A/N: The song used in this chapter and for the next... few is 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' by REO Speedwagon! Thanks for your reviews as usual, I love writing this story!

I can't fight this feeling any longer,

And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow.

What started out as friendship has grown stronger,

I only wish I had the strength to let it show.

Still disorientated, Nikki continued to stroke Diane's hair, for the simple reason that it felt the right thing to do. After more than a minute of that, Diane raised her head back up allowing her tearful eyes to show. 'I better get a doctor in here.'

Her throat was so dry that it was painful to speak but she attempted it anyway. 'What happened?'

Diane squeezed her hand. 'Your heart stopped. Twice.'

'No… I just meant in general.'

Her lover laughed. 'Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it. I'll be back in a minute.'

When Diane left the room she closed her eyes to try and rid herself of the swirling mass that was the room. There was an aching on the left side of her body; she tried to shift to get a better look at it but that stung so she didn't try it again. Diane returned with a doctor and behind them a presence lurked in the doorway- Doug. He was still in his uniform, like Diane was, and watching her intently.

Under the numerous eyes she felt very exposed: it didn't sit well with the disorientation that was still plaguing her. She was relieved, then, when the doctor asked for some privacy. At least he didn't seem to be requesting anything from her, apart from a few mumbled answers.

He left with the advisement that she tried to get some more sleep but she simply shook her head. Her mind had jittered back into life and she wasn't even sure she'd be able to sleep now.

She wasn't sure who she wanted to see when the door opened, but she did feel a twinge of disappointment when Doug apprehensively entered. However, seeing anyone at the moment was apparently cause for celebration, according to the doctor, so she tried to appear pleased. 'Hi.'

His face crumpled into its own cheerfully strained smile as he sat down. 'Hi. How you feeling?'

'Stiff,' she answered, with an attempt at a shrug. 'But I'll live. Are the kids alright?'

'They're fine. They're at my mum's. I erm…' He sighed then looked up at her again. 'I didn't tell them what happened. I didn't know what was going on and…'

'It's alright,' she interrupted. 'I'd have done the same. Just as long as they're alright.'

'Well, I think they'll want their mum home.'

She didn't glance up at that; she knew he was fully aware of how using that particular argument would affect her. Her memory was coming back in segments and she was recalling their heated confrontation on the Cockcroft; the one where she'd admitted she might not be going home. 'Right,' she said finally.

There was a long pause and then he asked, 'I don't suppose the bullet changed your mind, did it?'

Opening her mouth, she then closed it again. Seeing him there did almost seal it. His concern, the panic that was evident in his face… He almost had her again. And perhaps if she hadn't groggily woken and slipped into Diane's embrace things would simply have gone back to normal. But… Well, Diane's own concern had been more than evident. 'Doug, I…' Her resolve crumbled and she shrugged as best she could. 'I need some time. My head's all over the place.'

The glimmer of hope that crossed his face was brief, but there nevertheless. He tentatively stroked her hand before saying, 'What happened, with the boy back there, was my fault I think. I spooked him. I saw the state of him afterwards… He didn't intend to shoot anybody.'

'I don't remember all of it,' she said honestly. 'It's all a bit hazy. But don't go blaming yourself, eh?'

He smiled for a moment. 'I'm just so grateful you're okay.'

'You and me both,' she muttered. Feeling a sharp pinch of pain, she winced. 'Remind me not to get shot again.'

'What, and you'd listen, would you?'

Laughing hurt, but she did it anyway. 'Fair point.'

He seemed to recognise that she was in pain and stood. 'You need to get some more rest.'

'I'm alright,' she protested mildly. 'You look like you need it more than me.'

'Thanks!' His grin faded as he glanced back towards the door. 'Look, I'll bring the girls to see you tomorrow. I don't know about Andy and Liam…'

'I understand. As long as they're both okay.'

'Yeah, they'll be fine,' he answered firmly. 'See you, Nikki.'

'Bye,' she said softly as he left.

