Old Friends [Nicholas]

[joshua]

April 22, 2009
New York, New York (Hotel and Casino)

---

[nicholas]

Nick, was pumped for tonights plans. He and Josh were going to do their traditional things. Ride a roller coaster and then go off and gamble. He was excited for one because hasn't seen Josh for a while. His job in the military gets in the way of a lot of things. And this roller coaster, Nick hasn't rode in yet.

Nicholas was driving his Ford Mustang down the desert highway across Nevada. He was off to this place called New York, New York. The name in itself confused Nick. But as he took in the magnificent sunset that shown bright orange light which happened to emit Nicholas face. Unfortunately not his emotions did not. He was then reminded of his wife, Lillian.

Knowing it would be safer to pull over as these emotions would soon hit like a cement wall and flood over his body. Turning his car off, he laid back in his black leather seat. He took in the beauty of the now setting sun, as a tear rolled down his face. His wife had died some years ago now, and is still finding it hard to move on. Only because he blames himself. Letting the emotions flow for a while, as advised by a doctor, he then took a couple deep breathes. Getting control back of his emotions, he wiped the tears away, and ignited the car once again. Slowly hitting the gas pedal he was back on the highway and off into the distance.

Finally he had reached his destination, New York, New York. Hotel and Casino. He parked his car, made sure his windows were rolled up, and double locked it. The alarm was set. He walked down the long aisle of cars to where he was going to meet Joshua. He could now see him off the distance, waiting. He smiled. Getting to the end of the row of cars, he nodded to Josh. "Hey old man. Hows it been?" he asked. Stick his arm out for a shake as he stepped onto the curb.

[joshua]

Joshua was waiting for his old friend a retired Forensic Entomologist. The two of them enjoyed riding roller coaster – it got their adrenaline pumping. For a couple of old guys it was pretty insane it would seem to want to ride a roller coaster. Oh well, it was just a part of what they deemed fun. Old guys could indeed have fun. However, most people would disagree but this was their philosophy on life.

He then began to wonder how his friend was doing. It had been a long time since the two of them had met or it would seem. He hoped Nick was doing well. It had been a long time since his wife and son had died in that car crash and on top of that. His eldest son died. It was a family tragedy. He hoped the remaining two of his children didn’t die.

It would just be awful if the two remaining children were to die. Joshua didn’t want to wish that upon them and he hoped that it never happened. He knew that one of the children: Leland or better known as Cameron was going into the space program. He wondered if Nick even knew about that. He decided to ask that since this was a catch up on what was going on in their lives.

Joshua was trying to focus on his concentration, but he could read everyone’s thoughts in the vicinity. Sometimes Joshua hated his ability. He had the ability to read minds. Sure it was nice to have, but sometimes it was stressful because you could read everyone’s thoughts that were like five to ten feet away. He rubbed his forehead as it made the thoughts of people chime away.

As he placed his hand down from his forehead he could see a familiar soul in the crowd. It was his friend Nick. He was glad that the man had made it. He went over to his friend who stepped up on the curb and he also stuck out his hand shaking his friend’s hand. “I’m have been good, how about you?” He asked his friend awaiting a response.

[nicholas]

Nick's hand met Josh's and they shook. It had been quite a while since the last time they have seen each other. Their lives had barely allowed it. Not that Nick blamed life for this, though he did blame himself for his wife's death. He smiled as Joshua answered and then asked the same in return.

"Its good. Just trying to live on. You know how it is." he answered. It had been a while since the death of his wife and two sons. Lillian and Harrison both died in a car accident. Anthony was murdered by a man named Sylar. And then the most recent being Jacob's. He was in Iraq, just doing his daily thing and a suicide bomber ran by, blowing himself up along with Jacob. This was all just heartbreaking for Nick and he hated it. He then thought why he was thinking all this. He was going to have another breakdown. Nick shook his head, trying to get rid of these thoughts. Fortunately it worked. Nick smiled again. "Lets go ride that rollercoaster!" he said.

He then walked into the enterance of the line for the ride. By now it was alot darker, the lights all around the park were lit. Nick loved riding roller coasters at night, it was more intense. The light, the scream, all of it. When it came to roller coasters, Nick always felt like a could again. All the energy and everything came with riding the roller coaster. Nervous side of him started kicking in, but he ignored it. He always got this feeling before riding a roller coaster. It was life.

As he stood behind the people in line, ants below on the cement pavement, had caught his eye. He loved bugs, hence why he was a Forensic Entomologist. Insects had always fascinated him. They way they always worked together. Especially the ants and bees. He smiled as he looked up and realized the line had moved again. He scooted up six feet up the line. The feeling was increasing, and Nick loved it. "Front seat?" he asked as he turned to face Joshua.

[joshua]

Josh shook Nick’s hand. It had been a very long time. It seemed ages since the last time they talked to one another and to be honest their busy lives wouldn’t allow them to meet and they had to pick out a date to hang out in advance. It was hectic, but it was a part of life nowadays.

“Yeah, I know how it is,” he answering shaking head. “Sending more men to the Middle East” He explained giving a heavy sigh. He hated to hate troops to people. He felt guilty because he sent Jacob to war. He felt responsible for having that suicide bomber kill his friend’s son. He felt pain and misery knowing that he sent Nicholas’ son over to get killed. He felt sorry for all those boys and girls that came back in body bags.

“Yes, let’s go get on the rollercoaster” Joshua agreed. He followed Nicholas to the entrance to the line for the rollercoaster. He noticed that it had got a lot darker and that riding the coaster at night would make it ideal. Riding rollercoaster’s at night seemed a very dangerous thing and he enjoyed riding them at night – it felt as if he was flying jets again. The adrenaline was such rush especially for a man his age. Though, Josh was in good physical condition.

As they waited in line he was looking around the line, hoping their turn would come rather quickly. He then noticed that his friend was looking at the ground. He moved up and was about to say something to his friend but he had moved up towards him. “Hell yes, front seat” He said with a slight nod “So how are Cameron and Rosie?” He asked as they waited in line for their turn on the rollercoaster.

[nicholas]

Nicholas sighed and hung his head a little when Josh mentioned he was having to send more men to the Middle East. Nicholas knew that it wasn't Josh's fault that he lost his son Jacob. He shook his head slowly, "It's not easy old man, but it's your job and those kids who don't come back, well they died in honour for their country." He wasn't sure what else he could really say on the matter to try and make his friend feel less guilty over his son Jacob's death. Despite everything, if kids wanted to join the army, navy, air force, whatever, it was their choice, they knew fine well what could happen.

Talk of the roller coaster was mentioned again, which was great, it helped stop the atmosphere from being so depressing for want of a better word. They were supposed to be having a good time, not wallowing in the past. "Great." Nicholas said when Josh agreed to go on the roller coaster. Looking around, they were probably the oldest two waiting in the line, but Nicholas didn't care, all they were doing was proving that old men could have fun too.

Nicholas laughed when Josh agreed on the front seat. "Awesome, always much better at the front." It was true, you could see the dips as you got to the top, making it look like you were stuck in mid air with nothing underneath you, it was the best, most free and exciting and dangerous feeling in the world.

"Cameron and Rosie are just fine. Well you probably know Cameron got accepted into the space program, and Rosie, well I nearly lost her a few months ago when she was shot in a bank heist, but apparently her two older brothers Jacob and Anthony sent her straight back to me." Nicholas explained, and then sighed gently as he looked down at his feet, he didn't know what he would do if he lost his beautiful daughter. Not only was she the youngest child, she was his only daughter, she meant the world to him.

"She shocked me the other day mind, all this almost losing her life thing, has made her realise life can be short, she's wanting to start a family with her boyfriend, not sure how to feel about that, I know she's not getting any younger, but she's still only twenty four and that boyfriend, I don't know, he's a nice chap but he's you know a little shy? God knows what he'll think of it." Nicholas sighed again, it was times like this he wished Rosie's mother was still around. She'd have handled that situation with Rosie so much better than he ever could.

