Unrequited Author: Romantique Email: dolph1n@sbcglobal.net Classification: Vignette. Nick Angst, Barbara Angst. Rating: PG-14 for Language and Suggestibility. Summary: Friends suffer the same fate. Disclaimer: This fic occurs before the Season 2 finale and assumes that Barbara does not work as LSP. (We haven't seen nor heard from her in awhile, have we?) Also, I chose not to deal with the aftermath of Nick's actions in this fic. It is what it is. Acknowledgement: Thanks Suz, for the ideas, the beta read, and for her incredible insight into these characters. ;) The Incline Midnight It had been a terrible end to a horrible day. In fact, this day ranked right up there with some of the worst in his life: The day his mother died, the day his father got rid of him by shipping him off to boarding school, the day he was arrested for possession of cocaine, the day he was arrested for Mandy Gressler's death. Downing his third shot of tequila in less than an hour, Nick Fallin sits at the bar staring straight ahead into nothingness, welcoming the numbing affect of the alcohol, and wanting the day's events to disappear along with his feelings. He is oblivious to sporadic laughter coming from the other patrons in response to David Letterman's jokes on the television at the other end of the darkened, smoky bar. She had given him every indication that she was enjoying him. At times, in fact, she was insatiable, claiming she couldn't get enough of him. Sipping on a water back, he couldn't help but think about what was happening to him. He loved her and could even see himself spending the rest of his life with her, although he could never tell her so. Now, the prospect of her leaving him alone proved his decision to keep his feelings to himself to be a correct one. But if he was so damned right, then why didn't he feel vindicated? Why did he feel so bad? Why did he feel so alone? "Nick?" a melodious voice wafted into his ear from behind the barstool. Slowly, he turned around to find Barbara standing there. "Hey, what are you doing here?" It had been months since he last spoke to her, not long after she married Evan Puskaric. Nick didn't like the son-of-a-bitch, no matter how much his father thought of Evan's father. "I came here to drown my sorrows," the Rubenesque woman sits down on the stool next to him, "and maybe to find a familiar face. I'll have whatever he's having, a double, and some lime," she calls out to the bartender. Nick clasps his fingers around the glass of water before him. "And it looks like my friend could use another, too," Barbara adds after peering down into his empty shot glass. "Are you going to be responsible for getting your friend home? I was about to slow him down," the bartender walks over and asks her. A darting glance at Nick catches the pained expression in his eyes. And besides, she could use someone to talk to tonight. Nick is always a good listener. "I promise I will make certain this one gets home, safe and sound," she says to the bartender with her right hand in the air as if she were taking an oath. Under his breath, Nick leans over to her and asks, "Why are you drowning your sorrows?" It was the least he could do, to listen to the lady who ordered him another drink. And it was nice to get his self-depreciating thoughts off himself for awhile. No matter how hard Barbara fights back tears, they form in her eyes as the pain she carries is much too fresh. "Evan turned out to be exactly what you knew he would be . . . a weak person," her voice shakes, "too weak for me." The bartender gently lines up their spirits in front of them. Without missing a beat, Nick asks her, "What happened?" Bringing the glass of to her lips, Barbara slams the shot of tequila and then, bites into the lime to kill the burn. "He left me," she reports as a cool matter of fact, grimacing from the tartness of the lime. "Plain and simple, he left me." Iridescent tears trail down Barbara's face as she, too, looks straight ahead into nothingness Nick looks down at the counter and lets out a deep sigh. He always believed Evan would end up leaving Barbara, and not because Barbara isn't a great gal, but because Evan is a jerk. He always felt Barbara was too good for Evan; she deserved better than him. However, once again tonight, Nick finds no solace in being right. "I'm sorry," he finally utters. "Yeah," she takes the second shot and slams down the now empty glass. "So am I. Could I have another one of these? A double?" she asks the bartender, "and another one for my friend, too." "What are you doing here by yourself, anyway?" Barbara turns to Nick and changes the subject. "Where's your better half?" This time, it is Nick who downs his shot. Beginning to feel its intoxicating affects, he slightly slurs his words, "I'm here to drown my sorrows, too." Intuitively, Barbara asks, "Are you and Lulu having problems?" With her eyes now adjusted to the dim