Sorry this has taken me so long to update but I'm in the middle of my GCSE's, only got 3 left now though :) Add to that the fact that I've got tonsillitis and well ...
Anyway here it is, anything you do recognise belongs to the BBC!
You wake to the notion that you're wrapped in someone's arms and begin to panic. You take a deep breath and his sent hits you; you instantly feel bad for worrying. You are flooded with memories of last night and wish that you'd had the guts to tell him how you felt years ago; you could be married by now. Married! 'Hang on a minute, Nikki,' you tell yourself, one night with Harry and you've already planned out the rest of your lives.
You feel him begin to stir, signalling his return to the land of the living, he opens his eyes and you stare at each other, losing yourselves in each other's gazes.
'Last night,' he begins.
'Was amazing, should have happened years ago, will become a more frequent occurrence,' you say offering multiple ends to his sentence.
'All three,' he laughs, placing a chaste kiss on your lips. 'I've never experienced anything like that before and I hope now, I never have to stop.'
You know he's joking but there is a serious look in his eyes and you recognise it immediately, you've felt it so many times before. Fear. It's a fear if abandonment, of losing everyone you love and care about. You feel the need to assure him that you're not going anywhere. 'I doubt you will, you're stuck with me, Dr Cunningham,' you tease him and watch as the fear disappears from his eyes.
'You know that should make me feel scared but I can't think of anything that I'd like more.' He looks straight at you and pulls you in for a passionate kiss. When you both pull away for air you rest you head on his chest as he traces patterns on you bare back. 'Nicola Alexander, have I ever,' he begins before he is interrupted by a phone ringing. Cursing silently you both start to search for the offending object and Harry quickly pulls it out of his pocket. 'Doctor Cunningham speaking … yep, I'll be there in thirty minutes … no worries, see you son.' He says hanging up. 'It seems that someone has had the bad manners to die on us,' you've heard this joke before but it never fails to make you laugh. Hr promptly removes himself from your bed and puts on his clothes. He gives you a quick kiss and tells you that he'll see you later.
This is the happiest you've been in a long time and as you start your usual morning routine you are in a dreamlike state. Nothing manages to bring you out of it, even when you find yourself stuck in traffic and incessantly looking for a car parking space. Nothing will ruin the start of your perfect day. Nothing that is, until you bump straight into Leo. You curse inwardly as you never spoke with Harry about what to do with revealing all to Leo. Hoping that he hasn't said anything you tentatively ask Leo, 'Harry not here yet?' He looks at you, noting the smile on your face but it seems he's still in the dark.
'No, he's been called out to a scene; he wanted me to tell you to make sure you have a cup of coffee ready upon his return.' You chuckle, nothing new there then. 'So,' Leo probes, 'you look happier than you have in a while, finally over Harry?' He has a look of sympathy on his face and you can't help but smile, if only he knew the truth.
'More like under,' you mutter.
'Sorry, I didn't quite catch that,' is his reply.
'I said, something like that,' shrugging him off. Thankfully, despite your slip up, Leo seems convinced that you've met a new man, for now. You have no idea how you're going to act when Harry finally shows up. You know that it will be hard to hide your new relationship from Leo as all you want to do is kiss Harry, that and find out what the end of his sentence was.
Snapping back to the present, you remember that Leo was on call last night so it confuses you as to why Harry's at the scene instead of Leo. 'Wait,' you say as Leo begins to turn away, 'why's Harry there when you're on call this week?'
'I just arrived back myself, was on the way the Cutting Room when you ran into me.' That makes sense, you think; the SIO won't wait for Leo when there are two other pathologists who are perfectly capable attached to the Lyell Centre.
The morning drags by and there's still no sign of Harry, you assume there must be multiple bodies otherwise he would have returned already. Your thoughts are interrupted by your message tone, you open it and read:
N
Shame we were interrupted earlier can I reschedule for later?
Romantic Friday takeaway and alcohol?
Be back in 10 put the coffee on!
H xx
You chuckle, you wouldn't normally make him coffee and as far as you are concerned last night changes nothing professionally. He can make his own coffee and you will continue to sit at his desk. You reply to his text:
H
Tonight sounds great.
Should invite Leo for drinks so he doesn't become suspicious. Think he's busy anyway!
I'm picking the DVD. Make your own coffee nothing's changed there!
N xx
You don't receive a reply so you assume he's driving, you start to feel nervous, what if Leo finds out, what if the dead persons someone Harry knows and time repeats itself? You tell yourself not to be stupid, Harry wouldn't sleep with you and leave you like that, he cares about you.
Not much time passes before you spot Harry with a smile plastered on his face. Obviously the scene wasn't that distressing. He catches your eye and you wink at him as he makes his way over to you.
