“Are you stupid or something? They're not going to be there, nothing could survive that shit. You're better off coming with me.” Russell called when he noticed Nick limping away again towards the bus. The hill was a bit slippery due to the wet leaves and Nick struggled by holding onto the small trees. His leg was yelling at him and throbbing, he knew he was more injured than he could tell off the bat.
“Come back here!”
Nick ignored Russell and kept walking towards the fire. When he had been thrown, he'd rolled down a small hill and landed in a bush, where he woke up shivering. He felt horrible for what he said to Brian and all he wanted was to see him again, to tell him he didn't mean it. Brian was always there for him when his family made him upset, when he didn't feel anyone cared about him. Many nights in the early days, Nick would lay in Brian's bunk with him until he fell asleep because he didn't want to be alone.
That was until things went sour. When Brian had met his girlfriend, things changed. She didn't seem to like them hanging out together and pretty much monopolized Brian's time. He stopped going out with the guys so much. Stopped going clubbing. Nick turned to AJ for friendship and started drinking more, smoking. His attitude changed. The innocent kid was gone. Nick knew he wouldn't forgive himself for what he said. He didn't want Brian to die, he wanted to make things better.
He would never forgive himself if Brian was dead....if any of them were dead.
"You can't go back there,” Russell protested, but Nick kept limping. He didn't seem to want to show he was that hurt, but it was obvious he was in a lot of pain.
"I have to know. We should all probably stick together anyway. Safety in numbers, right?" Nick said.
“They never cared about you before.”
“You seem to know a lot about me for someone who just met me a few days ago.”
Russell hated to admit he was right.
“Look, I can just tell. My family was dysfunctional too. You remind me of myself.” he lied. Nick stared at him, his chest hurting. He was tired from walking and wanted to sleep.
“Dysfunctional doesn't quite cover it..” he whispered with a chuckle.
“Everyone's family has problems.”
Nick shrugged his shoulders and shivered as the rain got heavier.
“You don't know anything, man. Those guys are my family.”
“Doesn't seem like it to me.” Russell offered. Nick turned around, looking angry.
“Sawyer, you don't strike me as the kind who has many friends. Brian, Kevin, Howie and even AJ as much as we bicker - we are a family. Family takes care of each other. They'd come back for me. I have to know.“
Russell made a face and Nick started limping up the short hill again, his leg trying to give out. Russell was getting angry so he fired a shot into the air. Nick fell over and landed on the ground, startled.
“Wh-why do you have a gun?” he asked, trembling. He didn't know if it was because he was cold or because he hated guns. They reminded him of his father, shooting in the air to make them all quiet. Nick backed away and became silent, shaking.
"I am in charge now, and I say we are going this way, understand? You don't need them. Your friends are dead. Be lucky you haven't joined them yet.” he growled. Nick hesitated but now he was sure he didn't want to follow. Why he did in the first place was a stupid decision. Nick could only think of one thing....and that was to run even though his leg was throbbing.
"Get back here!!" Russell shouted. He wanted to kick himself for this whole thing, it wasn't how it was supposed to turn out at all.
Nick hurt like hell but he ran as fast as he could, adrenaline taking over. Russell was cursing and fired again, missing him but not by much. Nick just prayed he could lose him.
Russell cursed under his breath when Nick broke away. He almost had him but even injured that kid could run. Being injured himself kind of put him in a predicament, wondering if he should bother chasing after him at all, or try to get help for himself. The kid wouldn't survive in these woods anyway, there were tons of dangerous animals...not to mention he didn't have food. Russell almost walked away, but turned instead he turned towards where Nick ran to, thinking of Chloe. She would have wanted him to finish what he started.
It had to be done for her.
Nick felt the pain in his legs intensify but he moved quickly. Once he felt like he lost Russell, he stopped, leaning on a tree to rest as sweat dripped down his face. He was soaked from the rain and cold, completely alone in the dark. If fate smiled on him, Russell wouldn't find him during the night. The question was, where would he go? There didn't seem to be any sort of civilization where he was. The bus, burning not far away was destroyed and his bandmates...they were likely gone.
