A Monumental Reunion
Title: A Monumental Reunion
Author: Jayne Leigh
Summery: Studio 60 Fic Matt had always been vague about his family but when his
older brother visits everything and more comes out.
Rating: R
Characters or Pairing: Matt, Danny, Jordan Matt/Harriet
Disclaimer: I don't own them!
Hey guys! I've started a new fic! I hope you like it! Please review! Also, watching Studio 60 tonight!!!
Enjoy!!!
A Monumental Reunion
Danny was sat on the couch in Matt's office, sipping coffee as he watched his friend typing on his keyboard. He wasn't fooled by Matt's calm appearance, he knew any minute Matt would get frustrated and give up on the Paris Hilton sketch he was working on. It was Friday and Matt was having trouble writing for the last 5 minutes of the show. Danny wasn't worried though, because this was what normally happened and Matt always found something.
“Do you know what?” Matt said, breaking the silence.
“What?”
“This really sucks.” He stated but hadn't stopped typing.
“Why are you still writing then?”
“I can't stop.”
“Can you fix it?” Danny questioned.
“No.” Matt sighed, falling back into his chair and rubbing his eyes. “God, why can't I do this?!”
“Relax a little...”
“Danny, the dress is in 2 hours, I can't relax!”
“Come on, let’s go for a walk.”
“A walk?!”
“Yeah, Andy, Lucy and Darius are working with a few of the cast...Lets go and see if they've come up with anything.”
Matt just sighed loudly but didn't move from his chair.
“Look, you can sulk and get stressed out here or you can do the right thing and come with me.” Danny stood up.
“The right thing?” Matt questioned but got up and followed Danny to the door, not waiting for an answer.
“I'm always right, remember.” Danny commented as they left the office.
Matt rolled his eyes but didn't bother to reply.
They looked at each other questionably as they heard loud music coming from the writer’s room. As they opened the door, they both stopped in the doorway, taking in the sight in front of them. Both Simon and Tom were standing on top of the table, whilst everyone else was crowded around them, laughing and cheering as Tom tried to perfect 'the running man.'
“What the hell are you doing?” Danny asked, a baffled look on his face.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to see the two executive producers staring at them.
“Uh, dancing...” Tom informed him, slowly.
Danny looked back at Matt who looked as confused as he was. “Why?”
“Well, it started with Simon saying he was crowned break-dancer of his year back in High school...” Tom started to explain as they both jumped off the table.
“And Tom said it looked easy...” Simon continued.
“And he challenged me to a dance off.” Tom added.
Matt and Danny looked at each other again.
“You let this happen?” Matt asked, looking at the writers. “You were meant to be working.”
“I thought there might be a sketch idea in there somewhere.” Lucy answered.
“I was just curious as to how long it would take for Simon to realise he isn't 16 any more and what Tom's version of break dancing is.” Andy told him.
Matt looked at him for a moment. “Okay.”
“Well, are you finished now?” Danny asked. “Can we get back to work now.”
“Sure...” Tom shrugged.
“Any ideas?” Matt asked.
There was silence in the room and everyone looked around at each other.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Work on something now... We'll be at the stage in 30 minutes, have something to show us.”
“Yes, sir...” A few of them called out as Matt left the room without another word.
Danny watched him, he knew there had been something bothering Matt all week but he didn't know what.
“Is he okay?” Harriet asked Danny.
“He will be if you guys get an idea together.” Danny replied, deciding not to share his concerns with them. “You’ve got 30 minutes.”
Danny went straight to Matt's office, walking in without knocking because well... he never knocks.
“Take a break.”
“I can't...” Matt replied. “I need to write something.”
“They're working on it downstairs... It'll be fine.”
“Really and what happens if they decided to host another 'Dancing with the stars' contest?” He asked sarcastically without looking up.
“Matt, they'll have something to show you in 30 minutes, I promise you.” Danny told him. “Now just stop typing for 10 minutes!”
Matt sighed loudly and leaned back in his chair, looking at him. “Fine. Happy now?”
“Ecstatic.” He replied dryly. “Now what's up with you?”
