�Here drink this.�� Nick handed her a glass of water.�
�Thanks.�� She took a slip and then sat it down on the nightstand.� �Nick, I can sleep on the couch, I don�t feel right kicking you out of your bed.��
�I wasn�t the one in the hospital. You need your rest; I�ll be fine on the couch.�� He sat down along the side of her.� �Do you need anything else?� An extra pillow or blanket?��
�No, I�m good.�� She laughed.� �You are worse than my mother!��
�Funny!��
�I try.��
Nick caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.� �How are you feeling?� Do you still have a headache?��
�A little bit of one.� Do you have any aspirin?��
�Yeah we do, I�ll get you some.� Be right back.�� Nick got up and exited his room.� He returned with aspirin in hand and sat down on the bed.� �Here.��
Melissa took them from him and swallowed them with some water.� �You know this reminds me of when you were younger and get those headaches.�� Nick stated just watching her lay back on the bed.�
�I was too young to understand why I was in such pain.� I can remember my mom trying to calm me because crying would only make them worse.�� She touched Nick�s hand with hers.� �I would only stop crying if you would lay in bed with me and talk to me.� Somehow just having you there, I felt safe like everything was going to be okay.��
Nick took her hand and gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.� �I would stay till you would fell asleep.��
�My protector.�� Melissa smiled at him.�
�Yeah, but you don�t need a protector anymore.� You can take care of yourself, you have proven that.��
She took a deep breath.� �Do you remember that night in the cemetery?�� Nick nodded his head in agreement.� �You said to me then that you would be the one to protect me, to love me.� Are you backing down from that?��
Nick moved closer to her still holding her hand in his.� �No Mel, never.� I want to be that for you, but I don�t want to mess things up with us.��
Melissa smiled at him.� �How do you protect me without crossing some line?� He shook his head, waiting for a response from her.� �Nick, just be there for me like you have been.� You know me like no one else does, you know when I�m putting on a brave face when I�m really scared out of my mind.��
�I can do that, but if I do cross this line, will you let me know?��
�Trust me Carter, I�ll let you know.�� She giggled, causing him to smile.�
�Okay, good.� Alright enough talking, you need your rest.�� Nick stood up from the bed.� �I�ll be on the couch if you need me.��
�Nick?�� Melissa asked still holding onto his hand.�
�Yeah?�� He asked looking back at her.�
�Can you stay with me?� After everything that has happened, I need to feel safe.��
�Sure.�� He smiled at her as he walked over to the bed.� Melissa flipped the covers over, so he could climb in.� Nick laid next to her facing her back; he slowly wrapped his arm around her small waist.� He felt relief when she pulled his arm tightly around her, leaving her hand resting on his.�
The sun hit his eyes, making him wake up.� He stretched his long body and then reached for Melissa.� All he found was an empty space.� Nick let his eyes focus for second, making sure he wasn�t seeing things.�
�Mel?� He called out.� Nick got up and entered the living room, still no sign of her.� �Mel?�� He said louder.�
�Nick, she isn�t here.� Brian stated as he exited his room.� �Neither is Sam, I think they are together.��
�And I think I know where they are.� Brian followed Nick out the door.�
Melissa watched as the workers labored away on her house.� She woke up early and got Samantha to drive her out to her house.� She needed to see for herself the damages to her childhood home.� The fire marshal was there earlier, he informed her that the damages were mostly to the new renovations.� The majority of the house was saved thanks to the firefighters working quickly.� She was determined to have the house back to it was before her mother came home.� And Melissa was going to be there throughout the whole process.�
�Hey, how are you doing?�� Samantha asked handing her some hot tea.�
�I�m okay.�� She stated taking the beverage.�
�Did you get any sleep?��
�Yeah, I did.� I actually slept pretty well.�� She took a small sip of the hot liquid.�
