Red, everywhere, she turned her head, blurs and flashes of colour hurt her eyes. Pressing one hand to her chest in an attempt to stop the bleeding she used her other to scramble for her phone. Dialling the first number that came to her, she shifted so she could get it to her ear, pain shot through her chest, she gasped.

Joseph felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, pulling it out. He checked the caller id. Jac Naylor. 'God what did she need now' "Hello, Jac what do you want" he snapped. A gasping gurgling sound came from the other end of the phone.

"Jac, Jac what's wrong?" panic had started to rise within him.

"I can't breath...t-t-the pain...oh Joseph...it hurts so much" Jac whimpered in reply. Now Joseph was really worried. Jac never admitted pain or weakness not unless there was something to gain.

"Jac where are you?"

"I don't know...it's dark...and theirs so much bl..." she never finished the sentence as she was over run by a coughing fit which wracked her body, this was shortly followed by gasping as she attempted to get her breath back. Trying to stay calm, Joseph told her to breathe deeply and tell him what she could see. Listening to her reply he grabbed his keys and bolted out his door,

down the path and into his car.

"Jac, I need you to do something for me...I need you to talk to me...can you do that...for me Jac?" Joseph asked

"I think so...Joseph...I'm scared"

"I know...so am I"

"Joseph...?"

"Yes Jac"

"I-I-I...I still love you" Joseph didn't know how to reply "I don't think I ever really

stopped...Joe..."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"I just want you to know...in case I...you know...in case I die" An awkward silence fell over the two.

"You didn't need to tell me th..."

"Because you can never feel the same way" Jac cut in

"No...you didn't need to tell me because...one I already know and secondly your not going to die" Silence fell over them but was broken by another coughing fit, then nothing.

"Jac answer me...I need to know you're there..." There was still no answer. The worry that had been building before now intensified tenfold.

"Jac I'm almost there" he could hear her ragged breathing. Cursing he put his foot one the accelerator. Seeing the alley way she had described he pulled up to the entrance. Not bothering to turn off the car he leaped out and rushed down the dark path. "Jac...Jac where are you?" his question was answered when he stepped into a puddle, looking down he noticed it was a dark pool of blood. Following the red stream to his left he spotted Jac. She was half lying half sitting against the wall, blood covered her an pooled beneath her.

Running over to her he called her name and shook her shoulders trying to get her to open her eyes, the hand oh her chest slipped to the floor. He noticed the source of the blood, a small wound on her chest, small yes, but to create so much blood it had to be deep. Putting one hand behind her back and using his other to support her legs he lifted her. A gasp past her lips and her eyes fluttered open "It's okay, your safe" Jac simply lifted her hand and placed it blindly on his chest. Blood socked into his shirt. He turned on his heal and walked as fast as he could, when he got to the car he placed her in the passengers seat, glad he'd left it unlocked. As he belted her in her eyes began to role as she started to slip into unconsciousness, "Jac no...stay with me" he shouted as he ran round to the drivers side

"I-I-i'm not going anywhere" she slurred. Swearing he knew this was worse than he first assumed, she was going pale and very clammy, the blood didn't seem to be clotting and by the sound of her breathing her lungs were filling with blood. Slamming his foot down, he drove as fast as he could to Holby only glancing at Jac a few times. The moment he got her to the hospital she was barely conscious. Flying out of the car he ran round to Jac's door, throwing it open he carefully lifted her out and trying not jostle her too much he ran into Holby City Hospital. Joseph pressed the button for the lift, waiting only just 5 seconds until he turned and ran up the stairs instead. Running into A+E he shouted "Somebody, please help me!" almost instantly he was greeted by a gurney. Gently he placed her on it and said "This is Jac Naylor, 33years old, stab wound to the chest...ummm...she's been like that for about 5 minutes" he indicated to her semi-consciousness.

"And who are you?" a nurse asked

"I'm Joseph Byrne...and I'm all she's got.