Hello! I got inspired at the end of last weeks episode and have had this idea spinning around my head so I had to write it. I know that I've got my other story and I will do my best to update both of them. Enjoy x
It was a Monday morning, the start of a new week. It had been two months since Thomas sacrificed his life so they could save Jack and Clarissa had decided to take a new path in life. Both Nikki and Jack were thankful, in a way, for the Lyell being shut for a few weeks to be deep cleaned. It allowed them to take some time for themselves. Nikki spent the majority of it in America with Matt, making the most of her time with him while she had the chance. Jack, on the other hand spent his time at the gym, which was no surprise.
That first day back was probably the hardest, every time Nikki walked into the morgue, she could just see Thomas lying on the floor and she was reliving that awful day all over again. She decided that it might be good if she went to therapy again. She'd been going for a couple of weeks now and although the process was slow, she could feel the difference already. The Lyell Centre wasn't as daunting anymore and she was starting to look at Thomas' death in a positive way. He saved one person who never let her down. The one person who she could rely on to cheer her up and make sure she'd eaten and was looking after herself properly.
Jack, on the other hand, found it slightly easier adjusting to the new setup of the Lyell. It was deafeningly quiet however, there was no Clarissa winding him up or making some sarcastic comment. There was no more sassy attitude towards detectives who deserved it. Of course Jack would happily take up that role. Not having Thomas looming around was another thing he would have to get used to; they may have had their differences but he couldn't have asked for a better boss. And the fact that he was the reason he was still walking around solving crimes, Jack would be eternally grateful.
Nikki had spent the past two weeks interviewing possible new pathologists and overseeing interviews for potential people to run the Lyell. Once again, Nikki decided that she didn't want to take over. It didn't feel right, not to her anyway. She enjoyed what she did and she'd had too much change over the past few years, she wanted to be able to control something in some way and this was it.
Swiping his card, Jack opened the glass door to enter the Lyell Centre. Two coffees balancing in one hand, a bag of pastries in the other. Rounding the corner he found Nikki sitting at her desk typing up what he thought was probably some report, no surprise there. Chuckling to himself, he picked up one of the coffee's and placed it in front of her along with the bag.
"One flat white and a croissant for m'lady," he smiled but it very quickly dropped when he noticed that Nikki's cheeks were damp from tears and her eyes were red and puffy. "Shit Nikki, what's happened?"
Nikki bowed her head, looking down at her lap, letting the tears fall again. She felt his hand resting on her shoulder and his thumb slowly rubbing circles over her skin. She looked up at him, her eyes welling up again.
"Talk to me Niks," Jack perched himself onto her desk. Reaching out with his other hand, he gently wiped the tears away from her cheeks. "You know you can talk to me about anything. Is it about Thomas, or Clarissa? I miss them like crazy too but you've got me. I may not dress as smart as Thomas or have the quickest remarks like Clarissa but I'm always here. No matter what."
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, "It's not Thomas or Clarissa," her voice wobbled. Her throat felt tight and her mouth was dry. "I think," she paused again, trying to find the right words to say and keep the tears at bay. "I think Matt and I have broken up."
"You think? I'm sure you'd know if you have," he sighed, probably not the best thing to say. "I'm not trying to upset you more but have either of you actually said that you're ending things?" Nikki shook her head. "Right well, what's happened for you to be thinking all of this?"
"I don't know," she started. "He hasn't spoken to me for ages."
"He could be busy," he quipped, resulting in one of Nikki's infamous death glares.
"And we're just different. Something isn't right. I can't put my finger on it but," she stopped, feeling the tightness in her throat increasing and the tears falling again.
"Right, I'll tell you what you are going to do," Jack picked up her coffee, placing it in her hand and taking one of the croissants, breaking it up into two before putting it back down in front of her. "You are going to eat because I know you well enough to know that you probably haven't eaten anything since lunch yesterday." Nikki rolled her eyes at that despite it being bang on. "Then you are going to talk to Matt and find out what is going on because whatever outcome is going to put your mind at ease and if you still feel as though you need to talk through things then me and you will go to the pub after work and you can rant to your heart's content, okay?"
Nikki nodded, "Thank you Jack, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Smiling, Jack stood up, "I don't even want to imagine." Bending down, he planted a kiss on the top of her head before walking around to his desk and sitting down again. "So, any news on potential colleagues?"
Drying her eyes with a tissue from her desk, "No, nobody on the cards."
