A/N: I'm not being extra-nice or anything. I just have to visit the family over the weekend and didn't want you having to wait until next week!

I tell myself that I can't hold out forever,

I say there is no reason for my fear.

Cos I feel so secure when we're together,

You give my life direction, you make everything so clear.

'Heard they were discharging you.'

Glancing over her shoulder, Nikki smiled at the Inspector standing by the curtain watching her pack her bag. 'Hiya. What you doing here?'

'Oh, I'm getting a witness statement from an assault victim. Her boyfriend dropped her off outside the supermarket then turned the car round and tried to run her over. He claims he didn't see her, ignoring the fact that he swerved to miss five other pedestrians beforehand.'

'So what did she do?' Nikki questioned as she reached to collect her hairbrush from the cabinet. 'Decide she was getting beef for tea instead of lamb?'

'You know, neither of them are saying. Which leads me to believe it was something as batty as that.' Gina shook her head. 'How are you feeling?'

'Well, they're letting me go so…'

'Much better for not being stuck in here?'

'Yeah, something like that. It can drive you mad here,' she added.

'I know. I take it,' Gina continued after a moment, 'that you're going home with Doug?'

Nikki glanced at her. 'Why do you say that?'

'Well, Diane didn't ask for any time off and I am a copper…'

'I'm going home with him, yeah,' she admitted with a shrug. 'But it's not like you think.'

'It's none of my business what it's like,' Gina answered, sitting on the end of the bed. 'So long as you're happy.'

'I wouldn't go quite that far,' Nikki said, leaving her packing and sitting beside the Inspector. 'I need to spend Christmas with the girls, can't imagine not being there but… I'm not walking back into a ready-made family. I wouldn't kid myself I could even if I wanted to.'

'And that's not what you want then?' Gina questioned carefully.

'I don't know what I want. I mean, I love the kids and of course I want them to be happy but too much has gone on for me and Doug to just forget it. I know I couldn't.'

'Especially not working with Diane everyday, hmm?'

'Well, if me and Doug did sort it out I'd have to transfer. He wouldn't want me staying at Sun Hill, can't say I blame him.'

'So am I to deduce,' Gina said finally, 'that you've come to some sort of decision?'

Nikki sighed. 'Sounds like it, doesn't it? But I don't know.'

The door opened suddenly and Doug entered apprehensively. 'Hi.'

Gina immediately stood. 'I was just leaving.'

'Oh, don't go on my account.'

'No, I've got a rather irritating bloke to interview. For the second time today, I might add.'

Doug smiled. 'Good luck.'

'Yeah, I'll need it,' Gina replied. 'You rest up, alright, Nikki?'

'Yes, Ma'am,' she said.

When she'd gone, Doug nodded to the half-packed bag on the bed. 'Nearly ready?'

'Almost,' she answered, going over to finish tidying her things away. It was with a degree of self-consciousness that she packed the half-eaten box of luxury chocolates into the bag- they'd been a present from Diane the previous day. She got the feeling that Doug knew the source of her discomfort, even if he didn't draw attention it to. 'Thanks for picking me up,' she said eventually to diffuse some tension.

'My pleasure.'

Yes, and it had nothing to do with making sure she got there without getting sidetracked, of course. 'Still, it was nice of you.'

'Well, I am your husband.'

Yes. He was.

Luckily, that husband of hers was still something of a gentleman. He'd set her up in the bedroom, purposefully cleaned it and he made a point of telling her that he'd already sorted out his blankets for the sofa. That she was very grateful for. The last thing she wanted at the moment was to have to gently rebuke his idea of slipping straight back into married life. She had Diane to think of now.

On that note, when he'd left her alone in the bedroom, she went to her jewellery box on the dressing table and located the charm bracelet Diane had given her what seemed like an age ago. She'd missed it in the last few days and looking at it now reminded her of the someone she wished she was with. Keeping that in mind was probably going to be prudent over the next couple of days, with everything up in the air.

When she heard the front door open and close she went out onto the landing. She was fairly certain she knew who this was going to be and, sure enough, it was Liam who appeared at the top of the staircase. He saw her then focused on his shoes. 'Alright?'

'Yep,' she said tentatively. 'You?'

He nodded unconvincingly. 'Yeah. Sorry,' he added after a second. 'Sorry I didn't come to see you in the hospital or anything. Mum said I… It doesn't matter.'

When he made to move past her quickly, she reached out and stopped him. 'Liam? Come on.'

Looking back to her reluctantly, he answered, 'I think she's losing it again. That's why I couldn't stay there anymore.'

'Because of me?' she asked quietly.

'Yeah,' he said with a shrug. He paused then glanced up. 'Are you back for good?'

She sincerely wanted to answer in the affirmative at that moment; seeing the hope in his eyes was almost too much. 'We'll see,' she said finally. 'Okay?'

He nodded slowly. Then he asked, 'Have you got a hole where the bullet went in?'

Most of that evening was spent curled up on the sofa with the girls surgically attached to her hips and Doug stealing glances at her from across the room. He'd cooked a nice meal, the girls had come home and they'd managed to sit down as a family, even Andy had stuck around for the food for once. Afterwards he'd left and Liam had disappeared up to his room but the pleasant mood carried on. It was worrying; she knew how easy it might be to get sucked back into this.

After putting the girls to bed she retreated to the bedroom. She didn't feel much like being alone with Doug and, besides, she was starting to feel fatigue catching up with her. It was all well and good wanting to get out of hospital but she did have the feeling she wasn't quite as up to it as she'd claimed to everybody.

There was a knock on the door soon after she'd undressed and when she called, 'Come in,' it was Doug who entered. His appearance made her a little bit nervous, not that she'd dare show him that.

'You erm…' He held up her mobile. 'You left this downstairs. It beeped, I think you got a text or something.'

'Right,' she said, taking it and dropping it straight down on the bed. There was no way she was going to read it while he was standing there. 'Anything else?'

He shook his head. 'Not really.' When he turned to leave, he got as far as the door before he looked back to her. 'It's good to have you back, you know?'

'Oh, Doug, don't,' she murmured uncomfortably, sitting down on the bed. 'Please. It's bad enough the kids…'

'What,' he interrupted, 'wanting you home? I won't apologise for it anymore than they will. And you know something, Nikki? You can't hide it from me. I saw how happy you were down there tonight.'

'I wouldn't dispute that,' she said softly. 'But it's not that simple.'

'It could be,' he answered. 'Goodnight, Nikki.'

For a few moments she looked at the closed door then, shaking herself, she picked up her phone. Diane, of course.

I'd call but I don't want to interrupt. Hope it's going ok x

With a smile, she hit the call button. Two rings and Diane answered. 'Hello, stranger.'

'It's been a day,' she objected mildly, settling her back up against the pillows and stretching her feet out on the bed.

'Well, it felt like longer,' Diane replied. 'You alright?'

'Mostly. Really tired actually.'

'Getting shot'll do that to you.'

'Thanks for the tip.'

'Let me guess, you'll keep it in mind for the future?'

'How'd you know?'

Diane laughed slightly. 'Call it intuition. How are the kids?'

'Chirpy,' she said honestly. 'They're glad to see me.'

'And you're glad to see them. It's okay, you know.'

She smiled half-heartedly. 'I know. It's awkward though.'

'Any idea when you'll be able to get away?' Diane questioned.

'Soon, I hope.'

'Well, don't push it. Just…'

'It'll be fine,' she interrupted. 'I want to see you.'

Three days and she still hadn't managed to communicate with Diane in more than snatched conversations just before bed. It was beginning to get on her nerves. Doug probably wasn't watching her every move: it just felt like it. What was she supposed to do? She wanted to see Diane but she didn't want to risk messing things up this close to Christmas. The problem was, she'd been reintegrated back into the family so quickly that she couldn't imagine not spending Christmas with them. And that was also something she needed to discuss with Diane, if she could get out of the house for five minutes.

Thursday was Diane's day off; the kids were at school and Doug was at work. She was determined not to let the opportunity pass her by so she was out of the door the second the house was empty.

Diane, it seemed, had been expecting her. She opened the door with a wide smile and went to make coffee. Alone in the living room, Nikki finally relaxed for the first time in days. Home was fantastic, but it was so oppressive. She was still keeping up appearances there: she couldn't relax around Doug for fear of saying something that he wouldn't like. Perhaps she'd mention the fact that after Christmas she wanted to seriously talk to him about living arrangements and the like; or she'd accidentally mention Diane and that'd be it- illusion that they were partaking in would come crashing down around their ears.

