A/N: I'll be gone for about a week, so there'll be no updates from me for a little while... sorry...

Thank you for all the kind reviews! I never ask for them but when they come they are very much appreciated!

"Nikki?"

"Hmm," Nikki replied, lying in Daniel's arms that night.

"You and Dr. Cunningham, you are close?" Daniel asked.

Nikki became still and said almost defensively, "Quite close, yes. Why?"

"I don't really know. The way he looked at you this evening…"

"What do you mean, the way he looked at me? How did he look at me?" Nikki said a little too quickly.

"He just… looked at you a lot. Lingering looks. And I don't think he liked me very much."

"Nonsense, why wouldn't he like you?"

"Because he's jealous."

Nikki sat up and looked at Daniel incredulously. "Harry, jealous? Of what?" she laughed.

"Of me… being with you!" Daniel said seriously.

Nikki laughed again, "Don't be silly, Daniel! Harry has Kate!

"Yes… yes, he does and he does seem fond of her but… well, the way he looks at you, the way you two talk together standing so close together almost as if you're touching even when you're not. You both seem so… in tune." Daniel studied her and Nikki nodded.

"That's because Harry and I have worked together daily and have been good friends for 6 years. A kind of… shorthand… grows from that."

"And you and he never…?"

"No, never!" Nikki said decidedly.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Why not?" Nikki exclaimed, "Because… because it would never work, that's why not."

"Would you have wanted it to work?"

"Oh, Daniel!" Nikki laughed away his comment, "Don't we have anything better to do than discuss this silly topic?" and she leaned in and kissed him and words didn't need to be exchanged anymore for quite a while.

Daniel fell asleep not long after, but Nikki tossed and turned. Of what significance were Daniel's questions and observations? What did he mean by lingering looks from Harry? Harry jealous? No, Daniel must have read that completely wrong. Harry had been flirting with Kate all evening, she had seen it herself! Nikki felt herself being annoyed at Daniel's questions. What business was it of his? Why give her that little flicker of hope? "Hope?" she whispered out loud to herself. "What am I thinking here?" She had no right thinking of Harry when here she had Daniel in her bed… No, she had to get to sleep and quickly. She went to the kitchen, found a sleeping pill and fell asleep soon after.

"Nikki, can you take a look? What do you think this is?" Harry asked, frowning, staring intently at an image on his computer.

Nikki walked over and leaned in over Harry's shoulder to study the image then burst out laughing at the cartoon she saw displayed there. She looked back at Harry who was already beaming at her and she punched him. "I thought it was something serious!"

It was not the best moment for Kate to walk in, but she did just then. "Hi Harry, your technician let me in," she said, making both Harry and Nikki jump.

"Nikki," she said with a curt nod to Nikki and a forced smile, just as Harry quickly got up and walked over to her, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. Nikki walked back to her own desk and sat down again, quickly occupying herself with her computer again.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked Kate.

"We're going out to dinner, aren't we? Thought I'd come pick you up."

"Ah, but I'll need my car, so we can't drive together anyhow."

"That's alright, I took the tube," Kate smiled. "Ready, shall we go?"

"Let me just finish off here," Harry said, "Why don't you grab a cup of coffee at the meeting table over there and I'll be right with you."

"Oh… yes… of course" she said coolly, "It just looked to me like you were done, you know, with you giggling so with Nikki."

"Kate…" he said, sighing.

"No, don't let me trouble you, I'll wait!" she said, piqued, as Harry accompanied her to the table and got her a cup of coffee.

Nikki pretended to be very busy at her computer but could sense the tension even from where she was sitting.

"I came across something in an e-mail that I showed Nikki. Just a few more e-mails to go and I'll be right with you," Harry said apologetically. Nikki didn't hear Kate's answer although there was an angry whisper. She heard Harry walk back in and quickly pretended to be typing something.

As he sat down Nikki looked across at him. She really didn't want to upset Kate.

"Sorry!" she mouthed as she caught his eye. He just smiled at her gently and shook his head, before looking back at his computer screen and quickly going through his e-mails.

After a few minutes of working is silence, a new email message popped up. One line from Harry:

"Maybe I can tolerate your meddling more than her jealousy…"

Her head snapped up to look at him and he winked at her as he gave her a grin. Harry and his jokes…

She e-mailed back: "Too late, Dr Cunningham, I'm meddling with someone else now" and then looked to see his reaction. This time he wasn't smiling, he didn't even look at her.

"Just the way it should be. I'm sure he can make you happy," was Harry's reply after a short while.

She looked up at him again and shrugged, a small smile on her lips. He smiled back at her, then got up, took his jacket and said cheerfully,

"Night, Nikki, see you tomorrow!"

"Night, Harry," she answered, following him with her eyes as he walked off to Kate, who in turn was watching them and jumped up, all ready to leave with Harry.