"I still can't understand why you won't apply for it, you'd make the perfect boss," Jack winked.
"That for my benefit or yours?" She grinned, watching Jack shrug before turning his computer on and getting some paperwork out of his draw. "Besides, I've already told you that I enjoy this side of the job too much and I don't want to end up resenting it because it's become too political. I don't want it to take me away from the things I really love."
"Which would be?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow at her.
Nikki opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by the loud shrill of the telephone ringing on her desk. Picking it up, she answered the caller on the other side.
Lifting the tape over them, Jack and Nikki made it through over to the crime scene. Sighing, they both took in their surroundings, mentally making notes of anything that looked odd or out of place. Anything that would give them clues as to how the man lying in front of them died. Interrupting their first inspections was DCI Sally Butcher, a face not unfamiliar to them.
"Ah," she spoke, holding her hand out to shake Nikki's before moving to shake Jack's as well. "Jack, Nikki. I wish it was under better circumstances but it's nice to see you again," turning, she walked closer to the body. "All we know about this man was that he was found floating along the River Lea by a member of the public. There is no ID on the body so if you could find anything that may help us I'd be grateful."
Nikki squatted down next to the man, letting her eyes slowly travel up and down the body, once again mentally noting anything that initially stood out to her as a possible reason why he's lying dead in front of her. She stopped at the rather stark injury on his forehead, pointing at the mark, she spoke, "This looks like a blow to the head, may be the cause of death."
"Can you be sure?" DCI Butcher asked.
"Well considering that lividity has set in it would suggest that he has been dead at least ten to twelve hours, plus you said he was floating so it's unlikely that he drowned. I won't be able to confirm anything till the post mortem but upon initial assessment I would say that, yes, likely cause of death is blunt force trauma to the head."
"So he wasn't killed here I take it?" Sally questioned.
"I'd be very surprised if he was," Jack interrupted, walking over to join them. "There is very little evidence to suggest it. However I did notice some blood on the railings which I have taken samples of to be tested, we'll see if matches the victims. I also found some slight drag marks but nothing that could be conclusive I'm afraid. Plus, it doesn't help that there's no CCTV around this area, which would explain why the killer chose this place."
"Youngish man, no ID and barely any evidence to explain how he got here. Where do I even start?"
"Well," Nikki started. "Let's get him back to the Lyell and start the post mortem, see if that can paint a clearer picture."
Nikki steadied herself on her locker door as she tried to focus on what her doctor kept telling her, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. In the through the nose and out through the mouth. In through the nose and out through the mouth. She could feel herself calming down and her heart rate slowing. Walking over to the sink, she washed her hands in the warm flow of water. Making sure to take her time. There was no need to rush. As her doctor said, take things at your own pace and do it when you are ready.
She heard the heavy footsteps on the lino floor interrupt her thoughts. She couldn't stop the smile that was quickly spreading across her face.
"Checking up on me now?" She asked, not bothering to turn around, she didn't need to, she knew exactly who it was.
"I just wanted to see if you were okay," the Irish accent replied. "I don't even want to begin to imagine how hard this must be for you right now."
Turning the running water off with her elbow, she pulled some paper towels from the dispenser to dry her hands. She then picked up some latex gloves and carefully put them on before spinning on her heel to face Jack who was now sitting down on the bench.
"I'm coping," Nikki let out eventually.
Standing up, Jack edged closer to her, almost towering over her, "That isn't what I asked, but I'll take it," he paused, drinking in her features. Even with her now brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and in the most unflattering white scrubs he still thought she was the most beautiful woman on the planet. He would never forgive himself for not taking the opportunity to take her out when he could and now she was with Matt and she seemed happy. That was until this morning and Jack would never admit it, but he couldn't deny the slight surge of relief when she said that her and Matt may have split up. He'd never want to purposely split them up or get in between them, he wasn't that type of guy. If she's happy then that's all that matters but he would love to get another chance with Nikki. Shaking the thoughts from his head he continued. "I know I keep going on about it but I'm always here for you and if it gets too much in there take a break, I'll come and sit with you until you feel ready to carry on, yeah?"
Nikki nodded, too scared to speak for the lump forming in her throat. Jack really could be heartfelt sometimes. It still shocked her that someone like him, with his cage fighting and his drive, could have such a heart of gold. Clearing her throat she spoke, "Thank you Jack, I mean it. I'd give you a hug but I really don't fancy washing my hands again," she chuckled at the mock offence look on Jack's face.
