A/N: Thanks for reading this. One of those things which demanded to be written... or else!

It's just a silly phase I'm going through.

'Ah, Nikki, there you are,' Gina Gold said as she burst through the door of the Sergeant's office. 'Need you in the briefing room.'

'Problem?' Nikki queried, standing immediately and leaving the report she'd been trying to finish since she got in at eight to follow the Inspector out into the corridor.

'Serious assault on the high street. Knife wounds by the look of it.'

Nodding, she followed Gina into the briefing room where most of the relief were already assembled. Her eyes immediately picked out Diane sitting with Will and heard him mutter, 'You look wrecked. Heavy night last night, was it?'

Diane smiled mysteriously. 'Wouldn't you like to know?'

'Well, who's the lucky fella?'

When Diane glanced up and found she was being observed she just shook her head. 'No one.'

Putting that little nugget to the back of her mind as best she could, Nikki went to stand at the front of the room while Gina Gold silenced the troops. 'Okay, let's get started. Now, about an hour ago a young lad, Connor Fisher,' she elaborated, pointing at a photo of a teenager, though one on the older end of the spectrum, on the whiteboard, 'was pulled into an alleyway and assaulted with a knife by a hooded youth.'

'Is he conscious, Ma'am?' Diane questioned suddenly, drawing Nikki's attention back over towards her.

'Not as yet,' the Inspector answered. 'As some of you might've noticed, we've got an unfamiliar face in our midst.' Nikki had to admit she hadn't, and when she looked up to find Doug standing close to the door, she felt her entire body stiffen from her toes upwards. Her gaze flickered automatically back to Diane who just happened to be staring back at her in that moment. She tore her eyes away as Gina went on, 'For anybody who doesn't know, this is Sergeant Doug Wright of Barton Street. He's had dealings with the victim and has agreed to help us out in interviewing him because he's notorious for not cooperating.'

'He's not a trouble-maker,' Doug put in quickly. 'It's just he's had a bit of a rough time of it.'

'So are we treating this as an isolated incident, Ma'am?' Will asked.

'Well, there's no evidence to suggest anything at the moment,' Gina answered. 'I've already sent PC Stamp down to pull CCTV from the immediate area. When he gets back, Will, I want you to help him look through it. PC Noble, if you could escort Doug Wright to the hospital, and report back to DC Jo Masters if you find anything out. As for the rest of you, I want concentrated patrols on and around the high street until this is sorted out. You'll be updated if and when we get more information.' Gina nodded the dismissal of the mass in front of her then looked sideways. 'Nikki, have you got a second?'

She was forced to blink repeatedly to draw her eyes away from where Diane was moving to talk to Doug. Turning, she focused on her Inspector. 'Ma'am?'

'I need you to inform Fisher's next of kin of the attack and take them to the hospital. Alright?'

'Yes, Ma'am,' Nikki answered, returning her mind as best she could to the job at hand.

She was yet to work out whether Patrick Fisher wanting to dash straight to the hospital was a good thing for herself or not. Of course, her personal feelings on the matter shouldn't be intruding on the issue of a father wanting to see his son, but Nikki felt a smidgen of selfishness creeping into her mind. After all, she didn't know what she was going to be faced with. Diane had already proved she was unpredictable and… Even though nothing had happened she could allude to the fact that it had and if she mentioned the kiss… Well, Doug would be mortified. It wouldn't matter then if she explained she hadn't enjoyed one moment of it; lying to him about it was a capital offence. He didn't have much room to talk, not considering his own past but… No, he'd make it a finality.

So she was beyond tense when she arrived at St Hughes and located the bed of Connor Fisher. Doug was talking to the lad when his father rushed forward. Diane was nowhere to be seen.

As father started berating son, Doug stepped back a little to give them space. 'Hiya.'

Smiling tightly, she asked, 'Is everything alright?'

'Well, he claims he doesn't know his attacker. He's lying.'

'You're sure of that?' she questioned dubiously.

Her husband nodded. 'I had to deal with this last time. He's scared, someone's got to him.'

'He must've done something to warrant a knife attack,' Nikki reasoned.

'Not necessarily. He's just a bit of a loner, an outsider.'

