"There's nothing to suggest that he died from suspicious circumstances" Nikki told DCI Winters a few hours later after she had performed the autopsy on the farmer identified as Cain Collins "His liver was shot to pieces which shows long term alcohol abuse but other than that there was nothing out of the ordinary that would tell me to be suspicious but tox results should be back in a few days, they will tell if there was anything else involved"

"Right thank you" Winters nodded and ran one hand over his face "I've tried to contact some of his family but no luck just yet"

Nikki shrugged and nodded.

"I could get someone else to look at the body if you want a second opinion"

"No" Winters shook his head and reached for his phone "No yours is good. Thank you"

Nikki nodded and turned around to walk back into the lab, Harry had been called out to a scene and Leo was sitting in his office typing at his computer. Smiling to herself Nikki made her way towards the cutting room to collect her notes together. She wrapped the victim's clothes up in a tight bundle and placed them in the protective plastic bags before placing them in a pile with the other effects the man had on him at the time of death. Nikki then turned to the deceased on the table behind her and pulled a sheet over his body and wheeled him to the cooling freezers where he would stay until family was found or he was taken by the undertakers for a burial regardless of family.

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When Nikki arrived home that evening Harry was still at work so she had the house to herself. She had a long shower to get rid of the smell of deceased body and farm animals then tidied up the house and sat in front of the television watching the news until Harry came home a few hours later.

"Hello beautiful" he said as he leant down and gave her a kiss "How long have you been home?"

"Three hours?" Nikki shrugged and stood up to follow Harry upstairs to the bedroom where he undressing, she ran her eyes up and down his bare chest and smirked at him when he caught her looking.

"Yes?" he asked giving her his innocent look that she was immune to. Instead of replying she crossed the room and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss and grinned against his lips as he pushed her backwards onto the bed.

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The next morning Harry was awake and dressed before Nikki had even woken up. Knowing it was a bad sign that Nikki wasn't up after Harry had eaten breakfast he walked into their bedroom to see Nikki still sleeping in the middle of the bed. He walked over to the bed and leant over to gently wake her.

"Nikki wake up darling" he whispered and Nikki moaned and tried to swat him away. "What's wrong?"

"Tired" Nikki mumbled into the pillow and Harry chuckled and lifted the duvet away from Nikki causing her to moan loudly and curl up in a ball.

"Well if you hadn't kept me up half the night.." Harry told her

"You and your innuendoes can bugger off" Nikki told him but her eyes shone with amusement as Harry rolled his eyes and pressed a kiss onto her lips.

"Come on or you'll be late for work"

"Don't want to" Nikki whined "I don't feel well"

"What's wrong beautiful?" Harry asked, at once concerned, Nikki never liked to admit that she was ill.

"Sore throat and a headache" Nikki replied and swung her legs over the side of the bed allowing Harry to help her up "I'll be fine after some tablets"

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Halfway through the day Leo found Nikki sitting at her desk with her head in her hands, a packet of tablets and a glass of water sitting next to her on the desk.

"Nikki are you alright?" he asked and Nikki jumped and looked up at him and nodded. Leo could see her eyes were glazed over slightly and she had a sheen of sweat covering her face and forehead. He reached out and placed the back of his hand to her head like he would a child and was surprised when she leant into his touch, he was even more surprised by the heat radiating off her.

"Nikki why didn't you tell me you were feeling ill?" he chided and looked around the lab to see if Harry was anywhere in sight, he wasn't so he turned back to Nikki.

"I was fine this morning" Nikki mumbled and closed her eyes to try and control the pain from her head and most of her body.

"I think you have flu" Leo commented and wrapped his hand gently around Nikki's upper arm, Nikki winced against the pain this caused her and Leo apologised quietly. "Come on I'll take you home"

"No I'm fine to drive myself" Nikki mumbled "You have work to do"

"You are not driving yourself in this state" Leo chided her and allowed Nikki to pick up her coat and shrug it on before leading her out of the main lab and towards the car park. "I'll ring Harry to tell him I'm taking you home"


Two chapters in one day, hope you apreciate me. :D

xxx