Nick's eyes opened slowly and he saw his four friends staring at him. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" he asked nervously.
"You passed out man." AJ informed him.
"I did?" he asked, starting to sit up but Brian pushed him back down.
"Yes you did, now just lay there for awhile okay? Maybe you should skip the game tonight."
"Hey I want to see the game thank you." he said, leaning back against the couch cushions. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Aaron and Lis walk in.
Lis glanced in Nick's direction, everyone was surrounding him. She sighed. "Go check on your brother AC, I'm just going to lay down for awhile. Can you tell B I need to talk to him?"
"Sure." He passed her her shopping bags and watched her hurry upstairs. He headed over to the group clustered around his brother. He put his hand and Brian's shoulder. "Lis needs to see you upstairs."
Bri nodded and slowly left the group.
Aaron looked at Nick laying there. "So why did you go and faint?" he asked, smiling.
Nick laughed. "Not enough attention."
D shook his head. "Too much heat and basketball I think."
"Probably right." Kev agreed, taking a look at his watch. "Well if we're going to get showered and changed in time for the game tonight we best be going Alec."
Alec stood up from the chair she'd been sitting in. "You're the only one who needs to get ready, but since you are my ride...later Nick!" She waved at him
"See ya Allie!" he yelled as the door closed.
Jenn smiled at AJ. "Well if people are leaving to get ready to come to our place, I think we should be there when they show."
AJ laughed. "My lady has a good point. So we'll see you all there in a few hours?" he asked, looking around.
"With bells on." D said heading to the door.
"Man D, please wear more than bells!" AJ teased, grabbing Jenn's shopping bags. "Later all!" and with that they disappeared out of the door.
"They cleared out fast." AC observed.
Han nodded. "Anyone want anything?" She asked, getting to her feet.
"Water?" Nick asked.
"Sure, AC?"
"Nah I'm good, thanks Han."
"No prob." She smiled and headed into the kitchen.
"Talk." Aaron said, sitting on the floor beside his brother.
"About what?" Nick asked innocently.
"Why you passed out? We played in worse heat yesterday and you were fine."
"It was a more aggressive game today." Nick stated, his eyes drifting to the stairs.
"You know sometimes you are the most aggravating person on earth!" Aaron said, jumping to his feet.
"Where you going?"
"Pool, I need to cool off." AC walked into the kitchen. A minute later Han appeared with Nick's water and went downstairs to make a few phone calls.
Lis threw her bags down on the bed and paced the room anxiously. She turned the stereo on low but hearing Sarah McLaughlin's "Angel" didn't help her mood any. Lis clicked it off and fell on her bed, grabbing her purse out of her bag. Her eyes stopped on the pic of them on the night stand, it was small enough no one ever noticed it except for her. Aaron has taken it last summer when he was in his 'I'm the official photographer' phase, it was a great picture actually, the two of them sitting on the beach, the dogs at their feet. She sighed and took out the prescription the doctor had given her, if Jenn and AJ hadn't appeared she could have had it filled.
Brian stopped outside Lis' door and took a deep breath, then finally knocked.
"B?" Lis called, stuffing the prescription into her pocket.
The door opened. "That would be me." He smiled at her and walked into her room. "AC said you wanted to see me."
"I did...I mean I do...B sit down." She said nervously.
Brian looked at her worried as he sat across from her on the bed. "What is it? What did the doctor say?"
Lis took a deep breath. "She ran a lot of tests and oh god Bri..." she started to shake. "I'm pregnant."
Nick looked around quickly, no one was there and Bri had gone upstairs so it was safe. He hopped off the couch and went over to where he had left his backpack by the door and brought it back over to the couch. After unzipping the side he pulled out the picture, glad it hadn't gotten bent. He laid back on the couch and studied it carefully. He could remember their wedding day perfectly now, he rested his head back against the couch and groaned. This feeling, this awful, horrible feeling filled him and wouldn't go. He rested the picture on his chest and closed his eyes for a few minutes.
Aaron stopped in the doorway to the living room and stared, Nick was laying on the couch staring at a pic of him and Lis on their wedding day. "Where the heck did he get that?" He asked himself, knowing from Lis her and Bri had put everything away except her ring that she wore. On the couch Nick closed his eyes and Aaron went upstairs to change before Nick noticed him standing in the doorway.
Brian's eyes went wide. "You're pregnant?"
Lis nodded. "Lousy timing huh?" she wiped away the few stray tears that had fallen. "I'm having my husband's baby, he has no idea we're married and to top it off, he cares more for my sister than he does for me. What the hell happened to my life Rok?" she laid back on the bed, shutting her eyes tightly.
Brian shook his head. "It'll be okay Lis, we'll work through this."
She just shook her head and tried to make herself stop crying. Brian laid beside her, his eyes on the ceiling. For a few minutes the room was absolutely silent until Brian broke the silence. "I know, we'll say the baby's mine."
Lis' eyes flew open. "Yours? No one would believe that."
"Yes they would, we've gotten closer since the accident. You're his wife, I'm his best friend it's only natural we'd gravitate towards one another. Now how far along are you?"
"Two months."
Bri sighed, knowing exactly when it had happened. He should have stopped him from going to her that night.
"I was here then, so it could be mine...time wise."
"You can't do this Bri, I won't let you."
"And I'm going to let you hurt yourself over this? No..."
"There's something else." She looked at him feeling afraid of his reaction.
"What?"
"I'm getting the marriage annulled. I talked to dad the other night and he called the lawyer, since Nick has no idea...it shouldn't take that long."
Brian pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry Lis, man I'm sorry."
Nick sat up on the couch, realizing he had to get ready for the party. Part of him deep inside didn't want to go, just wanted to stay right where he was and be miserable. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His eyes went back to the picture on his lap. Where would they have put everything? he wondered as he stood up. He'd have to think about that one for awhile, maybe he'd get lucky and stumble across it.
Aaron hurriedly moved away from his door and went inside when he saw Nick coming up the stairs. The last thing he wanted was for Nick to ask what he was doing in the hallway and didn't he say something before about swimming? He glanced at the clock on the night stand, it was still early more then enough time to get ready to head over to AJ's and watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He sat on the bed and heard Nick walk by, seconds later the door to his room closed.
Lis pulled away from Brian, smiling weakly. "You're the only one who knows right now. So..."
"I swear I'll tell no one. Do you need anything? I mean other than this whole situation you're all right?"
"Fine, perfect health. The only thing I need is to get the prescription filled and that's all."
Bri held his hand out. "I've got to run out and get a few things to take to AJ's, hand it over I'll get it filled."
"Thanks B." she handed him the prescription.
He stood up and kissed her forehead. "No problem. Anything else?"
"Do you think everyone will buy this?"
Brian reached for her hand and held it tightly in his own. "I think so." he said, hoping he was right. He smiled, wanting to lighten the mood. "So I'll see you at the party, don't forget to wear your jersey!"