Closing her eyes, she let out her breath heavily. She wasn't all that tired, but the darkness behind her eyelids was more conducive to thought that the glaring beams of the hospital. That said, the flickering images behind her eyes weren't all that pleasant: the crack as the bullet left the gun was repeating in her mind a fair bit, not to mention the look on Diane's face when she opened her eyes. No win either way by the look of it then.

Speaking of Diane… The door opened again and the constable popped her head around. 'Can I come in?'

'Course,' she answered with a small smile. Taking in the dishevelled appearance of her lover, she questioned, 'How long have you been here?'

'Oh, not long. I'm alright.'

Still unconvinced, she reached for her hand. 'Sure?'

Diane entwined their fingers carefully. 'Yeah. I'm fine. Just had a bit of a moment, you know when you got yourself shot and everything.' Glancing up, she smiled and squeezed her hand. 'Didn't we say that after you got a nail stuck in your foot, that was it for A&E, hmm? Or did I just imagine that?'

'It wasn't deliberate!' she argued half-heartedly. She couldn't bring herself to protest too much; after all, she had gone running in head first again.

'You're just lucky you're alright,' said Diane seriously.

'I know.' Pausing, Nikki examined their joined hands for a couple of seconds. 'I didn't expect you to be here when I woke up.'

'Where else was I gonna be?'

The repetition of those words made her smile as she rested her head against her pillows. 'Thanks.'

'Nikki,' Diane said carefully after a moment. 'Gina Gold, she… Well, she asked me outright about… you know.'

Glancing up sharply, her discomfort abated some as she saw the evident worry etched on her lover's face. 'It's alright,' she answered finally. 'She knew something was going on so… It'll be okay,' she added decisively.

'Maybe that bullet has done some damage after all,' Diane replied in a semi-serious tone.

She smiled, though it did take some effort. 'Di…' she said eventually, squeezing her hand. 'I…'

'It's okay to take it back,' the PC answered in a low voice. 'It doesn't matter.'

Sighing, she shook her head. 'I'm not doing that. I meant it. But I need some time.'

Diane nodded then gazed at the floor for a long moment. 'I'm just glad you're alright. You had everyone worried.'

'I'll try harder next time?' she offered with a small smile.

'Yeah, do.' Standing, Diane leaned forward and kissed her forehead. 'Get some sleep.'

'Go home,' Nikki advised. 'Please.'

Shrugging, she answered, 'Alright. If you want rid of me.'

'Mmm-hmm. Di,' she went on quickly, 'thanks for being here.'

'Anytime,' the constable answered before throwing her one last lingering smile and leaving.

Again, Nikki closed her eyes. This time she had every intention of sleeping; her fatigue was itching at her. The trouble was, her mind wouldn't switch off. She was repeating on loops everything that had happened in recent months, and that didn't make for easy slumber.

She supposed she'd been given something to aid her sleep, because when she awoke the sun was lowering in the December sky outside of her hospital window. She couldn't have imagined sleeping for twelve straight hours without assistance, however tired she'd been. Still, she did feel slightly better for her rest.

Focusing in on her room, she realised she wasn't the only person in it. Gina Gold was sat in the chair by the door eating grapes. 'Hello.'

Her Inspector turned guiltily, with a grape halfway to her mouth. Popping it in, she shrugged. 'It's been a long day.'

Nikki smiled. 'I'll forgive you. Who were they from?'

'Jo sent them in with Diane this morning, I think.'

'Diane was here?' she queried quickly.

Gina didn't draw attention to her enthusiasm. 'She was until I told her to go home and get some sleep.'

'And she listened, did she?'

'Well, I can be very persuasive,' Gina answered. 'Anyway, how you feeling?'

'Not too bad. Fine.'

'Good.' The Inspector paused while she ate another few grapes. 'Now, can you explain to me how, when I send you out for a witness statement, you end up in here with a bullet in you?'

'I suppose I'm just unlucky.'

'Not a trait I normally welcome in my officers. Reg Hollis is bad enough.'

'Oi,' she protested. 'That was low.'

'Mmm.' Deliberately rolling up the paper bag of grapes and putting them to one side, Gina watched her for a moment. 'You know, you could've told me. About you and Diane.'

