It took A.J. longer than usual to get to Nick's house. First, he stopped at McDonald's with the confused notion that Nick would be hungry - he knew there was no food in that house. Once the fast food smell had begun to fill the car, he realized it wasn't the healthiest food in the world. This led to a half-hour stop in a grocery store, where A.J. mulled over soup and crackers. When he couldn't remember Nick's favourite soup, he broke down in tears before buying two of every kind in the store.
Nick's house was quiet and dark when A.J. drove up. He felt as if every light in the house should be on, voices shouting, alarms going off. Nick was back and he'd been hurt. The world should have been going to DefCon One, right?
He let himself in, noting the one light coming from the guest room. Suddenly, the last thing he wanted to do was go in that bedroom. Slowly and quietly he made all the trips to the car, bringing one bag at a time into the kitchen, lining the food up carefully on the counter.
When the last can had been stacked, the last bag thrown away and his car was safely locked, only one thing remained. The light in that guest room. Cautiously he tiptoed down the hall. The house was still around him, every creaking floorboard a reason for alarm.
He peeked around the doorframe, afraid of what he would find. But the image before him was reassuring. Light fell over Brian's face. His eyes were closed, he looked haggard. He was on his knees, one hand clasping one of Nick's, his lips moving in silence. Nick was in shadow, but after nine years together even Nick's sleep positions were familiar to A.J. The room was peaceful. Nick was back. Brian was taking care of Nick. For the moment, all was right with the world.
Reassured, A.J. returned to the kitchen to reheat the McDonald's. Brian would take care of Nick. Now, someone had to take care of Brian.
Brian kept vigil, silently watching Nick. His only word since Kevin's arrival had been a vehement "No!" when Kevin suggested taking Nick to a hospital. Apart from bringing him food and making sure he ate, A.J. let him be.
Somehow or other, A.J. had appointed himself housekeeper. He dusted and aired out a few rooms, cooked dinner and refused to let anyone question Brian.
"Wait" he counseled Kevin firmly. "When Nick wakes up, we'll talk."
But Kevin wasn't happy with waiting. He had given Nick up for dead by the first anniversary of his disappearance. Presented with a living Nick, a just barely living Nick, he wasn't ready to lose him twice.
"A.J., he needs a doctor," he insisted, keeping his voice low. "Look at him. I don't even want to know what he looks like under the sheet. And he smells. He's gonna get infected, if he ain't already. I can't believe you called me before you called a doctor."
"Doctors mess you up worse than they help, sometimes" was the wise response. "Let Nick sleep."
Howie had very little comment on the whole situation. It had taken five calls before A.J. had convinced him this wasn't a sick joke. He still hadn't been able to bring himself to cross the threshold of Nick's sickroom. He paced the hallway as if sleepwalking, slowing to a stop by the doorway every so often before rousing himself enough to continue walking.
When Howie froze in his tracks, a panicked look on his face, Kevin gestured frantically to A.J.. They dashed into Nick's room, dragging Howie in by his elbow.
Nick was moving feebly, but with obvious effort, fighting something off.
"Father, father!" he muttered stubbornly before continuing to argue in gibberish. His friends exchanged glances, unsure whether to wake him. Before anyone made a decision, his voice rose in a strained cry. "Father, our father! Brian!"
He bolted upright, startling Brian, his eyes full of pain and fear. Grunting, he scrabbled at his sheet with with panicked hands, trying frantically to free himself. It wasn't until the fabric began to tear that Brian got over his shock and caught Nick's wrists.
"Nicky," he crooned gently. "It's okay. You're safe. Shhh. Shhh."
For a moment, they thought it was working. Then Nick's gaze swung from Brian to the others. He made a harsh noise and started trying to sheild Brian with his own body.
Faced with this reaction, A.J. let the tears come.
"He knows, he knows," he sobbed, hiding his face in Kevin's shoulder. "Oh God, he knows."
"It's not your fault Aje," Kevin murmured, an automatic litany by now. "He doesn't know..." He choked on his own words. "He doesn't know any of us."
"Nicky stop," Brian protested, trying to keep his voice calm. "It's all right. No one's going to hurt you." He struggled to keep from hurting Nick while he tried to keep him in bed.
Nick had given up shouting whatever accusation he'd been making and fell back to chanting, "Father, father. Our father. Father."
Kevin held tight to A.J., afraid if he let go he'd walk out. The nightmare before him was worse than any dream he'd ever had about Nick's fate.
It was Howie who finally restored calm. He'd been staring fixedly at Nick all along, but now he began to approach the bed. When Nick tried to kick at him, he reached out a hand.
"Our Father," he began in a clear, measured voice. "who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name." Nick blinked at him, but stopped struggling.
"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Brian chimed in as Nick slowly accepted Howie's hand. He grasped the other, and beckoned to Kevin.
"Give us this day our daily bread," Kevin nudged AJ into completing the circle. "and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forever."
Nick's eyes were huge. He looked from one face to the next. "Our Father," he whispered. "Brian, Our Father!" For a moment, Kevin thought he saw the carefree young man who used to do somersaults when he was happy.
Brian took the opportunity to reach over and pat Howie and Nick's joined hands. Nick followed the action with his eyes.
"Howie." Brian explained, patting Howie's hand.
Nick looked from Howie to Brian and back again. "Howie," he repeated obediently.
Howie raised A.J.'s hand and gestured. "A.J."
Nick checked with Brian for confirmation before saying "A.J."
A.J. wasn't in a talking mood, so Kevin named himself. Brian nodded reassurance as Nick echoed "Kevin."
"You're safe with us, Nick." Kevin promised. "You're home."