Halcyon

Big Squeezes

Jack comes back from upstairs and walks into the lounge with his car keys in his one hand and his jacket draped across his other arm. Nikki looks up at him from where she is now sat on the floor with Maddison lying between her legs and Poppy stood behind her messing with her hair.

Jack smiles at the health visitor who is checking on Maddison's reactions to different kinds of sounds and if she recognizes different faces. "Nik, I've gotta run now. Thomas has called me, crime scene to attend to. I'm not sure what time I will be back, but call me if you need any help" He speaks as he crouches down and kisses Nikki before standing up.

"Okay, Do you want me to put dinner aside for you if you aren't back?" Nikki asks and Jack nods as he kisses Poppy's cheek and then heads out the lounge.
"See you later Nik, It was nice to see you again Lisa" Jack smiles.
"And you" Lisa replies.
"Okay, Love you" Nikki smiles as she looks at her partner who is now stood in the doorway smiling at her lovingly.
"I love you too" Jack smiles then walks towards the front door.

Poppy notices that Jack is leaving and leaves Nikki's hair be and runs after him, "Daddy!" She shouts.
Jack stops as he goes to open the front door and turns to look at his three-year-old daughter. "I've got to go to work Pops" Jack explains and Poppy sighs.
"Can I have a big squeeze please!" Poppy grins and Jack places his forensic case down and crouches down to her level and opens his arms up to her, Poppy runs straight into his arms and Jack wraps his arms around his daughter's tiny body and holds her close protectively.

"Be a good girl for Mummy, make sure you look after her" Jack smiles and plants a kiss on her cheek, Poppy looks at Jack and smiles, Jack smiles back at her and then notices how much she is like Nikki now more than ever. "I've got to go, sweetie, see you later" Jack smiles and then stands up, grabs his forensic case and heads out the door.

Poppy then skips back into the lounge and smiles at Nikki, "Daddy said I've got to look after you" She grins before walking back over to her dolls and sitting down to play with them.

Lisa smiles happily at Poppy before turning back to Nikki, "And just to finish up how are you in yourself? not feeling depressed, low, feeling of hurting yourself or a loved one?" Lisa questions as she watches Nikki coos over Maddison who babbles loudly to her and grabs hold of her fingers as she babbles.

"Recently I've been fine, although I was back on antidepressants a couple of months back, it was just after I had Maddie. I felt very low all of a sudden and my GP prescribed them to me as you're probably aware, I was originally prescribed them in 2011, mainly for anxiety but I was depressed. I decided to seek help before someone had to get help for me, I haven't felt depressed in ages and I should have finished the last of the antidepressants before I was stabbed but I never did" Nikki explains as Lisa writes down what Nikki says.

"Okay that aside, how is your relationship with your boyfriend?" Lisa questions.
"He's my Fiance now, I guess everything is fine, we're both getting used to not having as much time as we would like together, with work and the girls, although the three year anniversary of our engagement is coming up and we've spoken about a weekend away without Poppy and Maddison, but I doubt it'll happen... Jack seems a little different with Maddison compared to how he was with Poppy," Nikki explains to Lisa.

Lisa notes a few things down before looking up at Nikki, "Well I would suggest for Jack to have maybe some skin to skin bonding time with Maddison as you do yourself, but Dad needs to born with her too," She explains as Nikki gets up off the floor and places Maddison back on the sensory mat while she dozes.

Lisa then gets up off the sofa and gathers her things together before handing some stuff to Nikki including advice leaflets and a few other notes. "It was lovely to see you again Nikki, and see how grown up Poppy is now, you can really tell that you have nurtured her well I have faith in you with Maddison" She smiles as she walks into the hallway followed by Nikki who sees Lisa out.