Feeling self-conscious, she shifted uncomfortably. 'No. No, I couldn't.'

'So is that it then?' Gina probed gently. 'The reason you've been a walking time bomb for the last few months?'

No use in lying now. 'I'm not proud of it,' she said finally. 'I didn't set out to hurt anyone.'

'Diane's already explained it was all her fault.'

'Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that,' she replied, glancing to Gina and finding her eyes knowing. 'I knew what I was getting into. It wasn't all Diane's doing.'

'Well, I can't say I'm not surprised,' Gina said eventually. 'I mean, you and her… I wouldn't put you two together..'

'Neither would I to be honest. But…' Trailing off, she shrugged. 'I can't explain it. I wish I could; it might make it easier.'

'Doug knows.' It was a statement, not a question.

'I told him last week. It's complicated,' she added, to avoid an investigation into how that came about. She really didn't want to revisit that night in her head at the moment.

'Do you know what you're gonna do?' Gina asked reasonably. 'Home or...?'

'I don't know,' she admitted with a wry smile.

'Would he take you back- Doug?'

She nodded. 'So he says.'

'Right.'

'Look, I know what you're thinking,' she said after a second. 'If I don't jump at the chance then I'm… But it's not that simple. There's the kids and…'

'And the fact that Diane Noble's Diane Noble,' Gina said knowingly. 'But at the end of the day, Nikki, you do what's right for you. What happens when the kids leave home, hmm? And it's just you and Doug left.'

'I don't know what to do,' she confessed with a sigh.

'Well, I can't tell you,' answered the Inspector. 'I wouldn't dare. But,' she continued, 'I did see her last night- Diane, that is. She wasn't looking great.'

'I know how she feels,' Nikki said uncertainly. 'I just…'

'Don't know what to do about it?'

'Yeah. Something like that.'

Gina shrugged. 'Don't look at the long term. You're gonna be off work for a while. You need to rest up, that's the most important thing at the moment. Just think about that.'

'That's good advice,' she commented.

'Well, I do try.'

The wide smile was impossible to keep from her face as she found herself jumped upon by her two daughters. Daisy curled up by her feet as Rebecca cuddled into her side. For a few minutes Doug left them alone to chatter before he entered.

'Thanks,' she said instantly, squeezing Rebecca's shoulders.

'I don't think they'd have let me do otherwise,' he answered, looking specifically at Daisy. 'Would you?'

Her daughter simply grinned. Nikki watched her for a few seconds before asking her husband, 'How's Liam doing?'

Doug's eyes flickered sideways. 'He's staying with his mum for the week.'

Sensing his veiled frustration, she left that one and instead refocused her attention on the girls. Up until that moment she hadn't realised quite how much she'd missed them in the couple of days she'd spent at Annie's. It was the little things- Daisy moaning about her teacher, Rebecca raving about hers. The way that Daisy cut in on everything her younger sister tried to say and the way Rebecca just wouldn't accept it. Fun, fun, fun. And she missed it like hell.

Glancing up to Doug a few times, she recognised he saw what was going on in her mind as well as she did. Maybe that was what he wanted. And he was being fair in his assumptions, wasn't he? This family was her life; how could she willingly give it up?

'Girls,' he said finally, rustling in his pocket. 'There's a vending machine just at the end of the hall. Get yourself some crisps or something.'

Finding herself engulfed in two massive hugs, Nikki felt tears in her eyes as the girls trotted out. Doug sat down hesitantly. 'Are you alright?'

'Hmm?' she said, buying herself some time as she wiped her eyes. 'Fine.'

'Have the doctors said anything?'

'Oh, erm… A couple of days, a week at the most. Then I should be able to…' She checked herself, having almost said she'd be going home. 'I'll be discharged,' she amended.

His smile was strained. 'Well, you're not a good patient so…'

'Cheeky,' she said carefully. Seeing his face crumpling against the pretence, she went on, 'I never stopped caring, you know?'

