"Good morning" came a strong Scottish accent from behind Harry and Nikki where they were standing on the step to the pub at five minutes to seven. Harry had been pointing out the mist on the hills to Nikki, something that they were both taken by, not normally used to such sights in the middle of London, both of them were standing close to each other. Both of them jumped slightly and turned around to see Adair standing observing them "Taking in the sights I see"
"Of course" Harry nodded after Nikki nudged him in the ribs to prompt him to reply, he was so used to Nikki answering first "We don't get views like this in London"
"It is beautiful up here" Adair agreed and nodded towards someone standing in the pub door behind the two pathologists. They both turned to see Alec and Alistair standing in the doorway, they both greeted Harry and Nikki with a curt nod of their heads.
"Should a woman be coming up there?" Alec asked his father without as much as a hint of stifling the cockiness his voice "Shouldn't she be staying at the house"
Nikki stepped forward and opened her mouth to say something to disagree with the man but Harry quickly reached up and gripped her forearm gently but firmly and shook her head, the other men noticed Nikki's action however and frowned.
"I apologise for my wife, she seems to have a mind of her own at times" Harry told the men who nodded solemnly as if agreeing and Harry gave Nikki an apologetic look as she yanked her arm from his hand violently. Even though she knew Harry was joking it still hurt to have to act like she was nothing.
"Women with minds of their own are dangerous beings" Alec said simply causing Harry and Nikki to stare at him, both of them speechless.
"Shall we go?" Harry asked quickly and Adair nodded and motioned for everyone to start walking towards the opposite end of town from where Harry and Nikki were staying.
"The bodies must have changed" Adair started a conversation as they walked up a steep path towards what looked like a farm, he was quite fit for an elderly man "I mean it has been almost three days"
"Well it depends on different factors" Harry told him and started to tell the elderly Scotsman about how the bodies may have changed. Nikki tuned out and looked around where they were walking, the mist had cleared slightly and the hills were sparkling where the dew of the early morning reflected the sun. She smiled slightly at the scene and wondered why she hadn't ventured out of London much since she had arrived there.
Nikki was brought out of her thoughts by Adair's next statement.
"My son tells me you are trying for a child"
Nikki whipped her head around to look at the elderly man and nodded slightly, forcing a smile at the same time. Harry gave her a smile and reached down to grasp her hand slightly and grinned at her when Adair wasn't looking at him, Nikki sent him a withering look. Harry let go of her hand and rested it on her shoulder as they kept on walking, the farm was further than it looked.
"Yes we are" Harry agreed "Although I'm not sure Nikki should be working in case anything happens"
"I'm not pregnant yet Harry" Nikki told him and it struck her that that sentence was probably the weirdest thing she had ever said to Harry "I'm fine to work"
"I just worry" Harry replied and shot her a look before turning to Adair "She's always getting into trouble, she spends more time in hospital than she does at home"
"Nothing serious I hope" Adair said in concern, to Nikki he seemed less hateful towards her than the night before and than the other men she had met.
"No" Nikki shook her head quickly "Harry worries"
"Here we are" came Alistair's voice from in front of them and Harry and Nikki turned to look at the farm in front of them "My family are in town so there will be no interruptions, especially from my son, it was a shock for him you understand"
"Of course" Nikki nodded then realised that she had spoken out of turn when Alec shot her a look. Harry saw and frowned at the man.
"Would you not look at my wife like that" he said forcibly and Alec flushed slightly "If you have any problems with her then talk to me and I will sort her out later"
Alec didn't say anything but turned away and missed the apologetic look Harry gave Nikki as they walked through the farm gates.
"It's just round the back" Alistair told them and led them through a muddy field and Nikki was glad she had worn trainers and not her usual boots. She knew Harry would have teased her relentlessly if she had and she wouldn't be able to do or say anything with those other men around.
'Damn male dominance' she thought as she glared at the backs of all four men who were all walking in front of her.
"Here we go" Alistair motioned to a low metal gate and opened it for them to walk through, Harry held it open for Nikki who just glared at him when he grinned at her. Alistair then led them up a stony path and pointed to a patch of grass which looked like it had been moved, Harry and Nikki could spot various places around that spot where the ground had been disturbed.
"There are two bodies in the grave that my son found" Alistair told them and Harry nodded as he and Nikki walked past the other men and crouched down next to the mound of earth. Nikki reached over and went to pull the flap of mud from over one of the bodies when Alec's voice rang out.
"Dr Cunningham, you are letting your wife make the first move?" both pathologists turned to look at him "A woman? It's bad enough that she is as qualified as you"
"Well where we come from...." Nikki started angrily and Harry quickly clamped his hand over her mouth and sent her a mock glare which the other men mistook for anger.
"Be quite" he mumbled and she glared at him as he looked at the Scotsmen "I'm sorry, Nikki seems to think she can say what she is thinking, I've been trying to undo the habit for years it's always getting her into trouble"
Nikki rolled her eyes and turned away from them so they didn't see her smile.
"You may use my van to escort the bodies if you wish" Alistair was saying and pulled out a key from his pocket. Harry nodded his thanks when he took it and turned to Adair when the elderly man started to speak.
"You may use our hospital for all your...purposes" they knew he meant autopsies "It is small but has a morgue of course, just because we are all the way up here doesn't mean we don't die" he chuckled at his own little joke and his son rolled his eyes at his father "We will leave you to your work, if you need us then call from the landline in Alistair's house"
"Myself and my family will be staying in the town until you have finished up here" Alistair explained "Please feel free to use my house as you will"
"Thank you" Harry replied and the three Scottish men turned and walked down the way they had just come. He then turned to Nikki who was opening their metal cases with all their equipment in and placed the bag which had the folded up body bags on the floor next to her "Are you ready for me to start?" he asked cheekily and laughed loudly when Nikki gave him the finger.
How amazing was Merlin last night? There was Merlin/Morgana, Merlin/Arthur Morgana/Uther (yeah right does he thinks of her as a daughter XD)...I just ship everybody with everybody in that show. XD
xxx