Kate appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a knee-length brown skirt accompanied by tights with small black heels. She buttoned up her white blouse as she headed down the stairs. "Nick?" she called, wondering where her husband had got to so early. Kate remembered him saying he had an early start because Phil and Alf shuffled the roster for them to go out together, but he usually wasn't the first one to rise. "Nick, are you in the kitchen?" Kate glanced at the clock: 08:00. Surely he hadn't left yet. She poked her head through the sitting room before making her way through the kitchen, where she found the teapot still hot and a note beside it.

Kate,

You looked so peaceful, and I didn't have the heart to wake you, so I thought I'd come downstairs and leave you to rest.

Try not to worry anymore about what that fortune teller woman said, love. I'm not going anywhere!

I'll be home by five, and we can have a nice evening out together.

I love you Kate.

Nick.

Xxx

Kate smiled tearfully once she had finished and shook her head. "You're right, Nick. This is stupid. I'm better than this." Pushing the matter to the back of her mind, Kate poured herself a tea and popped some bread in the toaster, determined to enjoy her day, not think about that woman's words, and look forward to her evening with her husband.

She chuckled to herself; Nick might not be the most romantic, but sometimes it was the little things he did that left her feeling so loved, and the note he left her was a good example. Mrs Higgins didn't know how true her words were.

…

Four boys, varying from ages eleven to thirteen, dragged their feet across the asphalt, one pulling a wheelbarrow of pumpkins along with them. "I'm bored stiff," one of them complained: Jimmy Fields. "This isn't fun at all. Yer said we'd have a right laff wi' these bloody things."

Another, seemingly the instigator of the group, Paul Allenby, scoffed and shoved his friend. "Shut up, will yer? I've just not thought of owt yet, is all."

The third, the shortest of the four, Thomas Benson, sighed as he kicked up a rock. "I'm right tired of luggin' these pumpkins about. Why do I haveta do it anyroad? It's right heavy, Paul. You're the oldest, you should pull it."

Paul turned to him with a frown. "Yer want ter hang out wi' us, don't yer?"

Thomas nodded eagerly. "Aye, I like hanging out wi' yer, Paul."

Paul nodded with a grin. "Then yer gotta help out like."

Thomas sighed again and continued to pull the barrow.

The fourth, a slightly shorter boy than Paul, Graham Thompson, fell in step with his friend before looking back at Thomas. "You sure he's alright? What if he grasses like?"

Paul laughed. "Who's he gonna grass to anyroad? Our parents? The coppers? You're forgetting that if he squeals, that's him done 'n' all."

As the boys crossed the road, Paul looked ahead, and a grin spread on his face. "Boys, I have an idea."

Nick stopped his bike outside Bernie Scripps's garage when the man waved him down. "Everything alright, Bernie?" he asked as he silenced the engine. "Did Mr Lester get his rover back okay?"

Bernie shoved his hands in his baggy trousers. "Happy as he dare show ter have it returned I s'ppose."

Nick grinned; sounded like Lester. Never happy about anything. "Well, Mr Baker was rather happy to get his stolen truck back before he left this morning."

Bernie shook his head good-naturedly with a roll of his eyes. "Stolen pumpkin truck, whatever next."

Nick huffed a laugh before leaning back on his bike with a slightly more serious expression. "Sorry, Bernie, you waved me over. Is there something I can help with? Claude not getting you into trouble again, is he?"

Bernie clicked his tongue. "Never stops, Mr Rowan," he half-joked. "No, this is something else, but – bah, probably not even worth it. Sounds quite silly really when I think about it."

Nick tilted his head. "Now, come on, Bernie. You know I'd help if I can, no matter how absurd, ay?"

Bernie sighed and folded his arms. "It's just – some of me paint that I use for cars and the like went missing a few days ago. I didn't think much of it at the time, what wi' all the bloody cars you lot push on me. Can hardly keep up sometimes. Still, keeps me busy I s'ppose."

Nick rolled his eyes humorously. "Bernie," he mused, "what's the problem?"

Bernie unfolded his arms before heading toward the garage behind, prompting Nick to push the kickstand on his bike and follow. Bernie grabbed a can from the shelf above and showed it to Nick. "This is what I use for special occasions, like a side job. Ter give a car a touch up if needed. Yer know, like that little spray job I did for your police car when Alf reversed into a post last year."

Nick chuckled at the memory before taking the can off Bernie. His eyebrows furrowed when he looked carefully. "Spray paint." He looked at Bernie quizzically. "I assume you have other colors?"

