"Well she defiantly is now. She didn't hold back last night. That's for sure," reinforced Mo.

"We will have to dwell over this later we have patients to treat ," said Jac thinking about Elliot, as a patients alarm sounded across the ward.


As Elliot walked towards the hospital from his car, he paused to look around. He was already dreading the day ahead. A day stuck in an office. A day behind a desk doing paperwork. A day without treating patients. He continued to look up at the hospital. How did he end up running the place? He had enjoyed running Darwin. He had social interaction. He could treat patients. He did what he loved, what he was passionate about. How would he change to fit the position of CEO? Could he? Did he really want to? He had witnessed what the job had done to people. It caused friction between colleagues and friends. He didn't want that to happen. He needed his colleagues and friends. His support system. His family of sorts. They believed in him even if he didn't. These thoughts were never far from his mind.

"Never going to get any work done out here, day dreaming."

"Ohh, Mr Spence. Didn't see you there."

"Didn't think you would have. Watching over your empire?"

"You could say that," Elliot replied, turning to face him. Michael saw the worried look on his face.

"Dreading going to that office?" he said sympathetically. "I've been there. I know how you are feeling."

"It is definitely daunting," said Elliot as they started to make their way to the main doors of the hospital. "Following after Mr Hanssen doesn't help either."

"Least you don't have Connie fight you for your job," he said laughing. "But in all seriousness if I can do it you surely can."

"You sound like Jac," Elliot said.

"What's she been saying now," said Michael, with fondness in his voice. They had after all been through a lot together.

"Nothing, just if you can do it I can," he said smiling. "Least you looked the part."

"Charming," he said as they reached the lif. "Will have to speak to her about that. And its not about looking the part more about actually doing the job, which I struggled with."

"It would help though, right?"

"Not really look how long I lasted," he said smiling, laughing at himself. "Don't upset anyone and you will be fine."

"Thanks Michael," said Elliot as the lift arrived and Michael turned to go to AAU. Why could everyone see he could do the job, but he couldn't? he thought as the lift began to rise up.


Meanwhile on Keller the atmosphere was rather tense and for the life of her, Serena could't understand why. Even Chantelle was avoiding her. Was it something she had done? How could she have upset everyone? I must have been pretty drunk, if I feel like this, this morning. She had retreated to hers and Ric's shared office to avoid the looks she was receiving on the ward.

"What did I do last night?" she thought aloud.

"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness," said Ric as he entered the office. "Tough morning? Or just a rough one?"

"Bit of both," she admitted. "What did I do last night?"

"Was going to ask you that question. I have heard the rumours though."

"Come on, tell me the worst," she said putting her head in her hands. Ric told her all that he had been told by Malick and Chantelle. Admittedly he found it rather amusing. He knew she wasn't happy that she had been over looked and was surprised it took so long for her to openly voice it, even if it was with the assistance of alcohol.

"Tell me that's not true."

"Unfortunately I can't. Look on the bright sire, least you waited til Elliot left."

"Not much of a bright side."

"I know you wanted that job. Even thought you had it in the bag," he said as Serena nodded. "But this hospital doesn't need any more managers or those business types. No offence."

"None taken," said Serena, knowing that her business degree didn't hold much standing with other doctors.

"But someone who actually cares. Takes an interest in people. Always puts others first. A true doctor. That's what Holby needs. Hanssen proved that to an extent," continued Ric. He always spoke sense, Serena could see that. But could she let it go? Could she stand by Elliot like all the other members of staff? "Don't do anything stupid," said Ric sternly as he could see Serena's mind working as he turned to leave the office with a pile of notes.

"Not like I would," she replied and Ric just looked at her accusingly. He just hoped she could see where he was coming from. It wasn't the first time he had told her in the last 24 hours. Surely he would get through to her sooner rather than later. He hoped.


