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Ball & Chain Abigail Roux 35430K 2023-08-31

Zane sery, noon’t it?"

Nick rolled his eyes and took a sip of water He was donating his liver to a father who had terrorized him all his life He was a better person than Zane, that was for sure Zane would’ve sat back and watched the ate fro detera, we have to get to thearound at each other

"Does thatback to the FBI?" Zane asked Ty

Ty shook his head "We both know I can’t I think what you call me noould be the Wild Card"

Zane met his lover’s eyes, thrilled to see the life back in them Whatever had happened to Ty and Sidewinder out there, it had sapped the joy out of all of the through Hell and doused it But now, looking at these three iven to them once

De la Vega had poked the wrong hornet’s nest this tiht to open his eyes when he heard voices He finally h his eyelashes to see as in the room The motion must have drawn attention, because the voices stopped and the rooain

A moment later a cool hand was on his forehead "Nick?" the voice whispered "Wake up, babe" When Nick finally got both eyes open, Kelly was s Nick’s cheek and bent to whisper in his ear "Lots of people here to see you"

A separator curtain screeched as it was pulled across the rooy as hell, and it took hier tiiven a piece of his liver, one he’d ed to keep healthy by some miracle, to his father It hadn’t even really been a choice for hiood match, he knew he had to do it

His father would live on, whether he deserved to or not Nick’s conscience was clear, and the row back He hoped

Al some forh but had to stop when pain threatened "Assholes"

Ty and Zane were both there, as were Owen and Digger Nick had known they would be, though, because they’d flown in last night to be with hier stood at the foot of the bed, and Oas sitting in the corner holding a huge teddy bear that hid most of his body When he realized Nick ake, he stood and placed the bear in the chair to er asked

"Like less of a hs froer told him, and held up a jar filled with liquid and sorabbed the jar and hid it froht "Dude, no"

"Gator livers!"

"No"

"They’ll help his grow back faster!"

"Definitely no"

Nick groaned and tossed his head to the side, trying to purge that visual froross," Ty muttered, and he left the room with the jar under his ar when Ty returned, and Nick finallythe need to throw up

Kat and Erin were standing there, both of them with bouquets filled out with baby’s breath, little pink daisies, and balloons They giggled as they placed the dainty arrangements on the table near the wall Even Nick’s oldest nephew, Patrick, had coleefully when he handed Nick a card that everyone had signed It read, "Congratulations on your special delivery"

"What’d you guys do, send out a

"It seemed appropriate," Ty said He held up a bouquet of cookies on sticks, all of them in the shape of baby bottles, shoes, and bonnets, then set it down on the table next to Nick The vase read "For the Little One"

Owen tapped Nick’s foot, then gestured between hiot some ’splainin’ to do, Lucy"

Nick’s sto in the waiting roo because he loved you and he was freaking out"

Nick ed a war his lips "Okay enough to provide hugs in waiting rooet it?"

Nick nodded Digger wrapped an arm around Owen’s shoulders and patted his chest like he was proud of hihter "When Nick can have a beer again, we’ll sit you down and explain all you want"

Owen seehter He no longer had any secrets froain, and it was a ht off his mind and soul All he could do was nod and blink back tears of relief

The only thing that didn’t fit the theun shells, the right kind for Nick’s Ithaca 37 puh, with little radioactive syue in cheek "In case you cahed even though it hurt He held to his side gingerly, trying to keep fro harder "These should coht you season one of The Walking Dead We’ll sit and watch while you recover"

"Is thiszo "A ht zombies were after brains," Kelly said wryly He pointed at Zane "You stay away froroup chuckled Nick rolled his eyes and closed the And while he could hear the others shuffling around andquietly, he couldn’t force his eyes back open "Thanks for couys I’m sorry I can’tstay"

Kelly’s hand caain, then slipped down to cover his eyes so he’d stop struggling to try to open them "They’ll be back when you’re not out of it, okay? Sleep"