How Long?

Nick and Kelly

Kelly had followed Nick and Pete back to Nick's place after the McGees' barbecue. She'd never expected Nick to show up there, had not thought he was ready to face a crowd of people like that. But then, she remembered, he's stuck with the same small group that they'd been with at the time he arrived.

That group had consisted of Ben Wade, Bill McGee, Travis McGee (when he wasn't mingling with others at the party), Travis' nephew Tee, Pete Valentine and herself. Nick hadn't even had too much trouble dealing when Travis and Ben had recognized him, although she'd seen him grimace a little when Travis had mentioned that some of Nick's music would be playing at the barbecue.

Pete had gone now. Nick came in from seeing him off just as Kelly had finished a glass of water and set the empty glass down by the kitchen sink.

"You did it!" she told Nick happily. "You went out in public! It wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Not bad?" Nick burst out. "You think that wasn't bad?" He held out his hand for her to see. It was shaking.

"And that's after I've calmed down!" Nick told her. He was blazing with anger and Kelly was taken aback. Was he angry with her?

Her eyes soft, she reached out and slowly took the hand he was holding out in both of hers. She squeezed it gently and then massaged it, trying to make the trembling stop.

Angrily, Nick snatched it away, but not before she saw a response in his eyes. "Dammit! I've played in front of thousands of people, millions on television! And now, I can't even stand in a group of less than ten without shaking like a goddamn leaf!"

"Nick," she said, as quietly as she could. "It was the first time since-since all your problems. You couldn't expect it to be perfect. The important thing is that you did it. You took the first step."

None of his anger had faded. He turned on her furiously. "And you! Pete's already gone! What the hell are you still doing here, Kelly?! What do you want from me? Want me to take you to bed? Find out that I I'm no damn good at that any more either?!"

The words cut her, but she replied quietly. "I think I'm going to leave now Nick. Maybe you need to be alone for awhile, after being around all those people."

She moved around him and headed for the front door. She hadn't made it far when she felt a hand grab her arm and spin her around. The next thing Kelly knew, Nick's hands were framing her face and he was kissing her.