| Chapter One |
| Nikki DeLoach felt horrible. Her head was about to explode and she felt like her stomach was being pounded with a hammer. She leaned her head back onto a feather pillow and closed her eyes. She needed something to eat, but wondered if her stomach could handle it. She needed help. Pure and simple, she needed someone to take care of her. Because she couldn’t do it anymore. Reaching out a tired hand to pick up the phone, she dialed the familiar number with ease, and held her breath as it rang. One, two, three, “Hello?” “Hi.. its me.” She sighed with frustration and cleared her throat. “JC, I need you. I mean… I need your help.” She wanted to smack herself for saying something so stupid. “Nikki? What’s wrong sweetie? You sound like you’ve just been to hell and back.” He listened to her worried sigh, and then she spoke, letting the first person know what had been bothering her for weeks. “Josh… I haven’t felt good for so long. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Its just too hard, I can’t take care of myself anymore. I have no energy, even getting up to go to the bathroom makes me feel like I’m going to faint.” Her voice sounded so miserable. He didn’t know how to deal with this. “Nikki… I’m coming over there right now.” He didn’t wait for her answer, instead he just hung up the phone, grabbed a few clothes, and made a mad dash for his car. Nikki lay there until she heard the light knock on the front door. Easing herself out of bed, she slowly walked to the front door and pulled it open. She gave him a weak smile before falling into his arms. He was shocked at her emotional welcome, but helped her back into her bedroom, gently laying her on her bed. “Nik, what’s wrong? What happened?” He placed a hand on her forehead. She didn’t have a temperature, so he worriedly sat on her bed, lacing his fingers through hers. “Sweetheart what’s going on?” “I don’t know. Its just like it…happened. I don’t know what’s the matter with me JC, and I’m scared!” She fought back tears and grabbed the trash can, her dry heaving making him wince. “When was the last time you ate? Or drank anything for that matter?” When she shrugged, he automatically made his way into her kitchen, searching the cabinets and refrigerator for anything edible. Pulling out a pot and can of chicken noodle soup, JC continued to talk to Nikki as he worked. “Nik? When did all this start?” “I don’t know Josh. About three weeks ago I guess. I’m just not sure anymore.” He nodded to himself and carried the bowl into her bedroom, helping her sit up and guiding the spoon to her mouth. He watched her chew and swallow as carefully as a toddler who was eager to please her parents. He smiled as she continued to eat, her side leaning on him for support. “Thank you Josh.” She whispered as he sat the tray on the table next to her bed. “You’re an angel.” He blushed at her comments, but nodded his thank you. Suddenly, she sat up from her original position, making him rear back. She grabbed the trash can, and before he knew it, he was pressing a cold towel against her head, while her lunch remained in the bottom of the trash bag. “I’m sorry JC… I didn’t mean to.” She whimpered as she looked up at him, her eyes revealed that she was obviously upset by the whole ordeal. “Don’t. Why should you be? You can’t help whatever’s going on with you, Nikki.” He kissed her forehead gently, “Have you seen a doctor about this yet?” She silently shook her head, and he stared at her like she was a stranger, “No? Nik, you’ve always been so good about taking care of yourself Its not like you to…” “Be so irresponsible and not go to the doctor? I know, Josh, but I just can’t.” “What, is there a problem with your doctor? Because I can make you an appointment with mine if you want me to.” He gave her an understanding smile, but she didn’t return it. “No… there’s no problem. I just thought this was something I could handle. And by the time I realized it was serious… I was too sick to do anything about it.” She gave him a skeptical gaze. “Do I look capable of driving to you?” He raised an eyebrow at her, “Not really. But you could have called me sooner. Nikki, you know I’m here for you. I always have been.” “Yeah, but I was getting so tired of always being the butt of everyone else’s problems… I just thought I would let you all think everything was fine. But I can’t do that anymore.” She heaved into the trash can once more. “Josh… take me to the hospital.” |