As From Discretion Comes Isolation
Chapter 6

A/N - Just a sort of a filler chapter to keep with the Silent Witness side of things, I know I'm you're still in suspense about Emily but I'll get the next chapter up ASAP. Thank you again to continued support, keep letting me know what you think!

Since the second Interpol murder, DCI Harrison had the Lyell Centre team working around the clock. He was convinced that the answer to finding the killer was in the pathology although the team knew he was telling himself that so that he could pass the work, and the blame, onto someone else. He had been working the case for almost a year and still there were no real leads and it was common knowledge that he was receiving pressure from above.

Nikki had been oblivious to the dark of the early morning turning into daylight as the sun began to shine pleasantly through the large window. Once she had awoken in the early morning she had found herself unable to sleep and decided to be productive and head into work early as she found the quiet and darkness peaceful to gather her thoughts into a more motivated state. She ached all over from both her hangover and her unfortunate sleeping arrangement from the previous night so she had buried herself in her work to try and ignore her feelings, but it was doing little to mask the pain.

"So do I get to know?" Jack asked as he wheeled his office chair towards her, causing her to glance up briefly before continuing her typing.

"Know what, Jack? If you hadn't noticed I'm bit a swamped at the moment," she said with a slight edge to her voice.

He pointed his index finger at her and leant back lazily causing his chair to squeak, "that! That is what I want to know. Is there a particular reason why you're being cold with me?"

Her rapid typing ceased and she turned fully towards him, "I haven't been cold."

"Oh yes because your demeanour just screams 'I love you Jack'!" he stated sarcastically, "I said 'good morning Nikki' when I came into work, no response. I asked you if you wanted coffee, no more than a grunt and I just wanted to know how you were getting on with your workload and I was blanked again. I can't work out if it's because you're hungover and angry with me because I took you out or because of the kiss, on the cheek I might add, or if it's something else."

Nikki looked down at her lap. She was not about to admit that she was childishly blaming Jack for taking her out and by doing so she had missed a phone call from a man who had held her heart unknowingly for the past eight years. She knew it was utterly ridiculous, Jack had no idea she was waiting for a call from Harry, he had only taken her out to be kind but he was convenient to take her anger out on.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, running a hand through her blonde curls, "I suppose I am a bit out of sorts after last night and quite stressed out over the paperwork for this case, I should be fine tomorrow."

Jack looked at her a little uncertainly, "ok, but you're alright for now? You look like you need a break, if I can help you with anything, just ask."

She nodded her head, "thank you Jack but I need to finish this report and give it to Leo before I can think about a break."

He nodded and smiled at her sympathetically, "ok, I'll just be in the lab if you need me," he said giving her a small wave on the way out of the room.

The printer was making screeching noises as Nikki tried to print off her work. It had been acting up recently but today she knew it had died completely. She sighed and saved her work before walking to Leo's office so to tell him why she could not give him the required report. She stood in his doorway and waited patiently as she usually did, he had his back to her and had his ear pressed to the receiver of his landline.

"Ok, thank you for letting me know, goodbye," he said solemnly down the phone before placing it downwards to hang up.

Nikki walked a few paces into the enclosed space, "everything alright?"

Leo turned his chair around at the sound of his colleague's voice and shook his head slowly, "that was Harrison..."

"Has there been another murder?" she asked quietly fearing that the case was escalating even further. She knew as well as anybody else working on the Interpol case that without any new leads they were no closer to catching the killer.

He shook his head again, "not a murder, but someone was severely wounded after being shot at the Interpol building itself."

She gave a small gasp, "but they've never been bold enough to target inside the building before, when was this? Do they know who it was?" she asked anxiously, hoping that her friend had not gotten so close that they had finally got to her.

"Yesterday evening and they're not releasing names yet, the person in question has been rushed to hospital, we'll find out more once they're through the worst of it," he replied

Nikki gave a frustrated cry, "yesterday evening?! I'm sick of these police officers using us when it suits them but then withholding important information from us, legalities or not!"

Leo stood up and put his arms around his friend, "it'll be ok, we don't know who it is and whoever it is we still need to catch this guy, he's been behind us for too long."