Chapter twenty nine

" That's not true! "
Crystal covered her ears with both her hands. Shaking her head profusely as she repeated the words. The tears rolling down her cheeks could not be controlled. Nick moved closer to her. Trying to make her listen to him.
" Hey... hey, Crystal you have to listen to me, "
" No! What you're saying can't be true, it's just can't! "
She could not lose him as well. She had been able to move on after her Mon died but if she lost her dad as well it would be too much. She was not that strong.
" Your dad is at the hospital, they rushed him there and he's being treated right now, " Nick held her shoulders. Urging her to calm down. She looked at him with tear stained eyes.
" I have to go there, I... I have to be with him, "
She was crying. It calmed her a bit to know that he was still alive. But she was not going to be okay until she was sure her dad would be fine. Nick hated seeing her like that. She cold not control her tears and he had never tried to offer anyone comfort. He was not sure of how to go about it. But it seemed as if Crystal didn't want any of that, she was already putting her shoes on and running out of the room.
Nick following her out, then he asked her to go and wait for him in the car. She didn't stop when he talked so he just hoped she would do as asked. He ran into his own room and went to his closet. Moving the clothes aside to bring into view the weapons he had uniformly arranged at the back. Then he took out two guns and loaded them with the expertise of experience. Tucking them in his jeans afterwards. Then he grabbed an overcoat and hurried out.
Less than five minutes later they were on the road. And Nick observed how shaken she looked. She was crying and the simple sound was breaking him. She seemed to be thinking of all the worst possible outcomes of the situation.
He drove as fast as he could. Speed driving was another skill of his. And despite that Crystal wondered why they were not at the hospital yet. She urged him to drive faster. And when they got to the hospital she basically jumped out of the still moving car.
Nick tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Her recklessness angered him but he set those feelings aside. Proceeding to park the car before he followed her in. He wasn't planning on leaving her side. So he made a thorough scam of the surrounding to make sure there was no danger. It wasn't hard to do so considering his previous career.
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" No, you don't understand, I have to see him.. "
Crystal argued with the doctor. He had walked out of the operating room and she had ambushed him. But he was not telling her anything. And she was desperate. Her chest was tied up in knots and she couldn't think straight. She let the heavy emotions drown her. She let herself feel nothing but the pain and fear that had overcome her Completely.
" Miss, I understand your worry but you have to wait here, " the doctor informed her before he hurriedly walked away. It had been a few minutes since they got there. She didn't want the doctor to come out and tell her that he hadn't made it. And she didn't want to just sit there and expect the worst. She went back to the wall and placed both her arms on it, leaning her head on them. Then she cried.
She couldn't help it. She loved her dad, had come back hoping that maybe they would be able to mend the relationship they had. Or better yet, that they could actually form one. Because it didn't exist. But still, she loved him more than anything. And if she lost him then she was afraid that she would lose herself as well.
Nick couldn't bare to see her like that. She was hurting, and that made him hurt as well. He stepped closer to her and tried to make her face him. But she didn't want to listen, she did not need anyone trying to comfort and tell her that everything would be okay. Because there was a chance that it wasn't.
" No.. no don't touch me, I don't want to hear anything. I just want to see him Nick, I have to see him, " she pleaded with him. And he hoped that that was a wish he could have been able to fulfil.
" I get that you're scared but you have to try and be strong. Stop predicting the worst because that's only going to stress you out. "
He acted as calm as he could. He wanted to wipe that distraught look away from her gorgeous face. He just couldn't stand it. The same way he couldn't stand standing there and doing nothing while she suffered in front of him. It was the worst experience imaginable.
" But... what if - "
" No what ifs. Erase all those negative thoughts, they won't help with anything. "
" I can't lose him, " she broke down again. He searched for words to soothe her. To ensure her that it would all be okay. That was torture, her tears were were like a physical injury that was making it hard for him to concentrate. And he laced the words he was searching for, he didn't know how else to make her relax, so he simply did what felt right at the moment.
" Come here, "
Nick wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. Enclosing her in a tight embrace. And she held on to him like she was scared of letting go. He pressed her head to his chest, and she breathed in past the painful lump in her throat. Staining his T-shirt with the tears that wouldn't stop flowing.
It felt right to have her close. He wanted to hold in to her for as long as he could. To keep her close to him so that nothing bad would happen to her. So that nothing or no-one would take her away from him. He rubbed his hands up and down her back in a soothing gesture.
" Don't worry, I'm here. And I'm not leaving until you get to see your dad. " he wasn't going to make her false promises. There was also a chance that her dad might not make it. All he could do was hold her until she felt better. No matter what happened.
" You promise you won't leave? "
" Of course not baby . I promise. " He had never thought himself capable of such tenderness. It was unknown to him. But it felt so natural when he was with her. He hushed her until her cries were nothing more than distant whimpers. There were people walking around the waiting room. But he didn't notice any of them, his only concern being Crystal. Her and her safety.
