Daniel was standing there, holding a baking bag in one hand and his surfboard in another. He wore a white linen shirt and swim shorts. Nikki then remembered their Tuesday morning surfing agreement they had arranged before Saturday. However, given the circumstances, she thought the surfing is off. In fact, she was certain of it but Daniel was here anyway.

„Hey!" he greeted briefly, waiting for her reaction but the woman hadn't moved from the doorway. „I was waiting for you on the beach. I told myself I'll give you time until 9:00 a.m. and if you don't come, I'll look for you. Umm...I'm here to apologize...again. I'm so sorry for Saturday night. I shouldn't have attacked you like that. I know I have no right to do it and please, accept my apology. Second...I really need my surf partner. I picked up breakfast by the way."

First, Nikki looked at the bag of biscuits and then back in his eyes.

„It's okay...I guess," she replied. „Just don't do it again. Not if you're not serious."

Daniel sighed in relief and nodded, offering her a biscuit. The woman allowed him to get in. He was waiting for her while she was eating what he had brought and getting ready for the beach.

In half an hour they were both in knee-deep water, looking to the open sea to see the wave direction and the best access point. The waves were quite strong, stronger than Nikki had ever seen and it made her a little nervous.

„What do you think?" Daniel asked curiously, squinting his eyes in the direction of the waves.

„Hmm...I think we need to go there. It's for the best."

„Hey!" someone shouted suddenly, gaining their attention. Zack, Daniel's friend, and a lifeguard was running toward them. „I know you're getting ready to surf but please, be careful. The current is relentless today. We don't want any incidents."

Daniel thanked and convinced him he had no reasons to worry about. Zack shrugged, trusting in his friend. However, the tall man then lowered his gaze to Nikki.

„Listen, if it becomes too much for you, I want you to stop. Better safe than sorry. Waves like that can be a serious threat to newbies like you," he said but Nikki wasn't getting scared too easy. She was bravely paddling toward the waves. Daniel just smiled and followed her.

They both did well on the first few waves but Nikki could say she was feeling uncertainty and more instability of her feet, than before. She was trying to follow Daniel. However, after only a few waves it happened exactly what he was talking about. It became too much for her, so she settled on the board with her feet in the water, looking Daniel in his element. The restless surface was a big problem for her even sitting and forceful hitting of waves several times got her under the water. Daniel wasn't giving up. He was great. Nikki stared at him and smiled unconsciously as he tried to catch a really big wave. He was really handsome. Defined muscles on his stomach and legs were straining from the force of the waves and his desire to stay on the board.

Having successfully mastered the last wave, which also shook Nikki's board, Daniel started to slowly approach her. He floated to her so they could look at the creek together.

„This day is great. There weren't such big waves all the summer," he said, a broad smile breaking its way onto his face.

Nikki looked at him again.

„You're good. You didn't fall down for once," she replied.

„You too. Not bad for a beginner."

Nikki was suddenly feeling embarrassed, looking down at her board.

„Yeah, but it was still too much. I don't want to hurt myself."

„Good call," he replied. „Do you want us to go back to the beach? I noticed Zack constantly looking at us. It's enough for today."

Nikki was surprised by Daniel's question. She was certain that the man wanted to spend more time on the waves, considering his earlier statement about them being so big.

„Okay, but not before we catch another one. C'mon!" she said, getting ready for paddling again.

„Are you sure?" Daniel asked with concern. „They're getting bigger and bigger...dangerous."

But Nikki was already halfway down the waves.

„I'm positive. C'mon."

He just followed her in concern. Then both of them saw the wave forming in the distance. Nikki was staring at the water wall, admiring it. It was perfect. But as she was excited, Daniel became even more concerned.

„Nikki, don't go. This one will be too big, trust me. It'll kick you out of the board," he warned but she didn't listen. Instead, she boldly paddled toward it.

He, on the other hand, was keeping his breath, hoping that Nikki would manage to slide through it. The wave climbed to over six feet in height and then he realized Nikki wouldn't succeed. He was looking helplessly as the woman was falling from the board with a scream, her head hitting the edge of the fiberglass and then disappearing under the surface.

