"I love Saturday mornings." Chrissie sighed, letting her eyes wonder yet again over the page of holiday villas. "I love Saturdays too." Chantelle chirped "So much fun! Shopping, clubbing. It's the best day!" "I was talking about on the ward, rather than a day off." Chrissie replied "Much more peaceful!" "I love ward Saturdays too!" Chantelle grinned "In fact" she paused "I love everyday!" Chantelle peered over Chrissie's shoulder at the span of villas "Oooh, which one are you and Mr Hamilton choosing then? I'd choose that one!" She pointed her finger a large pink villa with a bright turquoise pool in front. "So much pink!" She squealed "Well... I think we'll go for that one..." Chrissie's answer was cut short by Malick bursting through the staffroom door "We have a burst appendix coming through from the ED, so I need a bed pronto." Malick stared at the two nurses "Well, come on. What you waiting for?" Malick turned to go, then looked back at the nurses "Oh, and Ms Shah is acting consultant today, as Mr Griffin is away." Chrissie nodded, this explained Malick's bad mood. Always wanting the top job, he was angry Hanssen had roped in his favourite pupil Sahira. Malick's power grapping reminded her of Jac Naylor. Who, she knew from experience would do anything for a job at the top. Speaking of Ms Naylor, Chrissie was sure she'd be down here today. It was a well known fact Jac kept her minions at her beck and call. Chrissie sighed inwardly, ever since the issue with the iron ore results, she'd tried to steer clear of Ms Naylor. "Chrissie?" Malick placed his hand on her shoulder "Organise that bed for me, ok? I won't be out of theatre for a while, so Ms Shah will be covering." "On it" Chrissie raised her head, stood up and stepped out of the staffroom.

"Sister Williams?" Sahira appeared in front of Chrissie at the nurses' station. "Late night?" She questioned "Daniel" Chrissie nodded wiping the sleep from her eyes "Wouldn't stop crying. Anyway..." Chrissie tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear "Has the appendix patient come out of theatre yet?" "She's on her way up. Did you arrange a bed?" "Yes, over there in the corner." Chrissie gestured over a bed. "Are these are notes?" Sahira asked picking up a folder Chrissie had been leaning on. "Oh yes, sorry." "Only 17..." Sahira commented, flicking through her folder "Shouldn't she be on paediatrics?" Chrissie asked "Full" "Has she got any relatives who will be coming in?" "It says" Sahira replied "She's in care. Staying with a foster family at the moment" "Poor kid..." Chrissie sighed "I wonder if they'll come and visit her?" "Hmm. Unlikely I'd say. But they might do. For the poor kids sake I hope so."

As the two talked, the ward doors swung open, framing the view of a teenage red head, lying peacefully on the bed. "Jessica Burrows, 17. She arrived in the ED a few hours ago from school." Hanssen announced pushing the bed "Operation successful. And I leave her in your capable hands." With that Hanssen turned and started walking out the ward doors. "Hanssen, Henrik." Sahira's voice stopped him in his tracks "You're just going to leave her?" "Yes Ms Shah. I'm a busy man. She's all yours now." Sahira groaned "Fine." Taking the files into her hands and started pushing the bed. "Someone inform the foster family, and I want her on 15 minutes obs." Once Sahira that got to the space in the corner, which would e Jessica's bed, she let go and turned around. "Right, well, I have a theatre slot now, so only page me if it's urgent. Otherwise page Mr Malick, or even Ms Naylor." Sahira told Chrissie "I'm leaving the ward in your capable hands. Mr Malick will be out in a bit." Sahira handed Jessica's files to Chrissie and took off.

"Hello? Is this Miss Burrow's foster home?" "Jessica?" A deep voice replied at the other end of the phone "Yes. Where is she? What's she done now?" "Nothing. She's in Holby City hospital ." "She hasn't done anything, sir." Chrissie answered "She's been brought it with a burst appendix." "Oh" The man's voice relaxed "Has she come round from the anasetic yet?" he asked "No, but she'll be round in a short while" "Well, when she does come round, don't listen to her. She's been through a lot of stress. We've been trying to calm her down." "Well, sir would you like me to get her assessed by a member of the psychiatric team?" "NO" The man's voice rose in urgency "No, it's fine. We've had lots of girls like that and they all settle down eventually." "Ok, well you're free to visit her at anytime. Thank you." Putting down the phone Chrissie picked up Jessica's notes and went to check on her.

