Thanks for all the kind reviews everyone! Sorry this story is taking so long!
"I'm not going to indulge your smugness Leo get on with it" Harry said gruffly, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"I'm pleased" was all Leo said to the surprise of Harry who was expecting a torrent of ribbing.
Harry turned to face Nikki who had slid back up the bed and popped her head out from under the duvet and was now lying on her side propped up on an elbow.
"Leo is pleased we are now having sex" he told her, not bothering to cover the phone with his hand.
Nikki flopped back down on her back and covered her face with both hands. "Jeeeeeesssssuuuuuuusssss" she was hissing.
"Nikki is saying Jesus a lot" Harry informed Leo.
"I don't need the gory details Harry, I am a pathologist….sorry for em….disturbing you but where have you put the Patterson report….I need to check one of the tox results".
Nikki rose from the bed and moved to the window and pulled back the curtains. Harry was about to open his mouth in protest but stopped as the brightness from the frost outside fell on her body. His heart began pounding as he recalled every detail that had transpired the night before, scrubbing away the haze the tablets and alcohol had left on his brain.
Nikki left the bedroom and ventured to the shower leaving Harry to finish his conversation with their boss. But Harry was still on the phone when she returned and was pacing the bedroom rubbing his eyes. He watched her as she began dressing, tracked every movement as she hooked a simple white lace bra behind her back. He had never undressed her he realised as she tucked a navy blouse into a black pencil skirt. Slipping on a pair of heels she turned and stood before him dressed as Dr. Nikki Alexander. Not Nikki. Not vulnerable Nikki shivering and naked in a towel in his Mum's living room. He allowed himself a smile before slipping his hand into the waistband of her skirt and gently tugged her towards him.
"Thanks Leo….will do…yes….of course…thanks again" he was saying as he trailed his fingers to the small of her back, never breaking eye contact.
She placed her hands on his chest and touched the stubble on his cheek, a small smile forming on her mouth. The effect of the wine had obviously also worn off her too and yet in the cold light of Harry's bedroom in the reality of the Friday morning she felt even more content than she did last night. Because this was reality. It was 7.30 am on a cold dreary Friday. She was stone cold sober. But she was in Harry's arms. It wasn't a drunken one night stand. She didn't have to slink off from some unknown, unfamiliar flat and check her iphone to remember which part of London she had ended up in. She was in her best friend's house and she was going to go to the kitchen and make him toast and coffee because that's what he liked in the mornings and she knew how he liked it. She knew Harry liked his coffee strong and an inch of butter on his toast. She pushed herself out of Harry's embrace, enjoying the feel of his fingers tightening hard around her wrist as she tried to move away. Following her escape she entered the kitchen and turned on the kettle before retrieving her handbag from the living room. She sat on the couch and rummaged through it until she found what she was looking for. Fishing the small pack of pills from her bag she looked at them for a moment before popping one from the foil and swallowed it quickly. She startled when she heard Harry cough from the doorway. He began walking towards her.
"Oh not you too" he joked as he sat beside her now dressed in jeans and a t shirt.
"No need to panic, it's just the pill" she said softly before placing a kiss on his lips. His hand snaked around her waist and he pulled her tightly to him.
"I know"
They sat in silence for a long moment, both unsure of what to say. Both running through the promises and declarations made hours before.
"It wasn't just the alcohol talking Nikki…or the meds" Harry began almost in a whisper. "I want the future we talked about…I really do…..when…you know the time is right".
Nikki's eyes closed in relief and she nuzzled into his neck, tightly gripping his t shirt. "Yeah. One step at a time eh" she mumbled against his freshly shaven jaw.
The kettle began whistling in the kitchen and they untangled themselves from each other and began preparing breakfast in the kitchen, moving easily and unspeaking in the silence of the morning. The stillness of the countryside beyond the french doors had crept into both of them overnight leaving them in reflective moods. The euphoria had dissipated somewhat from Harry as the reality of his Mum's illness settled over him. He was happy though. Happier than ever. But guilty about this new found happiness. Nikki's heels clacked around the kitchen as she cleared away the mess she had made on her culinary adventures the previous evening. Harry sat at the breakfast bar watching her.
"Don't get too used to this mister" she warned playfully as she loaded the dishwasher.
"The sex or the cooking?" he said quickly before stuffing his mouth with toast.
Before she could answer Harry's mobile began buzzing across the table. It was the hospital. Nikki watched the colour drain from Harry's face and her throat tightened. She moved closer to him as he hung up the phone.
"Her organs are failing. They've ventilated her" he said looking at the floor, a frown furrowed deep across his face. "I better go" he said but he was rooted to the floor.
Nikki found his coat and moved it about his shoulders, encouraging him to put his arms through the sleeves. Her breath warm on his face as she spoke softly to him although he never heard a word she said. He was focused on her mouth, on her eyes, on her hair. Harry wasn't in the least bit religious but in that moment, a moment he would have otherwise been utterly alone and despondent and in danger of being consumed by the same darkness that stole his father…in that moment he was convinced she had been sent to him by some higher power. She was too beautiful…in every way…to be standing here in front of him…calling to him and leading him out of the cold darkness. Pale, translucent skin pressed against him, willing life into him. It would probably be the first time in a long time he wouldn't have to wash fake tan from his sheets. Harry didn't want to believe this was happening, that his mother was actually dying. He also realised it was the first time in 8 weeks that he hadn't had two pills with his breakfast. This unnerved him and he suddenly felt like he was in danger of slipping, sliding or spinning out of control. He focused on Nikki. She had put her coat on and was holding the car keys. He couldn't hear her. He watched her mouth move and felt her hand attempt to turn his body towards the door. He pushed her suddenly against the wall in the hallway and kissed her urgently, forcing her mouth open with his tongue. He held her firmly against the wall and unbuttoned her coat, pulled her blouse from her skirt and slipped his hand against her stomach. He buried his face in her neck, breathing heavily. Nikki, after the initial shock, unpinned an arm from the wall and let it travel to the back of his neck as she felt tears wet her skin. After several long minutes Harry's breathing returned to normal and he lifted his head from her neck and rested it against her forehead. He then tucked her blouse into her skirt and buttoned her coat. Nikki bundled him into the passenger seat of her car and locked up his mother's house. They didn't speak on the short drive to the hospital.