Chapter 56: Coping

Jack loosened his tie and let out a deep breath as he and Nikki walked the corridors of the Lyell Centre.

"How'd it go?" Clarissa asked as the pair entered the lab

"As well as it could have," Jack said shrugging off his suit jacket

"How did Molly take it?"

"She's grieving but I think she'll heal, eventually. She's stronger than she thinks," Nikki said

"She's coping," Jack added

"I'm glad to hear that," a new voice came from across the lab. Jack turned and saw a tall, dark haired man in a dark suit. He was standing in the doorway to Leo's office

"And you are?" Jack said curtly, shrugging of the look that Clarissa gave him

"Thomas Chamberlain," the man said holding out a hand, which after a moment Jack shook "The new head of the Lyell Centre,"

"Jack Hodgson," Jack said

"I've heard a lot about you," Thomas said

"Clarissa been filling you in?" Jack asked

"More the tabloids actually. I've been following the Williams case. Very intriguing actually. I was impressed with your skills. Shame you didn't get the outcome; get justice"

"Sometimes the truth isn't the answer you're looking for," Jack said, echoing Molly's words

"An astute observation. I'd like to talk to you more about that. Indeed, I'd like a meeting with you all, individually, to get to know you. I can fit you in tomorrow if you're free?"

"No can do I'm afraid. I have a meeting with the editor of the Underground. I'm a freelance science writer," Jack said turning on his heel ans sitting down at his desk

Thomas raised his eyebrows and turned to Nikki who shrugged

"Well I'd like to start these meetings. Doctor Alexander, are you free?" he asked the blonde who nodded as she followed him into the office, taking a seat opposite him

"So Doctor Alexander," he began

"Nikki," she corrected

"Nikki," he nodded "I believe I'm taking over from you. I've been reading the statistics and reports generated from your time in charge and I have to say I'm very impressed. You've done well. Particularly with the Williams case,"

"Thank you," Nikki said "But it was a team effort,"

"Yes and I believe Jack Hodgson was heavily involved in that case. To the point of crossing boundaries?"

"He did step over the lines on occasion but if he hadn't then Molly Williams would have died. Thanks to him she's still alive,"

"It must have been a traumatic time for all of you with the death of Professor Dalton and then having this complex case and having a member of your team injured,"

"It was hard," Nikki admitted "But we're a close team," she said watching Jack from out of the glass windowed office

"And how do you think the team is?" Thomas asked "Coping?"

"Coping," Nikki said firmly "We're coping,"

It wasn't the full truth, but it wasn't a lie either. The team had broken when Leo had died and the Williams case hadn't helped matters.

But it as meeting Molly that had put a new perspective on things. Sometimes the answer isn't the truth we are searching for. Knowing the truth doesn't always bring closure or justice. Sometimes it just brings more questions; questions that can never be answered.

But despite all of this unknowing, the team had slowly started to heal and carry on even if they didn't know all the answers.

They were coping.

Just,

Coping.

Author's Note: And that's a wrap! Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. I know there's no closure as such; things are still open but as Molly Williams would say: Sometimes the truth isn't always the answer we are looking for.