Oh Hi, look two stories in a week, bloody miracle! This is called Darkness and it is my attempt at a mutlichap (there will be 5 parts + epilogue)

I blame Claire (WelshClaire) for this story as over on Twitter we have been bouncing idea off each other and we are both writing our own version of the same story. So go and read hers as well.

You probably won't like me very much after this chapter, or the next, or the next... you might change your mind by part 4 :P

So enjoy!

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to the BBC, the rest is mine.

Darkness - Part 1

You were at work. Actually, when weren't you at work? You were sitting at your desk, opposite Nikki Alexander, your girlfriend. 8 months ago you'd asked her out on a date. It had taken a lot of courage and Leo "accidently" locking you in the cutting room together late one Wednesday evening, but she happily agreed.

You'd taken her to The Kowloon Kitchen for your first date. You'd taken her there before, but things hadn't exactly turned out quite right that first time. But the second time it was different. No one turned up and interrupted the perfect evening. No one interfered as you walked her home. And there was definitely no one there to disturb you as you kissed her gently in the moonlight on the steps of her apartment.

It had been a wonderful first date, and the second had been just as good, a picnic in the park. Even though a goose chased after you, obviously wanting your smoked salmon and cucumber sandwich. The third date went even better; you took her to Butterfly World. You knew she loved it there. She hadn't stopped talking about it since she last went.

It had gotten even better since. You were spending most nights at either your flat or hers, together. It was wonderful, not to mention the sex. That was fantastic. You'd asked her to move in with you yesterday and she had agreed. You were ecstatic. She meant the world to you. You were taking this relationship slowly, not wanting to rush in to things, but you knew what you wanted in the long run, marriage, kids, the whole shebang.

You kicked Nikki's foot under the desk. She squealed.

"Come on, let's get some lunch." You were starving and it was 2 o'clock. You hadn't eaten since 6 am, you weren't quite sure how Nikki did it!

You got up, grabbed her hand and pulled her up and away from her work which she was so engrossed in. She weighed barely anything. You'd noticed this since you had started dating. She was always very slim, but she seemed almost just skin and bones now. It wasn't like she didn't eat, she ate plenty but just seemed so slim. That's how she naturally was.

You wandered down the local high street, searching for something to eat. You ended up at Wagamamas. You loved it there and so did Nikki. There is nothing quite like a good Ramen to fill you up and keep you going for the rest of the day. Especially when you had a decomposition Post Mortem to do, which Leo had very kindly handed over to you after attending the scene and coming back smelling like a rat that had taken a swim in the sewers of Dennis Nielsen's house. Just what you wanted.

Nikki had nicely dodged being handed that case by offering to cover Leo's afternoon on call as he had a doctor's appointment. I envied her quick thinking.

We sat at lunch just chatting away about nothing really. Making plans to move in together. Making plans for our holiday next month to Madagascar. Nikki had wanted to go all out on out first holiday together. Seeing the jungle and doing a night trek where we would go lemur spotting, followed by a couple of nights in Antananarivo, the capital and 5 days in a luxury beach resort. It was going to be perfect. Just the two of you, away from everything.

You talked about politics too, your differing opinions on who to vote for in the next elections for London major. Boris was much better in your opinion than Ken Livingstone. Even if you were only going on hairstyle. Nikki had teased you that you only wanted to vote for Boris because his hair looked just like yours only his was blonde ad yours need the occasional bit of hair dye to stop it looking grey.

You walked back to the Lvell Centre at a leisurely pace, walking through the nearby park and feeding the ducks a little bit of bread that you had bought of the little old lady who sold it to the children. She reminded you a bit of the bird lady at St Pauls Cathedral in Mary Poppins. You whispered that in to Nikki's ear, which made her giggle.

You reached the Lyell Centre just after 3:30pm, it had been a late lunch. That was what happened when you became engrossed in a case like the pair of you had been. A double murder. They thought it was just bad luck at first. An old couple found dead in their bed. But cyanide in their bodies and bruises to their arms and shoulders suggested someone else was with them.

Nikki clutched her stomach as you sat down to finish your report before the PM. You asked what was wrong.

"Nothing, just period pains, I took some ibuprofen 20 minutes ago, It hasn't kicked in yet." You raised your eyebrow, she'd had period pains before but they'd never lasted more than a day, and this was the third day she'd complained about them. She ignored your look and continued on with her report.

It was long before her mobile rang and a DI loudly ordered that he needed her at a crime scene. As suspicious death in Harrow apparently. She kissed you, deeply, knowing that if this DI was demanding she'd be up all night doing the PM and running any and all tests required of her. You kissed her back and told her you loved her. Something which you'd only started saying in the past 3 months or so although you'd both admitted you knew you loved the other long before you could bring yourselves to say it out loud.

You went to the cutting room, preparing yourself for the decomp. PM which you knew would be hell on earth. Why did people have to lay undiscovered for weeks? These PMs were your least favourite, well that and children's.

You were elbow deep in decomposing human tissue when your phone rang. You glanced at the display. Leo, he was probably just calling to invite you and Nikki over for dinner later. He'd leave a message or call back. And call back he did. Not 10 minutes later. You still couldn't answer. Maybe he'd get the picture that you were busy, just because he had the afternoon off! Lucky sod.

An hour later and you'd finished the PM, showered and change back in to normal clothes instead of the hideous scrub that Nikki found so attractive on you. You finally picked up your phone. You had 2 voicemail, you presumed from Leo.

"Hi Harry, call me back as soon as you get this." BEEEEEEP

"Harry, its Leo, you need to get to the hospital as soon as you can. Nikki collapsed at her scene. I'll explain when you get here." BEEEEEEEP

The second message sounded urgent, very urgent. Leo sounded panicked which wasn't exactly like him. He was usually so calm even in a bad situation.

You rushed to your car and drove to the hospital, probably getting caught for speeding on the way but you didn't care. When you arrived you ran in to the A&E department looking for Leo. He was sitting in a chair in the corner, his head in his hands.

"What happened?" You panted, out of breathe.

"She collapsed, it's not looking good, Harry, they aren't sure if she'll make it."

With his words your world crumbled and everything went black.

So... tell me what you think? just a few words in that shiny new review box thingy? :)

Lizzi

xxx