Thin Ice Author: Six Rating: G Summary: A meeting is interrupted --+-- Nick stood at the head of the conference table, forcing his eyes to stay off the clock. But one of the six lawyers who lined both sides of the table-a fresh-faced, punctual one-glanced at his Rolex. "Burton's a little late, isn't he?" Millions of dollars were riding on this conference. Nick saw it in their eyes: Can you carry this without Big Daddy at your side? Can you fill his shoes, even for a few minutes? Nick unsnapped his briefcase and took out the documents, drawing a fine, gold pen from his breast pocket. "Okay, gentlemen. Let's start, shall we?" The six lawyers opened files and withdrew documents as well. "Mr. Lasko," Nick said nodding at a man with a Derchowitz frizz to his hair. "We'll start with you. What do you think would be a fair-" The door swung open, causing a breeze to ruffle the papers on the desk. It was Amanda. "Nick," she said with a scarcely-contained tremor in her voice. "You need to come. It's your father." His briefcase thudding to the table-top, Nick crossed the room before her sentence was out. "What happened?" he asked following her out, the eyes of the lawyers at his back. ^^^^ The ride to the hospital was quick and silent. Amanda said a silent prayer. Nick bit the top of the gold pen. ^^^^ "Where is he?" he asked breezing through the emergency room doors. Heads turned. Amanda had to hustle to keep up. A doctor in a white coat and nametag approached him. "Who-" Nick took his lapels. "Burton Fallin. Where is he? What happened?" "Are you fam-" "Of course I'm family!" Realizing he was shaking the doctor, Nick let go and took a step back. The doctor smoothed the rumple in his coat. "Mr. Fallin has suffered a heart attack." He looked from one pale face to the other, giving them a gentle look. "If he survives the next twelve hours... we did all we could...it doesn't look good." ^^^^ ICU Amanda at his side, Nick stood in wrapped silence at the observation glass, looking in at Burton. "My fault," Nick whispered hoarsely as his eyes fixed on the tubes and machines sustaining his father. Amanda started to touch him, then thought better of it. Started to say something, but didn't. Burton's primary physician approached, but Nick's gaze didn't move. "It might be a good idea to see him," the doctor suggested. "Just in case." Nick's head was slowly, slowly, shaking no. "I know how you feel," the doctor said taking Nick's arm. Nick jerked his arm away. "No, you don't," he said, and walked into the room. Amanda and the doctor stepped away, to allow Nick some privacy. ^^^^ The distance from the door to his father's bed seemed like a cold mile. One step forward seemed to add another step more. Burton. A faint caricature of himself. His face as pale and washed-out as the sheets under him. No suit. No tie. No cigarette. No drink. No bravado. No goodbye. Nick looked down, seeing how close his fingers were to his father's hand. (Say it. Just say it) "Dad, I..." A crack in his voice. A falter in his heart. "I..." Slight movement from Burton's finger on the bed. Eyes remained closed. Nick's hand slid under his father's lax one, and squeezed. THE END