'Here,' Diane said, returning and handing her a mug of coffee. Sitting down next to her, she questioned, 'How's the war wound?'

'Healing. Apparently. I had a check-up yesterday,' she elaborated. 'I'm doing very well.'

'For a woman who got herself shot.'

'Am I ever going to hear the end of it?'

'No,' Diane answered with a grin. 'Seriously, everything alright?'

'Well, you asked about the wound, not everything else,' Nikki reminded her with a sideways glance.

Diane leaned forward and placed her coffee on the table. Settling back on the sofa, she asked, 'What's up?'

'I don't know,' she admitted, putting down her own mug. 'I suppose I just feel trapped, that's all. I mean, I expected to but…'

'You don't want to leave,' her lover concluded for her.

'Part of me doesn't,' Nikki answered, lifting up her hand and caressing Diane's cheek. 'But the rest of me just wants to be here.'

Letting out her breath slowly, Diane smiled. 'That's not what I thought you'd say. What time do you have to be back?'

'Four.'

'You realise that's a good six hours?'

'Why do you think I got here so early?'

The day had been near perfect. There was something that happened when she and Diane got together, especially now she could relax completely in her company. Time flew, unfortunately, but at least the long kisses and the jokes had equipped her for another few days without contact. They'd gotten around to discussing Christmas as well. Diane, when the rota had been issued, had worked visiting Robert into it. It meant she'd be away for Christmas Day and she'd been willing to face the irritation of her son to alter it; but Nikki had persuaded her to go. After all, Christmas was for the kids and it wasn't as though they could spend the day together anyway. Things were much too complicated for that.

She'd left Diane's flat feeling more certain of her emotions towards the constable but unsure of how to act at home. She still had no tangible idea how things would work with her and Diane in the future- the kids, living arrangements, all those sorts of things were unspoken between them- but she knew that wanting to be with Diane was an unalterable sign that she couldn't stay with Doug, however much persuasion he and the kids attempted. The problem with the kids was that they didn't realise their father was using them to an extent. Well, perhaps Liam did but Daisy and Rebecca had no inkling what was going on and that infuriated her a little bit. She knew she'd seriously hurt him, but she almost hated him for using the girls against her like that. It was a bit below the belt. Still, she had to keep the peace over Christmas. It was going to be the last one they spent together as a proper family and she wanted to make the most of it.

Yet returning home was almost enough to dampen her spirits. Everything seemed much clearer when she wasn't surrounded by the remnants of her marriage.

The girls were bouncing around all over the place most of the night, due in no small part to the fact that they finished school for the holidays the next day. It was both pleasant and exasperating in one, and it made trying to cook and catch a little bit of peace an impossibility- but she wouldn't complain. When Doug returned he took a bit of charge, promising that Christmas would be cancelled if they didn't stop trying to swing from the banisters like Tarzan.

'Were they this bad last year?' he questioned, coming into the kitchen.

'I think I blotted it out,' she said, stirring the stew in the pan before her. 'I thought you did that every year.'

'Maybe I do make it more idyllic than it was,' he admitted. 'That smells nice.'

'It nearly ended up on the floor a while back when those darling girls of yours decided to throw a tennis ball around in here.'

Doug had never been any good at hiding his amusement. 'Right.'

'Oi,' she said, swatting him with a tea towel. 'If you're just gonna stand there and laugh…'

'No, no. It's… terrible.'

'Doug,' she said warningly.

Recognising the tone, he made more of an effort and cleared his throat. 'Sorry.' Going to the sink, he rinsed a glass then got himself a drink. 'Were you alright today? Being on your own here and everything?'

'I'm a big girl,' she answered, tasting the stew. 'Few more minutes. You couldn't round up the troops could you?'

'Yeah, sure,' he said, not moving. 'I called earlier; about lunchtime. Just to see how you were. You didn't answer.'

'I didn't hear it,' she lied smoothly. 'Mind you, I did take a long bath around then so…'

'Right, of course.'

She felt him watching her for a few seconds and felt her discomfort increase. But, still… she didn't want to start sharing the truth with him right now. After Christmas: that was what she'd decided. 'Doug- the kids?'

'Sorry, I'm doing it,' he said, finally shifting. Her smile remained pasted on only until he had left the kitchen then she let it fade. She knew she could only keep this up for so long.

