Deuce and Nick's phone conversation after Deuce has dinner with Preston

Nick is drunk off his ass as he sits on a lawn chair in some guys back yard and watches two girls dance to eighties music playing on a boom box. He can't get Deuce out of his mind so he takes his cell phone out of his left front pocket to send Deuce a text. 




Nick O'Flaherty: -text- Glad you're home safe

Deuce Grady: -text- And you're not

Nick O'Flaherty: -text- of course I am

Deuce Grady: -text- That picture you just posted tells me otherwise.

Nick O'Flaherty: -text- what does that have to do with whether I'm glad you're home?

Deuce Grady: -text- I meant that you weren't home safe.

Nick O'Flaherty: -text- I'm so confused by this conversation right now.


Deuce, who'd been sitting on his bed in his boxers and wearing his glasses as he went over patient files on his lap top, finally  gives up trying to converse with a drunk Nick through text and calls him


Nick: "Yeah?"

Deuce: "It's because you're drunk as hell, Nick...!"

Nick: *slightly slurred speech*"what is?"

Deuce: *patiently* "The reason you're confused by the conversation"

Nick: "Oh...No, I told you I was glad you were home and you told me I wasn't D. and that's not fair -"

Deuce: *cuts him off because he knows Nick misunderstood* "No, I said that you weren't home safe, not that you weren't glad that I was home"

Nick: "ooohhh. ok. Well...I'm glad you're home safe."

Deuce: "Home safe and sound with a kitten that's missed me for the past of couple days."

Nick: "hmmm..I don't blame him."

Deuce: "I was gone for a whole two and a half days and he had a visitor while I was gone, so he wasn't too lonely!"

Nick: "D...I...I'm sorry I over reacted."

Deuce: *sighs softly* "No, it's okay Nick, you don't have to apologize... neither of us were at our best earlier."

Nick: "I was just worried about you, D. I don't know this guy, And what I do know. I don't like."

Deuce: "I know you were just looking out for me... and really, despite what you know about him, he's a nice guy."

Nick: "yeah, yeah, ok...I don't care about his likability right now.I just...when he said he was going to Philly I got worried and threaten him to stay away from you. And than when you...I just felt like a fool, D. I'm sorry..."

Deuce: "You're not a fool, Nick... protective, yes, but that's how you are with the people you care about. I've heard the stories from Ty and now I've seen it...*smiling*

Nick: *walks to car and gets inside for privacy* "yeah but, D...I had no right to get so made at the thought...I just, I had no right. You're  a grown man, and you...I'm sure you have good instincts. I just...I felt like. I felt like you weren't on my team D, and I'm always on you team. Against anybody, D. You know what I mean? Especially from an outsider."

Deuce: *sounds a little guilty* "I know, Nick, I know... I didn't handle it the best. It's like my maturity level reverted back to being 16 and I was being told by my brothers friends that I couldn't do something because I was too young and stupid...And I know it's not what you meant, I was just being an idiot."

Nick: *can't help but smile* "I definitely don't look at you like a 16 year old boy, baby. Or an idiot."

Deuce: *laughs* "In my defense, I was starving and had just spent seven hours in a car with Ty and Zane. I was thinking with my stomach and would have gone with anyone that offered free food!"

Nick: "Whore" *laughs* "Sooo, was there a little part of you that couldn't fully enjoy yourself because you knew I was upset?

Deuce: "My stomach is the whore!" *chuckles softly* "I plead the fifth on that one..."

Nick: *teases* "yeah, you were thinking about me."

Deuce: *teases back* "I'll never tell!"

Nick: *covers phone* - muffled - "Give me a few God damned minutes!
         * back on phone* "Sorry."

Deuce: "Everything okay...?"

Nick: "Yeah, those girls...I don't care about them, I care about you. I'm not gonna take them home. I'm just trying to sober up some so I can drive."

Deuce: "You don't need to drive. At all."

Nick: "I know but...I gotta go home. I don't wanna sleep here. I don't wanna leave my GTO either..."