Nick would give anything to see them now. Even AJ. Memories came and he shook them away, holding back tears. As he limped, his stomach turned over...feeling like it would leap from his throat.
He thought back to the guys again. Everything had been falling apart lately, but he wanted to hear Brian tell him a joke....or Kevin yell at him, Howie to say stop bugging him, or even AJ tell him to fuck off....anything just to hear their voices. Nick finally leaned over and lost the contents of his stomach which wasn't much, he'd gone to bed before the accident without finishing dinner. It was mostly dry heaves and Nick fell to the ground, crying and feeling sorry for himself.
It was then he smelled blood.
*************************
"Help me lift Howie, Brian- onto my back." AJ said once they had felt it was okay to move. He had decided to get Brian to help and between the two of them they managed to free Kevin. They'd gone back to get Howie and that was when the bus had blown up, forcing them to fall to the ground while covering their heads. Howie just lay nearby because he was still unconscious. Looking over at Kevin sitting on the ground, AJ was grateful they had made it out in time before the gasoline caught fire.
"You sure you can lift him?" Brian asked, holding his wrist. His thoughts were not on his cousin but on Nick. Was he all right? Would they be all right?
"Yeah, I think so. We need to find somewhere to rest for the night." AJ replied.
"He is right. It's no use sitting here in the rain talking." Kevin agreed. Even though he had been lodged under the steering wheel, he didn't feel that far off...but the throbbing in his head and ringing in his ear were not something he enjoyed. His head hurt and he wanted to sleep.
"Good idea, but where exactly do we go? It isn't like there is a Four Seasons or something out here." Brian snapped. He was getting chilly from the rain and would give anything for a hot coffee, then he cursed at himself for being so thoughtless. Nick may be dead, and if he wasn't....that guy was still out there.
“We can't argue right now. Just calm down.” AJ said and Brian fell silent.
“Sorry,”
“It's okay, we are all on edge I guess.”
“I wonder if Tyke made it out of the bus before…before-” he said tearfully. AJ looked at the ground and ignored him, walking. He wanted to tell him but didn't know how so he just adjusted his load on his back and continued. Howie was breathing softly, which was a good sign. The three of them walked for a long time until it started getting dark.
“We should probably stop for a while. We're going to get sick if we stay in this rain.” Kevin called.
“A cold is the least of my worries right now, Kev…” Brian said, wiping the water out of his eyes. It was getting hard to see. All of them were completely soaked and shivering.
They found a cave not too far from the crash site, it was cold but at least they would be dry. AJ tried to wake up Howie by shaking him gently but he was unconscious.
"Howie sleeps like he is dead. Good thing he doesn't know what is going on. Lucky bastard." he said finally, sitting down. He searched in his pocket for his cigarettes but was disappointed when he only found a lighter.
"We are all lucky to be alive. We should count our blessings.”Kevin pointed out with a smile.
"I heard a gun go off, you sure you're all right?" AJ asked, noticing the dried blood on Kevin's torn jeans. Kevin looked down and nodded, although his leg hurt. He figured it was from being stuck, he'd know if he'd been shot.
“Just a scratch.”
"I hope Nick is okay. You think he got thrown from the bus too?" Brian replied, interrupting their conversation. He shivered and moved to sit closer to the others for warmth.
Not knowing would be the hardest part....not knowing if their little brother was okay or if he would be able to handle being on his own. Nick was the kind of person who relied heavily on others, he rarely made any decisions. When he did, they turned out badly.
"If Nick is as stubborn as he usually is, I am sure he is just fine." AJ said, putting the lighter back into his pocket. Kevin watched him, feeling so proud that AJ had rescued him and Howie almost on his own....he was really grateful.
"I am proud of you AJ. You've been so selfish lately but what you did today was amazing. You saved us all.”
“Yes, thanks for that.” Brian agreed.
"That was nothing, man. You may piss me the fuck off but I love you. I wouldn't leave you for dead. I'm not heartless.”
Kevin patted AJ on the knee and smiled, the younger of the two smiling back. The rain fell steadily outside the cave and the three of them thought once again of Nick....hoping soon they would find him and the wait would be over.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Back with a new chapter. Feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
