2. Unlikely Saviour

*Thanku to those who commented ^_^ xx*

The next morning Drake awoke at around eleven. He knew he'd sleep late but not by this much. Wiping his eyes and stretching he got out of bed, heading into his bathroom to shower and relieve himself. He felt terrible that Nicki would have been alone all morning but checking in on her as he made his way downstairs he was welcomed by an empty bed. It had been made up but she was gone.

He shrugged and closed her door behind him. "Prolly gone downstairs."

Continuing down the elegant stairway he reached the hallway and noticed a note on the side-table, picking it up he frowned as he unfolded it.  Reading her swirly handwriting he read the one lined message aloud.

"Thank you for last night."

He shook his head and placed the note back down. He couldn't believe she'd just left, he had no idea why but there really was something about her, something that just felt kind of refreshing. Perhaps it was just her overall bluntness and how straight to the point she was. But he also knew there was something seriously wrong going on, the fact that nobody seemed to be responsible for her or even care about what she was getting up to. Grabbing himself some breakfast he found himself still thinking about her, worrying more than anything else. Hearing his cell chirping he quickly snatched it from the kitchen counter as he took a seat at the table with his cereal bowl. It was Ashley.

"Hey Drake, you recovered from last night?"

"Ugh, just about. I'm tellin' you if it wasn't for this one day a week we get off I'd be a walking zombie." He crunched on spoonfuls of his breakfast as he talked.

"So you gon' come out with the rest of us tonight? We gon' go to that new club." He could hear her chewing her gum as usual.

"I'on know Ash, I'm fuckin' exhausted like, I think I'mma just stay in. But y'all report back, tell me how it is yeah?"

"Why you bein' such a bore, I ain't spillin' shit. You gotta come with us to find out."

"Ashley, no. Now get off my phone, interruptin' a nigga's breakfast and shit." They both laughed before saying goodbye and hanging up. The rest of the day for him seemed to fly by super fast. Until his evening drinking time came around and he realised he'd had the last drop of wine the night before.

"Shit." Rubbing his hands frustratedly over his short curls he grabbed his jacket and keys before locking up and heading to the nearest liquor store. Call him sad but it was his one night he could enjoy a few glasses in the peace of his own home. Scanning the road he cautiously pulled into the parking lot and headed into the store. The annoying background music was eating at his last nerve as he paced the aisles looking for his usual. They were all out. Typical.

"Excuse me?"

The young worker turned around from the crates he was unpacking. "Yes sir, can I help you?"

"Yeah I'm lookin' for this stuff. You got any out the back?" He pointed to the empty boxes.

"Uhm, I'll go take a look. Won't be a moment sir."

"Thanks."

Standing around he stared out of the store window for a little while, he like people-watching it was something he found oddly interesting. Letting his eyes wander he focused on one person in particular. It was Nicki. He couldn't believe it, out again past midnight. Stalking the streets by herself. He shook his head angrily at the thought of how her parents obviously didn't give two shits about their daughter. As soon as the store worker came back he paid for his drink and headed back to his car, by which time Nicki was long gone.

***

It had been almost two weeks since Ashley and the other young staff members had been to the new club that had opened and they were still talking about it. Drake was kinda wishing that he'd gone now it sounded like they all had fun, something he was desperately in need of.

Sliding up next to him in the on-call room Ashley looked over her friends tired appearance. "You good Drake?"

"Hmm. Oh yeah, just completely drained. These shifts are killers." He brought his coffee cup to his mouth sipping slowly as Ashley nodded in agreement.

"Yeah there's gon' be a staff meetin' next week, apparently there's been a lotta complaints! hopefully the cut the hours back a lil' huh?"

He nodded as he rose to his feet. "Aight, lets get on with it shall we?"

"Yup, the sooner we're done the sooner we get to bed!"

On their way out he dropped his empty cup in the trash as a bustle of paramedics rushed through with a gurney. Hearing what they were saying, along with catching a small glimpse of the patient he hurriedly followed the team of workers, before one worker noticed his presence.

"Oh good, Dr. Graham-"

"Yeah, yeah I got it, so what do we have?" He kept his pace up as he trailed behind them. He knew it was Nicki on the stretcher but what had happened he had no clue.

"Sixteen year old female, unconscious and pregnant. A neighbour found her outside her home."

"Was she unconscious when they found her?"

"No sir, she lost consciousness in the ambulance on the way over. We need to get a scan fixed up as well."

