Et tu, Brute.

[Capt Ayers 0]

Nick slowly wakes up to two realizations. That it's four in the morning...and that someone for whatever reason was ringing the doorbell. He glances down to find Ethan nestled against him, still sleeping peacefully. He knows that won't last long, either she'd wake up because of the doorbell or she'd wake up because she'd subconsciously sense that he was awake. He murmurs audibly and in her mind "Stay sleeping, my love." before slowly and gently slipping out of her arms. He slides to the edge of the bed and stands. He turns and pulls the blanket up to Ethan's shoulder. Reaching for a shirt he pulls it on before likewise slipping on his robe. As he steps towards the door he mutters "There better be a good reason for this."

 

In the six months they had been married, Nick and Ethan had seemed to find a balance between work and their personal lives. Still, he wouldn't have minded having more time to spend with her then he did. He sighs and shakes his head, murmuring "I suppose it's a bit selfish of me to think that this station should be able to run itself just so I can play husband to her full time."

 

He enters the main room of his quarters and steps towards the door. He keys the door and it opens to reveal the Rixian, Damin, standing there. Nick frowns slightly "My apologies here, Mr. Damin, but as you may not be aware here it is four in the morning station time which makes it quite late. Well, actually it makes it very early in the morning. And as I have to get up in a few hours I hope whatever you want can wait until later."

 

Damin frowns and says apologetically "I am sorry Captain, I did not realize. I just have a couple questions regarding my asylum request and I was trying to get to sleep but couldn't because I could not get those questions out of my mind."

 

Nick's frown darkens as he studies the Rixian for a few seconds. Privately he wishes he could read the species better then he could. It was something he'd have to talk to Ethan about. He knows he'll never be as strong telepathically as she is but in all honesty, it annoyed him when he was blind to a species or in this case...partially blind. Finally he steps to one side and gestures for the Rixian to enter.

 

The Rixian steps past him and what happens next happens blindingly fast. Damin seems to stumble and as Nick reaches forward to steady the Rixian, Damin whirls as a wicked looking knife appears in his hand. Nick barely has time to register the unadulterated hatred on the Rixian's face as he just barely dodges Damin's first attack. The knife tears into the cloth of Nick's robe on the shoulder and catches on the necklace that Nick's wedding ring is hanging from. The clasp of the necklace snaps and the necklace with the ring gets flung a few feet to land on the floor. The knife also leaves a sizable scratch across Nick's shoulder.

 

The commotion causes Diamante, who had been sleeping on the couch, to start barking. As Damin takes another swipe at Nick, the husky lunges at Damin but Damin's free hand and arm swipes at the dog and catches him, sending the husky crashing into the couch with a pained yelp.

 

Nick uses the distraction to try and dive past Damin, intent on making it to the kitchen and retrieving one of the cooking knives. However, Damin catches Nick by the arm and spins him around. Nick tries catching the knife wielding hand by the wrist but all that happens is that Damin's strike gets deflected a little so it punctures him in the area of his right lung.

 

Nick feels an sharp pain as the knife slices into him and his breath escapes him. Damin cuffs Nick sending him crashing to the floor. Nick tries moving but he finds he can't do so. Even breathing was quickly becoming difficult and incredibly painful. Nick hears a set of doors slide open though he can't tell if it's the door to the corridor or the bedroom door. He tries calling out but he finds he can't work his voice. He spots the necklace laying just out of reach. He reaches for it and as his fingers wrap around the ring he calls in his mind with his remaining strength {{Ethan!}}

 

Then the darkness starts to close in around him.