Lost in the Middle

No Need to Apologise

Later on that evening, Jack has arrived home with Conor and their guest for the evening - Nikki, despite her attempted suicide the hospital has allowed her to be discharged on the grounds she is monitored for the night. She has been put in touch with a therapist for help and also due to her age social services are to be involved and will be paying Victor a visit about the way he treats his daughter.
Due to Nikki having a friend like Jack she has been allowed to stay with him for the night instead of emergency foster care. On the way home from the hospital he collects Ryan from his Aunt Karen's house and then picks them up a fish and chip supper, despite Nikki's fragile state and the non-stop crying she had done she manages to eat more than half her supper before heading upstairs changing into her pyjamas and laying down on the sofa bed.

Jack had left his friend be for an hour and got on with some homework in the lounge, after watching Match of the Day he heads upstairs to find Nikki still wide awake laying on the sofabed starring into the abyss. "Just getting changed, do you want anything?" He asks and she shakes her head and blinks away a few tears.

Feeling sorry for his friend he walks over to the sofa bed only his tracksuit bottoms on due to getting ready for bed he clambers over her and lays beside her, brushing her hair slightly out the way he slips his hand under her waist and pulls her into a hug and sighs heavily as he inhales her shampoo. "Thought you could do with a cuddle," Jack mumbles.
"Thanks," She responds weakly.

Jack pulls her closer and kisses the back of her head, "You hate me for this... You don't have to be nice to me, I know I was stupid..." She mumbles.
"I don't hate you, Nikki, You are my best friend, I want to see you safe... even if that means you stop here for a while. You heard my Dad you are welcome for as long as possible," He smiles.

Nikki rolls over to face him their faces inches away from each other, he smiles softly at her and shuffles away slightly not watching to make her feel uncomfortable. Nikki smiles and moves her hand placing it on his chest, she looks at the bandage around her wrist and sighs, Jack watches her reaction her eyes filling with tears again so he gently takes hold of her wrist and kisses it "Better?" He mumbles.
"Much better," She smiles softly.

He places her wrist down again and cups her cheek, Nikki feels her heart flutters feeling the air thick around them once again just like the other night he leans in their eyes flicking between their lips and eyes.

Jack moves in their lips inches away from each other but they jolt apart when they hear someone clearing their throat at the door, the pair look up to see Conor stood smirking at the door, "I'm off to bed... Jack in your own bed please... keep this door open, goodnight son, goodnight Nicola," Conor smiles leaning the bedroom door open.

Once out of sight Jack turns to look at Nikki and bursts out laughing, but they soon stop laughing and he strokes her cheek smiling at her he was looking deeply into her eyes admiring her, Nikki looks between his eyes and lips again smirking at how close they are feeling his breath against her lips.
She parts her lips slightly and Jack takes this opportunity, he slowly leans in incase this isn't what she wants and kisses her lightly on the lips. He carefully pulls away and looks at her searching for an answer, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," Jack panics worrying he has taken advantage of her in this fragile state.

"No, Jack... I liked that," She smiles and leans in to kiss him again, they both clearly hadn't had much practice in kissing and were unsure how to go about the situation. She pulls away again for air, their noses brushing against each other the teenagers couldn't have been giddier on the adrenaline, "I'm sorry, I am such a terrible kisser," Nikki responds.

Jack chuckles and pulls her body into his cupping her cheek once again, "that's okay... we can practice... if that's what you want," Jack smirks.
"I'd like that," She smiles relaxing against his hand touching her back, she lifts her right hand placing it on his chest and leaning in to kiss him.
She felt so much better in his loving embrace she almost forgot her sudden life decisions from today, the pain had gone.