#222 - pain

by elfin


�Why are you limping?�

�The Diplodocus stood on my toe.�

Stephen stared at Nick for a second. Then he laughed, really laughed, head tipped back and roared; infectious laughter that caught on so that when they reached the truck they were all laughing; Connor, Abby, Ryan, even Nick with his fractured toe.


A year later and Stephen�s laughter is still infectious, even though Stephen�s dead, his chewed remains in the ground. Nick sits at his graveside, a half-empty bottle of Glenlivet dangling from his fingers, the memory tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the tears in his eyes.