The next day was a Friday. For a split-second when she awoke she smiled; because she knew what Fridays usually entailed. Then she opened her eyes and saw the trickle of light through the gap in the curtains and sighed as she realised just how much everything had changed in the space of a few months. She wouldn't be seeing Diane tonight. Things had altered- Liam was staying away from his mum's thanks to Liz constantly discussing the situation, and Doug definitely wouldn't be going out. It was annoying; what she needed was to spend time away from him because being near him at the moment usually meant more prickling of her conscience. That was the last thing she needed.

But she didn't kid herself she was actually going to be able to get out of the house, not until Liam stormed out about eight after an argument with Liz over the phone about his no-show. Doug grabbed his coat and went to follow him and as he left Nikki suggested that when he caught up with him they should go for a walk or something. It wouldn't do Liam any harm to have his dad alone for a while and, she told herself quietly, it would give her some too.

When Doug was safely gone she was quickly away. Reaching Diane's block, however, she was surprised to see the constable showing a man out of the building, hugging him then watching him off down the street. From her vantage point in the shadows across the road, Nikki slumped back against the wall, feeling suddenly nauseous. There had been obvious familiarity there and he'd even been in the flat! How stupid had she really been here?

With the sense of stupidity gnawing at her stomach, she slowly turned and walked back to her car. The drive home was a bit of a blur, she was on auto-pilot and it was fortunate the roads weren't as busy as they probably should've been. When she got back to the house she stayed in the car for a while- not certain what to do- until her mobile beeped. Diane.

Any chance of a repeat of yesterday in the near future?

Deleting the message straight away, she eventually left the car and went into the house. Thankfully, Doug and Liam were nowhere to be found: she didn't particularly want to face questions about why she'd left the house. She didn't want to talk to anyone really. With that in mind, she went upstairs and slipped into bed, not intending to sleep but she needed to just think. She seemed to have a lot of that to do.

So, only a week after they'd discussed trust and how little of an issue it was between them, Diane had invited some bloke round to her flat. On a Friday night no less! That was their time. She couldn't believe that, after everything, Diane would just… No. Maybe there was a rational explanation, maybe she was just being paranoid. Or, perhaps, she thought, referring to Gina's words, this was just Diane Noble being Diane Noble. This was what she'd expected! This was why she'd tried to steer clear of her in the first damn place.

The door opened a crack and Doug's voice floated through the gap, 'Nikki?'

'I was just tired,' she said softly. 'I didn't think I could wait up. Is Liam alright?'

'Yeah, he'll be fine. Are you sure you're alright?'

'Course,' she answered, aware of how unsteady her voice was.

'Well, you know where I am,' he said finally.

Less than a week until Christmas and the world was now apparently gripped in some sort of madness. On Saturday she'd taken the girls into town so they could get their presents and found herself crushed within a crowd worthy of the football stands. What was it about Christmas that forced everyone to come out of their houses at precisely three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon? It was damn infuriating, whatever it was.

As hard as she tried to prevent it, she still occasionally found her mind drifting to Diane and the scene she'd witnessed the previous evening. If she had her way she'd forget it ever happened; forget the last six months had ever happened. And she could, a little voice whispered in her ear: it'd be as easy as anything. If she just went home and talked to Doug then…

No, what a lousy idea that was. As angry as she was at Diane she couldn't just turn off her feelings. She'd done that far too much in the past and it had just led to a bucket load of trouble. So what was the alternative? Talk to Diane about it? She wasn't sure she could, if she was honest.

Her head had migrated back to the clouds that evening when Doug sat beside her on the sofa. 'Now are you going to tell me why you're so quiet?'

'Hmm?' Glancing to him, she found him a little too close for comfort. 'Doug, I'm fine.'

'No, you haven't been fine since me and Liam got back last night. Did something happen while we were out?'

She exhaled. 'Honestly, it's just everything catching up with me, that's all.'

As her mobile began vibrating on the table, Doug's lips thinned. 'Everything or everyone? Go on, answer it.'

'It's alright.'

'I said answer it.'

Trapped by the venom within his voice, she grabbed the mobile and left the room. 'Hello?'

'Hi,' Diane replied. 'Just me.'

'Right.' Moving into the kitchen, she closed the door behind her. 'What do you want?'

'I was checking how you were. You haven't answered my texts, I wanted to see if you were okay.'

'I'm fine,' Nikki said shortly.

'You don't sound it.'

'And you'd know, would you?' she asked icily.

