A/N: I think my fingers are running away with me with on this one.

I like to see you but then again,

It doesn't mean you mean that much to me.

'Come on, you don't really have to go,' Diane said persuasively, while tickling her fingers around the base of Nikki's spine. 'You can stay a bit longer.'

The now-familiar touch still had the usual effect of her being willing to do anything but… 'I can't be late tonight.'

Diane sighed then came between her and the bathroom mirror she was using to straighten her hair out. 'Yeah, I know. Pity though.'

Nikki smiled when she found Diane's lips on hers and the nearly-naked form pressing against her own fully-clothed one. Then she reluctantly pulled away. 'I have to go.'

There was a mischievous glint in the constable's eye. 'I know.'

'Get off then!'

Laughing, Diane released her. 'You're a spoilsport.'

'And you're a bad influence,' Nikki replied, moving back to the living room to collect her bag and coat. Turning back to the doorway, she found Diane blocking it. 'Please?'

The constable grudgingly moved aside. 'Just because I'm so nice.'

'I'll see you tomorrow at work, okay?'

Diane nodded. 'See ya.'

As she drove home along the deserted roads Nikki found herself contemplating the last weeks and how they had changed her.

Ever since she had appeared on Diane's doorstep there hadn't really been a pause for thought between them. That night she'd stayed, awoken on the sofa after she moved there when Diane had drifted to sleep. The thought of waking up in the same bed as another woman… in that way… had been too abstract for her to acknowledge. Sleeping in the same bed suggested an attachment; at least in her eyes it did. And there wasn't one, not really. So she never stayed over now. She left afterwards to go home to the family. The guilt was still immense, it prickled at her when she tried to sleep at night, but she managed to control it somehow. She didn't love Diane; it was a physical attraction and one that she couldn't dismiss, however much she wanted to sometimes. They were in a routine now; an unbreakable one.

'This looks like fun,' Emma commented as they parked in front of a block of flats on the Jasmine Allen Estate which were surrounded by a large mob.

Silently agreeing, Nikki nevertheless got out of the car and approached the crowd. It was too much to hope for that it would split for them to walk through but the deliberate banding-together of the majority of the group suggested they were making a conscious effort to keep them out of flat number six.

'Alright!' she shouted over the baying group. 'Could someone tell me what's going on? Why are you keeping Mr Hendry from coming out of his home?'

'Oh, he can come out alright!' a woman near the front said. 'We wanna see him!'

Directing her next question specifically at the woman, Nikki asked, 'And who are you?'

'Gabby Bryce.'

'Right. And do you want to tell me what's going on?'

'What, he didn't tell you when he rang up?' Gabby answered sarcastically. 'I'm so surprised!'

With a backwards glance at Emma, Nikki replied, 'Well, he didn't phone us actually. A concerned neighbour did.'

'Ha!' Gabby exclaimed triumphantly. 'See, if that's not guilt, I don't what is!'

'And what's he guilty of?'

'He's been touching up kids,' a smaller woman, almost on the sidelines, muttered. 'Young girls.'

Nikki looked towards Emma who took the hint and moved to call for backup. 'What's your name?'

'Sarah Phillips,' she said, moving forward. 'Look, I didn't want all these people here. I just wanted to talk to him.'

'Yeah, and we wanna talk to him an all!' Gabby said loudly. 'We've got rights as mothers.'

Nikki refrained from glaring at the hindrance, instead she focussed solely on Sarah Phillips. 'Where do you live?'

'Forty Haydon House, it's on the third floor.'

'Right. Would you mind going home and I'll come along as soon as I can so we can talk about this properly? We're not going to get anywhere like this.'

'I know,' Sarah answered sadly. 'I couldn't stop it.'

After Sarah Phillips disappeared into her own block, there were the echoes of more sirens to mix in with the disparaging noises of the crowd. Nikki moved back to greet the car which pulled up with Inspector Gold and Diane in it.

With a brief nod, she indicated the group. 'Okay, that lot are protesting against Gavin Hendry, the occupant of number six. They're led by that woman there, the one in the blue jacket- Gabby Bryce. She's a gobby little cow, she's just trying to stir things up.'

Gina nodded. 'And what exactly are they protesting for?'

Nikki sighed. 'They think Gavin Hendry's been abusing kids.'

