~*~Chapter 7~*~
Nick covered his eyes as the sun beamed in through thewindow. The doorbell rang again.
"Is AJ completely helpless?" He mumbled as he threw on a pair ofboxers and trodded down the hallway.
"It's too early for this shit."He complained. Nick rubbed his eyes one more time before opening thefront door.
"Angel." Nick announced as he saw Angel standing before him holding alittle boy on her hip.
"What time is it?"
"It's noon, Nick. We need to talk." Angeladjusted the little boy.
"Yeah, I guess we do." Nick reached out andbrushed his face. He hid his head in Angel's shoulder.
"This is Ryan."
"Funny how he so much resembles AJ." Nicksaid raising his eyebrows.
"Can I come in?" Angel asked restlessly.
"Yeah." Nick opened the door wider and letAngel in. He led her and Ryan into the den.
"Have you talked to AJ today?"Nick asked realizing AJ wasn't even home.
"No." Angel quickly answered. She sat Ryandown and he began to bang something on the coffee table.
"How old is he?"
"Seven months." Angel ran her fingers acrossRyan's head.
"So, what's going on? You seem abit...troubled." Nick pointed out.
"Nick, Brooke was killed last night."
"Oh god, Brian." Nick covered his mouth inastonishment.
"Where did you last see Brooke?" Angel askedNick.
"Gosh, it's been a week or so. Danielle saidshe saw her and AJ in Ragen's lasat night around ten. She said they wereboth drunk offtheir asses."
"So, Brooke was with AJ?" Angel leaned inattentively.
"Angel, this is too weird." Nick grewconfused. "AJ was with Kara the night before she was found dead. Now, Brooke?Something fishy is going on." Nick bit his bottom lip.
"But, Nick, Brian and AJ were together whenBrooke stumbled into the room, her insides on the...out." Angel let a look ofdisgust cross herface.
"That's still not to say that AJ didn't doanything."
"But, come on. You really think...AJ?"
"What about me?" AJ entered the room with aSurge in one hand and his car keys in the other.
"Nothing." Nick covered up. "We just thought you'd like to, uh, havedinner with us tonight."
"Yeah, since I live here and all." AJlaughed.
"You don't seem to upset about Brooke." Angelpointed out.
"Yeah, well, I try ignore my problems." AJsaid sitting on the loveseat across from the coffee table.
"That always works." Angel said sarcasticallyas she looked away.
"You've got room to talk, Ms. Runaway." AJsat his drink down on the table and Ryan pushed it off in an attempt to keepfrom falling.
"AJ, have you met Ryan?" Nick asked changingthe subject.
"No, I haven't." AJ glared at Angel.
"Well...AJ, this is Ryan."
"Is he Jack's?" AJ asked.
"No, he's not. Jack and I aren't together.In fact we broke up about a year ago."
"Hmm, so you two were together for what? About a day or so?" AJassumed.
"Actually, AJ...Jack and I were never together. There is no Jack. Well, there is, but he was only a friend. I only toldyou that I was leaving to be with Jack, so that I didn't have to tellyou the truth." Angel bluntly told him.
"So...what was the truth?" AJ said shocked.
"The truth is...I was pregnant." AJ looked toRyan.
"So, he's mine?" AJ's mouth dropped.
"Well, surprise, surprise. AJ's got a kid."Nick said under hisbreath.
"I knew that settling down was way out of yourview, so I lied to you and all of my friends. I didn't want to be labled atramp slut who got pregnant at 18." The room grew silent. "So, whathave you been up to since I left?" Angel attempted to change the subject.
"Oh, you know...I sleep with a different womanevery night--" Nick mocked AJ. He stopped when AJ threw him a glare.
"AJ, can I speak with you?" Brian walked in.
"Does no one knock anymore?" Nick complained.
"Why?" AJ asked Brian.
"I just talked to Danielle."
"What?" AJ's eyes widened.
"I saw you last night, AJ." Danielle came infrom behind Brian. "I saw you and Brooke."
"What happened, AJ?" Brian asked.
"Nothing happened."
"Well, I find it a little strange that you're seen with my girlfriendand ten minutes after you show up at my apartment...she shows up dead."
"Let's not forget the Kara incident." Nickpointed out.
"What are you people doing to me?" AJ stoodto his feet.
"Just tell me what happened between you andBrooke, AJ." Brian pleaded. "I need to know." Brian's eyes filled withtears. AJ looked away in shame, then back to Brian.
"We both got really drunk, and..."
"And what?" Brian begged for him to continue.
"And we had sex." Brian charged after AJ andthrew him onto thecouch.
"Brian, calm down." Nick pulled Brian off ofAJ, Brian struggling to hit him again.
"Nick, I'm gonna kill him."
"I wouldn't say that too loud." Daniellesaid.
"Why is everyone so fucking content that myfucking girlfriend was killed by some fucking psycho?" Brian yelled.
"Well, fuck, Brian." AJ said sarcastically.
"People, there is a child in the room." Angelcradled Ryan in herarms.
"Okay, look, we are all best friends here. Ifwe go blaming each other nothing will ever get solved. We have to sticktogether." Danielle begged.
"Now, two of my best friends aredead, and seeing you guys fight isn't helping me any." Danielle brokedown. Nick walked over to her and hugged her.
"Dani, think about it. AJ sleeps with someoneand they die." Brian pointed out.
"Yeah, well, how about this." AJ said.
"Angel walks into town andpeople start popping up dead left and right."
"Right. Since I have so much time to start amassacre when I'm waking up at three in the morning to change diapers." Angeldefended.
"Stop it!" Danielle screamed. "Just stop."
"Dani's right. Look, we're all gonna bequestioned about the murder." Nick said. "Just tell the truth, guys."
"The truth?" AJ threw his arms in the air."I can't tell the truth. They'll throw me in jail like that." AJ snapped hisfingers.
"Someone feeling guilty?" Brian raised aneyebrow at AJ. Just then, the dorrbell rang.
"I'll get it." Nick said walking into the foyer. When he opened thedoor, there stood a police officer on the other side.
"Are you Nick Carter?" He asked.
"Yes, sir, I am."
"Mr. Carter, I need to have a word with youand your friends."
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