A/N A quick update as you're all so loyal.  Enjoy,  xxx

Chapter Fifty Nine

Theo had paced the waiting room for what felt like hours. He'd called Daniel to fill him in on all that had happened, and given a preliminary statement to the police. But he hadn't seen Nina since they'd arrived in the ambulance.

"Mr Peterson?"

He almost groaned with relief when he looked up to see a doctor approaching.

"Nina is asking for you."

He sighed with relief, "is she ok?"

"Bruised, a mild concussion. But she's ok. And so is the baby."

Letting out a long sigh, relief flooding him,  he thanked the doctor, shaking his hand, "I can see her?"

Nodding, the doctor led him to a room further along the corridor. And when he stepped inside he wanted to die. Nina looked so tiny on the almost luminously white sheets. The right side of her face was swollen and bruised, a bandage covered what he knew was a serious cut over her eye, and that puffy eye was almost closed. Her jaw on the left was also bruised and there were purple blotches on her neck and shoulders. There was also a splint on one of her ankles.

Wishing he was lying there instead of her, he moved slowly towards the bed and was rewarded with her smiling lopsidedly at him.

"You came."

She'd said that several times in the ambulance, but he found her surprise rather humbling.

"You wouldn't contact me unless you were in danger."

She smiled again, "I'm such a bitch, hey?"

Shaking his head, he lowered himself into the seat beside the bed, "no. Not at all. I was forcing something that wasn't going to happen. I get that now and I'm sorry."

She made to speak but he placed a finger over her lips, "it's fine. Just get some rest, ok?"

"Will you ask them if I can go home? I don't want to stay here and I've got to sort out the mess."

Again he shook his head, "if you get out you're coming back to mine. And I'll get Max in to deal with the mess tomorrow. You need rest and quiet, I have two spare rooms so there's no argument."

Her eyes closed for a moment and she let out what he guessed was a sigh of relief.

"You can come home as long as you have company. So you're stuck with coming to mine."

She opened the eye that wasn't bruised shut, "brilliant. I don't have anything to wear..."

He nodded, "my jacket and a couple of hospital gowns. I've got t-shirts and stuff at mine. I'll go to yours in the morning and get some things then."

When she sat up, she swayed a bit, "dizzy..."

He nodded, "they said you will be, I have to check on you hourly over night...but other than that, you have a date with my spare room."

A wheelchair, his truck, and then a final carry up his stairs, and Nina found herself settled in the same spare room she'd slept in the night that they'd argued.

"You need anything you shout. Ok?"

After depositing her on the bed, Theo had disappeared, but he returned with a couple of t-shirts and a pair of his cotton shorts.

"They're big, but I figure they might fit around that baby bump!"

She rolled her eyes, "you're lucky that I'm so exhausted. Otherwise I might punch you for that."

He grinned, "you'll be ok?"

Nodding she reached for the clothes, "just need some sleep."

Downstairs he joined Daniel in the lounge.

"How is she?"

Theo shrugged as he sat down, "I'm hoping she looks worse than she feels. Shit." He slammed his left hand onto the arm of the chair, his right hand hurt. He should have had in x-rayed at the hospital, but it was minor; he'd just avoid using it for a while. Only he would hurt himself punching someone.

"So what happened? She told you much?"

Again he shrugged, "all I know is he turned up and threatened her. He looked like a homeless drifter. He can't be happy, losing everything."

Daniel nodded, "I can see that, I mean he had it all."

"Until Nina got him kicked out. I can see why he blames her, not that it's her fault."

Standing his brother headed to the corner cabinet, returning with two drinks, "the bloke always was a prick. Just never thought he'd go to these lengths."

"To quote the great Bob Dylan, 'when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose'." he took a long slug of his drink then turned to his brother, "you got a number for her friend Lilah by any chance? She's the only family Nina has. Her phone was in pieces, the police have it...I should have taken the SIM card."

Daniel looked a little flushed as he reached for his phone, "I'm not sure..."

Within a few moments, Theo was dialling her number. She answered within a few rings.

"Lilah, this is Theo Peterson."

He heard the woman sigh, "ah Mr Peterson, congratulations on impregnating my best friend..." She seemed to suddenly realise that he was calling her and her bravado and sarcasm dissolved. "How did you get my number? Where's Nina? Shit what's happened?"