Bernie nodded. "Blue, black, green, yellow, but the oddest thing, Mr Rowan, is that I'm low on red, and I haven't sprayed a car in weeks, let alone a red one. I know I've been busy, but even I can't misplace three cans. I know it's a stupid thing for t'police ter deal with. Only, Claude told me about Mr Lester's stolen pumpkin patch and the graffiti, and it got me thinking…."

Nick frowned, ignoring the fact that he hadn't told Claude about the graffiti. "The same thing happened to Mrs Higgins last night."

Bernie's expression became solemn. "Oh, not poor old Ethal."

Nick sighed. "Yeah, scared her half to death." Nick looked at the can. "You think the spray cans used came from here?"

Bernie shrugged. "I mean, I'd not recognise it even if I saw it like but thought it worth mentioning."

Nick nodded. "I appreciate that, thanks, Bernie. This probably helps. The hardware store had no leads." Nick regarded Bernie ruefully. "My guess is that the store was harder to steal from."

Bernie looked at the can in Nick's hand with a sigh. "Bloody kids. I had some scallywag talk ter me about a car his dad owned a few days ago too. Again, didn't think much of it, but-"

Nick realised the implications. "Now you're thinking it was a distraction?"

Bernie nodded gravely. "Aye."

Nick returned the can and took out his pad. "Can you describe him?"

Bernie tilted his head thoughtfully. "Four-foot, mebbe. Dark brown hair, short. He were wearing school uniform at the time, Aidensfield primary, though probably last year like."

Nick jotted down the notes. "I don't suppose he was careless enough to give his dad's name at all?"

Bernie shook his head. "No, 'fraid not. Since he were wearing uniform, I guess that's not much to go on, is it?"

Nick smiled. "Anything helps. I can't prove they took the cans yet, but at least I've got something to go on."

Bernie looked at him carefully for a moment. "By the way, are you alright anyroad? Only, yer look a bit peaky if yer don't mind me sayin'."

Before Nick could answer, the radio from his bike crackled. "Control to Delta-Alpha two-four, are you receiving?" Nick jogged to his bike and picked up the mouthpiece.

"Delta-Alpha two-four to control, receiving. What's up, Phil?"

"Nick, bit of a weird one. Received a call from the Aidensfield train station. A conductor starting his shift says he's getting trouble off some young lads. Messing about like, sounds like they're up to no good."

Nick frowned, wondering why kids were messing about near something so dangerous. "Alright, I'll head over there now." Nick hastily mounted his bike, thanked Bernie again, and took off.

…

Kate smiled at the young boy, trying to act brave as she wrapped a bandage around his hand. "Are you going to tell me how you did this then?" she asked softly before gently tying a knot underneath.

The boy sighed and looked at his feet. "I'm not good at Math, Doctor Rowan. I get bored when I don't understand. One of the kids in me class who lives couple houses from me, called me stupid when I were out playin'," he glanced up at Kate guiltily, "so I punched him."

Kate shook her head in dismay and regarded the child sternly. "That's not a reason to punch someone." She looked up at the boy's mother, who didn't seem interested at all, causing Kate to frown, but she refrained from commenting and looked back at the boy. "Sometimes, it's easier to ignore the person bullying you because it makes them feel unimportant and eventually, they'll get bored and move on."

There was a scoff from the mother, and Kate looked up. "If my son wants to hit some kid who picks on him, that's nowt ter do wi' you."

Kate bit back her retort and smiled at the boy. "Give it a go, will you? No more fighting." The boy nodded kindly in response as Kate stood up with her bag, regarding the mother sternly. "If you care to know, Mrs fields, there's no damage to your son's hand. His knuckles are bruised, but that's all."

Mrs Fields glared after Kate as she walked out of the house and followed her. "How dare yer imply that I don't care about me own son! I've got half a mind to complain!"

Kate swerved with a frown. "Go ahead, but I'm the only GP in the district, and I don't answer to anyone. Something to think about." Kate turned and made her way to her car, shaking with anger; so much for enjoying her day.

She couldn't wait until five.

….

Nick knocked on the door of the conductor's booth and smiled politely when the conductor turned to greet him. "Hallo, Charlie," Nick greeted, clasping his hands behind his back. "Having some trouble, I hear."

Charlie huffed with a grave expression. "Aye, Mr Rowan, but they moved on quickly enough when me and my colleague warned them off like, for all the good it did. Sorry for troubling yer for nowt."

