As From Discretion Comes Isolation
Chapter 2

A/N - Thank you already for the reviews and the response of this story, I know that crossovers aren't always as popular and especially as Silent Witness isn't a very well known show outside the UK so support is much appreciated. However, for any solely Criminal Minds fans the story is mainly about Emily and her secrets and the first few chapters will alternate between the two shows so you can just read and follow the Criminal Minds side of the story until the time comes for the two teams to meet. It's not explained so for anyone who doesn't know Silent Witness is basically about a team of pathologists (medical examiners) and a forensic scientist in London who assist in solving murder cases.

It was the vibrating of her phone against her wooden bedside table that woke Nikki Alexander at 4.00am. Usually she would be reluctant to answer it, knowing it would most likely be a work call asking her to attend a crime scene, but this was a call she had been expecting. Her heart began to beat faster in anticipation as she sat up and blindly felt for her phone before switching on her lamp and pressing answer.

"Dr Alexander" she answered more calmly than she felt, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the light.

"Hey Nikki!"

Her heart deflated, as the voice her Irish colleague rang clearly in her ears. As much as she had grown to love him during the months since forensics and pathology had joined forces it was not who she was hoping to hear from in the early hours of the morning.

She sighed heavily and slumped backwards into her bed, "Jack, is there any particular reason you are calling me at four in the morning?"

There was movement at his end of the phone, "yeah sorry I got those bloods back and thought you'd like to know that-"

"-You may be a crazed insomniac but some of us get little enough sleep as it is and I would like to salvage what I have left of it, goodnight" she interjected as she closed her eyes briefly and brought her hand to her forehead in despair, she did not take kindly to being woken up to hear about a ninety two year old woman's blood results.

"But Nikki-"

"Goodnight Jack" and with that she cut him off.

Turning the lights back out she felt the darkness consume her once more, and despite having to get up for work in two hours she found herself unable to fall asleep. For the past week she had been expecting a call from her best friend and ex-colleague who had left to take a job in New York and due to the time difference, she had been waiting for that call at any time. She knew it was ridiculous to believe Harry was still yearning for his life back in London. No matter how much he had moaned about the trivial problems he'd had adjusting to his new life in the 'Big Apple', the now infrequent and shorter phone calls and emails were the evidence she needed to know he had moved on; she just wished she could do the same.

The corridor was cold as Nikki arrived into the Lyell Centre several hours later, she reluctantly shrugged off her coat before sitting down at her desk. Within minutes of her entering the building Leo had brewed her a coffee and had brought it to her. Despite being her boss he was her long term friend more than anything. With the lack of a father figure Leo had always been the man she respected and looked up to the most.

She brought the mug to her lips and smiled gratefully up at him as she felt the hot liquid course through her body, immediately beginning to warm her, "thank you, is Jack in yet?"

"I think so but I haven't seen him, why?" he replied, sitting opposite and sipping his own cup of tea.

She sighed and ran her hand through her hair, "he rang me at four o'clock this morning ranting about those bloods for Cassandra Franklin."

Leo frowned and shook his head in confusion, "he rang you? He mentioned them briefly last night as I was leaving but I didn't think he'd stay here and wait for the results."

"I'll go and see him in a minute," she said leaning back slightly in her office chair.

There was a silence whilst Leo continued to study his friend's behaviour, "still no word from Harry?" he was well aware of how much Nikki had been hurting since Harry's departure. He had always expected them to admit their love for each other but they were both too stubborn and respectful to do anything, and now it was too late.

She looked up attentively before concentrating on her cup once more to avoid eye contact "no... not yet" she said quieter than usual, trying not to show her disappointment.

He put a hand on her shoulder, "you know how it is with a new job, even worse in a new city, let alone a new country! I'm sure he'll get in touch as soon as he's got a minute"

Nikki stood up hastily trying to avoid the situation, "thank you Leo" she smiled quickly placing her empty cup on the desk and hurrying out of the room.

Jack had his back to the door looking through a microscope as Nikki entered the lab and he was unaware of her presence as she leant against the doorway with her arms folded.

"Those bloods better be really important."

He raised his head at the sound of her voice. His body ached all over from the night before and he wasn't looking for a pounding head to match but he knew he had to face the music so he turned slowly to face her.

She walked towards him shaking her head slightly, "why do I suddenly get the feeling that this has nothing to do with bloods?" she said pointing to his face which was covered in cuts and the skin around his eye was various shades of blue and purple.

"Ok, I'm sorry. I went fighting again last night, I told you it's something I need to do sometimes to let everything go" he paused and smiled, "you should see the other guy!"

Nikki sighed, "I'd rather not. So you lost, felt sorry for yourself, rang me when you got home and made up some ridiculous story about Cassandra Franklin's blood results."

"Ah it wasn't exactly ridiculous, I did get the results back."

"And?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

He looked at her sheepishly, "and she died of natural causes"

She closed her eyes in disbelief, "which is just what we concluded in the postmortem yesterday" she turned to leave the room before looking back, "what were you going to say if I had said yes I wanted to know about the blood results?"

He laughed and gave a slight shrug, "I didn't think that far!"

Despite the fact that she was annoyed with him, Nikki laughed too, it wasn't something she had cause to do often so she wouldn't pass up the opportunity if it arose. Just as she reached the door she walked into Leo who looked distressed with his phone in his hand.

"Leo what's the matter?" Nikki asked concernedly.

"I've just heard from DCI Harrison, there's been another one" he answered quietly, "they're going to need you both at the scene, it's a member of London Interpol."