A single star glittered in the night sky to the west, flickering with the obstruction of the gum tree like a candle in the breeze. A branch moved and the little beacon of light went out just for a second. The figure in the garden sighed and slowly drew her eyes away from it, looking back at the light spilling from the front doorway. It was warm inside. So why was she out here? The little terraced garden provided only minimal protection against the wind that blew up the driveway and in past the front doors, finally collecting in the one place it wasn't needed – the ambulance bay. Oh that's right, she recalled with spite, him. The bane of her existence, the monster in her nightmares and the reason she'd left in the first place. Not that she'd ever admit that to him. The last thing he needed was to know how much his opinion of her impacted. As far as he needed to know she didn't care. Not in the least. Not one bit. Not for a sec…

"It's bloody freezing out here. Are you mad girl?" A loud and confused but nonetheless friendly voice said.

She looked up. "It's nice out here at twilight. The birds, the sound of the river, the…" she paused with a smile as another ambulance sounded nearby, headed their way. "The sirens."

"Okay, you are officially mad. A long day?" He asked, taking a seat and rubbing his arms in an attempt to warm up.

"Yeah, well, you know how it is." She sighed.

"It or he?"

She looked up at him. "Uncle Frank!" Amy pouted at the realization her uncle, the Head of Emergency, did in fact know everything. "My life does not revolve around making peace with that… that infuriating man!"

"We discussed this Amy. You and Homer will have to make peace eventually. And if you don't do it on your own I will have to intervene. I have enough stress from Vlasik and his big plans without dealing with you two and your sniping."

"I don't snipe." Amy defended herself, but it was half-hearted. "Anyway, doctor West started it."

"Oh yes, that was a very mature comment." Frank stood up. "I'm going back in. You can stay out here and continue to freeze if you want or you can come inside and prove you are equal, if not better, than Bart."

"I can't work with him uncle Frank."

"Can't or won't." Frank said, an air of understanding in his voice. Then, failing to hide he was cold, the Head of Emergency moved faster back to the doors than anyone Amy had ever met. Despite everything she smiled at his departing figure and turned back to the night sky, but one she didn't need to see soon rivalled Frank's friendly face.

"Uh, Amy." Amy turned, struggling to hide the fact she didn't want him here. "Sorry, Frank said you were out here."

"Why would uncle Frank tell you that?" Amy asked without recalling that her uncle was the kind of person that would interfere no matter what you said. She rephrased the question in a much more acceptable way. "What do you want?"

"I don't want anything, it's Mrs. Higgins. She won't let me take her blood pressure until you come hold her hand."

Amy frowned and turned away from him. "You deal with it doctor West, you're here cos you're talented, not because your uncle is the boss."

Bart growled. "Fine, act like a child. But Mrs. Higgins is scared and the very least you could do is your job." He turned to leave.

Amy glanced up at the star one more time to see the tree's branches were finally out of the way. The little light was shining bright. She suddenly remembered a song her father used to sing when she was young.

…this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine…

And she realised, dash Bart West and everything else dragging her down, she was going to shine. With a shake of her head in Bart's direction she stood up and followed him back in to Mrs. Higgins.