“It's Friday night and the show's not done.” Matt replied, reaching for his laptop again.
Danny leaned over and closed it before he had chance. “Matt...?”
“Danny, it's nothing...I'm fine.”
“No, you're not...There's been something bothering you all week, I let it go up until now but I'm starting to worry about you.”
He looked at him again. “There's nothing to worry about...”
“Just tell me what’s going on then.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know.”
“Have you always been this nosey?” Matt questioned. “Because I can't remember you being like it...”
“I'm not joking around, Matt.” Danny gave him a look telling him, he was being serious.
Matt rubbed his eyes and once again sat back in his chair. “I spoke to my Dad last weekend.”
Danny sat back down, watching Matt trying to read the expression on his face. Danny knew that his Dad was the only relative Matt spoke to. Not a lot of people knew that his Mom had died when he was 16 years old. His Father remarried when he was 18 and people just assumed his step-mom was his real mom. Matt never bothered to correct anyone and Danny knew that was because it hurt too much for him to explain why his Mom wasn't around any more. He also had an older brother, Nick who was 3 years older then him. Danny didn't know too much about him. All he did know was that Matt really looked up to him when they were kids but trouble always followed Nick around. Danny had met him once, not long after he had met Matt. It was before either of them had started at studio 60. Matt had just come to LA from New York and was sleeping on Danny's couch in his one bedroom apartment. Nick had turned up and crashed on the floor. He seemed like a nice guy but he couldn't stop getting into trouble and Danny had been worried, he'd drag Matt down with him.
There had been a big fight between the two of them during his stay, which Danny still didn't know what was about but he hadn't seen or heard from Nick since and as far as he knew, Matt hadn't either.
“What did he say?” Danny questioned.
Matt looked at him for a moment. “Today would have been my Mom's birthday.”
“God, Matt... Why didn't you say something?”
Matt shrugged, picking up his tennis ball and staring at it as he gripped it tightly in his hand. “I don't know, I never say anything.”
“Look, why don't you go home or something...I'm sure I can handle the show alone, tonight.”
“No, you can't.”
“Okay, I can't but it'll be okay… you shouldn't need to worry about this.”
“Danny, this is why I never say anything.” Matt sighed. “I don't want to go home and think about it...I don't want today to be any different from any other day.”
“Matt...”
“I appreciate it, I really do but its better if I'm here.” Matt told him. “It was a long time ago and yeah, I'm a little sad but I got my own life to live. I can't dwell on the past.”
“Okay, if you're sure that's what you want...”
“It is...I'll be fine...” Matt assured him. “All I'm worried about is filling the last slot.”
“Well, I'm sure they'll have something to show you.” Danny stood up. “I'm going to talk to Cal about some things but I'll see you at the stage in 15 minutes?”
“Yeah, okay... I'm going to try and fix this sketch.” Matt replied, opening his laptop again and started to type.
XxXxX
“Why did he call you?” Danny asked, not looking up from the piece of paper he was reading as Matt sat down next to him in front of the stage...
“What?”
“Your Dad. How come he called you, last weekend? Why not today?”
“Does it matter?” Matt leaned forwards in his chair, looking back towards the door. “Where the hell are they?”
“They'll be here.” Danny commented and then looked up at him. “So, why did he call?”
Matt sighed. “He thought it would have been nice if I went home for the weekend.”
“To New York?” Danny asked, taking off his glasses.
“Yeah.”
“You should go.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don't want to.” Matt replied.
“You could do with a break...”
“I could do with people doing what they're told and being on time!”
Danny watched as Matt stood up and paced a little, bouncing his ball but he said no more. He knew that Matt wasn't going to say anything else. It was always like this, Matt would talk so much about his past and then close up.
Matt spun around when the door opened and everyone walked in, laughing.
“Nice of you to join us!”
“Uh, sorry...” Simon said, glancing at the others questionably at Matt's mood.
“Okay, lets see what you guys have come up with.” Danny cut in before Matt had a chance to say any more. The last thing he needed was people asking him questions.