"Well, I'm here now, so how about you stop worrying and tell me what happened?"

Before Charlie could say a word, a woman in her late forties frantically appeared in the doorway and was relieved when she saw Nick. "Oh, thank god you're here, PC Rowan. There's some kids on the bridge, and they're throwing pumpkins off it!"

Nick quickly turned to Charlie. "How long until the next train?"

"Any second now."

Nick cursed and ran from the booth, glanced up and spotted the troublemakers along with the train heading toward the station. "Oi!" Nick shouted as one dangled a large pumpkin, ready to drop it. Nick ran toward the bridge and prayed he reached them in time, but just as Nick reached the bridge's end, he halted and turned back in fear when the pumpkin left the boy's hand and hit the front carriage's stern window, and the train screeched along the tracks rather abruptly. "Christ…." The train slowed to a stop just past its usual point, and Nick swallowed dryly when the passengers waiting to board mumbled worriedly amongst themselves. Nick turned and glared up at the four boys, who were too shocked to move. Nick ran over the bridge, yelling for them not to move. "What the hell do you think you four are playing at? Do you know how dangerous that was?" Nick stopped before them and pointed at the tracks. "You could have caused a nasty accident with the stunt you just pulled!" Nick was furious, and it wasn't long before he recognised three of them, causing his anger to rise. "I don't believe this. I guess my methods two and a half years ago didn't teach you anything. You've upped your game, it seems. Got bored of the ole childish pranks, so you thought you'd go for the big time?"

"We're sorry, Mr Rowan! We didn't think it would do much harm like!" Graham cried.

"Save it!" Nick was in no mood for their excuses. "I've just about had it with covering for you. I think it's time you learnt the hard way." Nick glanced at Paul. "Let me guess, your idea, was it?"

Paul shook his head. "It weren't! It were the new kid, honest," he tried to reason.

Nick scoffed. "Give over. I know your games, Paul, and you're shaping up to be a right nasty little toerag. I've arrested adults less criminalising than you. If you don't pack your ways in," Nick regarded them all carefully, "and that goes for you lot too, you'll be in and out of prison for the rest of your life." Nick looked at the smaller boy, wiping his tears. "What's your name?"

"Thomas," the boy replied quietly, "Thomas Benson."

Nick frowned. "Do you fancy yourself as one of these lot? Getting roped into their messes, heading for a criminal record?"

Thomas looked at the other boys; Paul was glaring at him to keep his mouth shut, but Nick's words scared him more than these three had ever done. "No, sir….I just wanted ter fit in somewhere."

Nick's anger softened slightly. "There's plenty of other kids your age to do that with than these three who'll throw you under the bus at first chance they get." Thomas nodded slowly, and Nick gestured behind with his thumb. "Go on, on your bike. Don't let me catch you hanging around these lot again, d'you hear?"

Thomas nodded happily and ran past the constable. "Thanks!"

Nick turned back to the other three, looking specifically at Graham and Jimmy. "You two, I think it's about time you got your act together before this little group of yours becomes known to us and the village. Now, you're going to go down there, apologise for what you did, and clean up the mess you made, but before you do that, I want you all to empty out your pockets because word is that little beggars like you are going round vandalising people's property," Nick gestured to the remaining pumpkins, "stealing from their gardens, and frightening elderly people like Mrs Higgins when they don't give you sweets. I can't think of anyone worse than you three."

Paul shrugged with a sly grin. "We din't do nowt, did we boys?"

Nick pointed sternly at the older boy. "You be quiet." He then looked at the other two. "Think I was born yesterday? Grow these yourself, did you? Pockets. Now." Nick watched Graham and Jimmy turn out their pockets, revealing only a few shillings and a slingshot from Graham, which Nick immediately confiscated. "I'll take that." Nick nodded at Paul. "And what about you?" Paul's eyes scanned their surroundings, and Nick shook his head. "Don't even think about it. You run now, and I'll have you so fast up that station, no one'll risk their neck to help you again, understand?" Paul looked at him sceptically, wondering what the constable meant suddenly. "Pockets."

Paul sighed and reached inside his oversized coat, revealing another slingshot and a red spray paint can. Nick frowned deeply and confiscated the items. "Are yer goin' ter arrest me or what?"

