A shrill ringing cut sharply through Leo's head, he turned over in bed and tried to ignore it but the sound persisted and Leo groaned and looked up from his pillow. Reaching over blindly he turned his alarm off and sat up slowly. The first thing he did was reach over and check his phone, there were no messages from Harry and Leo didn't know whether that was good or bad. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed he stood up, already feeling wide away and ready for the day. He knew Harry and Nikki hated the fact that he was a morning person and he liked to make his presence known to them in the morning when they walked into the lab, coffee's in their hands trying to wake themselves up and get their caffeine fix.

Half an hour later when Leo was sitting in his kitchen, coffee in one hand and a slice of toast in the other his phone rang. Wiping his hands on a napkin he picked the ringing object up and answered it.

"Dalton"

"Professor Dalton" came a familiar voice down the phone "We have heard about Dr Alexander"

"Dr Carlton" Leo greeted the coroner

"How is she?" the man on the other end asked and Leo thought it weird that the coroner, who they never really associated with unless they needed to, was asking about Nikki.

"She had surgery to remove the bullet and stop the bleeding but she should be okay"

"Good good" Dr Carlton replied "Dr Alexander, Dr Cunningham and yourself are close are you not?"

"Yes we are" Leo said slowly "May I ask why you are calling?"

"I have seen here that the three of you have excellent results on cases and you have been highly praised by many people. So I am giving Dr Cunningham and yourself time off to spend with Dr Alexander and of course she will be expected to have time off after she gets out of the hospital"

"Thank you" Leo said quietly "We appreciate it but who will be in the lab?"

"You are welcome Professor Dalton and I am sending two temporary pathologists to the lab. Please tell Dr Alexander to get better soon"

The coroner then hung up the phone, leaving Leo with a shocked look on his face. Shrugging he placed the phone back on the table and picked up his abandoned slice of toast.

-------

Harry shifted a bit as he woke up, his neck was stiff from where he had been sitting on the chair and laying his head on the bed in front of him. He became conscious of something running through his hair and opened his eyes slightly, turning his head slowly he sat up quickly when he saw Nikki staring down at him and running her hand gently through his hair.

"Nikki" he breathed and stood up to get a better look of her

"Hello Harry" Nikki replied quietly and moved a little, gasping as pain shot up her body

"Nikki don't move" Harry told her and reached out to run a hand over her hair "Do you want me to get a doctor?"

Nikki shook her head

"No, just you" she pleaded and reached out to grasp his hand "Just you, please don't leave me" she said tearfully and Harry leant down to kiss her gently.

"I wont beautiful. I promise" he said and tears formed in his eyes "I thought I had lost you" he choked out

Nikki smiled slightly and indicated for Harry to sit on the bed. He did so tentatively and then grasped Nikki's hand again being careful of the drip that was inserted into her hand.

"You haven't Harry, I'm here" Nikki said and placed her other hand on his arm "What happened?"

"You and Dan Jennings were shot" Harry replied and swallowed slightly to stop himself getting emotional

"How is Dan?"

Harry's face said it all and Nikki's eyes filled with tears.

"It's alright" Harry soothed and leant down to kiss her again. Harry went to draw back but Nikki wrapped her free arm around his neck and pulled him closer, trying to ignore the throbbing pain that was situated in her abdomen. Deepening the kiss Nikki moaned and ran her hand through his hair. Harry pulled back both of them breathing heavily.

"I love you" he breathed and pecked her on the lips.

"I love you" Nikki whispered and patted the bed next to her "You look exhausted Harry, lay down and sleep"

"I don't want to hurt you"

"You wont" Nikki patted the bed again and Harry moved to lay down on the side with no wires or tubes. Nikki moved and lay her head on his chest, the dull pain ebbing away slightly, wanting to feel closer to him and feel safe. Sighing she closed her eyes and felt the drugs that were running into her system take effect and she fell asleep straight away.

Just a quick question? Does the Coroner have the power to give them time off? If not oh well..I'm my story he does. ;)

Just a quick note, Leo wont be having as much time off as Harry and definatly not as much as Nikki. I don't think he could leave the lab alone for that long. hehe.