A/N: Greetings... Thanks to all of you who have been leaving reviews and adding this story to your favourites and follows... Much appreciated!

Bit more plot in this one, and a little bit of conflict. But also a Cigarette Warning™ and some Fluff™ just to round it all out. :-P

(Never let it be said that I don't cover all the bases in one chapter lol)

Alright then...on with it.

Disclaimer: I do not own skins. Probably a good thing. Any and all typos were drunk at the time. I was not.

(Naomi POV)

(Monday afternoon)

The rest of the weekend in Bristol almost flew by.

On Sunday, after many repeated promises to Gina to keep in better contact and come and stay more often, to which Emily agreed she would prod me mercilessly, we got on the train back to London, and were on our way home. It was very late by the time we made it back to the flat, and without really unpacking, we more or less just fell into bed and went to sleep.

Monday morning, I was woken up by Emily's tongue snaking its way up my thighs and making unexpected contact with my centre. Oh, and what a way to wake up...being licked, sucked and fingered to an explosive orgasm is one hell of an alarm clock.

But now, it was mid-afternoon, and I was at a little bit of a loose end, sitting back in my office chair, finishing the spell check of my typed documents. Hunt had left at lunch time, citing his need to meet up with a colleague for lunch, blah blah blah... So, I'd been left to type and edit the copious notes he had taken. I wished that I could prosecute the McClair thing by myself, it would be good experience and a hell of a boost for me, but even Hunt pointed out (though he didn't care who I was sleeping with) that a judge wouldn't look on it favourably, and I had to agree with him. We had to assume that McClair knew I now worked with Emily, as well. Hunt was trying to figure out what his obsession with ruining Emily's career was, whether it was just simple revenge, or something more.

I'd got through his notes quicker than I expected, and got up, making my way to Emily's office. I opened the door, to find her standing facing her desk, leaning against it.

"Cath, have you got those printouts I asked for?" She asked, as I quietly shut the door behind me, flicking the lock. I stepped closer, until I was standing behind her, my eyes tracing the line of her hips in her short black skirt. "Oh...it's you..." She said, the smile in her voice showing curiosity.

"How did you know?" I asked.

She straightened up and reached backwards for my hands, wrapping them around her waist as I stepped closer until my body pressed up against hers. "I bought you that perfume, remember?"

"Of course." I said, as I dipped my head and kissed the soft skin on her neck. Unable to resist once I had caught her scent, I slowly began to suck her skin, feeling her tense slightly in my arms. I drew her closer still, and she groaned softly.

"Naomi...if you keep that up, you're going to, oh!" She said, her sentence ending in a gasp as I sucked harder. "Oh god, that's your intention, isn't it?" Her voice began to take on a husky, distracted tone as I chuckled low against her skin. "Oh baby..." She whispered softly. My fingers trailed up to her top button and began to trail back down, undoing each of them one by one. I pushed my hand inside to palm at her tit, rubbing her nipple through her bra until it stiffened under my teasing. "You're teasing me."

"Yes." I murmured, as I continued kissing along her neck. "Is it working?"

"Mmm... I was working." She groaned softly.

"Hmm...don't care." I said, feeling the persistence growing inside me. "You looked so enticing bent over your desk..." I added, trailing my flat hands down her body and beginning to hike up her skirt. Sliding my hand between her legs, I stroked against her knickers. "Are you going to stop me?" I asked, pressing insistently against her warm centre as my tone became just a little more dominant.

"No..."

"Good." I whispered against her ear, crouching down quickly and hooking my fingers into the waistband of her knickers, pulling them down her legs. I stood back up. "I have to get you back for the way you made me scream this morning... And what better time than right now?" I teased. "Better keep you quiet, though..." I added, scrunching up her knickers and pushing them between her parted lips, to her muffled murmur of surprise. I turned her around and saw her wide eyed expression of lust mixed with shock, as I picked her up and sat her arse on her desk. I smirked at her as I sunk to my knees and lifted her knees over my shoulders. "I believe you woke me up like this?" I said cheekily, burying my face between her thighs and quickly slipping my tongue between her already wet folds, licking around her clit. Her body tensed and she exhaled sharply, and another muted whimper left her as I circled her with my tongue and tasted every inch of her hot wetness. I knew we didn't have much time, so I made the most of it, teasing her with my tongue until she was almost on the brink, then stopping and looking up at her.

