New Beginnings

Title: New Beginnings
Pairing: Nick/Kevin
Author: Jules
Feedback: I'd lurve feedback... keeps me from thinking I don't suck
Rating: eventually R
Disclaimer: Now I do not own, lease or rent the people of which I speak, so I can't say that it has happened. It's just a story that I made up in my mind all by myself. And I do not propose to make any judgements on the sexual preferences of these gentlemen. It's all for fun.

Chapter 2

Nick could faintly hear a bell ringing and he sleepily wondered if it was in the dream he was having or it was really his doorbell. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, hearing the bell again and swearing. "Fuck. Don’t they know that it’s..." He looked at the clock beside his bed, "fucking 4am?" Nick got up and put on a pair of jogging pants and went to answer the door. The last thing he needed was opening the door completely nude, who knew what type of crazy people were banging on people’s doors at 4am.

The bell rang again. "Fuck man. I’m coming. Do you know what time it is?" He said while opening the door. When he saw who it was Nick couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped his lips, suddenly wide awake.

"I’m sorry it’s so late. I’ll come back later." And then the visitor turned to walk away, his head hanging low.

"NO. Oh my god Kevin. Come here." Nick scrambled after him, pulling Kevin’s arm and dragging him into his penthouse. He took Kevin’s bags from his shoulders and pulled the older man into a tight embrace. Kevin’s face was ghostly white, his eyes red from crying. He looked like he hadn’t slept in ages and eaten in longer. Nick didn’t know what had happened but he figured it must have been bad if Kevin were here in New York, at his place to see him. As soon as Nick’s arms wrapped around Kevin, he started to break down, sobbing uncontrollably. "I had to come here Nick. I’m sorry to bother you but I had to..."

"Shhh. Kev, it’s okay." Nick said soothingly, stroking Kevin’s hair softly. "It’s no bother. I’ve been so worried. Everyone’s worried bro." Nick wanted to know where Kevin had been, why he looked so awful but he didn’t want to push the other man. He could see how emotionally fragile Kevin was and didn’t want to add to the strain.

When Kevin heard Nick express everyone’s worry he pulled back forcefully and a look of panic filled his eyes. "You can’t tell them I’m here. No one can know. I don’t want to talk to anyone. NO ONE."

Kevin’s outburst startled Nick and he jumped back slightly. He reached out to calm Kevin and felt his heart break as he saw a fresh wave of tears fall from those green eyes which held so much pain and disillusionment. "Okay Kev. No one has to know you’re here. But they have to know that you’re okay. They’re so worried. At least someone know you’re okay. Let me call D and tell him that I’ve heard from you. I’ll tell him that you called me from somewhere, wouldn’t tell me where and just wanted me to tell everyone you were okay. Can you let me do that?" Nick’s voice took on a very soothing tone, not wanting to upset Kevin further.

Kevin thought about it for a few minutes and when the tears stopped he nodded sadly, biting his lip like a child would do.

On the outside Nick seemed calm and cool, on the inside he was freaking He’d never seen Kevin like this before and it scared the shit out of him. Kevin was always the rational one, the stable one. It was always him that was freaking out, doing stupid things and not knowing how to deal with it. He never had to be the responsible one and he didn’t know how he was going to be able to pull this off. Howie could always tell when he was lying and he would see through Nicks’ story like a clear window.

Nick dialed the familiar numbers and waited while the phone rang. Howie was going to kick his ass for waking him up.

"This better be good Nick!" Nick heard Howie’s sleepy voice say, a hint of annoyance in it.

"I’ve heard from Kevin." Nick paused and listened to Howie gasp and could tell that he was composing himself, wanting to make sure he’d heard him right.

"What did you say?" Howie asked, his voice now fully alert.

"I’ve heard from Kevin. I just wanted to tell you that. He just contacted me, so I wanted to tell you as soon as I heard. He’s fine D." Nick looked over to where Kevin had curled himself in a ball on the couch, shivering and shaking. His heart was breaking watching Kevin like this and he needed to know what it was that could turn a usually strong and intimidating man into a complete wreck and practically comatose.

"Where? What? Why?" Howie asked quickly.

"I don’t know to any of those questions. He didn’t say much, just that he was okay." Nick prayed that Howie wouldn’t press the issue. He paused and waited for the interrogation to begin.

"He’s there." Howie said simply, reading Nick’s mind.

"What?"

"He’s there. With you now isn’t he? He’s there."

Nick started to panic. "Ummm, why would you say that? He’s not here. I don’t know where he is."

"Calm down Nick. I won’t tell anyone. We both know Kevin wouldn’t just call you out of the blue. He obviously doesn’t want anyone to know where he is, and has gone to the last place that anyone will look for him. No one will ever suspect him going to see you. Brian had even told me not to bother asking you if I’d heard from him because there’s no way he would contact you if something was wrong. We all know how rocky your friendship is." Howie said thoughtfully. "Nick?"

"Yeah D?"

"I wonder why he DID go to see you. Don’t you think its’ odd that he’d just show up on your doorstep thousands of miles away from home after gone missing for like 2 weeks? At 4 am?"

It was exactly what Nick was thinking. Why was Kevin there? What did Kevin want from him? "I don’t know D, but I intend to find out." Nick said giving Kevin a smile indicating that Howie fell for his lie. Kevin smiled back and visibly relaxed, letting his eyes close. "Yeah sure D. If I hear anything else I’ll let you know."

"And Nicky?" Howie started, his voice sympathetic. "Take care of him please. I think this is bigger than we think."

Nick assured him that he would and hung up the phone, walking over to the couch and sitting next to Kevin. "Can I stay here Nicky?" He looked up at Nick with sad eyes and his voice revealed his exhaustion. Nick barely recognized the man in front of him as Kevin. It was like he was a whole different person.

"Of course Kev. As long as you want." Nick said, running his fingers through Kevin’s hair and cupping his face.

Standing, Nick pulled Kevin into a standing position as well and led him down the hall to the guest bedroom. Kevin let Nick lead him, stopping only when he was physically held in one place. Nick pulled down the blankets on the bed and fluffed the pillows, trying to keep his hands steady. Walking over to the dresser across the room, he pulled out a pair of pajamas that would be long enough for Kevin’s tall legs and stuck them out for Kevin to take. The older man just looked at Nick questioningly, not moving. Sighing, Nick put them on the bed and approached Kevin, concern foremost on his mind. He lifted Kevin’s arms and pulled the tee shirt from his thin frame. He then pulled the top over Kevin’s head and pushed him so that he could sit on the bed. Next Nick took his pants off and replaced them with the matching bottoms, making him stand to adjust them on his waist. When Nick had changed Kevin, he put him into the bed and tucked him in tightly, hoping that the morning would bring answers and insight as to what had happened to Kevin in this past year. This was definitely not his brother, his guardian and his friend that was always there for him on the road and took care of him. Just as Nick flipped the light off and was about to close the door, he heard Kevin whisper softly. "Thanks Nicky. I love you."

Nick’s heart broke at the tone in Kevin’s voice and he felt tears threaten. "You’re welcome Kev. I love you too." He went back to his own bed more confused and scared than he’d ever been in his life. He knew he had to fix whatever this was, but didn’t know how he could fix something he had no idea was wrong.