Chapter 2 - Insomnia

Joseph looked behind Jac's shoulder, still holding her tight as she was sending hot, pulsating kisses down his neck, the supplies cupboard, big enough for the two of them with room to spare. He carried her over to the cupboard and opened the door while trying not to drop Jac, although the pleasure that was pulsing through his veins was making him shudder, he held on as tight as was humanly possible, never wanting to let go of the woman he loved, and now he was going to prove that.

Joseph threw aside the various medical implements, lights, scrubs and buckets and jumped inside as quick as he could, closed the door and began to prove his love and worth to Jac, he wanted her to know that he would never leave her, never let her go and he will be by her side for the rest of his life. He unbuttoned her shirt and pushed it over her shoulders; she laughed and took of his sweater. "Shame, Joe. I like that sweater!" Jac chuckled as she threw his 'sweep you off your feet sweater' onto the defibrillator. They kissed once again as they carried on removing their clothing, Jac working on Josephs suit and Joseph on Jac's clothes.

Jac paused once Joseph was naked from the waist upwards. "For a surgeon, Joe, you must work out!"

"Not really, it's running around Darwin after Connie and tugging on heartstrings which builds the muscle." He winked at Jac and smiled. He looked at her; she was wearing nothing apart from her underwear. "You're perfect Jac. Absolutely perfect."

Jac smiled and continued to stare at Joseph, looking into his deep dark eyes, getting lost in them and never wanting to be found. "You gonna stand there all day?" Joseph joked.

"No, Joe. I'm gonna stand outside the ED in my bra and knickers… get over here!" Jac pulled him close and unbuckled his belt and undid his suit trousers, and couldn't contain it any longer; she ripped off the rest of his clothes and allowed Joseph to lower her to the ground. Among the surgical equipment they shared a love that neither of them had ever experienced, all the years that Jac spent in care, nobody had ever shown her any compassion, the closest thing she had ever had to compassion was when Michael helped her find her mother, and he comforted her when she had nobody else. Joseph had never felt love before, not from Faye, not even his parents, they just saw him as a status symbol, a son who could follow in his father's footsteps and become an incredible surgeon. Jac and Joseph spent what felt like a lifetime in a naked tangle of arms, legs, tongues and 'not so sterile anymore' surgical equipment.

Once they had both proven their love to each other, Joseph pulled Jac to his chest and held her close, Jac could feel his heartbeat through his chest and this reminded her of the lockdown, when she and Joseph got quarantined in theatre. She had told him she wanted him then, that Faye wasn't right for him. They were both in danger, but Jac was the strong one, she rescued him when he stopped breathing and saved his life. This time was different however, over the last few months Jac had changed, she knew who she was and didn't have to pretend to be strong and brave anymore. She was. After her mother left her again she knew that it wasn't down to her, that there really wasn't anything fundamentally wrong with her, she had said what she needed to say to her mother and had finally gained closure. She could be herself with Joseph, not have to be a bitch to keep him on his toes like she did when she made out she was pregnant. He loved her and she loved him, and that's the way it was going to stay.

"Joseph, we better get out of here, before the cleaners wonder why their mops and buckets are thrown across the suite floor!" Jac sighed and lifted her head of Joseph's chest.

"Okay." Joseph smiled while he helped Jac get back into her clothes.

Once they were dressed, Jac and Joseph walked out of theatre hand in hand, towards the parking lot and Joseph's car. As per usual Joseph cleaned his door handle with his handkerchief and climbed inside.

Jac laughed. "I really, really do love you, Joseph!"

"And me, you, Jac. I love you too! Let's go get Harry, and I'll cook us some dinner."

"Sounds perfect, Joe. Do you remember when we used to stay up all night and watch films, just the two of us, could we do that? I mean obviously Harry might make an entrance or two… but I would love that!" Jac asked.

"Now that sounds perfect! Miss Naylor, I do believe you are going soft on me!"

"Not quite, but I'm melting." Jac winked at Joseph and he pulled out of his parking spot and out towards the crèche.