“Okay, Tom is a dance teacher...” Simon started to explain.
“I'm trying to teach Simon how to break-dance even though he already can... but I'm really bad and he's really good...”
“Won't Simon need to be good at break dancing for this?” Danny questioned.
“Yeah...” Simon nodded.
“Yeah, I don't think that will work.” Matt stated and continued before Simon could protest. “Try this.”
“What is it?” Tom asked, as Matt handed them all the sketch he had just wrote.
“Paris Hilton goes into prison with a reality TV crew.” Matt told them. “Harriet is Paris...Tom is the prison officer and Simon is the camera man.”
There was a few laughs as they all read it and Danny looked over at Matt.
“This is good... I thought you said you couldn't think of anything.”
“I got the idea after you left, Jordan called my office looking for you. I got a ten minute lecture on why little blonde women shouldn't be allowed to work in relativity TV...” Matt explained. “All I said was that you had gone to talk to Cal about some stuff.”
Danny let out a laugh. “She's a little hormonal.”
“Really? You'd never be able to tell.”
“Okay, guys...Let's give this a shot...” Danny said to the cast. “From the top.”
Matt paced in front of the stage listening to Harriet, Tom and Simon perform the sketch. There were a few laughs from the people who were watching but Matt knew it still needed some work, it didn't flow as good as he wanted it to.
“Okay, stop.” Matt said, sighing. He walked back over to Danny, retaking his seat and opening his laptop, staring at the screen.
Danny watched him silently but he didn't say anything. He knew there would be no point. Matt never talked about it. Danny knew little information but he knew there was more to Matt's family history.
Danny looked over at everyone else, who were all grouped together, talking and joking around. Everyone except Harriet, who was also watching Matt. She turned her eyes to Danny, questioning what was going on. Danny knew that Harriet knew less then he did. So, he just shrugged and looked away. When he looked back at Matt, he was re-reading the sketch over and over again, his lips moving as he mumbled the words quietly; trying his hardest to find what was missing. Danny could tell that he was thinking too hard and any minute he'd probably end up snapping.
“Matt, maybe you should...” He started quietly, leaning towards him but was cut off by the sound of the door crashing open.
“Sir, you can't go in there...”
Everyone spun around to see what was going on.
“I just want to see him...”
Matt jumped up from his seat when he recognised the voice and Danny did to.
“Nick?”
“Sorry, Mr Albie... he sneaked in whilst we were trying to get hold of you...” George explained. “We'll, deal with it...”
“No... No it's okay.” Matt said quietly, looking at his older brother for the first time in 14 years.
“I... I should have called first...” Nick started. “But...but I was in the area...and I thought I should come and check on how you're doing.”
Matt nodded slowly, trying to get his brain around what was happening. “I'm fine.”
Nick looked down at the floor, his hand moving up to rub the back of his neck. Everyone could feel the tension in the room but no one said anything.
“How... how are you?” Matt stuttered.
“I've been doing okay...” He replied and once again there was silence.
Nick hated the silence; there was never ever any silence in their house before their Mom got sick. After that everything changed, he changed. He let everyone down, including Matt. He shifted uncomfortably under people's gaze.
“Uh, so...It's Danny right?” He looked over at him. “I slept on your floor, right?”
“Yeah...” He nodded.
Danny didn't know how to react. His first instinct was to get Matt as far away as possible from Nick. He was having a hard enough trouble dealing with all this, the last thing he needed was his brother to mess up everything he does have a grip on.
“I bet you're place is much better then that small cramped apartment you guys were sharing...” Nick joked.
“We weren't sharing...Danny let me stay there cos I had no where else.” Matt cut in.
Nick looked at him for a moment before looking down and even Danny glanced at him in surprise at how harsh his comment sounded.
“Uh, yeah...” Was all Nick could say in reply.
Danny sighed. “Look, it might be a good idea if you came back another time.”
“No... No it's okay.” Matt said. “Uh, I’ve got to do this sketch and then... then maybe I could show you around the studio or something?”
Nick smiled. “I'd like that.”
