A.N sorry for the late update, education gets in the way of so many things!

12. A friend in need.

Tom pulled the car up in the car park, he didn't get out immediately, he turned and looked at Nikki,

'Another day another dollar hey?'

'Yeah' she groaned. She had been up all night, their baby was turning out to be a live wire, and on top of all the kicking and fidgeting she had to put up with, she was finding herself needing to pee every hour or so. Her twenty week scan seemed to have been ages ago, in fact it was only a few weeks ago. They had decided that they didn't want to know the baby's gender, they would prefer a surprise.

Nikki did not want to be at work today, a sleep deprived teacher was never a good thing, 'if one kid puts so much as one toe out of line today then god help them', she thought.

Lost in their thoughts, the pair gazed at each other before exchanging kisses and getting out of the car, the school yard was a buzzing hive of activity as they made their way across to the double doors. After a quick cuppa in the staffroom they parted ways.

Nikki strode in to the PRU, she must have looked like death warmed up. Rhiannon Salt was the first to make a remark 'Woah miss, heavy night was it' she said sarcastically.

Nikki stopped, so did the laughter. 'Right', she snapped, 'all of you! Out on the yard doing laps!'

The class groaned and reluctantly got up then one by one began to trudge out the door. scout threw a scrumpled up piece of paper at Rhiannon, begrudging the fact that she had brought this punishment on them all.

'NOW', Nikki barked, she hadn't meant to be so crabby but she could barely understand her hormones herself let alone to a bunch of students. Nikki grabbed on to the edge of the table, she suddenly felt dizzy, her head spun, she couldn't see properly. She closed her eyes and opened them again, everything was back to normal. After shaking off the slightly vomity feeling, she followed the PRU kids outside to supervise their running.

A little before lunch Nikki's students were all sat in silence practicing writing essays for their forthcoming English tests. Nikki was sitting at scout's desk with her talking through her last essay.

'its good scout, but the key is to go in to detail, the examiners are looking for analysis and interpretation'

'I know miss but i just can't write any more, I feel as though I've written everything but its not enough'

'so you follow the PEE method I taught you, point, evidence, expand. That way you'll be able to say everything you need to and in sufficient depth' Nikki said.

Scout began talking about another section of the essay but Nikki couldn't hear her, she closed her eyes and massaged her temples but her head was swirling.

'Miss?'

'I'm fine scout.. I.. I' Nikki stood up there was a glass of water on her desk she just needed a drink, some of the students had picked up on the kerfuffle and had looked up from their work. She staggered over to the desk but the dizziness overcame her and in front of her eyes all she saw was white. Nikki collapsed on the floor. Scout ran over to her teacher, through all the misunderstandings they had had, Nikki had helped scout realise her potential, she showed genuine concern towards the older woman.

'Miss? Miss Boston?' Scout bent down and gently shook her but she was unresponsive.

'Someone go and get help' Rhiannon cried, visibly distressed.

'Scout ran as fast as she could out of the door, away from the PRU with the intention of fetching Mr Clarkson. She ran down stairs and corridors all the while thinking of her pregnant, unconscious teacher who she had recently began to think of as a friend. Just then she saw Mrs Mulgrew coming out of the photocopying room with a stack of papers, she would do.

'Miss!' scout shrieked

'what on earth do you think you're playing at Miss Allen?'

'Miss you've got to come quick' scout gasped for air, she was panicking now 'its miss Boston, she's collapsed'

Christine deposited her papers on the stairs (ignoring the fact that it was probably a health and safety risk) she followed scout quickly, took out her phone and dialled 999.

'Yes ambulance please.. To waterloo road' scout could just about follow the conversation she was having with the operator 'no, its my colleague, she's pregnant and she's collapsed'.

When Christine reached the PRU the kids were crowding around Nikki, waiting for her to come round. Christine pushed through them, still on the phone to the operator.

'yes she's breathing'. Christine said calmly. Scout sighed, a sigh of relief. Breathing was good right?

'Oi you lot!' she shouted to her class mates 'Sit down and get on with your work'.

'As if you actually want to be a teacher' Rhiannon teased.

By the time the ambulance had arrived Tom was at his fiancé's side. They put Nikki on a stretcher and took her out to the ambulance where the PRU kids gathered to see their teacher being taken away.

'Thanks Christine, you were great', said tom touching Christine's shoulder.

'ahh, anyone would have done it' she said modestly. Scout ran up to Tom,

'Is she going to be ok? Will she be back before the exam?' she was almost in tears.

'She'll be fine' said Tom reassuringly 'I can't say when she'll be back, but when I know, you'll know'. He went in the ambulance with her and held her hand all the way to the hospital where they were parted and Nikki was whisked down the corridor and through the set of double doors. Leaving Tom standing in the waiting room. Helpless.