Falling Too Deep

Chapter 34

Heaven wasn't what I expected it to be. My surroundings smelled of blood and metal and it made me sick to my stomach. I wanted to see if Heaven was really as great as people thought, but my eyes were closed solid-shut.

My sense of hearing came back and in the distance I could hear the echo of a man's voice. I couldn't make out what he was saying because everything was still clouded. Then, I felt instant pain coming from my lower body and a wet substance. So, I wasn't dead? Maybe I was in the middle of life and death but I was slowly merging over to the light.

The man's voice was louder now and it pierced my ears. I wanted to run away from the noise.

"Jesus?" I spoke.

The man chuckled at me and I felt warmth spreading across my cheeks.

"Open your eyes baby, please."

Jesus wouldn't call me baby.

I slowly opened my eyes, my head was throbbing and my vision was blurry, but when my eyes focused I saw Nick leaning over me, his eyes were watery.

His sighed and cupped my face in his hands. "Thank God you're okay."

Realization set in and I glanced to my right and screamed at the sight. William was laying there dead, in a pool of his own blood. I quickly scooted away from the body and I looked at Nick in confusion.

"You killed him for me? Your own father?"

He looked down at the gun that was placed next to him and shrugged. "He was going to kill you."

I couldn't take this. My head throbbed harder, and I could feel the vomit pushing up my throat. I turned away from Nick and puked all over the floor behind me. Nick hurried to my side and rubbed my back. "Andrea are you okay?"

I shook my head. "My head is killing me and I can't feel my legs."

He glanced at my legs and cursed. "Shit, you're bleeding again!"

He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around my bleeding wound. "I already called an ambulance, they'll be here any minute. I promise."

I laid down and sighed. "Call them again and tell them to hurry."

He smiled at me and rubbed my face with his blood stained hands. "Stay with me okay?"

I nodded. I could feel the blood oozing out from underneath the jackets, they weren't helping. I didn't say anything to Nick though. I didn't want him to worry, besides he just killed his father for me. My hands began going numb and Nick squeezed them, warming them up. I smiled at him and he grinned.

"Stay awake, okay?"

I nodded.

We sat there in silence waiting for the ambulance and as time passed I started feeling sleepy. Maybe I could close my eyes for just a few seconds? I let my eyes drift close but Nick had different plans. He patted my cheek and shook his head.

"Don't close your eyes okay?"

I sighed. "I'm a little tired."

He pinched my arms and smiled. "Better?"

I shook my head. I couldn't even feel my arms anymore. While Nick checked his watch and sighed in frustration I let my eyes close again and I felt him patting my cheeks.

"Andrea please stay awake!"

I shook my head. "No. I'm tired."

Suddenly, I drifted into another sleep.

* * * *

Nick - POV:

After Andrea had passed out I gave her CPR until the ambulance came. They took it from there and she was safely taken to the hospital and went into surgery right away. As for me, I got a few stitches and immediately was sent to the police department for questioning.

"Is there any other reason why you would want to kill your father besides self defense?"

I sighed and glared at the interrogating cop. He was bald, with a big belly and I wanted to punch him every time he spoke. "For the last time, I killed him because he was going to kill my girlfriend."

The cop smirked and leaned on the table. "Or maybe...because your father has tons and tons of money and you wanted to take over the business?"

I scoffed. "My dad was a con-artist. His business was illegal, hence the reason why authorities have it under inspection. Plus, my dad gave me money all the time...why would I kill him when I was perfectly happy?"

He crossed his arms and shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it was from angst because your own mother killed herself and left you alone with him."

I stood up and jabbed my finger in his chest. "Shut the fuck up okay? You don't know anything!"

My lawyer, John, finally stepped in and grabbed my arm. "Nick sit down."

I took my seat and glared at the cop, who smirked back at me. John cleared his throat and gave the idiot a stern look. "Bringing up things from my clients past is unacceptable and irrelevant. Nick's mothers death doesn't have any significance in the situation and Nick's actions were clearly self-defense. Is it proven that his girlfriend was indeed abducted and Nick only saved her life. William Carr was a cruel man and unfortunately, he was killed before he could kill someone innocent."

The cop rolled his eyes but he relaxed. "And what are you suggesting?"

John looked at me and sighed. "My client will do the jail time if needed, but if not- his bail will be paid."

"The bail is three-hundred grand, and if he can't afford that the jail time is six months."

I smirked at him. "I can afford that and also pay your mortgage."

The cop gave me a death glare and a horrible frown. "Watch your mouth boy."

John gave me a warning look and then we were dismissed. After my bail was paid I headed to the hospital to see Andrea.

* * * *

Andrea - POV:

When I woke up I was lying in a hospital bed and my leg was secured with a plush wrap. I had an IV in my right arm and a weird breathing tube in my nostrils. I glanced around my room and saw a bouquet of roses from Nick. Thinking of him didn't make me feel any sort of way. I felt numb. I was too mad and disappointed in him to feel anything.

Suddenly, a nurse walked in and gave me the most lovely smile.

"Hey, you're awake. How do you feel?"

I shrugged. "Numb."

She smiled and checked my IV. "It must be the medication. Dr. Shall will be in here any minute to check your vitals."