Suddenly, she realised why he was so quick to defend the boy but she didn't say anything. Instead, she queried, 'Where's PC Noble?'

'Oh, she went to talk to the doctor,' he answered with a small smile. 'There she is.'

Nikki half-turned and saw the PC approaching. 'Hi.'

Diane nodded. 'Sarge. Right, the doctor says the knife used was probably Swiss Army, but he can't give us anymore than that at the moment. Did he tell you anything?'

'No,' Doug replied. 'He knows more than he's letting on but I can't get him to talk. Maybe we'd have more luck if we had something. Do you mind if I just talk to the father for a minute?'

'Go ahead,' Diane replied.

After he took Patrick Fisher down the corridor and Connor himself had deliberately closed his eyes and inclined his head away, Nikki became painfully aware of Diane watching her.

'You look nervous, Sarge,' the constable commented when the silence had dragged on for a spell.

Nikki glanced at her, knowing before she did that Diane's face would be impassive. 'Do I?'

Diane nodded then stepped closer and whispered, 'I'm not about to tell him.'

Nikki coloured. 'There's nothing to tell.'

'Course not,' Diane agreed. 'That's why you look so relaxed, isn't it?'

Furiously, she grasped the PC's arm. 'Listen to me. I've had enough of this. You can't threaten me.'

'What, so you've already told him have you?'

There was something about the muscle relaxing in her grip that caused Nikki to let go and step back. 'It's not really worth mentioning, is it?'

Diane blinked then asked, in a low voice, 'That's what you really think, is it?'

'We sorted this out, didn't we?'

'Yeah,' she agreed. 'I thought we had. But you're the one who looks terrified, Sarge. Not me.'

'I just…'

'I'm not going to tell him anything, okay?' Diane interrupted. 'Trust me. I'm not trying to ruin anyone's life.'

'Then why…' Nikki stopped short as she looked up into piercing green eyes. She'd refrained from thinking about the kiss as best she could but the moment came back with a vengeance. Diane's lips had been soft. Not harsh, not impeding on her in any way. They were suggestive. They asked something of her. They weren't just idly taking.

Diane realised her mind was wandering and came closer again. 'Nikki,' she said quietly, 'don't you think we should…'

Another voice broke into her sentence. 'Hi.'

Nikki moved back and tried to clear her face as she turned to DC Jo Masters who had just arrived next to them. 'Hiya.'

'Everything alright?' Jo questioned as Diane also stepped back a few paces. 'Is there a problem I should know about?'

Nikki, avoiding Diane's eye, cleared her throat. 'Doug's with the father, trying to find out if he knows anything. So far Connor's not talking.'

Jo nodded, though she still had a small frown on her face. 'Right. Well, Tony managed to pull some CCTV stills from further down the street. No faces but he's looking into a tattoo that was visible. I've brought a copy of it to show Connor.'

'I should be getting back,' Nikki said, casting only the briefest of looks towards Diane. The PC was looking right back at her. 'I'll see you back there.'

Jo just inclined her head but Diane said, 'Yeah, Sarge. See you later.'

As she walked purposefully out of the hospital, Nikki briefly closed her eyes and just hoped she wouldn't have to face Doug and Diane together for the rest of the day. Or any other time in her life, for that matter.

Tony had come up with a lead on the tattoo that kept her occupied when she returned to the station. He'd managed to find a report of a youth with a spider tattoo on his left hand being involved in drug dealing on the Larkmead. They hadn't caught him but it was a suggestion at least that he belonged round there. And, by way of coincidence, Connor Fisher also hailed from the Larkmead Estate. It was enough for Nikki to take Tony and Will down there for a door-to-door.

It was around two in the afternoon when she spotted the second police car pulling onto the forecourt in front of Faber House. Shaking it from her mind she tried to focus on the routine questions she was asking Mrs Gregory about Connor and the mystery boy with the tattoo. 'Are you sure you've never seen this design before, Madam?'

The elderly woman's eyes flickered. 'I…' She paused. 'Do you want a cup of tea?'

Intrigued, Nikki nodded and followed her into the warm flat. Taking a seat, she questioned, 'Do you know something, Mrs Gregory?'

She nodded. 'Everyone round here does.'

'But they're too scared of him?'

