Sync- Ch 15: Synthesis (Pt 2)
Title: Sync
Fandom: Flashforward
Genre: Romance/Friendship
Pairing: Bryce/Nicole
A/N: Late with no excuses. I wanted the story to go one way but the characters didn't agree & thought they knew better where they should go. Voluminous revision ensued. This is long, so get your drink of choice and settle in. Ready? Let's get right to the main. This closes out Sync- Part 4: Fury & Folly. The fifth & final part (4 chapters) is Consonance & is in process. Enjoy! Besos! xoxo
This chapter is posted in 2 parts because it exceeded the post allowance.
Bryce watched Nicole leave with Ed and knew he couldn't put it off any longer. No matter what he did he came up with two unacceptable results. Either he'd push Nicole further away or find that they were stuck in neutral. He was definitely at a loss with her and there was only one person who could fill in the gaps. He headed back up to Quinn's apartment.
Quinn opened the door, a look of surprise on her face and the cacophony of some song with heavy base guitar blaring behind her. Bryce was surprised she'd heard the doorbell at all.
"Nikki's not here. You just missed her." She greeted with a shrug. She wished these two would just work it out already.
"I know. I'm here to see you. I need your help. And I'm totally prepared to beg if that's what it takes." Bryce explained, completely resigned to his situation.
"Wow. Could you be more pathetic?" She shook her head in pity.
"Would I be here if I didn't know I'd reached that point?" He asked not caring at all about Quinn's dig. He hadn't the time or inclination to be embarrassed or annoyed, he just needed to know the right way to go about getting results. Pride wasn't even on his list. It was all taken up with getting Nicole back.
"Fine. Come in." Quinn said and headed for the living room. She picked up the remote and turned off the music.
"Thanks." Bryce closed the door behind him and hoped that he Quinn could help him work out what he needed to do to get Nicole back.
"No big deal. Between you and Nikki, I'm starting to feel like some sort of therapist. And I'm nowhere near that nurturing in my natural habitat. I mean, for her, I've got unlimited patience but you... well, you're not on the same list."
"I know you're her best friend and I'm the guy that broke her heart, but I just really need to know how to fix this."
"What's the problem as you see it?" Quinn asked as she slid her laptop and files into her bag. Whatever she didn't have done wasn't going to be finished tonight, of that she was sure.
"She won't talk to me. At least, not in any way that matters. And every time we're close to having a decent moment she shuts it down. It doesn't matter what I do or say. And now she's going out with... Ed. And that, doesn't make any sense!"
"So you want me to intervene with Nikki and try to get her to talk to you and let go of the hostility and whatever she's up to with Ed."
"Yes."
"No."
"What?"
"Clearly not the answer you were expecting."
"No. Not so much."
"My best friend's brain has turned into some endless loop of you and after everything, you have the temerity to show up to ask me to help you. I'm bold but you're taking it to a whole new level. Ego much?"
"It's not like that.
"You usually get your way, don't you? Cause I'm pretty sure Nikki doesn't tell you no very often, so maybe that's part of your problem."
"Everyone likes to get their way."
"True. But how has it not occurred to you to just let this one ride out."
"I tried that. It didn't work."
"You tried. For what? Two weeks? Tops? You feel you've put in enough time now? Why does everything have to be on your timetable? Seriously, everything you've said to try and convince me to help you has been about you and what you want."
"No..."
"Yes. You want me to talk to Nikki because you're ready to work it out and she's not doing what you want her to, when you want her to."
"Fair enough assessment. Although, it sounds less self-serving and more selfish when you put it that way."
"Look, I know you love her but you've just got to give her whatever time she needs to work it out for herself." Quinn advised and walked into the kitchen.
"You make it sound so simple. And what's supposed to happen while I'm giving her all this time?"
"She hooks up with someone else or she doesn't? Who knows? And what difference does it make? She gave you time to figure out your flash-chick thing. Why can't you return the favor?" Quinn asked handing one of two bottles of iced tea to Bryce and took a seat across from him on the sofa.
"It's not the same situation. All those months, Keiko was an idea. An image. Not some living, breathing, real person that I knew. She was never some sort of threat."
"Well, I can tell you for a fact, that Nikki felt just as threatened by your idea as you do about how she may feel about Ed. Keiko was no more her problem than Ed is yours. And now you know how she felt when you left her standing in your driveway while you took off behind someone else. You want my best advice? Man up and do now, what you expected her to do before. Trust her and trust that no matter what, your relationship can take it and it'll work out."
"I can't believe you just told me to man up." Bryce chuckled and appreciated her candor. "And you said you wouldn't help me."
"Well, I'm feeling generous tonight. Besides, I know Nikki still loves you."
"It just sucks having her angry with me."
"You're only half the problem. She's just as angry with herself for hurting you."
"So, I guess it is what it is. At least for now."
"Pretty much. Can I ask you something I've been dying to know?"
"Sure."
"Dude, what the fuck were you thinking bailing on Nikki?"
"The short answer is, I wasn't thinking that's what I was doing or how it would turn out."
"And the long answer?"
"Is that, when she told me Keiko was here, all I could remember was what I felt like when I went looking for her. That compulsion. I understood it and I just thought, that if she came here looking for me feeling like that... that leaving her alone in lockup for one more minute without trying to help her would just be... it was just unthinkable."
In his mind, he had replayed that conversation between he and Nicole so much that he knew exactly when the moment occurred that he'd stopped really listening to anything else she said. He'd been too angry at her seeming willingness to leave someone in such a vulnerable position and every reason she gave he found untenable. And when he finally began to realize what she was saying and understand how she felt, it was too late.
"Surprisingly, I can kinda understand that. And considering that I'm predisposed to dismiss any sort of answer you could come up with, that's impressive." Quinn admitted. "And don't think I don't understand the whole, flash-love thing. I get the feeling part, I just don't do mania."
She explained that in her most recent flash in the midst of other things, she was with a man she loved.
"So when you woke up, how did you know that it was love and not something else?" Bryce asked.
"Well, I do my fair of comparison shopping, so I can tell by how I felt in the flash that he wasn't a one off. We knew each other. Really well. We were laughing at some inside joke we had. Like, you know how you can whisper two words and the other person just knows and you both just start laughing? It was like that. The way he whispered in my ear and the way I rested my hand on his chest as he did. It was intimate and comfortable. It was love." Quinn explained as she recalled what she'd experienced. Most of all she liked the calm and ease she'd felt.
"But you aren't out there now looking for this guy."