Deuce: "And if you came up on someone trying to drive in your condition, you'd arrest them in a heartbeat. Is there someone that can take you home...?"

Nick: "No, I'm not gonna leave yet. I'm just gonna sit here and talk to you a little bit. But, yeah...Billy's in the house, he's sober."

Deuce: "Good... at least there's one sober person there... shit, please tell me you're off tomorrow."

Nick: "yep...D?"

Deuce: "Yeah...?"

Nick: "Tell me not to take those girls home with me tonight..."

Deuce: *laughs softly* "Go home alone tonight, Nicky."

Nick: *smiles wide* "Now tell me YOU don't want me to take those girls home with me tonight, D."                   *softens his voice* "please..."

Deuce: *smiles softly*  "I don't want you to take them home tonight, Nick..."

Nick: * overjoyed by Deuce's words, even if he was only parroting them, and chuckles* "D?"

Deuce: *amused* "Yes Nick...?"

Nick: "The Sox beat the Phills today...you gotta take me on a date."

Deuce: "You get a free meal, Nick... Somehow I don't think it counts as a date."

Nick: "come on...I'm giving up free sex tonight for you, and you can't call this a date for me?" *laughing*

Deuce: "Ah, you can do better than those drunk girls! Try some sober people next time."

Nick: "Hmmm....you gonna stay sober on our date?"

Deuce: "Since I have to be up early the next morning, I was planning on it"

Nick: "Okay...than I'll try some sober people next time" *can't stop smiling*

Deuce: *laughs quietly* "It's not a date~"

Nick: "Ssstop. You know you wanna take me on a date a little."

Deuce: *softly* "Can't take you on a date, I'm a straight and taken man, remember?"

Nick: *voice sobers a bit* "I can't seem to forget." *sigh*

Deuce: "maybe in another life..."

Nick: *snort...another sigh* "Story of my life, baby." *sadly*

Deuce: "I think life just likes to fuck with us all.."
.
Nick: "I do it to myself, D. Everything...I take responsibility for it all."

Deuce: "Nothing is your fault, Nick."

Nick: *smiles* "you're so good, D. You know that. You really are one of the good guys."

Deuce: "I try like hell... some of my patients would tell you differently, though..."

Nick: "Than they must be crazy" *laughs*

Deuce: "It makes sense.. I'm making them relive the worst moments of their lives...usually multiple times... I'd hate me too"

Nick: "I could never hate you, D. Never. I can't even imagine how anyone could...no matter the situation."

Deuce: "Then you're one of the few... it's amazing how many people hate shrinks on sight."

Nick: *laughs* "Now I find that hard to believe in your case. How could anyone look at that face and feel hate?"

Deuce: "You'd be surprised!" *laughing*

Nick: "Come on" *teasing tone* "you've got a face of an angel"

Deuce: "Bullshit. Now I know you're drunk!"

Nick: "No, D. When we went out to dinner last weekend...well. I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable or anything, but you're a fine looking man Deuce. That's all I'm saying." *laughs* "and you smell good too"

Deuce: *laughs* "Expensive cologne makes anyone smell good...! And I look like Ty.. the Grady genes are strong ones!"

Nick: "Nah,...you look like your own man. Trust me."

Deuce: "Nah, I've heard it my entire life. Oh, you look just like your brother... and then when they'd see us with dad: you boys look like your daddy!"

Nick: "I don't know, D. I'd have to disagree. When I looked at you Saturday night, all I saw was you."

Deuce: *smiles a little* "You're one of the few..."

Nick: "yeah well...I 'm also a Grady specialist so...my word counts for more." *smiles* "besides. I'm always right."

Deuce: *chuckles* "Whoever told you that was lying to you!"

Nick: *teasing* "how dare you call my mother a liar. Thems fightin' words, D. Bring your bat to Boston"

Deuce: "If I could get it on the plane, I'd be tempted! But, like I told Ty, I don't want bloodstains on my bat! *laughs*

Nick: *laughs* "I was talking about the one attached to you! I can get it wet, but it won't be with my blood!"