„Zaaack!" Daniel shouted, before sinking from the force of the same wave. He was trying hard to emerge. As soon as he was on the surface, he swam in Nikki's direction, looking at her board floating freely. His friend and another lifeguard came to him right away.

„Blood on the board!" the other one yelled, making Daniel even more upset. The tall man was once again under the surface.

Zack and his colleague were waiting for what would happen. However, both of them sighed in relief when Daniel's head appeared on the surface, holding Nikki, who seemed to be unconscious. Zack was immediately by his side.

„She's not breathing," Daniel said, panicking. Zack noticed blood on the right side of Nikki's head.

„Take her to the shore...fast," he instructed Daniel and then turned to the other lifeguard. „Leo, take both boards."

Daniel was already on the shore, slowly laying the woman down on the hot sand. Curious passengers began to gather around, taking cameras out. As he was checking Nikki's pulse, Daniel struggled to breathe, praying to God to not let anything happen to her. He was on the verge of tears.

„She needs a reanimation!" Zack yelled, smoothing his hair back and running to them. „Do you know how to give it?"

The tall man nodded, then took a deep breath and gave Nikki so much needed reanimation. He was exchanging artificial respiration with heart revival and it didn't take long for Nikki to regain consciousness. She started coughing violently, throwing water out of her lungs as Zack raised her head to help her.

Daniel almost fell down next to her.

„Oh, God, thank you! Thank you!" he said, smearing his wet hair, which had fallen over his forehead.

„Wha...what happened?" the woman asked between coughs. He hand went to her head, feeling a bit of pain but Zack immediately caught her wrist.

„You shouldn't go, Nikki!" Daniel scolded, feeling responsible for not preventing her. „I told you not to go, that the wave was too big. Do you believe me now?"

„Dan!" Zack raised his voice, looking at his friend sternly. „It's enough! Let her take a break."

„I called an ambulance. It looks like she needs a medical examination," one of the witnesses said, Daniel and Zack nodding in approval.

Nikki lowered her head down tiredly, closing her eyes.

„Hey...hey, no sleeping," Zack said instantly. „You hit your head and you can't fall asleep on me before a doctor sees you."

The woman opened her eyes again, listening to a lifeguard and looked at Daniel. More precisely, in his worried and horrified eyes.

„I'm fine," she tried to assure him but he didn't seem to calm down.

They could hear sirens in the distance, approaching them fast. They were here soon. Several witnesses moved away, making room to paramedics.

„This is a hurt woman?" one of them asked.

„Yes. I'm Zachary Owens, a lifeguard on this beach. The woman is Nikki and she had fallen from the board while surfing. There's an injury on the right side of her head and we provided her with cardiopulmonary resuscitation," Zack explained to paramedics, who immediately went to work. Daniel was surprised by his calm friend.

One of the paramedics slowly turned Nikki's head on the left so he could have a better view of the injury.

„It's okay, miss," he said. „Can you tell me what's your name?"

„Nikki Hamilton!" she replied immediately.

„Great, Nikki. I'm Andres Narvaez. We'll take you to the hospital for the doctors to look at you and determine if there are any consequences from the fall. We also need to take care of this injury on your head," he explained calmly, as his fellow colleague got a stretcher up to Nikki. „Do you have someone we can contact?"

Nikki shook her head.

„I'm on a vacation and I don't want my parents to know about this. You don't have you to carry me, I can walk by myself," she argued, trying to get up but the paramedic stopped her.

„Please, don't try to get up. Let us do our job," he requested.

„I'm her friend. I want to go with her," Daniel spoke suddenly.

Andress nodded and then they placed the woman on the stretcher. With her big protest, they also put a breathing mask on her face. Daniel swallowed hard. He hoped he would never see these, to him well-known masks which made it easier to reach oxygen again. The sight of Nikki with this thing on her face made him very upset. He quickly picked up their belongings and went along with the paramedics, who placed Nikki inside an ambulance. Before he got it, he once again faced Zack.

„Take care of boards, will you? I'll pick them up as soon as I can."

