Two months had passed since that night, and Diane, true to her word, had not spoken of it. Nikki remembered the days after the event; she had walked up and down the house, feeling guilty one moment, then okay and normal the next. The night before her first shift, she had managed only a few precious hours of sleep, yet even then she had dreamed of Diane and their shared night. Nervously, she had entered Sun Hill the next day, but at the briefing Diane hadn't acted any differently to her, just the same as she had the last shift, or any other day for that matter. In the following weeks, Diane did not bring up that night and kept her promise — in fact, only talking to her when she had to — and the time had gone on, yet Nikki had fallen for her, more than before, Until now, when she realised that she was irrevocably and utterly in love with Diane Noble.

The thought caused mixed emotions for her. The thoughts of that night were pure joy, but then she would feel guilty (something she felt she should experience) as she had a husband and kids. She also knew that Diane would never be hers, yet a voice whispered in the back of her head that Diane could be, if she wanted. It had crossed her mind that she had never been out of love with Diane, but merely hidden her feelings when she had broken the relationship up.

The day had started badly. First Nikki's realisation as to the date, two months since she and Di had slept together – not that she was counting. Then there was the argument with the girls at breakfast about school notes being signed, which had made them late to school, and Nikki almost late to work. Once at work, she found that one of her P.C's had called in sick, which left her to be out on patrol where she was now, cruising the streets of Canley with P.C Taylor.

Suddenly, a call came over the radio. "There is a domestic occurring on the Larkmeade Estate, can anyone deal?"

Nikki looked at Leon and nodded.

"Sierra Oscar 87, show us dealing."

Leon turned the car around and, with the sirens blaring, they arrived at the scene two minutes later.

What had started as an argument looked a lot more serious once they got there.

"Backup required at the last address, it's turning into something more serious." Nikki said over the radio, her brain kicking into automatic.

Leon had started to go towards the group of men, one who looked like the shop owner against a group of youths. Nikki quickly followed.

"Okay what's going on here?" Leon yelled.

"He's a racist, a filthy racist!" one lad yelled to Leon.

"I am not! They come in and break up my store, I kick them out, and then they think it's racial."

The yelling continued.

"Can you all shut up?" Nikki yelled at the crowd, who stopped for a moment, where both sides of the story were given.

"Okay look, there's been a misunderstanding, why don't we all just go away and start fresh tomorrow, okay?" Nikki suggested at the group.

The group moved away, and the owner went back into the store just as another car was arriving. Nikki breathing a sigh of relief that it was over that quickly walked over to the patrol car and was about to tell them to go away, when there was a yell.

Quickly turning around, she saw the youths in the store. Understanding that not everything was okay, she ran her way towards the shop. Leon was quick on her tail.

When the other officers arrived, Nikki spoke to them all.

"Okay, we go in, arrest as many as we can, and get them to the station. Go!"

She ran in with the others, and was soon struggling with a man.

"I am arresting you for causing damage and public disturbance, you do not have to say anything, but what you do say will be used in evidence do you understand!" She yelled to the man that she had pushed up against the wall.

In reply there was a grunt then she pushed him towards the door into the arms of a waiting officer. She looked around and surveyed the scene, it was a mess. She saw the owner and walked up to him.

"Are you okay to clean this up?"

"It will be okay."

"Do you happen to have CCTV?"

"No, it broke a few months ago."

"Okay, when you can, come down to the station and make a statement, I am assuming that you want to press charges."

"I will close up, and come down straight away."

With that, Nikki sighed and walked out to Leon and the waiting car.

Nikki walked into the station and Smithy came up to her.

"Nikki, there's been a call of someone up on a roof with a kid, they asked for you personally."

"Me personally?"

"Yep, Larkmeade Estate. Diane can take you." he said indicating the officer on his right, whom she hadn't even noticed.

Nikki turned quickly to Leon, who had been listening.

"Sorry Leon, but I need to go. Will you work on this with the other officers?"

"Sarge."

"Right, lead the way P.C Noble", Nikki said with a slight smile in her voice.

"You're smiling Nikki, is this the right situation?"

"Let's just say, seeing you is turning into the best part of my day."

"Careful Nikki, it might sound like you care more than you do!" Diane cautioned.

Nikki was cut off by answering as they arrived at the situation.

Sgt Stone came up to them. "The person's name is Len and he has his daughter up on the roof with him. He is not allowed access to her, but that was broken this morning at 8am, on her way to school. The girl is called Lisa and she is twelve."

"Right, thanks Stone." The name puzzled her; she didn't remember the name, why was she wanted?

Nikki took a deep breath and headed up the stairs, walking towards a situation that no police officer ever wanted to be in. Diane followed, ready to take both down the building.

She could see the door to the roof, it was slightly ajar. Diane, at seeing this, grasped Nikki's shoulder and squeezed. "You can do this, Nik."

Nikki nodded and edged towards the door she pushed it open slightly more. Nikki saw the man, Len, and the daughter, who he was holding onto and they were sitting on the edge of the building.

Taking another deep breath, she spoke up. "Len, this is Sergeant Nikki Wright, can I come onto the roof?"

"Okay, but take off your radio."

Nikki took the radio off and threw it onto the roof, so Len could hear it clatter, then she slowly entered the roof.

Len must have heard her, as he started talking. "See what you have done to me Nikki, taking me away from my child? I was driven to this! I am going to jump, were both going to go over, and it's your fault! You're going to have this on you conscious for the rest of your life!"

"Len, please."

"You don't remember me do you?"

"I remember now." True, she did. That case, he had been abusing the wife, who had sought care. The courts had decided that he was unfit to look after his daughter. Yet Nikki knew that it wasn't the time to remind him of this part of the story. She needed to get the girl back on to the roof, then him.

