FIC: Digging Deep 4/7
Title: Digging Deep 4/7
Authors: Writerghost2000 and docwho2100
Fandom and Pairing: Nikki/Nora - F/F
Timing: sequel to In Too Deep and In Even Deeper
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are the property of Nancylee Myatt and Warner Bros. Television. No infringement intended.
8:25am - Thursday - 7/16
Nikki entered Nora's room quietly, trying not to wake her if she were sleeping. A smile formed on her lips as green eyes greeted her.
"Hi," Nora said softly, reaching out her hand towards Nikki.
Nikki held it and sat down on the bed next to her. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay."
"Did they wear you out with all the questioning?" She rubbed the back of Nora's hand, soothing her.
"A little."
"Sorry. They busted in here this morning and wanted to wake you but I wouldn't let them see you. Your mom even came to your defense too. Threatened them and everything. I heard her outside in the hallway."
Nora's eyes opened a little wider. "My mom was here?"
"Both of your parents were here last night and then just your mom this morning." Reaching over, she stroked the side of Nora's face, being careful of the cuts and bruises that marred her beautiful skin.
"Did she see you?"
Nikki nodded. "We had a very brief but cordial encounter. I can't say that I got a hug and the ol' welcome to the family speech." Nikki smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
Nora smiled back. "Don't hold your breath. She's so stubborn."
"Wonder who inherited that trait, huh?"
"Don't patronize me, I'm injured."
Nikki chuckled and kissed Nora's hand. "Do you want to tell me what happened? Dan won't tell me anything. He wants me off the case entirely."
Nora prepared herself to speak, taking in a slow and deep breath. "Well...we went to this warehouse. I had to take pictures. Weapons dealers." She stopped to let the pain subside. "Some guy found me. I got away but Carter wasn't there." Nora looked at Nikki. She could tell something was wrong because she lost eye contact. "What? What is it?"
Nikki closed her eyes for a moment. "I didn't want to tell you this until you were a little stronger but it's nagging at me."
"What is it?"
"Carter took off after the accident and we can't find her."
Nora sighed heavily as her head rolled to the side and sank into her stack of pillows. "I knew something was wrong."
"How so?"
"She was out of it. High, is my guess."
Nikki shook her head, "Shit. You tried to tell me that and I didn't pick up on it."
Nora shook her head. "I kept begging her to stop." Nora stopped talking, squeezing her eyes shut, flashing back to the accident and remembering the sound of crushing metal.
Nikki squeezed her hand tighter. "I'm going to find her and when I do she's going to regret the day she was born, I promise you." Tears rolled down Nikki's face as she gripped Nora's hand.
Nora couldn't control her own either. "I want to help."
"You need to concentrate on getting better, I'll take care of this."
"Let me help. Please."
Nikki sighed. She did need Nora's help since Dan wasn't giving her any information and purposely keeping her far from the case and Nora might have information that would be useful in tracking Carter down. "Fine, BUT we play by my rules."
"No rules. I don't like rules." Nora winced as she shifted in the bed.
"I don't care. I'm not the one who has a punctured lung so I will allow you minimal duty on this one." Nikki gave her a quick kiss. "You'll be good as new in no time." Winking, Nikki stood up. "Get some rest and I'll be by in the morning to check on you, okay?"
Nora smiled and closed her eyes. "Love you."
"Love you too."
Nikki exited the room more determined to find Carter, no matter what it would take.
9:13pm - Tuesday - 7/21
Nikki got home and trudged through the house, making her way towards the bedroom. It had been a long and exhausting day. No leads as to where Carter might be and she felt as if each second that she wasn't found meant her chances of ever being found were slipping away.
It was hard being purposely kept out of the loop and it appeared that Dan was going to great lengths to do so. The guys who usually shared bits of information about their cases were now silent and defaulted to the same line over and over again - "Nikki, you know I can't talk to you about that." It was all bullshit in Nikki's mind. Dan knew this should be her case or at the very least be included in the proceedings. But then again Dan knew that if she did find Carter they'd never hear her side of the story because she would have ripped out her throat and beat her with it.
Upon entering the bedroom, her brow creased as she noticed a small gift box sitting on the edge of the bed. Smiling, she sat down next to it, thinking that Nora must have come home and left it for her. "Nora?" she called out. "Nora did you come home early, babe?"
No answer.
She got up from the bed and went into the bathroom, hoping that she'd find Nora soaking in the tub and waiting for her to join her. But she wasn't there.
Going back to the bedroom, she began unwrapping the gift, eager to see what was inside. Her heart leaped into her throat as her eyes set upon a knife lying in a bed of red tissue paper. Closer inspection revealed it to be the knife she'd stabbed Nora with.
Quickly, she closed the lid and tossed it onto the dresser, disgusted and chilled. "God damn you Blade."
The cop in her kicked in and she scoured the entire house, making sure nothing was disturbed. There was no sign of forced entry which put her on edge. "You bastard," she mumbled under her breath, fists clenched by her sides. Even though it wasn't Blade himself that went through her home, it didn't make it any easier to take.
She thought about packing a bag and staying at her father's house for the night, but that would mean he'd won and she didn't want to give him the satisfaction. Instead, she locked the house up tight and decided that a warm bath would sooth her frayed nerves.
2:12am - Wednesday - 7/22
Nikki now found herself downstairs, huddled in a ball on the couch, hands wrapped around a mug of tea as she stared into space. So much for the bath soothing her nerves. She knew she needed to sleep, her plans for tomorrow would require every bit of energy and focus she could muster. Yet, the dream... she shivered, spilling some of the hot liquid on her hand, the woman not even noticing as she was drawn back into her dream
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Hands stroking along skin.
Legs tangling, a toe drawing up along the curved calf muscle, tickling the back of her knee.
Fingers walking along skin, treading over muscles, curling along curves, pushing into intimate places.
Sighs, moans, gasps, pleasure.
Two bodies tangled in sheets, the air heavy with the scent of sex and love.
The sheen of sweat indicating the intense activity, the pumping and grinding, hands and fingers stroking and thrusting. Bodies synced in a punctuated rhythm at first, then a wild, carnal need to finish.
Nikki woke, panting, her body curled against her lover, her fingers threaded through blonde hair. She hummed in delight as she remembered their earlier lovemaking, the way Nora touched her always drove her wild. Closing her eyes, she took in the scent of her skin, enjoying how she felt against her.
Moving her hand down towards Nora's middle, she frowned as her hand came upon something other than Nora's tanned skin. Propping herself up, she looked over her lover, drawing in a breath as she saw a knife protruding from Nora's belly. "Nora!" she screamed in a panic, rolling Nora onto her back. Frantically trying to find a pulse, she couldn't find one.
She leaped from the bed, backing herself against the wall and slid down to the floor, sobbing. Hesitantly, she looked up at the bed, bracing herself for the vision of Nora's lifeless body lying amongst bloody sheets, but Nora wasn't there and neither was the blood.
Feeling only partially relieved, Nikki got to her feet and inspected the bed. There was nothing there. Nora was gone. The empty feeling as shattering as seeing the lifeless body.
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Nikki closed her eyes as a few tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks.
Blade sending her that knife was like stabbing her in the heart. She and Nora were just getting past what had happened and considered Blade to be part of the past. It scared her how easily seeing the knife had opened up a wound; a wound that Nikki had to close on her own. Nora was in no condition to be dealing with this now. She knew what she had to do.
Setting her mug down on the coffee table, she wiped her eyes and headed back to bed.