The lifeguard nodded. Daniel then entered the ambulance, closing the door and they were already on their way to the nearest hospital. He sat down next to the moving bed Nikki was lying on and once again lowered his gaze to her. The woman seemed exhausted, not trying to move a mask out of her face again. She was staring at the roof of the vehicle, not moving her head. Daniel assumed any move meant pain.

„This is all my fault. I should've stopped her."

Nikki didn't react to his statement but Andres did.

„It's okay. She's awake and that's the most important thing now. We need to take care of the injury but it doesn't look so scary. I'm sure everything is going to be fine."

Daniel nodded gratefully and grabbed Nikki's hand gently. She turned her head toward him, still wincing at the dull pain.

„You'll be fine."

At that moment the car stopped. He knew they were here. The next few minutes he felt like he was in the movie. Emergency doctors took over the cart and he was asked to wait in the waiting room, with a promise to keep him updated. Daniel took off his wrinkled t-shirt full of sand. He didn't care about cleanliness. But no matter what, he pulled a clean one out of his bag. And then...the waiting. Unbearable waiting. The man was walking nervously in circles, like a caged tiger. He couldn't calm down. He felt like he would explode in any minute and once again, his hand went through his hair. Today's events have gone too far back to the past. Too much. Everything reminded him od days Sofia was spending in the hospital. The white walls were causing him anxiety.

After more than half an hour, someone finally approached him.

„You're here with Nikki Hamilton?" a senior doctor asked. Daniel immediately nodded, standing up. The doctor didn't look too concerned which calmed him down a little. „I'm dr. McQueen. We examined the patient and took care of the injury on her forehead. It wasn't too deep and miss only got six stitches. There are no broken ribs or other bones and there's no concussion, which is at this moment the most important thing. Would you like to see her?"

„Yes!" Daniel answered and the doctor led him to the curtain behind which Nikki was lying on the bed, this time without a mask on her face.

„Are you all right?" Daniel instantly asked.

„Yeah. Everything is fine," she replied, smiling slightly.

Daniel finally relaxed, seeing at least a slight smile on her face.

„Miss Hamilton, as I said, there's no concussion but I want you not to stay alone for tonight. Just to be careful," the doctor instructed.

Nikki wanted to say she was staying in the hotel but Daniel jumped in before she had a chance and offered himself.

„Dan, it's not necessary. Really. I can..."

„No!" the tall man said strictly. „I'll stay with you and that's it. You have no right to complain."

„All right. Everything is solved then," the doctor said. „I'll prescribe you painkillers in case you feel a certain tenderness, headache or any other body part pain. You hit on the board hard and I wouldn't be surprised if in the next few days your muscles will start to rattle. Take one pill in the morning and another before going to sleep. If everything will be all right, I'll see you in a week to take off the stitches. Do you need a wheelchair or you can walk?"

At the doctor's question, Nikki immediately got up to show everyone that anything terrible had happened to her. However, Daniel wanted to be cautious, staying close to her. They thanked the doctor and then came out of the emergency room, heading toward the exit of the hospital. At the counter, Daniel asked to call a cab, which was coming in about ten minutes. After the cab's arrival, he helped Nikki to get in and then sat next to her.

„Can you take us to the nearest pharmacy?"

They were on their way. Apart from a shortstop to pick up Nikki's medication, they hadn't stopped anywhere else. The cab left them in front of the hotel. As Nikki was getting out, she felt a slight dizziness and instability but Daniel quickly caught her around her waist.

„Are you okay? Don't lie to me, Nikki."

The woman was lightly rubbing the injury on her head, now covered with white gauze.

„I'm a little dizzy."

„C'mon. I'll help you," he offered, slowly leading her toward the entrance. As they entered, they saw Aline on their left, behind the reception desk. The Latina's eyes widened in horror.

„God, what happened?" she exclaimed, running toward them.

„Can you take our things? I can help her if I don't have both of my hands free," Daniel asked.

Aline immediately did what the man asked, walking behind them. Daniel picked Nikki up in his arms, deciding to carry her the rest of the way. It was simpler than her walking while she was unstable. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding firmly. Soon, the elevator stopped at Nikki's floor and they entered her room. Daniel laid her down on the bed, while Aline put their stuff on the sofa.