Crystal held onto him as tightly as she could. Just being that close to him managed to dispel a significant amount of her fears. And if he were capable then Nick would have taken the remaining amount of them into himself. He wasn't there because he was her bodyguard, he was there because she mattered to him. She meant more to him than he was willing to admit. More than he even knew. And as he held her, he realised that there was nowhere else he would rather be.
" Crystal! "
Miguel and his mom rushed in and Crystal withdrew from their embrace.
" Oh honey, we came as soon as we heard, " her aunt said and Miguel asked how her dad was.
" The doctors are still with him, " she stated as Miguel drew her in for a hug. Nick stepped aside. Wondering why the sight of her in anothers arms drove him almost mad. Even if the person was technically like her brother.
" I'm sure he'll be okay, don't worry, " Miguel said and Crystal sighed.
Nick tucked his hands in the pockets of his overcoat and narrowed his eyes as he looked around. Trying to identify any possible threat. There did not seem to be one. Just then Aiden walked in accompanied by detective Saunders. And Nick approached them. He wanted the details of what had happened.
" We were at the airport when it happened. He was about to board the vehicle when he got shot, " Aiden explained.
" Yes but luckily, Aiden was able to spot the shooter - "
" Yeah, I ran after him and was able to tackle him down. He's in custody at the moment. "
" An going to interrogate him immediately after I leave here. And I won't stop till he gives up Hines' whereabouts. "
Nick nodded, he wanted to accompany Saunders to the station and beat the crap out of that asshole. Which was quite ironic considering the fact that they pretty much did the same thing for a living. But this was different, he had managed to hurt Crystal and that was all the reason Nick needed to break every working bone in his body. And he wouldn't be satisfied until he did.
But not now. Because now he had to stay there and make sure that Crystal was okay.
" I'll send some officers over to watch over both him and his daughter. Aiden call me with any updates on his condition. "
" I will, "
Saunders took his leave. And Nick asked Aiden a few questions about what had happened, Miguel also joined them. It was just as Aiden had explained. Mr. Lockwood had booked a last minute flight back home because of an urgent meeting and was shot just as he exited the airport. Nick noticed the blood on Aiden's clothes.
He had ruffed up the shooter pretty good. But Nick could see that he was a little worked up over not spotting the attacker on time.
Over at the waiting seats Crystal was seated next to Miguel's mom. Her head on the older lady's shoulders. They waited for a while but finally the doctors came out of the operating room.
Everyone walked over to him but Nick preferred to stay and listen from a distance.
" Doctor how is he? "
" Is he okay? "
" What happened? "
They all blasted the doctor with their questions all at once. He took off his surgery mask and put his hands up in a gesture of peace.
" We were able to remove the bullet in time, but it did hit some vital organs so he's not completely out of danger. All we can do now is wait and hopefully he'll make it through, "
The doctor explained clearly. Crystal was relieved that her dad was alive. Even if he wasn't completely stable yet she was confident that he would push through. Her dad was a very strong person and she believed he would get better.
" Can I see him? "
" He's not allowed any visitors right now. Like I said, his condition is still critical, "
After trying to convince the doctor that she had to see him, Crystal gave up and sat back down. Then she stood up and began pacing. Miguel ensured her that he would be fine and her aunt went to the chapel to pray for him. But she was still not at ease. And she wouldn't be until she saw her dad.
They stayed there for hours. The doctor adviced them to go and get some rest since he wouldn't be waking up soon but neither wanted to leave. And before they knew it ,it was already nighttime.
Crystal listened as Miguel answered countless phone calls to postpone urgent meetings, she assured him that she was okay and he could leave but he just looked at her like she was crazy and refused to leave her sight.
Her aunt did the same. They had been with her five years back when she lost her mom, she just holed that this time things were going to turn up differently.
" I'll go get some coffee, " her aunt said as she stood. Crystal finally gave up standing and settled down on. Burying her face in her hands.
Nick went and sat next to her. It was an action done by instinct..
" You okay? "
She looked at him and shrugged.
" Not really, "
" They caught the shooter. He's being questioned down at the station, "
" Was it Marcus? "
" Unfortunately not. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he gets caught as well, "
Crystal didn't want to think about all that. She would worry about it later, once her dad was better. She was starting to feel exhausted but she was determined to stay there for as long as it took.
" You look tired. Are you sure you don't want to go get some rest? "
" No. I wouldn't even be able to sleep until I know how my dad is doing. "
She rested her head back. Nick could see the exhaustion wearing her down. And when her aunt came back with coffee for everyone Crystal gladly drank hers since she wanted to stay awake.
Eventually her aunt left since she had some guests she had completely forgotten about. Though she promised to be back as soon as she could. And Crystal struggled to stay awake even if her eyes were giving up on her