A/N: Very short one shot that I wrote ages ago but left lurking on my laptop. Alternate future that I'm sure most of us would have liked to have seen.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Silent Witness. This is just for fun.

"Harry, why don't you just get out of the room?" Nikki snapped, glaring at her husband.

"I'm sorry, Niks, it was just a suggestion," he apologised sheepishly. She had been in labour for twelve hours already and he had simply put it to her that maybe some pain relief wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"And I'm just suggesting that if you can't handle it then you can leave," she retorted shortly, pushing away the hand he placed on her arm. "I don't need comforting either," she added. "Childbirth is a perfectly natural biological process; not an affliction deserving of sympathy."

"I'm just showing you that I'm here for you," he explained defensively. "Some women find it helpful to have a supportive partner," he added with a cheeky grin.

"Well I'm not some women," she replied, but there was a hint of teasing in her voice. "Harry, I'm bored," she sighed leaning back against the pillows behind her which he adjusted after every contraction.

"Nikki, you're in labour!" he laughed in disbelief.

"Yes but when I'm not having a contraction I have nothing to do," she complained. "Is anything interesting going on at work?" He laughed again and ignored her question.

"You should be resting between contractions," he stated quite seriously. "The book says..."

"Shut up about the book or I will call the midwife in here and have her escort you out of the building!" she laughed, throwing a pillow at him.

"You wouldn't," he smirked, catching the pillow and slipping it back behind her.

"Try me," she teased. "I'm sure she'd be more than obliging. I don't think she likes you much."

"She doesn't like you either."

"I'm not the one who broke the model pelvis at the antenatal class," Nikki reminded him, smiling at the memory of his face as the plastic model snapped in two. And at Nurse McKellar's reaction.

"I was just demonstrating that the super-pubic angle wasn't accurate; you'd noticed it too! And how was I to know that it was so flimsy?" She giggled at his defensiveness. "Plus you always got the giggles doing breathing exercises."

"True," she agreed. "I suppose she dislikes us both," she smirked. Harry leaned over to kiss her, happy that her mood had swung back to being able to tolerate him. Just as his lips brushed her temple, her whole body tensed and she bit down on her lip.

"Another one?" Harry asked, aware he was stating the obvious but unsure what else to say. She didn't respond but grabbed hold of his hand. Instinctively he reached for her lower back and rubbed his hand in soothing circles. As the contraction passed she turned back to face him. "That was a long one," he stated still surprised that she had reached for him. She nodded slowly, still in some discomfort. "Here, lie back and get comfortable," he suggested, helping her turn onto her side and lie down on the bed.

"Thanks," she smiled gratefully as she closed her eyes slightly.

"Are you sure you don't want..." She cut him off with a shake of her head.

"Natural birth plan," she reminded him. "And don't you dare tell anyone I had to hold your hand!"