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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 26, 2017 6:53:12 GMT
397 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick knew he should have reined in his attitude with Jamie in the room, and he also knew that Layla was probably thinking the same thing. None of them really ever lost it in front of the younger kids. Jamie, Leah and even Nora when she was around. He frowned when he noticed how scared his younger brother looked, but he couldn't quite focus on anything when his mother was laying into him the way that he'd expected her to. Layla had stopped her ranting and was pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to accept the comfort that Patch was offering her.
When Jamie nodded in response to Halley's question, Nick took a deep breath. He didn't want either of them to leave, but he knew it was probably better that neither of them saw the way that things were going. "Jame, go for the good stuff. I think they've got sour skittles," Nick gave his younger brother a wink and glanced up at Halley before they both left the room.
Patch's words made Nick smile the tiniest bit, but he knew that Layla wasn't done yet. As soon as the younger Adams walked out of the room, she let her hand drop from her nose. "This isn't just a broken bone, it's not a scratch or a small burn. Nicholas, you got shot. In the chest. Inches away from your heart." She pulled away from Patch, folding her arms across her chest. Tears started stinging beneath her eyes and she could feel the trembling start. She'd been terrified and even though she could see that he was fine now, she couldn't just push it back.
Watching his mother, Nick knew exactly what it was that triggered the reaction in her. He frowned and shook his head, "But it didn't kill me. I'm still here, I'm drugged up, but I'm not dead. It could be worse so can you please just accept that I'm okay and stop yelling at me for doing my job?" He'd been having this fight with her for years and it was starting to wear on him. "I mean fuck, Patch is over it. He doesn't lecture me about getting hurt in a high risk profession."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Nov 26, 2017 7:06:51 GMT
124 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
When Halley left, Patch moved away from Layla just as she pulled away. He sat at the edge of Nick's bed and watched the exchange between his partner and their kid.
He looked at Nick sternly when he responded the way he always did when they had this conversation. "Don't talk to your mother that way, Nick." He pitched in before turning to Layla. "Baby, come on. I know you see him as that ten year old boy always but he's doing his job. He's protecting us, he's protecting you. I don't think it's unreasonable for you to cut him some slack." He forced Layla to look at him. "He's an adult. He's older than us when we got our fair share of damage."
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Nov 26, 2017 7:37:17 GMT
263 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick looked away and shook his head. He was so tired of being looked at like he was still Jamie's age. Layla was not much older than him, only sixteen years, which in retrospect was hardly anything. But she acted like she had so much more on him. He listened to Patch address his mother and he glanced between them.
Layla chewed on the inside of her cheek, her eyes cast down briefly before she looked up at her best friend. She took a deep breath before letting it out slowly, pushing out all of her fear and frustration. "I just want you to be careful, Nicky," She said quietly as she turned to her son. His eyes lifted to her and he nodded. "So, uh, now that we got that out of the way... Did they patch you up? Are you being released today?"
Nick shrugged and when she looked away from him, gave Patch an eye roll. Always so dramatic and then, nothing. "I think so, but Halley would probably know better than I do."
Layla gave Patch a small smirk and absently took his hand, "Speaking of Miss Halley... have you and her, I dunno, talked about anything? Like a date....or?" Her smirk became a full blown smile as she saw the cute neighbor girl and her other son walk past the window. "If not, now is as good a time as any."
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Nov 26, 2017 8:07:37 GMT
154 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Patch saw her calming down and he reciprocated the eye roll Nick gave him. Layla's one eighties scare him sometimes but he was so used to them that he usually took them in stride. He gave Nick a grin when he mentioned the young woman that was with him earlier.
He was about to tease his son about it before his mother did it for him. "Jesus, Lay. Your subtlety game is on point." He said sarcastically before turning to Nick.
"Is she your emergency contact now?" Patch asked, knowing full well Halley had been contacted by Emma, who was Nick's actual emergency contact. He turned just in time to see Halley walk in with Jamie.
Halley looked up just as everyone in the room was looking at her and immediately a blush crept up her cheeks. "Uh...Jamie bought snacks for everyone." She cleared her throat, gently urging Jamie to move into the room.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 26, 2017 8:19:54 GMT
286 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Layla shrugged, "I mean can you blame me?" Because obviously Halley was the sweetest and most adorable thing that had ever come into Nick's life. Her nose scrunched at the idea of his ex girlfriend, "I think it is a great time to start something up, I mean, holidays are approaching ya know." Layla gave her son a wink and he groaned.