'If you had you wouldn't have stayed,' he answered. 'I know that. But, Nikki,' he continued quickly, 'it can still be done. I stand by what I said at the pub.'

'What, all of it?' she questioned, looking up into his eyes.

He lowered his gaze. 'I don't know what's going on in your head, do I? I mean, I can hazard a guess but… Only you know really.' Standing again, he went to the window and twitched the blinds to see out into the darkness. 'I think you love her. But what would I know?'

She averted her eyes as he turned back. 'What do you want me to say?'

'Come home,' he said finally. 'You'll need somewhere comfortable when you're discharged. Annie's sofa won't do.'

He did have a valid point but… 'I don't know.'

'I'll sleep downstairs,' he answered, watching her carefully. 'I just think you'd be best at home.'

'And the girls wouldn't exactly complain either,' she concluded with a strained smile. 'Let me think about it, okay?'

Doug nodded. 'Yeah, fine. Anything.'

His eagerness pinched at her. 'Have you spoken to Liam?'

That forced his uncertain relief to fade. He sat down again. 'He's not in a talking mood. So Liz says.'

'Oh, you've spoken to…'

'Mmm,' he said, cutting her off. 'Got quite the tale of how she hit you.'

Nikki rolled her eyes. 'I think it pales in comparison to the bullet, don't you?'

'That's what I said. But you know Liz. She's got funny ideas about retribution.'

The manner in which he said that made her look up sharply. Suddenly, she realised that Diane and Doug had probably spent some time together while she was unconscious and the idea of their likely conversations worried her a little. Doug hadn't ever been one for retribution, not outside of the justice system anyway, but his wife had never had an affair before. That could do funny things to people: Liz was a perfect example of that. Though she wanted to question him, she didn't. They had a fragile peace at the moment, and that came from not mentioning Diane. She still hovered around them but as long as the name wasn't actually said, they were alright.

'I'd better go find those two,' Doug said eventually, standing. 'They can find trouble as easy as you can.'

'One little bullet…' she muttered good-naturedly. 'I'll never hear the end of it.'

'Not a chance,' he replied with a small smile. His face darkened briefly then he nodded. 'I'll bring the girls again.'

'I'd appreciate it.'

'Well, I'm not pretending I've got a choice in the matter,' he said with a shrug. 'And I wouldn't keep them away either.'

'I know,' she said quietly. 'Go on. Go home.'

After he left she stared at the wall for a long time. The urge to sleep had been so fully abated the previous night that she seriously doubted she'd be able to do it again for the next week. Besides, she always had trouble in unfamiliar surroundings- except Diane's flat, of course. That was an indication of something. Of what she couldn't specify.

Almost an hour later Diane appeared, fairly cautiously; but looking in better shape than on her previous visit. 'Hey.'

Nikki smiled as she sat down. 'You showered!'

'Cheeky,' Diane retorted, plopping some magazines on the table. 'Thought you might want something to read.'

'You've no idea. Thanks.'

After a second, the constable looked to the floor and asked, 'So… any visitors?'

Nikki contained her grimace, but barely. She didn't want to talk about that, she wanted to… Well, she wasn't sure but discussing Doug was definitely the last thing she wanted. 'Gina,' she answered finally. 'And Doug brought the girls round.'

Diane nodded. 'Everything okay?'

'Yeah, they're fine.'

'That's not what I meant.'

'I know it's not,' she replied, glancing up and meeting her lover's eye. 'I just…'

'I shouldn't be pestering you,' Diane interrupted suddenly, shrugging. 'Too persistent for my own good sometimes.'

She smiled and reached for her hand. 'I remember.'

Surprisingly, Di's face faded a little and she pulled her hand back. 'Not one of my finest moments, eh?'

'Well, it wasn't all that one-sided,' Nikki answered carefully. 'I don't blame you.'

'What, and you don't blame me for telling Doug either?' Di asked quietly. 'And for Liam?'

'Believe me, I wanted to hate you for that. But I couldn't.'

After a long moment, Di nodded and took her hand again. 'I'm being an idiot.'

'Yeah,' she agreed evenly, earning herself a smile. Sighing, she questioned, 'What happened with you and Doug? I was out of it for a while wasn't I?'

The constable shrugged. 'He bought me a coffee; that was about it really. We were on the same side at the time. That was all that mattered.'

'I'll be…' She paused. 'They say I should be fit to go in a few days.'

'And you're going home,' Diane said knowingly, squeezing her hand.

'Not permanently,' she found herself saying. 'I mean, I just…' She was cut off by Diane's lips on her own and forgot what she was trying to say as she brought her hand up to cup her cheek.

When Diane pulled back she smiled slightly. 'It's okay. I get it.'

For a moment Nikki found she couldn't speak. Her head was swimming; she'd just realised why it was she'd never been able to say no to Diane Noble in the past. Finally, she cleared her head and her throat. 'If it was simple… I'd want to be with you.'

Diane was quiet for a moment, but her eyes betrayed the fact that she wasn't as cool as she perhaps wanted to appear. Slowly, she raised her face. 'It isn't simple though.'

'No,' she conceded. 'Anything but.'

'So what does that mean then?'

'I don't know,' she admitted. 'But it's something to think about while I'm stuck in here, isn't it?'

'Maybe I'll see if they can up your dose of sleeping tablets,' Diane said in semi-seriousness. 'Nikki, honestly,' she went on, 'You need to rest.'

'My body needs to rest,' she argued mildly. 'You won't switch my mind off, not unless you whack me on the head.'

'Thanks for the hint.'

Nikki rested back against her pillows and sighed. 'The girls were pleased to see me.'

'Course they were,' Diane answered.

'I know what you're thinking,' she said after a second.

'Oh, you do, do you?' said her lover, challenging her with an arch of her eyebrows.

She shrugged. 'You think he'll use them to blackmail me into staying.'

Diane let out her breath lightly. 'Well, he's human.'

'And it could work,' she said quietly.

'There's that too,' the constable agreed with a wry smile. 'Just… I don't know… Keep me informed, eh?'

Nodding, she asked, 'Will you come again?'

'Hmm… Depends how fast you can read that lot,' Diane answered, nodding to the magazines.

'I'm fast. I'm a fast reader,' she amended as her lover began smiling. 'Oi!'

'What?'

'You know what!'

Diane leaned over to kiss her again. 'Don't know what you're going on about.'

Miraculously, she did manage some sleep that night, though not much. Aside from being fairly rested already, she was also thinking quite a bit, and they weren't the type of thoughts that aided restful sleep.

She knew she was walking on a tightrope around Doug. At least with Diane she could be relatively honest. The time had passed for lies between them; she hoped it had anyway. She felt drained, and the only person she could imagine confiding it in was Di. It was the smiling constable who eased her into sleep when it eventually came and she was the first person who came to mind when she woke. Then came the kids then, almost as an afterthought, Doug.

If she went home with him and the kids she got the feeling it'd be almost impossible to leave. When she'd left to stay with Annie she'd made a break of sorts. It hadn't been her idea, and the separation was far from pleasant, but it was a break nonetheless. If ever there was to be a change then this separation would've instigated it. Yet going back… Getting up with the kids every morning, trying to juggle work, home and sleep: she'd soon fall back into it. She wouldn't want to leave, except for those brief moments when she was in Diane's company. And she had the distinct impression that Doug would limit the possibility of that. Even if she said there was no chance for him and her; he'd still be hopeful. After all, his trump card was the family, that little unit she loved. How long before she buckled under the pressure and moved back into his bed? Then before she knew it, she'd be transferring and… Everything that she'd decided she wanted would mean nothing. She'd never see Diane again. If she was aware of anything thanks to the shooting it was that she needed Di. It wasn't exactly how she'd planned her life, and she'd never expected it, but it was practically an unalterable fact now.

The doctor visited early in the morning and expressed surprise at how well she was for a person who'd been shot only a couple of days earlier. She refrained from telling him that, though the wound was 'healing satisfactorily' to him, it still felt like a razor blade ripping into her each time she moved. If the doctor was happy, she should be happy. At least playing ball would get her out of the sterile environment quicker. Even if that was problematic in itself, she still wanted desperately to be out of that place. The hospital stench did nothing for her nerves.

In the afternoon she was surprised when the door opened and Tony Stamp entered. 'Hiya, Sarge.'

'What are you doing here?'

'Ah… Well,' he said, taking a seat, 'I've got an elf in surgery.'

She chuckled. 'What?'

Tony shook his head. 'You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Let's just say,' he went on, crossing his arms, 'that Santa found a new place for the fairy, instead of sticking it on the top of the Christmas tree.'

'You get all the nice jobs, don't you, Tone?' she queried, seeing his hand reach towards the bag of sweets Rebecca had left for her. 'Oi!'

'Just one?'

'Oh, go on then.' Watching him crunch his way through a chocolate éclair, she questioned. 'So what else is going on in Sun Hill?'

'I tell ya, it's Christmas mania out there. Emma got stuck in a lift last night, in that posh department store in the shopping complex?'

'Yeah, I know the one. You get sniffed at by the cleaners.'

'Mmm,' Tony said distastefully. 'That's the one. Anyway, two mad mothers fighting over the last Barbie car… You should've seen Emma's face when she got out of there.'

Smiling, she said, 'You know, I'd almost forgotten it was nearly Christmas.'

'You're the lucky one,' he answered. 'Being stuck in here. You know out there they're putting tinsel on the dogs? There's grown men taking out their Alsatians wrapped in purple sparkly stuff!'

'You're sounding grouchy,' she commented.

He smiled. 'A fella has to have his standards.'

'Or he can't be picky,' she replied with a grin.

Acquiescing with a shrug, he said, 'You know, it was a mean trick getting yourself stuck in here. You're missing all the fun.'

'You just said I was lucky!'

His lips twitched. 'Well, it's lucky for you.'

'How long's your elf in surgery?' she asked.

'Not long enough. It's a simple, but delicate, procedure apparently. I should probably get back there actually.'

When he stood, she queried, 'What exactly did the elf do to warrant an arrest?'

Tony let out his breath in a half laugh. 'He fought back against Santa.'

Nikki smiled. 'Thanks for dropping in. Could you do me a favour?' she added quickly.

'Yeah, sure. What?'

'If you see Diane Noble, tell her I've run out of stuff to read.'

He nodded. 'No problem, Sarge.' Nicking another chocolate éclair, he popped it into his mouth. 'See ya.'

When the door opened she automatically thought it was Diane; Doug at a stretch. But it wasn't, and she felt the smile slip from her face. 'What are you doing here?'

Liz shrugged as she sat down. 'Heard you'd been shot.'

'And you came to offer your sympathy?' Nikki queried, barely containing her sarcasm.

'Something like that. I tell you,' Liz said after a short pause, 'that son of mine has one hell of an imagination in him.'

'So that's why you're here,' she realised aloud. Her trepidation increased; somehow one thing she hadn't considered was facing her old friend with the revelation of her relationship with Diane. From the look on Liz's face she would've done well to prepare for this moment. 'Well, it's nothing to do with you.'

'If it affects Liam it's something to do with me,' answered the brunette icily. 'You any idea what that lad's going through?'

She bit her tongue against the urge to mention some of Liz's own problems. 'I realise he's upset.'

'Upset?' Liz repeated with a snort. 'That's a start. Seeing something like that, you know what that does to a kid?'

'This really isn't any of your business,' Nikki answered as calmly as she could. Liz had the capacity to make her feel completely unbalanced, it was a prolonged side-effect of the guilt she felt over what had happened she supposed.

'It was her you showed up with wasn't it?'

'Leave it. Please.'

She should've guessed her discomfort would only make Liz more determined to plague her. 'Oh, am I upsetting you?'

'What do you want?' she asked finally.

Liz didn't reply immediately. Instead, she rummaged in the bag of sweets nearby. 'You eaten all the éclairs?'

Nikki rolled her eyes. 'Why don't you just go?'