There was a pause. 'Nikki, what's going on? And don't say nothing, because I'm not an idiot.'

'I can't talk at the moment,' she said eventually.

'So there's something to talk about then?'

'No. Yes. I don't know, okay? Just… I have to go,' she concluded lamely. 'I'll call you.'

Diane audibly sighed. 'Alright, fine. I'll be waiting.'

Ending the call, she placed the phone down onto the kitchen table and dropped into a chair. A few moments later the door opened tentatively and Doug came in. 'Hiya.'

She looked up at him and tried to smile. 'Hi.'

'What's wrong, hmm?' He sat down opposite her. 'You can tell me.'

'No,' she said.

'So it was her then,' he said, letting his breath out heavily. For a couple of seconds he just seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say, probably battling with his own ideas about what he should say. Finally, he said, 'I'm trying, Nikki. I really am. I haven't done this before; I don't know what I'm supposed to be saying or doing. I'm lost.'

'I know you are,' she said quietly.

'I know you went to see her yesterday,' he went on. 'I was going to ignore it but… I don't think I can.'

Rubbing her eyes as a measure against the tears threatening to make an appearance, she sighed. 'What do you want me to say?'

'What do I want?' he repeated slowly. 'Well, I'd like you back for starters. Your body's here but…'

'I'm here, Doug,' she interrupted. 'All of me.'

'So what does that mean, Nikki? You're back for good, you want to try and sort it out?'

A massive part of her considered saying yes. She could forget Diane, transfer away and forget the lies and the pain and everything would just get back to normal. But a more rational part of her said to hold off. 'I don't know what I want.'

Doug nodded painfully. 'I wish you did.'

Hesitantly, she reached for his hand. The look on his face was cutting into her, she just wanted to clear it, make it all better. 'Me too,' she said with a shrug.

'I love you, you do know that?'

'Yeah,' she said quietly. 'I know.'

Doug seemed to know what he was doing. He wanted a decision, he wanted some kind of finality. On Sunday afternoon he took the kids out, knowing full well that she wouldn't stay in the house alone. She didn't, she couldn't leave it any longer. Over the last couple of days her mind had been turning things over constantly and she'd come to one conclusion- she needed to sort this out and she needed truth. So she arranged to meet Diane in the pub. If they met in the flat it would lead to just one thing, and she wanted her head unclouded for this. It was potentially going to decide the rest of her life for her.

Diane was waiting when she got there, having already bought the drinks. Nikki took a seat then reluctantly looked up into her lover's eyes. Diane smiled. 'Am I glad to see you. Thought you'd gone off me or something.'

She attempted a smile of her own. 'No.'

'But there's something up,' Diane said diligently. 'You might as well tell me.' After a second, she queried, 'Has something happened with you and Doug?'

Nikki instantly glanced at her face, surprised to see poorly-masked concern there. 'You're really asking me that?'

'You're living in the same house as him, Nikki. It's a… Well, it's reasonable.'

She shook her head. 'I haven't slept with him, if that's what you're implying.'

Diane was quiet for a moment. 'I don't suppose I've got any right to be asking you that anyway.'

'And why's that?' she questioned softly.

'Well, I wouldn't exactly blame you if you did.'

'So it wouldn't just be giving you an excuse then?'

She seemed genuinely uncomprehending. 'What?'

Suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious, Nikki concentrated on the glass in her hand. 'I came round to your place Friday night when Doug and Liam went out.'

To her supreme irritation, Diane stifled a bout of laugher. 'Oh, you're kidding me! You think that I..? That was my cousin! Alex; I told you about him.'

Though a blush was beginning to creep onto her cheeks, she still didn't feel certain. She couldn't look up. 'You seemed close.'

'Well, we're alright. Oi, look at me,' Diane insisted, drawing her eyes upwards. 'It was my cousin. I've got photos at home if you need me to prove it.'

Nikki shook her head then sighed. 'I'm sorry.'

After a moment, Diane suggested, 'Come back to mine. I think we need to talk.'

Acquiescing, she finished her drink and then drove them both to Diane's. Once inside, she began feeling really idiotic but… Well, it had felt like a rational conclusion in her head. Maybe that was the problem.

Diane came in with two coffees, set them down on the table then sat beside her. 'So I'm guessing you don't trust me as much as you say you do.'