"Jessica? Jess? Chrissie spoke softly as she opened the curtains. Her comment "How are you" was met with a stony glare. Jessica lay in bed, music blasting out of her earphones, and stared straight ahead. Before she spoke again, Chrissie took some time to study Jessica's appearance. She was tall, and willowy, and her crimson hair flowed over her shoulder blades like an untameable river. Her milky white hands held a small cheap MP3 Player, and round her neck she wore a small silver necklace. The necklace looked a lot older than her seventeen years, and had lost its shine after being rubbed by fingertips . But even so, must have been made for her as on the chain hung a small J. J for Jessica Burrows Chrissie assumed, well, she could never really assume anything else, because that explanation was staring her so hard in the face. "Jessica?" Chrissie spoke a little louder "Jessica?" This time she touched Jessica's shoulder. "What?" Jessica snarled "What do you want?" "Good music is it? Chrissie asked, ignoring her hostile responses. "Justin Bieber?" Jessica rolled her eyes "Is that the only 21st century singer you can think of?" Chrissie shook her head "Lady GaGa then?" "No." Jessica stared at her pityingly "It's Muse, duh!" "Well, I'll look them up sometime. Anyway, in the meantime I just have to check you over." "Why?" "Just to make sure the operation went well, and I have to run some more tests ok?" Jessica nodded, but her arms stayed folder defensively round her chest. "Jessica, can you move your arms for me, please?" Sighing Jessica flung her arms to her sides. As she did the gown fell forwards from her chest revealing a battle field of scars. "Jessica?" Chrissie gasped, as Jessica furiously pulled up her gown and turned away from Chrissie. "Jessica, please. I need to talk to you about this. I need to check them over!" "LEAVE ME ALONE! ALL YOU EVER WANT TO IS TALK. AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENS. LEAVE ME ALONE!" Jessica nestled her head in her arms and started crying softly. Drawing the curtains, Chrissie walked over to Chantelle at the nurses' station. "Chantelle?" "Yes Chrissie? Have you decided on which villa you and Dan are having? I still think the pink one looks the best!" "Actually" Chrissie cut Chantelle's chatter short "I need to talk to you about a patient." "Yes?" Chantelle put down the magazine she was holding and looked earnestly up at Chrissie."It's about Jessica Burrow's in bed 7. Her arms, they, they're covered in scars, recent and old. I don't know what to do, should I call the psychiatric team, or should I discuss it with her, or her foster father, or should I just wait for a consultant?" "Wait for a consultant." Chantelle said firmly "Or discuss it with her when her foster father's not around." "Yeah, I'm sure that's the right thing to do." Chrissie thanked Chantelle and forced a smile onto her face.

"HELLO? Hello? I'm here to see Jessica!" A short large man with a bristly moustache stood at the nurses' station. "Jessica Burrows?" Chrissie asked as she came to stand in front of the man. "Yeah, she's my foster daughter." He paused "So can I see her?" "Of course, Mr umm?" "James, James Harrow. Nice to meet you!" James held out his hand "Well Mr Harrow, there is something I would like to discuss with you." "What, what's she been saying?" Mr Harrow leaned closer to Chrissie angrily. "Nothing sir. Nothing at all." Chrissie replied leading him to Jessica's bed. Noticing how quickly he'd accused her. Chrissie thought it was properly better to get a doctor to check her out, and talk to her about it. Opening the curtains Jessica gave a little jolt when she saw who was with Chrissie. "Jessica! Come and give your old man a hug!" Mr Harrow started leaning over her. Stiffly Jessica sat in the bed, her eyes widened and her hands shaking "Hhii" She stuttered, but let him gather her into a bear hug. "I will leave you two to get reacquainted" Chrissie said as she closed the curtains on them.

It was half an hour later when Jac's ironic tones slapped Chrissie out of her daydreams. "Ms Naylor" Chrissie grimaced "How can I help?" "I was wondering where Ms Shah is." "Sahira? She's just in theatre at the moment. Is there anything I could help you with?" "No." Jac turned to stalk down the corridors "Actually Ms Naylor, would you do me a favour?" Jac turned "I don't do babysitting." Chrissie's eyes widened "No, nothing like that. I was just wondering if you would check on a patient for me. I'd get Ms Shah to do it, as it is her patient, but she's not here. So can you?" "Well, it's always a pleasure to help out my colleagues." And get one over on Hanssen's angel. Jac internally told herself. "So, what's wrong with her?" "Well what I want you to look at, are these scars on her chest. Check they're not infected. Here are her files." Chrissie handed Jac a pile of downturned files "And she's in bed 7." Chrissie pointed to the closed curtains. "Good luck!" She called as Jac started walking towards the bed. Holding the files in her hands, she decided to keep them for later. It was her speciality reading them in front of the patients. Standing in front of the curtains she rang a finger through her hair, catching the few escaping strands. Then with one hand she flung open the curtains;

Mr Harrow's had his face up close to the girls, he held one hand over her mouth and with another he twisted the skin of her bare chest. Before Jac could fully take in the situation she was on top of the man, pushing his heavy body to the ground and kicking him as hard as she could in the balls. As he fell his hand lashed out, catching her lip and tearing a deep gash in it. Ignoring the taste of iron tears in her mouth, Jac reached forward and pressed the panic button. Then she turned and looked for the first time at the girl. At first she could see nothing unusual, and then her eye caught hold of the silver J catching the light.

Ignoring the rush of nurses around her and the girl, she stumbled slowly out of the ward. Reaching the corridors she felt her eyes burr and the walls close in around her. Soon she was running, running away.

Please review, I'm interested in what people think of this new story and whether I should type the rest up... I'm sure you've all realised who Jessica is, if not all will be revealed in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading