Chapter 7: Sink Or Swim

"Harry, stop fussing," Nikki scolded as he took her keys from her and let her into her own house.

"Sorry, I'm just trying to help," he said defensively, taking her bags through to her lounge. Nikki stepped into her house with a roll of her eyes. She had just been discharged from hospital, and the whole way home Harry had been fretting about how she was going to manage. Nikki walked into her lounge, wincing slightly as she pulled on her stitches, and saw that Harry was now rushing about plumping up her cushions, and moving coffee tables so that she had more room.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, and he looked up at her. "I'm not an invalid, I can look after myself. It's very sweet that you're trying to help, but I really don't need my cushions plumped and my furniture rearranged."

Harry looked slightly put out, so Nikki walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I just don't want you hurting yourself even more," he muttered. Nikki found this adorably cute, and reached up to give him a quick kiss.

"I'm okay. I'll take it easy, I promise. But just to let you know, I am coming back to work tomorrow," she said defiantly.

"You are not," Harry said loudly.

"I am."

"No, Nikki, you're not. There's no way you're ready to return to work! You can barely move without wincing, let alone go out to crime scenes and be on your feet all day. Just take a few days off, it won't kill you," he said forcefully.

"But Harry!" she whined. "It will kill me! I hate being stuck at home bored, it's worse than being stuck in hospital bored!"

"You'll be fine. Me and Leo will come and visit you during our lunch hour," he said, obviously suppressing a grin.

"Oh okay. I'll just sit at home doing crossword puzzles and watching daytime TV whilst I eagerly await your arrival," Nikki said, her voice laced with sarcasm. Harry laughed and kissed her forehead.

"Sit down I'll get you some lunch," he said, patting her hip and moving into the kitchen. Nikki followed Harry into the kitchen and sat at her breakfast bar.

"Do you have to go back to work this afternoon?"

"Yes, soon unfortunately," he replied, his back to her as he pulled out some bread. Nikki just nodded. She was feeling slightly apprehensive about being in her house alone.

"Will you come round after work for a while?" she asked Harry casually after he put a sandwich in front of her.

"Of course. If you want me to," he grinned, turning away again and putting the kettle on. "I don't know what time it'll be, you know as well as I do how unpredictable our hours can be."

"It doesn't matter. Just as long as you come," she told him. Harry turned around and frowned at her as he stirred his tea.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied. "I just... want to spend some time with you."

Harry laughed and said, "As if we don't spend enough time together already. Not that I'm complaining, of course."

"You'd better not be, Dr Cunningham. I hope you realise that now we're a couple we're going to be spending even more time together," Nikki grinned.

"Well if I'd known that was part of the deal I'd never have signed up for this," he joked, before draining his cup of tea. Nikki just narrowed her eyes at him as he shrugged his jacket back on.

"Hey, if it wasn't for me you'd be in jail about now!" she said indignantly. Harry just laughed and bent down to give her a quick kiss.

"I'll see you later," he smiled.

"Bye," Nikki said softly, turning around on her stool to watch Harry leave the room. When she heard the front door click shut she sighed. She had a feeling it was going to be a long afternoon.

The first thing Nikki decided to do was unpack her case. It was rather a tedious task, but it had to be done. Besides, it would kill some time. Then she was going to completely relax and have a long, hot, bubble bath. Not only would it hopefully clean the incision on her stomach, but it would probably soothe her aching ribs as well.

*

When Nikki had got out of the bath darkness had fallen outside and her house was considerably colder than it had been earlier in the day. She shivered as she changed into her pyjamas and wrapped her dressing gown around her. When she emerged out of the sanctity of her bedroom and onto the landing Nikki gazed down the stairs nervously.

The entire downstairs was pitch black and a shudder crawled up Nikki's spine. She knew it was completely irrational to be scared in your own house, but what if someone had crept in whilst she was in the bath? What if someone was lurking around the corner, just waiting to pounce on her as she descended the stairs?

Ever so quietly and carefully, Nikki made her way down. As soon as she reached the bottom she reached over and snapped the light on. There was no one there, as she knew there wasn't. Tears brimmed in Nikki's eyes as she realised that everything that had happened to her recently was having a greater effect that she first realised.

A sudden, sharp knock at the door made Nikki jump violently. "Who is it?" she called out, trying not to let her fear show in her voice.

"It's me," came Harry's voice. Nikki let out a huge relieved sigh. As soon as she'd opened the door she flung her arms around Harry's neck. "Whoa, are you okay?" he chuckled, patting Nikki's elbow.

"I'm messed up. I'm completely messed up," she told him. Harry frowned at her.

"Right. I think we're going to need some coffee," he said, leading the way into Nikki's lounge. "Why is it so dark in here?"

"I was in the bath. I've only just come downstairs," she said. "Make yourself comfy, I'll get the coffee."

"Okay," Harry smiled, and Nikki went into the kitchen. While the kettle boiled she leant against the counter and sighed. When Harry had suggested that she spoke to a counsellor in hospital she'd shot him down, but now Nikki was beginning to think he was right. There was no way she could live her life in illogical fear.

Nikki hastily made herself and Harry a coffee and took it back through to the lounge, where Harry was waiting patiently on the sofa. She passed him his tea before sitting down and sipping her own.

"Harry?" she said after a while.

"Mmm?"

"You know when I was in hospital I couldn't sleep because I was scared that the killer would come back and finish me off?"

"Yeah..." he said slowly, a crease appearing on his forehead.

"It's... it's somehow got worse since I got home," she admitted, already feeling better just by voicing her concerns.

"It has?" he asked worriedly, placing down his mug.

"You must think I'm crazy, and if I'm honest I do as well. Because I am perfectly aware that I have absolutely no reason to be afraid of anything. But you should have seen me just before you arrived. I was too scared to even go downstairs at first! Why is it affecting me this badly?" she asked him quietly. Harry moved up the sofa closer to her and put an arm around her shoulders. Nikki leant into him, taking a deep, calming breath.

"You have been through more than most people in a lifetime. You've been kidnapped, you've been knocked unconscious in the depths of a hospital, you've been nearly strangled to death by someone you thought was a friend. Only last year you had your laptop stolen at gunpoint right outside your own house, and then just a few weeks later spent the night in African jail cell. To be quite frank, I'm surprised you're still standing. It's perfectly normal for you to feel insecure. Book an appointment with a counsellor. Until then, you know I'll be here for you," Harry said softly. "You just need to hang in there. You can let these fears overwhelm you and control your life, or you can fight against them. Sink or swim, Nikki."

Nikki sat up to look at him properly, before moving forward so that their foreheads were almost touching. Neither of them said anything; they didn't have to.

Harry kissed Nikki really gently and she put her hands on his shoulders to pull him closer. The kiss soon got more heated, and Harry deepened it. Nikki moaned slightly into his mouth, before breaking away and taking his hand.

"Come on," she muttered, leading him out of the room and up the stairs.


I know it's short but I wanted to update. What has happened to the SW section on here? Has everyone died? I haven't had and email for aaages! Lol :D