Harry smiled to himself as he made his way back to the bed. He'd not seen Nikki smile like that for weeks, more than a month even. Not since that night at the pub. He pushed his hand through his hair; that night. He still couldn't believe he couldn't remember what had happened.

He'd thought it would come back after a few hours; then a few days; then a few weeks. But it hadn't.

They'd not talked about it either.

There hadn't been a chance that first morning, dashing off to the crime scene at the crack of dawn at Leo's request.

And then he'd been sent home ill.

And then he'd spent the next two days vomiting leaving Leo and Nikki in the thick of things. He'd needed a couple more days off work after that to get his strength back.

It was all such a mess.

By the time he'd got back to work, time had moved on and they were all still rushed off their feet. All that Nikki had said on the matter had been: 'nothing happened.' And that had been that.

But that wasn't that. It couldn't be the end. It just couldn't be.

He tried to concentrate his mind back to what he did remember about that night. Maybe now with nothing else to do and no distractions he would relax and be able to remember some more. He still couldn't really believe that he had been so drunk that over a month later he still couldn't remember very much of what had gone on. Usually when they were out together he moderated his drinking. He was highly aware of how loose his tongue became after he'd had too many, and a loose tongue on a night out with Nikki just boded disaster. So he was usually a bit careful. He'd put her to bed on more than one occasion. They had both fallen asleep together on the sofa before now; but not this, never this.

He sat still, his feet up on the bed and closed his eyes, watching the events of the evening he did remember pass before him.

She had smiled at him when he had entered the pub; just like she had smiled at him tonight. Maybe that was why this was bothering him again, bringing it all back to the surface.

Who was he kidding? This had been bothering him for weeks.

They had gone to the pub because…they had finally finished the Simmons case and they decided they deserved a celebration if just for getting DI Morrison out of their hair for a while. Nikki had gone on ahead and just as Harry was about to leave Morrison had marched in for one last rant. He obviously needed to claim responsibility for breaking the case, regardless of the fact that it wasn't him at all, it was the evidence that they had painstakingly found; despite all his yelling. Harry just let him shout himself out, and slipped out at the first opportunity.

Nikki had been pleased to see him when he walked in, relieved even; some creep at the bar had been making unwanted advances and had even bought her a drink and sent it over to her table. So she had been so happy when Harry turned up, she even kissed him on the cheek ostentatiously just so Mr Creepy could see.

Then…

Then…

It was all a blank. Really blank.

He couldn't help feeling cold, and he had that gut sucking feeling of dread and panic. There were hours he still couldn't account for.

His next memory of that night was his phone ringing. It was still dark he remembered. He had taken his phone from his trouser pocket that had been folded and placed on the chair next to the bed.

The phone had flashed 3:17am when he had picked it up.

He'd talked to Leo.

He must have talked to Leo, but even that was a bit hazy. There were two things he remembered Leo saying distinctly.

"If you're still drunk Harry, make some coffee and get a cab."

"I'll have to phone Nikki, and get her to come in too."

Harry remembered lying back down heavily on the pillow taking a moment to process and to wake up slightly. He had a feeling that something was different, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. One thing he remembered for sure was that his headache had been phenomenal.

Then he'd heard a phone ring.

His had still been in his hand, but it had remained dark, brooding and silent. It hadn't been his phone ringing. In his half-awake state he had been dimly aware that he had recognised the ring tone.

Then the woman lying next to him, had sworn, sat up and answered her phone. He'd hardly registered her presence before and then he'd heard her say.

"I'll be right there Leo."

"Nikki?" Harry had stammered, finally taking in his surroundings. He hadn't been at his house. He'd been at Nikki's. He hadn't been in his bed; he'd been in Nikki's. His clothes had been folded and left on the chair next to him. He'd taken a moment to consciously feel what he had been wearing revealing the fact that ALL his clothes were on the chair next to him. He now knew what the 'different' feeling had been.

"Nikki?" Harry had asked again.

"Come on, we need to get to work," she had said and looked down at him. "Look's like I'd better drive!" And with that she had climbed out of the bed unashamedly naked and had walked through to her bathroom.

He remembered the utter sense of panic he had felt then. It still made his stomach churn even now. What had he done? What had they done? Or not done? They were both naked! Why couldn't he remember? Why did his head hurt so badly? Why was Nikki so calm? He had stumbled into her kitchen looking for water, coffee and painkillers and grabbed his clothes as he'd gone.