'He's a little thug. Thinks if he uses his fists he can get whatever he wants. He's got half my neighbours frightened to leave their homes. They're in their nineties some of them! They don't need him scaring them half to death.'

Nikki nodded sympathetically. 'Look, I promise I'll try and keep your name out of it. With any luck, once we find him we'll find his knife and we won't need any other evidence.'

Mrs Gregory smiled faintly. 'That's Connor's a good kid. Wouldn't say boo to a goose.'

'So why would this thug target him, do you think? Just to show off?'

'Well, perhaps. I'll tell you one thing though. His dad speaks his mind.'

Ten minutes later Nikki left Mrs Gregory's flat and walked up the stairs to the floor above. She already knew Doug and Diane were still in there because the car hadn't left the forecourt.

Knocking on the door of number ninety-three she motioned for Doug to step outside with her when he answered it. 'Hiya.'

'Hi. Have you got something?'

'Yeah,' she answered with a small smile. 'I've got a name and a motive.'

Doug raised an eyebrow. 'All I've had out of this morning is earache!'

'Well, if you will come to Sun Hill… Anyway, did you show Patrick Fisher the picture of that tattoo?'

'Mmm, he said he'd never seen it before. So did Connor.'

'They're both lying,' Nikki answered. 'Is it alright if I have a word?'

'Shouldn't you pick this kid up, whoever he is?'

'Oh, I've got Will and Tony on that,' she replied, walking past him into untidy flat. She found Diane in the living room, mug in hand, with Patrick Fisher sat opposite her. Diane glanced up immediately and tried to catch her eye but Nikki focused on Patrick. 'Mr Fisher, you didn't mention that you'd had some trouble recently.'

He looked up immediately. 'What? No, I haven't. Who told you that?'

She sighed and sat down next to him as she felt Doug enter the room behind her. 'What does the name Martin Barnes mean to you?'

There was a long pause then Patrick said bitterly, 'He's the little thug that drove my wife up the wall.'

Diane's lips parted unconsciously at the unexpected turn of events and Nikki, whose gaze had been lingering, didn't glance away quick enough. 'How so?' she said quickly, to mask her discomfort at Diane's knowing stare.

'Well, she left… She went after him and his little gang terrorised her. She couldn't hack it anymore.'

Doug moved further into the room. 'Does Connor know?'

Patrick shook his head. 'No. I didn't want him getting into trouble. You know what he was like before, I didn't know what he'd do.'

'So you lied to him?' Doug questioned. 'Where does he think she is?'

'He thinks… I told him she left because she wanted to. I thought it was…'

'Best?' Doug concluded for him. 'I spoke to him, Patrick. He's not coping. He thinks she left because of the trouble he got himself into.'

Patrick Fisher shook his head violently. 'He doesn't think that!'

'Yes. Yes, he does. And you know, don't you, that he was attacked because of you?'

Nikki frowned at her husband's uncharacteristically harsh persistence and said quickly, 'What he means, Mr Fisher, is that an altercation you had with a gang of youths last week was probably the provocation for the assault this morning. And you recognised that tattoo as belonging to Martin Barnes and you didn't tell us. Why not?'

'Because… Because last week I punched Martin Barnes after he mentioned Caroline… I lost it,' Patrick went on, twisting his fingers into knots. 'And I didn't want Connor growing up without a father. I thought I could deal with it.'

Doug, when he spoke, sounded much calmer. 'You can't though, can you? And scum like Barnes need to be off the streets.'

'Next you'll be telling me it's time for me to tell Connor the truth.'

'It is,' Diane said suddenly. 'Better now than later.'

Nikki glanced briefly over then affirmed, 'She's right.'

'Do you want me to come with you?' Doug asked after a moment.

Patrick nodded and stood silently. He was the first to leave the room then Doug and, before she proceeded over the threshold, she smiled at Diane. The PC merely shrugged then smiled herself, shook her head and followed her out of the room.

'You coming to the pub, Sarge?' Tony questioned when they passed in the corridor at the end of the shift. 'Your hubby's buying the first round.'

Nikki laughed slightly. 'That's a first. Who else is coming?'

'Will, Emma, Diane. CID if they deign to join us. Come on, it'll be a laugh.'