'You pick the DVF if you make me coffee,' he says tickling you and you pout, 'stop that,' he tells you, 'it makes me want to kiss you and from your message it seems as though you don't want out esteemed leader to know just yet.' Instantly you stop and start to make his coffee; at the same time you see Leo exit his office.
'What was it then Harry?' he asks.
'Three bodies, two men and a woman. Police think that the husband came home, found his wife cheating on him so shot her and her lover before killing himself.'
'Quite straight forward PM's then, Nikki you can help seeing as you have nothing better to do,' came Leo's authoritative voice. 'What time are you starting?'
'Whenever the SIO appears.'
Leo nods and returns to his office as you pass Harry his coffee, taking your own you sit back down and it's not long before he reminds you that it's his desk. You inform him that you're aware of that but make no attempt to move. He's just about to forcibly remove you from his chair when a detective enters the room.
'DI McKenna,' he greats her.
'Shall we begin?' she replies taking in her surroundings.
'Certainly,' Harry says whilst gesturing towards the Cutting Room, 'follow me.'
You've almost made it to the Locker Room when Leo catches up with you; it seems that he wants to do all three PM's simultaneously so he too will be assisting. Shame, you think, just when you and Harry could have had some alone time.
A little over an hour later, Leo has finished the PM on the husband so leaves you and Harry to it. It's around another half an hour before you're both certain you've found everything the bodies have to offer. DI McKenna leaves promptly as she has a lead to follow up but promises to be back soon, so they can go through the evidence.
For the first time since you woke up this morning, you're alone with Harry and it seems you're not the only one who's noticed. Quickly you're pressed up against the lockers, Harry's lip attacking yours and all coherent thoughts of being caught leave your mind. You've waited far too long for this, so there's some serious catching up to do. You break apart just before clothing starts to be removed, somehow, sex in the locker room doesn't appeal to you. Remembering the reason you're in here, you change out of your scrubs and into your work clothes. You've never been shy in front of Harry before and you see no reason why you should now.
'I believe you owe me the end to a sentence,' you say, hoping what you've been imagining is correct.
'Do I now?' he responds with the joking glint in his eye. You glare at him and he relents, 'ok, ok.'
'Good,' you smile, 'I believe it started like this; Nicola Alexander have I …'
'Nicola Alexander have I,' he repeats, 'have I ever told you how much I love you?'
Yes, you think, it was what you hope for, after eight years he has finally uttered the words you have always wanted him to. You lean in and kiss him again, this is something you could get used to. You pull back, lean your forehead on his and tell him that you love him too, always have, always will. You both have the biggest smiles on your faces whilst putting your shoes on.
Leo enters that locker room, announcing that the detective in waiting for you. You follow Leo, relieved that he didn't come any earlier and start to wonder how long you were alone for.
You go through the evidence with DI McKenna and she seems satisfied with double murder, followed by suicide. There is no other evidence to prove otherwise. Luckily for you, your part in the investigation is over and so, you can enjoy your evening with Harry. Glancing at the clock informs you that it's time to leave, so you and Harry grab your coats.
'Fancy a drink Leo?' you ask.
'I would but I've stacks of paperwork to complete, plus I wouldn't want to be a third wheel.'
You stare at him speechless; the only word that escapes your mouth is 'How …?'
'Well when you arrive this morning you were far too happy to have had a regular date last night, I knew almost instantly that something special had happened and I think I remember a comment about being under him.' He pauses and you curse yourself for being so stupid, after Harry, Leo knows you better than anyone. Then you remember that he heard your comment and blush, reminding yourself to be more subtle next time you want to hide something from Leo. 'Then when Harry turned up, you couldn't keep your eyes off of him, so this almost confirmed my suspicions. Then I came down to fetch you for DI McKenna I saw you pressed against the lockers so I decided to come back later.' You blush again, so Leo had seen you together.
'I'm sorry you saw that and we were going to tell you eventually but I just wanted to make sure that it's serious before we involve anyone else.'
'It's ok Nikki, I knew that you'd have your reasons, I'm just pleased that you're happy. Now go and enjoy yourselves.'
You hug him tightly, thinking how much more of a father he is compared to your own. You're very glad to have found him; thankfully neither man kicked you out after you dumped your bones on their desk and cleaned your teeth in the sink.
With a smile you and Harry leave hand in hand, oblivious to anyone else around you. When you reach your cars you go your separate ways. You to choose the DCD and to pack a change of clothes and him to pick up the take-away.
On your drive to Harry's flat you think how you could become accustomed to this, especially when he greets you with a kiss upon entering his flat. Your life can't get much better than this!
Thanks for reading, my longest chapter so far! I'm thinking of Harry's proposal in the next chapter but if there's anything you think should come before that then let me know. Please review
call-me-rose