There was silence until Diane asked, 'What do we know about him?'

'Well, he has been inside,' Emma said, coming back over to them. 'I've just been onto Jo. He served eighteen months for burglary, got out two months ago and moved here.'

'No hint of interest in kids?' Gina questioned.

'None at all, Ma'am. Jo's going to get onto the prison though, see if there's anything they can tell us.'

The Inspector nodded. 'Right. You and Diane try and break up this crowd, threaten arrest if necessary but we don't want the cells full on public disturbance charges, alright?' When they moved off towards the mob, she continued, 'You and me need to have a word with Gavin Hendry.'

'Yes, Ma'am,' Nikki answered. 'Afterwards I need to talk to a woman called Sarah Phillips, I'm pretty sure she's the original accuser.'

'So we've got her to thank for this lot then?'

Watching Gabby Bryce spit in the general direction of Emma, Nikki grimaced. 'No, I don't think so.'

When they finally battled through to the front of the crowd and knocked on Gavin Hendry's door, a female face peeked out through the curtains of the living room, then came to open the door. 'Please, come in.'

Nikki followed Gina over the threshold then closed the door behind her. In the living room a pale man in his early thirties, who could only be Gavin Hendry, was pacing around the flat, something difficult to do in a place that size.

The woman sat down heavily. 'I'm Jessica Hendry, Gavin's sister.'

'I'm Inspector Gold, this is Sergeant Wright. You live here as well?' Gina queried, wandering around the sparse flat and taking note of the lack of personal effects and such. There were no pictures, Nikki could see that from her own position by the door, and the whole room seemed to be strangely impersonal and detached.

'No, I'm just saying here for a while,' Jessica answered. 'My place is being decorated. I live on Silver Street.'

The Inspector nodded. 'Mr Hendry?'

He halted his pacing for a second. 'I haven't done anything!'

'Alright. But half the estate seem to think you have.'

'It's not Gavin's fault,' Jessica said, half-angrily. 'They just turned up this morning, shouting and screaming.'

Nikki stepped further into the room. 'Have you heard what they're shouting?'

Gavin Hendry reddened. 'Yes.'

'Is it true?' Gina asked.

'No, of course it isn't!' he replied. 'I wouldn't do that!'

'You were recently in prison, Mr Hendry…' went on Gina.

'For burglary! And I served my time!'

Exchanging a glance with Inspector Gold, Nikki suggested to Jessica, 'How about we put the kettle on?'

When they were in the kitchen, Jessica sighed. 'I can't believe this! Gavin hasn't done anything. He's just trying to make a new life for himself.'

After filling the kettle, Nikki asked, 'Have you heard of a woman called Sarah Phillips?'

'No. Why, did she start this?'

'I don't think so. But she was outside.'

Jessica was quiet. 'What's going to happen now?'

'Well, I wouldn't advise staying here. We can't guarantee your safety.'

'We haven't got anywhere else to go! Why's this happening?'

Leaving the flat fifteen minutes later, Nikki made her way over the separate block where Sarah Phillips lived. The crowd had mainly dispersed, Diane and Emma were still arguing with Gabby Bryce though.

Sarah Phillips let her in then went back to rearranging the kitchen cupboards. Nikki could sympathise with the need to be doing something; it was an action she frequently participated in when she was worried.

'Can you tell me why you think Gavin Hendry is guilty of child abuse?' Nikki began after a short silence.

The woman stiffened for a second then let out her breath. 'My daughter splits her time between me and her father. She's eight and we close so… She was staying here last night. I went to the shop when she was asleep. I know I shouldn't have but I needed milk for her cereal and…'

'It's okay,' Nikki said. 'Go on.'

'When I… I got back and the door had been kicked in. I came inside and this bloke in a balaclava pushed me down and ran out. When I got into Carrie's room she was crying and she said… She said he touched her.'

Sighing, Nikki asked, 'What makes you think it was Gavin Hendry?'

'I didn't!' Sarah dropped a cup, watching it smash to pieces on the hard floor. 'I spoke to Gabby about it and she blamed him.'

'Are you good friends with Gabby?'

'No. She's just… Well, she's around, you know? It's better to be nice to her.'

Nikki nodded. 'I can understand that. So, why did she think it was him particularly?'