"What about you? How's your brood keeping?" Nicholas asked returning the question.

[joshua]

“Damn straight it is the best part of the damn ride” He said with a smirk. It was true. You always got the adrenaline from being upfront than any of the rest of coaster. It was the thrill that made him want to always sit up front and it was probably the same for Nicholas. Nicholas was the one to turn him to roller coaster. “We need to invite Rossi next time” He mentioned as he referred to their other friends, Daniel Rossi.

“I heard that. I bet Cameron is thrilled, he always wanted to go in space” He said as he sighed when Nicholas spoke about that his daughter was nearly lost a few months ago. He frowned. “Well, at least they told her to come back” as he gently slapped the back of his friends back. “Miracles happen and obviously Saint Pete didn’t want her at the pearly gates, so he sent Anthony and Jacob to inform her that is wasn’t her time yet” He said hoping to make his friend better. At least she was here with them now and not six feet under like the rest of Nicholas’ boys. Shame he only had two children left.

Josh raised an eyebrow when Nicholas talked about his youngest daughter. She wanted to start a family with her boyfriend. He just shook his head. The youth these days all wanted to do was get pregnant and just have children and not care about the importance of life. Rosie wasn’t that kind of kid. He finally replied, “It’s their generation” He said with a slight pause “Most of the lads I’m sending off to war have children already or are expecting them, guess they think they want to start young with a family” He shook his head. “I was twenty-nine when my first one came” In his book it didn't seem to be that young, but that was just his own god damn opinion.


“Greg and TJ are doing fine, Cassidy she has been running off to Europe with some Motorcycle rider from Italy” He said shaking his head about Cassidy. “However, Greg and TJ keep in contact, course TJ still lives at home” as it was their turn to get into the roller coaster.

[nicholas]

"Yeah, we should invite Rossi next time, the three of us together, now that's what I call fun times for the old guys." Nicholas said keeping it light and having a bit of a laugh at what he had just said. Actually Nicholas didn't see them all as old, but he knew it's what the kids thought.

Nicholas nodded his head with enthusiasm, "Yeah Cameron is well happy with the acceptance, and he should be, I'm so proud of him Josh, so very proud." Nicholas said this with lightness to his voice and a grin, it felt so good to be able to share such good news with his friend for once. Instead of all the sadness the family has gone through over the years.

"Yeah I it wasn't her time right enough, and boy am I glad about that, I don't think I could lose another kid yet, you know? My good boys sending their sister back to me, damn fantastic that I can trust them even up there." When Josh slapped his back, Nicholas did the same thing back to him, almost like the had done a man hug without the actual hug.

"Maybe, but it's more, I don't know, it's got a lot to do with her brush with death, anyway it's not all a bad thing, not like I'm going to be a very young grandfather or anything, guess if it's what she wants, I just hope that Ira guy's good for it, or I might have a mess of a daughter on my hands."

All Nicholas could do would be there for her if it all went wrong, but really Rosie needed a female's influence at times and he really wished she had one. He really did. It saddened him to think that she had to go through all the female stuff without having a mum explain it to her. It had been god damned awkward for him to explain to her about her body and how it changed. He shuddered at the memory of it all.

Nicholas gave Josh a warm smile, "I'm glad your family are doing well, Cassidy is old enough to take care of herself I guess, so long as your baby is still at home." Nicholas said referring to the sweet TJ, she really was a little angel in Nicholas' eyes. It was now there turn for the roller coaster.

"Well here we go old man." Nicholas said as he jumped into the carriage at the front and slid along to the opposite side and waited for Josh to climb in. The looks they were getting from all the younger generation because they ran to the front carriage was funny as hell. Nicholas pulled down the safety bars and just waited for it to take off, already waving his hands above his head.

[joshua]

“Yeah, the man who fought in many wars needs to get some fun time” He said with a slight chuckle. “The three of us is kind of us is kind of a hilarious picture remember that trip to Disneyland we did last year?” He asked in a serious tone. However, he couldn’t help but laugh. Three old men in the Tea Cups at Disneyland celebrating Rossi’s birthday. Man that was a classic time.

