Flying On Crippled Wings • (Sixx:AM)

Crystal Visions

**AUTHOR'S NOTES**

So...I was *supposed* to begin working on my Christmas drop-in chapter, but instead I have this little treasure for y'all...Had the idea for a while but the urge to write it came very abruptly & spontaneously, so I went for it...Done in a few days!  Timeline is as follows:

You Have Come To The Right Place - Chapter Four

Remember when Nikki brought James a "healing stone" when he visited him in treatment? We're flashin' back to that day...and the story of how that weird purchase came to be... Enjoy!

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December 15th 2016

Downtown Los Angeles

DJ's P.O.V:

"Ahhh... We're here."

My eyes are locked on the clear windows of Nikki's car as he pulls into a parallel parking position right in front of an ominous looking building.

" Earth Spirit?" I furrow my brows and squint my eyes to get a better look at the name written on the storefront, in whimsical pink lettering.

Through my peripheral vision, I catch Nikki smirking with satisfaction, as he shuts off the engine and lets himself out. "The one and only... "

I can only scrunch my face up in confusion, while hesitantly following Nikki out of the car and into the crisp December air.

To say this is not how I was expecting my day to go is an understatement. I didn't necessarily have anything planned but to hang around James's house and buy Rocco more pet food because he was running out...Then, of course later on I want to visit the center to see James.

I can't help but wonder how he's doing...He's only been in treatment for ten days, but it feels like he's been there forever ...It's just not the same without him around, ya know? I know he's in the right place but damn, do I fuckin' worry. So much.

A gnawing pit in my stomach begins to form as I remember what Nikki told me the other day...That if James can't eat, he might need a feeding tube. Despite the reassurance that Nikki tries to give me every day, I still have trouble pulling away from the catastrophic scenarios that my mind likes to create. At least today I've been pretty distracted.

Nikki had actually offered to come to the pet store with me when I texted him, telling him that Rocco was gonna starve if I didn't replenish his stash. I was grateful for the invitation because I know having company always helps when I'm a little stuck in my head. Plus, I figured it would be more fun with two people anyway, but that's all I thought we were doing; buying pet food.

That has not been the case, at all.

The pet food has been long bought... Instead of going back to James's place to present Rocco with his gift, Nikki decided to drive around to god knows where and now we're here ...At this weird fuckin' place.

The longer I focus my attention on my surroundings, the more I scrunch my face up. The windows of the building are tinted, so I can't even see inside.

"What the hell is this place?" I shoot Nikki a skeptical expression as I continue to focus my vision on the storefront, trying to get a better look. "I thought we were just buying Rocco food—"

"It's called running errands DJ." He gives me a fatherly pat on my shoulder with a sly smile. "That's plural , in case you forgot."