Bittersweet Revenge

Chapter One

Even though I knew it was all an elbaborate ruse, I couldn’t tear myself away from how real it looked. The flatline, the long steady beep, the solemn faces. I knew Nick was breathing, but I had to reassure myself of it over and over. If I reacted this strong when it was a show, I’d hate to guess how it would be if, God forbid, it ever really happened.

Then Howie and AJ came in. They’re reactions, seeing them break down like that, was almost ovewhelming. I started to say something to them, but Brian put a hand on my arm. He shook his head slightly and I nodded in acknowledgement. He was the one with the plan.

I studied him closely and determined that he wasn’t having any easier of a time with this than I was. He was ghostly pale, shaking, and still crying. If there was one thing that made my heart ache, it was men that were crying. Now, I was in a surrounded by them with one of my closest friends on his way to the morgue. Yeah, I was definitely struggling with this.

Deizel left the room for a moment out of respect, along with the rest of the nurses and the doctor that were involved. I glanced nervously at Brian, then Kevin. If Howie and AJ saw Nick up close, they would know he was still alive. Who knew what would happen then? It could blow the whole thing. Howie would probably be able to be a little more discreet, but I could see AJ flipping out. I needn’t have worried about that though. AJ pulled himself to his feet and attempted to go over to Nick. He took one look, choked back a sob, and bolted from the room. Howie cast a pained glance towards Nick, then us, before running after AJ.

“Shit.” Murmured Kevin. He looked at Brian and I. “We should leave so they can take him when they get here.” He said, not wanting to say morgue.

“Help...me...over.” Brian whispered. I frowned at Kevin, thinking Brian really needed to lay down. Kevin acknowledged me look and set his hand on Bri’s shoulder.

“No! I...need...to!” Brian insisted as forcefully as he could. I knew why too. With this scheme, who knew when he was going to be able to see Nick again anytime soon.

Kevin supported Brian over to Nick’s bedside. Brian reached a hand up and gently brushed Nick’s hair away from where it had fallen in his eyes. It was considerably longer than when I had first met him. But, then, mine was too. Brian didn’t say anything, but I could see his shoulders shaking. Then Deizel appeared in the doorway with a wheelchair. Kevin helped Brian into it. Behind Deizel were two men in white lab coats. They were there for Nick.

“No.” I whispered. I wasn’t ready. I needed to be with him to make sure he was going to be okay. I shakily went over to the side of the bed and wrapped my arms around him. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Come on, Lizz. It’s time.” Deizel said softly.

I took Nick’s hand and squeezed it tight. Before I pulled away, I whispered in his ear, “It’s going to be okay Nick. I know you can hear me in there. Keep fighting and dont be scared, you’re safe now. I’ll see you as soon as I can. Hang in there. Love you.”

Deizel led me out of the room over to Kevin and Brian. I rested my hand on the handle of Brian’s wheelchair, steadying myself. I wasn’t prepared to see the men wheel Nick’s bed out of his room, a sheet draped over it. Over him. It wasn’t the first time I had seen that and it was hard. I couldn’t help but break down once again. I shielded my eyes with my hand, trying to stifle the sobs. Brian reached his hand up and layed it over mine.

“We’re...going to...get through...this...Lizz.” Brian’s words were strong, but I was still scared. It was all so real and so much was at stake. We didn’t know the extent of the damage Marcus inflicted on Nick and whether he, or his voice, would be okay. He had to be okay, I needed him to be. Who was going to keep me in line or get into trouble with me? Who else was going to be there for me like he was? I had to believe he was going to be okay, because frankly, I couldn’t take it any other way.

Marcus watched the scene from the tiny closet, barely able to contain his excitement. Only moments after entering Carter’s room, the tattooed one tore open the drapes and Marcus heard him cry out like an animal, falling to his knees. Seconds later he tore out of the room, followed by the other one. Next, a doctor walked out, face grim. Then a nurse, also visibly upset and shaken. Marcus felt his grin widen. Then it looked Brian and Lizz were saying their tearful goodbyes. “Boo-fucking-hoo.” He muttered under his breath. The best part came when two men pulled a sheet over Carter’s bed and wheeled his body out of the room. Marcus was elated. He discarded his previous thought to leave and “disappear” for awhile and decided to hang around and relish in everyone’s misery. Especially Brian and Lizz’s. “Finally they got what they deserved.” He smirked to himself.

