Caught in the Undertow

Roused

Jack has had another long hard day at work, once again he got home, had dinner, took a shower before taking a nap, and waking at six in the evening, before heading to the hospital to sit with Nikki for hours on end once again. 
He has just arrived on the ward to see the curtains pulled around Nikki's bay, not thinking anything of it he waits for the nurses to leave as it usually means she is having a bed wash. Jack walks over to the nursing station and smiles at the nurses who he had gotten friendly with recently, "Hey... how is she today?" Jack asks. 
"She's doing well, everything is looking positive and good, Claire will explain more but she is really pulling through," The young student nurse smiles cheerfully at him. 

Jack smiles at her and looks over his shoulder to see Claire pulling back the curtains around Nikki, he walks over and is stopped by Claire "Jack just the person..." She smiles. 
"How is she?" He smiles. 
"Fine, see for yourself..." She beams. 

He walks over to the bed and noticing her laying in a different position, he thought it may have just been to stop bed sores but then watches her move. Her head turns, her eyes open looking at him. "Jack?" She whispers in a hoarse tone. 

"Oh... my... god..." He mumbles. Jack walks over to her and perches on the bed and taking hold of her hand, "You're okay?" He beams, picking her hand up and kissing the back of her hand twice. 
"As I'll ever be," She mumbles with a smile. 
"Everyone at work has been so supportive, hoping you would pull through," He mutters against her hand. 

She smiles slightly and looks up at him, "How is Leo?" She quizzes. 
Jack's eyes widen and he looks at her in shock unsure of how to answer that at all. "Erm... Nikki?... don't you remember what happened to Leo?" He pushes. 

She shakes her head and attempts to sit up when Jack noticing how she is holding her one arm and not using it, the brain surgery had left her with left-sided weakness. "He's working on the boy with the brittle bone case," She speaks reaching out for the water. 
Jack smiles slightly and helps her with the water, deciding against telling Nikki that Leo has been dead for eight and a half years. Jack looks over his shoulder at Claire, "She keeps asking for Leo, could he come to visit her when she is on the general ward?" She asks. 

Jack places the plastic cup back down on the work surface and stands before walking to Claire, "Leo died eight and a half years ago... in an explosion," He explains and Claire nods before taking a note of it and letting Jack know she will bring up her memory loss with the doctor. "When will Nikki be going to the general ward?" Jack asks. 

"Today, we are just waiting for the bed" Claire explains. 
He nods and walks back to Nikki's side but this time sits in the chair beside the bed, "Hey, how about I pop to yours and get some stuff for you? your own pyjamas and clothes, and some toiletries?" He suggests and Nikki just nods as she sits looking at the plastic cup on the table. 

Jack sits with Nikki for a while longer in silence before she is moved down to the general ward and even though it is getting late Jack heads to Nikki's house to gather a few things for her, while he is in the house he makes plans to change Nikki's locks and also get rid of any trace of Matt being in the house. While sat in critical care with a conscious Nikki the doctor had come to speak with Jack about aftercare, although she may be in for a long hospital stay, to begin with, she would need assistance at home for some time until she can get back to normal. 
He prepares Nikki a hospital bag with a few sets of pyjamas ranging from shorts and long bottoms to night dresses and a dressing gown, he gathers some socks and awkwardly gathers plenty of her knickers. 

Around forty minutes he arrives on the general ward where Nikki has been moved to, he walks over to her and places the bag down on the seat, and smiles at her, "A few home comforts for the trooper, how are you feeling?" He asks. 
"Sore," She mumbles. 

"I'd expect so, you have been through quite the ordeal" He mutters as he sits down on her bed and takes her hand but she pulls it away. 
"Why did you do that?" She whispers. 

It was clear Nikki's voice was hoarse from the ventilator being down her throat for four weeks breathing for her. "What do you mean?" He asks. 
"Holding... my... my..." She stutters clearly staring at her hand but couldn't find the word. 
"Hand?" Jack responds.
"Yes, hand..." She mumbles as she wells up suddenly. 

He shuffles up the bed and takes hold of her hand once again but let's go and strokes her cheek, "Hey... hey what is the matter?" He asks. 
"Why can't I remember... simple things?" She cries wiping her face. 

Jack looks at her sympathetically and then pulls her petite body into a hug holding her close as possible, he kisses her head and strokes her back hoping to bring some comfort to the distraught pathologist.