"Stop, no. Please don't start this, she's going to be back any..." He stopped abruptly when she walked in with his younger brother and shot his parents a look. Jamie awkwardly walked in and glanced around the room at everyone, obviously noting that something had just happened, but luckily too young to know what. Nick couldn't wait for his younger brother to deal with the craziness of their parents. Especially if he stuck around Nora for much longer.
Layla opened her arms up to her son and he smiled before hugging her, "Nick, I got you sour skittles."
Nick smiled and nodded, "Good man." He looked up at Halley and mouthed the word 'sorry' because he could just imagine what she thought of his family after getting to witness his mom's wrath. And as he looked at her, he could see Layla smirking at Patch from the corner of his eye. "So uh, why don't you guys go do something and leave Jam here? I'll take him back to my place."
Jamie's face lit up and he turned to Layla, "Please? Wait, uh, Halley, you're gonna come too right?" Both of the boys looked up at her simultaneously.
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Nov 26, 2017 8:42:58 GMT
179 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Halley observed everyone in the room and wondered why they were all grinning conspiratorially. Well Nick wasn't. She watched as Jamie moved to his mother and caught the mouthed apology from Nick and she smiled softly with a shrug. She wasn't used to this amount of family togetherness but she loved being a part of it, even in a small quantity.
Patch raised an eyebrow at Nick when the younger Adams suggested they went elsewhere. But he did look over to Layla and grinned at her. "Date night?" He asked, which they both knew consisted of nothing but food in bed. And probably other things. But mostly food in bed.
Halley couldn't help but coo at Patch's obvious adoration of Layla, even in those two words, before turning when Jamie addressed her. Having both Adams boys looking at her expectantly had her blushing before she nodded. "Um...sure, if you don't mind?" She looked at Nick and then at his parents.
"Oh of course we don't mind." Patch said, grabbing Layla around her waist and pulling her to the door.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 26, 2017 9:03:16 GMT
249 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Layla giggled and clamped a hand over her mouth quickly when Nick shot her a look. Trying hard to keep her face straight, she nodded, "Date night, definitely." Her hand rested on the top of her son's head and she ran her fingers through his hair, trying hard to hide the elation on her face that Nick would be alone with Halley again and that she'd also get to spend time with Patch without worrying about Jamie. "As long as you're on good behavior, keep your brother in line, yeah? If he starts acting silly, just punch him in the arm. That'll teach him." Layla winked at her oldest and blew him a kiss. She allowed herself to be pulled to the door by Patch.
Jamie sat on the edge of Nick's bed at his feet and waved at his parents and smiling wide at his older brother. Nick rolled his eyes, "Just know that even with a bum arm, I can still take you down, little man. Have fun, but not too much," He called out to his parents before they stepped out. "Dude, our parents are freaks. And I think you got most of their genes, just sayin'." Nick smirked and glanced over at Halley, "Looks like you're stuck with me for a bit longer, huh? Think you can handle it?"
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Nov 26, 2017 17:42:12 GMT
290 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
Frowning with a tight-lipped smile, Halley wondered what exactly could have happened to calm Layla down that much, enough to actually look practically giddy. It didn't help that Nick looked horrified while Patch kept winking at him and Jamie as the two edged out of the room, giggling like first graders.
Once they were gone, Halley's eyes were on Jamie who was waving his parents goodbye. Nick's threat had Halley voicing out her opinion. "Hey, hey, hey. Just because you're a cop, doesn't mean I won't whoop your ass for even laying a finger on Jamie's hair." She waggled a warning finger, even as a smile threatened to appear on her face.
The little exchange between Nick and Jamie had her heart bursting with warmth and joy and she just wanted to scoop them both up in her arms. Her little daydream was popped when Nick asked her a direct question, to which she snorted and shrugged. "I'm a nurse. It's what I do." She replied before looking down at her watch. A sharp intake of breath later, she grimaced and looked at Nick. "I just need to sort things out with the shift nurse. Hold on one sec."
