A/N: Finally posting this after it's been sitting on my computer for a good few months, since about March/April- yes it's taken me that long to think of a title, they've never really been my thing haha. And well surprise surprise but this fic is yet another Nick&Jen story...but let's be honest they're incredibly adorable together and the best pairing on CH :D haha. So enjoy reading! And a gigantore thankyou to Riss who read through every single one of these chapters and endured many conversations which involved me complaining about how dodgy I thought several chapters were haha THANKYOU!

Happy readings everyone :) xxx

Chapter One.

The tension between the two of them could have been cut clean with a knife. It had been a week since they'd spoken properly. A week too long, Nick thought. It wasn't like Jen to forego speaking to him or seeing him. Not a day had gone by since that blissful afternoon when they reunited that they hadn't been together at night. Every single night it was the same content ritual. Nick would make eyes at Jen as he sat at his desk and she would do everything she could to suppress the smile that was fighting to be seen. Then they'd say their goodbyes and then Nick would leave, Jen making her exit at differing times after his exit so not to draw any unwanted attention. Once they were both safely out of the confines of the office they'd make a beeline for either Nick's house or Jen's. In the beginning they had alternated but without really thinking they found themselves at Nick's place more often, Jen had all but moved in. Nick, being an only child, had always been semi reluctant to share his space despite his kind and generous nature. But there was something about a certain female detective that made him lose all the control he thought he had and he would find himself weakening at the knees and letting her into his life whole heartedly.

To begin with they'd made a point of having dinner and talking until all hours, there was a gaping hole missing in their relationship. There were years of their lives together that had been missed out on. Jen found there to be nothing more fascinating than learning so much about a man she thought she knew well and Nick loved hearing Jen speak about anything with such passion and vitality. They were a pair that certainly proved the notion of soul mates. Nick Buchanan and Jennifer Mapplethorpe were made for each other, there was no denying it. The talking would cease eventually and in the past week they'd found themselves letting their dinner go cold instead focussing on a more insatiable hunger. Nothing ever got blasé or routine for either of them about making love. Their love for one another was so intense and beyond comprehension for either of them that it always felt wonderful and brand new each time.

They had their evenings all strategically planned out like they were out on one of their undercover operations. But they'd both agreed unanimously that all the hiding and secrecy was worth it, they'd learnt their lessons in how precious life was and they didn't want to waste a moment. Everything was perfect for the two of them up until seven days ago when after a heated discussion over something so petty Nick couldn't reason as to why they were even fighting, Jen had walked out of his house and they hadn't spoken properly since.

He couldn't fathom what had happened to her to make her react like she did. But it pained him to see that something was worrying her. It killed him on the inside to see her so hurt and afraid, it was written all over her face and no matter how much she tried to hide it from him he could see it a mile away.

Jen almost resented Matt for pairing her and Nick together on their current investigation. She would have worked with anyone at all; she would have even dragged up Paul the techie from downstairs if she had to. So long as she could avoid Nick. Her situation left a niggling feeling at the pit of her stomach, the nerves and worry wreaked havoc with her head and heart. She hated not talking to Nick but the little monster of doubt was sitting right in her ear whispering words of discouragement and it scared her. The tension was mounting, she'd have to speak to him eventually she was just too frightened to.

"Right so we'll go and brief Matt on the info we got from the victims lover and then I guess we can head home…" He sighed as they got into the elevator, he hoped that he'd get some kind of response from her but there was nothing but silence "Jen? Is that okay with you?"

"Sounds fine to me." She turned away from him as the elevator doors shut, dreading the next two minutes she'd have to spend in the elevator with him. The proximity between their bodies was almost inebriating. Two minutes was two minutes too long for her liking.

"How long is this going to last Jen?"

She turned to look at him, the hope all but drained out of her; she was too angry with him and too angry with herself to talk to him now. The past week had been hell for her; the distance between them had been entirely her decision but that certainly had not made it any easier. But she had to do it, for both their sakes. She wasn't sure how much more of the pain she could take but it was a sacrifice she felt compelled to make.

"Can we talk about this?"

"We got the statement we needed, what more is there to talk about?"

"Jen…" He took hold of her hand and tried to bridge the gap between the two of them but at the slightest feeling of spine tingling contact Jen drew her hand away. She was quite aware of the power Nick had over her and she was determined not to succumb

"Not now Nick." She looked at her watch and breathed a sigh of relief, any second now the elevator doors would open and she'd be free to go about her business. Jen took in a deep breath, preparing to step out of the elevator as quickly as possible, she was almost certain that he'd try and stop her so they could talk. She couldn't handle it, it'd been a week since they'd spoken and she couldn't talk to him now, it still hurt.

Without warning a horrible whirring electrical sound filled the elevator before it came to a sudden stop, throwing both of them forward. Lucky for Jen Nick threw his arms out in front of her and caught her before there was any chance that she might fall forward and hurt herself. She muttered something that resembled a thankyou as she stood up straight and brushed herself off.

"Are you okay? Jen?"

"I'm fine…" She muttered as she fumbled around in her jacket pocket, smiling with relief as she pulled out her mobile and started dialling

"What are you doing?" He couldn't help but chuckle, he'd never seen her call someone with such frustration and urgency

"Calling Matt…no one knows we're in here Nick. I'm not being stuck in here all night…bugger! He's not answering. Oh this is great…just great! I'm stuck in a bloody elevator. Great!"

"Don't panic Jen…the security camera is there, they'll see us. Just calm down, it'll be fine."

She wished it was that easy. She wished it were as simple as just 'calming down'. Nothing was ever that simple, not anymore. Things would never be the same. Jen was stuck in a small confined space with the one person she had been deliberately avoiding for the past week, things couldn't have been worse.