A Second Chance
Chapter Thirteen
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Brian almost immediately noticed the changes in Nick once they left the nursing care facility. It was almost a dramatic change where he was now started to speak, small sentances but he was able to make his thoughts clearer.
He telephoned Nick's parents and requested that he stay with him for a few days, to help bring him out of his shell. They agreed and faxed permission to the nursing home. He had called each of the guys and informed them of Nick's progress and all of them but Kevin appeared within a days time of the phone call.
After a few weeks had passed, Kevin gathered the courage to drive out to Brian's and see Nick for the first time since he had recovered under Brian's care.
Ringing the doorbell, Kevin was suprized to see that Nick had walked over and answered it.
"Hey Kev, god, it's so good to see you," Nick said as he wrapped his arms around him and gave him a tight hug.
"Hey Nicky," Kevin replied as he sized Nick up and down. "How you feelin'?"
Nick held the front door open and gestured him to follow him in. "Pretty good I guess, Brian's gone to town and should be back in a couple of hours, I got his house to myself," Nick replied.
Kevin watched his young friend walk ahead of him with. He seemed to be walking with a slight limp.
"Are you hurting Nick?"
Nick eased his body down onto the leather couch in the living room. "I'm a little stiff, but I'm getting used to it, the doc's are telling me it's some type of arthritis, I guess I'm stuck with it for life, but it's okay, I just am getting used to taking meds everyday."
Kevin could feel the tears well up in his eyes. He caused this. This was something he could never take away, he totally effected Nick's life and this was something he would have to carry with him for the rest of his life.
"Kev, are you okay?" Nick asked as he noticed the tears in Kevin's eyes.
Kevin blinked his eyes rapidly, hoping to clear them before they fell. "Hey, how about a game of Road Rash2, you like to do that."
Nick stared at the Playstation laying under the television set. "My hands don't work like they used to, I have good days and bad days now, today is a bad day, maybe tomorrow," Nick apologised with a smile.
Kevin couldn't take it anymore, this was eating away at his conscience. "Nick, there's something I gotta tell you."
Nick clicked off the television set and leaned forward. "Okay, shoot Kev."
Kevin sighed as he raked his hands through his hair. He was trying to think of the best way to explain the awful thing that he had done to his friend. He knew that he could never be forgiven.
"You know how you were so sick a few months ago and was dying?"
"Yeah, I guess, I don't remember all of it, just the stuff Brian's told me about," Nick replied.
"I caused that to happen to you, god I'm so sorry. We have this family curse and I couldn't take it anymore so I made this drink and I gave it to you and it made you worse, I got better but it made you worse Nick, and, god, I'm so sorry can you forgive me?" Kevin rushed his words.
Nick stared at him for a few moments, absorbing all the things Kevin was telling him. As Kevin waited for the blow up that he was sure Nick would be giving him, he was shocked when a huge smile spread across the blond's face. And then he started laughing.
"Sure Kevin, I forgive you, you know that's the stupidest thing you've ever said to me. There is no way you could cause what happened to me. The doctors said it was a viral infection, plain, pure and simple. They don't know what caused it, they never will, but god Kevin, that's just stupid for you to think that."
"But Nick----"
"But Kev, do I have to kick your ass? I can still do that, I'm a little slow but I can manage a good ass whippin if I need to. Just drop it, okay?"
Kevin slowly nodded.
"I'm gonna go get a coke, you want one?" Nick asked as he eased up off the sofa.
"Sure, thanks," Kevin replied.
As he watched Nick's tall frame walk through the livingroom to the kitchen, Kevin still felt incredibly guilty. This was going to be with him forever. Although Nick had accepted his apologies, he felt deep down that he could have killed Nick and he didn't fully understand that.
He wished he could take all the after effects with him. Kevin was pain free as a result of the transferrence, but Nick would be forever scarred with the aches and pains that Kevin should have had.
Kevin swore to himself that he would always be patient and watchful over Nick. He would never again yell at him for being slow at rehearsals or for being late for anything.
As Nick came back into the living room with the cokes, Kevin jumped up out of his seat and ran up to Nick and gave him a hug, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"Hey, what the heck was that all about?"
"Nothing Nick, I just love you and I missed you," Kevin replied.
"You're weird Kev, but I guess I missed you too."
The End