"Aight, through here!" He yelled out so that all the workers could hear him as the continued to jog along, wheeling her down the corridors. Once they were behind closed doors he waited for the paramedics to carefully lift the stretcher on to the bed. She looked so little and lifeless.

Bursting through the doors Ashley threw herself some gloves on and stood by Drake's side. "Kids 'round here don't know about contraception do they?" Chuckling at her own comment she felt Drake's intense stare burning into her. "What's up with you? You know it's true Drake!" She shook her head and moved around to the other side of Nicki as he began checking her over.

"Nurse Dawson could you please sort out an ultrasound for Miss Maraj? Thanks." The nurse complied and left the room.

"Miss Maraj? How'd you know her name already?"

"She was admitted about two weeks ago, I stitched up her forehead." He pointed to the small wound which looked more like a scratch now. "Okay, her pulse is normal, so is her breathing but her blood pressure is through the roof, can we get that sorted out please Nurse Jackson?"

Ashley watched in awe as he took complete and utter control of his surroundings. That was something she'd never managed to do. Snapping her out of her thoughts Nurse Dawson reappeared with the ultrasound machine, wheeling it over to Drake and letting him take it from there. After setting it all up he tended to her charts as Ashley performed the scan.

"I'm not gettin' anythin' here." She folded her lips and looked blankly at the monitor. "Oh, wait....No, no I got it. The baby has a heartbeat but it's weak. We need to get her stabilised, quickly."

***

Fluttering her eyes open she lay still in the unfamiliar atmosphere. She was in hospital. Slowly sitting herself up she looked over her arms and pulled at all the wires attached to her before a deep voice made her jump.

"Leave them in, we have to keep monitoring you." It was Drake.

Laying back again she looked at him sleepily. "Why am I here?"

"I'on know, I was hopin' you'd be able to tell us that Nicki." His voice was so soft and gentle as he took a seat by her bed-side.

"I'on remember, I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologise, we just wanna make sure you're ok. That's all." He smiled warmly before continuing. "So how are you feelin'?"

"Tired, and my head is pounding."

"Yeah, you musta knocked your head again when you fell." He smiled seeing her laugh for the first time.

"I'mma have to start wearin' a freakin' helmet everywhere I go."

"Might be a good idea!" They laughed and talked for a little bit more until he turned serious again. "You can be discharged today but  I'mma need for someone to come collect you. Someone who is really your caregiver this time." He stared at her sternly. "That was a silly stunt you pulled a couple weeks back."

She looked down shyly, once again resting her eyes on her bump. "I know. Maybe you could call my neighbour, I'mma stay with him for a while."

"Aight, we'll find a number for him, but for now you gotta stay restin'. Got it?"

"Yes Dr. Graham."

"Please, call me Drake when I'm off duty."

"You're off duty? Why you still here?" She looked puzzled as she tilted her head slightly

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok, I was worried after you left my place so quickly and then when I saw you bein' wheeled down the corridor I panicked." She looked down feeling bad. "Anyway, I know you must be tired but you and your baby are fine, your BP was way too high but we got you sorted." He stood up to exit but her little voice stopped him.

"How old are you really Drake? And that ain't even yo' real name is it?"

He laughed in disbelief. "Wow, you really don't miss a beat do you?!"

"Rarely."

"How'd you know I wasn't really twenty-seven?" He sat back down again, intrigued to know her answer.

"I'on know, just a feelin'."

"Well it was a pretty damn good feelin'! I'm twenty-four."

"So why'd you tell me you were twenty-seven?"

"I get sick of patients tellin' me I look too young, then demanding they see some sort of proof that I'm a real doctor."

"Oh."

"And how'd you know Drake wasn't my real name?" His eyes were full of wonder as he kept looking at her.

"The name Drake, I'on know it just doesn't look entirely right on you, y'know what I'm sayin'?" She paused as he agreed. "So, was I right?"

"Dead on, my actual name is Aubrey but you can see why I'on like bein' called that can't you?" He smirked at her dimpled smile.

"No. I think Aubrey suits you better."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. It has a special ring to it."

"Word? You really think so?"

"Mhmm."

Noticing how tired she looked he stopped the conversation before she fell asleep. "Aight, well I'mma head off now but I'll come back up once I called this neighbour of yours, kay?"

She just nodded as he left the room. Looking back at her she looked so lost and alone.

***

Back down on the ward that Ashley was on, Drake sat himself at the nurses station as he traced her neighbours number and gave him a call. This time she wasn't lying and this neighbour of hers was actually already on his way to pick her up.

