A/N: What if it was Nikki minding the PRU kids when Bolton went manic with the gun? My interpretation!

Nikki's POV

One thing I didn't expect on Monday morning was Jodie being absent. Another thing I didn't expect was a text from her saying she was sorry for not coming in.

One thing I didn't expect was that Rhiannon had strolled into Mr Chalk's classroom covered in make up and her hair all immaculate.

'Hey, hey, Rhiannon – why're all dolled up?' I eyed her suspiciously. Rhiannon never wore make up, and if she did it was little foundation and heavy chocolate brown eyeliner.

I immediately followed her eyes. Barry Barry. For Christ's sake.

'Where's Jodie?' I asked her as Barry and Kasey came in, shutting the door behind them.

'She's ill in bed. Got a stomach bug. Nothing too bad – she's taking tomorrow off too, though.'

'Really?' My face fell, turning back to my desk and I sat down behind it.

'Maggie said if you wanted to pop round you could go at lunchtime – some of us are going home for lunch, miss.'

I smiled softly, allowing Rhiannon the benefit of the doubt. 'Thanks Rhiannon.'

Also one thing I wasn't expecting was for Jodie to come rushing halfway through English comprehension questions.

'Jodie? Everything OK?' I stopped her before she sat down and addressed the class.

'It's only Jodie now get on with your work I've set you.' I made dagger eyes at Barry Barry but one thing I didn't expect much, much later on was Bolton storming into the classroom and barricading the door.

'Bolton! What d'you think you're doing?!' I yelled with a little more force than I intended to – you didn't scare soldiers like him at any cost!

To my horror he pulled out a gun and started shouting at Barry who was petrified.

'Please let us go, it was a mistake, I swear!' To my horror, he started clutching his head and screaming.

'Get them to turn the noise off!' Quickly, I rang Tom.

'Yeah, hiya. Tom, we're fine. But Bolton's got a gun and he would like the alarm off – please?'

Eventually, the alarm went off and Bolton went to point his gun at Jade.

'For God's sake, she's pregnant, now put the gun down!'

'Take her out!' He pointed his gun at Rhiannon who burst into tears and to my horror refused.

'You stuck by me and I'm sticking by you!' Then he pointed it at Kasey who took Jade out the room and to the nurse, taking both of their bags with them.

'Bolton, come on! Don't do anything stupid – please! You've got your whole life ahead of you, come on, don't do this!'

I paused. 'I know what the army can do to you as a person! I really do!' My hands started to shake as I rested them on top of one another and placed them on his right shoulder, perching myself on the edge of the teacher's desk.

'At the age of 14 I got pregnant and I gave birth to my daughter at 15!' I couldn't help it! I burst into tears right there and then, and I started to beg him to let her go.

'She's in this room! You touch her and I'll kill you!' I sobbed, becoming distraught.

'One of them kids?' He looked shocked as he had a complete change of heart and pulled me towards him, resting my head on his shoulder.

'It's all right, Miss. It's all right. She's gonna be all right.' He planted a light kiss on my forehead but changed again when the military police came in to handcuff him.

'You're gonna be a great mum, Nic. You need to tell her, though!'

Those were his last words as he was led away.

When everyone was outside just under an hour later, I was wiping my eyes and looked up to see Scout.

'Are you all right, Miss?' She shut the door and walked towards me, offering me a tissue.

I took it. 'Thanks, hon.'

'You told Bolton about your daughter?!' I couldn't contain my anger. She had no right reading me the riot act!

'Yes, my daughter was the reason I joined the army in the first place – I didn't want to leave her!'

I shot back, wondering where this was coming from.

'My mum died in a bomb attack, Miss! I'm sorry, I only just found out – why didn't you tell me?'

My heart sank as I opened my arms. 'I'm sorry, Jodie.' I smiled sadly, my right hand covering her own instinctively.

I breathed out deeply as she walked into my arms and collapsed against me, I had to hold her tight as she cried and cried into my shoulder – thinking only one thing as I stroked her hair to calm her down.

'It's alright now, sweetheart. It's all right. We're all safe. You're safe now, Jodie.' I paused, pressing my lips to her hair.

'I won't ever let anyone hurt you.' As I said this, however, my mind raced.

Who had told her I was dead? How was I going to tell her now?

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