"Thank you, man." Nick expressed, pulling away from AJ.
"You're welcome." He said back genuinely- they were all his big brothers, and AJ was just doing his duty. But Nick thought this all was beyond the call of duty. AJ watched Nick get in his car and drive off down the street before closing the door. It was a long drive to Brian's, but the roads were quite quiet, and Nick turned the radio on to calm his passionate emotions. He flicked through the channels before recognising one of the songs. It was "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. He recognised it from the film he curled up to Heather with on his sofa, "City Of Angels" it quietened his harsher emotions. "Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always one reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memory seeps from my veins
Let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lie
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
This glorious sadness that brings me to my knees In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here" It did not stop the tears creep down his cheeks sorrowfully though. He needed to make things right. He wanted to make things right. He had been "pulled from the wreckage" -he had lived through hell and survived. He now needed to let the people who supported him know how thankful he was to have them in his life. He also needed to say his apologies for being selfish through this dark period, and this all had to start with Brian, Leighanne and little Baylee. He yearned for comfort, not hope. He had hope for himself and for their album, and for his relationships with everyone to get back on track. The song had given him hope, touched him in the place that was awakened the night before. He realised his beaten, battered and bruised heart had died-shrivelled away and drooped like an old rose would have come winter. But not before it could give birth to his new heart which was spinning like a compass towards Brian and his family. This heart would need nurturing and care, and Nick promised himself he would watch it grow and gather strength before placing it anyone else's fragile hands. It was one in the morning when Brian sleepily opened his front door to find Nick, soaked through from the rain and sobbing on his doorstep. Brian awoke at once, completely surprised as to what he was doing there. The sound of the rain briefly filled the silence between them with nature that indicated to Brian how Nick was feeling.
"I'm sorry Brian." Nick mumbled, his lips quivering and his face creasing. "I'm so sorry Brian." Nick's tears increased and his body ached as he cried. Brian pulled Nick in from the rain and hugged him soothingly in the doorway, shadowing him from the rain that Brian saw as Nick's rebirth. His sins had been washed, so he no longer needed the feel of water on his back.
"It's Ok." Brian said wiping a tear from his own cheek. "We only found out what happened with Heather after you left, we saw it on TV…" Brian rubbed Nick's back as he relayed this information knowing that it would not be easy for him. "We saw the bathroom, and kinda gathered what had happened."
"Forgive me please." Nick begged looking deeply into Brian's eyes searching for the act Brian believed in so much. Nick clung to Brian as if his life depended on it-But in that moment though, it did. Leighanne came downstairs questioningly and saw the two.
"Leighanne…forgive me please." Nick said seeing her, weak and crying, holding onto Brian still.
"Oh Nick…" She said tears finding her eyes too. "Of course you're forgiven. We found out what happened with Heather…" Brian touched his wife's arm in a gesture which let her know he had said that part already.
"Baylee is doing fine." Leighanne comforted. "He was just scared." Nick nodded in relief but he could hardly speak. He was shivering from nerves but also the cold that engulfed him, being in wet clothes. He looked at Brian again, waiting patiently for his own forgiveness. Brian nodded, choked up by emotion. Brian continued to cradle Nick who persisted to cry, holding his friend tightly and lovingly. As Leighanne returned upstairs to get Nick a towel and some dry clothes from the bag he had left there, Brian could hear him mutter whisperingly the words "Thank you."
