What had just happened? Nikki was in turmoil. That kiss… there was something in that kiss… a passion, urgency, desperation, love… and then it ended, leaving her breathless. She wanted to run after him, make him face her again, make him kiss her again but she couldn't. He had ended the kiss, he had stepped back and broken the spell. No matter how they had lost themselves in that kiss, Harry had been able to pull himself out of it, distance himself from it, something Nikki couldn't do. She walked to the door Harry had left open, slowly closed it and leaned against it. Her legs then finally gave way and she slid down to the floor, sitting against that door for a long time, dazed. What had just happened? And how could she face Harry at work the next day? She would break, she knew she would. This was just too much to bear. Harry felt something for her, she knew he did, something more than friendship and yet he was so stubborn, he would never give in, he would never give them the chance to explore anything beyond friendship. She could deal with disappointment if she knew Harry really didn't care for her but he did… surely that kiss proved something? How could she just be friends with Harry when she knew there was a deeper feeling there but that that deeper feeling would forever be resisted? Nikki took deep breaths. Breathe, breathe, and try to calm yourself, she told herself. Let the air expand your lungs and push away the debilitating dull ache in your heart. A sob escaped her lips and she jumped up. She had to do something, anything to ease the tension and ache!

She grabbed her bag and sweater and stormed out her door. She wanted to force Harry, force him to be with her! But she knew she couldn't. So, she walked. She walked and walked until the early hours of morning and it was 3 a.m. and she found herself at Leo's door. She was so exhausted she couldn't think anymore. She rang Leo's doorbell and when he opened and saw her, he let out a gasp.

"Nikki, what on earth? You look terrible! What are you doing here at this time of night?"

Nikki just looked at him and Janet, who had come to stand behind him, wordlessly pushed Leo aside and pulled Nikki inside and held her. Nikki let out a long breath as she allowed herself to be enveloped, as if she had been holding that breath ever since Harry had left. She let herself be guided to the couch. She couldn't speak, she couldn't cry, she was numb as she sat down and felt Janet's protective arm around her.

Leo kneeled in front of her and took her hands in his. "What happened, Nikki?" he asked gently.

Nikki looked at Leo and desperately searched his face hoping he had all the answers, but she knew he didn't have them. She then whispered, "Hungary changed everything, Leo. I… I… can't shut out what I feel anymore… I can't do this anymore. I need a break, I need to go away, I can't stay… I need to work, I want to work but I can't do it here anymore. I don't want to leave you and Ha… I just need to be somewhere else for a while, I need to find some distance from Harry, I need to find perspective…"

Leo looked confused, "I don't understand. You want to leave because of Hungary and Harry? What about Daniel?"

Janet caught Leo's eye and shook her head. "Daniel was never going to be here to stay, it never would have worked," she said gently.

Nikki looked at Janet in surprise, "How do you know…?" she asked and Leo looked at her the same way with the same question in mind.

"It doesn't take a university degree to see how you feel about Harry and how he feels about you," Janet said simply, "You tried to deny it with Daniel, he tried to deny it with Kate but denial never works. Give it time, Nikki, he will come around."

Leo looked at Janet with admiration for her insight, Nikki gave a sad smile. "He won't. He's made that clear this evening. Apparently I terrify him," she said softly.

"He will come around, he loves you," Janet said with certainty but Nikki just shook her head and whispered, "Not enough."

"Harry has always had his demons, Nikki, you know that as well as I do. He needs time to work things out..." Leo started.

"Isn't 6 years enough, Leo?" Nikki asked desperately.

Leo smiled sadly, "Yes, you would think so. But as you say, Hungary changed everything for him as well. He isn't ready."

Nikki nodded, "And I don't have the patience anymore, Leo. I can't put myself on hold forever for something that might never happen," she said returning his gaze.

Leo nodded as well, "I know," he said quietly and the three of them sat in silence for a while.

"Tell you want, Nikki," Leo said gently, "You stay here and sleep. Take tomorrow, or rather today, off and we'll think and talk about this in the evening. Something will turn up, it always does."

Nikki just shook her head and wordlessly kept shaking it until Janet had installed her in the guest bedroom and Nikki fell into a very deep sleep.

When she woke again at 10 a.m. she knew what she had to do. She would go in to work after all, face Harry and tell him and Leo than now was maybe the time to part ways. Nikki took the tube home, made a few phone calls and then went in to work.