'I'm not done with you yet,' Liz answered, settling on a wine gum. 'So, you're sleeping with a woman, eh?'

She refused to look at her. She wasn't going to discuss this, not with Liz. She couldn't even talk to Doug about it at the moment.

'Just wanted to get something straight, Nikki,' went on the brunette after eventually swallowing her wine gum. 'If you pardon the phrase. I mean, is this how it is? You come into my place, what is it eleven years ago now? You take my husband, you take my kids, you basically ruin my life, and now you've cheated on your darling husband with a woman?'

Still she remained silent.

Liz let out a snort. 'It'd actually be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. I don't know whether to laugh half the time. Put Doug in his place didn't it?'

'You don't know anything about me and Doug,' she said quietly.

'I know he kicked you out.'

Nikki shook her head and looked up. 'Is that what Liam told you? Well, he's wrong. I was staying with my sister for a few days- my choice. Then, unfortunately, I ended up in here.'

'Unfortunately. Yeah.'

'Oh, look, I know you hate my guts,' she said, beginning to lose her calm. 'I don't blame you. But if you just want to gloat, do it elsewhere.'

Liz was silent for a while. Then she stood and walked to the window. 'All you had… And you ruin it. For what? I hear you're in love with her.'

'I'm not talking to you about this.'

'You don't think you owe me something?' Liz queried, angrily turning back. 'You just wreck everything you touch!'

'No. I'm sorry for what happened with you and Doug but you can't blame me for everything. I didn't force you onto that roof, Liz! You talk about what I've done to Liam! You threatened to kill yourself right in front of him, and he even thought it was his fault. He still does! I'm not perfect, but don't pretend you are either.'

The expression on Liz's face was quite concerning as she started forward. Then she stopped as the doors opened and a certain constable entered with a stack of magazines. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'

Liz was halted but her eyes were still burning. 'Oh, just look who it is!'

Diane pursed her lips and dropped the magazines onto the bottom of the bed. 'If you've got something to say to me, say it then get out.'

It seemed Liz had lost her venom. She just shook her head then made to leave, glancing back at the door. 'Just think about it, eh, Nikki?'

'Get out,' Diane muttered, pulling the door open and edging her out. Then she came to stand beside the bed. 'Are you alright?'

Nikki nodded. 'I'm fine. She just came to stick her oar in, that's all.'

'You sure?'

'Honestly. She's all talk.'

Diane seemed a little unconvinced but nevertheless she took a seat. 'So what did she have to say for herself?'

'Well, it was nothing I didn't already have on my mind,' she admitted with a strained smile.

'Anything you wanna talk about?'

'No.' After a moment, she looked up to her lover. 'I don't want to lie to you.'

'Then don't,' Diane said with a shrug. 'I can take it.'

'It's not what you think,' she said, reaching for her hand. 'I haven't changed my mind or anything. I just…' She sighed. 'You know, things were clearer before.'

'When you had the family, and you had me separate.'

'Yeah. I knew what I was doing then. I haven't got a clue now.'

'Nikki,' Diane said hesitantly when there was a pause, 'I don't think you trust me much, whatever you say. I let you down really badly, and you don't forget something like that overnight.'

'No,' she objected. 'I trust you.'

'What I did…' Diane retorted. 'It was past malicious. I shouldn't have gone to Doug. I was angry and I was stupid.'

'Yes,' Nikki agreed. 'But you did what I couldn't. I mean, when I was telling him, when Liam was missing, I wasn't going to tell him it was you. I couldn't…'

'It doesn't matter now though. It's done. But I need you to believe that I'm sorry for what I did. I'm not going to lie to you like that again.'

She nodded slowly. 'And I don't think I can lie to you.'

Diane's lips twitched. 'That could make life interesting.'

Laughing, Nikki squeezed her hand. 'Oh, I love you.'

If she wasn't mistaken, Diane blushed a little before she kissed her. 'Then it'll be okay. Somehow.'

'You sure about that?'

'I'm never wrong.'

Nikki raised an eyebrow. 'Is that right?'

'Well, let's just say I'm always spot on when it comes to you.'