She ruffled Jamie's hair and walked to the front desk of the hospital and made arrangements to change her shift, much to the chagrin of her colleague, though it didn't take much convincing after Halley pointed to the room Nick was in. A knowing look and a bit of ribbing ensued before she went back to Nick's room. "Alrightie. So! We've got snacks and I could definitely cut a really good deal with the waiting room for a pack of cards or Monopoly. What's your poison, little guy?" She asked Jamie.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 26, 2017 19:48:39 GMT
290 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Nick held up his hands, well as far as he could, when Halley scolded him and stuck his tongue out at his younger brother who laughed. When she went to sort out her shift, he nodded and looked back at Jamie who was still snickering. Nick narrowed his eyes and pulled a pillow out from behind his head to chuck it at his brother with his good arm, "Hush up you." Jamie caught the pillow and rolled over laughing at the foot of Nick's bed. He was glad to see that his younger brother wasn't worried anymore. The drugs were beginning to wear off, but he didn't feel too much pain, even with as much as he was laughing.
Halley entered the room again and Nick gave Jamie a look to stop making things so obvious, which only made Jamie cover his mouth to keep from busting up again. It was useless, he was about as bad as their parents. "No poker this time, Jame," Nick responded before his brother could open his mouth. The last time he'd been given the option to play cards, Nick had lost fifty bucks to his little dweeb of a brother. The kid was smart, far smarter than he ever had been.
Jamie smirked and nodded, "Okay, okay. Uh, can we play uno?" Nick groaned long and loud, throwing his head back as Jamie laughed again, "Oh c'mon Nick, don't be such a bore."
Nick sighed dramatically, "Alright fine, but no ganging up on the guy who just got shot, yeah?" He looked up at Halley and smiled.
The scariest part is letting go..
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962 posts
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Authored by
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Post by Nu on Nov 26, 2017 20:32:29 GMT
317 Words
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And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
The giggling ten year old she came back to made Halley feel like she was missing something, much like how it had been when she first walked in after Layla and Patch arrived. Maybe it was just a family inside joke. Maybe she could ask them about it someday. The thought made her smile before laughing when Nick said no to poker.
"Whoa whoa whoa, Jamie you play poker? With actual money? Up top." She raised a hand in Jamie's direction. "Why am I even surprised...Emma and Patch and," she paused to laugh, "Layla." She shook her head before agreeing to Uno immediately. "This is why I love you, Jamie." She said before teasing Nick for his groaning.
Halley raised her hands and leaned back against the door frame. "We'll go easy on you, unless I have a draw four card. Then you're crud out of luck." She gave an exaggerated shrug before ducking out of the room to find the card game. In the time away, she tried to compose herself. She knew she was getting ahead of herself with how she's dealing with Nick. It was just how she always was. She was a huge romantic and any attention Nick was giving her was making her think she had a shot with him.
She had to remind herself again and again that he had just broken up with his ex. She can't expect anything from Nick. And he just got shot, for God's sake...this is really no time to think about romantic possibilities with the man. It's just ludicrous.
Returning to the room, she occupied the chair she had been in once again before helping Nick raise his upper body in the bed and pulling the table so they could start playing cards. She turned to Nick and when he wasn't looking, she bit her lower lip and smiled before shuffling the cards to distribute.
And never seemed so right before
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Nov 27, 2017 5:48:25 GMT
341 Words
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The Words
An Open Heart is an open wound to you
Watching how Jamie acted with Halley made him smile. Liz had never wanted to interact with his family. Less so with Jamie because he was younger and liked video games and silly juvenile things. His first mistake was thinking that he could love someone who didn't even enjoy his younger brother's company. And it was clear that Jamie felt a million times more comfortable around Halley than he did around any other girl Nick could introduce to him. He laughed and high-fived Halley while Nick just shook his head.
"This is completely unfair. Where's Nora when I need her, she'd at least be on my side," He stuck his tongue out at Jamie and pouted when he looked at Halley. He felt a little hurt that his own little brother couldn't cut him some slack. He'd been shot less than 24 hours ago, but they took no pity on him.
She ducked out again and Jamie threw the pillow back at Nick, "You're just mad because she likes me better. Not my fault I'm smarter and better-looking." Jamie's face was red after what he said and he just started laughing. Something Nick fully intended on working on with his younger brother was confidence. The last thing he'd ever let happen to his kid brother was a woman that he loved making him feel like he was less than perfect.
"You're right, you got me. But! I've got a cute puppy on my side, and you've just got a pet rock," Nick winked at his little brother before Halley came back in with the cards. She settled down beside him in the chair and made sure that the table was accessible for the three of them. He glanced towards Halley and then back at the table of cards, "I'm gonna whoop both of you. Gang up on me as much as you want, I got this."
The scariest part is letting go..
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