Chapter Two

Jack tapped his foot on the floor impatiently. He was sitting on a hard plastic chair in the dayroom waiting for Nikki. The nurse has cheerfully let him in, telling him how pleased she was that he was here and how nice it would be for Nikki to have a visitor.

Jack wasn't so sure Nikki would feel the same.

The door creaked open and Jack looked up. In walked the nurse he had seen earlier, going by her name-badge she was called Anna, and then, more timidly, followed Nikki. She glanced around the room as Anna whispered something in her ear and pointed in Jack's direction. She nodded and slowly walked over him.

"Hey," he said standing up to greet her

"Hey yourself," she replied. He couldn't quite place her tone: frustration? anger? shyness? Or just being done with life?

Jack glanced down at his smaller companion. She looked different from the Nikki he worked with. Lyell Nikki was primly dressed with immaculate hair and make-up. The woman in front of him had tussled hair, running mascara and was wearing an oversized white hoodie and jeans. She'd been crying and was staring how at the floor so she wouldn't show it to anyone. She had been doing that a lot recently.

"How're you doing?" he asked gently as he took a seat "Aren't you going to sit down?" he frowned as she failed to follow his action

"Why do you ask so many questions. What is it with you people?"

Jack sighed "I guess it didn't go well with Doctor Redford," he said, though it was more of a statement than a question

"Why am I here Jack?" she asked angrily

"You're not well Nikki," he told her "You need help. More help than Clarissa, Thomas or I can give you at the moment,"

"I don't need to be here. I need to work," she snapped

"You need to rest," Jack said "You've needed to rest since Mexico. I-" he stopped and looked at Nikki. She was swaying on the spot and her face had gone pale at that name "Sit down," he said pulling her into the chair next to him. He could feel he could feel her bony wrist and made a note to tell the nurses he thought she'd lost some weight.

"Jack," she said after a moment "I don't want to be here,"

"I know Nikki but you need to be here. We want to help you and this is the only way we can. It's only temporary. You'll be out before you know it,"

"Emily's been here for three months,"

"She the short one?" Jack asked

"Everyone's short to you," Nikki smiled

Jack laughed. Nikki was making jokes. That had to be a good sign hadn't it?

"Emily's on her own journey, Nikki," Jack told her "She'll get better in her own time, just like you'll get better. I'm glad you've made a friend in here though,"

The door opened again and Nikki and Jack looked up. Emily sauntered in with a grin on her face. She waved at the pair before heading to the nurse's office to catch a word with Anna.

Jack's phone buzzed making Nikki jump. He mouthed an apology at her before answering it.

"Thomas?" he said into the device "Yeah I'm with her now. You want a word Nikki?" he whispered but she shook her head "She's doing okay Thomas. What now? Ok…text me the address,"

"What's wrong?" Nikki asked when he had hung up

Jack sighed "I have to go Nikki. There's a job that's come up. Thomas needs me to collect evidence,"

"But you've just arrived," she exclaimed

"I know," he said apologetically "but I'll be back tomorrow, I promise. And tomorrow I'm not on call so I can stay longer. Maybe we can take a walk around the grounds. Get you some fresh air. How does that sound hey?"

Nikki shrugged and twisted the sleeve of her oversized hoody nervously. When jack realised he wasn't going to get a response from her, he stood up and, to surprise them both, gave her a gentle kiss on the head.

"I'll see you later Nikki," he said "Go and find Emily. Stick with her,"

Nikki made no response and Jack sighed. That had been the first time she had opened up to him and then his phone had interrupted them both. What if she never opened up again? No. Doctor Redford had hopes for Nikki even if she couldn't see it herself.

Jack made his way over to the nurses office to get a nurse to buzz him out. He bumped into Emily who was just coming out. He saw a hurt look on her face but she quickly rearranged her features when she saw Jack

"Do me a favour Emily?" he asked and she nodded "Keep an eye on Nikki for me will you. She likes you and trusts you,"

"I like her too," Emily said earnestly "I'll keep an eye on her. I'm only in the next bed-space anyway,"

"Thanks," he smiled warmly at her "I'll see you around,"

She nodded and scampered off towards Nikki who was still sitting listlessly in the hard, plastic chair

"Are you leaving Jack?" Anna asked coming to the door with him

"Work calls," he said and Anna nodded sympathetically "But I'll be back tomorrow. Remind Nikki of that. She's been forgetting things lately,"

"Doctor Redford says that's part of her condition," Anna told him, fumbling for her pass in her pocket "She's a fighter though Jack. She'll pull through,"

"I know," he said with a lot more optimism than he actually felt.

For she would get better.

Wouldn't she?

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I really appreciate them :)