure he had just finished cutting out. "Yes she'll do nicely" he states as he places the picture of Kat on the mirror, along side picture of the others, each with a target drawn upon their heads.

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In the early hours of the morning, Derek sits alone in his office writing an account of the last few weeks.

'There are still many things we don't know about our friend, Nicholas Patrick Boyle... things we may never know about him. All I can hope is that when the time comes, when he again faces Mr. Wright, we shall have the strength to give him the support and help he will surely need.'

The End...