Those of you who have lasted this long, thank you! t You have arrived at story two where we are picking up where we left off, maybe 4 months or so down the line. I hope you like it. Originally, this part was going to be one big chapter but I decided to break it down a bit more, drop me a wee review if you can and let me know if you think its working.

And one last thing...

I'm sorry. So, so sorry. Try not to hate me!

(Nikki)

Surprisingly, you last until April the following year, before all hell breaks loose.

Leo calls you into his office and closes the door. That's how you know it's serious. Harry left the house this morning and subsequently vanished, and Leo is being secretive. That spells trouble.

"Harry's at a scene."

You're not very sure what he's expecting your reaction to be. You decide now is not the time for a quick witted come-back – a habit you've picked up over time from your husband – despite the fact that you presumed he would be at a scene, and considering that was what he was paid for, you wouldn't be surprised.

"Ok."

"The body is apparently that of an Anka Majewski, polish by origin. 32…

…Approximately 8 weeks pregnant."

Yes. Trouble.

You feel sick and don't know where to look. You feel your breathing quicken and close your eyes, willing yourself not to panic.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, I just thought I should give you the heads up, considering…well…everything."

You give an unconvincing nod.

"I'll keep an eye out, Nikki. It was a very long time ago. It might not even cross his mind."

You can tell he's trying to convince himself, as much as you. But for the time being, you decide to believe him. You're exhausted already and the day has only just started.

You'd always dreaded this day, from the moment you embarked on this long sought after relationship, Anna Sandour had a hold over him. Over both of you. You had learned to accept the nightmares that plagued him, the occasional evening when you'll find him simply staring out of a window, you had accepted that at times there was nothing you could do to help and he just needed to be alone. But it hurt you too. Everything that happened all those months ago, and it has never been far from your conscious; the fact that after everything he put you through, after the way you reacted having found him alive, he still left you, alone in the middle of the memorial. He chose Anna over you. A dead woman's justice was of greater importance. It was like a cycle. Penny Harris. Anna Sandour. Would there be another?

Harry is back by early afternoon and doesn't say two words to you until you enter the office that evening to find him scowling into his computer screen, paper strewn all over the desk. You slowly start to pack things away into your bag, hoping he gets the hint, however rare it is for you to instigate calling it a night. When he speaks, his eyes don't leave the screen.

"You ok?"

"Yeah. Just very tired."

"But you've barely done anything, have you?"

His remark is murmured, off hand, but it stings all the same. You decide to change the subject.

"Can we go home, please?"

"In a minute."

"As in a minute, minute or a you, minute."

"However long it takes to finish this tox report."

"The Majewski tox report?"

His head snaps up at this and you note his furrowed brow, the deep lines on his forehead, angry eyes. He doesn't look attractive when he's fired up like this.

"Does it matter whose tox report?"

"If it's Anka Majewski's she was brought in today, surely it can wait a night –"

"Maybe if you stopped talking at me and let me finish it wouldn't have to."

You're no stranger to arguments, you know this probably is one but Harry is prone to shouting and as of yet, he hasn't. His last dig was quiet, through gritted teeth; it was as if he was speaking to Mumford during a bad case rather than his wife of 4 months.

"I can give you a lift if you'd rather go now, I'm going that way anyway, I've got that talk tonight at the Marsden."

You're not sure how long Leo has been behind you, tidying himself up with a blazer and tie, but you know he's thinking the same as you. You decide to have one more shot at bringing your husband back from the abyss.

"You can easily do this tomorrow, Harry."

He gives an exasperated sigh in reply and you make your decision.

"I'll just get my coat."

Watching the world pass by from the passenger seat of Leo's car almost lulls you to sleep as he drives in silence.

"I was wrong."

"What?"

"I think we actually cope with the living, better than we do the dead."

You only rattle around the house for a matter of minutes before climbing the stairs and collapsing into bed, shattered.

In the body and soul sense.