Fourteen

Saturday dawned and Nikki woke up alone again. Just as she suspected, there had been no awkwardness when they had gone to bed. Harry had said that he just wanted to watch the news, and had left her to get changed and ready. Then later he'd come through to the bedroom himself, taken a bath, changed and got in beside her. There had been no nightmares that Nikki was aware of, and for the first time she actually felt rested.

She was amazed that the clock said nine o'clock. She never slept that long.

"Harry!" She called "Does this clock work. Is it really nine o'clock?"

When there was no reply, she leapt out of the bed to look for him. There was no sign of him anywhere. He had no phone so she couldn't call him. She suddenly realised how terrified Harry must have been yesterday when she hadn't returned. What a pair they made, they were both as messed up as each other. She went back into the bedroom and spotted the note he'd left her on the bedside table. She smiled as she looked at his left handed scrawl.

"Gone to check out this gym thing. H."

She put the kettle on and was startled by her phone ringing. Her first thought was that it would be Harry's mum again. She still hadn't managed to get him to call her, or mention that they were both due for lunch tomorrow.

"Hello," she answered nervously.

"Hello," replied the professional voice.

"I'm trying to reach Nikki Alexander,"

"Who is this?" Nikki asked, irritated that someone was interrupting her Saturday morning to sell her something she undoubtedly didn't want.

"I'm sorry to bother you, only I'm calling from Star Fitness Gym's," the voice continued.

"Look I'm really not in the mood right now for you to try and sell me a gym membership," Nikki replied crossly.

"No, I'm not selling anything, please listen it's urgent, it's about your partner."

"I don't have a…." Nikki began, when the truth finally dawned on her. "Has something happened to Harry? What has he done?"

"I'm afraid your partner has been taken.. erm …ill, is there any chance you could come and collect him." The receptionist explained.

"What exactly is he doing?" Nikki asked.

"Well he was on the running machine, and then all of a sudden he stopped and seemed to collapse. He won't let anyone near him. He's conscious and doesn't appear to be suffering any erm physical problems. He's not having a heart attack, we made sure of that but he won't move. It doesn't look good for the other clients to have him sat there like that."

"How did you get this number?" Nikki asked again.

"Your name and details were on one of his forms under partner's details, have I done the wrong thing?"

"No, you did fine. Thank you for calling me. I'll come over as quickly as I can," and with that Nikki hung up.

#######

When she arrived, she could see why the gym staff needed Harry moved. The glass windows of the reception area looked into the gym itself. And there was Harry front and centre, sat on the floor, head in his hands, rocking ever so slightly.

"Harry, it's Nikki, you're safe now," she said quietly. She had tried to approach him from the side, so he had had a chance to see her coming.

"Harry, I've come to take you home, can I help you up?" she said as she squatted down next to him.

"I can't do this!" he cried, looking deep into her eyes and revealing his tear stained face.

"What's wrong with me?" he asked reaching out to her shoulder and shaking it.

"Stand up with me Harry," she said forcefully. "We are going to walk out of here together and it is going to be ok." Her tone left no room for dissent and Harry did as he was told.

They paused in the reception area and Nikki went to speak to the receptionist.

"Do you know why he was on the running machine?"

"Oh, until he's completed his orientation we only let clients on the runners or the bikes." She replied.

"Maybe you could suggest the bike if he ever comes back," Nikki said frostily.

"I'll write it on his training card," she said, grateful he was going to be out of the way before the big Saturday morning rush.

As soon as they were home, Harry took himself off to the bedroom and curled up on the bed. She couldn't help noticing that on the journey home he had been checking the mirrors. Looking undoubtedly to make sure no one was following them. She slumped down on the couch and wondered how they were going to manage when she had to go back to work.