His Lover's Killer

Practice Makes Perfect

(Nick's POV)

A couple of weeks have passed and I was finally released out of the hospital. Everything seemed so off though, I could barely even remember how I got to the hospital in the first place. Of course I remembered everything else that happened before I was shot. I was shot, right? Damn, I couldn't even remember that. Maybe Steve or Jake could help me remember those events, cause I was still so confused about what was happening. Honestly, I was glad to see Jake finally corporate with Steve, it seemed like something clicked between them after they heard that I was awake. Does it make me selfish that I was glad that something like this happen to make them finally work together? Probably, but it didn't matter, because we were a team, all three of us.

When they were helping me get back to my normal steps, I felt like I was back in training at the Bureau. I know that I shouldn't complain but damn did it hurt to try to get back into shape.

"There you go Nickie! Told you it wasn't that hard!" Steve's encouragement only made my brain hurt more cause I knew he was only trying to make me feel better about my progress, which was failing miserably.

I was trying to regain the strength in my damaged shoulder, where I was shot. The ridiculous exercises that Steve made me do were harder than I excepted them to be, it was embarrassing, especially since Jake was by my side. He wasn't as strong as me when I was normal, but now, it seemed like he was the tough one now.

"Come on, you can do better than that 'Nickie'" Jake joked, he was watching me, amused by my progress. I glared up at him.

"Shut up, you want me to break your shoulder to see how it feels?!" I shot back at him, he only chuckled by my threat.

The embarrassing part about these exercises was that it was just daily tasks, like moving boxes or just reaching my arm out, but it still hurt like a mother fucker.

"This is fucking useless!" I protested, frustrated with my progress. Sitting back in my chair, I pouted and tried to cross my arms but the pain in my shoulder wouldn't allow me. Even standing up felt like I was run over by a million trains, I couldn't even manage that, which made me more pissed.

"Awe, don't be like that Nick. You'll get the hang of it. It just takes patients." Steve tried to make me comfortable but it only made me more irritated. I scoffed again and looked away. I know I shouldn't give up so quickly but with my short term attention span, I just couldn't stand wasting my time on this useless training that's for nothing.

"Nick, come on." Jake was frustrated with my attitude obviously. He crosses his arms. "You're acting like a child."

I rolled my eyes as I still looked away. This was absolute bullshit. I shouldn't be in this situation, I was one of the top FBI agents in the bureau but now look at me, I'm fucking useless.

Holding my shoulder tightly with my other hand to reduce the throbbing pain, which did nothing, I glared at Steve who was giving me a sympathetic look.

"What?" I growled at him.

"Just at least try, Nick. Please?" He pleaded.

My eyes narrowed towards him, unfortunately I couldn't help but give in.

"Fine but there has to be something better than this." I told him, looking away.

Jake sighed deeply, he placed his hand on his head as he slowly shook it in disapproval.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn Nick?" Jake commented. That pissed me more off.

"Oh I don't know Jake, maybe cause I've been through a lot of shit lately?!" I shouted, death glaring at him.