"Fine," he backed off, holding his hands up in the air. "I see how it is," he stopped, taking the time to admire the smile on her face caused by him. He loved that he could make her happy, if only she could see it too. "I'll just have to settle for this," he stepped forward and placed his hands on either side of her face and left a sloppy kiss on her forehead.
"Argh Jack," she laughed pushing him away with the back of her hand. "Go away and get back to work," she turned away from him quickly and walked towards the morgue.
"That's something my boss would say," he called out to her as he too walked away, trying to ignore the increased beat of his heart.
She could feel the blush rising up her neck. Biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling, she took a minute to calm herself before turning back to professional Nikki who had a job to do, find out what and hopefully who killed this man.
Rounding the corner, she walked into the lab to see the man lying on the slab fully prepped ready for assessment. Glancing up to the observation room she spotted DCI Butcher and Jack who was leaning on the railing. She tried to focus her attention back to the body but couldn't help but steal a look at Jack's biceps. Really? Why did he have to stand like that? She thought to herself. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she continued, she'd just have to pretend that Jack wasn't there.
Walking over to the table she began, "Victim is male, I'd say aged between thirty-five to forty. No ID on the body but we may be able to lift something from dental records. My initial assessment placed his death between ten to twelve hours ago as lividity has set in. It would also suggest that he was dead a while before being put in the water, certainly in a lying position. There is a significant wound to the forehead also, it appears to be angled which I'd wager as possibly being the result of something rectangular, maybe a picture frame, striking the head. There's also some other bruising to the face which would suggest he may have been in a fight some time before his death. Finally there's a small cross tattoo on his left wrist which may help with identity."
"Right, I'll get the drinks and you can find us a table. What do you want?" Jack asked, leaning on the bar.
"I will have a white wine please," she replied, scanning the room for a spare table. Eventually finding one she headed straight for it, removing her bag and coat, placing them on the back of the chair. It wasn't long till Jack joined her with a beer in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Placing them down on the table, he walked round and sat in the chair next to her.
"You know," he started, taking a sip of his beer leaving a white moustache on his top lip. "I don't think I'll ever get used to it being just the two of us."
Facing him she grinned, "Uh Jack you've got," she went to point at her lip but decided instead to reach out and run her thumb along his top lip, removing the trail of foam. Her eyes locked with his. The intensity of his stare caused her to blush for the second time that day. She cursed herself internally, hoping that he wouldn't notice and she could blame her rise in temperature on the roaring fire not far from where they were sitting. Closing her eyes, breaking the ever growing tension she carried on their conversation. "No, I don't think I'll ever get used to it either."
Nodding, Jack took another sip of his beer, making sure not to leave anything behind. He couldn't have a repeat of what just happened because he wasn't sure that he'd be able to control his actions if they carried on like that. "Anyway," he continued, trying to keep away from his thoughts. "We came here to talk about you and Matt."
"Hmm," Jack didn't fail to notice the drop in Nikki's face at the mention of his name. "I haven't had the chance to speak to him yet but I'll try to tonight," he watched as she started tracing the condensation droplets on her glass. "I don't know what to do Jack."
"Maybe a stupid question but how would you feel if you were to break up?" He asked.
She sighed, not taking her eyes off the glass as she spoke, "Is it bad that I don't know? In many ways of course I would be devastated and sad, we've been together for quite a while now but on the other hand, I would feel kind of relieved."
Jack raised his eyebrows, he wasn't expecting that, "Relieved? How so?"
"I'm not sure but when I think about it, I used to say it but I don't think I ever meant it. I think what I'm trying to say is that I don't love him, or at least not in that way, maybe? I don't know," she took a sip from her glass as Jack chuckled. "What?"
"You" he exclaimed. "You're doing it again. Ruining relationships because of your inherent fear of commitment. I like Matt, I do. And that really is saying something. You know my opinion of your past encounters. But he's kind and treats you as you deserve to be treated. Talk to him, he makes you happy and trust me, you don't want to let that go."
"But you make me happy Jack and you're kind and treat me as I deserve to be treated," had the wine really gone to her head that quickly?
"Either you started drinking before me or I'm on some sort of drug because you just complimented me," Jack smiled.
"You know what I mean."
"I don't think I do, so please continue," he said, leaning back in his chair.
"I mean, I get things from Matt as I get from you. Minus some things, obviously. But if I don't love him what's the point in staying with him just because he makes me happy. I've got you for that, I don't need him."