"Because I don't need to go out and make it happen. I saw it, so if that's some sort of sign that it's meant to be, it'll happen organically, not as an effect of something I had to engineer or force into being, you know?"
"Yeah. That actually makes complete, rational sense." He admired her sense of balance, mostly because it was so counter to how he'd been after the first flash.
"I want to find out how it's supposed to happen. I want to have the journey, not give chase. So, whoever he is, I'm looking forward to meeting him... whenever. But I already have a life to live and whenever we cross paths, he'll be added to it maybe, not give me one or make the one I already have worth living. I'm already a whole person and I appreciate what I have. Besides, he could be married or something right now, what would I look like showing up expectantly and intruding on whatever his life is?" She explained, she couldn't even begin to imagine purposely turning her life into any more of a chaotic convolution than it already was. There were plenty of other people taking that route and the results weren't bearing out to be very pretty in the end.
"Desperate."
"Well, desperation has never exactly been love has it?"
"No. And I have it on pretty good authority that patience is more suited." He recalled Nicole telling him that months ago when he was in Tokyo. That he hadn't really heard her then but instead understood all these months later was regretful. "So if it doesn't happen?"
"Then it doesn't happen. It's not the end of my world. Something even more amazing could happen. I already have a pretty awesome life. What am I gonna do, complain?"
"Some would."
"Well, not me. Millions of people have died as a result of the blackouts. If that's not lesson enough to appreciate the people in our lives that we love now, then I don't know what is. At least, that's how I make sense of all this in my mind."
"I think you're right." Bryce agreed thoughtfully and mulled Quinn's perspective.
"Well, Nikki's currently kinda cornered the market of flash stress, so I try to balance it out with a little pragmatism."
"What did she see this time? When I asked her she wouldn't say."
"If she doesn't want to tell you, I certainly won't. It's not mine to tell." Quinn explained steadfastly.
"Did you tell her yours?"
"All I told her was that she was in mine and she didn't want to know anymore. She feels like the knowledge of her own flash is more than enough, so she doesn't want to know anyone else's because she doesn't want to have to worry about what she is or isn't moving toward or away from."
"In your flash, was she happy?"
"She was very happy." Quinn said simply.
"She was happy in mine too. We were on some balcony and it was snowing."
"Snowing?" Quinn looked up surprised he'd seen something that matched hers so specifically.
"Yeah. I don't know where we were but I could hear people laughing, talking. There were glasses toasting, I think. Maybe a party or something? What?"
Quinn's expression was a mix of surprise and reticence.
"What did you see?"
"If I tell you this, you have to swear you're not going to go all stupid and use it as some justification to push Nikki to do what you want. I mean it. Seriously."
"I promise. Just please, tell me."
"Fine. In addition to the guy I told you about, I saw you and Nikki. You were just through these beveled glass doors that opened onto a balcony. It was night and the snow was falling. From where I was standing, you both looked happy."
"Do you remember anything else? Do you know when it was?"
"February 13, 2016."
"2016?!" The revelation that Quinn had seen he and Nicole coupled with the date was beyond stunning.
"Yeah. That was pretty much my reaction after the fact."
"How do you know?" So far, 2014 was the farthest reported flashforward time seen.
"I know because I saw it written down. Nikki wrote a note in a card and in my flash I read it."
"You're sure she didn't write it on some other date?"
"No. It was the same day. Night, whatever. It was handed to me."
"What did it say?"
"I don't think you need to know that part."
"Why not?"
Because it's seriously not going to help you."
"How can you possibly know that. Look, I promised already that I won't say anything to Nicole. I just want a another piece to the puzzle so there's more context to the picture. Please."
"She wrote: "Thanks Quinn for throwing us the best engagement party ever. You're the best! LYLAS, Nikki (& Bryce too) 02.13.2016." Quinn recounted with a shrug. She hoped she was doing the right thing by telling him and she wouldn't regret it later.
"Wow." He felt like he was racing to catch up. The date and not being incapacitated or dead was pretty monumental. And the rest, completed the task of rendering him just about speechless.
"Yeah. See? How's that for context?" She asked
"I don't know what to say. Wow. You must be the best secret keeper ever. How could you not tell her this?"
"Because she doesn't want to hear it. She doesn't feel like she needs to know. And don't forget, you're not going to tell her either."
"I know. I promised. Right. I'm gonna go home and... think about everything. Thanks, for helping me. Especially because you didn't have to. I promise it won't be a wasted effort." Bryce said, still stunned by the revelations of the evening.
"You're welcome. Just please, I'm begging you, don't fuck it up. And just give her a little leeway if she looks like she will." Quinn implored, hoping that if one of them could hold it together just long enough the other would catch up.
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Nicole's night out with Ed flew by in a whirlwind. The clubs he took her too were packed, loud and just the thing she wanted in a distraction from everything else going on. She had been fascinated by it all, even though she had not been sure she had exactly had fun. By the time they wound up in the middle of a Silly String flash mob, Nicole didn't think twice at all if participation was ill advised. She grabbed two cans and jumped right into the fray next to Ed. When they were picked up in a police sweep, she was more surprised than anything. The SoE was still in effect and the authorities were not very keen on large groups of people assembling. A Silly String flash mob was pretty benign but since the last blackout, there had been too many instances of protests turned riot out of nowhere, so neither the police nor National Guard were taking any chances.
Let go after their background checks were done and came back clean, Nicole and Ed met up outside the police station as the sun began rising.
"Some night, huh?" Ed asked with a smile.
"Oh yeah. I think I've finally got all the silly string out of my hair." Nicole said. She was tired but still thrilled by the novelty of the night. Quinn would hardly believe it.
"I guess I should get you home."
"Coffee first."
"Even better."
Nicole smiled and felt giddy as they walked up the street. She wanted to prolong the feeling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as she kissed him she knew it was off. There wasn't anything wrong with the kiss as far as the mechanics went. But the chemistry... it wasn't right. So clear that she couldn't even lie to herself, it came down to the simplest thing ever. No matter how much she wanted it not to be so, she couldn't deny it and she'd never be able to get past it. As great as Ed was, as much as they had in common, as fated as she'd wanted it to be, one simple fact remained in that kiss. He didn't feel right. He didn't taste right. She'd been hoping for his kiss to replace Bryce's but only came up with a searing reminder of the very thing.
"I'm sorry. This isn't right." Nicole said as she pulled back almost spilling her coffee all over the front seat of Ed's car.
She remembered what it was like to be on the receiving end of what she'd perceived as a kiss that was about someone else. She hadn't liked it one bit and here she was foisting the very same on someone else. But what she'd done was worse. Bryce's kiss all those months before had been about her but her kissing Ed wasn't even remotely about Ed. It was all about Bryce. That she always seemed to find a way to talk about Bryce with Ed was bad enough, now she'd compounded that problem.
"It's okay. We're good." Ed told her. He hadn't exactly seen the kiss coming.
"I just... shouldn't even be here. Not like this. I'm just embarrassing myself." She admitted. All she wanted to do was go home take off Quinn's dress and take a shower.
"Don't be embarrassed. I like you, as a friend, so it's all good. You've just got some relationship stuff going on that you need to work out." He assured, not wanting her to be upset.
"Is it that obvious?" Nicole was way past embarrassed.
"It's pretty obvious. Even without all that when I came to pick you up, it was pretty clear. Look, I don't know him, but I can personally attest to the fact that every time I've run into him, you've been the topic and he's been pretty consistent with making an ass of himself."
"Yeah, about that and before... he's not like that most of the time. He's usually really nice to everyone. I expected him to, of course, be nice to you because you saved me but I guess that's too much to ask."
"Yeah, it's kind of a lot." Ed told her.
He still didn't know exactly what went down between them the night before but whatever it was when Nicole had come back outside, she was clearly distracted.
"You're defending him?" Nicole was more than surprised.
"Not so much defending as, I just get it. Call it a guy thing."
"A guy thing?"
"No man really wants to be in any situation where he feels like someone else came in and took care of the woman he loves when it should have been him."
"That's ridiculous." She maintained though the thought of Bryce still loving her tugged at her heart.
"Like I said, it's a guy thing. Besides, how ridiculous can it be when you said yourself that you were mad at him for not being with you that night?"
"That's entirely different."
"How? You can be mad at him for that but he can't be mad at himself for the same thing?"
Nicole couldn't answer because she hadn't thought about that. She'd been so caught up in her own feelings, it didn't even occur to her that Bryce's recent actions had anything to do with his having sincere regret.
Ed got the complicated relationship thing and knew firsthand that sometimes making a complete fool of yourself was not only unavoidable but also the thing you needed to do to get to whatever the next step on the path was.
"It doesn't matter. Not anymore. It's too late." Nicole shook her head.
"I don't know. For months I seriously believed I'd reached you too late to save you because I couldn't see the whole picture. But here you are, fresh off a short stint at One Police Plaza after showing off pretty decent skills in Silly String War 2010.
"So you're saying I'm meant for more than Silly String combat?"
"Possibly. Maybe it'll work out or maybe it won't but if you're not ready to move on, maybe there's a reason."
"It sounds so simple when you say it."
"Observer's prerogative. And my fair share of complicated ex-girlfriend stuff."
So many things were so topsy turvy but a couple were becoming more clear no matter how much she worried or tried to deny them. She knew without a doubt that she was ready for her OChem final. She was done worrying about it. And she knew that even with she and Bryce ending up more or less estranged, her feelings for him hadn't changed, no matter how she'd tried to force it. No matter what had happened. Her heart had either never taken the messages from her brain or simply wrote them off entirely as being from an entity that simply didn't know what the hell it was doing. That Quinn, Bryce and now Ed had all been aware of this before she could admit it should have bothered her but she was way past that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This was certainly one of the strangest nights I've ever had but good. Thanks. For everything." Nicole said as Ed stopped in front of her house.
"No problem. I had a good time. Next time we go out, you get to pick where we end up. I have a feeling we'll run a lower chance of ending the night with police involvement."
"Sounds like a good plan." Nicole laughed as she got out of the car. She still hardly believed she'd actually sat in a holding cell.
"Good luck with your finals."
Her reply dissolved in her mind when she saw Bryce pull up. It occurred to her she might need a bit of luck on more than just her finals.
"Are you good?" Ed asked as her expression changed.
"Yeah, it's totally fine. I'll see you later." She assured him with a smile and waved as he drove away.
She met Bryce halfway. She couldn't read his expression but she felt guilty just the same.
"It's not what it looks like." She began to explain even though she knew she shouldn't feel like she needed to.
"You don't owe me an explanation. And I don't really want to know anyway, so... I was on my way to work and just came to drop off your study guide. Thought you might need it." He explained and handed over the book. He had resolved to act on Quinn's advice, but had hoped for an easier first run. He noticed she wasn't wearing her cross and reminded himself that whatever the reason, he didn't want to know.
"Thanks." She accepted the book, grateful to have something to hide behind and folded her arms across her chest.
"Sure. And I'm sorry about last night. You were right and I shouldn't have acted like that. You're free to do whatever you want to do and it's not my business. So, I'm going to finally do what you've been asking me to do and leave you alone about us."
"Oh. Well, thank you... I guess?" She wasn't sure how to respond.
"Okay. I should probably go so..." He turned to leave.
She hesitated and knew she had to finally say what she knew to be true. The very real possibility that he'd walk away for good was worse than the admission.
"Bryce, wait. I wanted to just say that... you were right, too. You've been right and I just didn't want to admit it."
"So now what?" He asked truly surprised by what she'd said but careful not to get his hopes up too high. He wondered what prompted her change.
"I don't know. I can't really do this right now. And I don't mean that like before. It's just I have finals."
"Right. Today and tomorrow."
"Exactly, so maybe we can talk about it next week?" She asked hopefully.
"Whatever you want." He wanted to say more, get her to commit to a day they'd have the talk, but didn't want to risk ruining what he considered to be progress. "Good luck on your Chem final."
"I don't need luck. I had a great tutor all semester." She smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole's Organic Chemistry and Developmental Psychology finals fell back to back on the last day of finals. Because of the global blackout, the university had pushed back the schedule by just over a week. This was resulting in leaving only a week's interval between the current session closing and the Summer session beginning. Even with all that had happened they were still trying to maintain as close to normal a schedule as possible. Nicole tried not to think about the Calculus or Psych classes she'd signed up for months before. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand. That the proctor for the OChem exam was particularly pissy and adamant to verify that no one entered the room with their mobile phone or any other electronic devices was a minor annoyance. Nicole noticed exactly which of her classmates weren't in attendance and said a quick prayer that they were safe and faring well. She'd hoped they'd just dropped out for a while and would get themselves together enough to rejoin life later, just like she had many months before. All things considered, she knew that her flashforward experience this time around was a luxury. She appreciated it wholly, even if she wasn't embracing it. She'd even gained something of an appreciation for her first flash after talking to Ed. She liked his balanced outlook and perspective on the flashes.
Once the proctor was satisfied that everyone seated for the exam was more or less trustworthy, the exams were passed out and commenced. Nicole took a deep breath and read over the questions, while she flipped the pages. She began working and couldn't help but think about Bryce having had confidence that she could do it all along and helping her along the way. No matter how things had ended up between them, she would always be grateful to him in that regard. He'd believed in her when she wasn't so sure.
When both her finals were complete she walked to the bus stop to head home. She missed her car. It was still in the shop awaiting parts that were on backorder. She knew she could use Quinn's car while she was away but she hadn't time before her finals to stop by. She felt drained and a little loopy from having her mind bent and folded in different directions. She didn't even care that she couldn't recall one question asked or answer she'd given on either exam. She considered blank better than worry as she retrieved her messages.
She listened to two messages Paige had left her and deleted them. Par for the course Paige. A demand to call her back ASAP and questioning where she was. Add in her usual tone of derision and Nicole wasn't inclined to call her back immediately. She still couldn't understand why Paige refused to leave messages that actually had content. She never said what she wanted. Nicole mused momentarily that if she'd just saved all Paige's messages it would likely come down to about four variations. At most. Nicole tossed her phone into her bag. Even with all the restrictions of the SoE, she figured she'd have just enough time to go home to see her Mom before heading to work. She'd promised that after her finals she'd come home and play a hand of cards. It never occurred to her that her mother would make other plans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole watched the firefighters working and hardly believed what she was witnessing. The flames shot through the roof of the house and lapped against the blue of the sky while black smoke billowed. After explaining to an officer who she was she turned to see Paige approaching.
"Where have you been?!"
"I had finals." Nicole told her, sure it was going to be an answer lacking in Paige's estimation. She did wish now that she'd called her back though.
"Of course."
"Where's Mom?! What's happened?!"
"Mom? Oh, she's fine! Gleeful and practically raving as they took her off. She set the house on fire, she could have been injured or killed and all she could talk about was you!"
"What about Judy?" Nicole asked instead of bothering to respond to her sister's comments.
"Thankfully, she's fine. She came out to get the mail, Mom locked her out and lit the place."
"She was fine this morning before I left."
"I seriously doubt that."
"Fine for her, Paige!" Nicole yelled back.
She knew it would result in an argument but she didn't care. She was tired of being the one between the them to always work harder to get along. It was the wrong time and place but then, there never was a good time for long overdue confrontations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You know what, I don't have to argue with you about this. I'm the one with the Power of Attorney not you. You don't get a vote. Not this time." Paige dismissed Nicole completely.
"Paige..."
"Why don't you just go? Mom's not here and I don't need you here. I'll call you and let you know what the Fire Marshall says about the house." Paige said before turning and walking away.
Still livid, Nicole walked off in the opposite direction. She took out her phone and called Gatewood Hospital. It may have been the closest mental hospital but it certainly wasn't the place best suited for her mother. She hated that place and that Paige would let anyone take her there for even one minute infuriated Nicole even more. She couldn't get her out she just wanted to see her. Before she made the call, she knew it was a futile endeavor.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes, I know. I understand. Thank you." After twenty minutes on the phone speaking with the doctors at the hospital, Nicole felt no better about the situation. Her phone jingled disturbing her train of thought.
"Hey, Quinn."
"Nikki, hey! So glad you picked up! Can you do me a favor? When you stop in at my place, there's a file I left on my desk. Can you fax the papers to me?" Quinn asked quickly.
"Um, sure. Of course, I can do that. What's the number?" Nicole asked as she pulled a pen and small notebook from her handbag. Nicole wrote as Quinn rattled off the number.
"Thanks. You're a life saver, I can't even tell you. How were your finals?"
"My finals? They were good." It seemed like they'd happened a long time ago, not earlier in the day.
"Are you okay?" Quinn was sure Nicole didn't sound like her usual self.
"It's been kind of a strange day. My Mom burned like, half the house down." Nicole explained to Quinn and reaffirmed for herself.
"She what?! Oh my god, Nikki! Is she okay?!"
"She's not hurt but they took her to Gatewood."
"Seriously?" Quinn knew what that meant.
"Yeah. Can we talk later? I have to go or I'm going to be late for work."
"Wait? You're going to work?"
"My Mom's already at Gatewood and when I called they said she can't see anyone for 72 hours anyway. And Paige is taking care of the stuff with the house. She doesn't want my help and both of us here together is just making things worse so I might as well go someplace I can help."
"Friggin Paige." Was all Quinn said. It was well and long known that Quinn wasn't a fan.
She told Nicole to skip the fax, she'd work around it and they hung up. She didn't think Nicole being alone after all the chaos was such a great idea and contemplated calling Bryce. She noticed her boss's secretary wave to get her attention and knew she didn't have time to call. She needed to get back to her meeting.
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Nicole arrived at work and walked through the doors quickly, her mind running through everything that had happened and what she should do next. She didn't care about what Paige had said or what she thought of her. It was what it was and Nicole hadn't any inclination to try and change it. Usually. But her mother being sent to Gatewood, even for a seventy-two hour hold, was the absolute worst thing. They'd been down this road before and it always ended the same way. That her mother had set the house on fire this time just started them off further down the road than before. And there was no way Paige was going to listen to her input even if she was right. No amount of last minute ass kissing was going to coax Paige either, she didn't work that way. That their home being half burned down wasn't Nicole's biggest problem provided her no solace. It was one more thing gone sideways and she wasn't sure how to right it again.
She reached the end of a corridor and realized that she hadn't been thinking at all about where she was going. She wiped the tears from her eyes and headed for the stairwell. She was supposed to be beginning her shift but couldn't show up at the station like this. The hospital was still working at capacity and everyone was doing more than their share. She couldn't just bail. Especially since there wasn't anything she could do in the immediate for her mother. And she really didn't want to explain what was wrong. She just needed a little time to sort herself out. And a minute to get a handle on where to begin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bryce was getting ready to go home after finishing his back to back shifts. He had missed not seeing Nicole earlier but knew she'd had her OChem final to contend with. He was sure she'd done just fine and wished they were past the much anticipated conversation because he would have liked to take her out to celebrate the end of such an arduous semester. He knew her idea of celebration would be just the two of them sharing her favorite pizza from Giordano's and red velvet cupcakes from Delilah's. The chime of his phone called for his attention.
"Hey, Quinn. What's up?" Surprised she was calling, he continued to toss things into his bag.