'She said he hasn't lived here long, she knows everyone else and he was the only one she didn't know. She just went on and on, the next thing I knew half the estate was out there!'

'No one's blaming you, Sarah,' Nikki insisted. 'And we're taking this very seriously, I promise you. My colleague's interviewing Mr Hendry now and if she thinks there's anything suspicious about his story she'll arrest him. But,' she continued, watching her closely, 'you don't believe it was him, do you?'

'I don't know who it was,' she admitted, half-tearfully and half-angrily. 'But my little girl's…'

'Where is she? We'll need to speak to her.'

'She's with her dad. He was so mad when I told him.'

'Do you get on with him?' Nikki queried carefully.

'Not after this.'

When she left Sarah Phillips' flat, Nikki bumped into Diane on the stairs. 'Hiya.'

'How'd that go?' Diane questioned as they descended the staircase.

'I've got an address for Gary Phillips, he's taken his daughter after what happened.'

'What did happen?'

Briefly explaining, Nikki concluded with, 'She's in a right state.'

By this time they were in the courtyard and Diane thoughtfully surveyed the mess outside Gavin Hendry's flat. 'Everyone needs a scapegoat. Bloke with a criminal record, easy target.'

'Realistically, it could've been anyone on the estate,' Nikki said, looking at the blocks of flats all around them. 'Is there any CCTV? That's working, I mean.'

Diane smiled wryly. 'Emma's looking into it, but I wouldn't hold your breath. Inspector Gold took Gavin Hendry and his sister down to the station. For their own protection, I think.'

Nikki nodded. 'Okay, you wait for Emma and then go back to the station. I'm off to talk to Gary Phillips.'

'Yes, Sarge.'

Glancing back at Diane, Nikki caught the smile on her lips. 'Get moving.'

'Yes, Sarge.'

Nikki watched her round the corner then pulled out her mobile phone. After filling in Jo Masters on events she then proceeded to Bayliss House to disturb Gary Phillips.

Later that afternoon, Nikki arrived back at the station with Gary and Carrie Phillips. It had taken a lot of persuading- both from her and DI Nixon who had arrived at the flat soon after herself- to get the father to consent to his daughter being interviewed. He adamantly refused any contact with his ex-wife, he seemed to blame her for the entire thing. Leaving the pair with DI Nixon she made a quick phone call to Sarah Phillips, just to keep her in the loop, though she advised her not to come down to the station, however difficult it was for her.

Jo was conducting the interview with Carrie in the soft interview room. After grabbing a coffee, Nikki joined DI Nixon and Gina Gold in watching the live video stream.

'You're doing great so far, Carrie,' Jo was saying. 'Now, when he was talking to you, telling you to be quiet, was there anything about his voice that seemed a bit different? Did he sound like he was from London?'

The girl nodded. 'Yeah.'

'Okay.' Jo paused. 'You're doing really well.'

'I think…' Carrie said hesitantly. 'I think he had a beard.'

'Why'd you say that?' Jo questioned.

'Because my Uncle has a beard and when he talks he… He brushes it with his teeth, makes a noise.'

'Gavin Hendry doesn't have a beard does he?' Samantha Nixon asked.

Gina shook her head. 'Totally clean-shaven.'

'Then he's not our man.'

'Try telling that to his neighbours,' Nikki replied.

It was always frustrating to have to leave when you hadn't even broken the ice on a case. But the wall just seemed impenetrable. No CCTV of any use on the Jasmine Allen, no witnesses except the dozen or so residents who now claimed to have seen Gavin Hendry acting suspiciously the previous night, even when he had a concrete alibi of three people. Carrie couldn't recall anything else- which was no real criticism of her, it would've been an ordeal for anybody to contend with, let alone an eight year-old. Gary Phillips was being singularly unhelpful; the cynical side of Nikki believed he was going to use this as ammunition for full custody of his daughter. It was just a mess, and one that she regretted leaving for the night.

As she left the station she bumped into Diane. She had the distinct feeling the constable had been waiting for her. 'Hi.'

Nikki restrained her impulse to glance around before she answered, 'Hiya.' Work was usually fine; she barely saw Diane really, but, whenever she passed her in more than a professional capacity, she felt watched. It set her off-balance, she hated that feeling. 'Waiting for me?'

Diane began walking alongside her towards the car park. 'Just wanted to see if you were alright. Days like today are annoying.'

'I don't like the thought of this man being out there,' Nikki admitted with a shrug.

'We'll get him,' Diane answered. 'Tomorrow, next week. But we will get him.'

'What, before he gets to another defenceless little girl?'

Diane was quiet for a few steps then she asked, 'Do you blame the mother?'

Nikki looked sideways at her. 'I can't bring myself to.'

'She left her on her own.'

'Hundreds of women do that everyday. Sarah was just unlucky.'

'It must've been planned, right?' Diane went on. 'I mean, the balaclava and everything… He was prepared.'

'Is that supposed to be a comfort?' Nikki queried.

'No, I just mean that Carrie Phillips was the intended victim. Think about it, opportunistic criminals don't hang about on the third floor of a building. They want to get away if things go pear-shaped.'

'Sarah Phillips keeps herself to herself though,' said Nikki uncertainly. 'She can't have upset anyone.'

Diane shrugged. 'It's only a theory.'

Reaching the car, Nikki sighed. 'Can I give you a lift?'

'I'm alright, fancy the walk.' The constable smiled ruefully. 'I hate Saturdays.'

'Really, why?'

'It's the furthest away from Friday,' Diane replied before walking away. 'Night, Nikki.'

'Night, Di.'

By Monday morning the local and national press had got wind of the allegations against Gavin Hendry, thanks in no small part to an unnamed local source. Gabby Bryce certainly sprang to mind as a candidate.

Nikki had taken Reg along first thing to get Gavin and Jessica out of the flat. They were going back to Jessica's house, despite the fact it was still half-decorated. Anything was better than staying in a house where getting lynched was a very real possibility.

Having just settled at her desk with her unfinished reports for the last week, Nikki was disturbed by Emma Keane knocking on the door. 'What is it?'

'Someone's just chucked a brick through Gavin Hendry's window. A reporter on the Canley Evening News was kind enough to let us know.'

'That's all we need,' she muttered, standing. 'Come on, we best get down there.'

It took a while to disperse the fresh crowd that had gathered since they'd sneaked Gavin and Jessica out earlier that day. Apparently none of the residents were bright enough to realise that there was no one in there to answer their shouts so they'd resorted to throwing bricks instead. The door had been forced, though the culprit quickly fled through the flat and out of the back window before she managed to catch a look. There were a multitude of objects lying on the carpet of the living room, just under the window, ranging from bricks with offensive notes attached right down to little children's dolls. A statement, no doubt, but it made Nikki furious. The more she saw of this mess the more she felt for the reformed criminal trying to make something of his life, only to have it massacred by… By Gabby Bryce.

Securing the flat as best they could, she and Emma then went over to pay Gabby a visit.

'Oh, it's you lot,' she said distastefully when she opened the door. 'You better come in.'

They followed her into a living room that appeared to be something out of a comic-strip, given the array of bright mismatched colours that adorned every surface. Nikki had the sudden feeling that she'd walked into an issue of The Beano but she tried to shake that notion as she sat down. It wouldn't help her case with Gabby Bryce if she thought she was being laughed at. 'Enjoying this are you, Miss Bryce?'

'It's Mrs actually.'

'Sorry,' Nikki said tightly. 'My mistake.'

'Course I'm not enjoying it!' Gabby went on after a second. 'That poor little kiddie. That fella deserves to be strung up! You ain't even arrested him.'

'He's got an alibi,' Emma informed her, gingerly taking a seat. 'As you'd know if you'd talked to us before the papers.'

'Well, people round here had a right to know.'

'Very public-spirited of you, I must say,' Nikki answered. 'You're friends with Sarah Phillips, aren't you?'

'Yeah, we're like sisters me and her.'

Refraining from comment on that, she continued, 'Right. And has she got any other friends round here: male ones?'

'She ain't got a boyfriend, if that's what you mean,' Gabby said with a grin. 'She's too shy.'

'So she doesn't know any men at all?'

'Well, there's her ex. That Gary, right piece of work. My Dave, of course. That's about it.'

'Dave's your husband?' Nikki asked for clarification.

'Yeah. He's at work.'

