Chapter 8: It never Ends
Nick was rushed to the hospital, he was now in the ICU - Intensive Care Unit - where he was being closely monitored by the same doctors as before; he was in the same hospital. They had rushed Nick into surgery as soon as they had arrived, hooking him up to monitors at the same time. They had removed the bullet and Nick was now recovering from the two hour long surgery. It took so long because the bullet had wound its way down to Nick's intestines, and so they had to remove it without causing any damage to his insides. They were successful and were now keeping a close eye on him as he had lost so much blood from the shooting.
Nick groaned as he began to wake, slowly opening his eyes to a bright, white room. He looked around him, dazed. He realised he must be connected to a million and one needles; they were everywhere. Nick looked down at his arm to find two tubes coming out of his left and another three coming out the other. One had a deep red liquid running through it and into his arm - must be blood, thought Nick, not wanting to pay too close attention. The rest of the tubes had see-through liquid running through them. Nick went to sit up but groaned in pain and rested his back against the bed. His hand was clutching his stomach. He looked down, lifted his shirt slightly, and saw about fifty stitches making a straight line down from the top of his chest towards his belly button.
''NICK! You're awake'' Nick jumped in surprise, he hadn't realised anyone was there. He looked around to see who it was but didn't get a chance to see his face as he was engulfed in a bear tight hug. Though Nick had his suspicions.
''Eurg. Joe, get off me. Please, I can't breath.'' Nick gasped, feeling a sharp stab of pain in his chest again, ''Joe! You're hurting me! Joe!''
Joe jumped off Nick afraid that he had damaged him, he looked afraid and worried at the same time. '' Oh, God! Sorry Nicky. Are you alright?'' His eyes were clouding over, tears threatening to spill at the sight of his brother. Nick was as pale as ever, his face scrunched up in pain - as if he was fighting a constant battle with himself, trying to stop himself from screaming. ''I'm so sorry Nick, please forgive me, are you OK?''
''I'm okay, that was just a little tight, that's all. I promise.'' He added the last because Joe had lifted his eyebrows at Nicks ''I'm okay'' speech.
Just then a doctor walked in, he smiled at Joe and turned to Nick. ''It's good to see you awake again Mr Jonas. You've been out for quite some time now. Three days today. Wow. Had a good rest?'' Nick nodded, slightly in shock at how long he had been out unconscious for.
''Yes, thank you Dr Karev'' Nick responded, remembering the doctor from his previous time in hospital just under a week ago. He sighed.
Dr Karev smiled, ''You remember me'' it was more of a statement than a question. Alex looked up at the machines connecting to Nick's body and marked the figures down on the clipboard he was holding. He looked up at Joe and said, '' He's doing well, should be out in a few days, a week max. The blood we're giving him is helping him a lot, hopefully later on today we will be able to take out a couple of those IV's if he shows any more improvements.'' With that Dr. Karev left the room.
'' Where's everyone else?'' Nick asked thinking about the girl, Caitlin?
'' They're getting food and your friend - um - Caitlin, she's just gone to the bathroom. I think she likes you Nick. She doesn't leave your side unless she really has to, and the whole time she is here she just stares at your face holding your hand in hers as she circles her thumb over your palm. Everyone's had to bring her food because she refused to move. She will be upset that she wasn't here for you, considering she promised she wouldn't leave your side. '' Joe explained with a sad smile gracing his lips. '' Though I must say she seems to be perfect friends with Kev. She was really upset at some stage you know, she was just so worried about you, it was sweet. And Kevin just came up to her and let her sob into his chest, which is when he got upset as well, which then started this thing where with in five minutes everyone was crying. Man, you have seriously got a lot of people who love you. Even a girl who you have known for about an hour, if that!'' He smiled sheepishly glancing at the door as Caitlin walked in, stopping dead in her tracks as she saw that Nick was awake.
She ran over to the bed and started apologizing for what reason Nick did not know.
