Max goes to the kitchen and gets a large dish from the cupboard and goes and puts it in the bedroom before coming into the bathroom.
“You should put some clothes on.” He nods.
I look down at myself. Shit, I’m naked, I hadn’t even realised. I nod and head to the bedroom and throw on some clothes. Max walks into the room carrying Natasha and he puts her into bed.
“It’s ok, honey, the doctor will be here soon and he will give you a sedative and everything will be ok,” he says gently as he lays her down.
She nods as she holds her head and I stand still, riveted on the spot in shock. This has happened a lot, I can tell by Max’s calm reaction. Why in the hell do I not know about this?
A guard walks into the apartment with a doctor behind him. “In here,” I yell.
The middle-aged woman smiles and immediately opens her briefcase and starts to check Natasha and I stand still at the end of the bed.
“It’s been a while since you had one of these,” the doctor murmurs as she takes her blood pressure.
“Yes, five weeks,” Max replies.
I narrow my eyes at Max. “How often does this happen?” I ask.
He shrugs. “When she is stressed.”
Guilt fills my stomach-this is my fault. Max’s eyes dare me to say something and I feel anger rise in my stomach.
“You can go, Max,” I say flatly to him.
He rolls his lips as his eyes flick to Natasha. “I will stay with her if you need to go out,” he replies.
“That won’t be necessary. I will be staying and looking after her. Thank you.” I can’t hide my annoyance that he knows more about my girl than I do.
He nods and leaves the room.
I sit on the chair in the corner of the room and watch silently as the doctor checks her over.
“Natasha dear, I am going to give you a sedative now. Do you want me to call someone to look after you?”
I stand. “I will be staying to care for her.”
Natasha holds out her shaky hand as she smiles weakly and I take it in mine. The doctor smiles at our interaction.
“This is a sedative that I am giving her and she will be out for around eighteen hours.”
I frown as I listen. “It’s ok, she has had this many times before. It is the only way we can get the migraine to stop. It’s quite common.”
I nod and watch the doctor give her an injection.
“Here is my card, call me if you need anything,” the doctor says and then she leaves us alone.
“Is your hand ok?” Natasha whispers.
A lump in my throat forms, here she is half dying and she is worried about a nick on my hand.
“Yes, sweetheart, I’m ok,” I lie down next to her and put my cheek to hers.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Don’t be stupid, it’s not your fault. I’m sorry you have to stay here with me,” she whispers.
I bend and kiss her forehead.
“Josh, I need to go to the bathroom.”
I nod, help her up and lead her to the bathroom and wait silently while she goes.
“Is your head ok?” I ask as I brush her hair back.
“I’m ok, you know me, the ultimate drama queen. Nothing in halves,” she smiles and I find myself returning her smile. I really do love this woman.
“Come on, back to bed.” I help her back up the hall and she changes clothes and slowly hops into bed. The clock reads 4. 45 am. I lay next to her and hold her close as she drifts off into unconsciousness.
It’s 12 pm, Tash is fast asleep like an angel next to me in bed and I am on my laptop googling migraines and their treatment. Apparently she was having them every couple of weeks after her father died. Not as bad as this though, according to Max. The only time she had one this bad was when I came to her after we broke up and she turned me away. That one went for four days and they sedated her twice in a row. I needed sedating myself at that time. My eyes flick to the beautiful woman lying next to me. I wish I could just get over this shit and forget the past. I just can’t … I’m trying. I am so in love with her and it’s fucking with my head, scared to live with her, petrified to live without her. I can’t stand this hold she has over me. She rolls and I notice her pyjamas are slightly soiled, what’s that? My eyes widen. Shit, she has her period. My eyes dart around the room in a panic. I don’t know anything about this shit. Hang on, it’s early, it’s not due for another week, maybe she’s haemorrhaging.
I run to the lounge room to retrieve my phone and ring Cameron.
“Hey,” he answers.
“Cameron, you need to get over here immediately. Natasha is unconscious and haemorrhaging.”
“What the fuck?” he snaps.
“No, not like that. I mean she has a migraine and the doctor knocked her out and I am looking after her and now she is bleeding.”
“From where?” he snaps again.
I shake my head in frustration. “From you know where.”
“Where?”
“Where girls bleed from.”
“Oh Jesus,” he groans. “She has her period, Stan, that’s all.”
“What do I do?” I shriek.
“She will have some stuff in her bathroom. All girls do, just follow the directions on the pack.”