Chapter 33 Protect me

Peter suppressed the urge to get off the bed. He just clenched his jaw and tried to sound normal. It did not work.

'Why don't you call the father?'

For his surprise, Claire got off the bed and he looked at her with surprise. She rummaged into her purse and suddenly pulled out her cell phone.

'What are you doing?' Peter asked, frowning.

'You want me to call the father?' She snapped and dialled some number. 'Fine! I'm gonna call him!' She sounded furious. Peter stated to feel regret about asking.

'Claire!'

'I'm getting tired already!' She said and Peter heard his phone rang. He frowned and stared at her.

'What the Hell?'

'You have to pick up!' Claire waved at the nightstand. 'Come on! Probably it's important!'

Peter sighed and took his phone. He saw Claire's name as a Caller ID.

'What are you doing?' He asked once again and this time Claire got mad. She practically threw the phone against him and Peter barely succeeded to move out of its way.

'I'm calling the father! You wanted that, remember?' She screamed and he suddenly appeared in front of her grabbing her wrists. 'Let go of me!' She tried to move, but Peter held her tight.

'Stop with this childish games okay?' He hissed.

'I'm not a child!' Claire hissed. 'I'm carrying one! Yours!'

'Shut up, Claire!' His eyes shone dangerously. He glared at her.

'I won't!' She tried to move again, but again he did not allow her. 'You know what?' She tried to find his eyes in the darkness. 'I'm sick of this! I'm sick of you not believing in me!'

'And what you're going to do?' He asked with low voice, but Claire gave up. She felt tired. Tired of fighting and arguing with him. She just wanted him beside her.

'Nothing.' Claire said quietly and looked at his eyes. 'Nothing… I am sorry. Just… I am tired. Can we sleep now?'

'Claire…'

'I'm serious Peter.' She completely relaxed her body into his hands and he released the grip over her wrists.

Claire crawled onto the bed and lay over her right side, closing her eyes. One baby kick made her stir and soon she felt Peter lying behind her and pulling the blanket over her body. He felt his arm wrapping over her body and… his hand rested on her stomach. He was awake and Claire could not stop the hope, growing inside her. Maybe he would…

'I am going to pick you up after your classes.' He said, in her hair. Claire shut her eyes tightly and nodded. She did not want him to see her tears.

'3 PM.' she said quietly.

'Okay.' Peter answered her and soon he felt her normal breathing. Claire had fallen asleep and he just gazed the darkness, wondering what the Hell was wrong with him.

Claire woke up early and went out for her classes. Peter still slept. She took the car and was in front of her campus just in time. Claire sighed with annoyance and flipped out her hair, just before she could enter into her classroom. She felt the eyes of her friends and looked around to see them. They waved at her and Claire saw one free place there. She made few steps when she felt one hard kick in her stomach.

'Oh.' It was hard than usual and she laid her hand there just for one second.

'Claire, are you okay?' Anna got of her chair and grabbed Claire's arm.

'Sure.' Claire tried to smile and released small sigh. 'I skipped the breakfast this morning and my stomach doesn't agree with me.'

'Oh.' Ana nodded and sit back on her place. She did not have a chance for more questions, because their professor entered into the room. Claire rubbed her stomach secretly. It's okay, she thought. It's okay, baby…

Claire pulled out her notebook and started taking notes. She was too busy doing that and did not notice Alex, sitting few rows behind. He stared at her and thought about something very different from this class.

It was close to 3 PM, when this class was finally over. Claire sighed tiredly and stretched her back. Her back hurts and she thought that it was probably from the long sitting. She got off slowly, frowning and put back the notebook into her bag.

Just as he passed beside the campus toilets, Claire felt one man's hand, gabbed her wrist and pushing her inside. She almost bumped against the wall, but luckily stopped in time. She took a deep breath and turned around to see Alex shoving her against the wall. The baby… That thought flashed through her mind immediately. She had to protect it.

'Alex! What are you doing?' Claire asked angrily and saw his face coming close to her. His hands grabbed her arms and pinned them against the wall. Claire could not move.

'I'm sorry Claire.' His face almost touched hers and Claire barely escaped his lips, turning her head around. 'Please! Look at me! What do you want? Money? I have it!'

'Alex, please!' She tried to get free, but he did not allow her.

'Tell me Claire!' He tried to kiss her again and she felt that she was going to throw up. 'Come on!'

'Alex, stop!' She almost screamed but then he got angry and shook her body, slamming her against the wall.

'You are going to…'

'No! Please stop!' Her eyes widened in panic. That hit against the wall was not something new for her. She knew the pain. However, now was different. The baby… She had to protect her baby.

'Claire…'

'I'm pregnant, please!' Claire cried and the shock of her words made him loosened his grip. Claire used this moment and ran out of the toilets. She crossed almost the whole yard crying. Then she saw Peter waiting for her. Claire could not help but wrapped arms around his neck and her sobs made him hug her tighter.

'What's wrong?' He asked, but she still was in shock. 'Claire…'

'Just hug me, please.' She sniffed and felt his arms rubbing her back calmingly.

'Somebody hurt you?' He asked carefully and for her surprise, she found herself nodding. She felt his arms tightened around her. 'Who?' Now his voice changed and Claire pulled back slightly to look at him. Her teary eyes stared at his furious ones. 'Tell me!'

'So you could kill him?' She said huskily, feeling powerless in his hands.

'That is an option, yeah.' He said.

'Then I'm not telling you!'

'Why not?' Peter asked, staring into her eyes. 'It's not like I haven't…'

'Peter please. Let's go, okay?' Her voice was thick. 'I'm tired and I need to sleep after the hospital.'

'Are you sure?' He looked at her quizzically.

'I'm sure.' She said and saw his nod at her. Peter slipped hand around her waist and pulled her closer as they walked to her car. That was not the end, Peter thought. That person would pay… with bloody tears. Peter swore in that and helped Claire to get into the car.

They drove off straight to the Hospital. Claire had not spoke through the whole way. Peter had not said a word either. When he parked the car, Claire looked at him and leaned back on her seat.

'I know you still do not believe me, but… please be with me today. Stay with e in that room. I don't want to be alone there.' Her voice was weak and she hated when she sounded in that way. However, now she did not care so much. Claire needed Peter.

Peter sighed and his hands clenched the wheel. His first reaction was to say 'no'. It was normal for him to say that. It was normal for him to act like that, as if he did not care. The truth was that he did. Maybe not for the baby, but he cared about Claire. His new and his old self battled in this moment. The old Peter would support her. He would stay with her and care for her enough to say some nice words. His new self preferred to stay aside from this. He preferred to watch and not get involved too much. The truth was that he already was. He was so deep that he could not see the surface anymore.

Night after night, he caught himself, just lying there and his hand rested over her stomach. She was sleeping and he could feel the movements of the new life inside of her. Sometimes he called himself a jerk. Sometimes he called himself a fool. However, there was something in this baby. There was something, telling him that he is not foreigner to it. It was so confusing, but Peter still was there and his hand still was over it. He was trying to protect him. Why? What was the connection? Was it possible?

'Okay…' He heard himself saying this word. 'I'll come.'

'Really?' Peter looked at her and despite her tiredness; he could swear that her face shone. Claire unbuttoned her seatbelt and leaned towards him. Before he was able to react, she gave him one kiss. It was not passionate. It was tender and full of hidden promises. 'Thank you.' She said and opened her door, getting out of the car. Peter shook his head and followed her.