"Len, please, we can talk about this, it can end a lot better than the way it's going. If you do any more you won't even be able to see your daughter."

"No, this will be better, we will forever be together, and that bitch that calls herself Lisa's mother will suffer like I have!"

At this the daughter let out a terrified scream.

"Len, Lisa's scared, she doesn't want to die, let her go please, then we can talk."

By this stage she had edged closer to the two, and she heard Lisa say something.

Nikki wasn't quite sure what the daughter had said, but suddenly Len turned around and let her go.

Diane was waiting at the door and the girl ran to her and they went down the stairs.

"Thank you Len."

"What are you going to do for me now?"

"Well if you come down now, we can talk and sort something out."

"Will Lisa be able to live with me?"

"I don't—"

Suddenly Len jumped. Nikki ran towards the ledge, but she was too late, he was gone, she looked over and saw him land on the ground. She could tell instantly that he was dead.

She crumpled and lay on the ground. She should get up, they would need her on the ground, but she suddenly found that she couldn't move. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't move. Yet no tears came, it was like she was in shock.

She wasn't sure how long she was up there for, but suddenly she could feel arms around her, and Diane was talking to her.

"Nikki, are you okay? Are you injured? Talk to me."

She managed to shake her head and mumble that she was okay, no injuries.

"Good, you had me worried. Come on, Stone's worrying."

Diane helped Nikki to her feet and helped her down the stairs, letting go of her just before they came out on the ground. Nikki instinctively looked to where Len had jumped, he was covered and the area was already cordoned off.

"Are you okay Nikki?" Stone asked walking quickly up to her.

"Yeah, I am just shaken."

"Well get back to the nick, and let the FME have a look at you. P.C Noble, make sure of that okay?"

"Sarge. Sarge, come on."

They were halfway to Sun Hill before Nikki spoke up. Diane had been running a quiet commentary.

"He's dead Diane, and I didn't stop it."

"Nik, there was nothing you could do, okay? Nothing, so don't dare blame yourself, okay."

"I know, it's just that someone is still dead."

"Okay move your head to the left, right. Now lift your right leg. Good." The FME said.

"You're good to go, but stay in the station, okay?"

"Okay, reports to write anyway." Nikki answered the FME.

An hour and a half later Nikki lent back into her chair, the reports sat printed on her desk. She had just finished reading through them. Sighing, she got out of her chair and went to the Inspectors' office.

"Inspector, here are the reports for today."

"Thanks Nikki, are you okay?" Weston asked concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine, Ma'am."

"Okay, have a rest tonight Nikki, see you tomorrow." Inspector Weston knew when to let it go; Nikki would go and talk to Doug anyway.

Nikki walked back to her office, meeting most of the relief including the other sergeants heading off to the pub for a drink. She politely declined, a family night was needed she told them. She didn't have any particular place to go in mind, but her legs made the way back to the now empty sergeants' office. Once there, she loosened her neck tie and sat down. 5pm, she should be going home now. Doug would be expecting her, but something pulled at her to stay for a moment. She needed to think, to comprehend everything that had happened today.

Nikki was woken out of her revere by someone knocking on her door.

"Come in."

Nikki looked up to see Diane out of uniform in a pair of blue jeans and a deep purple v neck walk in the door, her hair was still up, but loosely.

"I just wanted to check that you're okay, Nik."

"You keep calling me Nik."

"Old habit, hard to beat, I suppose."

"Hmph"

Nikki wasn't quite sure what came over her, as suddenly butterflies appeared in her stomach, but she had taken the three steps to Diane, and had pulled her into a hug.

Diane was stiff at first, but then melded into the hug, holding Nikki tight, as if for dear life.

Nikki lent her head onto Diane's shoulder and just stayed there for what felt like hours, Silent tears rolling down her eyes and onto Diane's shoulder. Finally the tears stopped, and Nikki realized that somehow Diane just holding her, had helped her sort out everything. She knew that from this moment it was fine. She had accepted everything that had occurred today, and would go home and be okay. Diane had done what Doug used to do. Be that thing that would fix the world, help her get her mind straight, back to normal.

Slowly she leaned back so she was looking Diane in the face. Diane just stared back but didn't move; it was like she was frozen. Nikki moved her face closer to Diane's and then their lips were touching. Nikki kissed Diane, touching her lips softly Nikki felt Diane respond to the kiss, moving her lips against Nikki's.

The kiss quickly escalated in passion, the last two months coming out into that kiss. Nikki broke the kiss. She didn't want to, but her body's demand for breath had become apparent. She could hear Diane's heavy breathing, which matched her own, and this wasn't just due to a lack of air.

Nikki kissed Diane once again, pushing her up against the desk, leaning into each other, every inch of their bodies touching, but then she pulled away.

She had to go home. She didn't want to, no, she wanted to stay with Diane, but there was a responsibility that she had. Diane looked at her and understood, giving her a small smile. Then after one small kiss, Diane slipped out of the room. Nikki sighed in frustration and kicked the door, which only resulted in her hurting herself, whilst a tear slipped out of her eye. Why did life have to be so complicated? Why did she have to break it up with Diane so long ago? Why did she have to marry Doug? She quickly changed and was only a few minutes from home, when she saw her mobile buzz. It would be Doug asking where she was. Oh well, she would be home any minute.

As she entered the door, Doug met her.

"Where have you been? Its 5.45, I was worried."

"I had a suicide this afternoon; I needed to think for a little bit. Sorry I should have called, I just wasn't in the right mind space."

"That's okay, are you okay?" he asked, pulling her into a hug.

"I'm fine," Yet the hug wasn't as comfortable as the one Diane had given her.