Jakki One Shots

OTP Writing Challenge- Day Seventeen

Day Seventeen Prompt:
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A member of the otp remembers something their sweetie told them. It fills them with DETERMINATION!

I'm aware that this is sort of similar to the previous one shot but just with the roles reversed… still hope you enjoy!

Also, is this a potential Season 24 storyline? I feel like it could be!

It happened one night. The final release of all the emotions that had been building up. The tears and sobs that Jack had been trying to fight back, they all came pouring out.

Something triggered him at work, he couldn't quite remember what, and his thoughts had drifted to Thomas. Professor Thomas Chamberlain. The man who had saved Jack's life in place of his own.

A major part of Jack was grateful to have known such a wonderful man. He'd been a fantastic boss and a great friend. Jack wanted to honour his memory that way, wanted to remember him as positively as possible. But every time he tried to, he would just think about how he wished he'd died instead of Thomas.

His mood had caused him to be blunt towards Nikki, which he regretted entirely. She was the only person in his life that was constant. Of course, he had his father and Clarissa, but he didn't see them as much as he wanted. Nikki, she was beside him every day.

She'd seemed upset when he'd rejected her comfort. Obviously, he didn't want to make her sad, but his mind was preoccupied, and he didn't even stop to consider her feelings. He just stayed distant for the rest of the day, and didn't even say goodbye to her when he left.

He went straight home, to avoid any more human contact. Fridge, beer, sofa sounded like a plan. A dull plan at that, but Jack had no energy to do anything else.

The hours passed, bottles building up beside him, the sofa seeming more and more like his bed for the night. Jack just lay there, taking a sip of beer every other second, until the thoughts of Thomas started again.

He should be here. He should still have his life, still have his relationship with Rosie. Still be alive.

But he wasn't. Jack was. And there was nothing anyone could do to change that.

Jack could feel his eyes welling up. Desperately, he tried to wipe the tears away, but they kept returning, until they were beginning to trickle down his cheeks. He stifled a sob, placing a hand on his forehead, trying to control himself.

But, the crying didn't stop. Each second of time that passed added to the upset, until he could barely breathe. He didn't think he'd ever be able to calm down, but he knew that he had to try.

There was only one person that had that ability, one person that could possibly attempt to sooth him. He dialed her number, taking shaky breaths as he waited for her to answer.

As soon as he heard her pick up, he said her name, his voice barely a whisper.

“Nikki.”

Nikki sounded tired on the other line, like she'd just woken up.

“Jack, it's gone midnight. What's wrong?”

He tried so hard to disguise how distressed he was, but the more he attempted to hide it, the worse it became. His tipsiness didn't help the emotion, and Jack knew that as soon as he opened his mouth, the wall he was trying to hide behind would come crashing down.

“I… I don't know,” he murmured, stifling another sob.

Nikki knew there was something very wrong instantly. He heard her moving around, then she spoke again.

“Jack, I'm coming over. Stay where you are.”

He barely formed a reply, just a noise in acknowledgement.

It felt like Nikki arrived in seconds. Jack had waited, his entire body numb, not even realising that time was passing. As soon as he heard a knock, he was on his feet, his legs feeling like jelly beneath him. He hoped that he'd be able to at least stop crying when he saw Nikki, but when she looked up at him with her worried, brown eyes, his face crumbled. Nikki hurried towards him, reaching up to pull him into a hug.

Close to an hour later, the sobs has subsided, and the pair were sat on the sofa, Nikki's hand every so often brushing against Jack's neck. Her touch was comforting to him, but he felt so guilty that he'd called her over in the middle of the night.

“I'm a mess,” he muttered, “I'm sorry I've dragged you into all of this.”

“Don't be silly. I want you to be ok.”

“ I'm not okay though, don't you see? I'm a burden to you.”

“Jack Hodgson, don't be ridiculous. You are not a burden to me.” Nikki cupped his face in her hands, forcing Jack to look her in the eye. “You are one of the most amazing men I have ever met. You are kind, smart, strong.”

Her voice quavered.

“But I can see how badly this is affecting you and it's hurting me to see you like this.”

Taking a deep breath, she chose her next words carefully.

“I think you need professional help, Jack. I'll be beside you every step of the way, but this is beyond me.”

Jack had been wondering that, wondering whether a therapist would do him any good. He just wanted someone else to admit it. And the fact that it had come from Nikki, the person he trusted the most, it meant even more him. He simply nodded, Nikki pulling his head into her arms so he could rest it on her chest.

“Don't give up on yourself, okay?” she whispered to him.

And it was those words that had brought Jack here, to the therapist office. He felt fulfilled, ready to turn his life around, hoping that he would be able to forget about the past and look forward to the future.