Chapter 1
As Jac walked onto Darwin ward, annoyed as she was running late as she had to drop Emma off at Jonny's flat, who had decided to sleep in, and forget that it was his day with Emma. Walking into her office and checking her emails, she remembered she had a meeting with Mr Hanssen at 10:00 AM, as there was supposed to be a new F1 starting on Darwin today.
She had little patience when it came to foundation doctors. Remembering the days with boy Valentine and girl Valentine, as Michael Spence liked to call them, and also the time spent mentoring Dr Lo, she decided to try and be more pleasant.
Looking at the clock on the wall, it was already 9:30 AM and she had to address the staff working on Darwin to tell them the news.
"Alright everyone, gather round." Jac said whilst standing at the nurse's station. "We have a new F1 doctor starting with us today, and I would like to ask you all to be helpful and supportive during her first few shifts."
"Since when does Jac Naylor do helpful and supportive," remarked Oliver Valentine, who was standing by one of the computers, holding a patient's file.
"Since our track record with junior doctors has been rather poor, as you can attest to that," replied Jac.
Whilst Ollie and Mo Effanga were whispering between themselves, Jac approached Zosia March, who was about to go and treat a patient.
"I would like you to show the new doctor, the ropes for the next week, and let her shadow you, as you are closer to her level, and would be able to give her an understanding of what she'll need to do."
"Are you sure that's a good idea Ms Naylor, I have never mentored anyone," Zosia responded nervously.
"There is always a first time, plus it will be something to put on your portfolio. I will be the official mentor, but they will need to find their feet first," countered Jac. "I have to go to a meeting with Mr Hanssen, afterwards I expect you to be ready to show her around."
Jac left Zosia to get ready, and brace herself for the task ahead. She had a look at the theatre list today, which only had simple procedures, and was mainly handled by Miss Effanga, and Dr Valentine. She did have a few procedures later in the day, but after her meeting she would be able to do some paperwork.
As Jac left for her meeting, she wondered what the new doctor would be like. Mr Hanssen had interviewed the potential candidates, so she knew nothing about the F1. She hoped that the doctor would be less excitable than some of her past junior doctors. She remembered the time Zosia annoyed her whilst she was seven months pregnant, and her hormones were raging. At the end of the day, she took apart the skeleton in her office, and made Zosia put all 206 bones together. She found out later that Zosia enjoyed the task, as she loved to do puzzles.
Arriving at Mr Hanssen's office at 10:00 AM on the dot, she knocked twice on the door and let herself in. In the office sat Mr Hanssen with a woman in her mid-twenties, who she presumed was the new F1.
"Ah Ms Naylor, nice of you to join us on time. I have here the new F1, who will be doing her first three months rotation on Darwin," said Mr Hanssen.
As Jac looked at the doctor for the first time, something about her face seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"This is Jasmine Burrows. She graduated from Bristol medical school at the top of her year, and has one of the highest overall exam results in the country. I am sure she'll be an asset to the hospital." Mr Hanssen continued.
As Jac looked at Jasmine for the second time, she remembered the girl she briefly met at her grandfather's house, and later at the hospital she was recovering at, after getting an infection from her kidney donation surgery. Could that be the same girl? It has been more than six years since she donated her kidney to her devil mother, and she only saw the girl for five minutes. Surely there isn't just one Jasmine Burrows in England. As Jac looked at the girl again, she noticed her eyes were exactly the same shade of brown as her mothers.
"Come to take the other kidney?" Jac asked.
"Ms Naylor, that is no way to address your junior," Mr Hanssen said impatiently.
"I think we need to talk in private," replied Jac.
"Anything you say to me, can be said in front of Dr Burrows," Mr Hanssen said, getting frustrated.
"I think you would know that I have only one kidney, after all the gossip that goes around in this hospital. Six years ago my mother, who abandoned me at the age of twelve to go and live in India, came to this hospital with kidney failure. At the time I was working on Keller as a registrar, and agreed to donate my kidney, as I was a match. A few weeks after the operation, my mother was preparing to go back to India, and I discovered that not only was grandfather, who I was told was dead, was alive, but I had a half-sister who was not abandoned." Jac said almost shouting.
The tension in the room was starting to become unbearable, and there was a few moments of silence, as Mr Hanssen digested the new information. Although he and Jac were close colleagues, she has never mentioned her past to him.
"I see that there are some unresolved issues between the two of you, I will ask Miss Effanga to take over as Dr Burrow's mentor, to track her progress during her rotation. Ms Naylor as you are the clinical lead on Darwin, I expect you to treat Dr Burrows professionally, and to put aside these personal issues whilst working," concluded Mr Hanssen. "You may go now."
Jac left the office feeling frustrated and undermined. As long as Miss Effanga is Jasmine's mentor, she can avoid her half-sister during work.
As Jasmine followed Jac to the lifts to go to Darwin, she thought "what have I let myself into."