Saturday Morning May 15th Week Minus 5
There was something disturbing Harry's Saturday post mortem, no hangover, empty bed, no work but what was that incessant noise? Finally realising it was the phone he reached over and picked it up.
"..lo," he croaked.
"Harry?" came a familiar voice.
"Harry, I need your help!"
"Nikki?" Harry was fully awake now.
"Where are you? What's happened? Is Henry there with you?" For a moment he had a brief vision of Nikki sitting over Henry's bloodied body, meat cleaver in hand obviously having discovered the truth about Henry's marital status, and not reacted too well.
"I'm at home Harry, Henry had some work emergency and left early.." Nikki's conversation suddenly stopped and is sounded like the phone had been dropped.
"Nikki?" Harry was getting worried now the concern showing in his voice.
"Nikki can you hear me?"
When Nikki came back on the phone her voice was weak and breathless,
"Harry, I'm sick. I need to get to the out of hours surgery but I can't sit up, I'm dizzy and sick, just can't face the bus, or a taxi. Harry?"
"I'll be there as quick as I can," he replied already pulling clothes out of his drawer.
"You're sure you just didn't drink too much?" she did sound genuinely ill, but he thought he ought to ask.
"No, didn't drink, yesterday, I've gotta..."
The phone disconnected and Harry hoped she'd make it to the bathroom in time.
It was a few hours later, when Harry finally saw some colour return to Nikki's cheeks. He'd made her sit with a bucket on the journey to and from the surgery. He really didn't want to have to have his car valeted. He'd taken her home and helped her back into bed and then taken her spare key, so he could go and collect her antibiotics and get back without waking her.
An acute middle ear infection had left her totally disorientated and dizzy, but at least she had stopped vomiting. Harry couldn't help but wonder as he stood in the queue at the pharmacy, what kind of emergency a marketing director could face at 6am on a Saturday, but knew better than to take it up with Nikki. He had made that mistake with many of her previous men, the more unsuitable he pointed them out to be, the more she seemed to dig her heels in and stick with them, to spite him maybe?
She was sleeping when he got back, but wanting to get the antibiotics into her system as quickly as possible decided to wake her. He sat on the edge of her bed and held her hand.
"Time to wake up, sleeping beauty" he whispered "I've got your medicine."
Nikki stirred herself enough to sit up with Harry's help and take and swallow the pills offered but not to fully wake up. As he laid her back on the pillow, she gripped his hand tightly.
"Please stay with me!" she pleaded.
"Of course, I'll stay" he said reassuringly. "I might go for a quick run, but I'll be here when you wake up, I promise."
Harry had learned early on in his job, that having a spare set of clothes or two in the car and in the lab and some shoes were as vital as his forensic kit. So he had no trouble finding some trainers and some shorts. It was clear day and perfect for running. He didn't want to go far, but still returned hot and sweaty, so grabbed a quick shower. It hadn't occurred to him until he was in the shower with the water running, with the smell of her shower gel all around him, that the run had been a particularly stupid idea. He dressed and dried quickly but couldn't quite rid himself of that scent. Her scent. It was surrounding him, and it was making it very difficult to keep his emotions in check. He busied himself making some coffee and then went to see if Nikki was still sleeping.
Later in the afternoon when it was time for the next set of medicine, Nikki had felt well enough to have a drink and a piece of toast. They sat on the sofa and watched stupid Saturday TV and old films until Nikki had fallen asleep again. He lifted her carefully and carried her back to bed. This time as he laid her down she clung onto his neck and pulled his face close to hers.
"Thank you, for everything." she said and without any warning started to kiss him.
Harry's brain started to swim, he was so stunned he didn't even reciprocate, and then as soon as he did panicked and pulled away. She must have confused him with Henry, he told himself.
"You're the best Harry, you know that don't you." she slurred in her sleep filled voice.
'Harry,' she had said 'Harry!' he thought to himself, stumbling backwards out of her bedroom door. No, he must have misheard, she must have meant Henry. His finger unconsciously touching his lips as if to solidify the feel of her mouth on his.
First spending the afternoon surrounded by the smell of her shower gel and now a kiss? Harry left the antibiotics on the kitchen counter, grabbed his stuff and hurried home. He had a feeling that another rather colder shower would be needed when he got there.