"Nikki seriously needs your help." Quinn began.
Fandom: Flashforward
Genre: Romance/Friendship
Pairing: Bryce/Nicole
A/N: Late with no excuses. I wanted the story to go one way but the characters didn't agree & thought they knew better where they should go. Voluminous revision ensued. This is long, so get your drink of choice and settle in. Ready? Let's get right to the main. This closes out Sync- Part 4: Fury & Folly. The fifth & final part (4 chapters) is Consonance & is in process. Enjoy! Besos! xoxo
This chapter is posted in 2 parts because it exceeded the post allowance.
Bryce watched Nicole leave with Ed and knew he couldn't put it off any longer. No matter what he did he came up with two unacceptable results. Either he'd push Nicole further away or find that they were stuck in neutral. He was definitely at a loss with her and there was only one person who could fill in the gaps. He headed back up to Quinn's apartment.
Quinn opened the door, a look of surprise on her face and the cacophony of some song with heavy base guitar blaring behind her. Bryce was surprised she'd heard the doorbell at all.
"Nikki's not here. You just missed her." She greeted with a shrug. She wished these two would just work it out already.
"I know. I'm here to see you. I need your help. And I'm totally prepared to beg if that's what it takes." Bryce explained, completely resigned to his situation.
"Wow. Could you be more pathetic?" She shook her head in pity.
"Would I be here if I didn't know I'd reached that point?" He asked not caring at all about Quinn's dig. He hadn't the time or inclination to be embarrassed or annoyed, he just needed to know the right way to go about getting results. Pride wasn't even on his list. It was all taken up with getting Nicole back.
"Fine. Come in." Quinn said and headed for the living room. She picked up the remote and turned off the music.
"Thanks." Bryce closed the door behind him and hoped that he Quinn could help him work out what he needed to do to get Nicole back.
"No big deal. Between you and Nikki, I'm starting to feel like some sort of therapist. And I'm nowhere near that nurturing in my natural habitat. I mean, for her, I've got unlimited patience but you... well, you're not on the same list."
"I know you're her best friend and I'm the guy that broke her heart, but I just really need to know how to fix this."
"What's the problem as you see it?" Quinn asked as she slid her laptop and files into her bag. Whatever she didn't have done wasn't going to be finished tonight, of that she was sure.
"She won't talk to me. At least, not in any way that matters. And every time we're close to having a decent moment she shuts it down. It doesn't matter what I do or say. And now she's going out with... Ed. And that, doesn't make any sense!"
"So you want me to intervene with Nikki and try to get her to talk to you and let go of the hostility and whatever she's up to with Ed."
"Yes."
"No."
"What?"
"Clearly not the answer you were expecting."
"No. Not so much."
"My best friend's brain has turned into some endless loop of you and after everything, you have the temerity to show up to ask me to help you. I'm bold but you're taking it to a whole new level. Ego much?"
"It's not like that.
"You usually get your way, don't you? Cause I'm pretty sure Nikki doesn't tell you no very often, so maybe that's part of your problem."
"Everyone likes to get their way."
"True. But how has it not occurred to you to just let this one ride out."
"I tried that. It didn't work."
"You tried. For what? Two weeks? Tops? You feel you've put in enough time now? Why does everything have to be on your timetable? Seriously, everything you've said to try and convince me to help you has been about you and what you want."
"No..."
"Yes. You want me to talk to Nikki because you're ready to work it out and she's not doing what you want her to, when you want her to."
"Fair enough assessment. Although, it sounds less self-serving and more selfish when you put it that way."
"Look, I know you love her but you've just got to give her whatever time she needs to work it out for herself." Quinn advised and walked into the kitchen.
"You make it sound so simple. And what's supposed to happen while I'm giving her all this time?"
"She hooks up with someone else or she doesn't? Who knows? And what difference does it make? She gave you time to figure out your flash-chick thing. Why can't you return the favor?" Quinn asked handing one of two bottles of iced tea to Bryce and took a seat across from him on the sofa.
"It's not the same situation. All those months, Keiko was an idea. An image. Not some living, breathing, real person that I knew. She was never some sort of threat."
"Well, I can tell you for a fact, that Nikki felt just as threatened by your idea as you do about how she may feel about Ed. Keiko was no more her problem than Ed is yours. And now you know how she felt when you left her standing in your driveway while you took off behind someone else. You want my best advice? Man up and do now, what you expected her to do before. Trust her and trust that no matter what, your relationship can take it and it'll work out."
"I can't believe you just told me to man up." Bryce chuckled and appreciated her candor. "And you said you wouldn't help me."
"Well, I'm feeling generous tonight. Besides, I know Nikki still loves you."
"It just sucks having her angry with me."
"You're only half the problem. She's just as angry with herself for hurting you."
"So, I guess it is what it is. At least for now."
"Pretty much. Can I ask you something I've been dying to know?"
"Sure."
"Dude, what the fuck were you thinking bailing on Nikki?"
"The short answer is, I wasn't thinking that's what I was doing or how it would turn out."
"And the long answer?"
"Is that, when she told me Keiko was here, all I could remember was what I felt like when I went looking for her. That compulsion. I understood it and I just thought, that if she came here looking for me feeling like that... that leaving her alone in lockup for one more minute without trying to help her would just be... it was just unthinkable."
In his mind, he had replayed that conversation between he and Nicole so much that he knew exactly when the moment occurred that he'd stopped really listening to anything else she said. He'd been too angry at her seeming willingness to leave someone in such a vulnerable position and every reason she gave he found untenable. And when he finally began to realize what she was saying and understand how she felt, it was too late.
"Surprisingly, I can kinda understand that. And considering that I'm predisposed to dismiss any sort of answer you could come up with, that's impressive." Quinn admitted. "And don't think I don't understand the whole, flash-love thing. I get the feeling part, I just don't do mania."
She explained that in her most recent flash in the midst of other things, she was with a man she loved.
"So when you woke up, how did you know that it was love and not something else?" Bryce asked.
"Well, I do my fair of comparison shopping, so I can tell by how I felt in the flash that he wasn't a one off. We knew each other. Really well. We were laughing at some inside joke we had. Like, you know how you can whisper two words and the other person just knows and you both just start laughing? It was like that. The way he whispered in my ear and the way I rested my hand on his chest as he did. It was intimate and comfortable. It was love." Quinn explained as she recalled what she'd experienced. Most of all she liked the calm and ease she'd felt.
"But you aren't out there now looking for this guy."