„Don't try to get up," he said sternly, noticing the glass left on the nightstand and then going to the bathroom to fill it with water.

„Aline, there are pills in the bag. Can you give them to me?"

Aline was doing everything that she was asked with almost robotic moves. Daniel pulled out a pill from a small container, offering it to Nikki along with a glass of water.

„Drink!" he said. She didn't protest.

„Will you finally tell me what happened?" Aline asked nervously. The ringing of Daniel's phone prevented him from answering. Instead, he pulled the device out of his already dried swim pants. It was Brian and Daniel immediately answered, putting him on the speaker. He hadn't even had a chance to greet his friend before Brian spoke.

Brian: „Where the hell are you? I've been trying to reach you for three hours now but neither you or Nikki are answering."

Daniel: „I'm sorry. I haven't checked my phone."

Brian: „Did you see what a storm is about to come?"

Daniel was surprised by his friend's question. Storm? He was certain that the sun was still shining five minutes ago. Then, he approached the window, spreading the curtains. The widow was looking over the sea where indeed were gathering black, angry clouds. The rain was about to fall in every second. The wind, previously causing such big waves now also brought clouds. The tall man was so preoccupied with Nikki that he hadn't even noticed how dark the sky was. Awful, rainy afternoon was coming.

Brian: „Considering it's going to rain I wanted you to come to my apartment, instead of the beach."

Daniel: (hesitating) „I'm sorry Brian but I don't think Nikki or I will be able to come. Don't start panicking but this morning she had an accident while we were surfing."

There was a rustle heard from the other side of the line.

Brian: (worried) „Where are you? I'm on my way."

Daniel: „You don't have to come. Everything is fine now."

Brian: „I'm coming. What happened?"

Daniel: „Brian, listen to me. Nikki has to rest and the last thing she needs is a room full of concerned faces. Okay? Well...she was trying to ride a wave a little too big for her. It expelled her from the board. Her head hit the edge and earned stitches but there aren't major consequences. I promise everything's fine. I'll watch over her tonight, just to make sure."

Brian: „I think I should come anyway."

Daniel wanted to protest but Nikki did it before him.

Nikki: „You don't have to. I'm fine. Daniel is staying with me."

Brian: „Are you sure?"

Nikki: „Yes. Don't interrupt your plans. And please, explain everything to the others."

Brian finally gave up and they were talking for a brief time before Daniel interrupted the call. He faced Aline.

„Can you bring her something to eat or tell somebody else to do it?" he asked as Aline nodded.

„Bring enough for both of us," Nikki yelled before the Latina disappeared through the door, leaving them alone.

She leaned her head against the headboard, resting it.

„Much better."

Although she was smiling now, Daniel was still concerned. He sat on the bed, right up to her.

„You scared a shit out of me today," he said seriously, caressing her cheek with his palm. „Don't do it again. I don't know what would I do if anything happens to you."

The room was completely silent, apart from the sounds of a rain which started to fall coming from the outside. Daniel and Nikki were just looking at each other. After a few moments of peace, he did something unexpected. 

He put his lips on hers. 

Nikki widened her eyes in surprise but soon she decided to kiss him back. Daniel made sure not to put any pressure on her head or not to touch the injury with a hand that was still holding her cheek. This time, he hadn't stopped only at innocent kisses. His tongue licked Nikki's bottom lip and she let him in. When their tounges finally met, it caused a strong reaction, much stronger than the first time he kissed her. He simply didn't want to stop but breathing was a problem. Soon they moved away and he carefully leaned his forehead against hers. The woman was absorbing this moment of intimacy, knowing there was no many of them with Daniel.

„You really have to stop with his sudden kisses," she said, catching her breath.

Daniel just smiled, much to her surprise.

„I thought these are the best," he replied, kissing her again.    

-

Author's note:

So, here you have it. Daniel finally loosened up a little and his actions are showing how much he actually likes Nikki. What do you think it's going to happen next?

If you liked it, please don't forget to vote or leave a comment. I'll be happy to answer.

Stay true to yourself and have a nice evening (or day).