Opposite's Attract

B A N D A G E D ⋆ B U T ⋆ S T I L L ⋆ B R O K E N

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✤ Chapter 36: Bandaged But Still Broken ✤

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U N K N O W N

Claire ended up with PTSD. Every time she heard a door close or any click she would look at Nick with fear in her eyes.

Nick never lets Claire out of his sight. She was still in danger. She was in a weak place and that worried him.

Lukus will have a limp for the rest of his life. The gunshot to his stomach reached his spinal cord but luckily it didn't paralyze him, but the surgery heavily affected his leg.

Cole has a scar on his arm where two shots hit him in the arm.

Tyler has become the new leader of the Eastside gang and the Northside and Eastside have joined forces and now work together. They have become the strongest gang.

Mason will never look at anyone the same. His brother hurt him and he has trouble eating after his shot to the stomach.

Jake, Theo and Lea are now apart of protecting Claire when Nick can't—with Mason watching them.

Zane will spend the rest of his life in jail and will he sentenced to death when he turns 70.

Claire cannot have children after her uterus got extremely damaged.

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N I C K T O M A S

Cole is with Mason and Jake at some meeting with Tyler.

Theo and Leo are upstairs cleaning.

Claire is asleep in my grasp. She can't sleep without me there. Her hand on her stomach. I let her sleep for hours. As much as she can. And I watch her. I watch her cry in her sleep and then move closer to me.

A smile goes on her face when she takes a deep breath and she moves her hand back to her stomach and falls back asleep.

It's the only time she doesn't look troubled.

It's the only time I really feel like I'm doing something good for her. It makes me feel better.

The scar on her stomach is slowly going away after about 4 months. She's trying. Trying to stay strong with the idea that she can't have her own kids.

It hurts me too. Seeing her look at her stomach and just cry.

And I can't do anything about it.

She's keeping busy though. She's been a resident as the hospital for about 2 months.

She locked down on her studies after everything. I guess we all locked down.

She dropped out of school and had enough credits to go right into medical school.

We all live together. In my dads house, that isn't really my dads house. I guess it's really mine. He never comes here. He stays at the man cave now after we all moved out and stayed in here.

That's just how it is now.

At least the house isn't empty anymore.

At least there's more than one person living here.

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4 Months Ago: Hospital: 11:37 pm.

U N K N O W N

Nick sat down next to Claire's bed. She was shivering so he moved into her bed and laid with her. He fiddles with his fingers. He moves Claire's hair away from her sweaty forehead.

She had a fever from staying in a cold place for a month, 3 weeks and 4 days.

Nick kisses her forehead gently. His face covered with worry. His eyes not leaving her face. His thoughts seemingly calm.

Claire awakes from his touch and she looks at him and moves closer to him and puts her hand into his. "Shhh." She whispers and kisses his cheek. "It's okay Nicky."

He looks around, "I hate hospitals." He mutters. "I've seen too much of it."

She lays her head on his chest and squeezes his hand. "I know, Nicky. I'm right here though."

Nick looks at her and he kisses her head again. "Last time I was at a hospital, my sister was here because she needed a form to leave." He whispers.

She looks back at him and smiles gently, "I knew you had a sister."

He shakes his head and hums, "She didn't want to be known as apart of the family."

He stops and Claire sits up. She winces and Nick watches her frowning. She gets on top of him and lays down and puts her face in his neck. "Please keep talking."

Nick kisses her head and wraps his arms around her and pulls her closer to him. "My dad wasn't a very nice man. To anyone. Not even to my mom, but they loved each other no matter what."

Nick plays with Claire's hair gently. His voice softens, "When my mom moved away for personal reasons my sister couldn't handle it anymore and she left one day and stayed with my mom."

"She just couldn't do it anymore and I couldn't blame her for it. My dad has never been present in any of our lives. Ever. I forgot what he looks like."

Claire kisses his neck and squeezes his hand. "He doesn't sound worth it, Nick." She looks at him and cups his cheek, "you are a better man than he could ever be."

Nick smiles at her and kisses her gently. He rests his forehead on hers and holds her hand. "You are too good for me."

Claire smiles, "No matter what."