''Caity, please calm down. I know you wanted to be here, but look you're here now.'' Nick said looking into her beautiful sea blue eyes. He smiled, feeling a lot better now that she was here. His pain seemed to have faded. Nick moved his hand connecting it with hers and entwining their fingers. It shot shivers through him, making his heart speed up. The monitors above his head were beating faster. Man that's embarrassing! He thought as he tried to slow his heart down. There was a soft chuckle that came from Joe. Nick twisted his neck ad glared at him before returning his attention to Caitlin.
Caitlin was grinning now, staring right into Nick's eyes, as he did to hers.
''Er...um... I'll just leave you two alone now.'' Joe said as he left the room with a smirk plastered across his face. Nick just shook his head, a slight smile escaping his lips.
'' Nick, how are you feeling?'' Caitlin asked Nick, still staring into his eyes.
'' Better. Thank you. You saved my life.'' He said gratefully.
'' It was my pleasure Nicholas. I'm glad I was the one who found you,'' she said, really glad that she had met Nick.
'' Thanks,'' Nick replied, smiling.'' I'm glad it was you, too.''
Caitlin just smiled, not quite knowing what to say. Nick Jonas! Nick Jonas had just told her he was happy to have met her. She looked down at their entwined hands and grinned, happy to be here with him. She was really starting to like him. As in, like like. He was sexy, had his soft brown hair with matching eyes, that she just couldn't stop staring at.
Nick continued to stare at her. She was amazing! Perfect! Her eyes that sparkled like the sun, just kept him transfixed to her face. Nick lent forward slightly, trying not to inflict too much pain upon himself. They were still staring intently into one another's eyes. She lent forward too, caught up in the moment. They were now an inch apart, and Nick closed that gap, pressing his lips against her soft, luscious ones. They kissed, and as they kissed, Nick could feel the heat coursing through his body, sending tingles down his back. Caitlin began kissing him back, making it more urgent and needy. Nick traced his lip along her bottom lip, asking for entrance. Cait hesitated then opened up, allowing him access to somewhere no-one has ever been before. He played with her tongue, like they were dancing. She could taste him, he tasted like sweet cherries and roses. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, not wanting the kiss to be over just yet. She teased and played with his, enjoying the feeling of excitement and adrenaline, as well as the tingles that were running through her body. It felt right, perfect, like they were the only two people in the world.
After a while they broke apart, both breathing roughly but in unison. There was a goofy grin on each of their faces - a love struck grin. The two of them sat there for a while, just staring into each others eyes and talking about themselves, getting to know each other. Nick learnt that Caitlin was from an average family. She was living on her own, in a small apartment. It was why she was in that part of town - the scum area. Cait lived on her own because she had to go to uni and it was too far away from home. So she had a small job which paid for her rent and food; her parents paid for uni. She was eighteen, too. She had an older sister who had moved out to live in Australia a few years ago, and that's about it. She was quite a straightforward girl. Loved steak and chips; dairy milk chocolate and galaxy chocolate; her favourite drink was black grape, Caribbean style, which Nick had replied with a ' that's not fair!' look and '' I wish I could drink something like that without having to worry about my health. I miss having normal fizzy drinks...'' and Caitlin also loves basketball and rounders, Nick smiled at this; a sporty girl made the perfection of her even more perfect.
''Come, sit next to me. It's okay, promise.'' Caitlin stared at Nick then complied, sliding onto the bed and lying next to him. He smiled at her, a sweet, loving smile, not the type that a player would use. Caitlin rolled onto her side, propping her head up with her hand and facing Nick, who smiled and leant forward to kiss her again. She tasted like sweet roses and lavender. It tasted so nice to Nick, it felt so right. He moved his arm and rapped it around her torso, making himself feel warm and secure. He knew now that she was his, he would never let her go, never leave her side. They were together forever. It wasn't just a puppy love. It was real. She knew it, too.
