Somebody – a certain dead somebody, decides Holby City hospital needs a little help in cardiothoracic department.


Penny let herself through her front door quietly, letting out a frustrated huff as her key got stuck in the lock. She gave it a stern look and jiggled it a bit: "I'm really not in the mood for this. It's been a long day, and I do not need you to suddenly decide that you in love with bloody door!"

She gave it one last tug. Reluctantly it gave up, falling out into her palm, glistening angrily. "Not so hard was it?"

"You know, talking to keys is the first sign of madness."

Penny swirled round and peered through the gloom of her apartment. "If you're a burglar... just, take the telly and leave okay?"

There was a chuckle and Penny could vaguely make out a female form perched on top of her kitchen work top. "I'm not a bugler. Actually I could be, I getting better at picking physical stuff up."

The voice was cheery and seemed oddly familiar.

"Uh, I'm going to turn a light on now."

"Sure."

The light – fitted with an environmental bulb that a Penny had been guilt tripped into buying by her carbon-weary mother, flickered on to reveal exactly who had let themselves into her apartment.

The woman was about 5 foot 5, perched on the work surface, swinging her legs backwards and forwards, curls bounding merrily round her petty face. Completely normal, apart from the fact she was translucent.

"Oh my god." Penny breathed.

"Okay, don't panic." The woman held her hands up and slipped of the work top to her feet. "I'm a ghost. But a friendly one, like...um, Casper!"

"Casper?" Penny nodded. "Of course. Uh..." The doctor wasn't sure how she should act. Should she scream? Admittedly she was tired, but she hadn't drunk anything, although there was still a good chance she was hallucinating. Maybe she'd just lost her mind. Or maybe there was a perfectly rational explanation for why a translucent woman was standing in her kitchen, giving her a concerned emphatic look.

"You okay? I know this is a bit much to take in, but I'm here to help you." The ghost frowned. "I'm like you fairy god mother if you like. Yours and the rest of Holby's anyway."

"Uh..."

"Look, maybe you should sit down and let me explain properly okay?"

"Uh." Penny shook her head, moving woodenly over to her sofa.

"I'm Maddy by the way," the ghost waved cheerily at her. "So tea? I think it's supposed to be good for shock."