He took a deep breath, "she was attacked...by her brother."

"Oh my god! We haven't spoken for two weeks, it's almost killed me. All his time and she needed me? Is she ok? The baby?"

"Hey, hey. Calm down. It's ok. She's fine. Bruised but fine. The house took more damage than she did. She's staying at mine until she's feeling better. I think she'd love a call of her best mate in the morning...but he broke her phone."

She was crying now, sobbing down the phone line. "Will you tell her I love her? That I'm SO, SO sorry."

"You can tell her...call in the morning."

She took a deep breath, "I'm going to fly home. I've only got a few days left. I'm going to come home tonight. Will you tell her?"

He gave a soft laugh, "I think she'd rather the surprise. Let me know what time you get in and which airport, I'm sure my brother will be more than happy to pick you up. Ok?"

He didn't miss the little gasp at that, or the blush that swept over his brother's face.

An hour later he went to check up on Nina, she was on her side, both eyes closed but the non damaged one opened as he stepped into the room.

"I've got pain killers and a glass of water for you. How are you feeling?"

She sat up a little, "like I need painkillers and a glass of water!"

He helped her drink, then settled her down.

"You need some sleep darling, ok?"

She nodded, "I feel like I need that too."

"I'll keep checking, but it's late...or rather early. Sleep."

It was almost two am, Daniel was staying over, just in case anything happened overnight, but despite coming to his bedroom and trying to sleep, Theo was wide awake. The last few months had been beyond stressful, tonight only seemed to epitomise that.

Getting up, he padded across the hall to first Melody's room, she was fast asleep, her small hand bawled into a fist and tucked under her chin, she was so perfect...and soon she'd have a brother or sister. He smiled as he closed the door.

Nina was still awake.

"I can't sleep. I keep seeing him...anger...I did that to him."

He moved to perch on the edge of the bed, "did you make him spend all your father's money? Did you force him to become the taker that he was? No. He made all his own decisions; you were far too generous with him. So don't you dare blame yourself."

"Can I sleep with you?"

He gulped, "what?"

"Sorry," she smiled. "I mean can I lie in with you. It might help me sleep...if you held me."

Torture. That was what it sounded like, because as much as he'd longed to have her back in his arms, he knew that he'd struggle with the affect that would have on him.

Instead of voicing that, he gave a nod, then helped her across the hall to his room, tucking her up on one side of the bed, before sliding in beside her.

She wriggled across the mattress and slipped her arms around his neck, "thank you Theo. For everything. You must hate me, causing so much chaos."

He planted his lips on the top of her head, "no. Nothing to thank me for, I swear."

Her face was buried in his neck and every cell in his body knew about it. His hand automatically stroked her arm without any conscious thought, and then he felt her snore softly, her breathing slower, her body heavier. At least one of them was getting some rest.

Light streaked across the bedroom and Nina squinted at the unwelcome presence. It took a moment before the previous night's activities came back to her. She was in Theo's bed, and currently she was wrapped in his arms, her back enveloped by his arms and broad chest. His smell overwhelmed her senses and his rather impressive morning wood was pressed against her buttocks. She fought back the temptation to grind against him. Instead she traced the source of light...the bedroom door was open a crack, and then a face peeked in. Daniel.

"Sorry to wake you Nina, but I have to shoot out and I don't think Melody needs to find you both like this. Could be confusing."

She nodded, "sorry. I couldn't sleep."

He shrugged, "you don't owe me an apology. Just glad to see you're looking better.  I've got to go in ten minutes, ok?"

As the door closed she reached for Theo's watch that sat on the bedside table, half past ten. She couldn't believe it was that late.

Before she could move, a warm breath against her beck accompanied Theo's question, "what time is it?"

She showed him the watch, then turned slightly, "sorry, I shouldn't have come in here..."

He shook his head, "at least I could do something...I should have been there, stopped it happening."

She sighed, her head ached more than the previous day, she dreaded looking in the mirror, rolling around to face him she couldn't worry about that. "As you told me last night, none of this was my fault, and it certainly wasn't YOUR fault."

He sighed, "look at you though." He ran his fingers gently along her cheek, "I could kill him. I bloody should have."

"I wanted to call you...all week."

He was staring at her and she could feel herself blush and was glad that it was dark in the room, "let's not talk about this now. We need to get you some breakfast, then some more rest. OK?"