She looked back down at me with narrow, questioning eyes, and again, I gave her a cheeky smirk. As I did so, I thrust two of my fingers deep inside her, drawing a quiet, desperate groan from her. I chuckled softly and began to thrust my fingers into her, feeling her clench around them, her body spasming as a pleading whimper escaped her throat. Her eyes begged me even more, and I wrapped my lips around her clit and sucked it hard, curving my fingers towards me to increase her pleasure. She shuddered, and then her body stiffened before she fell backwards across her desk. Unable to resist, I kept up the movement of my fingers inside her, and her legs gripped me tighter as she ground against me, her muffled grunts becoming more rapid as I sucked her clit harder until she stiffened and shuddered under me a second time.

And then... The phone on Emily's desk rang.

Emily scrambled to pull her knickers out of her mouth. "Fuck!" She gasped, pushing me away from her and managing to sit up, reaching for the phone and picking it up. "Emily Fitch speaking?" She said. "Uh huh... No, that's fine, Cath...put him through." She paused briefly. "Hello, Detective. Ok, hold on, I've got Naomi in the office, too, I'll put you on speakerphone." She pressed a button and replaced the handset. "Go ahead."

"I'm calling because there's been a development that you need to be made aware of." Detective Smith said.

Emily and I looked at each other. "What sort of development?" I asked.

"One that's rather serious, I'm afraid. You know McClair is being held at Pentonville Prison?"

"Yes." Emily said.

"We've just had word that he was involved in a pretty violent fight yesterday with some of the other prisoners. He is currently in hospital under police guard." Smith said.

I looked at Emily, who sank into her chair, speechless. "How bad is it, Smith?" I asked him.

"He was stabbed pretty badly. From what the screws there told me, he was mouthing off to someone in the cafeteria, real cocky like. Some bloke named Foster. Words were said that Foster didn't take kindly to, and decided to teach McClair a lesson by stabbing him repeatedly with a makeshift weapon." Smith explained.

"Christ." I muttered.

"What the fuck?" Emily asked. "How does one get a weapon in prison?"

"Naomi, I assume you can answer that one?" Smith asked.

"I'll tell her after." I said. "What is McClair's condition?"

"Well, he wasn't just stabbed. A couple of his attacker's mates got in on the act and kicked him about a bit, too. As far as we've been told by the prison, McClair lost a lot of blood, and took some pretty bad blows to the head. He's currently critical, they've had to put him in an induced coma."

"Shit." Emily muttered. "So...what happens now?"

"Well, we have a detective posted at the hospital in case they bring him out of it, but it's a wait and see thing, I'm afraid. For now, all you need to worry about is the case with Richard, which I believe is coming up soon?"

"End of the month." I said.

"Right. Well..." Smith paused.

Emily sighed. "You might was well give it to us straight." She said.

"Right, of course. I forget you're a no bullshit type of girl." Smith replied, with a slight smirk in his tone. "The detective has spoken to the doctor, who has said the next few days are critical. They are monitoring him, but there was bleeding on his brain as a result of the assault. They operated to stem it, but... He may have damage to his brain."

I piped up. "So, in other words, it's going to take longer to get to court." I said, pausing. "If it does at all."

"Correct." Smith replied. "Look, it's too early to tell right now. I'll call you soon with an update, yeah? Worry about Richard for now."

"I'll get onto Hunt and let him know what's happened." I said.

"Thanks for the call, Smith. Keep us updated." Emily said.

"Will do, talk soon." He said, ending the call.

Emily stared at the phone with a stunned look on her face. She shook herself, and began to do up her buttons. "Well, that killed the mood." She muttered.

"Are you ok?" I asked, softly. She shot me a look that shut me up, and I looked at the floor. "Sorry I asked." I mumbled.

Emily sighed. "No, I'm sorry." She said, standing up and moving to sit on the sofa. "It's just a shock, that's all." She patted the space next to her, and I went to sit with her. "So... How does one get stabbed in prison?" She asked.

"People have a lot of time on their hands. They get creative. Things like toothbrushes can be melted, hardened or sharpened to a point. Prisoners sometimes add razors so they can slash people." I explained. "Simple, but effective, if you have enough of a grudge to hurt someone. Knives and forks are mostly forbidden, they usually give prisoners spoons to eat with."

"So, no steak, then? No spaghetti?" Emily said, in a dry tone.

"Not unless it's been minced first, or unless it's macaroni, no." I replied. "But, where there's a will, there's a way."

"And necessity is the mother of invention." She said.

"Yes."

Emily sighed. "And McClair?"

"I'm not a medical expert."

"No, you're a lawyer." She retorted.

"Emily..." I said.

"Sorry."

I shrugged. "If he survives the attack, best case scenario is he recovers and it takes months for his case to get into court."

"Worst case scenario?"