She let out her breath and forced herself to look into the green eyes currently examining her. 'I thought I was fine. I think… I just let my mind run away with me, that's all.'

'Can I ask you something?' Diane said a few seconds later.

'Course,' she replied, wondering where this was going.

'Nikki… Friday was two days ago and you've been in that house thinking that I've been seeing some bloke. I mean, did you..?'

'No,' she said instantly, reaching for Diane's hand. 'I told you.'

'Ah, but did you think about it?' Diane queried with a knowledgeable glint in her eye.

She didn't speak for a time, instead she ran her thumb back and forth over the palm of her lover's hand, enjoying the way it calmed her. Then she looked up and said, with complete sincerity, 'I thought about making my life easier, yeah. Doug was charming, persuasive and the kids were… being themselves. Half of me wanted to do it. But I didn't.'

'You know,' Diane went on after a pause, 'it's something I think about. I was thinking about it before, when he didn't know. I mean, I believed you when you said you'd stopped sleeping with him but part of me still wondered a bit. But now you're in that house and… I keep thinking; what would it take? A couple of drinks? Just a good night with the kids?'

Nikki shook her head. 'I wouldn't do that to you.'

'But you thought I would?'

'Yeah,' she admitted. 'I did. And I'm sorry for that.'

'You wanna know something, Nikki?' Diane asked finally, pulling her hand away and picking up her coffee. 'I never wanted any of this. I was happy with where my life was going. Then… this happens and everything's different all of a sudden. Nothing I can do about it, I just have to go along with it.' After taking a sip of her drink, Diane continued, 'I love you; there's nothing I can do about that either. And I need you to trust me, because I can't stand the idea of me mucking this up like I've done everything else in my life. But you can't trust me because I've already messed it up, haven't I? Because I'm a stupid cow.'

'No, you're not,' Nikki said quietly.

'What you think,' Diane carried on, 'is that if I went after you when you were still married then there's a chance that I'd just betray you. That's it, isn't it?'

She shrugged. 'Can't say it hadn't crossed my mind.'

'Well, it's crap. I couldn't do that to you.'

'Me neither.'

'So I'm stuck with you then?' Diane asked, sipping her coffee again then placing it back down on the table.

'Looks like.'

Her lover nodded. 'I can be as honest as you like, Nikki, but it won't mean anything if you can't believe me anyway.'

'Listen,' Nikki said, shifting sideways and resting her head against the sofa so she could watch Diane, 'I've been an idiot. I think I knew that deep down, because otherwise I'd have…'

'Jumped back into bed with your husband?'

'Yeah. Something like that.'

Diane sighed then shook her head with a small laugh. 'We're a right pair.'

She couldn't help but agree. 'Yep.'

Having lost track of time at Diane's place, it was fairly late when she returned home. The girls would already be fast asleep in bed, she knew that when she opened the door. But Doug, as she'd expected, was waiting for her with a glass in his hand in the living room.

She sat down in the chair. 'Did you have a nice afternoon?'

He nodded. 'The girls got you a present. But they swore me to secrecy so…'

'Best not ruin it then,' she said carefully.

'Mmm. What about you, are you okay?'

'I'm fine. Bit tired.'

'I was thinking today,' he said eventually. 'About Rebecca's first birthday. Remember it?'

'Course I do,' she answered with a small smile. 'It's not every day you dress up as the Easter Bunny is it?'

'Yeah, that was the one,' he replied shortly. 'I looked like an idiot. We were happy, Nikki. That year; all the ones after it.'

'I know we were.'

'I don't understand,' he said after a long pause, 'how you can just ruin their lives. Because that's what you'll be doing. Kids need both parents around.'

'Like the boys needed you?' she questioned quietly.

He glanced over. 'That was different.'

'Was it?' she asked.

'I didn't shack up with another man did I?'

'No,' she conceded. 'But I'm not shacking up with Diane either. I'm going to bed,' she announced, standing. As she passed him, she was surprised when he grasped her arm. 'What?'

'I've said I'll forgive you. I'll forget it. Nikki, just think. You can't hurt them, you can't do this to them. I know that. I know you.'

Wrenching her hand out of his grip, she immediately holed herself up in the bedroom and sent a message to Diane: After Christmas I need to get out of here. Help me?

Five minutes later she got a reply that brought a brief smile to her face: Help?! I'll be there with bloody bells on. Get some sleep, eh? x