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The team had all noticed Nikki's changed demeanor in recent days. Gabriel approached Jack. "You need to find out what's going on with Nikki. It's starting to effect her work." This was definitely a cause for concern. Jack knew he needed to get through to her. So whilst she was in the cutting room, but had changed back into her clothes. He approached her. "Nikki? I'm worried about you. You've been very obviously not yourself. Talk to me. Please." Nikki suddenly looked at him, looking petrified. "Nikki?" She suddenly gasped. "I have to go." She shoved one of the tables into Jack to stop him from catching her. She ran out of the building.
She was sprinting for dear life, although where to she didn't know. "NIKKI!! COME BACK!!" Jack was sprinting after her. She kept running. Just as she rounded the corner of an alleyway, he caught hold of her. She immediately tried to slap him away, but he held her tightly against the wall. "NO!" she yelled. She was struggling against him. "What's going on, Nikki??!" She continued trying to fight back. But he had a solid grip on her. "I'm getting fired!!" He looked at her bewildered. "What are you talking about??" "I've been emailed by HR about multiple anonymous complaints that've been made against me and my apparent breach of the Code of Conduct!!" In trying to process what she was saying, Jack had released his grip on her. She used this opportunity to sprint away again.
But she didn't get far because he caught her again. "And where exactly are you trying to run to??" She paused. "I'm getting fired. What else is there to live for?! You'll probably fall for the next pathologist who replaces me!" Realizing what she was implying, he pulled her back towards him. "NO NO NO NO NO!!! You are NOT giving up! And you are NOT leaving me alone in this life!" She tried to get away from him, but he wouldn't let her. "We're gonna sort this out, Nikki. But first, we're going home." He held her hand tightly as he walked them back to the Lyell. Whilst he watched Nikki gather her things from Gabriel's office, he gave him the rundown of what had happened.
"I'm placing Nikki in lockdown - at home - until this gets sorted." Gabriel chipped in. "I will sort this. Leave it with me. Nikki has NEVER been unprofessional." As soon as they got home, Jack secretly took Nikki's keys and hid them. He also locked them both inside their house. Luckily, you couldn't open the windows wide enough to climb out of them. Once Nikki had got changed, Jack in the kitchen, she tried to make a break for it out the front door. She then realized her keys were missing. Jack approached her. "Nikki. You're not leaving this house. Neither am I. I've placed in you a lockdown until this all gets sorted. Which Gabriel has agreed with." Nikki flew into a rage and ran at him. "How dare you!!!" Jack was prepared. He swiftly caught her arm which came at him, turning her around and holding her tightly. "I'm NOT letting you hurt yourself!" he said as Nikki screamed and struggled. She continued like this for a few minutes before becoming tired, her voice now hoarse from all the screaming and yelling. He spoke softly. "This WILL get sorted out Nikki. There's no way that those complaints are true. You're the most professional person I've ever worked with. And I'm not just saying that because I get to marry you. I mean it." Her small body shook as she quietly sobbed. He scooped her up without a second thought and carried her upstairs as he lay them down on their bed. He smoothed her hair and rubbed her back as she began to slowly fall into a deep slumber.
* Three days later *
Jack got a call on his phone. Afterwards, he approached Nikki. "You need to switch your phone on. It's HR." She began to shake. It was a voicemail from HR, asking her to come to the office. Jack went in with her. They all sat down. "So, as it turns out. These anonymous complaints have been proved to be false. And we tracked down who they came from. Do you a know Tom Faulkner?" Nikki's stomach dropped. "My ex husband! I recently rebuffed his advances when he confessed to still being in love with me. This is clearly his attempt at revenge!" HR were shocked but supportive. "We are so, so sorry for the distress this has caused you. We can assure you that there WILL be repercussions for him."
As Jack and Nikki walked into their house upon arriving home, Nikki collapsed into a heap on the sofa. She sobbed hysterically with relief, all the tension leaving her body. Jack scooped her up into his lap. "You're free, my darling. Tom will get what he deserves." She rested her head against his chest and slowly slipped her hand through his buttoned shirt gap, resting her hand on his pec. He commented. "Copping a not-so-subtle feel, are ya?" She giggled. He tilted her chin upwards, looking into her eyes intensely. He waggled his eyebrows, making her blush before kissing her. And things soon got passionate as they celebrated the end of the false accusations against Nikki!