Page 176 of Stanton Unconditional

“You should put some clothes on.” He nods.

I look down at myself. Shit, I’m naked, I hadn’t even realized. 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 okay, 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. 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.