Chapter 1
"Do we have to go in?" sighed Nikki.
"I think you know the answer to that one" said Jack, matter of factly, taking another sip of his coffee.
They sat in companionable silence for a few more minutes, watching the world outside the Lyell Centre go by, until their silent sanctuary was broken by Jack opening the door and getting out of the car. Nikki lent her head back against the headrest until she felt the outside air hit her face.
"Come on" encouraged Jack, offering her his hand to help her out of the car, before they both walked hand in hand into work, not knowing just how much their lives were about to change.
…..
Clarissa was busy making the morning coffees when she spotted them.
"Hello strangers! How was Cornwall?"
"Heavenly" replied Nikki.
"Was alright" smirked Jack "Ow, Nikki!"
Nikki chortled to herself as she went to hang her jacket up, Jack still rubbing his arm.
"We want to hear all about it" said Thomas, poking his head around his office door, hearing all the commotion.
"Help me with these?" Clarissa gestured to the mugs on the tray.
"I'll get them" offered Jack, "Just going to turn my computer on I'll catch you up"
…..
Conversation between the four on the sofas flowed as usual, so much so they didn't notice another individual enter their scientific haven.
"Did you get Nikki surfing?" Thomas asked.
"Good question" answered Jack, "Define surfing"
"Hey!" retorted Nikki "I tried. I failed but I did try"
"I'll give you that" said Jack, over Thomas and Clarissa laughing.
"I wiped out quite hard, then decided that dry land with Meg was a lot more my style" said Nikki of her and Jack's black Labrador.
"She must have been in her element" said Clarissa.
"She was" agreed Jack.
"We all were" said Nikki, placing her hand over Jack's and giving it a squeeze.
The forensic four where interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Sorry to interrupt" said a kindly looking lady with bright red hair. She had an air of nervousness about her.
"Jenny, what brings you over to our neck of the woods this morning?" asked Thomas "We don't have any cases your working on at the minute do we?"
"No, you're right, Thomas" she said "It's…it's actually Jack that I've come to see"
"Me?" questioned a puzzled looking Jack. Everyone else appearing equally confused with the current situation.
"Yes. Could I have a quick word with you in private?"
….
"Jesus what's happening in there? They've been talking for ages" said a worried looking Nikki.
"Relax, Nikki" said Clarissa, "It's probably just an old case of Jacks has cropped up again or something along those lines that's all"
"Clearly her ears are burning" stated Thomas, walking over to them as Jenny opened the door to the boardroom. She looked concerned as she approached the three of them.
"Nikki, he wants" she corrected herself "He needs to see you"
"What is it?" said an alarmed Nikki "What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, so to speak. Nikki, just go and see him while I talk to Thomas and Clarissa please" said Jenny firmly but sincerely.
Nikki obeyed her instructions and she didn't know why, but she was nervous. As she entered, she saw Jack with his head in his hands leaning over a piece of paper on the table.
"Jack?"
He turned around to face her and for once, she couldn't quite tell how he was feeling.
"Is everything ok?" asked a concerned Nikki.
He lifted up the piece of paper and handed it to her "Read it" ordered Jack "And sit down before you do"
Jack,
I am so sorry. There is nobody on earth that could support how I have treated you but please here me out. If this letter has reached you, the unthinkable has happened and I have nowhere else to turn. Her name is Martha and she is perfect.
Each month and year passed after she was born and I couldn't bring up the courage to contact you. I tried to, so many times, but no matter what I could never find the right words to say. Nothing excuses my behaviour – it was selfish and unfair to keep her from you for such a long time. I have pancreatic cancer: stage 4. I have made peace with it but I have not made peace with what will happen to her after I am gone. My mum is getting older and who really knows how long they will have to share together?
You are an intelligent man, Jack, and will already know what I am asking you to do. I just hope you can forgive me and give her the loving home that she needs to thrive. I know I certainly do not deserve it but she deserves to get to know you and you deserve a lifetime to get to know her.
Annie
"Shit" said Nikki.
"She's ten" said a visibly shocked Jack.
"She's ten?!" repeated Nikki whilst rereading the letter "How did you know her mum?"
"I knew her when we were kids back home. Last time I saw her was at a school reunion in Belfast" answered Jack, "10 years ago"
"My god, Jack"
"Annie died in October and her mother died a few weeks ago in her sleep. She, Martha, has been living with Annie's best friend since, but she has four children of her own and can't take care of her permanently"
"Where had they been living?" asked Nikki.
"Battersea" replied Jack, rising from his seat "She's been so close this whole time and I never knew a thing about her"
Jack was starting to look increasingly angry "Does Martha know about you?" asked Nikki tentatively.
"Jenny said that she does but that she isn't sure how long she has known for" answered Jack.
They sat in silence for a while. A slightly different type of silence than this morning, it was tense and unfamiliar to both.
"You need to go home" ordered Nikki, "I'll chat to Thomas and Clarissa" she suggested, rising from her chair. She could tell Jack wasn't in the mood for talking to anyone.
"Come with me?" pleaded Jack, staring out the window.
"Jack, you know as well as I do that Thomas can't be a pathologist and a forensic scientist down this week. He already gave us the whole weekend"
Jack made to interrupt and protest but Nikki silenced him by lifting his hands into hers and took charge of the situation.
"Now I know these circumstances are exceptional, but we might need more time off down the line and I think you need a bit of time to yourself to process everything you've just been told. Now go home and I will be there as soon as I can"
She reached up and kissed him goodbye "I love you"
"Love you too" replied Jack before leaving Nikki inside the room still completely shocked to the core.