Chapter One

Disclaimer: Me don't own! If I did I'd have Luke Roberts phone number

Everybody seems to have an opinion on my relationship with Ms Naylor. I've heard them in the corridor second-guessing our involvement with each other. Granted no one would dare say anything to my face. I have a reputation of being a bit of a hard bastard. Cold and unapproachable, that's what everyone thinks of Henrik Hanssen but that's not entirely true. I do have feelings and I can imagine the rumours that are going around this place.

'I bet that Jac Naylor's only shagging him for a pay rise!'

'A young woman getting involved with an older man like that, just one of the many perks of being the Director of Surgery. Bet she's only doing it to make consultant!'

It angers me that these people of above average intelligence could get involved in such idol gossip. I've seen the way they look at me. Mrs Beauchamp looks at me like I'm a dirty old man! Mr Spence looks at me like he's impressed! And Mr Byrne looks at me like I've broken his heart!

The knock on my door takes me away from my present thoughts. Mr Hope enters my office. "Yes," I ask, wishing that he hadn't disturbed me.

"We have a situation on Darwin," he began "A patient has gone crazy. He started smashing things up,"

"Have you informed security?" I asked reading the paperwork in front of me.

"Yes," he paused "It's just…"

"What?" I asked still engrossed in my literature.

"He grabbed hold of a scalpel and has headed up to the roof with Jac as his hostage,"

I quickly look up from my paperwork and Mr Hope must have read something in my eyes, because he was looking at me strangely. Panic filled me! I felt my stomach flip over. I rose quickly from my desk and ran down the corridor, dreading what would be awaiting me when I reached the roof.

I could hear Mr Hope struggling to breath as he attempted to keep up with my quickening assent up the mass flight of stairs. I wasn't waiting for him; if I had it would have been Christmas before I reached my destination.

I flung open the door and observed my surroundings. In front of me stood a very frightened Jac being held tightly by an extremely agitated patient. Having spent months in her company I had always seen her looking so cool and composed. But here and now standing on this roof with a scalpel to her throat she looked so fragile. I felt my own throat constrict at the idea that if this man lost control her life would be ended. He was edging his way back towards the metal barrier that prevented anyone unexpectedly coming into contact with the edge. I could see Mr Byrne and Mr Douglas edging tentatively forward.

"Stay back," he yelled putting the scalpel closer to her neck. I could see the tears rolling freely down her cheeks as she desperately tried to remain calm. I tried to keep my composure but when she locked eyes with me I could feel it crumbling. I was terrified that he would do her harm. That I would lose her so quickly after finding her.

I could feel Sahira holding her breath next to me. I knew that she thought this was the end for Jac, but damn it! That could not happen.

"Nobody's listening to me," The patient yelled.

Jac held herself together with such elegance and courage that I could feel my heart swelling with pride. "I'm listening to you Mr Graves," Jac reassured him.

"No your not," he yelled pulling her tighter towards him. We all moved slightly forward with his latest outburst, scared that if he was pushed too far over the edge no one would to get to Jac quick enough.

"Then tell me what you want," Jac answered calmly "And I'll try to help,"

"You people don't want to help," he spat "I need to get out of here. If I'm not well enough to look after my daughter then they will take her off me. You called social services I know it,"

"They can help you," Jac tried to reason.

"No they won't," he growled "Do you have any idea what my daughter will go through if she's taken away from me to live with strangers?"

"Yes," Jac answered sadly "I do. Because I've been there Mr Graves. My dad walked out on my mother and I when I was five years old. I grew up without having my dad around and it broke my heart. Every time I passed a man who was the right age to be my dad in the street I'd ask him if he was in the hope that he would pick me up in his arms and make everything alright,"

Jac swallowed hard. I could tell that talking about the past was hard for her. I could hear the pain in her voice and so desperately wanted to take it away. "Then when I was twelve my mother left," Jac carried on "And I was all alone in the world. Nobody wanted me and I've spent the rest of my life feeling like that,"

I closed my eyes pinching back the tears that were threatening to fall. "Don't let your daughter be alone Mr Graves," Jac begged him "If you harm me then the police will lock you up and you'll never see her. She deserves better than that,"

He began to move with more speed towards the barrier. I heard Jac cry out in fear as he dragged her along with him. "Leave her alone," I heard Mr Byrne cry as we moved forward.

"Stay back," he screamed. And we all did as we were told. We all watched in fear as he made Jac duck under the bar before he did the same.

"Mr Graves," A security guard next to me began "The police are on their way. Don't do anything stupid,"

He stepped up on the ledge taking Jac with him. "I'll do it," he cried in desperation "I'll jump and I'll take her with me,"

Something in Jac must have snapped, survival instinct kicking in maybe because she bit down hard on the arm holding the knife around her throat. He instinctively pulled his arm away and lost his footing.

Jac screamed as she tried to catch hold of him but it was too late he had fallen to his death. The sound of screaming people below us filled the air and the security guards made her way over to Jac to see if she were ok and survey the damage below.

We all stood rooted in shock at what had just happened. Jac slowly made her way over to us. She bypassed both Mr Douglas and Mr Byrne who both made a grab for her to offer some sort of comfort. Yet she just kept going until she found herself in my arms. Where she began to sob freely. I wrapped her up in them like she were a small child looking for someone to protect her from the big bad world that lay out in front of her. I stroked her air gently and whispered comforting words occasionally kissing her head tenderly.

Everyone looked at us like we were mad! Mr Douglas and Mr Hope looked both concerned but also disbelieving. Ms Shah looked like her nose had been put out of joint. She always seemed to be vying for my attention. Mr Byrne however looked like he wanted to punch me.

At this point I figured that we needed to come clean before the rumour mill went into overdrive. Still holding Jac tightly I cleared my throat before beginning. "I think it's time that you knew the truth,"

Everyone continued to stare at us "I know that this display of affection will be hospital gossip before we have reached the bottom of the stairs," I Looked down affectionately at before carrying on. "Jac Naylor is my daughter,"

And with my confession came nothing but silence!