"Because I don't need to go out and make it happen. I saw it, so if that's some sort of sign that it's meant to be, it'll happen organically, not as an effect of something I had to engineer or force into being, you know?"
"Yeah. That actually makes complete, rational sense." He admired her sense of balance, mostly because it was so counter to how he'd been after the first flash.
"I want to find out how it's supposed to happen. I want to have the journey, not give chase. So, whoever he is, I'm looking forward to meeting him... whenever. But I already have a life to live and whenever we cross paths, he'll be added to it maybe, not give me one or make the one I already have worth living. I'm already a whole person and I appreciate what I have. Besides, he could be married or something right now, what would I look like showing up expectantly and intruding on whatever his life is?" She explained, she couldn't even begin to imagine purposely turning her life into any more of a chaotic convolution than it already was. There were plenty of other people taking that route and the results weren't bearing out to be very pretty in the end.
"Desperate."
"Well, desperation has never exactly been love has it?"
"No. And I have it on pretty good authority that patience is more suited." He recalled Nicole telling him that months ago when he was in Tokyo. That he hadn't really heard her then but instead understood all these months later was regretful. "So if it doesn't happen?"
"Then it doesn't happen. It's not the end of my world. Something even more amazing could happen. I already have a pretty awesome life. What am I gonna do, complain?"
"Some would."
"Well, not me. Millions of people have died as a result of the blackouts. If that's not lesson enough to appreciate the people in our lives that we love now, then I don't know what is. At least, that's how I make sense of all this in my mind."
"I think you're right." Bryce agreed thoughtfully and mulled Quinn's perspective.
"Well, Nikki's currently kinda cornered the market of flash stress, so I try to balance it out with a little pragmatism."
"What did she see this time? When I asked her she wouldn't say."
"If she doesn't want to tell you, I certainly won't. It's not mine to tell." Quinn explained steadfastly.
"Did you tell her yours?"
"All I told her was that she was in mine and she didn't want to know anymore. She feels like the knowledge of her own flash is more than enough, so she doesn't want to know anyone else's because she doesn't want to have to worry about what she is or isn't moving toward or away from."
"In your flash, was she happy?"
"She was very happy." Quinn said simply.
"She was happy in mine too. We were on some balcony and it was snowing."
"Snowing?" Quinn looked up surprised he'd seen something that matched hers so specifically.
"Yeah. I don't know where we were but I could hear people laughing, talking. There were glasses toasting, I think. Maybe a party or something? What?"
Quinn's expression was a mix of surprise and reticence.
"What did you see?"
"If I tell you this, you have to swear you're not going to go all stupid and use it as some justification to push Nikki to do what you want. I mean it. Seriously."
"I promise. Just please, tell me."
"Fine. In addition to the guy I told you about, I saw you and Nikki. You were just through these beveled glass doors that opened onto a balcony. It was night and the snow was falling. From where I was standing, you both looked happy."
"Do you remember anything else? Do you know when it was?"
"February 13, 2016."
"2016?!" The revelation that Quinn had seen he and Nicole coupled with the date was beyond stunning.
"Yeah. That was pretty much my reaction after the fact."
"How do you know?" So far, 2014 was the farthest reported flashforward time seen.
"I know because I saw it written down. Nikki wrote a note in a card and in my flash I read it."
"You're sure she didn't write it on some other date?"
"No. It was the same day. Night, whatever. It was handed to me."
"What did it say?"
"I don't think you need to know that part."
"Why not?"
Because it's seriously not going to help you."
"How can you possibly know that. Look, I promised already that I won't say anything to Nicole. I just want a another piece to the puzzle so there's more context to the picture. Please."
"She wrote: "Thanks Quinn for throwing us the best engagement party ever. You're the best! LYLAS, Nikki (& Bryce too) 02.13.2016." Quinn recounted with a shrug. She hoped she was doing the right thing by telling him and she wouldn't regret it later.
"Wow." He felt like he was racing to catch up. The date and not being incapacitated or dead was pretty monumental. And the rest, completed the task of rendering him just about speechless.
"Yeah. See? How's that for context?" She asked
"I don't know what to say. Wow. You must be the best secret keeper ever. How could you not tell her this?"
"Because she doesn't want to hear it. She doesn't feel like she needs to know. And don't forget, you're not going to tell her either."
"I know. I promised. Right. I'm gonna go home and... think about everything. Thanks, for helping me. Especially because you didn't have to. I promise it won't be a wasted effort." Bryce said, still stunned by the revelations of the evening.
"You're welcome. Just please, I'm begging you, don't fuck it up. And just give her a little leeway if she looks like she will." Quinn implored, hoping that if one of them could hold it together just long enough the other would catch up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole's night out with Ed flew by in a whirlwind. The clubs he took her too were packed, loud and just the thing she wanted in a distraction from everything else going on. She had been fascinated by it all, even though she had not been sure she had exactly had fun. By the time they wound up in the middle of a Silly String flash mob, Nicole didn't think twice at all if participation was ill advised. She grabbed two cans and jumped right into the fray next to Ed. When they were picked up in a police sweep, she was more surprised than anything. The SoE was still in effect and the authorities were not very keen on large groups of people assembling. A Silly String flash mob was pretty benign but since the last blackout, there had been too many instances of protests turned riot out of nowhere, so neither the police nor National Guard were taking any chances.
Let go after their background checks were done and came back clean, Nicole and Ed met up outside the police station as the sun began rising.
"Some night, huh?" Ed asked with a smile.
"Oh yeah. I think I've finally got all the silly string out of my hair." Nicole said. She was tired but still thrilled by the novelty of the night. Quinn would hardly believe it.
"I guess I should get you home."
"Coffee first."
"Even better."
Nicole smiled and felt giddy as they walked up the street. She wanted to prolong the feeling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as she kissed him she knew it was off. There wasn't anything wrong with the kiss as far as the mechanics went. But the chemistry... it wasn't right. So clear that she couldn't even lie to herself, it came down to the simplest thing ever. No matter how much she wanted it not to be so, she couldn't deny it and she'd never be able to get past it. As great as Ed was, as much as they had in common, as fated as she'd wanted it to be, one simple fact remained in that kiss. He didn't feel right. He didn't taste right. She'd been hoping for his kiss to replace Bryce's but only came up with a searing reminder of the very thing.
"I'm sorry. This isn't right." Nicole said as she pulled back almost spilling her coffee all over the front seat of Ed's car.
