"Jess, baby, you have to take you hands off the steering wheel and get out of the car,"Nick told her as they sat in front of the rehab building. It looked friendly with people inside the gates talking and lots of flowers lining the edges of the building, but Jessica was not comforted at all by it.
"I can't do this, lets go,"Jessica said.
"Jessica, get out of the damn car and stop acting like a kid!"
Jessica's eyes widened and she turned to glare at Nick.
"Sorry but that had to be said,"Nick shrugged and opened the door to Jessica's car, followed by his bodyguard. He quickly concealed himself in sunglasses and a hat.
Wordlessly, Jessica unlocked her seatbelt, opened the car door, got out, then slammed it shut,"You know I didn't take you here so you could yell at me Nick. I'm going through enought shit as it is."
"I know,"Nick replied, taking her hand. "I'm sorry Jess."
"I'm just really scared. I don't want to do this. My family was right. I'm a hypocrite,"Jessica said sadly, looking down at the street. "I can't handle seeing him. Did I ever tell you what he did to get back into rehab Nick?"
Nick shook his head trying to meet her gaze,"You said that he had alcohol poisoning." She couldn't meet his eyes. She knew she'd see pity and Jessica didn't want his pity. She just wanted his friendship and understanding.
"That was after he drove into a building,"Jessica said, a tear ran down her face. She laughed bitterly. "A fucking builiding."
Nick squeezed her hand tightly,"Let's go in."
"No I don't want to see him,"Jessica said, turning her back and started walking to the car. "I changed my mind."
Nick grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her gently to him. He forced her to look at him. He ran his hands up and down her arms in a comforting fashion,"Get your ass in there now before I pick you up and bring you in myself and you know I will too."
Jessica gave him a little smile,"Am I acting really stupid?"
"A little,"Nick teased and took her hand again.
"Ok let's go,"Jessica said taking a deep breath and gazed at the building.
"Yeah for us to go it would mean we have to move our feet,"Nick joked, offering her a big smile.
She looked at him and smiled. She started walking to the builidng with Nick following her.
"See there we go. Now we're making progress. See how easy it was. Just one foot after the other..."Nick smirked.
"Don't push your luck Carter,"Jessica warned.
Nick caught up with her and put his arm around her,"It'll be ok Jess."
"I know,"she said. She looked up at him. "Thank you Nick. For being there for me."
"I'll always be there for you,"Nick said quietly then swallowed the lump in his throat. "What are friends for right?"
"Right,"Jessica whispered averting her eyes.
They had reached the entrance of the building and they walked in. Patients were sitting on couches talking and playing games. Jessica's eyes scanned the area for her father. When she found no sigh of him she went up to one of the women working there.
"Hi I'm here to see my father, Frank Donovan."
"Oh Frank's probably in his room. He doesn't come down very much,"she replied looking at Jessica carefully. "Your his daughter you said?"
Jessica nodded, trying not to cry.
"He's taking this very hard Miss Donovan,"she told Jessica.
'I don't want to hear it. Please don't say anything else...'Jessica silently begged.
"Yes ok, what room's he in?"Jessica said.
"124, I think...2nd floor."
"Thank you,"Jessica said, looking at Nick who looked uncomfortable.
"Are you ok?"Jessica asked him.
"Um, fine,"he replied.
"We have to go to his room,"Jessica said softly.
Nick nodded and Jessica walked towards the elevator. The walk to his room was silent and Jessica stopped in front of the room and turned to Nick.
He pulled her in for a hug and kissed her forehead,"I'm going to wait here for you. I got Billy to keep me company ok? Go ahead."
Jessica forced herself to knock on the door. No reply. She knocked again.
A weak 'Come in' could be heard. Jessica looked at Nick once more then walked in.
The room was a mess and she saw her father sitting in an arm chair facing the window, looking outside.
"Hi Daddy,"Jessica whispered.
He slowly stood up and faced her. The two stared at eachother wordlessly.
"Jessi..."he breathed. He looked like hell. His eyes were bloodshot and his clothes wrinkled.
"How are you?"she asked.
It was a stupid question. Any fool could see that he wasn't ok.
"I don't know anymore. I don't need to be here. I don't have a problem,"Frank insisted not looking at his daughter.
"Daddy stop it. You do have a problem. That's why you're here. You drove into a building Dad. And you don't have a problem?"Jessica said.
He didn't speak he only sat down.
"You know they can't help you if you don't want to help yourself. You're reaching a dead end Dad. A dead end. Our family is falling apart and you don't even want to get better. You have a problem,"Jessica cried.
"I can't,"he whispered tears falling down. "I've tried. It doesn't work. Your brother and sister are mad at me. You're mother's mad at me."
