Can't Wait

Concern

Nikki checked her phone again. Nothing. She frowned, she couldn't understand why Jack hadn't tried to call her. She realised that in all the confusion she had forgotten to ask Dawn if she had managed to reach Jack, leave a message, or whether she had said about Nikki being with Connor.

Nikki was sat on a plastic chair next to Connor in one of the A&E cubicles. A nurse was taking his vital signs before he was going to be wheeled off for an MRI scan. He had been checked over by a doctor who had listed a set of scans and tests to be done on him, wanting to see if there was any trauma to the brain, or anything that needed urgent intervention. Nikki chewed on the end of her thumb, wanting to make sure Jack had been told of what was going on.

"Excuse me?" Nikki spoke softly, "would it be possible for someone to call Mr Hodgson's son for me please? I'm not sure if he has been told of what has happened."

"Sure, you can use your mobile here though?" The nurse replied kindly, thinking Nikki didn't know that mobile phones were permitted in this part of the hospital.

"Oh, yes, sorry, I just don't know if he will answer my calls you see... It's err, hard to explain..." Nikki flushed, embarrassed at having to allude to any personal drama to this complete stranger.

"Ah I see... but he would be okay with you being here with his father?" The nurse replied, frowning with confusion.

"Yes, yes, he wouldn't want him alone and... well, yes, it's complicated..." Nikki could feel her cheeks flushing even further.

"Honey, everything is complicated here, you don't need to be embarrassed!" The nurse laughed. "Give me his number and I will call him myself."

Nikki smiled and jotted down Jack's number, "Could you tell him that Dawn tried to call him, that's his neighbour, but Nikki, that's me by the way, is with his dad, and to not rush back from Newcastle. I'm worried he will speed or something you see..." Nikki rambled and handed the piece of paper to the nurse.

The nurse smiled at her, "Aww, you care about him and his son, don't you. I hope you work it out, whatever it is that's stopping him answering your calls." She jotted down Connors stats in his chart before explaining to Nikki that a Porter will be collecting him for his MRI shortly, and she could wait in the cubicle until he returns.

**********************************************

Jack was sipping coffee having attended the first couple of seminars of the day. He had been late to the first one, having woken up slightly hungover, and then taken a long shower, thinking of Nikki. He was trying his best to avoid Abigail after last night.

After leaving The Cluny, she had hopped in his taxi, and clearly had hopes of something happening between them. She had kept touching his thigh in the taxi when she spoke to him, and when they had got out at the hotel she had invited him to join her at the bar. He regretted going with her, downing a few glasses of whiskeys and flirting, even though his mind was elsewhere. He kept telling himself he needed to get over Nikki, and move on, the best way he knew how.

Abigail had continued to flirt with him and he had been flattered, but all he could think about was Nikki. Her perfume invaded his senses, drawing him back to her. The memories of her laughter, her smile, her kisses took over his consciousness. A short time into the whiskey drinking, he had realised that he really had no desire to do anything with anyone. All he wanted was to lay down, sleep, and hope that the more time that passed, the easier life without Nikki would become. He not only regretted going to the bar with Abigail, he regretted leading her on, but also thinking about her as though she was just a distraction. She was young, hopeful, and he should know better than to toy with peoples feelings.