He watched his friend as his friend nodded at him with enthusiasm. “Glad Cameron is happy and I’m glad you are proud” He said with a smile. “So you finally decided to call him by his middle name after all these years instead of Leland?” He asked wondering when his friend had decided to call Cameron by his middle name and not his birth name. He knew Cameron hated his birth name and everyone always called him Cameron and not Leland.

“Glad she is walking among us still” He said with a slight nod as he listened to his friend go on about not wanting to lose another child. “I can see. It is just devastating to lose a child” He said as he gave his friend a pat on the shoulder. It was their version of a man hug expect without the actual hug. It was for the best. He hated to hug people. He wasn’t a hugging type of person.

“So what does this lad do anyway?” He asked in a curious tone wanting to know what this young Ira lad did. He wasn’t nosy of anything. This was his godchild they were talking about. Yes, Joshua was Rosie’s godfather. In his mind he had the right to know what was going on with his goddaughter. That wasn’t nosy was it!?

“Now if she had an ability I wouldn’t be so disappointed in her” He finally admitted. All of his children had abilities, but Cassidy, she didn’t have any and it just disappointed him. He looked at his friend. “I know you did experiments and I swore to god, I would have done it on Cassidy, but Evie wouldn’t let me” He said with a frown.

Finally it was their time to get on the roller coaster. He smirked and followed his friend to the front of the carriage and sat next to his friend. It was kind of funny to watch these two old men run from the line to the front of the cars and be faster than the younger ones that were behind them. Ha ha! He smirked as he placed the bars on him also as the instructions were instructed over the public address system and the ride began shortly.

[nicholas]

"Yes he does indeed need some fun time." Nicholas remarked and then couldn't help but laugh as Joshua mentioned their trip to Disneyland. "Yeah, those Tea Cups? And the looks we got? That was hilarious." Nicholas said as he continued to laugh at the memory. They were like teenagers, and the looks they were getting then as well was just hilarious.

"Ah, well, yeah, brain storming you could say, I think I hear him being called Cameron so often, sometimes I feel that is his actual name. Will probably still call him Leland face to face." Nicholas said as he shook his head, wondering what had made him say Cameron instead of Leland. Although it would seem he was the only one to call his son Leland.

Nicholas just gave a weak smile and nodded his head in acknowledgment when Joshua said he was glad that Rosie was still among the living. "Definitely devastating, you shouldn't outlive your children, I've always believed that." However, that hadn't been the case for Nicholas, so far he had outlived three of his children, it was harrowing.

"Oh, he's a computer analyst for the FBI, that much I do know, however, I've not actually met him yet, Rosie's kept him very close to herself it would seem, something to do with the fact he's a bit shy or nervous or something." Nicholas explained as he gave his friend a weak smile. Well he couldn't be all bad, Rosie hadn't come to him crying over the guy, so he couldn't be doing anything wrong.

"Ah, it's a real shame she didn't get an ability like the others, and yeah I did experiments, not such a bad thing, makes everybody the same. Wonder why Evie was so against it eh?" Nicholas asked shaking his head slightly, then again Evie was a strong headed woman, so it was probably no wonder, that along with the fact she was a judge probably had a lot to do with it.

Once firmly seated and manically waving his hands above his head, the roller coaster took off with it's dramatic long ass climb to the top before nudging its way over the edge and falling like an express as it went swooshing down the other side at a high velocity speed. Nicholas continued to wave his hands above his head, pretty sure that any of the youngsters behind him would be shaking their heads wondering what was up with the crazy old guys in the front.

"Brilliant Josh, eh?" Nicholas screamed above the roaring sound of the roller coaster.

[joshua]

Josh just smirked as he mentioned the Disneyland excursion they had with their other friend who wasn’t present at the moment. “I think we scared those children” He said with a smirk. “I think Rossi had to make them all forget” He said with a slight laughter in his voice. That was an interesting memory of their and weird thing that the three men did together.