Deuce: *teases* "I don't think I'm quite drunk enough for this conversation"

Nick: "I am!" *laughs* "No, I'm sorry. I just can't seem to help myself."

Deuce: *is still teasing* "So I've noticed!" *stifles a yawn*

Nick: *sigh* Thanks, D

Deuce: "For what? Not letting you do anything stupid tonight...?"

Nick: "well, that and...just for getting me. Ya, know. You get me, I can't say that about a lot of people."

 Deuce: "You're a special kind of person Nick... takes the slightly crazy ones to understand how your mind works"*smiling*

Nick: "Are you calling me special ed?"

Deuce: "Not in so many words...!" *laughs*

Nick: *laughs* "Ahhh, D. You're too much."

Deuce: "I'm just telling the truth!"

Nick: "Oh, there's Billy, hold on.."
.         *sets phone on leg and rolls down window* "Dude, drive me home. You can stay at my place and I'll                             bring you back here tomorrow."
            - Billy -"I get to drive the GTO?"
            - Nick - yeah, yeah. Just get in. Come on. Don't turn the radio on though, or I'll break your fingers
            -Billy- Deal
Nick: "ok, I'm back. Got a safe ride home D."

Deuce: *smiles at that* "Good, I'm glad you've got a ride home"

Nick: -engine roars to life- *smiles* "cuz you were worried about me"

Deuce: "I'm not denying that! you're on my list, Nick."

Nick: "I like being on that list, D."

Deuce: "It's a damn short list... My constant worry list used to be one person... but two people have been added recently..."

Nick: "So Ty. Now me...and who else got added...Oh Zane! or course"

Deuce: *laughs* "There we go...! wait until I tell him you forgot about him!"

Nick: "No, no...I was just...well my automatic was to get jealous and assume your..."* glances at Billy* "ah the person you're dating."

Deuce: "She doesn't have people trying to kill her on a daily basis..."

Nick: "oh, ok. Is that the reason?" *smiling* "still, I'm on your list...,I like that."

Deuce: "Yeah, yeah you are..."

Nick: * laughs*

Deuce: *flops back on the bed* "You almost home...?"

Nick: "Yeah, almost. You need to go to bed, D? Go ahead."

Deuce: "Nah, I'll wait until you're home and settled..." *looks at the clock* "I can survive on less than four hours of sleep."

Nick: "D! No. Go to bed! I'm literally two seconds from the marina. And Billy is an excellent driver. I'm good, Deuce, really."

Deuce: "Humor me, Nick..."

Nick: *smiles* "Ok, baby, ok. I love when you get that tone in your voice"

          ***

          "we're pulling into the parking lot now, ok?"

Deuce: "Hmmm? Sorry Nick, I think I dozed off on you for a minute there" *the sound of purring is heard along with Deuce laughing* "I think someone wants to say hi!"

Nick: "what's his name, Winston?"

Deuce: "I think he's insulted that you keep forgetting his name!"

Nick: "What is it?...Oh, yeah Winchester! Like the gun"

Deuce: "How you forget a gun name, I'll never know!"

Nick: "I know, right." *jingling of keys* "I'm unlocking my front door."

Deuce: "Good...! You can pass out when you get to the couch!"

Nick: "I can make it to my room with my eyes closed. I'm going straight there after getting water. Go to bed Deuce"

Deuce: "Don't fall down the fucking stairs!" *laughs softly as he cuddles into the blankets*

Nick: *covers phone* "yeah, yeah. Eat whatever you want. When your done just go down and sleep in the                
           VIP room. you know where it is"*
           "I won't. Promise" *grabs a water bottle from fridge* "I'm on my way down now D..."

Deuce: *sleepily* "Mmm good"

Nick: *stops at bottom of stirs* "good night Deuce"

Deuce: "Night Nick... sleep well, 'kay?"

Nick: "Ok, you too buddy." *goes into cabin and starts to undress*

Deuce: "Night..." *dozes off without even hanging up the phone*

Nick: *can tell by D's breathing that he fell asleep. Smiles at phone as he hangs up and falls face down on his bed still in his jeans to pass out*