“Okay...”
Danny and Matt shared a look; Danny raising his eyebrow questionably and Matt tried to give him a reassuring look that everything was okay.
“Okay, you should meet some people.” Matt continued, spinning around to point everyone out. “That's Simon, Tom and Harriet on the stage... Then there's Jeannie and Alex... the writers, Andy, Darius and Lucy... And that's Cal...”
“Nice to meet you all.” Nick smiled politely at them all. “I'm a big fan of the show.”
“Well then, you must be very proud of Matthew...” Harriet returned the smile.
“Yeah, like you couldn't believe.” Nick replied, looking at Matt. “It's a good thing all those years ago you picked staying with Danny over coming with me.”
“I didn't pick Danny...” Matt started defencelessly before stopping. “I didn't want to pick anyone...you made me.”
“I know.” He nodded slightly. “And I'm sorry... but at least it’s worked out well for you.”
“Yeah, it has.” Matt replied.
“I'm sorry, Matty...I shouldn't have come here...” Nick sighed. “I should have kept my promise all those years ago...I should have stayed away.”
“Nick...”
“You've done well, you don't need me screwing it up...” He continued. “I'll see you around.”
“No, wait...” Matt moved from where he was standing for the first time to grab hold of his arm. “What's going on? Why did you come here?”
Nick looked at Matt for a moment. “I don't know Matty...everything...everything is always so messed up for me...nothing goes right...and today being... Well, you know what today is...I...I just needed to check on you...make sure you weren’t as screwed up as I am.”
“Lets go up to my office.” Matt said quietly and Nick just nodded in rely.
Danny stopped Matt as he passed him.
“You going to be okay?” He asked.
“Yeah, I'll be okay.” Matt replied. “And thanks.”
“Don't worry about it...” Danny smiled slightly. “We'll have something to show you at the dress, okay? Just take your time...I got this covered.”
“I know.” Matt nodded before leading Nick to his office.
“Danny...” Harriet started.
“No questions.” Danny told her. “Okay, lets start from the top and try and fix this sketch.”
TBC
Please review!
Author: Jayne Leigh
Summery: Studio 60 Fic Matt had always been vague about his family but when his
older brother visits everything and more comes out.
Rating: R
Characters or Pairing: Matt, Danny, Jordan Matt/Harriet
Disclaimer: I don't own them!
Hey guys! I've started a new fic! I hope you like it! Please review! Also, watching Studio 60 tonight!!!
Enjoy!!!
A Monumental Reunion
Danny was sat on the couch in Matt's office, sipping coffee as he watched his friend typing on his keyboard. He wasn't fooled by Matt's calm appearance, he knew any minute Matt would get frustrated and give up on the Paris Hilton sketch he was working on. It was Friday and Matt was having trouble writing for the last 5 minutes of the show. Danny wasn't worried though, because this was what normally happened and Matt always found something.
“Do you know what?” Matt said, breaking the silence.
“What?”
“This really sucks.” He stated but hadn't stopped typing.
“Why are you still writing then?”
“I can't stop.”
“Can you fix it?” Danny questioned.
“No.” Matt sighed, falling back into his chair and rubbing his eyes. “God, why can't I do this?!”
“Relax a little...”
“Danny, the dress is in 2 hours, I can't relax!”
“Come on, let’s go for a walk.”
“A walk?!”
“Yeah, Andy, Lucy and Darius are working with a few of the cast...Lets go and see if they've come up with anything.”
Matt just sighed loudly but didn't move from his chair.
“Look, you can sulk and get stressed out here or you can do the right thing and come with me.” Danny stood up.
“The right thing?” Matt questioned but got up and followed Danny to the door, not waiting for an answer.
“I'm always right, remember.” Danny commented as they left the office.
Matt rolled his eyes but didn't bother to reply.
They looked at each other questionably as they heard loud music coming from the writer’s room. As they opened the door, they both stopped in the doorway, taking in the sight in front of them. Both Simon and Tom were standing on top of the table, whilst everyone else was crowded around them, laughing and cheering as Tom tried to perfect 'the running man.'