“Well, you had to go all Battlestar Galactica on him” Josh said with a serious tone. He wasn’t making fun of his friend naming his godchild something rather hideous, but Leland was an odd name. At least he didn’t name his child Anakin or something. That would have been awkward. “Well, I was just asking Nick” He said with a weak smile. Hoping his friend didn't get mad at him.

He just glanced at his friend as Nicholas gave him a weak smile and nodding his head about what he had previously said. “No you shouldn’t” He said shaking his head. He really couldn’t believe that Nicholas had been outliving his children. He only had two left and it was just sad. Sad indeed. No parent should have to be that way. It was just wrong.

“At least the lad isn’t a deadbeat and has a job” Joshua admitted as Nick explained that he hadn’t met the lad yet. “Hm…” He said shaking his head. “Hope the lad is shy and not something else” He said sighing. “Has Cameron met him yet or are we not sure yet?” He asked in a curious voice. One would think that Cameron had met the lad in question.

“She despised Arthur and was sick to hear what Zimmerman had accomplished with using those triplets as experiments” He admitted. His wife hated Arthur Petrelli and she was glad to hear that he was dead and she also had a strong opinion on people being experimented on.

Joshua laughed at his friend as he started to act like a manic. He was waving his hands all around as if he was an insane person. Josh didn’t do anything. He just sat their serious trying to act all scared. However, as the coaster went up the hill. He wasn’t acting all scared. He was excited. The coaster then dropped down and everything was just a blur. He placed his hands up in the air and screamed. “WHOOOAAAA” He said as he nodded in agreement to Nicholas who had screamed before him.

[nicholas]

Nicholas continued to laugh at the Disneyland memory, shaking his head. "Yeah we scared those kids alright, and I think you're right, Rossi did something I'm sure of it." He replied with a grin, some of the things the three of them got up to was pretty hilarious. They were grown men but seldom acted like it. Ah it was good to be forever young thought Nicholas.

"Yeah I guess so, least I didn't go all Star wars on him and call him Chewbacca or R2D2." Nicholas said in a dead pan voice, but smiled, his friend was right, he had called his son a ridiculous name, everybody called him Cameron, maybe he should just call his own son Cameron as well. When Josh said he was just asking, Nicholas slapped his friend on the shoulder gently, "I know that old boy, we're good." Nicholas had never fallen out with his good friend Josh before and he wasn't about to start that now.

Nicholas wanted to move on from the sad conversation about his children and outliving them, so when Josh remarked that no he shouldn't be outliving them he just nodded his head in agreement so they could move on from it. They had then moved onto the topic of conversation on Rosie's boyfriend again. "That's true, he has a job and a very good one at that." When Josh said he hoped that he was just shy and nothing else, Nicholas raised his eyebrow, "Nah, I think he's just shy and nervous from what I've been told." Josh then asked if Cameron had met him yet, well Nicholas knew that Cameron had indeed met him.

"Yeah, Cameron's met him, it was Cameron who agreed that Ira was a bit shy and awkward around people for the first time." Nicholas said, trying to explain away the shyness bit to Rosie's boyfriend Ira. He sure would like to meet him though, so he hoped Rosie would do just that soon enough. He then realised he had refereed to his son as Cameron again. Ah hell he thought, everybody is calling him Cameron, he might as well join in.

"Ah, well I can't say I favoured that Petrelli man myself." Nicholas said, however he couldn't agree with the Zimmerman thing, because Nicholas thought it was great all his children had abilities and from what he could tell, they were happy with their abilities.

The roller coaster ride was pretty exhilarating as always, the whole way round Nicholas continued to scream out in excitement and didn't keep his hands down once. He was a big child it seemed. In fact, looking back some of the children were sitting looking like they were rigid with fear. Nicholas was loving this and as it came to a stop, all too soon in Nicholas' mind, he turned to Josh and said, "Again? Or we good to go?" Sometimes they would go round again, just to see the looks on the younger kids faces as they refused to get up out of the car.