~*~*~*~

No words were exchanged by the two male orderlies as they guided the cart carrying Nick down the halls towards the “staff only” elevators. They were told the prioriety of the situation and that they were under strict orders to do only as told to do. If they complied, they would be benefited with payment of a bonus.

The elevator car stopped. There was already a patient cart on board, a body that was also draped with a plain white sheet. When the doors closed, the orderlies switched places and the ones that were taking Nick were now in charge of a newly deceased patient.

As instructed, one of the men punched the button to take them up to the 10th floor. When the elevator stopped on 10, the new orderly took the cart carrying Nick and pushed it off the elevator and down the hall towards the nurse’s station desk.

~*~*~*~*~

As soon as Marcus witnessed Nick’s friends as well as his sheet covered body leave the ICU room, he quickly left the security of the closet where he had been hiding and took the stairs to the basement floor, towards the morgue.

He could feel the rush of adrenaline when he saw the elevator doors open and then the two orderlies pushing the cart down the hall into the cold and dimly lit morgue. A sick smile played across his lips. His plan was coming into place, his mother would be proud of the revenge he had finally delivered.

~*~*~*~

The remainder of the group gathered in Brian’s room. No one spoke as Deizel helped Brian out of the wheelchair back into his bed.

“Has anyone called Bob and Jane?” Howie asked, his voice thick with emotion.

“I’ll be taking care of that,” Kevin quickly replied as he helped Brian straighten the blankets out on the bed.

“It’s all too real, this is a sick dream,” Lizz said softly, tears still slipping down her cheeks.

“The FBI aren’t doing a damn thing about any of this Marcus bullshit from day one. I’m taking the matter into my hands now! I’ll cap the asshole,” AJ sputtered through his tears.

Brian shot a look at AJ which was intercepted by Howie.

“AJ, calm down, this isn’t the time or place man,” Howie quietly reprimanded.

AJ jumped up from his seat and immediately started to pace the floor. “This isn’t right, my god, can’t you guys see this? He killed....him,” AJ stammered, not willing to say the name ‘Nick’ “and now, as far as I’m concerned, the asshole needs to pay and I’m gonna make sure he pays out quickly.”

The phone ringing stopped AJ during his rambling. Kevin scooped the phone off the hook.

“Yeah,” he grunted into the phone.

“I see Carter didn’t make it,” Marcus began.

Kevin felt chills go down his spine as he listened to Marcus’s voice on the receiver.

“I don’t trust any of you asses, so here’s what I need now. I need proof that he’s dead.”

Kevin’s eyes narrowed as he listened to the madman’s ravings. “Proof? How do you suggest I go about that?”

“I want to see the body at the funeral home, in his box,” Marcus replied.

Kevin immediately felt sick to his stomach. “Don’t you think it would be a little difficult since this will no doubt be a private viewing!”

“Just do it or I start making some selections on my next victim,” Marcus replied sweetly. “I will be calling tomorrow to get the details on the funeral home. Remember, no funny stuff or I take a fan or two out.”

Kevin didn’t bother saying goodbye, he quickly slammed the receiver back down on the cradle. Brian looked up at his older cousin questionably.

Before Kevin could tell anyone what the phone call was about, the phone rang again.

“Yeah,” Kevin stated crisply into the phone.

“Why? How did this happen?” a voice sobbed on the other end of the phone.

It took Kevin a few minutes to soothe one of the PR managers for the group. They ended the call with setting up a time for a mini conference to address the details about Nick’s death and to make sure it was handled well in the media.

“Conference thursday afternoon at 4,” Kevin said as he gently hung the phone up.

~*~*~*~*~

Nurse Georgia Shell immediately grew nervous when she saw the cart coming down the hall. She knew that this was that patient that she had received a call about and that she was totally in charge of keeping the identity secret and that she would be compensated for her actions.

“Room 430 please,” she requested as she gathered up the materials she would need to make the changes for Nick, switching his identity in the hospital from Carter, Nickolas G to Carpenter, Jack A.

The orderlies quickly took Nick down the the room and lowered the side rails and moved the patient from the cart to his new assigned bed. Wordlessly, Nurse Shell pulled out her scissors and snipped off the pale green hospital ID bracelet and quickly slipped the new one on Nick’s wrist. She placed some other identifying information into a heavy brown folder and handed over to one of the men.

“Incenerate this immediately.”

Hooking up all the machines to the patient and stepping back to recheck every lead, every wire, Nurse Shell decided that everything was now in order. The patient was breathing at 94% with oxygen. He looked stable for the moment.