“What the hell are you doing?” Danny asked, a baffled look on his face.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to see the two executive producers staring at them.
“Uh, dancing...” Tom informed him, slowly.
Danny looked back at Matt who looked as confused as he was. “Why?”
“Well, it started with Simon saying he was crowned break-dancer of his year back in High school...” Tom started to explain as they both jumped off the table.
“And Tom said it looked easy...” Simon continued.
“And he challenged me to a dance off.” Tom added.
Matt and Danny looked at each other again.
“You let this happen?” Matt asked, looking at the writers. “You were meant to be working.”
“I thought there might be a sketch idea in there somewhere.” Lucy answered.
“I was just curious as to how long it would take for Simon to realise he isn't 16 any more and what Tom's version of break dancing is.” Andy told him.
Matt looked at him for a moment. “Okay.”
“Well, are you finished now?” Danny asked. “Can we get back to work now.”
“Sure...” Tom shrugged.
“Any ideas?” Matt asked.
There was silence in the room and everyone looked around at each other.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Work on something now... We'll be at the stage in 30 minutes, have something to show us.”
“Yes, sir...” A few of them called out as Matt left the room without another word.
Danny watched him, he knew there had been something bothering Matt all week but he didn't know what.
“Is he okay?” Harriet asked Danny.
“He will be if you guys get an idea together.” Danny replied, deciding not to share his concerns with them. “You’ve got 30 minutes.”
Danny went straight to Matt's office, walking in without knocking because well... he never knocks.
“Take a break.”
“I can't...” Matt replied. “I need to write something.”
“They're working on it downstairs... It'll be fine.”
“Really and what happens if they decided to host another 'Dancing with the stars' contest?” He asked sarcastically without looking up.
“Matt, they'll have something to show you in 30 minutes, I promise you.” Danny told him. “Now just stop typing for 10 minutes!”
Matt sighed loudly and leaned back in his chair, looking at him. “Fine. Happy now?”
“Ecstatic.” He replied dryly. “Now what's up with you?”
“It's Friday night and the show's not done.” Matt replied, reaching for his laptop again.
Danny leaned over and closed it before he had chance. “Matt...?”
“Danny, it's nothing...I'm fine.”
“No, you're not...There's been something bothering you all week, I let it go up until now but I'm starting to worry about you.”
He looked at him again. “There's nothing to worry about...”
“Just tell me what’s going on then.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know.”
“Have you always been this nosey?” Matt questioned. “Because I can't remember you being like it...”
“I'm not joking around, Matt.” Danny gave him a look telling him, he was being serious.
Matt rubbed his eyes and once again sat back in his chair. “I spoke to my Dad last weekend.”
Danny sat back down, watching Matt trying to read the expression on his face. Danny knew that his Dad was the only relative Matt spoke to. Not a lot of people knew that his Mom had died when he was 16 years old. His Father remarried when he was 18 and people just assumed his step-mom was his real mom. Matt never bothered to correct anyone and Danny knew that was because it hurt too much for him to explain why his Mom wasn't around any more. He also had an older brother, Nick who was 3 years older then him. Danny didn't know too much about him. All he did know was that Matt really looked up to him when they were kids but trouble always followed Nick around. Danny had met him once, not long after he had met Matt. It was before either of them had started at studio 60. Matt had just come to LA from New York and was sleeping on Danny's couch in his one bedroom apartment. Nick had turned up and crashed on the floor. He seemed like a nice guy but he couldn't stop getting into trouble and Danny had been worried, he'd drag Matt down with him.
There had been a big fight between the two of them during his stay, which Danny still didn't know what was about but he hadn't seen or heard from Nick since and as far as he knew, Matt hadn't either.
“What did he say?” Danny questioned.
Matt looked at him for a moment. “Today would have been my Mom's birthday.”
“God, Matt... Why didn't you say something?”
Matt shrugged, picking up his tennis ball and staring at it as he gripped it tightly in his hand. “I don't know, I never say anything.”
“Look, why don't you go home or something...I'm sure I can handle the show alone, tonight.”
