Adam shuffled nervously, aware that Jack already had noticed the other mans presence. After the revelation that Cara might belong to Jack, the relationship between the two brothers had been cold and strained – not easy, especially when they lived under the same roof. Adam couldn't even imagine the effect on their Dad who also lived there. Now Ryan was here to see Nikki – and Adam knew it couldn't be a good thing.

""Erm...Nikki...Ryan's here...he wants to talk to you." Adam hesitated as Nikki's eyes met Jack's.

"It's ok." She told him quietly, as she left the office and made her way to the lab where Ryan was.

"Ryan, how can I help?" Nikki stated, trying show the politeness she didn't feel.

"Nikki!" The other greeted her enthusiastically, malicious revenge clearly on his mind. He had no qualms about doing this in front of Jack and he didn't care who got hurt. "Can I take you out for a drink?"

Nikki placed her hand firmly on her hip. The man was unbelievable. Not only was he making a play for her, and not even trying to disguise the fact that it was clearly only to hurt Jack, but he was doing it in full view of the man in question, in order to cause maximum pain. Within seconds of his plastic greeting, she had worked out what his game was and she wasn't going to take any nonsense from him.

"No." She answered clearly, before he could get any further. "I know exactly what you're doing and I won't stand for it. Leave Jack alone." She turned away to return to her desk, not wishing say anything further. There was plenty she could say and she would if she had to, but she was keen to get Ryan out of the Lyell as quickly as possible.

Jack and Adam looked on from the office, holding their breath. Jack in particular, knew it was a bad idea to cross Nikki Alexander – even if the result was sensational to watch. He had seen her lose her temper - and Ryan was on dangerous ground. If he had any sense at all, he wouldn't push her.

Walk away, Ryan, just walk away. Jack thought.

Unfortunately, Ryan and common sense were not in the least bit compatible.

"You talk about him like he's a really amazing bloke. Well, he's not. He got me banged up twice!"

Nikki took a deep breath and turned back around. She had given him a chance to walk away, but now Ryan was going to get it with both barrels – she was going to tell him exactly what she thought of him.

"Let me stop you there." She began icily. "You put you in prison, Ryan. The first time, you chose to protect Jack by going to prison and he has been carrying the guilt for that ever since. He might not have been in a physical prison, but believe me, he has not been free since then. As for the second time, you made a mistake, which led to your stepdaughter and her friend getting killed, and nearly Jack. The further result was your partner leaving you. That was all you, Ryan, all you!"

"Jack gave me up" Ryan sneered, intent on removing all blame from himself. He jabbed an accusing finger in Jack's direction."They arrested me because he gave me up. I lost my partner and everything because of him."

That was it. Nikki absolutely saw red. Having turned back to the office once again, trying to walk away, she spun back around and Jack let out the breath he was holding. He knew she had reached her boiling point.

"I was there, Ryan!" Nikki reminded him angrily."I was there in the hospital when they were listing his horrendous injuries. Thomas and I had to an ante-mortem on him. He was lying there all battered, bruised and bleeding – broken - and we had no idea if he was going to survive." She snapped, "He is ten times the man you are – so don't you dare put the blame on Jack."

"I.." Ryan opened his mouth, shocked to the core by the outburst from a woman, he had up to now considered to be unemotional, but Nikki hadn't finished.

"I get that that you are angry about Aoife but it was years ago and I don't believe for a second that Jack sat there and thought out of spite, 'I'll go and have an affair with my brother's girlfriend – which is basically what you've just tried to do – and I won't even go into the fact that there's a young girl who could also get hurt now."

Nikki paused for breath, and putting her hand on the doorframe between the office and the lab, in an attempt to steady her body, which was shaking from the residual adrenaline caused by her angry outburst. Jack was there in seconds, propping her up, the comfort of his frame, calming her enough to carry on.

"Let me tell you, Ryan." Nikki continued in a much calmer tone, "If any of your actions in future lead to Jack, Cara, your dad – or anyone else getting hurt in any way, you will have me to deal with - is that clear?"

"Y-yes" Ryan stammered, the usually arrogant brother stunned into submission.

"Good." Nikki finished. "Now get out."

"Just for the record, Ryan..." She added as he reached the door. "Even if I wasn't with Jack, I wouldn't be interested if you were the last man on the planet."

Nikki gave Jack's hand a squeeze and went back to her desk, while Jack remained stood there for a few minutes. He hated seeing her upset, but it really was something when she blew up.

Adam appeared next him. "Wow!" He mused.

Jack grinned. "Yeah, I know – she's marvellous, isn't she!" He glanced over at where she was bent over her paperwork in awe. "Nikki, I'll go and make you a cup of tea, love."