Hesitantly, she nodded. 'Alright, yeah. I'll see you down there.'

Leaving him, she went to get changed. Entering the changing room she found it empty apart from one figure in the process of changing. Nikki went to her own locker, thankful they had their backs to each other. As quickly as possible she began to remove her clothes.

'It was a good result today,' Diane said suddenly.

'What happened at the hospital?' Nikki asked, not glancing behind her but repositioning her locker door so her mirror tilted to the extent that she could tell whether Diane was watching her undress.

'Once Patrick told the truth Connor agreed to press charges. Hopefully Patrick won't get a custodial if Barnes decides to fight back. And we managed to get witness statements from neighbours linking Barnes to other crimes. You getting that statement from Mrs Gregory really set them off.'

'Good. I'm glad he's off the streets.' Nikki reddened a little as she looked into her mirror and saw Diane shaking her hair free of constraint. 'Tony said you're going to the pub.'

'Yeah, thought I might. You?'

Removing her shirt and replacing it with a comfortable red top, she answered, 'Yep.'

There was a lengthy silence during which Nikki took the opportunity to finish dressing quickly. Then she moved to sit on the bench to put on her shoes.

Diane sat down to do the same. 'You alright?'

'Why wouldn't I be?'

'I just wondered, Nikki. Sorry… Sarge,' she amended with a shrug. 'I didn't mean to…'

'Diane, it's fine,' Nikki interrupted, glancing sideways and smiling as best she could. 'Nearly ready?'

'You can go on ahead,' the PC answered.

'No. I'll wait.'

When then entered the pub it wasn't difficult to locate the table housing the Sun Hill team. Doug was regaling the group with one of his many illuminating stories and he had Emma in fits of laughter. He broke off as they arrived and kissed Nikki as she sat down in the seat he'd saved for her. She stiffened a little, anxious, as Diane pulled up a chair from another table.

'You two want a drink?' Tony asked. 'I'm due for a top-up.'

'Yeah, I'll give you a hand,' Diane replied, standing before she'd really sat down.

Nikki watched her go then glanced at Doug when he said, 'She's alright, isn't she, Diane?'

Will nodded. 'When you get to know her.'

'What do you reckon, love?' Doug asked, wrapping an arm around her waist. 'Does she have your seal of approval?'

'Does who have her approval?' The arrival of Jo Masters with Mickey Webb trailing behind was a welcome distraction.

'We were just talking about Diane,' Emma answered.

Jo nodded looking, Nikki thought, at her briefly. 'Oh, right. Where was this drink I was promised?'

Doug pulled a ten pound note out of his pocket. 'I promised the first round.'

'Won't argue,' Mickey said, taking it. 'Jo, what you having?'

She glanced towards the bar and, specifically, to where Diane was stood with Tony. 'No, I'll get 'em. Pint?'

Mickey nodded and settled himself down. Nikki tuned herself out of the conversation, wishing she hadn't agreed to the idea of the pub. Still, if she hadn't then she'd be at home wondering what Diane was saying to Doug. It was a no-win situation really.

She didn't even notice when Diane, Tony and Jo returned, she was so busy contemplating ways to force the evening to a premature conclusion. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck in this scenario for any length of time.

Everyone was having a good time except her, so it seemed. Doug could naturally fit in with any crowd and, of course, everyone liked him. Well, why wouldn't they? A lot of the banter was across the table between Doug and Diane and throughout all that Nikki just sat stiffly in her seat, willing herself to be anywhere else. The trouble was, she couldn't stop her gaze shifting to Diane continually. The brunette rested back in her seat looking relaxed and, she had to admit it, beautiful. Each time that thought crossed Nikki's mind she battled it back down again until the knot in her stomach grew larger than she could cope with. Excusing herself, she went to the toilet.

She splashed herself with some cool water to combat the permanent blush that had attached itself to her cheeks in the last hour. It made little difference; she still felt like she was burning a florescent colour. She was irritated with herself for allowing Diane to trouble her like this. So what was it? Her mind refusing to accept what had gone on between them? Was that why it felt the need to continuously recall it? She wanted to ignore it, forget it, but something wouldn't let her.

'Penny for 'em.'

