Brianna had kind of zoned out sitting on the couch waiting, so she jumped when the phone rang.

“Nick?”

“Brianna. I just got your message, sorry.” His voice was horse and he sounded exhausted.

“Shh. Don’t apologize. You got more important stuff going on up there than worrying about calling me. Nick where are you?”

“I don’t know. Some hotel room.” His voice was shaking and she could tell he was still fighting the tears.

“Nick, tell me where you’re at and I’ll be on the first plane there. I’m already packed.”

“No! No, don’t do that.”

Her head shot up. “What? Why not?”

He sighed. “Nothing. I didn’t mean it like that.” He sighed again and she waited for him to continue. This was hard for him and she wasn’t going to rush him. “It’s just. It’s.” His voice cracked.

“Nick its okay, take..”

“No it’s not okay!” She heard something on the other end and at first she didn’t know what it was. Then she realized it was the sound of him quietly crying.

“Nick, honey, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant it’s okay for you to just take your time.” He didn’t say anything, but she could still hear him, so she went on. “I know it may be hard to hear this right now, but if you stop to think about it, this is actually a good thing. He’s getting help Nick. He’s trying to make himself better.” Still nothing. “I’m right here Nick. For as long as you need me, I’m right here.” After that she just let him think, cry, and compose himself.

Finally, after about 15 minutes he spoke. It was so soft Brianna almost didn’t hear him. “Bree, I need you.” His voice cracked at the end and Brianna lost the control she thought she had.

Trying to steady her voice she answered almost as softly as he, “Nick, tell me where you are. I promise I’ll be right there. Please.”

Shaking his head on the other end again he told her no. “It’s just there is too much here. I mean it’s quiet, but there are people everywhere. I can’t deal with this. I need to get out of here. Away from everyone.” He stopped to catch his breath. He really didn’t know what he wanted or needed, but he also knew where he was at, at that moment was somewhere he didn’t want to be.

“Then tell me, where do you want to go? Do you want to come here? My parents? Tampa? The Keys? Where Nick. Anything you want.”

“I want to go home, Bree.” He sighed. “The closest thing to home anyway. I want to go Tampa.” His voice was so sad and lost Brianna had to put her hand over her mouth to keep him from hearing her cry.

“I’ll be there when you get there.” How she managed to keep a steady voice she didn’t know.

“Do you remember who has the spare key?”

“I remember. You gonna be okay flying? Is someone coming with you? Mike or Tony maybe?”

“Yeah. Both. We have a flight in just a little bit directly into Tampa.”

“Well then, honey, I suggest you let me go so I can be there before you. I gotta drive.” They said their good-byes and shortly after Brianna was out the door and on the road. She made two stops before she got on the interstate. One was to get the cell phone and the other to get gas. She’d figure out what the house needed once she got there.

<~ Chapter 23 or Chapter 25 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003