A/N:: Firstly thank you all so much for all your kind reviews/messages/comments, really appreciate and read every single one! Makes me want to carry on and enjoy writing :) Secondly thank you all for the continued support and patience, I do try to write when I can, but at times struggle to find time to write properly. I go for quality over quantity. If something doesn't sound right... it's not uploaded.
Ok, so A/N over. This is something I have been thinking about for a while so enjoy! Its a 3 parter. xx
The day started off like any other. Morning surgery, ward rounds, the usual. They were happy. Everything was going as well as could be expected. Gordon doing the same, completely unaware of the secret his wife was hiding. He had no idea.
Then, Lizzie burst into casualty, a look of horror on her face. She told the two doctors there had been a train crash, a passenger train en route to Elsinby. They needed doctors, and fast. Noone knew numbers, or how bad. So, as expected, Gordon immediately took charge, forming a team to go out, leaving the running of casualty to Jill and Mike, knowing that casualty would be in very safe and capable hands, and Mike was around to assist Mr Rose if needs be.
She'd watched him go, praying he stayed safe and that he'd return in one piece, after all he had a habit of putting himself in dangerous situations. He very rarely showed fear. Instead she did the worrying for them both, an arrangement that suited them both well. He didn't always know that of course.
So, as she prepared casualty, matron making space in the wards, Sister Brigid was busy organising the nurses, laying clean white sheets on the beds, making sure there were no creases, the corners perfectly folded.
And so, they waited. Waited for the sudden influx of patients, the calm before the storm. Jill and Mike even managed a mug of tea before the first patients arrived. Calmed the nerves.
It was an hour before the first patients arrived, bringing with them various ailments, ranging from broken bones and internal injuries to cuts, grazes and everything inbetween. Enough to keep the team busy. Some patients made the short journey to Ashfordly, as beds slowly were few and far between, a row of beds lining the corridors.
It was Mike who first noticed that all was not well. Staff were becoming stressed, Jill struggling to keep up with the amount of patients needing her attention.
"Jill? Everything ok?" Mike asked, on his first glance at casualty, having left theatre for a short time, gasping for fresh air before the next patient was due in.
"Yes, think so. I've got a queue for x-ray, 1 for transfer and 1 for theatre. Matron's running out of ward space..." She explained, speaking so quickly incase anything was to come up during the conversation.
"Jill.. please. Slow down...don't over do it. Please." His voice was calm, quiet and soothing. He was the only person to know Jill's secret, so knew what would happen should she get too stressed.
"Sorry... been so busy.. hope there's not many more." She sighed, closing her eyes momentarily, glad of the peace, even if for a short while.
"I know. You're doing really well. You all are. But please... be careful. Come and find me if you need anything. Ok?" Jill nodded, grateful for the support from the young doctor. He stopped, instead looking up at the board above the door, the light next to his name was on, he was needed.
"Look.. I need to go. But please, I'm asking as your GP and as a friend. Be careful. Any pain come and find me." He smiled, and rushed off to see what he was needed for. Jill looking round, making sure no one had heard their conversation, the hospital was notorious for gossip, slightest inkling of something and everyone would know within minutes. Luckily, no one was around. She returned to her work, Mike's words remaining in the back of her mind. He really cared.
An hour passed, during that time things had begun to calm down, the patients were coming in less frequently, those that were staying were getting settled in, some were waiting to go to Ashfordly, others were on their way home. Things were beginning to return to normality. As normal as it could be, given the exceptional circumstances. Gordon still hadn't returned, however she heard he was on his way.
Mike had finished in theatre, and he had made a beeline for casualty, where Jill was clearing up, alone at last.
"Jill? How are you?" He noticed that the doctor has slowed down, her legs aching from having been on her feet all day.
"Tired. In need of a hot bath I think. Looking forward to seeing Gordon when he gets back. He'll be shattered."
"As are you. I can tell." He sat on the bed, one that she'd just made minutes earlier. However his attention was soon diverted when he saw the colour drain from Jill's face.
"Jill? You ok?" He jumped off the bed, taking Jill's hand, placing it on the bed, before placing his hand lightly on her back, knowing that all was not well...