'Right. Thanks.' Nikki stood and walked to the window. 'You do realise that you've made things a hundred times worse with the way you've behaved don't you? If you'd left it to us…'

'Then that Hendry bloke would be still living here! Able to do what he wants when he wants.'

'He's innocent, Mrs Bryce,' Nikki said shortly, turning around. 'You've persecuted an innocent man.'

'He was inside!'

'He broke into a newsagents, and he served his time.'

Gabby snorted. 'You just can't see it's him.'

'Well, maybe we're blind. Sticking to the evidence and all that rubbish.' Glancing around the room, Nikki caught sight of some family photographs on the mantelpiece and did a double-take. 'Is that your husband?'

'Yeah, why?'

'No reason.'

'You look miles away,' Diane commented, sitting down opposite her in the canteen. 'What's up?'

Nikki smiled briefly. 'Oh, nothing.'

'Mmm, course. Come on, spit it out.'

'I sound like a raving idiot,' she replied, glancing up to meet Diane's eyes, which were unwavering. 'Alright,' she relented, 'Dave Bryce has a beard.'

'What, Bryce as in…'

'Yeah, Gabby's husband. I mean, it's stupid, half the blokes in London have beards but…'

'Have you told CID about this?' Diane interrupted.

'No, not yet.'

'Right. Well, how about we go talk to him before they do? Just to see if there's a chance.'

Lifting her eyes again, Nikki nodded. 'Sounds like a plan.'

'Well, he's guilty as hell,' Diane said as they dropped back into the car.

'Tell me about it,' Nikki muttered thoughtfully, watching through the windscreen as Dave Bryce disappeared back into the garage where he worked. 'All that talk about how devastated he was it had happened, did he really think we'd buy it?'

'Nah, he thinks he's untouchable. He's gone to a lot of effort to fit Gavin Hendry up. It's just a pity for him that he didn't consider Gavin might have an alibi.'

'But we've still got nothing on him. He swears he was with Gabby and she'll back him up, no question.'

Diane frowned. 'Can you take me back to the nick? I just want to check something '

'What?' Nikki questioned.

'Trust me.'

'Look,' Diane said triumphantly, nodding to the screen. 'Gabby Bryce.'

Nikki leaned down to examine the image. It was definitely Gabby. 'This is the CCTV from Gordon Street?'

'Yep. It's just up the road from the shop Sarah Phillips went to. We used it to get a clearer timeline. That's timed five minutes after Sarah Phillips left the shop. If Dave Bryce claims he was at home with his wife between ten and eleven, he's lying.'

'Fantastic, Di,' Nikki said, having the sudden and unprecedented urge to kiss the constable in the station. Stepping back, she said, 'Let's pick him up.'

After being shown the unmistakeable evidence of her own lying, Gabby Bryce had been forced to admit that she hadn't a clue where her husband was that night when she'd gone to the pub. That had been enough to get a warrant and the search had recovered a balaclava in the bottom of her husband's sock drawer. Dave had been throw by his wife being unable to defend him and admitted the assault on Carrie, along with another three offences on young girls dating back four years. He was going away for a long time, and it was no more than he deserved.

Everyone had been pleased with the result and Nikki quite wanted to celebrate it with her colleagues so she joined Diane, Jo, Emma, Gina and Reg at the pub. There was a great atmosphere lingering over the group and Nikki found herself really at ease for the first time in weeks. Diane was next to her, yes, but it was an acceptable environment for that to occur, and, if she was truthful, she was enjoying the close proximity of the PC. Her skin still felt as if it was on fire around the brunette but she'd accepted that as a positive thing now.

When Reg rose to buy another round of drinks Nikki regretfully stood to go. 'I need to get going.'

'You sure?' Emma asked.

'Yep,' she answered. 'I'll see you all tomorrow.'

'Is there any chance I could catch a lift?' Diane asked suddenly. 'I should be getting off too.'

Though briefly concerned that the rest of the group might've picked up on the subtle tone of Diane's voice, she soon shook that thought from her mind and simply voiced her approval.

When they were on the road, Diane's hand found it's way over to the driver's seat. Nikki tried to concentrate on the road but discovered the fingers to be a very distracting presence. Pulling over into a lay-by, she removed her seat-belt and turned to the passenger seat. 'What are you doing?'

