Talk to Me
| Chapter 5 Nick ordered the pizza, or rather pizzas, for he and Aaron. They ate quietly in the living room while watching Kristyne sleep. “So, what’s going on with her friend?” Aaron began in barely a whisper. “I don’t know AC. She was asleep when I came downstairs. My guess is, knowing how she is, this didn’t happen today; maybe yesterday or the day before. She probably hasn’t slept since whatever happened, happened.” “There’s got to be someone who knows what happened. Work maybe?” “Yeah. I guess I could call the squad house. I’m sure someone there will know what is going on. But, I’m a stranger. I don’t know how much they’d tell me, you know.” “Oh, I never thought of that. Well, do you know her friend’s last name? Maybe you could call the hospital. Say you’re family or something. Then they’d tell you.” “Yes, that’s true. But then I’d be lying now wouldn’t I?” Nick reached over and messed up Aaron’s hair. “But, it just might work. Damn, what did Kris say her last name was? Evelynn Brooks. I think that was it.” Nick called Tampa General and actually got lucky. He said he was a cousin of Eve’s and they told him the basics. Evie had been admitted late last night with multiple injuries, including a concussion that had left her, as yet, still unconscious. He thanked the nurse for her help and hung up. He couldn’t believe it had been that easy. “Well?” Aaron was staring at him with wide eyes. “What happened? What happened?” “Sshhhhhh! You’ll wake Kris.” Nick scolded and then told Aaron just what the nurse had told him. “Damn.” “Aaron! Mom know you talk like that?” “Nope, and you’re not gonna tell her are you?” “And exactly WHY am I not going to tell her?” “Because then I’d tell her you were the one who taught me.” “Oh, so that’s how it is, huh?” Before they knew it their brotherly banter had turned into tickling and rough housing. “Come on, AC. We better settle before we wake her. After what she’s had to deal with in the past 24 hours, she needs all the rest she can get.” “I’m kinda tired anyway. I think I’ll shower and head to bed. Maybe watch some TV or something. When I come downstairs I’ll remember to be quiet, ok. Hope she’ll be ok.” “Night, AC. I’ll see ya tomorrow.” Nick checked all the doors and set the alarm. A shower actually sounded pretty good. So, he did just that and tried to lie down in bed. However, his mind kept wandering to Kristyne, asleep downstairs on his couch. “Oh hell! I see I’m not gonna sleep tonight.” Nick was just throwing back the covers to get out of bed when he heard her whimpering and then she screamed. It was only one scream, not even very loud, but enough to scare him. He almost knocked Aaron over as he bolted down the stairs to find her sitting up, shaking, hysterical and staring right through him. “Kris. Kristyne. It’s ok.” Blinking once she focused on him. Then the shaking and tears began again. “She can’t die. Not her. I’ll have no one left. Nick, she can’t die.” Sitting on the couch next to her he really didn’t know what to say. Evie’s condition was not promising at the moment. All he could do, all he ever could do, was to hold her and tell her everything would be ok, and then pray that it really would be. When she had calmed down again and her eyes were starting to close, Nick started to get up off the couch. “Don’t. Please...please stay for a while.” Kris thought he might laugh at her fear of being alone. Instead he lay down on the couch and cradled her. “I’ll stay as long as you need me. Just try and get some sleep. You’re safe here.” Soon after, they both fell asleep.
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