She spun on her heel, dismayed to see Diane leaning against the wall. Grabbing a paper towel she dried her face. 'They're not worth it.'

'You've hardly said a word all night.'

'Well, it's been a long day,' Nikki lied, tossing the towel into the bin. 'Would've been better going straight home.'

Diane seemed unconvinced and stepped forward. Nikki automatically stepped back. 'What's your problem?'

'I just… I don't…'

'I'm not going to jump you, if that's what you think,' Diane interjected then raised an eyebrow. 'Unless it's not you who should be worried.'

Nikki pursed her lips and pointlessly washed her hands. 'I don't know what you mean.'

'I was right, wasn't I?' Diane said, moving closer until there was only a few inches between their bodies. 'I wasn't as out of line as you made out.'

Shaking her hands free of water, Nikki shook her head. 'Yes, you were.'

As she moved to get a paper towel, Diane grasped her wrist. 'Yeah?'

For a moment her breath caught and the knot in her stomach tightened beyond belief. Then she yanked her hand back and moved away. 'Don't touch me again.'

'Why, am I scaring you, Nikki?'

Turning, she demanded angrily, 'Can't you stop pushing me? Can't you just leave me alone? What are you getting out of this?'

Diane immediately approached her again, this time the look on her face was different, concerned. 'I don't want to leave you alone. And, deep down, I don't reckon you want me to either. Course, I could be wrong but…' The constable reached out a finger to caress her cheek and Nikki didn't pull back. 'Well, I don't think I am.'

When the external door opened Nikki backed away like a shot. It was a good thing she did as it was one of their lot who entered- Jo Masters entered. 'This is where you two are hiding. Me and Mickey are heading off, just wondered if you wanted to share a cab, Di?'

'Actually, I think I'll stick around for a bit.'

The detective glanced from one to the other. 'You sure?'

Diane nodded. 'Yeah, thanks. Could do with another drink. Nikki?'

After a moment, during which she felt paralysed, she attempted a smile and followed her colleagues back out into the bar. Will and Emma had already gone so after Jo and Mickey said their goodbyes there were only four of them left there. The group suddenly took on a more intimate nature and Nikki knew she wouldn't be able to get away with not partaking in the conversation anymore.

'Can you either of you tell me what my wife's been up to at work these past few weeks? Whatever it is she's got a right bee in her bonnet about it.'

As Nikki felt herself redden, Diane said, 'Afraid I can't help. Been off for the last couple of weeks.'

'Go anywhere nice?' Doug questioned interestedly.

'Spent a couple of days with my son. Think I got in the way really.' When Diane looked up Nikki met her eye and saw a flicker of unease, something that made her infinitely more open than Nikki had ever anticipated. Diane eventually broke the silence that had descended on the group. 'Another drink?'

When the next round of drinks had been set down, Tony questioned, 'Haven't you two got kids to be getting home to?'

Doug laughed. 'Secrets of Friday night. They all stay elsewhere.'

'Couple time is it?' Diane asked, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

'On the contrary, she gets rid of me for the night as well usually,' Doug answered.

'See, that's the sign of a healthy marriage,' Tony said. 'Time apart.'

'Sorry, how many times have you been married?' Diane queried, raising an eyebrow.

Her fellow constable shrugged. 'I've had offers.'

Doug and Tony descended into a mini-debate then as Nikki cast her eyes down to the floor, well aware that Diane's were on her. The night wasn't over quick enough after that. Two drinks later Tony and Diane left to share a cab and Nikki waited gratefully as Doug called one for them.

When he returned, he asked, 'Are you alright? You were a bit quiet tonight.'

'Just tired, that's all.'

'Your head's been in the clouds lately,' Doug persisted. 'Are you sure there's nothing going on at work?'

'Nothing more than usual. Honestly,' she insisted, 'I'm fine.'

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked into the cold. 'Good.'

A week later Nikki closed the curtains on the darkness outside of the living room and settled with her feet tucked under her on the sofa. It was a luxury, this having the house to herself on Friday nights, and the quietness was something she'd enjoyed from the very beginning of her marriage to Doug. Because they were working together at Barton Street in those days they never saw the back of each other, it was good to get some time apart. Then gradually the girls had become old enough to stay with their grandparents for the night and even though the boys had joined them in the house, they still stayed with their mum at weekends. Doug was at the pub with his friends; if past records were anything to go by he wouldn't be home until the early hours.

