Our Fathers (Nikki)

[Dr. James Campbell]

Okay, James probably could have gotten away with using his cell phone in Chase's hospital room; there didn't appear to be any sensitive equipment there. But he had reasons for not wanting to have this conversation in earshot of his husband, and it wasn't just the numerous posters he'd passed with comically large red X's over pictures of cell phones. He didn't want Chase to feel bad for Nikki being upset.

As soon has he hit the cell phone area, he had his out and was calling Clarisse's number. She picked up on the second ring. "Hey, Clarisse. Chase is doing well, considering. I don't really know what happened, and he's on morphine, do I don't think he can remember too well. Can I talk to Nikki?"

It was only a moment before the phone was passed on. "Hey kiddo. Chase is awake and talking, and he wanted me to say that he loves you and is very sorry for making us worry about him."

[Nikolai Campbell]

Niko jumped up from what he was doing when Clarisse's phone rang. Fortunately, she answered it quickly, which seemed to ease the overly anxious Niko. When Niko finally got the phone, he had to smile. Just to hear James' voice was relief enough.

"He did? So he's okay? He doesn't have to stay there all alone, James?"Niko rushed to ask. That was most important; was Chase coming home soon.

[Dr. James Campbell]

"Chase is okay and he'll be coming home soon, but probably not today. He has some broken bones and he hit his head really hard, so they have him on some strong medicine. It makes him really drowsy, and they can take better care of him here than we can at home." James's voice was soft, and he tried to sound reassuring.

"But he'll be coming home soon. And he isn't alone. Dr. Neville is in the room with him right now, and I'm going to be staying for as long as I can. But I'll be home with you tonight, and you can see him tomorrow." James smiled slightly, "If he's not ready to come home tomorrow, then you can come for a visit. He'll be so happy to see you."

[Nikolai Campbell]

Nikki was smililng up until James said Chase had broken bones. Immediately his mind was spinning. Broken bones and he wasn't coming home? He needed medicine? James did have one thing wrong in Niko's mind- he said they could take care of him better, but Niko knew no one could take care of Chase better than James, medicine or not. Nothing anyone said would change his mind.

It did make him feel slightly better knowing Dr. Neville was there, but tears began to glaze his eyes anyway at the thought of not seeing Chase yet. Though he wouldn't say so aloud, he had honestly believed that Chase would be there to tell him goodnight, that the hospital visit was some kind of mistake. He was used to James leaving for recruiting, but Chase was always supposed to be there. That scared him more than anything, realizing that Chase could be kept away.

"O-okay."Niko's voice cracked slightly, hinting at the tears that would soon follow."Will you tell him I love him, too and miss him?"

[Dr. James Campbell]

Of course, James heard the hitch in his son's voice. "Oh, Nikki, please don't cry. I promise, I'll tell him that."

It was so hard, trying to say it over the phone without the tears coming for him, too. He wished he could be there now, to wrap the boy in a tight hug and tell him that everything was going to be okay, and that Chase would be home with them soon.

"I'm going to be home in a few hours. If you want, why don't you make him a card? I don't know if he'll be coming home tomorrow or the next day, but you can bring it to him yourself, and you can see that he's doing okay." He just wanted to reassure him. "I love you, Nikki, and I am so proud of you."

[Nikolai Campbell]

As much as Nikki wanted to listen and avoid tears, there was no way. They were already slipping down his cheek.

"Th-thanks,"Niko mumbled, wanting to hand the phone back to Clarisse. As much as he loved James, he really didn't want to talk to him while crying. James had enough to worry about. When James suggested a card, Niko knew he didn't really feel much like drawing right now, but he agreed anyway. It'd pass the time if he made one with Clarisse.

"I'll ask Dr. Prideaux if she has art stuff,"Niko offered, lacking conviction in his words. It was what James said last that Niko couldn't reply to. The tears seemed to fall quicker now, and Niko knew he couldn't say anything without making it worse. His eyes shifted to Clarisse as he silently wished she could tell him what to say, but he knew she couldn't, so after a pause Niko managed a reply.

"I-I love you, too,"Niko sniffled. He wasn't sure what James had to be proud of- Niko hadn't done anything but let himself cry, but it still made him feel a bit better than before to hear James say it.

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[Dr. James Campbell]

"Nikki, it's going to be okay." And for the first time in a while, he realized that he really did believe it. Hospitals still terrified him and the thought of M.S.A.D. still made him nervous, but he wasn't worried about being edgy around Chase any more. Maybe this would be the push they needed?

"I'm going to go back to him now. He's going to be happy to hear from you." Was it bad that he desperately wanted to have Niko there, so he could see his other father an know he was going to be just fine? Was it cruel to want him to see that? "I'll be home in a few hours. See you then. Bye, Nikki."