Nick stared at him angrily for a moment. "I should, and I've more than enough reasons to." Paul flinched and raised his hands up, avoiding Nick's glare. Nick shook his head and couldn't believe what he was about to do. "This is your last warning, and I mean it. If I catch you three doing anything like this again, whether it's playing hooky, vandalism, stealing," Nick pointed over the bridge, "or worse, then I'll be leaving it up to the magistrates' court to decide and let me tell you, if a few months at a registered boarding school won't set you straight, they'll keep at it until something does." Satisfied by their fearful expressions, Nick led them off the bridge toward the station, where Charlie was checking the last passengers off the train. "Everyone alright, Charlie?"

Charlie nodded with a smile before frowning at the boys. "The driver's a bit shaken up, but nobody were hurt."

"Good. I need a favour, Charlie."

"Sure, if I can help."

Nick gestured to the train. "Can you delay further arrivals, and keep this train for a bit? These boys are going to clean up the mess for you, and I believe they have something to say." Nick nudged the boys forward, clasping a hand on Paul's shoulder to make sure he didn't run. "Well?"

"We're sorry," Graham spoke first. "I don't want ter go prison, sir. I've right learnt me lesson now…"

Jimmy nodded. "Me too. Will yer let us help?"

Nick glanced at Paul and tapped his shoulder with the back of his hand. "You especially."

Paul shrugged the constable's hand off and looked up at Charlie. "Sorry, Mr. Mr Rowan's right. I thought it were harmless pranks like, but I don't want ter become a criminal."

Charlie looked at Nick, who gave him a grave expression. "Your call, Charlie."

Charlie sighed and nodded. "Alright, but I want that train and the tracks clear and clean, got it?"

The three boys sighed in relief. "Thanks, Mr!"

"Don't thank me. It's Mr Rowan you should be thanking. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't be giving yer half as much time."

Graham, Jimmy, and even Paul turned to the officer with a grateful smile. "Thanks a lot, Mr Rowan," Jimmy said, "for lookin' out for us like."

Nick smiled briefly before regarding them sternly. "Don't make me regret this last chance." They shook their heads in agreement. "Go on, do a good job." Charlie and Nick watched them run along the platform toward the cleaning equipment that had already been set up. Nick looked at Charlie worriedly for a moment when the man turned back to him. "I wonder if I've done the right thing this time. Today's incident could have been much worse."

Charlie smiled and laid a supportive hand on Nick's shoulder. "You're a good officer, Mr Rowan, and kids like them need people like you to guide them in the right direction, especially whose parents have already given up."

Nick's face fell. "Yeah, I know."

Charlie shrugged. "With any luck, they'll have listened to yer this time, and if not, just know yer did the best yer could for them."

Nick nodded appreciatively. "Thanks for the help, Charlie."

…..

Nick and Kate walked hand in hand through the brightly lit fete, dressed casually smart, enjoying each other's company and making the most of their time together. The fete differentiated immensely from the one Kate and Gina had visited. There were food vendors scattered around selling hotdogs and burgers, fish and chips, and sweet treats such as ice cream and pancakes with a choice of two fruits. "Any differences?" Nick asked as he and Kate passed the fairground where people were screaming on selected rides. They stopped outside an open tent sporting a bar on the right side and a disco-lit area on the left, where people were already dancing to the tunes the hired DJ was playing. "This isn't at all what I expected," Nick admitted, causing Kate to smile knowingly at him. "Do you fancy a drink?"

Kate looked at the dance floor when the next song played, then back to Nick with a mischievous grin. "I want to dance." Nick barely had time to protest as Kate dragged him to an empty space and took his hands. Nick smiled and took his lead position. "You haven't lost your touch, Nick Rowan."

Nick chuckled. "You haven't let me."

Monster Mash by Bobby Picket and the Cryptic-Kickers wasn't something a couple could dance to, but Kate found a way to make it work. Nick smiled warmly as he twirled and swung her back to him, glad that he could make her happy, and hopefully, he could put her mind to rest about any fears she might have regarding his apparent demise.

Nick and Kate left the tent an hour later in search of a fun ride. Kate pointed toward a black building lit up by strobe lights with oozing green lettering for effect. When they stopped outside, and a carriage rolled by on the tracks through a door flap, Nick rolled his eyes and looked at Kate. "Are you serious?"

Kate shrugged with a grin. "Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to cuddle up to you."

Nick returned the grin and wrapped his arm around her. "You don't need excuses for that." Nick leaned down and captured her lips tenderly. When they pulled away, Kate glanced to the side and smiled before dragging Nick away from the haunted house toward the bumper cars. "Kate!"