Just as she opened her book at the bookmark the doorbell rang. Sighing, Nikki rose and went to answer it, more than surprised to find Diane Noble stood on her front step, complete with low cut top, hair draped down around her shoulders and a bottle of wine. 'Hiya. Can I come in?'

There was a massive part of her wanting to close the door immediately but she recognised that would be excessively rude. But she'd barely seen Diane in the last week. She hadn't deliberately avoided it but it was just that nothing had seemed to crop up, and perhaps that's why she wasn't prepared for the stirring in her stomach at the sight of the PC stood on her doorstep. 'Um…'

'Please?' Diane coaxed. 'I brought the alcohol.'

Nikki opened the door wider and let her in. 'You go through. I'll get the glasses.'

What was she doing? She shouldn't have let Diane in, she knew that much. She was asking for trouble. But… Well, there was no real harm in a drink was there?

Taking the glasses back through to the living room she found Diane settled comfortably in the armchair. She was quite relieved about that; it meant that she didn't have to choose where to sit herself. Dropping onto the sofa she reached for the bottle of wine that Diane had already uncorked and steadily poured two glasses full, handing one over. Then she swallowed half her own glass right off the bat.

'Steady on,' Diane said with a smile.

'Bad week,' Nikki lied by way of explanation.

'Don't suppose you saw Reg today did you?' the PC asked. Nikki shook her head and Diane grinned. 'Well, he had a bit of a run-in with some kids on the Larkmead, ended up with green graffiti hearts all over his uniform. Think Tony got some pictures.'

Nikki chuckled. 'Poor Reg.'

'Yeah.' After a moment, she went on, 'What you reading?'

Glancing to the book she'd left on the sofa when she went to answer the door, she answered, 'Something I got from Andrew's shelf. Nothing on the telly tonight as far as I could tell.'

'That's why I'm here. Nothing on the telly.' Diane's lips twitched and she sipped her wine. 'So Andrew's your son?'

'Stepson,' she corrected. 'The boys are from Doug's first marriage.'

'Oh, right. How old are they?'

'Andrew's eighteen, Liam's fourteen. They're both good lads.'

'You get on with them then?'

Nikki nodded, lifting her legs up onto the sofa. 'Mostly. Usual family squabbles but nothing major.'

'What, even though you've taken the place of their mum?' Diane said, not in a maliciously. Her head was rested against the back of the armchair, her hair splashing out over the sides- she seemed right at home there.

'Their mum's ill,' Nikki answered when she gathered herself together again. 'They used to live with her full-time but she can't cope anymore. It's a mental illness,' she added after a second, squishing her wine around in the glass. 'Started to develop about ten years ago.'

There was a lengthy pause then Diane asked, 'You okay?'

'What? Yeah, fine.' Clearing her mind and her throat, she tried to smile. 'What are you doing here, Di?'

The constable shrugged. 'I said, there's nothing on the box.'

Nikki nodded. 'And really?'

'Well,' Diane answered, leaning forward to place her glass securely on the table before she rested back into the deep chair, 'I thought you might want some company.'

'I'm capable of being on my own, you know.'

After a moment, Diane let out her breath in a small laugh. 'Okay, I wanted some company. I've hardly seen you this past week.' When Nikki lowered her eyes, she hastily added, 'I know. You want me to shut up. But I… I just wanted to see you, that's all.'

Nikki sighed and put down her own glass. 'Whatever you're after…'

'I'm not after anything,' Diane interrupted. 'Just didn't wanna be stuck on my own in my flat when I could be having a conversation with a beautiful woman.'

'Di…'

'Alright, alright. I'll stop it.' There was a long silence. 'We could talk about the weather I suppose.'

Finding herself smiling, Nikki answered, 'Good a topic as any.'

'Bit limited though. We'd have to move onto topical affairs. You know, the crime stories.'

'Or we could just drink quietly,' Nikki suggested.

'Sounds like a better plan.'

