Jakki One Shots

Formal Event

"I can't believe you've finally let me come to one of these."

Nikki grinned at Jack, linking her arm with his. She had been invited to a posh event, as a well respected pathologist at the Lyell Centre, and she thought it was time to bring Jack along.

"Well, we're both here to represent the Lyell," she said, "And I was in need of a plus one." Nikki patted Jack's bicep, which was covered in a black suit jacket. She didn't often see Jack properly dressed up, but when he was, he looked good indeed.

"You smarten up well, you know," Nikki smiled, voicing what she was thinking in her head.

"And you look absolutely beautiful."

Nikki blushed profusely, and tried to deny it. She'd was wearing an old dress from the back of her wardrobe, decorated in pink and white flowers with her hair pinned up in a bun. Nikki thought it was a rather plain dress, but Jack thought otherwise, lifting up her chin so he could look her in the eye.

"I'm serious, Nikki. You're gorgeous."

Nothing came out of Nikki's mouth. She just looked down shyly, gripping tighter onto Jack's arm. Jack thought she was beautiful. That meant a lot to her.

***

Hours had passed. The twosome had spent their time appearing professional to the guests, talking to multiple people about their work and other things. One lady had mistaken them for a couple, and Nikki had to correct her politely while Jack acted as though he hadn't heard.

Like many formal events, there was a live band playing well-known songs. The first half consisted of upbeat music, while everyone spoke and mingled. However, as the night went on, the tunes got slower and more romantic, couples starting to slow dance in the middle of the floor. Nikki and Jack stood on the side awkwardly, watching people drunkenly rock with one another, until Jack grabbed Nikki's hand.

"Come on."

Nikki stared at him in awe.

"Don't tell me you can dance," Nikki gasped. Jack shrugged his shoulders with a grin, making her laugh.

"God, you really are full of surprises!" she giggled, allowing Jack to pull her among the dancing couples and correctly position her. One hand on his shoulder, the other clasped in his. Jack's free arm went straight round Nikki's back, his hand fitting on her waist. He pulled her close, very close, so their bodies were touching. They swayed gently in time to the music, Nikki nestling her face into Jack's neck. He was warm, and smelt nice. Nikki closed her eyes, taking in his heat and the scent of his aftershave. Even when the song finished, and the band prepared the next onr, they stayed intertwined with one another, in their own element.

Many songs later, they were still there, even as people were starting to disappear around them, to get another drink or to go home. Eventually, when the band stopped playing, Jack and Nikki broke apart, both looking tired as if they'd been in a trance. They decided it was time to leave, and Nikki started to say her goodbyes to the people they'd met that night. She found the lady who'd mistaken herself and Jack for an item sitting at the bar. When

"Please put me out of my misery, my dear. Are you sure you and the young man you're with tonight don't have feelings for one another?"

Nikki hesitated, not knowing what to say. The woman smiled.

"That silence says it all. I was watching you two dance, like you were the only two people in the room. That man is clearly madly in love with you, and I'm very sure that you're in love with him too."

She kissed Nikki on the cheek, before leaving her alone to gather her thoughts. Maybe the lady was right after all. Maybe there was something between them.