She remembered what it was like to be on the receiving end of what she'd perceived as a kiss that was about someone else. She hadn't liked it one bit and here she was foisting the very same on someone else. But what she'd done was worse. Bryce's kiss all those months before had been about her but her kissing Ed wasn't even remotely about Ed. It was all about Bryce. That she always seemed to find a way to talk about Bryce with Ed was bad enough, now she'd compounded that problem.
"It's okay. We're good." Ed told her. He hadn't exactly seen the kiss coming.
"I just... shouldn't even be here. Not like this. I'm just embarrassing myself." She admitted. All she wanted to do was go home take off Quinn's dress and take a shower.
"Don't be embarrassed. I like you, as a friend, so it's all good. You've just got some relationship stuff going on that you need to work out." He assured, not wanting her to be upset.
"Is it that obvious?" Nicole was way past embarrassed.
"It's pretty obvious. Even without all that when I came to pick you up, it was pretty clear. Look, I don't know him, but I can personally attest to the fact that every time I've run into him, you've been the topic and he's been pretty consistent with making an ass of himself."
"Yeah, about that and before... he's not like that most of the time. He's usually really nice to everyone. I expected him to, of course, be nice to you because you saved me but I guess that's too much to ask."
"Yeah, it's kind of a lot." Ed told her.
He still didn't know exactly what went down between them the night before but whatever it was when Nicole had come back outside, she was clearly distracted.
"You're defending him?" Nicole was more than surprised.
"Not so much defending as, I just get it. Call it a guy thing."
"A guy thing?"
"No man really wants to be in any situation where he feels like someone else came in and took care of the woman he loves when it should have been him."
"That's ridiculous." She maintained though the thought of Bryce still loving her tugged at her heart.
"Like I said, it's a guy thing. Besides, how ridiculous can it be when you said yourself that you were mad at him for not being with you that night?"
"That's entirely different."
"How? You can be mad at him for that but he can't be mad at himself for the same thing?"
Nicole couldn't answer because she hadn't thought about that. She'd been so caught up in her own feelings, it didn't even occur to her that Bryce's recent actions had anything to do with his having sincere regret.
Ed got the complicated relationship thing and knew firsthand that sometimes making a complete fool of yourself was not only unavoidable but also the thing you needed to do to get to whatever the next step on the path was.
"It doesn't matter. Not anymore. It's too late." Nicole shook her head.
"I don't know. For months I seriously believed I'd reached you too late to save you because I couldn't see the whole picture. But here you are, fresh off a short stint at One Police Plaza after showing off pretty decent skills in Silly String War 2010.
"So you're saying I'm meant for more than Silly String combat?"
"Possibly. Maybe it'll work out or maybe it won't but if you're not ready to move on, maybe there's a reason."
"It sounds so simple when you say it."
"Observer's prerogative. And my fair share of complicated ex-girlfriend stuff."
So many things were so topsy turvy but a couple were becoming more clear no matter how much she worried or tried to deny them. She knew without a doubt that she was ready for her OChem final. She was done worrying about it. And she knew that even with she and Bryce ending up more or less estranged, her feelings for him hadn't changed, no matter how she'd tried to force it. No matter what had happened. Her heart had either never taken the messages from her brain or simply wrote them off entirely as being from an entity that simply didn't know what the hell it was doing. That Quinn, Bryce and now Ed had all been aware of this before she could admit it should have bothered her but she was way past that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This was certainly one of the strangest nights I've ever had but good. Thanks. For everything." Nicole said as Ed stopped in front of her house.
"No problem. I had a good time. Next time we go out, you get to pick where we end up. I have a feeling we'll run a lower chance of ending the night with police involvement."
"Sounds like a good plan." Nicole laughed as she got out of the car. She still hardly believed she'd actually sat in a holding cell.
"Good luck with your finals."
Her reply dissolved in her mind when she saw Bryce pull up. It occurred to her she might need a bit of luck on more than just her finals.
"Are you good?" Ed asked as her expression changed.
"Yeah, it's totally fine. I'll see you later." She assured him with a smile and waved as he drove away.
She met Bryce halfway. She couldn't read his expression but she felt guilty just the same.
"It's not what it looks like." She began to explain even though she knew she shouldn't feel like she needed to.
"You don't owe me an explanation. And I don't really want to know anyway, so... I was on my way to work and just came to drop off your study guide. Thought you might need it." He explained and handed over the book. He had resolved to act on Quinn's advice, but had hoped for an easier first run. He noticed she wasn't wearing her cross and reminded himself that whatever the reason, he didn't want to know.
"Thanks." She accepted the book, grateful to have something to hide behind and folded her arms across her chest.
"Sure. And I'm sorry about last night. You were right and I shouldn't have acted like that. You're free to do whatever you want to do and it's not my business. So, I'm going to finally do what you've been asking me to do and leave you alone about us."
"Oh. Well, thank you... I guess?" She wasn't sure how to respond.
"Okay. I should probably go so..." He turned to leave.
She hesitated and knew she had to finally say what she knew to be true. The very real possibility that he'd walk away for good was worse than the admission.
"Bryce, wait. I wanted to just say that... you were right, too. You've been right and I just didn't want to admit it."
"So now what?" He asked truly surprised by what she'd said but careful not to get his hopes up too high. He wondered what prompted her change.
"I don't know. I can't really do this right now. And I don't mean that like before. It's just I have finals."
"Right. Today and tomorrow."
"Exactly, so maybe we can talk about it next week?" She asked hopefully.
"Whatever you want." He wanted to say more, get her to commit to a day they'd have the talk, but didn't want to risk ruining what he considered to be progress. "Good luck on your Chem final."
"I don't need luck. I had a great tutor all semester." She smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole's Organic Chemistry and Developmental Psychology finals fell back to back on the last day of finals. Because of the global blackout, the university had pushed back the schedule by just over a week. This was resulting in leaving only a week's interval between the current session closing and the Summer session beginning. Even with all that had happened they were still trying to maintain as close to normal a schedule as possible. Nicole tried not to think about the Calculus or Psych classes she'd signed up for months before. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand. That the proctor for the OChem exam was particularly pissy and adamant to verify that no one entered the room with their mobile phone or any other electronic devices was a minor annoyance. Nicole noticed exactly which of her classmates weren't in attendance and said a quick prayer that they were safe and faring well. She'd hoped they'd just dropped out for a while and would get themselves together enough to rejoin life later, just like she had many months before. All things considered, she knew that her flashforward experience this time around was a luxury. She appreciated it wholly, even if she wasn't embracing it. She'd even gained something of an appreciation for her first flash after talking to Ed. She liked his balanced outlook and perspective on the flashes.