'Nothing,' Diane answered unconvincingly, raising her hand slowly, dragging her fingers up over every part of Nikki's body, finally resting on her cheek. Then she leaned forward to kiss her.

'Stop it,' Nikki said, pulling back, despite feeling her body reacting. 'I have to get home.'

'I know,' the constable replied sitting back fully into her own seat and waiting for her to start the car. 'You were spot on today.'

'You weren't so bad yourself,' Nikki said, turning them back onto the main carriageway. 'If you've have asked me a year ago whether we could work together…'

'Yeah, you'd have bet against it. Me too, as it happens.'

'Hasn't worked out too bad though,' Nikki commented.

'Well, I don't think so.'

'Me neither,' she answered, glancing sidways.

'You're in the paper,' Doug announced when she walked into the kitchen half an hour later.

'Am I?' she queried, kissing him hello.

He nodded towards the table where he'd left the Canley Evening News open at page five. 'You and Diane arresting Dave Bryce. Must say, they didn't catch your better side.'

'Thanks,' she replied, glancing over the article. 'I don't suppose it mentions what a great job we all did today, does it?'

'Not as I recall. Though the reporter did go to great pains to mention his own involvement in the situation.'

'Why doesn't that surprise me?' Nikki asked. 'Good day?'

'So-so.' He paused his stirring of some sauce Nikki took to be tomato and herb and looked to her. 'We haven't seen her for a while, have we?'

Moving to put the kettle on, she frowned. 'Who?'

'Diane,' he answered. 'Maybe we should invite her round for a meal or something.'

'Doubt she'd come,' Nikki answered, feeling her muscles tense up involuntarily.

'Can't hurt to ask sometime.'

'Yeah, you're right. But not for a bit, eh? Don't fancy entertaining.'

'What do you fancy?' Doug queried playfully looking to her again.

'The man with the pasta sauce on his nose,' she retorted. 'I'm off to have a shower.'

On Thursday, just to see how she was, Nikki paid a visit to Sarah Phillips on her way home. She found the flat in a complete mess and the woman herself practically catatonic. After making them both a cup of tea, Nikki sat down tentatively. 'How are you?'

Sarah chuckled derisively. 'I'm perfect. Gary won't let me anywhere near Carrie. Says I'm a terrible mother. You know the worst thing? He's right, isn't he? It was all my fault.'

Nikki sighed. 'No, he's not, Sarah. Dave Bryce had abused girls in the past, there was no way you could've known that.'

'A mother should know though! If there's anything out there that's going to hurt them… Well, you stop it, don't you? You know it's there! I didn't have a clue. I just let Dave hang around without thinking he wanted to…'

'Gabby didn't know either. You think she doesn't believe she should've?'

'I couldn't look after my daughter without her getting hurt. She's better off with Gary.'

'Children need their mother,' Nikki answered, thinking of Andrew, Liam and Liz then, as an afterthought, of Diane and her son, Robert. 'Don't give up.'

When she got home that night she immediately sought out Liam in his bedroom. After chatting to him aimlessly about his schoolwork, she finally got round to her point. 'How's your mum doing?'

He glanced up, surprised. 'What?'

She was a little embarrassed by the look on his face. 'I just realised I hadn't asked in a while.'

Well, she's…' He stopped and shrugged. 'Same as ever. Goes on and on about you.'

'Still?' Nikki said carefully. 'I'd go see her but I…'

'She'd slam the door in your face, Nikki,' Liam answered, quite maturely. 'But thanks anyway.'

'Do you like going there at weekends?' she asked after a moment.

'Don't mind it.'

'Because you don't have to. Liam, you do what you want. All me and your dad want is for you to be happy.'

He looked at her strangely. 'You okay? You're acting weird.'

'Am I? Just been thinking, that's all.'

As she lay in bed later that evening, with Doug snoring softly beside her, she found herself thinking again.

How much had she betrayed Liz all those years ago? Children need a mother, that's what she'd said to Sarah Phillips, but she corrected herself now- children needed both parents. Thanks to her, Andy and Liam hadn't got that. Daisy and Rebecca thankfully had, but it had been at the expense of the boys. How many of Liam's self-esteem problems came from living with a mother who constantly paid more attention to her medication than him and having a father engrossed in a new family? Nikki had never wanted either of the lads to feel like that, but she'd gone and stolen their father. It was a wonder they liked her at all. But, then again, she wasn't Liz. The very thing that should repel them probably drew them to her.

