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Nick thought that Sam was doing well. She was handling the defense well enough, and considering the fact that she was working against ger mentor, Nick was very impressed. He thought that they had a solid chance at winning. When Nolan said he was having a pain in his abdomen that did feel normal, Nick had encouraged him to go to a clinic and get it checked out. So he went, and then came back with teh news that he needed his appendix taken out. Which meant he would need at least 2 and a half weeks to recover. Nolan wanted to postpone the surgery to work the case, but the pain was too intense and Nick wouldn't allow it. So off to a hospital he went. It was a standard procedure, and he was back in his apartment in no time. But he was still having a bit of trouble. At least that's what Nick assumed. Nolan was pretty resilient. But when he was having trouble he usually spoke to Nick about it. Unless, of course, he didn't want Nick to know about it. In that case, he called Sam. So when Nick was told by Sam that he had called her, he knew that he should pay his lover a visit.
It always made Nick question the beautiful mind of Nolan Price when he drove to his apartment downtown. Nolan lived pretty minimalistic. Not many decorations in his office, or his apartment. But the building wasn't cheep. In fact, it was around the same renting price as Nick's place. He remembered the first time he walked through Nolan's door. There were no fancy stairs, no white kitchen counters, just plain ones. He didn't have an expensive television or floor to ceiling windows. But it was cozy and felt more like a home. Sometimes Nick wished he hadn't stayed im his modern style apartment and instead had moved into a place like Nolan's. He knocked on the door and heard a muffled "doors open," from inside. He opened it and saw Nolan on his couch, shirt unevenly buttoned, a water bottle next to him, one sock on while the other was on the floor.
"Oh, hey Nick," he said, but he didn't actually look at Nick. He walked over to Nolan and saw a bottle of prescription pills on the coffee table. He examined Nolan and saw pupils blown wide and a pleasant expression. He read the side effects o the bottle. Ah, drowsiness was on there.
"Nolan, how many of these did you take?" He asked. Nolan didn't answer right away. He lifted his hand and counted on his fingers, but gave up and let it fall back down.
"I dunno. My belly really hurt. So I took a few. Its kin'a hard ta move when you take pain mills," he said. "Mills. No, that's not right..." he puzzled. Nikc couldn't help but smiled. "Anyway, it makes you all loopy and my hands won't do what i want them to."
"Alright. Why didn't you call me?" He asked as he filled Nolan's water bottle.
"Phone was in the bedroom. Didn't wanna geddup," he took the water and drank it thankfully. Then he looked up at Nick and smiled.
"What is it?" Nick asked.
"You are a great kisser, did ah ever tell you that?" He said. "D'ya know you're tall? How are you so tall?"
Nick laghed. "Im tall because you are laying down and im standing up, love." He replied.
"Well whatcha do that for?" Nolan frowned.
"Nolan, I think we should get you to bed." Nick said as he tried to figure out the best way to get him to his bedroom. He settled for putting Nolan's arm over his shoulder. He sat the younger man on the edge of the bed, helping him not to fall over so that he coukd removed his shirt and replace it with a T-shirt. He helped Nolan under the covers and made sure he didn't hit his head on the wall as he laid down. He was about to leave so he could clean the house a bit, but Nolan fumbled with Nick's sleeve.
"Stay, please," he said sleepily. "Kisses." Nick was glad that Nolan wasn't in pain, but he did need to get back to work and a Loopy Nolan wasn't going to let that happen until he got his kisses. So he held Nolan's hand as he crawled onto the bed beside him. He whispered sweet nothings to his sleepy lover and played his hair as he placed soft kisses on his neck, ear, and shoulder. After he was sure that Nolan was asleep, Nick turned off the light and went back to work, but not before placing one last kiss on Nolan's lips.
The next day Nick got a call on his cell at 7 am. He was making breakfast when it rang. It was Nolan. He picked it up and answered.
"Morning love," he said. But there came no reply, just choked breahting. "Nolan, is everything alright?"
"I can't move--" he said. "It hurts--!"
"Where's your medication?" Nick asked as he quickly put his shoes on, followed by his coat.
"Its in the living room. I can't get it," he began to breath hard and Nick could tell he was trying to sit up.
"Ok, just wait. I'll be there in a bit. Don't try to sit up." Nick hailed a cab and gave directions to Nolan's apartment. He found his way to the medication and rushed it to Nolan who was, thankfully, still in his bed. He put a hand behind Nolan's back and helped him drink his water to take th pills and then propped up his pillows.
"Thank you," Nolan said, his eyes still glassy from tears. Nick hated to see him in pain.
"Hey, its no problem. Does it feel better?" He asked as he rubbed Nolan's hand.
"Not really, but it will. Sorry you had to see what i act like when Im drugged." He blushed.
"Ive seen you drunk, Nolan. Its not much different." He laughed. Nolan did as well, but he winced as it sent twinges of pain through his abdomen. "Anyway, you can always call me when you need help and I'll always come." Nick smiled.
Nolan barely stifled a laugh. "Ha, that's what she said." He then began to chuckle and smile. The drugs were definitely kicking in.
"Wow. You are so lucky we're not at work." Nick called Sam and told her that he might not go to the office because Nolan was having a hard time. She understood and told him to help Nolan and not wory about her. He laid down next to Nolan and enjoyed the sounds of a very out of it prosecutor. They talked about random things and Nolan just blurted out every thought that popped into his head
"We should have sex," he said at one point. Nick said no, becasue Nolan was still injured. "Do you like pineapple?" Yes, Nick said. Nolan thought about this very intently until he forgot about it. "I think I would be a cat. Sam says I'm like a cat. I think im a cat."
Nick listened to him ramble about random incoherent thoughts until, again, he fell asleep. There wasn't much he could do now except watch over him and hope he would no longer be in pain. Eventually, Nick felt his eyes begin to droop and he fell asleep as well.