Once the proctor was satisfied that everyone seated for the exam was more or less trustworthy, the exams were passed out and commenced. Nicole took a deep breath and read over the questions, while she flipped the pages. She began working and couldn't help but think about Bryce having had confidence that she could do it all along and helping her along the way. No matter how things had ended up between them, she would always be grateful to him in that regard. He'd believed in her when she wasn't so sure.
When both her finals were complete she walked to the bus stop to head home. She missed her car. It was still in the shop awaiting parts that were on backorder. She knew she could use Quinn's car while she was away but she hadn't time before her finals to stop by. She felt drained and a little loopy from having her mind bent and folded in different directions. She didn't even care that she couldn't recall one question asked or answer she'd given on either exam. She considered blank better than worry as she retrieved her messages.
She listened to two messages Paige had left her and deleted them. Par for the course Paige. A demand to call her back ASAP and questioning where she was. Add in her usual tone of derision and Nicole wasn't inclined to call her back immediately. She still couldn't understand why Paige refused to leave messages that actually had content. She never said what she wanted. Nicole mused momentarily that if she'd just saved all Paige's messages it would likely come down to about four variations. At most. Nicole tossed her phone into her bag. Even with all the restrictions of the SoE, she figured she'd have just enough time to go home to see her Mom before heading to work. She'd promised that after her finals she'd come home and play a hand of cards. It never occurred to her that her mother would make other plans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole watched the firefighters working and hardly believed what she was witnessing. The flames shot through the roof of the house and lapped against the blue of the sky while black smoke billowed. After explaining to an officer who she was she turned to see Paige approaching.
"Where have you been?!"
"I had finals." Nicole told her, sure it was going to be an answer lacking in Paige's estimation. She did wish now that she'd called her back though.
"Of course."
"Where's Mom?! What's happened?!"
"Mom? Oh, she's fine! Gleeful and practically raving as they took her off. She set the house on fire, she could have been injured or killed and all she could talk about was you!"
"What about Judy?" Nicole asked instead of bothering to respond to her sister's comments.
"Thankfully, she's fine. She came out to get the mail, Mom locked her out and lit the place."
"She was fine this morning before I left."
"I seriously doubt that."
"Fine for her, Paige!" Nicole yelled back.
She knew it would result in an argument but she didn't care. She was tired of being the one between the them to always work harder to get along. It was the wrong time and place but then, there never was a good time for long overdue confrontations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You know what, I don't have to argue with you about this. I'm the one with the Power of Attorney not you. You don't get a vote. Not this time." Paige dismissed Nicole completely.
"Paige..."
"Why don't you just go? Mom's not here and I don't need you here. I'll call you and let you know what the Fire Marshall says about the house." Paige said before turning and walking away.
Still livid, Nicole walked off in the opposite direction. She took out her phone and called Gatewood Hospital. It may have been the closest mental hospital but it certainly wasn't the place best suited for her mother. She hated that place and that Paige would let anyone take her there for even one minute infuriated Nicole even more. She couldn't get her out she just wanted to see her. Before she made the call, she knew it was a futile endeavor.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes, I know. I understand. Thank you." After twenty minutes on the phone speaking with the doctors at the hospital, Nicole felt no better about the situation. Her phone jingled disturbing her train of thought.
"Hey, Quinn."
"Nikki, hey! So glad you picked up! Can you do me a favor? When you stop in at my place, there's a file I left on my desk. Can you fax the papers to me?" Quinn asked quickly.
"Um, sure. Of course, I can do that. What's the number?" Nicole asked as she pulled a pen and small notebook from her handbag. Nicole wrote as Quinn rattled off the number.
"Thanks. You're a life saver, I can't even tell you. How were your finals?"
"My finals? They were good." It seemed like they'd happened a long time ago, not earlier in the day.
"Are you okay?" Quinn was sure Nicole didn't sound like her usual self.
"It's been kind of a strange day. My Mom burned like, half the house down." Nicole explained to Quinn and reaffirmed for herself.
"She what?! Oh my god, Nikki! Is she okay?!"
"She's not hurt but they took her to Gatewood."
"Seriously?" Quinn knew what that meant.
"Yeah. Can we talk later? I have to go or I'm going to be late for work."
"Wait? You're going to work?"
"My Mom's already at Gatewood and when I called they said she can't see anyone for 72 hours anyway. And Paige is taking care of the stuff with the house. She doesn't want my help and both of us here together is just making things worse so I might as well go someplace I can help."
"Friggin Paige." Was all Quinn said. It was well and long known that Quinn wasn't a fan.
She told Nicole to skip the fax, she'd work around it and they hung up. She didn't think Nicole being alone after all the chaos was such a great idea and contemplated calling Bryce. She noticed her boss's secretary wave to get her attention and knew she didn't have time to call. She needed to get back to her meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole arrived at work and walked through the doors quickly, her mind running through everything that had happened and what she should do next. She didn't care about what Paige had said or what she thought of her. It was what it was and Nicole hadn't any inclination to try and change it. Usually. But her mother being sent to Gatewood, even for a seventy-two hour hold, was the absolute worst thing. They'd been down this road before and it always ended the same way. That her mother had set the house on fire this time just started them off further down the road than before. And there was no way Paige was going to listen to her input even if she was right. No amount of last minute ass kissing was going to coax Paige either, she didn't work that way. That their home being half burned down wasn't Nicole's biggest problem provided her no solace. It was one more thing gone sideways and she wasn't sure how to right it again.
She reached the end of a corridor and realized that she hadn't been thinking at all about where she was going. She wiped the tears from her eyes and headed for the stairwell. She was supposed to be beginning her shift but couldn't show up at the station like this. The hospital was still working at capacity and everyone was doing more than their share. She couldn't just bail. Especially since there wasn't anything she could do in the immediate for her mother. And she really didn't want to explain what was wrong. She just needed a little time to sort herself out. And a minute to get a handle on where to begin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bryce was getting ready to go home after finishing his back to back shifts. He had missed not seeing Nicole earlier but knew she'd had her OChem final to contend with. He was sure she'd done just fine and wished they were past the much anticipated conversation because he would have liked to take her out to celebrate the end of such an arduous semester. He knew her idea of celebration would be just the two of them sharing her favorite pizza from Giordano's and red velvet cupcakes from Delilah's. The chime of his phone called for his attention.
"Hey, Quinn. What's up?" Surprised she was calling, he continued to toss things into his bag.
"Nikki seriously needs your help." Quinn began.