Her expression became tender as she glanced at the roses from Nick. "From a boyfriend?"

I nodded solemnly and she smiled, making her way out once the doctor came in. He gave me another smile which made me sick because I hated all the sympathy and crap. I just wanted to go home.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

I shrugged again. "Better, I guess."

He nodded and pulled out a pen light and began flashing it in both of my eyes. After that he checked my IV and my pulse. Lastly, he examined my leg and all of my bruises and cuts I had received from the incident.

"Overall everything looks good, but I still want to keep you one more day because you lost tons of blood and it's hard to recover from that. Once you leave tomorrow morning you need to continue taking your antibiotics until the bottle is empty, and I suggest you eat foods high in carbohydrates and protein for a few days to help your leg."

I nodded and laid back against the pillows. "Thanks doctor."

Dr. Shall grinned and patted my arm. "Let me know if you need anything."

He walked out and in came the nurse with a tray of food. "Breakfast was just served if you're hungry."

She slid the tray next to me and quietly left the room. I glanced at the food and almost vomited again. The waffles looked like bricks, and the cup of fruit was slimy and disgusting. I decided on just drinking my chocolate milk because it was the only decent thing on the tray.

After an hour or two passed Nick walked in. "Hey."

I didn't respond and he slowly made his way to my hospital bed. He crouched down to the side of me and grabbed my hands. "How do you feel?"

I shrugged. "I've been asked that a billion times today...right now I don't feel anything."

He frowned at my tone and rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. "I meant...how do you feel about everything that has happened?"

I sighed. "I don't know Nick. I mean...your father is dead, and...you killed him, for me. I should be asking you how you feel."

He smirked. "Andrea, you're the one in the hospital bed."

"Yeah, but who's the one who is really damaged?"

He scoffed and crossed his arms. "I came to check on you because I feel disgusted in myself for everything that has happened, and here you are interrogating me? I had enough of that at the police station."

I frowned. "Nick, I know you do drugs. I found your stash a few weeks ago."

Out of nowhere, he became angry. He stood up and stormed to the door. "I'm not listening to this. I'll check on you later when you feel better."

He slammed the door on his way out, causing me to jump, and a few of the nurses to look curiously at my room. I sighed and laid my head against the pillows. I wanted my family to be here, and Christie, and Rita and Ross. But, if they came I would have to explain what happened and this was too personal to tell.

* * * *

I left the hospital the next day in crutches and was slowly in the process of walking. Nick helped me through everything even though the tension between us was boiling hot.

Two weeks later, I went back to the hospital to get my stitches removed and as I checked out at the desk I noticed a cabinet with several of fliers. Most of them were about health and the human body, but my eye caught on a particular one. On the front was a advertisement for rehabilitation centers that helped people with drugs or alcohol.

I picked up the flier and flashed it to the nurse at the desk. "What's this for?"

She scanned the paper and smiled at me. "It's an advert for the rehab center we have. It's a few miles down the road but our hospital sponsors it," I guess she noticed my awkward shuffling because she stood up and touched my shoulder.

"If you or someone you know has a problem you can give the center a call anytime."

I nodded and stuffed the flier in my bag. "Thank you."

Later that day I went over to Nick's to spend time with him and watch movies. Mostly, I was by myself and Nick was on the deck smoking. This was the second time today he went out there and it was really beginning to bug me. I clicked pause on the movie and walked out on the deck.

"Are you going to watch the movie or are you going to sit out here all day and get high?"

Nick turned to look at me, his eyes were piercing red, and he grinned. "Just five more minutes, okay?"

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the door. "Nick, honestly this is ridiculous...I don't want you smoking."

He sighed and looked out in the far distance. "It relaxes me."

I frowned. "And I don't?"

He laughed at me and tossed the joint off the deck. "Of course you do, but that's different."

I groaned. "This isn't funny! What other drugs do you do huh?"

He rolled his eyes at me and walked past me and headed towards the fridge. "What's with all the questions damn."

I stomped in front of him and grabbed his arms. "I'm worried about you. You aren't in your right mind."

He scoffed and moved my hand. "Just shut up already."

As he walked away and plopped on the couch I crossed my arms and sighed. "I made an appointment for you at a rehabilitation center downtown. If the doctors check you and you're clean you can leave...but if you aren't clean you have to stay."

He turned and looked at me like I was crazy. "What the fuck? What?"

I cleared my throat and raised my voice. "I'm sending you to a rehab center Nick! You need help!"

My heart hammered in my chest as he rose from the couch and made his way over to me. He pinned me against the wall and glared at me. "I don't need help! I'm perfectly fine. You're just wasting your fucking time."

I pushed him away from me and shook my head. "You're fine? Really!? Nick, you've lost weight, you have random nose bleeds, you have a stash of drugs hidden in your bathroom, and you even have a rash on your neck! You are far from fine!"

He scratched the rash on his neck and frowned. "Get out."

I sighed. "Nick I just want to help you."

He pointed towards the door. "Get the fuck out of my house. You are not my mom!"

I could feel tears filling my eyes as I stormed out of his house. Me and him didn't matter anymore. What mattered was getting Nick the proper help he needed and if that meant him hating me then so be it.

* * * *