“No, you can't.”
“Okay, I can't but it'll be okay… you shouldn't need to worry about this.”
“Danny, this is why I never say anything.” Matt sighed. “I don't want to go home and think about it...I don't want today to be any different from any other day.”
“Matt...”
“I appreciate it, I really do but its better if I'm here.” Matt told him. “It was a long time ago and yeah, I'm a little sad but I got my own life to live. I can't dwell on the past.”
“Okay, if you're sure that's what you want...”
“It is...I'll be fine...” Matt assured him. “All I'm worried about is filling the last slot.”
“Well, I'm sure they'll have something to show you.” Danny stood up. “I'm going to talk to Cal about some things but I'll see you at the stage in 15 minutes?”
“Yeah, okay... I'm going to try and fix this sketch.” Matt replied, opening his laptop again and started to type.
XxXxX
“Why did he call you?” Danny asked, not looking up from the piece of paper he was reading as Matt sat down next to him in front of the stage...
“What?”
“Your Dad. How come he called you, last weekend? Why not today?”
“Does it matter?” Matt leaned forwards in his chair, looking back towards the door. “Where the hell are they?”
“They'll be here.” Danny commented and then looked up at him. “So, why did he call?”
Matt sighed. “He thought it would have been nice if I went home for the weekend.”
“To New York?” Danny asked, taking off his glasses.
“Yeah.”
“You should go.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don't want to.” Matt replied.
“You could do with a break...”
“I could do with people doing what they're told and being on time!”
Danny watched as Matt stood up and paced a little, bouncing his ball but he said no more. He knew that Matt wasn't going to say anything else. It was always like this, Matt would talk so much about his past and then close up.
Matt spun around when the door opened and everyone walked in, laughing.
“Nice of you to join us!”
“Uh, sorry...” Simon said, glancing at the others questionably at Matt's mood.
“Okay, lets see what you guys have come up with.” Danny cut in before Matt had a chance to say any more. The last thing he needed was people asking him questions.
“Okay, Tom is a dance teacher...” Simon started to explain.
“I'm trying to teach Simon how to break-dance even though he already can... but I'm really bad and he's really good...”
“Won't Simon need to be good at break dancing for this?” Danny questioned.
“Yeah...” Simon nodded.
“Yeah, I don't think that will work.” Matt stated and continued before Simon could protest. “Try this.”
“What is it?” Tom asked, as Matt handed them all the sketch he had just wrote.
“Paris Hilton goes into prison with a reality TV crew.” Matt told them. “Harriet is Paris...Tom is the prison officer and Simon is the camera man.”
There was a few laughs as they all read it and Danny looked over at Matt.
“This is good... I thought you said you couldn't think of anything.”
“I got the idea after you left, Jordan called my office looking for you. I got a ten minute lecture on why little blonde women shouldn't be allowed to work in relativity TV...” Matt explained. “All I said was that you had gone to talk to Cal about some stuff.”
Danny let out a laugh. “She's a little hormonal.”
“Really? You'd never be able to tell.”
“Okay, guys...Let's give this a shot...” Danny said to the cast. “From the top.”
Matt paced in front of the stage listening to Harriet, Tom and Simon perform the sketch. There were a few laughs from the people who were watching but Matt knew it still needed some work, it didn't flow as good as he wanted it to.
“Okay, stop.” Matt said, sighing. He walked back over to Danny, retaking his seat and opening his laptop, staring at the screen.
Danny watched him silently but he didn't say anything. He knew there would be no point. Matt never talked about it. Danny knew little information but he knew there was more to Matt's family history.
Danny looked over at everyone else, who were all grouped together, talking and joking around. Everyone except Harriet, who was also watching Matt. She turned her eyes to Danny, questioning what was going on. Danny knew that Harriet knew less then he did. So, he just shrugged and looked away. When he looked back at Matt, he was re-reading the sketch over and over again, his lips moving as he mumbled the words quietly; trying his hardest to find what was missing. Danny could tell that he was thinking too hard and any minute he'd probably end up snapping.