Jessica walked over to him and hugged him, crying as well,"Try and get better please Daddy. At least for me? I need you to get better."
"I can't Jess. You don't understand. Nothing's right anymore,"Frank said sadly.
"Why do I feel like I have to be the strong one here Dad?"Jessica asked him, tears streaming down her face.
He looked at her, pride filled his eyes,"You were always the strong one Jessica."
She looked at him in disbelief,"Look at me I'm a wreck. Do you know how hard it was for me to come today? Knowing what you did to yourself and knowing you don't want to get better?"
"But you're here aren't you?"he whispered.
Jessica looked down and played with her hands,"Please try and get better."
He gave a defeated sigh,"I'll try."
"I hope so. If not for yourself then do it to save our family,"Jessica said softly. "The lady said you're taking this hard Daddy. Try to socialize with people. What about your roommate? Do you talk to him?"
"Nah. He's young. A coke addict,"her father stated.
"Doesn't mean you two can't talk about things. Why don't you go downstairs or outside. The air might be good for you,"Jessica encouraged.
"I don't know Jessica. Let's take this one day at a time...so what about you? What have you been up to?"
"Well AJ and I got together. He's really sweet...Nick and I are good friends now,"Jessica explained.
"AJ..."her father said trying to create a mental picture of AJ in his head. "Oh that weird looking guy?"
Jessica laughed,"That'd be him."
"Seems like you have a thing for singers huh?"he smiled.
"Yeah...Nick's actually here today,"Jessica said.
"Oh really? Is he outside the room?"
"Yeah."
"Tell him to come in."
"Oh I dunno Daddy. You won't say anything to embarrass me will you?"Jessica asked in a typical "daughter fashion".
"Don't be stupid Jessica. I'm not going to embarrass you. Just because he broke my little girls heart-"
"Dad..."
"Ok sorry. I'll be good."
"Ok."
She went over to the door and opened it. Nick looked over curiously.
"Done?"he asked.
"He wants you to come in,"she smiled.
"Oh I dunno it's kinda like a family moment,"Nick said unsurely.
"Please? He wants to see you,"Jessica said.
"Ok,"he gave in and motioned for Billy to wait for him then followed Jessica in the room.
"Hey Nick,"Frank greeted.
"Hi Mr.Donovan,"Nick said, akwardly stuffing his hands in his pockets and shifting from one foot to the other.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah it's been a while."
"How have you been?"
"Fine."
"Relax Nick."
"Sorry."
"What have you been doing?"
"Getting ready for the release of our third album. We're going on tour soon and we're doing a promotion 100 hour tour on a private plane. We're going to see 6 continents."
"Well that's interesting,"Frank said nodding in approval
"I'm actually going with them,"Jessica added quickly.
"Oh really? What about work?"he asked her.
"It's just a few days off Dad."
"Uh huh, what about the rent?"
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
"You're my daughter Jess. It's my job to worry about you. Now tell me about this AJ guy Nick. How's he treating my daughter?"
Nick smiled a little,"AJ's a good guy. He's treating Jess real good. He loves her a lot."
Jessica looked surprised. Love? This was something new...
"Well I'm glad he's taking care of my baby girl,"Frank teased.
"Daaad,"Jessica whined.
"I'm sorry,"he laughed. "Listen Jess, maybe I'll go downstairs and see what's going on."
Jessica smiled,"I'm glad."
"Would you like to come?"Frank asked.
"No we really should be going. I'll be back after I get back from the 100 hour thing,"Jessica promised.
"I missed you Jessi,"Frank told her as he pulled his daughter in for a hug.
"I missed you too Daddy,"she said, wiping her watering eyes.
"I'm so glad you came,"he said quietly. "At least someone came."
That statement was enough to break her heart,"I love you."
"I love you too,"he replied as he released her. "You take care of her too Nick."
"Will do,"Nick promised, squeezing Jessica's hand tightly.
"Bye. I'll talk to you soon,"Jessica said and gave her father a hug and a kiss on the cheek then walked out with Nick.
"So, how was it?"Nick asked.
"It was ok,"Jessica said, smiling a little smile. "He was so happy to see me Nick. He knows my mother and brother and sister are upset with him and I just felt so bad. I'm so happy that I could make him feel a little bit better."
"See? Aren't you glad you didn't wuss out?"Nick asked.
"Yeah I am. Thanks again Nick for coming. It meant so much to me. Can you just imagine me trying to explain this to AJ? I trust you the most with my family."
"I'm glad you feel like that. I'll always be here to help you if you need me Jess,"Nick said.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
