A/N: Hi! I've just been re-watching all of series one, and I thought I might write a little FanFic!

Everything seems to be Janet/Andy (apart from the Janet/Rachel one – loved the end!) but what I really loved was the friendship between Janet and Rachel, and how close they were even though they argued, so here we go...

Chapter 1 – Defence

"Please, Nick. Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't... don't do this."

Rachel could hear her own voice tremor as she talked to him. Her hands, buried deep inside her pockets, were trembling. Nick, standing in front of her – towering over her – just smiled.

"Janet's coming," she tried to sound convincing.

He nodded, the smile not falling, "Yeah."

Her eyes caught the glint of the blade, clutched in his fingers, held against her throat. She gulped. The way he said 'yeah'; she knew he knew she was lying. She knew that, even if Janet did come, she didn't stand a chance.

"It's okay, Rachel."

"How can it be okay?"

She remembered what she'd said to him. You've played silly buggers with the wrong person, mate. She'd thought he had. She'd thought she was untouchable.

Then she'd fallen back in love with him, all over again, despite everything. She'd ignored Janet – they'd fallen out over him, their worst argument ever. He's changed. Oh, how she wished that had been true now.

"It won't hurt for long," he sighed.

"That comforts me."

Even now, she managed to sound sarcastic. She was always so sarcastic, wasn't she? She always pushed everyone away, with her harsh words, and her spiteful tone. All they wanted to do was help, and she pushed them away.

"I thought you were different, you know. After the men I've been out with, I thought you could turn my life around. I loved you like I've never loved anyone else."

"Oh, Rachel," Nick ran a finger along the handle of the knife, the smile flickering on his lips, "I'm sorry. Truly, I am."

"No. I'm sorry – I'm sorry I even fell for it – fell for any of this. How could I have been so stupid? There I was, blaming myself, thinking 'if only I'd been more hygienic', or 'if I'd tried to drink less'. And really it was all your fault."

"Not quite all my fault."

She stared down at the floor. She didn't want to meet his gaze, didn't want him to see her fear. She didn't even know why she was scared, really – it would be over quickly. Maybe it would be better than life; nothing would matter any more.

But she kept seeing Janet lying there, after she'd been stabbed by Jeff, and she kept hearing those words. Don't let them put me on a slab. Not naked. Those words pierced her heart.

"Look, I have to do this. I can't let you ruin everything I have. You're too powerful, Rachel – I didn't realise. You can do too much. This is how it has to be."

She wasn't even listening now, not really. She was thinking about her and Janet, about their relationship. The arguments, and the make-ups. The trust between them.

She remembered how scared she'd been for Janet. She's my best friend – I don't want her to die! It hurt so much more seeing someone you loved in pain that feeling that pain yourself.

Cradling Janet's head on her knee, trying to keep her awake as Gill and Andy drove them through the streets of Manchester. And those long hours after they'd rushed to the hospital; the longest of her life. Janet had a family: Adrian, and the girls. Who did she have? Who would miss her?

"You're a barrister, Nick. You enforce the law. You're not supposed to sleep with ten different women at once, or leave me with all my bags outside the kebab shop, or nearly lose me my job. You can't do this; you know you can't. You can't get away with it," she was babbling now, and she knew it.

"Calm down, Rachel. Come on, look at me. It'll be over – 12 seconds, remember? You'll barely feel anything."

"You... you really don't fit in anywhere, do you? You really don't understand how emotions work, or what it's like to love. You know what, Nick? I really pity you."

He moved the knife closer to her skin and cut a tiny scratch into her neck, just nipping the flesh. Experimenting, enjoying seeing her pain. "I think I can live with that."

"What about the baby, Nick? Our baby? You threw me out – you didn't give a damn. You know, you were a baby once. You needed love. Although maybe that's why you're so messed up, because you didn't get that love."

"Don't bring my parents into this."

She managed the smallest smile, "My father was sarcastic, like me. He expected a lot – he wanted me to aim high. And yeah, we fell out sometimes, and I didn't always like him, but look where he got me. If he hadn't been there, I'd never have got anywhere."

"I'm a barrister. I did get somewhere."

She realised, for the first time, that he sounded a little bit threatened now, "And my mum. She always encouraged me, even when I thought nothing could ever be okay again. She was always there to pick me up."

"What, like that Janet is now? You know, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wasn't loyal," he was steering the conversation away again, "I was convinced you two had an affair."

She'd said something along those lines to Adrian, once. That felt so long ago now. I'm shagging her. That had been a funny night. So much of her life felt like a blur right now.

"MIT's couple of the month – Godzilla would've loved that."

Oh, Gill. Cry, vomit, resign, sulk. With all her cold exterior, she cared so much. Get pissed, shag someone, watch telly. If... no, when – she forced herself to be positive even now – she got out of here, she'd run up to Gill and hug her, and tell her she was the best boss ever. Yeah. Kevin would die laughing.

Kevin, and Andy, and Mitch, and everyone else. She'd buy them doughnuts from Greggs, with sprinkles and jam, and watch them eat until they were sick. All those things she should've done, and never had.

But mainly Janet. She'd always been there, just like a best friend should be. Told her straight – too straight – how things were; never lied. They'd argued, but that didn't matter. They'd always been there for each other, and they always would be.

"Are you ready, Rachel?"

She didn't even answer that. What was the point?

"I'm sorry," he said. Then he raised the knife, and touched her neck again, and she closed her eyes and prayed.

There was a crash from outside, and raised voices, and pounding footsteps. The knife slipped down as Nick jumped. It slashed her shoulder, and plunged into her stomach.

And she screamed.

XxXxX

I probably gave away in the summary that there might be another chapter to come, if I get any time in between studying!

This is my first Scott & Bailey story – please review and tell me what you think! :) xx