“Matt, maybe you should...” He started quietly, leaning towards him but was cut off by the sound of the door crashing open.
“Sir, you can't go in there...”
Everyone spun around to see what was going on.
“I just want to see him...”
Matt jumped up from his seat when he recognised the voice and Danny did to.
“Nick?”
“Sorry, Mr Albie... he sneaked in whilst we were trying to get hold of you...” George explained. “We'll, deal with it...”
“No... No it's okay.” Matt said quietly, looking at his older brother for the first time in 14 years.
“I... I should have called first...” Nick started. “But...but I was in the area...and I thought I should come and check on how you're doing.”
Matt nodded slowly, trying to get his brain around what was happening. “I'm fine.”
Nick looked down at the floor, his hand moving up to rub the back of his neck. Everyone could feel the tension in the room but no one said anything.
“How... how are you?” Matt stuttered.
“I've been doing okay...” He replied and once again there was silence.
Nick hated the silence; there was never ever any silence in their house before their Mom got sick. After that everything changed, he changed. He let everyone down, including Matt. He shifted uncomfortably under people's gaze.
“Uh, so...It's Danny right?” He looked over at him. “I slept on your floor, right?”
“Yeah...” He nodded.
Danny didn't know how to react. His first instinct was to get Matt as far away as possible from Nick. He was having a hard enough trouble dealing with all this, the last thing he needed was his brother to mess up everything he does have a grip on.
“I bet you're place is much better then that small cramped apartment you guys were sharing...” Nick joked.
“We weren't sharing...Danny let me stay there cos I had no where else.” Matt cut in.
Nick looked at him for a moment before looking down and even Danny glanced at him in surprise at how harsh his comment sounded.
“Uh, yeah...” Was all Nick could say in reply.
Danny sighed. “Look, it might be a good idea if you came back another time.”
“No... No it's okay.” Matt said. “Uh, I’ve got to do this sketch and then... then maybe I could show you around the studio or something?”
Nick smiled. “I'd like that.”
“Okay...”
Danny and Matt shared a look; Danny raising his eyebrow questionably and Matt tried to give him a reassuring look that everything was okay.
“Okay, you should meet some people.” Matt continued, spinning around to point everyone out. “That's Simon, Tom and Harriet on the stage... Then there's Jeannie and Alex... the writers, Andy, Darius and Lucy... And that's Cal...”
“Nice to meet you all.” Nick smiled politely at them all. “I'm a big fan of the show.”
“Well then, you must be very proud of Matthew...” Harriet returned the smile.
“Yeah, like you couldn't believe.” Nick replied, looking at Matt. “It's a good thing all those years ago you picked staying with Danny over coming with me.”
“I didn't pick Danny...” Matt started defencelessly before stopping. “I didn't want to pick anyone...you made me.”
“I know.” He nodded slightly. “And I'm sorry... but at least it’s worked out well for you.”
“Yeah, it has.” Matt replied.
“I'm sorry, Matty...I shouldn't have come here...” Nick sighed. “I should have kept my promise all those years ago...I should have stayed away.”
“Nick...”
“You've done well, you don't need me screwing it up...” He continued. “I'll see you around.”
“No, wait...” Matt moved from where he was standing for the first time to grab hold of his arm. “What's going on? Why did you come here?”
Nick looked at Matt for a moment. “I don't know Matty...everything...everything is always so messed up for me...nothing goes right...and today being... Well, you know what today is...I...I just needed to check on you...make sure you weren’t as screwed up as I am.”
“Lets go up to my office.” Matt said quietly and Nick just nodded in rely.
Danny stopped Matt as he passed him.
“You going to be okay?” He asked.
“Yeah, I'll be okay.” Matt replied. “And thanks.”
“Don't worry about it...” Danny smiled slightly. “We'll have something to show you at the dress, okay? Just take your time...I got this covered.”
“I know.” Matt nodded before leading Nick to his office.
“Danny...” Harriet started.
“No questions.” Danny told her. “Okay, lets start from the top and try and fix this sketch.”
TBC
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