For five minutes at least neither of them said a word. Nikki was grateful. Her body had begun reacting the moment she'd seen Diane on the doorstep and she was attempting to use the silence to combat her confused emotions. It wasn't working as well as she hoped. Her cheeks reddened slightly each time her mind flicked back to either the kiss or the moment in the pub toilets the week before and she knew Diane saw it, even if she didn't draw attention to it.

Still, at least Nikki could recognise that the thoughts currently charging through her head without invitation had been plaguing her all week, even if she'd pushed them to the back of her mind. She hadn't wanted to think about any of it, especially not while at home. It was slightly ironic, then, that Diane had forced her to confront her feelings while in the safety of her own living room. The living room in the house she shared with Doug.

She was beginning to feel slightly ill. The wine wasn't helping. She tried to place her glass down on the table but missed by an inch and watched the remnants splash over the beige carpet.

'I'll get a cloth,' she announced, immediately standing and leaving without once glancing at her guest.

In the kitchen she rested her hands against the kitchen counter with her back to the door. She was willing herself to take deep breaths but her body didn't seem able. It was ridiculous. The last thing she wanted was…

Suddenly, two arms appeared on the counter, one either side of her. Nikki tensed as she felt a body press up against her. 'Don't.'

One of the arms moved to encircle her waist and slowly turned her around before returning to the stance where it blocked her from movement. Nikki's breath caught as she raised her eyes and found Diane watching her intently. 'Don't what?'

'I can't do this,' she warned. 'I don't want this.'

Diane moved forward another inch, which was an incredible feat considering the lack of space. 'Really?'

Swallowing, Nikki tried to form a coherent answer, then resorted to just shaking her head. Then, however, as her arms began to tremble she felt an overwhelming desire to throw caution to the wind. She thought about it. But she couldn't.

Doug.

Raising a finger on her left hand, Diane traced a pattern on Nikki's cheek. 'Come on. You're not fooling anyone. Least of all yourself.'

She closed her eyes. Then she opened them and pressed her lips against Diane's. Her colleague opened her mouth, inviting her tongue in, an invitation Nikki took without hesitation and she found herself pushed up securely against the kitchen worktop. Nikki moaned into Diane's mouth as an arm moved up to run through her hair and she herself found her hand moving down Diane's back to…

Doug.

'No!' she muttered, pushing the PC off her as best she could. 'Get out.'

Diane reached for her. 'Nikki…'

'I said get out!' Without waiting for an answer she ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs, seeking refuge in the bedroom. The bedroom she shared with her husband. She wanted to be sick. Sinking down in front of the fitted wardrobe, she pulled her knees up to her chin and let the tears that were threatening her eyelids to fall loose.

How could she..? In her own home? It was…

The trouble was, as wrong and horrific as it should've been, she couldn't bring herself to dash it from her mind. That was the worst part of it. She should be rushing to wipe Diane from her lips but she wanted the taste to linger. Her shaking intensified as the bedroom door swung open.

Diane came and kneeled in front her, placing one hand on her cheek. 'Oh, Nikki…'

'I told you to go,' she tried weakly.

'Well, I'm stubborn,' the constable answered, moving the hand upwards to catch some falling tears. 'What are you doing to yourself, eh?'

'Look, I…' Trying desperately to sound authoritarian, she went on, 'I want you to leave.'

'I can't do that,' Diane replied with a wry smile.

'Why not?'

'I don't want to.'

Nikki felt herself smiling despite herself. She struggled to her feet, helped by Diane's arm guiding her up. 'I can't do this.'

The PC merely shook her head then leaned forward and gently kissed her. Nikki wanted to resist, she tried to mount a resistance but Diane's hand had already slipped down to unzip her jeans. She felt her legs begin to tremble in a manner she couldn't recall ever happening before; letting her breath out into Diane's mouth she wrapped her arms tightly around the brunette and allowed the hand to probe into her underwear. She couldn't think.

Diane guided her over to the bed and pushed her gently down onto it. 'I want you to be sure.'

'I don't know what I'm doing,' she admitted.

Diane smiled. 'Just tell me to carry on.'

When she found herself pinned against the bed she realised resistance was futile anyway. Diane's tongue traced a pattern on her lips and she melted. 'Don't stop.'