….

Kate leaned her head on Nick's shoulder as he pulled her close to him when the air became chilly. They walked slowly as the hype of the fete began to fade the later it became. "I've had a wonderful time, Nick."

Nick smiled and tightened his hold. "Me too," he admitted.

Kate huffed a laugh. "Don't sound so surprised."

Nick shook his head amusedly. "Nah, not like that. I'm just surprised this fete and that turned out to be quite a success with the locals." He then groaned. "Which means I'm out at least three quid." When Kate looked at him, he grinned sheepishly. "I made a bet with Alf that I didn't think any of this would be successful. He'll milk that for days now." Kate laughed at his misfortune as they continued heading toward the exit.

Kate suddenly sighed irritably when she recalled her run-in with her patient's mother today but had put it to the back of her mind for fear of spoiling the evening. "I lost my temper while treating a patient today," Kate admitted somewhat ruefully now that she'd had a chance to calm down. "I was treating a young boy's knuckles who apparently had punched a boy for bullying him."

Nick smiled slightly. "At least he can stick up for himself, and I don't seem to have to worry about you either, though maybe the trouble you cause."

Kate clicked her tongue. "Nick, it's not funny. I should be professional at all times."

Nick huffed a laugh. "Come on, Kate. Every time you speak your mind, there's usually a good reason."

Kate sighed as they stepped onto the path leading toward the police house. "There was. I was treating the boy, and Mrs Fields was completely tuned out. You should have seen her, Nick, completely uninterested in her son's predicament. When I tried to help by telling him not to start fights and ignore the bullying, she soon told me where to go and said she'd make a complaint."

Nick could just imagine his wife's face, and knowing how Kate could be, he knew it probably didn't end well. "What did you say?"

Kate looked up at him with a wide smile, biting her lower lip. "I told her to go ahead because I was the only GP in the village, and that I don't answer to anyone."

Nick grinned and stopped them to kiss Kate under the streetlamp. "That's my girl." His expression changed slightly when a thought came to him. "Hang on, did you say Mrs Fields?"

Kate looked at him strangely. "Yes I did, why?"

Nick frowned thoughtfully. "Mother to Jimmy and Michael Fields?"

Kate huffed a laugh. "Yes. What's the matter?"

Nick shook his head in disbelief as they continued up the path toward their house. "I had a run-in today with Jimmy and his mates. They almost caused a serious accident. Threw a pumpkin over the bridge at the train station. Smacked right into the front carriage. I couldn't believe it."

Kate gasped in shock. "Oh god, Nick. Was anyone hurt?"

Nick shook his head. "Nah, just a bit in shock. I made the boys clean up the mess, and Charlie wasn't too thrilled."

Kate sighed, knowing who Jimmy's mates were. She saw the worry etched on her husband's face suddenly. "What it is?"

Nick smiled briefly as they stopped outside the front door. "I just hope I was hard enough on them to talk sense into them this time. Otherwise, there'll be nothing I can do to keep them out of trouble anymore."

….

Nick rinsed his mouth with toothpaste, wiped his face, and flicked the bathroom light off before heading into their bedroom, where Kate was pulling back the covers, ready for bed. "I was thinking," he began, but when Kate looked at him with a raised eyebrow sternly, he shook his head with a smile. "No, not that."

Kate regarded him suspiciously before smiling and continuing with the covers. "You'll be lucky. I'm knackered."

Nick huffed a laugh and stopped on his side of the bed. "Like I'm the only guilty party here?" The two shared a grin and shuffled into bed.

Kate scooted close to him. "What were you going to say?"

Nick tucked an arm behind his head. "You still didn't tell me exactly what the teller woman said to you." When Kate tensed, Nick immediately regretted it and tried to lighten the mood. "I'm just curious."

Kate frowned in the darkness. "Stay curious. I don't want to talk about it anymore, Nick."

Nick didn't catch onto Kate's angered tone and chuckled. "Seems a bit unfair. How come you get to know, and I don't? Did she say how it happens? Maybe I can avoid it if I know what to lookout for. A gun, a knife, car accident, a crowbar….in my profession it could be anything. Maybe it was supposed to be that hammer."

Kate shifted away from him. "Just stop it, will you!"

Nick sat up when Kate flicked the lamp on. "Kate?"

Kate got off the bed and turned to him, eyes full of hurt. "You don't get it one bit, do you?"

Nick tried to shift closer to her. "Kate, I was joking. I thought you were past that now."

