Brian walked in to find Nick chatting on the phone. "Who is it?"
"Hannah!" Nick said with a small smile passing his friend the phone.
Brian laughed. "Hey Han! How's LA?"
"La-La Land was fine. I'm on my way home, you think you could pick me up at the airport say like in 3 hours?"
Bri checked his watch. "I'd love to but..."
"Oh no, what now?"
"I have a prior commitment. Tyke's got a vet appointment and I've all ready rescheduled it twice. Uh I'll get someone to meet you there ok? Promise."
"Sure you do. Ok if I get through the gates and don't see anyone I'll just take a cab home all right?"
"Trust me I'll get someone."
Lis sat in her room and looked around. It didn't look much different than when she had left it to move in with Nick a year and a half ago. In the back of her mind she wondered if she could turn back time what she would do, would she go out with Nick the night they met or would she tell just take his insurance info and walk away. Their relationship hadn't been perfect, far from it but they were as Nick always said 'Two halfs of one person', Lis laid on the bed and let herself fall asleep, the events of the last several weeks had taken its toll physically and emotionally.
Nick heard the commotion inside the house. Brian had called everyone in the group and finally Jenn agreed to go pick Han up while AJ came over to keep Nick company, till Brian came back with Tyke. Nick had grudgingly agreed, not sure why they didn't want him to be alone.
"Yo Nicky, come say hi to your little sis!" Bone called from the open patio door.
"Yeah yeah." He mumbled and walked silently into the house and stopped suddenly seeing the new arrival in the kitchen. She was taller than Lis, pale blonde hair and her green eyes danced as she talked to Jenn. "Uhm hi." he said suddenly.
"Nick! Hey!" she walked over and gave him a big hug.
"Sorry I left while you were still in the hospital but my friend in Cali needed me to help her find a place and stuff. But looks like you did just fine with Lis and Rok here huh?" she smiled at him and turned back to Jenn and AJ. "So like I was telling these two bums, a couple more months and I'll be at the dorm. Yuck!"
Nick had a confused look on his face then he remembered what AJ had told him about her. "Right you're..."
"Starting at the U in the fall." Han said cheerfully.
AJ looked at his watch. "C'mon Jenn or we'll be late."
"Where you two going?" Nick asked, sitting down at the table.
"The theatre." AJ said in a snobbish tone.
Jenn laughed. "AJ wants us to have a cultured evening for once."
Nick laughed. "Glad I'm not gong."
"Yeah well Shakespeare never was your forte." AJ answered then stopped. "Shit, sorry Kaos."
"Hey no biggie." Nick said honestly, he was growing used to blowing off the remarks people made about his past.
Han smiled. "Well have fun. I guess I should get to unpacking and then call Lis, let her know her little sis is alive and well and back in the land of Florida."
AJ and Nick walked out of the room and Jenn helped Han upstairs with her bags. "Now if you need anything call Rok on his cell he said he wouldn't be too late. Or you can call anyone of us you know that right?"
"I know...but I seriously doubt anything will happen ok?"
Jenn smiled. "You're right, the worst has all ready happened. When you call Lis tell her we all say hi and to get her butt back here soon!"
"Gotcha." Han smiled as her friend left the room.
Nick walked up the stairs a couple minutes later. Hannah's door was open and she was busy unpacking the few suitcases that were scattered around the room in various states of unpacked. "Hey, you busy?"
She looked up. "Nope, why?"
"Just wondered if you were hungry." he said showing her the pile of take out and delivery menus in his hand.
"Food! Yes, anything Italian will be good."
"How about I leave ordering up to you?"
Han rolled her eyes. "You never could do anything for yourself could you?" she laughed. "Ok hand over the menus and I'll call."
"No no I'll do it. What place?"
"Ginos. Get the double cheese and a supreme and that way we'll all be happy."
Brian walked inside the house with Tyke on his leash to the sound of laughter. A smile appeared on his face and he thought maybe Lis had made the trip back all ready. "Hey!" he said walking into the kitchen to find Nick and Han busy eating pizza.
"Bri!" Hannah got up and gave him a hug. "And Tyke!"
"Hey Rok." Nick said with a smile.
"Pizza huh?" Brian said taking his jacket off and sitting down.
"Looks like pizza, tastes like pizza, good deduction Bri!" Han said laughing.
"Ok make fun of me, it's ok. Your first night back and I'll let ya bug me."
Lis leaned against the railing of the deck and stared out at the yard. Even though she needed the time alone she was lonely. She needed to talk to someone about everything but there was no one in Jacksonville to talk too. All her old high school friends had moved away. With a quick look at her watch she realized it wasn't as late as she thought and went inside to get the phone.
"Me will get it!" Brian yelled over the nintendo competition going on between Nick and Hannah.
Han nodded and waved him out of the room, trying not to lose her concentration on the video game.
Bri shut the door and picked up the kitchen's cordless. "Land of chaos."
"Brian is that you?" Lis asked, a smile in her voice.
"Lisa! Man it's good you called."
"Why? What happened?" she asked worriedly, a thousand bad images filling her mind, none of which she liked.
"Nothing bad. Han came home."
"She's home?"
"Yeah came in about five today, Jenn picked her up from the airport. You want me to call her to the phone."
"In a few...uhm wow she's early."
"Yeah. You ok? You don't exactly sound that good hon."
"It's nothing, just more lonely up here then I thought it would be."
Brian leaned against the counter. "Well if you want someone I can be there in a flash."
"No it's ok really. Time alone is why I came up here."
Bri nodded and watched as Han walked in. She smiled at him and took a drink out of the fridge. "I whooped his butt at nintendo!" she announced.
"Way to go, here..." he passed her the phone and walked away.
"Hello?"
"Hey Han."
"Lis! Ok why are you in Jacksonville?"
"Just wanted my car back."
"No...there's something wrong I hear it in your voice. Spill or I will be up there first thing in the morning." Han said as she hopped on the counter.
"There is nothing wrong, everything is fine, everything is perfect, everything is wonderful."
"Right, you're..." she was cut off by Nick walking into the room.
"Who's on the phone?" he asked, grabbing two drinks from the fridge.
"Lis."
Nick stopped. "Oh uh say hi for me."
"Nick says hi." Han said quickly, she waited till he left the room. "Ok as I was saying Nick was in a serious accident and I come back to Bri telling me you practically ran out of here first thing this morning back home which you told me three days ago you were waiting till i came home to get the car."
At her end Lis rested her head against her hands. "Look Han, please just leave it alone. It's between me and Nick and that's where it's going to stay."
"When did it happen?"
"Last night. Ok that's more info then I've told anyone so just keep it to yourself. And just let it go..."
"I bet I know what happened."
"Then draw your own conclusions. I'm going to bed. Night Han"
"When should I expect your cheerful face home?"
"I don't know...I'll let you know when I decide to come back ok?"
"Uh huh. I'll call you later."
"Fine." and with that Lis clicked the phone off.
Han set the phone down and shook her head. Sometimes her sister was too independent for her own good, she thought to herself as she went to find Brian.
