Joseph watched as his wife walked to the stairs leading to the hospital's exit, flanked by two police officers. This situation was extremely reminiscent of when Archie had died, and when he had learnt of Faye's deceased husband. He took a small break in a supply closet, taking the time to regroup his thoughts.

He'd always thought of Faye as 'right', safe even; she was every man's perfect woman. She was compassionate, loving, loyal and pretty; she also happened to have two ex-husbands, one dead, a dead son, and now another possible arrest over something she did not do. Joseph had been proven right over Archie's death, that Lauren had been involved and Faye had not, however something made him unsure of her now... She had forced him into lying to the police and threatened him in order to keep things that way... it may all be nothing, but taking everything into account, Sister Byrne seemed to have far worse luck than most people.

Unwillingly, his thoughts turned to Jac. She had been snarky, bitchy, disagreeable and had betrayed him; yet he also considered her a loyal person and beautiful. At least with Jac he had known where he was – she never made any attempt to hide her motivation. And she had always managed to open up to hi – Joseph had seen the true Jac Naylor; both many years ago, and when they were trapped in the operating theatre.

In total, he had two amazing women who loved him. With a shake of the head, Joseph cleared his mind and left the cupboard to go and check on his patient.

*

She stared at the monitor, the heart rate line flat and a beep droning on. Jac was dazed as she held Frank's hand; he had died before his wife reached him, and this had somehow penetrated her hard shell. Where was the Jac Naylor who distanced herself and did not let anything affect her?

In some ways, this patient had been just like her; in love with just one person and rejected, while holding onto a small piece of hope. It scared her to see someone like that, with desperation filling their eyes but only adoration flowing from their lips. Was she like that? Jac shrugged that thought off with a snicker – she was the Queen of Mean and prickly, one step nearer to poison than being an Ice Queen like Connie Beauchamp.

The doctor cursed her solid inability to be completely open with someone for a decent length of time. Even with Joseph she could only manage a little while before snide remarks and snarky comments worked their way in. If she was able to get down off her pedestal earlier, maybe they would have been able to patch things up, maybe be back together... after all, he wished as much as she did that they could turn the clocks back.

Deep down, Jac Naylor knew she would never love anyone again, not properly; that part of her was for Joseph, and only Joseph. With all that they had been through, she almost owed that to him, along with her being open. She was destined to a life of 'good old snoggery' with people like Ollie, while her heart and freedom lay with Joseph Byrne.

Okay, I know it's a little broken up – sorry...

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Woody2792x