light in the room, she notices Nick is not his normal, GQ-looking self. His tie is loose and askew, and there is blonde stubble on his face. Not that this unkempt look is a bad one for Nick; she just isn't used to seeing him like this. He's always in such control! His curly hair is mussed as she watches him comb the fingers of one hand through his hair, rubbing his head in an effort to comfort himself. Nick nods, again focusing on his glass. He begins to nervously switch from rubbing his head to circling his index finger around the chilled rim of his water glass. "You don't know?" he asks, still focusing on the rim of his glass. "Know what?" Barbara becomes alarmed. "Nick, I haven't talked to Lulu in a long time. Is she alright?" Thoughts race through Barbara's mind. "She's taking a job in California," he answers with no emotion in his voice. "Oh," Barbara is surprised, yet somehow relieved by Nick's response. After the thought that Lulu is okay registers, then she becomes confused. "Why would she do that?" she asks as the bartender brings her refill. "A friend of Alvin's called and asked him if he knew of anyone who could head up a legal services office in Berkeley," Nick begins to explain. "Alvin recommended Lulu. And Lulu says it's an opportunity of a lifetime, one that holds great prestige." His tone makes it obvious that he does not agree with Lulu's read of the offer. "Wow," Barbara utters extemporaneously. "I'm surprised she wants to leave Pittsburgh . . . and would want to leave you." "Me, too," Nick nods. "But then, I don't think she's ready for a relationship . . . I mean, so soon after Brian." "Well, that's not what she told me," Barbara utters without thinking, but then, she looks over at her melancholy friend. She knows what it feels like to be dumped. He is really taking this hard. At least, he deserves to know the truth. Nick looks up at her with questioning eyes. "What did she tell you?" It is obvious to her that he is searching for a reason why Lulu would hurt him. Barbara is searching tonight for reasons, too. "She wanted you, Nick Fallin," Barbara's tear-stained face takes on a smile. "She wanted you bad. The look on Nick's face reflects the confusion inside him, plus the alcohol is dulling his typical steel-trap mind. Barbara elaborates, "Lulu had the hots for you, even when she was still with Brian. She just couldn't bring herself to admit it, at least not to herself. It was pretty obvious to the rest of us." Then, she went on. "She wanted to take you to a bed and breakfast on the day of your accident." "You knew about that?" Nick slurred. As the poor man hadn't had a drink in over a year, he is really starting to feel the affects of the booze. "Well, yeah!" Barbara made her response sound all too obvious. "I was the one who suggested the place. I told her she had been torturing you long enough." "Wow, Lulu talked to you about her and me?" Nick is somewhat astonished. "Like I said," Barbara snickered, "she had it bad for you." Wow. Nick then began to shake his head. "Now wait a minute," the young man remarks, feeling somewhat looser. "If she has it so damn bad for me, then why in the hell is she leaving me?" Barbara can't help but laugh. "I don't know, Nick. You didn't disappoint her in the sack, now did you?" The thought of Nick Fallin, handsome god extraordinaire, not living up to his sexy good looks is funny to her. He had always made Barbara weak in the knees. And from the gossip at the LSP office, there were plenty of women who had the same reaction to Nick's drop-dead good looks. He answers her laugh in all seriousness. "I don't think so." After a long, pause, he slowly continues. "I don't think she is ready for a close relationship. She tries to keep us very casual. She keeps me distant." Barbara laughs again. "Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You are not the most open person in the world," she says sarcastically. She downs her third drink in quick succession. Then, she looks over to find Nick's expression change in response to her stinging sarcasm. She has clearly wounded her friend. "Hey, I'm sorry," Barbara's says with warm sincerity. "You really care for her, don't you?" It is hard for him to form the words and actually say them. Pain clearly resides in his eyes as he glances at Barbara. "I love her," the words finally come. Touched by such a reluctant admission from her wounded friend, a lump forms in her throat. She looks at him through glistening eyes. "But she obviously doesn't share my feelings," Nick hangs his head, heavy in despair. "I am so sorry, Nick" Barbara puts her hand on his shoulder and gives him a supportive squeeze. "We sure know how to pick `em, huh?" Staring straight ahead, Nick doesn't hear her. The two wounded souls sit together in silence at the bar, side by side. Gulping down yet another shot of tequila, his mission is accomplished. He is finally numb. ~fin~