Nikki

We all go to the Kitchen and Leo puts the kettle on. Imogen thanks Jack and I again for saving her daughter.

She eyes my bandaged hand sadly. "He cut your finger off, didn't he?"

I nod, but try to reassure her. "Only the tip of it. It shouldn't hinder me long-term – you've managed fine, haven't you."

She smiles weakly as I push one of the steaming cups of tea that Leo had just made towards her. "Alan didn't cut mine off though. I cut it off to fake my death – I guess that's why he's been cutting fingers off." She wraps her hands around the warm mug and shakes her head. "All those women. Anne. DI Warren. He killed them because I'd disappeared. And you and Jack. You got hurt because of me. This is all my fault. If I hadn't disappeared – none of this would have happened."

I step forward and give her a hug. "You had to protect your daughter - and your mum." I tell her quietly. "You couldn't possibly have known the extreme lengths he was going to go to."

"Nikki's right." Jack agrees. "The only person responsible for any of this is him."

Jack

After seeing Edith, Imogen and Karen out, Nikki walks back into the lab holding a book. She clears her throat as Leo and Clarissa watch with baited breath to see what is going to happen.

"Sit down." She requests to me politely.

"Yes, teacher." I retort, obediently perching on a lab stool.

"Less of your lip, Hodgson!" She chuckles "Else you'll have to go and stand outside Leo's office."

Clarissa chortles as Nikki opens the book on the table next to me and proceeds to explain a chart of the human skeleton.

"Let's hope you've been paying attention, Jack." Leo muses when she's finished. "Knowing Dr Alexander, there will be a test tomorrow!...Right, seeing as I have to drop you both at home, we had best get going."

"Drop us both at home?!" I stammer in amazement, than as Nikki bursts into giggles, I quickly add "Neither of us can drive at the moment."

"He keeps forgetting!" Nikki explains, rolling her eyes.

"As long as you don't forget and try to drive with one arm, Jack" Leo comments. "I suppose that's ok!"

"Actually, Leo you could just drop us both at Jack's and I'll get a taxi later." Nikki suggests considering the matter. She indicates me "He says he owes me a pizza for saving his oesophagus, and who am I to argue!" She grins.

"Really, Jack?" Clarissa complains "Why can you just say 'life' – like a normal person?!"

"What?" I mutter – thoroughly confused.

"Nikki saved your oesophagus. Most people say 'saved my life'." She retorts pointedly. "What's wrong with you, Jack?!"

I stare at my hands for a minute, stunned into silence by the unexpected telling-off – until, suddenly something occurs to me.

"Hey Nikki – your flat has a spare room, right?" I reason, brightening up "It makes more sense to have the pizza at yours, then there's no need for taxis."

"So your inviting yourself to Nikki's" Clarissa sniggers.

"Nikki invited herself to mine first!" I exclaim.

I don't seem to be able to not get in trouble at the moment. Clarissa is intent on giving me a grilling.

"Yes, but Nikki was going to get a taxi home." She points out patiently "You've just invited yourself to stay the night!"

"In the spare room!" I protest as Nikki bursts into giggles again. She's enjoying this immensely.

"Alright, you two!" Leo sighs playing peacemaker. "I'll take you home to get some clothes, Jack and then I'll drop you both at Nikki's...and when you come back to work...would you both please try to get through a case unscathed for once!"

"Yes, Dad!" Nikki and I chorus.

Clarissa hasn't finished yet. "Nikki, seeing as you're both not in for a couple of days...be sure to text me the result of Jack's academic test tomorrow." She smirks, still savouring watching me squirm.

I knew I wasn't going to get away with that.