Nikki has had a tough week at work. Jack, Clarissa and Thomas invite her out to the pub. When it is only Jack and Nikki left he challenges her to a game of truth or dare. Is it only a game or something more?

I own nothing.

"Nikki." Jack called into Nikki's office where she was sat thinking.

"What, sorry. It's been a long week."

"Coming to the pub?"

"Love to."

"Great, Thomas is coming too, as is Clarissa. Thomas is driving, he's on call tonight. Meet you in five?"

"Sure."

She quickly grabbed her coat, her laptop and her car keys. She made her way outside and put her belongings in Thomas's car. Clarissa was in the front with Thomas leaving her and Jack to share the back seat.

"Jack, Nikki. Hope you don't mind squishing up, my daughter booster seat is in the back."

"That's not a problem for us is it Nik? We don't mind getting close. Do we?" Jack said wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"Oh I don't know Jack. You do kinda smell today!" Nikki replied leaning into his embrace.

"Come on you lot!" Clarissa called.

Thomas drove them all to the pub and Jack brought them all a drink. Beer for him, wine for the girls and a coke for Thomas.

After about 2 hours Thomas got called out and had to leave us, Clarissa went with him so he could drop her home. Jack and Nikki were left in the booth alone. The pair were slightly tipsy at this point, Nikki more so than Jack. Nikki laughing, letting go of the tension that had come from the weeks work. Jack glad to see Nikki happy, she had seemed down this week. Jack had fancied Nikki for quite some time now, but never really thought anything of it. He cared for her deeply and was saddened when he saw her upset. Nikki also held an attraction towards him but had put it to the back of her mind and never spent time thinking about it. It was a mutual attraction that neither of them were aware of.

"You know what Jack." Nikki said suddenly.

"What Nikki?"

"I've had a terrible week, how do you fancy getting really drunk?" Nikki asked.

"I think it sounds like a fantastic idea! I'll get shots." Jack said getting up and going to the bar.

Jack returned with four shots each and placed them on the table between them.

"Right," he said, "We're going to play a game. Truth or dare. You drink after your go."

"Oh you are on!" Nikki smiled, sitting up, ready.

"Truth or dare Nikki?"

"Truth."

"Alright. Have you ever been in love?"

"Yes. Once before. He lives in America now. He was my best friend, nothing more, but I loved him."

"Loved, past tense?"

"He's moved on, I hope I have too. Your turn. Truth or dare?" Nikki replied, downing a shot.

"Dare."

"Ok, I dare you to go over to that man and get his number!"

"Oh Nik, are you doubting me?"

Jack walked over to a man sitting alone at the bar.

Nikki watched him, suppressing a giggle. She couldn't hear what was being said but sure enough after a few minutes Jack was walking back towards her, number in hand.

"Well done Jack!" Nikki smiled.

"I'm amazing! If I do say so myself! Your up." Jack announced, taking a shot.

"Well it will have to be a dare. Do your worst Hodgson!"

"Well Nikki! I dare you to go and sing in the karaoke!"

"No! This is going to be so embarrassing!" Nikki sighed as she got up and went over the the machine in the corner!"

Nikki ended up singing Happy by Pharell Williams. Nikki wasn't the best of singers but she had most of the pub singing along with her so her voice was mostly unheard. Jack stood and clapped her at the end.

"Well done Nik!"

"Thanks," she said, catching her breath and downing her drink.

"I'm going for truth."

"Fine, have you ever been skinny dipping?" Nikki said after thinking for a moment.

"Yes, I was 18, finished all my exams and my mates and I headed out camping for two weeks. We went with a group of girls and we all ended up in a lake one night completely naked." Jack answered.

"Sounds like it was a great weekend."

"Mmm... From what I remember!" Jack laughed. Taking a shot. "Truth or dare Nik?"

"Dare." Nikki answered.

"Go up to the bar and buy the hottest thing they can offer you and then eat it."

"Oh Hodgson, have you not noticed my ability to have heat?" Nikki asked not fazed at all, she could handle spices, chillies, whatever.

Nikki returned to the booth with a red chilli and ate it all. Jack sat there impressed.

"Wow Nik, I didn't expect you to be able to handle that!" Jack confessed.

"There's more to me than you know Jack!"

Nikki took a shot.

"Right my turn, dare." Jack said.

"I dare you to go to the toilets and take off you boxers and then come out wearing them over your jeans." Nikki dared.