"So?"

"So what?"

She popped her gum before responding. "How is she?"

"Oh right, yeah she's ok. A lil' tired but whattya expect?"

"Yeah, maybe you shoulda given her a talk about safe sex or somethin' whilst you were up there." Save us from treating her for the same thing in a years time.

"The fuck Ashley? Show a little sensitivity, Jesus!" Slamming a handful of files back into the cabinet he snatched his coffee cup before making his way back to the locker room to change, leaving Ashley stood there completely dumbfounded at his outburst.

He couldn't stop thinking about how judgemental Ashley was acting as he headed back up to Nicki's private room, as their job it remained a requirement not to judge people. Nicki was a prime example of why. Remembering when he first met her his initial thoughts were negative but in the short time he had known her she had completely changed his opinion. Sighing out loud he pushed her door open, only to see a nurse making the bed up.

"Oh, Dr Graham....Were you hear to see Miss Maraj?"

"Yeah, where's she at?"

"She just filled out the discharge papers, I think her neighbour picked her up. Was it important?"

"Uhm no, no It's all good I just wanted to tell her she was free to go. Thanks."Walking back out again he grabbed his phone to check his messages when the nurse came running back out.

"Oh, Dr Graham?"

He turned around quickly. "Yeah?"

"Miss Maraj's bag, it looks like she left it. Could you run it by the front desk on your way past please?"

He took her book bag in his hand. "Sure thing Donna. Night." He called the last part as he walked off. He knew he shouldn't but something was telling him he should. Passing the desk he grabbed Nicki's file and looked up her address.

"What are you doin'?" He jumped back slightly.

"Huh?"

She placed a hand on her hip and raised her eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're gon' return her bag personally? Shit Drake! You're gon' get in so much trouble! You already seem way too close to her, she's a patient for God's sake!"

"Look, Ashley I'on know what the fuck is up wit'chu lately but her house is on my way home, why make her come back to get her stuff when I can just drop it off myself?" He asked her like it was common sense.

"Ugh, do what you want. But if you get found out, don't think I'm coverin' for you! You're on your own with this one." She stormed off as he shook his head angrily.

His anger towards her only seemed to intensify as he drove down the derelict and damaged roads to Nicki's address. Pulling up to the right one he double checked that the place was right. It was pitch black outside as most of the street lamps had been vandalized and smashed up, all he could see of her tiny house was the front window flashing with what he guessed was the light from their TV. Slowly stepping out into the light rain he walked up to her doorway, he wasn't sure which neighbour's house she was at or why but he figured it would be easier to just drop her bag off at her actual address. Hearing footsteps on the other side he was shocked when Nicki opened the door after he knocked, she was in her pyjamas.

"Nicki?" He had to ask to be sure because it was so dark.

"Oh my God, Dr Graham, what are you doin' here?" He flinched a little at how angry she sounded, but that was nothing compared to the yelling her heard coming from inside the house.

"I-uh, brought your bag. You left it at the hospital, seein' as it was on my home I-"

"ONIKA?! THE FUCK YOU STANDIN' THERE WITH THE GODDAM DOOR OPEN FOR?"

Drake's eyes bugged as she stepped shakily away from the door, walking backwards up to the wall.

"Dad, I'm sorry jus-"

"Get outta here!" Grabbing her arm he ripped her away from the wall and slung her towards the stairs, she barely kept her footing as she staggered slightly towards the bottom step. Drake was in shock but his instincts soon kicked in when he heard other male voices mumbling inside, the smell of smoke pouring into the outside air. Shoving the door open he saw who he guessed was her father stood swaying without a shirt on as he tried to steady himself.

"Who's this nigga?" Another man asked a now sitting down Nicki as she caressed her bump.

"I'm just hear to pick her up." Looking back at her confused face he widened eyes at her, "Go get your stuff."

"Hell naw! How y-you 'bouta fuckin' come in h-here? In MY house a-and fuckin' take My kid?"

"Sir, I'mma be gone in two minutes." Losing patience he locked eyes with a petrified Nicki again. "Hurry up, just pack the basics. We'll sort the rest out later. Go!" Not needing to be told twice she jogged upstairs quickly, leaving Drake to handle the drunken idiots, they were all too high and wasted to even form a threatening sentence, let alone come at him swinging punches. He hoped he was doing the right thing but something at the back of him mind was telling him he was a fool. Perhaps it was Ashley's voice...


*This is quite long :/ But I hope it was alright! Thanks to all who commented too btw =]*