"Well, like Smith said, he could have brain damage. Which would mean his defence could ask the mercy of the court based on those grounds." I explained. "Or the worst case scenario..."

"He dies."

I nodded. "Yeah." I said. "Which means he more or less gets away with it, in that case."

Emily held her head in her hands, and groaned. "Am I a bad person to hope that he recovers, or am I a bad person for hoping he dies?" She said, her voice low. I remained silent for a moment. "Naomi?"

I looked at her, brown eyes looking back at me curiously. "I know you are angry at him because he ripped you off. If he's as critical as Smith says he is, coma and all... He very well may die, or not wake up. I know you want-"

"I want revenge, Naomi." She whispered.

"I know." I said. "But could you live with yourself if he died, knowing you wanted him dead?"

"It wouldn't be my doing." Emily scoffed.

"No, but... You're still wishing it on him."

"Fine, I'm wishing it on him." She snapped. "Sorry if I can't fucking help it, because that cunt ripped my company off near fifty fucking grand, simply because he doesn't like me being gay and now there's a possibility he could get away with it entirely!"

I stared at her narrow eyes for a long moment before I stood up. Her eyes softened in surprise. "I need to call Hunt." I said quietly, walking towards the door and unlocking it.

"Naomi..." She started. But I didn't hear what else she said, closing the door behind me and going back into my own office, shutting the door, locking it behind me and leaning against it. I took a deep, shaky breath and went to sit in my chair, and then noticed that my hands were shaking.

She's not angry at you, Naomi. Just the situation, I thought to myself.

I shook my hands and picked up the phone, dialling Hunt's number.

"Michael Hunt speaking?" He answered.

"Hi, Mike, it's Naomi. Sorry to interrupt your lunch."

"It's alright, I've actually just got into a taxi. What's the problem?"

I sighed. "We've just had Smith on the phone. McClair got attacked in prison last night and is in hospital, in a critical condition. He got stabbed and bashed, and they've had to put him in a coma."

"Oh, shit." He replied.

"Look, can you call Smith for details? I'm taking the rest of the day off for personal reasons."

"Sure, I'll get him to get me up to speed. How did Emily take the news?"

"She's understandably upset. There's a chance he may die."

"Ah. Right, well I'll get on to Smith now, then. See you tomorrow?"

"No, tomorrow I'm at uni. But Emily will be here, if you need anything."

"Ok. You take care."

I hung up the phone and shut down my computer, packing my satchel and grabbing my jacket, putting it on hastily. I unlocked the door, and went through the main office into reception. "Cath, I'm taking the rest of the day off. If anyone calls for me, take a message?" I said, my voice hollow.

"Uhm...sure. Is everything ok?"

"It will be. At least, I hope it will be." I said, slinging my satchel over my shoulder and walking towards the lift, pressing the button and waiting for the car.

I walked for a long while, in the hope of giving myself some time to calm my thoughts and think. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, but ignored it. I knew who it would be, and I needed time to calm down before I said something to Emily that I might regret. It was partially why I'd left the office. The other part, was that because the way she had spoken to me had hurt. I'd only ever known her to be both civil, polite and loving towards me (and alright, devious and sexy and all of that), but she'd never snapped at me like that before. I had to keep telling myself that it wasn't me that Emily was angry at.

I was mostly in a daze as I walked, constantly hearing the tone of her voice, and the anger behind it. I tried to stop thinking of it, before it upset me entirely and I ended up crying. It wasn't until I'd got there, and I realised that I'd ended up where I used to live, in front of Effy's front door. I sighed, and knocked on the door, not even knowing if she would be home, and was relieved when the door opened and she stood there, cocking her head and staring at me. "Naoms." She said, in her cool tone. My expression must have been a picture of upset perplexity, because she just stepped aside and let me in. I dropped my satchel in its usual place by the door, and trudged into the kitchen, sitting at the table.

Effy slid into the seat opposite me and lit a cigarette. "Haven't seen you in a while, Naoms. Get lost in shagsville?"

I sighed. "Something like that." I mumbled.

"Something's obviously happened for you to turn up out of the blue."

So, I told her about how McClair had been found, and was awaiting trial, and now was in hospital, and the conversation I'd had with Emily.

"And you're here because Emily snapped at you, because she's angry about McClair being half dead?" Effy asked.

I shrugged. "I guess." I said. "It hurt. She's never done that before."

Effy stubbed out her cigarette. "Naomi, she's not angry at you, you know that, right?"

"You think I'm overreacting?"

"A little, yes." She said. "You and I both know Emily likes control. Order. This thing with McClair... It's out of her control. She's lashing out because of it, because she feels she's out of her depth."

