Harry met Nikki in their usual pub later that evening and they sat on a table in the corner of the room, hoping not to be disturbed by anyone. Harry ordered a bottle of red wine and they shared it between them, there was always time for more anyway.

"When was the last time you went on holiday?" Harry asked Nikki suddenly as she sipped her wine and he could see she had to think about it. "I mean a proper holiday, rest, relaxation, not just a trip to another country"

"I can't remember" Nikki shrugged and put her empty wine glass back on the table "Before uni I think"

Harry picked up the wine bottle and re-filled Nikki's glass for her as she smirked at him.

"Are you trying to get me drunk Harry?" she giggled and Harry chuckled.

"Of course I am" he nodded seriously but the corners of his mouth twitched "Before uni?" he repeated and Nikki nodded "I suppose that's when I had mine as well. God we know how to have a fun life don't we?" he joked and Nikki sniggered into her wine and nodded.

"Well we're too in love with our work" she shrugged "Why do you ask?"

"Well there was a stupid competition on the radio this morning" he started and Nikki laughed loudly and shook her head, interrupting him and causing Harry to glare at her.

"You didn't" she giggled and Harry nodded sheepishly "Oh dear"

"Well I won't tell you the outcome then" Harry shrugged and picked up his wine glass, refusing to say anymore. However Nikki was having none of that and moved closer to him, placing her hand on his arm and sending a strong urge to lean down and kiss her through Harry's body. He resisted however, with a lot of difficulty.

"Please?" Nikki begged and Harry shook his head

"Nope"

"Harry"

God help him she was pouting at him, she really was tipsy he decided.

"Fine" he sighed dramatically and Nikki grinned triumphantly but didn't move away from him "Well I won a three week holiday for two"

"Where to?" Nikki enquired and cocked her head to one side, interested now.

"Adelaide"

"Australia?" Nikki asked after a few seconds and Harry nodded.

"Yes. Private house right by the beach for three whole weeks"

"When do you go?"

"In two weeks" Harry explained and turned away from her, fiddling with the top of his wine glass "and well, it's for two, and I thought that maybe..well..you might like to come with me" he told her uncertainly and Nikki frowned.

"Me?"

"No, the invisible man sitting next to you" Harry joked and Nikki slapped him on the arm as she laughed.

"Of course I'll go with you, I've always wanted to go to Australia"

"Really?" Harry asked, not believing his luck as Nikki nodded again. He was going to spend three weeks in the same house as the woman he...as his best friend.

"What about work though?" Nikki enquired sadly "We can't leave Leo all alone"

Harry thought for a minute, he could tell Leo that he and Nikki wanted to spend some time together. But Harry knew Leo would jump at the chance for Harry and Nikki to spend some close time together, the sneaky bugger. Harry caught himself smirking as he thought of Leo trying to pair him and Nikki up but wiped it off his face as he looked at the woman who was sitting very close to him. As if she liked him any more than a best friend, not will all those other men she had chasing her. Harry sighed and downed the rest of his wine in one gulp.

-----------

"I don't think you're in any fit state to go home by yourself" Harry told Nikki as he tried to get his key in the lock of his front door but failed. "Damned lock keeps moving" he whined and Nikki giggled loudly as she leant closer to him and looked over his shoulder. This allowed Harry to breathe in the smell of her coconut shampoo. Her hair tickling his shoulder and the top of his chest slightly where it fell down the front of his slightly open shirt.

"It's not the lock" Nikki slurred slightly and reached up to grip his hand, Harry trying to ignore the sudden spark that shot through him at this contact. She helped him guide the key into the lock and they stumbled into his house, slamming the door loudly behind them as they tumbled into the living room and collapsed onto the sofa.

"I think..you should stay here" Harry slurred again and Nikki just leant her head on his shoulder and nodded "Because knowing you like I do, you'll end up in some situation which I have to save you from"

When he didn't get a reply from Nikki he looked down at her and saw that she was asleep on his shoulder. Even in his drunken state Harry thought she looked beautiful and he couldn't help but lean down and press a kiss onto her lips. He then moved slightly and lay Nikki down on the sofa, taking her boots off and then trying to walk steadily out of the room to find some sort of blanket and pillow for her.

-----

The next morning Harry woke with a terrible headache and he had to fight to remember why he had one. When it all came back to him, Harry lifted his head off his pillow and flinched at the light pouring through his bedroom windows, he had obviously not closed his curtains the night before and was now suffering for it. Harry lay there for another ten minutes feeling sorry for himself before he forced himself out of bed and down the stairs, running one hand through his hair as he did so. When he walked into the living room he saw Nikki sitting up on the sofa, looking just like he felt.

"Morning" he smiled and she looked up and smiled back as she stood up. "Paracetamol?"

"Morphine?" Nikki asked hopefully when she followed him through to the kitchen and Harry made a face.

"I'm fresh out of that. Sorry Nikki" he joked and Nikki grinned at him, before seating herself on one of the kitchen chairs.

"Thanks for letting me stay" she mumbled through her hands as she brought them to her face. Nikki glanced up when she heard a glass being put on the table and Harry handed her two tablets as she picked up the glass of water and sipped it.

"Well I couldn't let you go home by yourself" Harry reasoned from where he was just putting the coffee machine on, adding an extra scoop of coffee to make it even stronger "Who knows what would have happened to you"

"I am quite capable of taking myself home thank you very much" Nikki countered and poked her tongue out at the male pathologist who smirked back at her, making Nikki's insides go all funny and it had nothing to do with the hangover she had. Nikki felt herself blush slightly and looked down at the table, pretending to wipe up some imaginary spilt water.

"Breakfast?" Harry asked, seemingly having missed Nikki's embarrassment "Eggs? Bacon? Toast? Hashbrowns?"

Nikki just moaned loudly and lay her head in her hands while Harry laughed loudly.


As I was asked nicely ;)

xxx