Chapter 29
Nikki only lived a mile or two from the hospital so sitting on the back of Hector's motorbike, although uncomfortable, wasn't a problem and she didn't mind wrapping her arms around Hector's muscular midriff. Hector took extreme care in driving slowly and carefully, he knew Nikki would be in a lot of pain, even if she refused to admit it. As well as this, he didn't want her to fall of the bike and hurt the baby, it obviously meant a lot to her and would to him once he'd got his head around the idea.
Hector remembered the way from the last time he'd gone to Nikki's house. He smiled at the memory but wished Nikki hadn't regretted it so much; he knew she'd enjoyed it and he had too. After cautiously turning a final corner, he pulled up on Nikki's drive. Cutting the engine and making sure the bike was stable, he jumped off and held his hand out to help Nikki off the bike. Groaning slightly at the pain in her hip, Nikki slowly climbed off the seat and into Hector's arms. He held her there for a few moments, enjoying the closeness of their bodies whilst he waited until Nikki could safely support her own weight. Gradually putting her full weight on her leg, she managed to stand up and limped to her front door whilst leaning on Hector for support. "There's a key under that plant pot," Nikki explained, "could you?" She asked weakly as she shifted her weight from him and onto the door so he could move and get the key. After making sure Nikki wouldn't fall, he went and got the key and passed it to Nikki who unlocked the door and managed to climb over the door step by herself, holding onto the door frame. "D-do you want to come in?" Nikki asked nervously, unsure of what his response would be. "Okay." He smiled as he helped her to the settee in the living-room and went back to shut the front door.
Feeling a little more comfortable now she was on the settee, she turned towards Hector who had sat next to her. "How are you really, Nikki?" He asked looking into her eyes. Nikki shrugged, she was getting more and more intimidated by Barry, she was constantly putting up with the symptoms of pregnancy and she wasn't completely sure a baby was what Lorraine wanted. She hadn't really shown that much interest in it if she was honest. She looked down at her stomach as her eyes filled up with tears which she refused to let fall.
Noticing she was on the verge of breaking down, he shuffled over towards her and pulled her into his chest for a hug allowing her to cry into him. After a few minutes of reassuring comments, Nikki's tears slowed down until she was just sniffing with the occasional gulps. "So how did you fall, you never said?" He asked gently, knowing it was unlikely to be an accident or she'd have said. "I was telling Barry off," Hector tensed at the thought of that disgusting piece of work hurting Nikki and his child, "and h-he pushed me I think. I'm not sure though, I can't remember a lot after I told him to go to Christine's office, before I blacked out. H-he was. Angry. Though." Nikki stuttered as she tried to recall the event before she broke down into more tears. "Oh, Nikki. It'll be alright, you know. I'll make sure he gets done for this, gets what he deserves sweetheart." He soothed whilst Nikki buried her face in his chest. Slowly, he stroked her hair to try and calm her down and gave her a quick kiss on the head. Noticing this, Nikki took her head off his chest and glanced up at him, unsure.
Their faces were so close they could feel each-other's breaths on their lips. Nikki's breath hitched as Hector took hold of her cheek and then he brushed his lips over hers...