New Kid On The Block

MICHAEL: Jac, good to see you back.

JAC : I never thought I'd say this but it's good to be back!

MICHAEL: I always knew you loved this place really.

JAC: I wouldn't go quite that far.

MICHAEL: By the way, Mrs Beauchamp wants to see you in her office ASAP.

JAC: (sighs) I've got patients to deal with, can't it wait?

MICHAEL: Whatever it is, it sounds important.

JAC: Right fine, wouldn't want to keep Mrs Beauchamp waiting now would I?

Jac knocks on Connie's door

JAC: Mr Spence said you wanted to see me about something?

CONNIE: Ah Ms Naylor yes, nice to have you back on board. There's something you should know, Dr Louise Carter will be working with you for the forseeable future.

JAC : I see you have wasted no time in replacing me then!

CONNIE: Your long term absence has put quite a strain on this hospital, I can assure you. She is not your replacement. We can never have enough CT surgeons anyway. We needed cover (like I said.)

JAC: Surely we have enough cover, with Mr Hope, Mr Byrne, Mr Griffin, and Mr Spence. Why not just get a locum in as a short-term measure?

Connie: We did try that, but in the end I decided it would make more sense that Dr Carter took up the job on a permanent basis. She is an excellent addition to our team.

JAC: I've got to go, I have a lot of work to catch up with.

Turns and slams the door shut. walks down to theatre.

LOUISE CARTER: Oh hi, are you on standby? I was expecting Jack Naylor. He seems to be late. I wish people would just give a time and stick to it.

JAC: I am Jac Naylor. Dr Carter, I assume?

LOUISE: Yeah er, sorry about that. When I heard the name mentioned, nobody actually said you were female.

Jac looking slightly annoyed at that point

JAC: So you'll be assisting me then?

LOUISE: As far I'm aware, it is actually the other way around. I'm clinical lead on this procedure. I have already informed Mr Lewis that I will be doing the surgery.

JAC: Well nobody told me, and who told you that you were clinical lead anyway?

LOUISE: Ric Griffin, he asked me two weeks ago. He said you wouldn't be back for a while, and would I mind taking the case on.

JAC: So let me get this straight: I have to go on sick leave after donating a kidney, and return to find some jumped-up pipsqueak taking over.

Louise now looks furious.

LOUISE: Do you normally talk to your collleagues in such rude and quite frankly offensive terminology? I'm here to help you by the way. I certainly didn't come here to be insulted.

JAC: Listen, I don't NEED anyone's help. I never have and I never will either!

LOUISE: Look, I haven't got time for chit chat, shall we just get on with the job in hand?

JAC:(Dripping with sarcasm) With pleasure.

Both women prepare for the patient in total silence. Mr Lewis now comes in.

LOUISE: Right lets get this show on the road. Scalpel please.

Louise opens up the patient who needs a double heart bypass operation.

LOUISE: I'm now going to graft a vessel from the leg onto the coronary artery. Looking good so far.

All appears to be going to plan.

JAC: BP is dropping fast. We need to hurry up,his SATS are far too low.

Heart monitor starts to bleep.

LOUISE: There's a tear in the aorta ,there's too much blood. Jac I need suction, NOW.

JAC: BP is still dropping, have you located the tear yet? We're going to lose him.

LOUISE: (through gritted teeth) What do you think I'm trying to do?

The heart monitor speeds up.

JAC: He's tachycardic!

JAC: He's going into VF, give me the paddles. Charging to 20 clear!

LOUISE: No output, charge again.

JAC: Charging to 20 again, clear.

LOUISE: I've found the tear!

JAC: Still no output, charging to 40, clear.

LOUISE: Still nothing. I've managed to stem the bleed, charge again please.

JAC: Charging to 60. clear!

LOUISE: We have sinus rhythm. BP's stablising, heart rate is now returning to normal. Right lets close Mr Lewis up, and get him to ITU as soon as we can.

They take Mr Lewis to ITU and see Michael in the corridor.

MICHAEL: Well look here, if it isn't the A-team! How did the surgery go?

JAC: It went OK but -

LOUISE: The procedure went well. We did encounter a few minor problems, but nothing we couldn't handle.

Jac glares at Louise.

MICHAEL: The patients' still alive and kicking, that's good enough for me. Good job.

Later Louise is doing ward rounds on Darwin,in walks Joseph.

JOSEPH: Louise, how did the heart bypass operation go?

LOUISE: Pretty well really considering.

JOSEPH: Considering what?

LOUISE: Two words, Jac Naylor.

JOSEPH: (Chuckles slightly) Sharp was she?

LOUISE: Try positively acidic, is she always so delightful to work with?

JOSEPH: Lets just say, that she can an be an anquired taste. (Lowers his voice, as Jac storms past) Try not to erm, rub her up the wrong way too much. Jac tends to hold grudges for life.

LOUISE: Oops! Your advice may have come too late. We exchanged a few words, needless to say she didn't like it when I told her that, in fact she was assisting Me.

JOSEPH: I commend your courage. Not many people tell Jac what to do, and survive to tell the tale... Anyway I was going to ask you if you'd like to come for a drink after this shift? Of course Elliot and Michael will join us.

LOUISE: Yeah that would be nice, thanks. How about asking Jac along as well? I'd like to get know her away from a work enviroment. What time shall we meet?

JOSEPH: (Checks his watch.) 19:30?

LOUISE: Look forward to it. (smiles and walks away)

Joseph finds Jac by the coffee machine.

JAC: Why can I never get a decent cup of coffee in this damn place?

JOSEPH: Maybe you should cut down on the coffee, and try herbal tea?

Jac rolls her eyes Why is Joseph so annoyingly sensible!

JAC: Maybe you should shut up!

JOSEPH: Bad day?

JAC: Why do you care? Anyway enough with the pleasantries, what do you want?

Long pause

JAC: Spit it out Joseph.

JOSEPH:(stutters very slightly) Would you like to come for a drink after work?

JAC: Why what's the occasion?

JOSEPH: There isn't one, so are you coming or not?

JAC: What the hell, OK what time?

JOSEPH: 19:30.

JAC: Yeah fine whatever.

Joseph walks away, leaving Jac with the slightest hint of a smile across her face.

Jac drove back to her flat, feeling strangely nervous and apprehensive. Why the hell did she feel so sick? It was only drinks after work. Pull yourself together, get a grip!

Jac was gripping the steering wheel so hard, her knuckles had turned white.

Joseph was the only person who could get under her skin, and make Jac feel emotionally weak, bring out feelings Jac thought she had managed to supress. She hated it when she had no control over her emotions. That was why she was so good at work, she knew exactly what was expected of her. She could retain her normally cool and calm exterior, and be the utimate professional. She had tried so hard to be the same way with Joseph, but in the end, she just reverted back to being a complete cow. Jac knew she could never forgive Joseph for not giving her a second chance...