''Are you sure AJ ,you weren't imagining it?'' Howie believed in the good in everyone.
''Definitely not..I'm not saying for sure he's gonna do anything crazy but I definitely do not trust him''
They all nodded
''All I ask is that between us we keep an eye on Nick and especially on Danny..I just have a bad feelin' about him that's all''
Nick wandered over and touched Kevin on the arm.
''Gotta pee ..won't be long''
Kevin nodded and turned his attention back to his sony camera, as usual he was filming every thing that happened.
Danny watched as Nick went into the bathroom, he made his move and followed him.
''Nick?''
Nick turned, zippered himself and started to wash his hands.
He controlled the alarm he felt as he saw Danny.
''Hi....Danny isn't it, sorry I've not had much chance to get to know everyone on this shoot''
''No.. you've been busy haven't you?''
Nick eyed him suspiciously but tried to keep it light.
''Yeah''
He picked up the bottle of Evian he placed on the shelf and took a drink.
Danny stared at him,his eyes cold and mean.
Nick felt unsettled now.... not scared, just unsettled.
''Do you wanna say something to me?''
''Why would you think that?''
''You look as if you do'', he took another drink, ''You look as if you hate me''
Danny gave him the most disturbingly evil smile.
''You do hate me .......because of Heather!''
Danny didn't flinch ,didn't look away, he just kept his hate stare fixed on this punk who'd stolen his butterfly.
Nick took a long drink.
His mind raced a little thinking (''Damn, am I in trouble'')
''Look Danny ,I didn't know you felt that way about her''
''Would it have made a difference?''
''You weren't together''
''Not in the sense you mean.......she was a free spirit''
''That's very poetic...but I'd say she still is''
''No...you,ve clipped her wings''
''I don't think so...if you want me to be poetic... I'd say I've spread her wings so she can fly.....''ts called loving her''
''I love her, I've always loved her''
''Then you should be happy that she's happy''
''You have a big opinion of yourself Nicky, just how do you suppose she can be happy with someone like you?''
''Meaning?''
''You'll dump her as soon as the next cutie comes along, I've seen it before,just admit it..... you're using her''
''You are so outta line. I know I'm not using her and more importantly so does she''
''You're using her for your own gain.....sex''
''S'cuse me!''
''You heard! ...Are you gonna deny that you're fucking her?''
''This has gone far enough, I don't have to listen to this crap!''
Nick downed the last of the Evian water and threw the bottle so hard it clattered and bounced around the bottom of the trash can.
Nick pushed past Danny but his way was suddenly blocked.
Danny hurled him against the wall with such force that Nick was winded too much to prevent Danny from jamming his big burly arm over his throat.
He was a match for Danny in height but not in weight and the element of surprise gave Danny the upper hand.
''I can't let it continue Nicky, I can't'',
He pushed his arm tighter into Nicks' throat.
''Do you know what it's like Nicky,to watch the woman you love being mauled by another man, to know that he's had his disgusting, slimy hands all over her.''
Nick tried to break free, but Danny had him held fast.
"I watched you Nicky, in your room last night.''
The alarm in Nicks' eyes pleased Danny, fed his impulse to cause him as much pain as he could.
''I saw what she did to you, I heard what she did to you, I watched you fuck,....you think you're so good for her ...and you're not....You think she was enjoying it don't you?''
Nick closed his eyes and prayed that someone would come and get this big ape off him.
''She's a good actress Nicky, that's all... when she's in bed with me, she's wilder than that.''
Danny held Nicks body hard against the wall making him look into his demons eyes.
''Yeah ...that's right Nicky, I've fucked her too."
NIck fought the mental image Danny was creating for him.
''Maybe she won't care for you when you have no voice''
He pushed his arm against Nicks throat even harder, relishing the noise of strangulation.
Nick couldn't breathe, he tried to bring a knee up to catch Danny in the balls and free himself.But Dannys' full weight was on him.
''I have to break the spell, break your hold on her,I can't compete with you Nicky and that just makes me sick to my stomach''
AJ looked at his watch and then at the bathroom.
He'd seen Danny go in but not Nick.
''Kev , where's Nick?''
Kev nodded in the direction of the bathroom
''Takin' a piss''
''Shit! Kev c'mon, christ four of us and we still can't look after him!!''