He was sitting up before she could protest, he hadn't let her walk the previous night, but her leg was the least of her pains this morning, so she climbed out of the bed and was tentatively crossing the room when he caught up with her.

"You alright?"

She nodded, "I'm good."

He handed her a pair of sunglasses, "not sure if you need these."

"I'll scare Melody!" She was suddenly aware of the vulnerable youngster.

He shook his head, "was thinking more about you being a bit photosensitive."

She did choose the glasses, after seeing her purple face in the mirror. Daniel hugged her when she made it to the hall, but then he flew out of the door. Melody was excited to see her, but Theo limited her, stopping her from climbing onto Nina. Instead he sat her in the lounge bad brought her breakfast and tea.

They'd been downstairs less that half an hour when the police called, they wanted her statement, she'd had her injuries documented and photographed the night before. But despite his protests, Theo had to let the officers in, but they didn't stop long when she promised to attend the station the following day. She knew she'd be feeling better then.

"I've made an appointment with Dr Carson."

Theo offered that from the doorway after the police left, then moved away as though he dreaded her reaction.

"Good. Thanks."

He froze in his tracks, "really?"

She nodded, "I took a hell of a beating yesterday, that cannot be good for the baby. I'm worried too."

Moving into the room, he perched next to her, "I thought you'd hit me for doing it."

Rolling her eyes, she eased herself back on the pillows, "I have seen enough violence to last a lifetime, and maybe a few days ago I would have overreacted...but if you didn't care for me, didn't drop everything for me...I wouldn't be here."

His mouth dropped, his eyes widened and it made her laugh, "am I that unreasonable?"

He shrugged, "not unreasonable...but maybe a little defensive?"

Smiling she looked at him for a long, silent moment, "Lilah...she gave me a hard time for how I treated you."

Lifting a hand he waved away any explanation, "I have been abysmal to you. I don't deserve your trust."

Nina sighed, "really? You love me. You told me that...and I believe you." She rubbed at her eyes, "no one's ever told me that...other than Lilah."

Groaning, he reached out to take one of her hands in his, "and that's a travesty...because you are very lovable."

She blushed, "I...I don't know how to deal with it."

"What? Love?"

Biting her bottom lip she shrugged, "I get nervous, scared when people get close. I thought it was because I hated people."

That made him laugh, "what ALL people?"

"No, just the people who want to love me...you. Other than Lilah...that leaves you."

She could see the concentration on his face as he stared at her for a long moment. "So you hate me?"

She squeezed her hands into fists, "I wanted to."

That made him sit up, "so you don't hate me?"

Shaking her head, she tried to smile, "no. Lilah shouted at me, told me I don't let anyone in, that I never trust anyone..." She sighed, "we haven't spoken for two weeks...and I miss her...but I missed you too."

Stunned moment number two, "you did?"

She nodded, "but I was too stubborn, or maybe too proud to break the ice, with you...or her. I just pushed you both away. Easier to deal with just me."

With a knowing nod, he leaned forward, "are you saying things have changed?"

Theo watched a dozen emotions wash over her face, he loved her, he'd treated her badly, and she'd almost hated him. And she was having his baby. It was all such a mess, and for so long he'd imagined that it was over, than he had blown any chance with her, but now, as she bit her lip so endearingly, so sweetly, he realised that there might be a slim chance that she'd understand...that she cared.

Watching her, he waited for her answer.

"When James was in my house, when I knew he was going to hurt me...I knew that you'd come for me. I knew you wouldn't let me down." She sniffed and he felt such sympathy for her, her closed eyes, bruised face and throat, she was so brave, so strong. "I said I didn't trust you...but it's a lie. I trust you with my life...and our baby's."

He gasped, a sharp intake of breath, "so this means that we can be civil?"

Her responding smile was so endearing, so cute that his heart skipped a beat.

Then she looked into his eyes and said, "maybe we can go out to dinner?"

That was what he wanted, to date her, to have the chance to show her the depth of his feelings for her, he'd take anything, however slight the chance.

As he opened his mouth to ask her exactly what 'dinner' entailed, the front door burst open and a voice called out, "Nee-Naw, where are you?"

Nina's eyes left him and flitted to the door, "Lilah?"

With that she leapt to her feet, and grimacing at the sudden pain hobbled towards the front door.