�I bet you did.�� Samantha smiled.�
�What is with that grin?��
�I came to check on you last night and you weren�t alone.��
�We just slept Sam, nothing else.��
�Does this mean you two are back together?��
�I don�t know what Nick and I are to each other.� After what happened last night, I just decided to let go of everything and I feel different.� Melissa responded looking at her friend.�
�What do you mean you feel different?��
�I feel at peace, I haven�t felt this way in years.� It just feels right to be here and to be with Nick.��
�Well, I�m happy for you.� You deserve to have some peace, it just sucks it had to come to you this way.�� Samantha said pointing to the burned house.�
�Me too, me too.� But the damages are mainly in the renovations, plus it can be fixed.��
�I�m glad Nick got you out in time.� You could have gotten seriously hurt.�� Samantha brushed back a stray strand of hair.� �You do know that once Nick wakes up and realizes you aren�t there, he is going to be pissed.��
�Yeah, I know and I know he will come straight here.� He will be telling me that I should be resting and not up walking around. You know he is going to be mad at you for driving me.��
�Yeah I know and I�m sure Brian will upset with me too.�� They looked at each other and laughed.� It was like old times, just like nothing had changed.� There was a calming feeling with that sense of familiarity. �
�Sam, where�s Mel?� Nick asked when he and Brian arrived at her house.�
�She is over talking to your dad.�� Nick walked over to them.�
�Hey son.��
�Dad, can I talk to Mel for a minute?��
�Sure and Mel, don�t worry we will have this place fixed by the time your mother comes home.��
�Thank you Mr. Carter.�� Melissa gave him a smile.�
�What are you doing?� Nick asked once his father left them alone.�
�I�m making sure that my house is repaired before my mom gets back from her trip.� It would kill her to see it like this.��
�You should be in bed, resting.��
�Nick, I�m fine.� Beside I couldn�t sleep anymore, someone kept stealing the covers.�� She giggled.�
�I know what you are doing!��
�What am I doing?��
�You are trying to change the subject.� You are going home now!�� �
�I am home.�� �
�You know what I mean!�� He replied seriously.�
She reached for his hand.� �Nick, I am okay, really.��
He sighed and then looked into her eyes.� �I�m just worried.� You were knocked unconscious by a burning piece of wood.��
�But I�m okay, you saved me.��
�I can�t get that site out of my head.� I see you laying there, pinned by that board, hurt, bleeding.��
�Nick.�� She placed her hands on the sides of his face.� �I�m here, safe and healthy, thanks to you.�� She grabbed his hands and wrapped them around her.� �Replace that image with this one.�� Melissa pulled him in and gave him a long kiss.�
Samantha, Brian, and Mr. Carter smiled as they watched the young couple.�
Nick pulled away resting his head against hers.� �What was that for?��
�Consider it a thank you for saving my life, in more ways than one.��
After a long day of shopping to replace the items that were in the fire, Melissa and Samantha headed back to Nick�s place.�
�Did you get everything?��
�Almost everything.�� Melissa stated sadly.�
�I need to go to work and then I�m meeting Brian for dinner.� Call me tomorrow, Mel.��
�I will.��
�Behave you two!�� Samantha replied as she exited the house.�
�What�s wrong?�� Melissa laid the sacks down on the coffee table and then sat next to him.�
�I found everything to replace I lost in the fire, but one photo.� It was too badly burned to be replaced.��
Nick moved closer to her.� �What photo?��
�It was that photo of us from the senior prom.� I know it is just one photo, but it meant a lot to my mother.��
�Stay there, I�ll be right back.�� Nick entered his bedroom and pulled out the nightstand drawer.� Melissa watched from her seat on the sofa.�
�Here.�� He handed her the photo.�
�I can�t believe you kept this.��
�It was the last time we were happy and together.� I needed something to remind me of better times between us.� But I don�t need it anymore; give it to your mother.��
�Thank you Nick, this means a lot to me.��
�You�re welcome, but I do have a favor.��
�Name it!��
�Go out with me tomorrow night.�
