Colliding – Shadows, Part 3

Starts at the end of the episode 13.08 – Shadows, Part 2, and just clears a few things up, really! (Or at least, I hope it does!) Part of it taken from that episode. Harry/Nikki fic including what happened in the 6 weeks, includes a bit of Leo and Janet. Enjoy xx

Disclaimer: All rights of Silent Witness belong to the BBC. I own nothing.

'Survivor of the attack, 37 year old pathologist Harry Cunningham says he is relieved that it is all over. The shootings at the LSSE 6 weeks ago damaged many, both physically and psychologically, and Dr Cunningham, having been the one to discover the bombs, is reported to have been in heavy counselling.

As we know, the bombs had been neutralized prior to the attack by Jason Renfrew, murdered the night before allegedly by Scott Weston. The 20-year-old fellow student is being held in a secure ward following recovery from cerebral injuries and although no court date has been settled of yet we can say for sure that no one will find him innocent.

Harry Cunningham, after saving Weston's life having believed him to be not guilty, broke his foot that evening. This was occurred by the doctor kicking a door in anger after discovering the truth. Hours after this incident, with a foot in plaster, he was shipped off to a chalet in South France and we at The Telegraph have been informed that he has shut himself off from everything. I suppose in the 21st century this is what you get for doing the 'right' thing...'

Harry couldn't read on. The bastard at the newspaper was too right for him to admit. Although his foot had now healed, the mental scars of that day still lingered. Stuck in the French Alps for 6 weeks, he hadn't allowed himself to find out what was going on back home. He hadn't even spoken to Leo or Nikki and, however guilt-ridden he felt for putting them through it, it was what he had to do and he knew they'd understand that. He missed them both terribly though and knew that now he'd been back for 2 days he'd have to see them.

He was immersed in his thoughts when his phone rang. He slid it open and held it to his ear. "Harry Cunningham."

"There you are!" came Leo's familiar voice. Harry could have cried. "Are you alright? When did you get back?"

"Friday evening," said Harry. "I'm fine, what about you? How's Nikki?"

"I'm fine too. Really busy though, people are dying like crazy. We could really do with another set of hands if you're up to it."

"Um yeah, sure," said Harry distracted. "What about Nikki?"

"She's... getting there," said Leo. "She came back on Wednesday, she's been to see her father in South Africa. She really misses you though, Harry. We both do."

Harry smiled, eager to see his friends now. "I'm coming in tomorrow. Alright?"

"Perfect," said Leo. "See you then!"

Harry stood there for a moment before moving towards his bedroom. He needed a good night's sleep to go into work the next day.


Nikki hummed along to her iPod as she went through the doors to the office area. She was about to sit in her seat when she realised it was already taken.

"Harry!" she said in surprise.

Harry stood up grinning. "As I live and breathe!"

Nikki laughed. "Come here!" she said and she gave him a tight Nikki-hug. "Are you okay?"

"I am now," said Harry, pouring her a cup of coffee. "You?"

Nikki shook her hair back and nodded. "Yeah, same."

Leo came in to see Nikki and also greeted Harry. "Welcome back Dr Cunningham. Papers on your desk and body in the morgue. You'll soon be wishing you hadn't come back."

Harry grinned. "Already am, Dr Lion." He laughed and patted Leo on the back as he walked to his desk. Leo watched him and leant in to Nikki. "Keep an eye on him will you?" he asked. Nikki nodded. "Will do."

However, as the day went on without mention of the Shadow Attack, Harry, Nikki and Leo quickly settled comfortably back into their usual routine and by lunchtime it was hard to think that they'd been apart for 6 weeks.

At 1.05 pm Leo popped his head round the morgue door. "Coming to the Chinese with me and Nikki?" he asked.

Harry nodded. "Of course. I'm hungry enough to eat a doctor." Laughing, he made his way to have a quick shower then rushed upstairs to see his friends for lunch.


Sitting in the office that evening, laughing with Nikki and Leo, Harry began to realise how lucky he was. All it would have taken was for a few bits of a certain sweet substance free from the cafeteria to not have been added to the bombs and he could have been blown high into the sky, never to come down again. It was a terrible thought.

As Leo made his exit, Harry looked at Nikki. "What?" he asked.

Nikki smiled. "He's happy! He deserves to be happy!"

"What about me? Don't I deserve to be happy?" wheedled Harry.

Nikki raised her eyebrows. "Not really, no. People who go and stand under bombs deserve everything they get." She grinned at him to let him know she was joking.

Sighing, Harry smirked too. "Aah, that's lovely!"

Nikki burst out laughing. This banter, it made her realise how much she'd missed the KAD the last 6 weeks. She had to find a way to tell him how she felt – and quickly. After all, it'd taken her 5 years to realise she felt that way so she didn't have any time to waste. Harry however had to keep talking.

"You know, when I was looking at that thing," he said, wanting her to understand. There was a moment's silence, unusual when Harry was around, before he continued. "-I really thought that was it. Part of me was a little bit relieved." They shared a look, both trying to communicate an unsaid message, yet both too scared to come right out and say it.

Harry continued. "You know, there's so much, I do want to have a life but half the time I've no idea how to get it..." he laughed awkwardly, desperate for comfort from his best friend.

"You don't get off the hook that easily," grinned Nikki, understanding what he meant and trying to lighten the mood. She wandered back to her desk, shaking her hair for Harry's benefit. "It's almost enough to make you believe in a high power." She sat down at her desk.

The moment was gone so Harry interjected. "Or human nature", he added, looking down at the lab papers.

Nikki looked at him as he glanced up. "Have you not read the explosives report?" he asked.

"No?"

"You were right about the two chemicals..." said Harry, reluctant to admit that Nikki was right about anything. Nikki smirked. "Mm hmm...?" "And something had been added to the mixture to stop them detonating," continued Harry.

Nikki hadn't registered that something had stopped them – she'd just been relieved to hear that Harry was safe and sound. "What?" she asked.

Harry thought theatrically for a moment. "No."

Nikki grinned. "Tell me!" she said persuasively, walking towards Harry threateningly.

"No, you're not ready," cajoled Harry, picking up a sachet of sugar and shaking it before adding it to his coffee.

"Tell me!" begged Nikki again, now desperate to know. With her eyes she followed Harry pouring the sugar into his cup, then twigged. "Sugar."

"Mm hmm," said Harry absently. Nikki pressed for more. "The sugar they found on Jason?"

"Yep." He realised this wasn't enough. "He diluted the mixture..." "...to sabotage the bombs!" finished Nikki, turning this over in her brain.

Harry nodded. "I think Jason wanted to stand up to Scott but, er, Scott could be pretty persuasive as we know!" He risked a glance at Nikki. "And he's still trying to pin it on the two dead boys."

Nikki found this shocking. "God, they would probably never have done anything more serious than 40 in a 30 mile an hour limit," she said. Harry acknowledged this and took a sip of coffee but Nikki wasn't done. "They just wanted someone to believe in."

Harry drank more coffee. "Funny who you meet, isn't it? Who you collide with?"

Nikki sighed and nodded. "Yeah, you try and steer clear."

Harry looked at her, knowing he had a chance. "How's that working out for you?"

That face, so full of emotion, moved Nikki. She didn't know what to say. Nothing came out verbally but she and Harry knew exactly what the other was thinking. Harry grinned and squeezed her hand, strengthening their connection. Nikki laughed as he pulled her towards him and bent down to kiss him on the head. Harry was too swift for her though and quickly moved his face up so lips collided with lips.

It felt so natural to be kissing Harry and it took Nikki a few moments to realise that it was a new experience. She managed to tear herself away from him and looked him in the eye. They were shining with emotion and he swallowed under her gaze. She smiled reassuringly and a magnetic force pulled them together again. Nikki ran her fingers through Harry's ebony coloured hair and he had his hands on her waist, although neither of them was aware of anything but the feel of comfort and closeness, and knowing they'd finally worked things out.

"I love you," breathed Nikki suddenly, as Harry kissed her collarbone.

It took Harry a moment to register this confession, but when he did he slowly stood up to look at Nikki. Nikki stared back at him defiantly. "I love you and I always have and I know we've been through a lot and I think that's a big part of it and it's nearly happened a few times now and I've been really hoping it would and then you went away for 6 weeks no call no message no nothing and then..."

"Nikki, I love you too," said Harry over the top of her crazy rant.

Nikki drew a breath. They looked at each other then Nikki tilted her head sideways. "Good," she said quietly. They moved in for a slower, tenderer kiss, then Harry engulfed her in a close, intimate hug, smelling her hair.

"Yours or mine?" asked Nikki after a while.

Harry pulled back and stroked her hair. "Park bench do?" he asked, twinkle alight in his eye.

Nikki laughed and picked up her bag, then let Harry take her hand and lead her out of the office. As they left they turned off all the lights and the Lyell Centre was plunged into darkness.


Leo sipped his coffee, engrossed in thought. He had a gut feeling that he and Janet might have taken the first step towards their new family, and he thought there was one more thing he needed to do before any more time went on. He couldn't do it alone though – he needed help from his as-good-as son.

Thinking of Harry, he looked at his watch and realised that he was still the only one in the office, at 9.10am. Getting up to look out of the window pensively he noticed Nikki's silver car glide into the car park. When he saw the two figure emerging he assumed Nikki must have given Harry a lift until he saw them share a quick kiss before walking into the building with their arms around each other. Smiling to himself, he sat down and started up his computer so as to look busy when they arrived in the office.

"Morning sunshine!" said Leo as Harry came to greet him. He shot him a knowing look. "Those the same clothes as yesterday?"

Harry chose to let it go. Nikki was maturing him. "Coffee?"

"No thanks, got some," said Leo. As Harry turned to go he took a deep breath. "Harry? I need a favour."

"Sorry mate I'm taken," joked Harry. Leo gave him a Look. "Okay, okay, what is it? And please do not ask me to set you up with a beautiful woman, you know I know none of them!"

Leo paused. "Um, forget it."

"No, no, no," said Harry, curious now. "Spit it out."

"Well..." said Leo. He decided to plunge in. "Can you come ring shopping with me at lunch?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "For Janet?"

Leo nodded.

"Of course," said Harry. He walked around the desk to Leo and clapped him on the back. "I'm glad you're happy. You deserve it."

"You too, mate," said Leo. "You too."

Harry turned to go and Leo couldn't resist. "Off to work then son."

Harry turned around, grinning. "Shouldn't you be cutting up a corpse?" he said in his blunt manner. Leo rolled his eyes as Nikki entered Leo's room.

"Morning, Nikki," said Leo. "Can't you keep the KAD under control?"

Nikki and Harry grinned at each other then noticed Leo looking at them. Harry put his arm around Nikki and the three of them burst out laughing in a way that only the three of them could.


Epilogue

Leo shut the door behind him and set his keys down on the hall table. The smell of lasagne cooking led him into the kitchen and as Janet turned around he pushed the bunch of flowers into her hands and gave her a quick kiss.

"Leo?" smiled Janet. "Any special occasion?"

Leo shrugged. "Do I have to have a reason?" he asked.

Janet raised her eyebrows. "Of course not," she said, turning around to find a vase in the cupboard. When she turned around Leo was down on one knee.

"Janet, will you marry me?" he said clearly.

Janet grinned. "Of course, Leo."

"Good," said Leo. Then he kissed her.

The End!

Hope you enjoyed that! It wasn't going to be very long but I got stuck in and got carried away. Story of my life. Anyway here's to Harry and Nikki, may they live forever!