TW: Minor mentions of abuse but it doesn't really go into detail.


DCI Butcher had spent the next couple of hours questioning Angela whilst Nikki and Jack gathered all the evidence they needed to be able to convict her. As they were getting in the final results from their various, Sam received a phone call from Butcher explaining that she had confessed to the murder of her husband. Joining Niki and Jack who were sitting at their desks, she updated them.

"She's been arrested," she began, startling both of them. Nikki looked up from her computer screen. "She's confessed to it all. Apparently she's been abusing him for years, for the most part mentally, the first time she got physical she ended up killing him."

"And she confessed to all of that?" Nikki asked, quite surprised.

"Not exactly," Sam paused, leaning on the doorframe. "A friend of his, his secretary at work I think Butcher said. She arrived at the station whilst they were questioning her, she wanted to tell the police that she believed that Angela had been abusive towards her husband and that she had been for a long time. I'm not one hundred percent sure but I think Simon may have reached out to her for help a few times, when she heard that he'd been killed she thought that she should say something. Anyway," she sighed. "Make sure you've collected all the necessary evidence, something tells me that this woman will end up changing her plea when it goes to court."

"Of course," Jack let out. "We're just getting the last of everything now."

"Good," Sam added. "I was thinking. Since it's my first day and I don't know either of you very well, we could do some team building?"

Jack's head shot up at that, "Please don't tell me you've organised some random activity where we have to work as a team to get the answer."

"No," Sam was quick to reply. "We do that here anyway. No I was thinking that I could make us some food, give us a chance to get to know each other a bit better. Say, mine at seven?"

Nikki glanced over at Jack, trying to read his expressions. From what she could gather, he didn't appear to be totally put off by the idea. Besides, they could probably do with some normality after the past couple of months they've had, "Sure," Nikki spoke, a reassuring smile on her face. "We'll both be there."


"Explain to me again why we agreed to this?" Jack called out to Nikki as he stood in the hallway of her house, waiting for her to finish getting ready.

"Because," Nikki started replying as she walked out to join him, fixing an earring. "It would be nice for us all to get together and get to know each other better. Sam's new and I suppose she wants to build up her trust in both of us."

"Right, because we look like very untrustworthy people," Jack quipped, gauging an eye roll from Nikki.

"Jack, it's one night," she glared at him. "I'm sure you can withstand one night of pretending like you enjoy something. Who knows, you might end up having a good time."

"Whatever," he sighed, heading out of the front door, Nikki following closely behind.

"Are you sure you don't mind driving tonight?" Nikki asked, placing the key in the lock and turning it.

"No," he shook his head, opening the car door for her to which she gladly accepted, a grin spreading across her face. "You deserve to let go tonight."

Jack walked around to the drivers side, getting in and beginning their journey to Sam's house. After about twenty minutes, they finally pulled up outside her house. Exiting the car, Jack once again makes his way round to Nikki's side, opening the door to let her out.

They both made their way up the path to the front door of Sam's house, Jack reached out and rang the doorbell. They share a quick look before the door opens to reveal a very flustered Sam behind it. Nikki couldn't help but raise her eyebrows at the sight in front of her. The apron that Sam had wrapped around her seemed to be covered in what seemed like some kind of tomato sauce. She could see the smirk that Jack was giving Sam in the corner of her eye.

"Excuse the mess, I've had a bit of a disaster," Sam walked through back into her house, allowing Nikki and Jack to follow. "Please, make yourself at home whilst I sort this all out," she pulled a bottle of white wine from the fridge, pouring a glass each for them.

"Oh not for me ta," Jack interrupted before she could pour the second glass. "I'm driving. I'll just have some water."

"Sure," Sam turned to fill Jack's glass with water from the tap. "Here you go," she handed them their drinks. "Just make your way into the living room down the hall on your right, dinner won't be long I've just got to sort all this out."

"Thank you for having us over," Nikki smiled, taking a sip of her wine.

"Not a problem at all," Sam smiled back.

Jack led the way into Sam's living room, with Nikki close behind. He walked around the perimeter of the room before taking the plunge to sit down on one of the sofas. Nikki glanced around the room before deciding it was probably best to sit with Jack, if she sat on the other side of the room it would probably make things awkward and after the day they'd had, they could do without another bout of awkwardness.

"This is going to be an interesting night," Jack took a gulp of his water.

"Jack," Nikki rolled her eyes.

"Sorry," he turned his head to look at her. "I'm trying my best, but it is me you're dealing with here. I just think she's being very eager for someone we've just met."

"She's breaking the ice, stop being so negative," she paused. "It doesn't suit you."

"And what does suit me then Dr. Alexander?" He winked, leaning closer to her.

"If that is your attempt to flirt with me then you're going to have to try harder," Nikki chuckled, pushing him so that he was sat upright again. "Ah Sam, everything sorted?" She asked, looking over to Sam who had just walked into the room.

"Yes, if you would like to come into the dining room, dinner is served," Sam led them through to the dining room. "God, I sound like I'm on Come Dine With Me now sorry."

"Well the food better be good otherwise I will have to consider the score I'm going to give you," Jack joked resulting in laughs from Nikki and Sam, the ice was broken.

They spent the next hour eating and talking, getting to know each other. Jack and Nikki both respectfully learnt things about one another that they didn't know before. Nikki never really discussed her life in South Africa properly, it had been mentioned in passing but Jack just assumed that she didn't want to talk about it so he never asked. Jack couldn't help but smirk at the thought of Nikki with a South African accent, she'd always seemed so posh that having a different accent wouldn't suit her. But in a funny little way it did, he supposed.

