"Nikki coming?"
"She's meant to be." Jack answered. "But I haven't seen her since she left work earlier."
Thomas glanced at the clock and patted his shoulder. "Still time,mate – you're ordering the pizza for 8, right?"
"She was really upset when she left, Jack – after you yelled at her like that." Clarissa told him quietly.
Jack sighed. "I know, I know. I keep trying to ring her, but she won't answer. I've left about a thousand messages – apologising and telling her I'm worried about her, asking her to call back – reminding her about tonight...I just...thought it would be different now..." He trailed off as the other three stared at him.
"What do you mean?" Thomas asked – puzzled. "Different from what?"
" - and what is 'it'?!" Clarissa added, helpfully pointing out that no one had a clue what he was talking about.
Jack shrugged. "Nikki – after Mexico – I mean, she very nearly died – it was way to close and I just thought, I don't know – I guess I thought she'd be different – you know, take less risks, but she's just as rash as she was before at times..."
"You can't change who she is Jack. If she puts other's safety before her own – it's because that's the kind of person she is and I'm afraid we all just have to accept that – just like Nikki had to accept that you like cage-fighting." Thomas reasoned - adding. " - which, can I also point out could be seen as equally reckless!"
"I know, Thomas – it's just, she scared the hell out of me. I only yelled at her because I care." Jack mumbled.
"And she knows that, mate." Max stated as the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Thomas remarked, getting up.
"Bit soon for the pizza , isn't it? - I didn't think you'd ordered it yet!" Clarissa commented.
"I haven't!" Jack answered as Thomas opened the door.
"Thomas – hi!" Nikki all but yelled as he opened the door. "It's so lovely to see you!" She was clearly intoxicated – and dripping water everywhere.
He cleared his throat. "You stopped off at the pub then!"
"Clarissa! - you look fantastic!" She exclaimed enthusiastically – suddenly sauntering past Thomas purposefully – though not in a straight line by any means.
"Er...thanks..." the older woman began – but Nikki had spontaneously changed direction again.
She launched herself at Max – who looked positively terrified. "I just want you to know that I think you're...brilliant!" She stood up straight, but over-balanced and he had to steady her with his hand. "Whoever you are..." she added. "Thanks though... for the..." she waved her arm at him. "...hand-thing..."
Clarissa had been doing her best not to laugh up to now – but the sight of her husband's shocked face was just too much.
Nikki looked at her in alarm as a ripple of noise escaped her mouth. "Are you ok?" Before Clarissa had the chance to answer though, something else caught Nikki's attention. She suddenly noticed the tall man standing by the counter – staring at her. "Jack? What are you doing here?!"
There was a stunned silence...
"This is my flat, Nikki – I live here." He eventually pointed out.
"Really?" she answered – sounding genuinely surprised. "It's a lovely place."
Jack glanced at the others – speechlessly.
"Well, at least she knows who you are!" Max retorted.
Nikki suddenly enveloped Jack in a bear-hug. "Missed you!" she cooed.
He patted her back fondly. "Er...yeah...um...I missed you too. Come on let's get you sat down for a minute."
"Yeah, ok – I can do it myself though." She agreed.
They all watched as she wandered off – stopping next to the sofa.
"Nikki – that's not..." Max started – but it was too late and Nikki ended up on the floor with her legs in the air.
"Oh!" She commented in surprise. "It's lower than I thought it would be."
"Yes – because that's the floor, sweetie." Jack explained, glaring at Clarissa as she howled with laughter – not that Nikki seemed to notice. "The sofa's here." He remarked pulling her to her feet and settling her on it. "So...um...why are your clothes so wet?"
"I swam in the fountain." She told him brightly.
"What fountain?!" Jack stammered in exasperation.
"You know – in the park."
Thomas was aghast. "You mean you walked here?!"
"No – I got a thing...with wheels..." She waved her hand vaguely. "You know – the one they make you pay for!"
"A taxi? - but I thought you were in the park?" Jack muttered – thoroughly confused.
"Yeah – that was after." She nodded. "I got out the wheelie thing and walked through the park."
"Why..." Max began to ask – but Clarissa stopped him.
"Don't bother, dear – you'll not get a reasonable answer out of her at the moment!"
"So um...how did you end up in the fountain?" Thomas questioned – despite Clarissa's valid point.
Nikki looked exasperated. "Someone...put in in the middle of the path!"
"So what - you just...walked through it?" Clarissa chuckled.
"Well what else was I supposed to do?" she shrugged.
"Walk around it?!" Max retorted indignantly.
"That's a pointless thing to say." Nikki reasoned. "If I was meant to walk around it then it wouldn't be there."
They all stared at her, then Jack stood up. "Right, er – can you deal with ordering the pizza and I'll go and get her some dry clothes."
"Do you want me to pop over hers and find some, Jack?" Thomas suggested.
"No it's ok, thanks – she falls asleep on the sofa sometimes, when we watch a film. I persuaded her to keep some clothes here so I don't have to wake her up." He pulled Nikki to her feet again. "Come on then – quick sticks!"
Getting her in dry clothes was easier than he expected – given that she wasn't quite as 'with it' as normal – although she have a bit of trouble with the socks, staring at them for a while, before finally deciding that they were gloves and coming out of the bathroom with them on her hands.
"No, sweetie." The others heard Jack sigh. "They go on your feet!"
The kettle was on the boil when the two them returned to the living room. Clarissa had instructed Max that Nikki was in need of a cup of tea. The latter was now becoming a bit sleepy – her initial excitable state somewhat diluted and she curled up quite happily on the sofa next to Jack.
"Do you think she gets why I yelled at her?" He muttered to the others. "I mean I was just scared – she could have killed herself, running into that burning building like that."
"I'm pretty sure she knows, Jack – I expect that's why she drank so much." Thomas answered quietly. "She knows you were right to yell at her." The doorbell rang again. "That'll be the pizza." he remarked, getting up.
Nikki suddenly sprang into action again and ducked under Thomas's arm as he opened the door. "Hello." she giggled.
"Er, Jack? - a little help here?" Thomas commented, trying to manoeuvre her back into the flat.
"Yeah – I've got her – you get the pizza!" Jack answered appearing at the door.
"No – wait!" Nikki protested as he tried to move her away. She looked at the delivery man. "Is it...snowing outside?"
He stared at her in surprise. "er...no.
"Oh." she looked disappointed.
Jack chuckled. "Alright, come on, Nikki."
"Ooh – where are we going?" she giggled.
He rolled his eyes at her. "The sofa."
"Oh. - should I get my coat?" she asked him brightly.
Jack shook his head at her. "No."
