"I've been trying to figure out what to say to you when you came in," he said. He shook his head and pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Haven't figured it out yet."
"Start at the beginning…"
Connor made a sound somewhere between a snort and a sob and dropped his head forward. "The beginning doesn't matter. We all know the beginning—"
Nick crossed the room to his brother-in-law, sensing Connor wasn't long on his feet.
"Why don't you sit down—"
"I'd rather stand for this, sir." Connor sucked in a sharp breath and squared his shoulders as best as he could while still swaying on his feet. "Reports will have come in from Nevada by now." Connor paused again, clearing his throat. "What happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell us."
Connor shook his head and reached behind him to brace the heels of his hands on the windowsill. "I don't know. I've been trying to remember since I woke up and Victor asked me the same question. All I remember is the explosion. Honest to God, Nick, I don't know. I—" He sucked in a sharp breath and shook his head again, finally settling to look toward Nick. "Have you—has there been any news—"
"About Nicole?" Nick ground out through clenched teeth. "No."
Connor twisted and braced his hands on the windowsill, his entire body hunched. It took a moment before Nick realized Connor was speaking, but he spoke so low the sound barely carried across the space. He missed most of it, but the last thing he caught was "So damn close!" before Connor pulled back and slammed his fist into the thick glass window.
He pulled back again for another punch, but Nick charged him and grabbed his arm, knowing he could undo everything Victor had done. "Connor! This isn't going to help anyone. Especially not Nicole!"
When Connor looked up again, this close, the unrestrained sorrow in his eyes punched Nick full in the chest. Moonlight revealed the tears in the younger man's eyes, and his mouth twisted into a pained grimace.
"I failed…"
Without saying anything more, Nick drew Connor to him, taking the younger man's weight and clenching his own jaw when Connor shook in his hold.
){kind=link}