''So while you die just think about her and me.... I'm gonna replace you Nicky...I want you to suffer the way you've made me suffer....think about my hands all over her, think about her
screaming my name...hurts doesn't it Nicky? Doesn't it?''
He shook Nick hard and laughed as he saw those famous blue eyes fill with tears.
Nick tried to stare defiantly at his attacker but felt himself losing conciousness.
AJ slammed both clenched fists hard across Dannys neck, breaking his lock on Nicks' throat.
Nick slumped to the floor but Kevins arms prevented his head from hitting the stone floor.
His lungs noisily sucking in great gulps of air.
AJ threw Danny across the floor, stamped on his hand before wrenching his arm around his back.
Danny let out a yelp of pain
AJ's knee was dug between Danny shoulderblades and he grabbed a handful of his hair and spat in his ear, ''I should fucking finish you now, but I won't.. that would make me the same scum sucking bastard that you are!''
Brian and Heather heard the commotion ..shot each other a glance.. both had the same sick feeling inside.
The sight that greeted them was shocking.
Heather sunk to her knees at Nicks' side, ''Nick ..oh my god what happened''
Kevin let her take him in her arms ..it felt like instinct to her.
Nick grabbed hold of her tightly.. his throat hoarse his lungs still fighting for breath.
''Howie you got that phone of yours.. call 911''
AJ pulled Dannys' head back once more, ''and the police'' he slammed his head on the concrete
Heather was crying holding Nick'
''What happened?''
AJ twisted Dannys' arm higher up his back,
''Tell her Danny ,tell all of us''
Heather stared in horror at Danny ''What is the matter with you, are you crazy what have
you done to him?''
AJ and Kevin hoisted Danny to his feet and held him against the wall.
Danny still believing he could split them up yelled at her, "He's using you!''
''So this is what you do''
''He'll never really love you not like I do Heather''
''We've been through this before Danny.. you don't listen when I say it nice....you and me are never gonna happen!''
Nick started coughing, he clutched at Heathers' arms.
She held him close brushing his hair from his eyes, holding his head up to help him breathe,
''Where the hell are the paramedics...jesus... Danny you could've killed him''
Danny met her dazed eyes, ''I know!''
''You bastard''
The paramedics arrived.. Nick was now a bad colour.
They moved Nick from Heathers arms and laid him on the floor.
His breathing laboured and infrequent.
Heather stepped back unable to believe the scene unfolding in front of her, frightened tears coarsing down her cheeks.
Brian wrapped his arms around her as she stood shaking,
''This can't be happening, c'mon Frack''
They watched Nick fighting for breath, his eyes open but unseeing.
A green plastic tube in his throat his face covered by an oxygen mask.
A paramedic talking to him coaxing him to breathe
Heather collapsed at his side, ''Don't leave me Nick..please.. breathe.. Nick..''
Danny whispered under his breath ''Die Nicky boy.... just die''
Heather heard him .
She leapt to her feet and flew at him, hitting him anywhere she could reach.
''I'll never forgive you for this, I hope you rot in hell''
Brian grabbed her and pulled her off.
''C'mon baby don't waste your energy''
The sudden sound of coughing and a paramedic voice saying,
''That's good Nick..okay we got him'', made her turn and drop to Nicks' side once more.
Nick rolled on his side and threw up, coughing and gasping.
''That's better ..this is just some oxygen Nick''
he pushed the mask away and his eyes searched for her.
Heather took the mask.
She whispered in his ear ''I'm here baby, now be a good boy.. don't fight it''
Nick looked up at her and smiled weakly, she placed the mask over his mouth and nose and talked to him softly.
He coughed occassionally but his colour was much better.
The paramedics were discussing him with Kevin.
''We need to take him to the hospital''
Nick shook his head but Heather soothed him.
Kevin knelt beside him.
We need to get you checked out buddy...we nearly lost you man we're not taking any more risks'' Kevins voice was firm and Nick knew what that meant..he was going to the hospital.
He looked at Heather, his voice wouldn't work, he mouthed ''come with me''
She nodded, smiled at him and mouthed back ''I love you''
Nick closed his eyes and let himself be lifted into the ambulance.