I felt my phone in my pocket again. I took it out and looked at the display. A text from Emily.

"Please call me? I'm worried about you. Cath said you left for the day :-( xEx"

"Emily?" Effy asked.

I nodded. "I left work early."

"You ran away, you mean."

"I didn't want to argue with her, Effy. I love her too much. I don't want to hurt her, and she's angry enough right now."

"But not at you, Naoms." Effy said. "That woman fucking adores you, worships the ground you walk on, why would she be upset at you?"

"I know she's not angry at me." I said. "But just the way she spoke to me..."

Effy rolled her eyes. "Listen, people say shit in the heat of the moment. How many times have you told Gina you hate her, or that she's a mental cow?"

I shrugged. "A few times."

"But you didn't mean it, did you? You love her, even if she is a mental cow."

"I suppose. But-"

"But nothing, Naomi. Shit gets said sometimes, you can't take every little thing to heart, or it'll make you miserable." Effy said. "Look, go home, call her, and talk to her."

"Gina?" I asked.

"No, Emily, you twat."

"Oh. Right." I said. I stood up and out my phone back into my pocket. "Thanks."

"No problem." She said. "Always here to listen when you're having a crisis. I'm just glad it's not as regular as it used to be."

"Ha. How are you getting on with Cook?" I asked. She smirked back at me. "Oh, like that, huh?"

"Get going, Naoms." She grinned.

"Right. Thanks for the chat." I said, grabbing my satchel and heading out the door.

When I got home, I was surprised to find Emily waiting for me on the sofa. Well, actually, she was on the sofa with her legs tucked under her, and there were a couple of scrunched up tissues beside her. I dropped my satchel by the door, and took my shoes off, walking to the sofa and sitting beside her. She watched me with red ringed, slightly glassy eyes. "Where have you been?" She asked, with no accusation in her tone.

"I went for a walk. Ended up at Effy's. Had a bit of a chat with her." I replied, quietly.

"I upset you, didn't I?"

I nodded. "A bit, yes. You've never snapped at me like that before. It hurt."

"I wasn't angry at you." She said.

"Oh, I know. I think I knew that at the time. I left because... I didn't want to have an argument." I explained. "I love you too much for that. I'm sorry if I worried you."

"It's ok." She shrugged.

"No, clearly it isn't. Because if you weren't worried about me, you wouldn't be here using up the tissue box." I said, taking her hand in mine. "You're so precious to me, Emily. I need to learn to not take things so much to heart sometimes. I got offended when you snapped at me, and I took it personally, rather than just taking it as you being pissed off about the situation."

"I'm not pissed off at you, beautiful."

"I'm aware of that. I just... I ran. It was stupid, and I should have stayed to talk it out with you at the office. I'm sorry." I said, softly.

"No, I'm sorry." Emily said. "I was taking my anger out on you, and you didn't deserve it at all."

"No, I didn't. You asked my opinion, and I offered it."

"I value it, beautiful, you know that."

"Yes." I said. "Did you mean what you said, though? About McClair."

"That I wish him dead?" She asked. "No...not really." She added, shaking her head. "I'd rather be disappointed if he were to die, and not wish it on him outright. You were right on that, I couldn't really live with myself knowing that I'd wished it."

"Ok." I said. "I'm sorry I walked out and made you worry."

"And I'm sorry I snapped at you."

I pulled Emily into my arms and held her close to me, kissing the top of her head. "Apology accepted, baby."

"Yours too."

"You want to go to bed for a while? Just lie down and snuggle?" I offered.

Emily smiled. "Now that sounds like a good idea. I always feel better when we do that."

I stood up and took her hand, pulling her up with me. "I know, it's why I suggested it."

"Oh, my beautiful Naomi..." Emily said, as I led her into the bedroom and began stripping off her clothes. "Always thinking of me."

"Of course." I said, sitting on the bed and sliding out of my own clothes. "How can I not, when you are the woman I love. The woman who loves me."

"Damn right I love you." Emily said, as we both slid under the duvet naked. Her body met mine and immediately curled into it as my arms wrapped around her.

I could tell you we spent the rest of the faster on having passionate sex, but that would be a lie. We talked a lot, though...but not with words. No, just with simple gestures, movements that had become our own personal language. Soft kisses and little touches here and there. We didn't need sex, then. We just needed to be for a little while. That was more than enough for the both of us.

A/N#2: Yeah, I never really liked Freddie that much, can you tell? :-P

More eventually... Could be tomorrow, could be in a week, who knows.

Reviews welcome, as always.

Until next time...

~GN~ xo