"So Jack what's your story, how did you come to be here?" Sam asked, pouring herself and Nikki another glass of wine, Jack had lost count how many glasses they had had but Nikki did seem to be merrier which he supposed he didn't mind too much.

"There's not much to tell, I grew up in Belfast, went to University. Moved to Yorkshire and then came to London a few years back and I haven't left since," his eyes flickered over to Nikki who was listening to him intensely.

"Oh come on, you're bound to have some secrets to tell," Sam quipped, encouraging him. "What about your parents, family?"

"My Da's here in London with me," he stopped, drinking from his glass. "My Maw died when I was in University, my Dad never got over losing both her and his sister, wanted to get away, that's why my brother and I ended up in Yorkshire. When Ryan got arrested he joined me here; he wanted to keep an eye on us both."

"How did they die, if you don't mind me asking?" Sam questioned, her voice gentle.

Jack shook his head, "Me Maw had cancer and my Aunt died in an explosion when I was really young. IRA, their real target got away but she didn't," he swallowed the lump in his throat as he felt Nikki's hand brush against his. "It broke my Da, doesn't like to speak about them. But that's enough about me and my tragedy, what made you say yes to taking this job then?"

"Honestly?" Sam thought about her answer. "I think it was the worst decision I've ever made, leaving. I wanted to be closer to my son of course but I missed it so much, I tried to find things that were similar but less intense but they never matched up to the excitement of the Lyell. And I know it wasn't under the best circumstances but I was over the moon when I got that email, so here's to more," she raised her glass to which Nikki and Jack raised theirs, clinking the glasses against each other, all three of them took sips.

As the night lapsed, Jack watched as both Nikki and Sam progressively got more and more drunk. It wasn't until Nikki stumbled into the kitchen, nearly falling over did Jack decide that it was time to call it a night. Saying his thank yous and goodbyes to Sam, he wrapped an arm around Nikki's waist as he helped her out to the car. Bundling her in, he pulled the seat belt around her before getting in the drivers side and driving back home to hers.

"I've warned you before about dribbling on my seats so don't think about it," he chuckled but he doubted that she was even listening to him as he could see that her eyes were drooping already but at least there was a faint smile on her face, she'd had a good time and that's all that mattered.

Being late at night, it wasn't long before Jack was pulling up on Nikki's drive. Switching the engine off, he looked over at her. She was fast asleep by the looks of things and in one of those rare moments, she looked peaceful and content, something Jack never got to see all that often. He softly placed his hand on her arm shaking her gently.

"Nikki darling, we're home," he spoke in an almost whisper. "Come on." He unclipped her seatbelt as she began to stir. He went to open his door when she said his name, stopping, he turned to face her, "What?"

"Are you ever going to tell me?" She mumbles, Jack is quite surprised that he can understand her, she was so quiet.

"Tell you what?"

"What you were going to say to me in the basement?" She slowly opened her eyes, feeling her heart dropping as they land on Jack who's watching her intently. "It's always been you," she barely lets out as she battles against her body which is calling for her bed.

Jack shakes his head, she's drunk and practically falling asleep in his car, she probably hasn't got a clue what she's saying. Opening his door, he walks around to her side and pulls the door handle, revealing Nikki who seemed to have woken up but her eyes were still drooping. He leaned into the car, placing his arm under her legs, ready to carry her into the house but he is stopped in his actions once again as she starts talking.

"I mean it Jack," she slurs. "I always thought Harry was the one but you. You're different," she stops, a grin spreading across her face. She cups his cheek with her hands. "You're my hero."

"Yeah and you're very drunk," Jack laughs as he very easily pulls her out of the car and carries her to her front door, kicking the car door shut on his way. "Shit," he sighs as he remembers that the door is locked. He gently placed her on the floor, keeping an arm around her waist to make sure that she didn't fall over. Digging into his coat pocket, he pulled out the spare key. Unlocking the door, he pushed it open and once again, picked Nikki in his arms and proceeded to carry her up the stairs.

Laying her down on the bed, he helped her to take her boots off before pulling the blanket over her. Walking back downstairs, he grabbed a glass from the cupboard and packet of paracetamol before returning back to Nikki. Nikki stirred as Jack left the cup and tablets on her bedside cabinet. He jumped as her hand reached out and grabbed his arm.

"I need to tell you something before you go," she murmured as Jack perched himself on the side of her bed. "Jack, I think I lo-"

"Nikki," he interrupted. "I've lost count of how many glasses of wine you have had tonight so I'm going to stop you there before you say something you regret. Now try and get some sleep because something tells me you are going to have the mother of all hangovers tomorrow. I'm only a phone call away if you need me," he smiled down at her before leaning over, gently placing a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight," he whispered as she was quickly dropping off into a deep sleep.

Standing up, Jack made his way back downstairs and back to his car, making sure to lock the front door. As he settled back into the car, he felt all the air leave his body. He shook his head, she was drunk. She didn't know what she was saying. She probably won't even remember that conversation, if you could call it that, tomorrow. The saying 'drunk words are sober thoughts' rang around his head but this was Nikki he was dealing with. She wasn't like the average person, she was complicated and confusing. She says one thing and means another. She might not have even said "I love you," but Jack will never find out now. Besides she wasn't even sure if she meant what she was saying so even if she did say it, how could Jack be sure that that was how she was really feeling. And she's probably feeling lonely, she's only just broken up with Matt. That would be it, her emotions are all over the place and add too many glasses of wine to that equation and you just end with a blur of confusion and moments of regret. Jack sighed again, turning the engine on and making his way back to his own apartment.