Nick... hey Nick... NICK!"

He was pulled sharply from his thoughts by the sound of his friend loudly calling his name.

"Huh... What?" He asked, turning abruptly to find AJ staring at him, a concerned expression etched upon his face.

"Dude, you are lost," AJ whispered, shaking his head as he scooped up a handful of sand and let it slide through his fingers. "What's on your mind?" He was hoping that maybe, just maybe he could delve into the blonde's innermost thoughts... catch him offguard and maybe he would talk about what was really going on inside that foolish head of his.

Nothing really..." Nick answered, staring out at the sea before them... "Just thinking I..."

But AJ interuppted him, "Nothing!? Man are you fucking kidding me?" He was growing increasingly frustrated with his friend's inability to get a clue. "That is such bullshit dude! I mean for God's sake would you just talk about it already?"

Talk about what AJ," Nick asked giving him an exasperated sigh. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Oh my God Nick!" AJ spat as his frustration increased even more. "Let's talk about the fact that the girl you say is the love of your life has cancer! Let's talk about that! Or maybe we should talk about the fact that she just had a major operation this morning and for some unknown fucking reason while she is laying all alone in a hospital bed in Kentucky, you - the love of HER life - is in a completely different state, sitting on the god forsaken beach thinking about NOTHING!"

Nick shook his head, bitter tears forming in the corners of his eyes, "I don't know AJ... I just don't know anymore."

"What don't you know man?" AJ responded, softening his voice as he leaned over to place a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. Because face it, even AJ knew that he had no idea what was really going through this kid's mind. But as the silence lingered between them and Nick failed to respond to the question, AJ removed his hand and scooted away once more.

"Dude you really have GOT to talk about this."

Nick shook his head, "I... I really don't know AJ. It's not that easy. I... I just... I'm scared," he finally blurted it out as the tears began to spill down his cheeks. He reached up to wipe the moisture from his face with his shirt sleeve as AJ once more edged closer and tightened his grip on his friend's shoulder.

"What are you scared of?" It wasn't that AJ was stupid... he knew what his friend was scared of. The same thing all of them were scared of, but he knew that Nick needed to say it himself.

He knew that Nick needed to get it all off his chest and now seemed as good a time as any. Actually, probably the best.

Nick stared back out at the ocean for a few moments, the thoughts swimming in his head before he burried his face in his hands and sat there in silence for several long minutes before speaking again. AJ said nothing, just sat there beside him and waited for him to speak.

"I... I'm scared of everything Jay..." AJ nodded and waited for Nick to continue but it took several more long minutes before he finally did, "I'm scared of not being able to take care of her, I'm scared of watching her suffer... but mostly I... mostly I'm so fucking scared that I'm gonna lose her Aje." He leaned forward, his head in his hands and sobbed.

"Nick," AJ stated very seriously now as he rubbed his friend's back while the younger man choked back sobs that came faster with each moment, "I understand what you're saying, everything that you're saying, really I do. But seriously? What the hell dude? Do you really think that hiding out here on the beach is the answer to that?! I mean shit Nick, if you keep this crap up you really ARE gonna lose her."

Nick sucked in a surprised breath, wiped his eyes and glared over at AJ. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard, what AJ had just said. He stared at him for a long time before wiping his eyes again and shrugging his shoulders away from his friend's embrace. "You don't understand AJ. None of you do! You will never understand what this is like for me..."

"You're right Nick," AJ interrupted once more, "I dont' understand exactly what this is like for you, but..."

"Damn right you don't!" Nick snapped, throwing himself backwards onto the sand and laying there with his arms folded beneath his head still glaring at AJ.

AJ sighed and shook his head, "Do you love her?"

"What?"

"Do you love her?" AJ asked once more with a sigh.

Nick looked up to where the stars were appearing quickly in the night sky and couldn't help but smile as he thought about her. He thought of all the plans the two of them had been making together, for their lives and their future. He thought of her eyes, of the way she smiled. He thought of her laugh... God her laugh. This was all just so damn unfair.

"Nick," AJ spoke again, "Do you love Grace?"

Nick sighed, "With all my heart AJ."

"Then get your ass on the fuckin' plane."

And with that AJ stood and walked away.