NOTHING WITHOUT YOU
CHAPTER 17
They watched as he was lifted off the ground, onto the stretcher, blood still pouring from his cut wrists. A.J hung his head low, letting the tears fall. He shut his eyes tightly, hoping the scene in front of him would leave his mind. Howie stood, looking at him, as tears fell from his big brown eyes. Howie's eyes went wide, as he saw Nick's eyes open slightly. Howie tapped A.J. on the shoulder. "What-," A.J.'s teary voice asked, as he looked up, his eyes went wide, seeing Nick. "Oh God" His raspy voice whispered. Nick's gaze looked around, seeing the paramedics. He looked over to A.J. and Howie, his gaze looked at them with hatred. "I....I c..c..can't b.believe you...I...I t..told you I j..just wanted to..d...d....d...die," Nick said, his voice hoarse. A.J. looked away, a sob escaping from his mouth, as tears fell down his cheeks. Nick's eyes softened, as fear came. "H..H.Howie,..A..A.J...p..please....d..don't let them..t...take me..p..please. I..I'll s...stop...j..just d..don't let t..them take m...m...me...p..please. I..I was j...just t...trying..t...t...to stop t..the pain..I....I'm so sorry," Nick sobbed, tears falling from his eyes. Howie's lip trembled, as he listened to the young man's sobs. Nick's eyes grew heavy, as the pain increased. Howie and A.J walked over to him. A.J. took Nick's wrist in his hand. Nick winched in pain. Nick's eyes grew even more heavy, as he shut his eyes. A.J lightly traced over the cuts, as the tears fell from his eyes. He shut his eyes tightly and whispered, "I...It's gonna be ok...t..their gonna h..help you" He leaned down, kissing the young man's forehead. The two men stepped back, as they watched Nick being lowered into the ambulance. A.J. and Howie turned their heads when the ambulance drove off. "W...well...I...I guess w..we should go to the h...hospital" Howie said. A.J. nodded. They both slowly walked, they finally came to the car. They both looked at each other, "I..." "I.." they both started. A.J took the keys "I'll drive," he whispered. Howie nodded. They got into the car, as they both drove off, to the hospital, tears streaming down their eyes.
Kevin leaned up against the wall, wiping the tears from his eyes. He turned his head, as he saw Howie and A.J. running down the hall, toward him. He started, walking towards them, his eyes full of concern as he saw tears falling from their eyes. "Kev!" A.J. screamed, from across the hall. When they reached him, the three men embraced tightly. After minutes of embracing, they pulled back, wiping the tears from their eyes. "S....so...d...did y...you find him," Kevin whispered. A.J and Howie's heads hung low, once again, the tears fell. "Um...K...Kev..I...we...um." A.J stuttered. "We found him....he...h..he was..." He cried out, as he put his head in his hands and wept. "He...tried to kill himself" Howie whispered. Kevin's eyes went wide, tears automatically fell from his bright green eyes. "W...what?" he said, shocked. "I...I held him...i..in my arms...a...as I watched t..the b...b...blood p..pour from his wrists.....oh God....," A.J. wept, as a loud sob came from his mouth. "W..we watched him...cut h...himself r..right in front of our....e...e..eyes" He said, as he slumped to the floor, his head in his hands, as he sobbed. Kevin slumped into the chair, tears pouring from his eyes. W..what h..happened?" His shaky voice asked. "T..the ambulance came, h...he's here now," Howie said. Kevin nodded, as tears still fell from his eyes. He lowered himself down, pulling A.J. into his embrace. Howie sat on the floor, getting into their embrace. The three men hugged each other tightly, as all of them wept. Kevin's head rose, his eyes wide with fear, "W..what do we tell Brian?"