Kate shook her head, her anger flaring. "That's all it is to you, is it? Do you have any idea how worried sick I feel when you walk out that door every morning, never knowing if you're coming home to me! I thought coming to Aidensfield would keep you safe, but I realised how stupid I was because it can happen anywhere! Every day I send a silent pray that you'll be alright, and that I'm not saying goodbye, or I love you for the last time!"

Nick stood up when Kate ran from the bedroom. "Kate, I'm sorry. Kate!" Nick sat back on the bed with a sigh; he felt awful. Kate had expressed her concerns many times during their years together, but never like this. Nick ran a hand over his face tiredly; so much for getting a good night's sleep. Nick looked at the doorway and chewed his lip, wondering if he should go after her, but who would want to talk after the anguish he had just caused?

No, he couldn't leave her like that. Nick reached for his robe and wandered downstairs, where he found her on the sofa in the sitting room. "Kate?" he called softly, and his heart broke when he heard her sobbing. "Kate," he sighed and immediately reached for her to pull her close. "Hey, come on, love." Kate couldn't hold back her tears, and he embraced her tightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered and gently kissed the side of her head. "Shhh," he cooed. "It'll be alright." She looked at him tearfully, and Nick stroked a thumb over her cheek to catch a stray tear while fighting to keep his in. "I'm never gonna leave you, Kate. I promise."

Kate closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead. "We both know you can't do that." She smiled softly up at him, looking as if to study, memorising every part of him, committing it to memory.

Nick pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you. I should know better. I know how you worry, but I didn't think it was this bad."

Kate averted her gaze to the floor with a shuddery breath. "Neither did I."

Nick brought her eyes back to him by tilting her chin with his finger. "You hid it well enough." He smiled guiltily and pressed his lips gently on hers. "I'm sorry, Kate." Nick wrapped his arms around her tightly when she pressed against him. "You're right, I can't promise you I'll always be alright, or that I'll come home in one piece at the end of my shift, but I just hope you know that I do my best. You know, you're the first person I think of every time I get myself into a bit of bother, or even if I'm chasing some assailant doing a runner. For a fleeting moment, I wonder if I'll come home to you after." Nick realised that he'd never told Kate that before and tightened his embrace briefly.

Kate regarded him in surprise, overwhelmed by his confession. "Nick, I didn't – I had no idea…." Nick gave her a brief smile. "I thought I knew everything about you."

Nick chuckled quietly. "You do now." Kate smiled and leaned her forehead against his chest. "Kept that to myself for six and a half years. Guess it had to come out sooner or later."

Kate looked at him thoughtfully. "You mean, before we got engaged?"

Nick smiled. "It was the first time it happened that I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life trying to come home to you, so a few days later, I asked you to marry me." Kate's smile brightened; she really had no idea. "I love you, Kate." Nick kissed her deeply.

"I love you too, Nick Rowan."

…

Kate shifted sleepily from her warm position and looked blearily up to find Nick watching her with a smile, but his eyes were heavy, and Kate sat up. "What time is it?" she asked in surprise when she noticed the bright room. Kate remembered feeling exhausted after her emotional ordeal, and Nick had brought them to the sofa when she calmed down to comfort her. "I must have fallen asleep. Why didn't you wake me up?" she looked at him with a slight grin, "or at least carried me to bed."

Nick chuckled and gently stroked her arm. "You looked too peaceful."

Kate sighed with a smile. "Big softy."

Nick leaned up to capture her lips. "Isn't that the reason you said yes?"

Kate remembered their conversation the night before and smiled. "One of many."

Nick leaned back and looked at her wearily. "I've gotta get ready for work."

Kate noted the exhaustion in his tone and grew concerned. "Nick, I'm getting really worried about you. I know you're used to long hours and the occasional restless night due to a call out, but this isn't like you. You've barely slept at all in four days!"

Nick shifted to sit up and smiled. "I'm fine, love. I got a few hours last night, but I was worried about you. I don't know. Felt like I had to watch over you or something. Sounds stupid I suppose now that I've said it."

Kate shook her head, now feeling guilty. "It's my fault for getting so worked up. I'm sorry." Nick shook his head, kissed her softly and rose to his feet. "Can't you ask someone to cover you for a few hours? At least until you've had some sleep."

Nick leaned over the sofa to give her one last kiss before heading up the stairs.

Kate stared after him at the empty space in the doorway with a worried glance. "You're hopeless, Nick Rowan."