this is my first Casualty story so I hope it's okay

"Jacob Masters, are you jealous?"

I knew it was late, it was late for about the third time this week. I knew I'd promised, I'd broken my promise for about the third time this week. But as I open the door, ever so slowly, I hope Jacob won't notice – maybe he'll be out with his friends, maybe he's just stayed at his. But he's sat there, on my sofa, our sofa, my sofa. His eyes are tired and the tele is on but his concentration isn't upon it.

"Hey," My voice is quiet but he seems startled by it, as if he's not expecting me to return.

"Busy?" He asks and I nod, I nod because busy doesn't cover it but I'm too tired to explain. I'm at the point where I don't think he'll believe me if I do explain.

"Have you eaten?" I ask nervously as the silence falls upon us again, a silence that is no longer comfortable.

"No, I was waiting for you," He tells me and I believe him because he always waits for me.

"I'm not hungry so I'll just go up," I tell him and slip off my shoes, the shoes that have been supporting my tired feet all day.

"Have you been with him?" Jacob suddenly asks and we both know who he's talking about but we don't say his name.

"I've been with Grace," I tell him because it's the truth, I've been with Grace, catching up with everything I've missed and everything I'll never get back.

"So you have been with him," Jacob presumes and he's right, I was with him in the hotel but with Grace. Only for Grace.

"Yes," I tell him bluntly and he sighs, a sigh with emotion I've never seen from him before, "Is that a problem?"

"You told me there's nothing between you."

"And there isn't," More honesty is coming out of my mouth, me and Sam, Sam and me, it would never happen.

"But it's almost midnight, wasn't Grace in bed hours ago?" Jacob is asking and I nod, I nod because it's true. Presumptions, I guess everyone is good at making them.

"There was an RTC, I needed to go to work," I tell him and I'm getting bored now, bored of the same questions every time I'm late, "I'm clinical lead, I can't not be there if I'm needed."

"Why didn't you call me?" He asks, he sounds almost disappointed.

"I didn't need you," I say bluntly, more bluntly than I intended to.

"That's what this all comes down to isn't it?" I look to him confused as the words come out of his mouth, "Connie, you don't need me, you've got Sam and Grace back."

A sigh escapes my lips and I move from the bottom of the stair and sit next to Jacob, I sit slowly and carefully as if he'd break if I knocked him. Jacob was always strong, never had he shown his weak side, never had he needed reassurance. When he was shot, that was the only time. The only time he hadn't been the cocky nurse I know, the cocky nurse I love.

"I have Grace back," I admit because it's true, "But Sam, Sam means nothing to me. He's Grace's father and that is all."

"But Grace, surely she'd want you to be together," Jacob observes and I suppose he's right but Grace understands. As much as I know Grace hates the arguing and the separation and the distance, I know she understands.

"Grace loves Emma, as does Sam," I say, and although it kills me to see Grace get on so well with another woman, it pleases me she has that guidance.

"But Grace loves you more," Jacob tells me and I raise my eyebrow because despite spending more time with Grace I'm still unconvinced.

"Grace is my little girl and if I have to spend time with Sam to see her then, well then that's just how it is," I tell him, "I'm not giving up my daughter because you're jealous."

"I told you before, I don't get jealous," But as he tells me this I don't believe him, not for a second.

"Jacob, I'm not going to lose you, that's just not going to happen," I tell him honestly, "I guess it's a change and I understand it's hard. I understand that but I need to spend time with my little girl. I need to spend time with her before she leaves."

"Leaves?" Jacob asks, his naivety paining me slightly.

"You don't think they're staying, do you?" I scoff and Jacob sighs then shakes his head, "They'll leave, when Sam's finished all these talks and Emma has recovered they'll be off, they'll leave with Grace. Again."

"Oh Connie," Jacob sighs as I'm becoming upset.

"I need to ask you again because I need Grace. I can't let us get in the way of my relationship with Grace," I tell Jacob and he nods slowly as if he understands what I'm saying.

"Jacob Masters, are you jealous?"

"Yes."

I might carry this on so your reviews will be greatly appreciated xx