And what about Diane? Sarah Phillips had said that you never let any harm come to your kids, you stop it from the off. Diane was a potential bomb. She could ruin the lives of six people, four of those children. Andrew might come out of it unscathed, he was old enough, but if the truth was to emerge about her physical relationship with Diane then Liam would be thrown around yet again and the girls… They might chose to live with Doug. How could she let that happen over a fling? It wasn't worth it surely.

Diane was watching her. Nikki finished the glass of water then finally looked over to the comfortable chair where she was sitting. 'What?'

'Nothing. You just haven't said a word since you got here, that's all.'

Nikki shrugged. 'I'm thinking.'

'About what?'

She couldn't say it. Having half-planned it in the car on the drive over, it now flew from her brain when she looked at Diane. Because now all she could think of was how much she wanted to get the constable into the bedroom where they'd spent so many exploratory hours in the last couple of months. 'Have you get anything a bit stronger?' she asked, indicating the empty glass.

'You're driving.'

'I'll get a cab if needs be,' she answered.

Diane complied with the request, then sat down next to her on the sofa. 'You could at least talk to me.'

'I can't.'

'No. You never can.'

Nikki, after swallowing her drink in one, looked sideways. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It doesn't matter,' Diane said, standing and walking over to her collection of photo frames.

'Tell me what you meant.'

Eventually, Diane turned around again. 'You don't talk, Nikki. You don't come here for anything apart from… That's it, isn't it? That's all you want. And the second it's over you're out of here like a shot.'

Nikki stared at her. 'Where's this coming from?'

'You treat it like some kind of joke! I mean, you're risking your marriage and for what? A bit of fun in your eyes. How's that logical?'

'Di, I can't…'

'Yeah, you can't talk about it, I know,' she interrupted bitterly. 'So why don't you just go, Nikki? I'm getting sick of being used.'

She stood, with every intention of going straight to the door, but her anger abated almost as soon as she looked at Diane's face properly. Approaching the constable, she swallowed. 'It isn't logical. But it's just how I…'

Diane closed her eyes and shook her head. 'You are just using me though?'

Nikki sighed and looked away. 'You make me feel things I never knew I could feel,' she admitted.

'But it's just sex,' Diane concluded for her.

Bringing her eyes back to Diane's own green ones, Nikki tried to speak in the affirmative, deeming that honesty was the best policy, especially because she'd come here with the intention of ending it all. Yet her voice caught and every muscle in her body stiffened. More uncertain than she'd been for weeks, she gently reached out and cupped Diane's cheek with her hand.

'You're shaking,' Diane said, pressing her own hand over it.

'I know,' she acknowledged.

Then Diane slowly kissed her, nibbling on her bottom lip gently as her hands encircled Nikki's waist.

She was lost.

Sat up on the edge of the bed, Nikki was watching the wall. She liked this room, she always felt at home in it. More so than her grand fitted bedroom that she shared with Doug; this was more homely, less designed. Diane wasn't untidy, but she was relaxed in her ways. It was endearing.

'You don't have to stay,' Diane said from behind her. 'What I said earlier… Just forget it. Most of it was crap anyway.'

Standing, Nikki moved to retrieve her mobile from the pocket of her jeans. After typing Staying at Annie's, see you tomorrow and sending the message, she dropped the phone back into the pile of her clothes and returned to the warm bed, facing Diane.

Her lover seemed shocked, she was smiling in disbelief. 'What are you doing?'

Nikki blew a hair from the constable's cheek then dropped a kiss onto it. 'I'm staying. If that's okay.'

Diane shook her head. 'You think you have to ask?'

'It's polite,' she offered. 'And you might tell me to get lost.'

'I'd be an idiot.' Diane paused. 'I don't want you doing this because of what I said before…'

Nikki silenced her with a deep kiss. 'I'm not.' She smiled as she ran her fingers down the length of Diane's body. 'Have you any idea how beautiful you are?'

After a moment Diane settled into her embrace. 'When I wake up, let me know, eh?'