"Oh, Nik! Your ruining all my chances!" Jack pretended to sulk and went and did as she said.

He cam back out wearing brightly coloured boxers over his jeans and she could not suppress her laughter, he got so many looks walking through the pub.

"I've done it." He stated. Downing his shot.

"Indeed!" Nikki laughed.

Jack smiled, she was happy again.

"Your final shot, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Do you want kids?"

Nikki was silent, staring at him. it was something she had always wanted, something that's she had always fantasised about. Family, love, care. But she'd never found the right person. She thought about Jack. Then stopped herself. It would never happen.

"Yes." She replied after a moment.

"How many?" Jack asked.

"Two."

"When?"

"One question, that's all your allowed!" Nikki said perking up again, laughing. She took her shot.

"Come on Nikki! You didn't give me much then!" Jack moaned.

"No more. What about you, truth or dare?"

"Fine! Truth please!" Jack agreed.

"Do you want children, if so how many?" Nikki asked.

"I do want children, and like you I also want two."

"When?" Nikki asked.

"No. Not saying anymore!" Jack answered. Doing his last shot.

"Oh come on! You got two questions!" Nikki pointed out.

"Yes but your one question included two questions!"

"So, I still only asked one."

"Fine, I want kids as soon as I can. I want to love and care for someone as much as they would love and care for me. I want family. It's something I've always wanted, something I've fantasised about" Jack stated.

Nikki stared at him. He had just said exactly what she was thinking moments before.

"The thing is Nikki I just can't seem to tell the person that I love, that I want to love and care for her, and start a family with because I'm worried she doesn't feel the same way."

"Right, well how long have you known this woman?" Nikki asked.

"Well a few years ago I started working at this new place and she was there. From the moment that I first saw her I thought she was amazing but way out of my league. You see she's my boss and I don't want to make things awkward between us." Jack explained.

"Well what if this girl that you like felt the same way? Nikki asked holding back a smile. She moved closer to him.

His eyes found hers, he looked hopeful. "Then I would love very much to kiss her right now and then take her home, if she was ok with that of course." He moved closer now too.

"Well, I think that would be ok, but she would prefer to bring you back to hers."

"I'm sure I could manage that is that's what she wants." Jack smiled. They were sitting right next to each other now.

"That's what I want," Nikki murmured.

Their foreheads pressed against each other.

"You know once we go there, there's no going back." Jack said.

"I know." Nikki assured.

"Ok then,"

Jack leant in slightly, their mouths touched briefly. Her soft lips brushed against his.

Nikki pressed her lips back against his. She was sure of this. She had always cared, always thought he was out if her league. He was slightly younger, her colleague. He was the one, Thomas had told her weeks ago, who was jealous of her and that police officer. She hadn't taken any notice. Of course she liked Jack, just never imagined he would be interested.

He responded. He was sure. He had always cared, always thought she was way out of his league. She was slightly older, his boss. She was the one, Clarissa had told him weeks ago, who was jealous of him with the police officer. He had taken any notice. Of course he liked Nikki, just never imagined she would be interested.

She broke away. "Let's go" she whispered.

They stood up. Jack took her hand in his own and they walked out the pub together, getting some odd stares because Jack still had his boxers over his jeans.

There was a cab waiting outside the pub which they got into and went back to Nikki's.

"Can I offer you a drink?" Nikki asked as she opened the door to her flat.

"No, I'm alright." Jack answered. Taking his coat off.

Nikki was nervous. Jack had been to hers before just never like this.

"Something to eat perhaps?" She asked.

"No, no, I'm fine."

"Ok, why don't we go and sit down." Nikki suggested nervously. She had no idea why she had suddenly gotten so nervous.

"Nikki, if your having second thoughts, I can go." Jack said.

"No! Please stay. It's just been a while since I felt this way about anyone. Just, please, stay." Nikki said as she made her way closer to him.

"Of course." Jack said looking at her.

They stood millimetres apart now. Nikki lent up and the gap between them closed. Jack responded immediately. The kiss only lasted a moment but it left them both hungry for more. Jack wrapped his arms around Nikki and lifted her up, pushed her back against the wall. Kissing her again.

She made no effort to stop him. This was what she wanted. What was missing in her life.

They broke apart for a moment. Jack looked at her.

"Sure?" He asked one final time.

"Sure." She confirmed.

He carried her into her bedroom and the door shut behind them.

What do you think?