
Nick followed Brian and Mr. Paine into the Orlando Police Station. It reminded him of an ant farm, everyone running about doing different things. Mr. Paine, knowing who exactly to see, led the way around a bunch of desks and thru several doors.
"Are you still holding him Chris?" Mr. Paine asked upon an officer’s approach
"Of course Richard, are these the witnesses?"
"Yes." Mr. Paine replied glancing at the boys
"Okay, I need one of you to go in there, look at a line up and tell me if the man you saw is in there."
The boys nodded and Brian went in first. He came back out in a couple of minutes and Nick went in. The officer followed Nick out and looked at his friend
"Well, Chris, are you going to book him?" Mr. Paine asked already assuming the answer
"I’m sorry Richard, we can't do that."
Mr. Paine looked hard at Chris, "and why not?"
"Because we don't have him."
"You what?!"
"We don't have him, both guys confirmed that he wasn't in the line up."
"But I thought...."
"We thought so too," the officer cut in, "we must have arrested the wrong guy."
"So, what does this mean?" Nick asked
"It means, that the man who attracted your friend, is still out there."
Nick looked at the officer and then at Brian...
**************************
Mrs. Paine sat by her daughter until her husband returned.
"Did he get arrested?" She asked as soon as she saw her husband
Mr. Paine didn't answer and his wife knew something was wrong, "What? What is it?"
"They don't have him." Brian answered softly
"WHAT?!" Mrs. Paine almost screamed
"SHhh! You will wake her up." Mr. Paine said coming forward to hold his wife, "They didn't find him, but they will. Let's go home, you need some rest."
"No, I want to stay with her."
"darling, you need some rest, you have had a lot of shock for just one day."
"But I want.."
Nick cut in, "I’ll stay with her Mrs. Paine, Mr. Paine is right, you need some rest."
Mrs. Paine looked at the two and then at her daughter, she hesitated, "Alright, but Nick?"
"yes ma'am?"
"Don't let anything happen to my baby."
"I won't." Nick promised
Mr. Paine turned to Brian, "Do you need a ride home?"
"yes, sir, if it's no trouble."
"No trouble at all."
The 3 left leaving Nick alone with Alex, he watched her for awhile before he fell asleep himself.
**********************
Nick woke with a start, he had a nightmare...the whole scene replayed in his head over and over...seeing Alex and then hearing the shot...feeling her blood seep from the wound...it was so real. He looked over at Alex expecting to se her asleep and found her sitting up looking at him.
"What are you doing?!" He asked getting out of his chair, "You need to lay down."
Alex looked at him, "I want to sit up, I'm tired of laying down."
"Lay down Alex." Nick persisted
"No." Alex stated
Nick crossed his arms and looked down at her
"you can huff and puff all you want Nickolas Gene, but I want to sit up and I am going to sit up."
"you need..."
"Oh, don't tell me what I need!" she spat at him
Nick looked at her a little shocked, but the comment hurt and stung. Her next question hurt even more.
"Why are you here?"
"What do you mean why am I here? I was staying because.." he trailed off trying to think of a reason to tell her. He knew the reason...the reason was because he was scared, scared to loose her, scared to be alone, scared to let anything happen to her, but he wasn't going to tell her that
"Because why? You're not even allowed to stay in here, only family."
"Well, I told them I was your fiancée."
"you what?! Why did you do that?" She demanded
"What's wrong with it Alex? Is it so awful for someone to think I am your fiancée?" Nick was starting to get mad and Alex knew it. the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"I’m sorry." Alex squeaked
Nick sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, "Alex, I never really thought about certain things..until.." he stopped in mid sentence because he had looked over to see Alex crying. he didn't say anything, he just put his arms around her and let her cry.
After several minutes Alex sniffed, "feel any better?" Nick asked quietly
"yeah.."
"Can I let go of you now?"
"Do you have to?" Alex asked
"Yes, my back is killing me!"
Alex laughed as he sat back, he wiped the hair out of her eyes, and leaned down to kiss her, "You can't leave me Alex..."
"And why is that?" She inquired
"Because I wouldn't know what to do.."
Alex smiled at him, "Don't worry, I don't plan on going anywhere."
*************************
Alex was woke up to a nurse patting her on the arm, "It's time to change the bandages."
Alex nodded and scooted up in the bed so the nurse could change the bandages she had on the side of her stomach and back.
"He's really adorable." the nurse said as she took off the old bandage.
"huh?" Alex asked confused
"Your fiancée, he's adorable."
Alex looked over at Nick asleep in the chair, "Oh, yes he is...among plenty of other things."
The nurse looked at Alex for an explanation but Alex shook her head, "Don’t ask." The nurse nodded and continued with her work.
Alex heard a sound and looked up to see Nick staring at her in utter shock, "What’s wrong?" She asked
The nurse turned to look at Nick and let some of the dressing fall, Nick couldn't take it anymore and turned and walked out before Alex or the nurse could say anything else.
The nurse finished and then asked, "Would you like me to go get him?"
"umm...no, I think he may just need time..he hadn't seen..." Alex trailed off and the nurse nodded understanding what Alex meant.
"It has to be hard having your fiancée shot, it just doesn't happen everyday." the nurse said as she walked out.
Alex looked out the window, both she and Nick were going to have to get thru this, whether it be together or by themselves she wasn't sure.
********************
About an hour later a man came in with a vase of flowers, he handed Alex the card and left. Alex thought it rather strange but didn't give it a second thought. She opened the card and smiled-it read
Thinking of you always, can't wait to be near you.
"That was sweet of him" She said to the card, just then Nick came in holding a teddy bear.
"Thank you for the flowers." Alex said with a grin wrapping her arms around his neck
Nick looked at her with a strange look, "I didn't send you any flowers."
Now Alex looked confused, "Well, then who did?" Pictures flashed thru Alex's mind and she froze, she clutched nick tighter as she whispered harshly, "it was him! Nick he was in my room!"