"Professor Hope, checking up on us already?" said Jonny, as he watched him walk down the corridor on Darwin, causing Jac and Mo to turn and look. Elliot paused and looked around he must have gotten out the lift on the wrong floor .

"Force of habit," he replied looking between the three sitting at the nurses station. "While I am here, anything you need me for?"

"No," said Jac handing him the theatre list. "We are relatively quiet only electives in today."

"You sure," he asked delaying his departure from the ward.

"Missing us already?" asked Mo.

"You could say that," he replied and watched as they smiled fondly at him.

"The feelings mutual," said Jonny as Mo and Jac nodded in agreement with Jonny's statement.

"Well I will let you get on," he said turning to go back to the lift. "No getting up to any mischief, mind," he called back.

"You know we won't," called Mo in reply.

"And you know where we are if you need anything," called Jac before he walked to far away. He was touched by their affectionate attitude towards him. He really did miss being on Darwin. The trio was Elliot continue his retreat back to the lift, each regretting refusing his help, it wasn't as if they needed it but they could see he generally wanted to help. Maybe he needed to help. Break the monotony of endless paperwork, even if it was only his second day in the position.

"Maybe we should have let him help," stated Mo, looking at Jac and Jonny.

"If we had he wouldn't have gone back to his office," said Jac knowingly. "He would have gotten carried away and stayed down here all day and his work load upstairs would just keep piling up. You know what he is like."

"Your right," said Jonny, admiring Jac's caring side. "he will try to put paperwork off for as long as possible."

"Your telling me," replied Jac pointing at the pile of paperwork of Elliot's that she still needed to complete while taking a biscuit from Jonny's packet.

"Just be grateful that the ward is quite," said Mo, also grabbing a biscuit.

"Just be glad that I am bored and don't mind doing it at the minute, or it would be your job," said Jac watching Mo closely as her expression changed from joyful to one full of dread in-case there was an emergency of the ward became busy. As Jonny watched on laughing quietly at the exchange between the female surgeons, as they all knew how much Mo hated paperwork.

"Why don't you just share the pile?" suggested Jonny. "You would get through it much quicker that way."

"Because Mo here, would rather sit and do nothing by the looks of it," Replied Jac, glaring at both Mo and Jonny. She knew Jonny was just trying to help and lessen her work load but she did wish Mo would take an initiative and help out more after all they were the only two doctors on the ward.

"Ok, fine pass some here," said Mo eventually after Jonny had gently nudged her. She had figured out the Jac wasn't going to openly ask for help when she needed it,so she was going to have to learn to read he just as Jonny had. Jac was going to need help after all, with her being the only consultant on the ward full time.

"About time, " joked Jonny, passing Mo half of the pile of files. Jac was secretly glad Jonny had brought up the subject of Jac sharing the work, as she knew just as much as he did she would be asking for help herself. In her mind it was a sign of weakness. She never did show any weakness, ever. "Right, fancy a coffee?"

"No. No coffee unless you want my breakfast all over your shoes," whispered Jac, looking directly at Jonny, to make sure no one else overheard, apart from Mo.

"Sorry, I forgot. Right how about tea?" he replied apologetically.

"Tea would be great," said Mo as Jac nodded slightly feeling nauseous at the thought of coffee.

"Three teas coming right up," said Jonny as he placed a hand on Jac's shoulder giving it a supportive squeeze as he left for the staffroom.

"Hey just think in what... three weeks your morning sickness should stop," muttered Mo trying to comfort Jac as she took Jonny's spot next to her, and placed a hand on her back, which to her surprise wasn't brushed off.

"It should be called all day sickness," murmured Jac from behind her hands as she had leant forward and put her head in her hands.

"Trust me it gets better," said Mo. "Remember, I have been through it and survived."

"Yeah, how could I forget? I still have sore hands," joked Jac, sitting up again, smiling. "But what have I got to look forward too. Swollen ankles. Sore back. Sore feet."

"Just think in a couple of months you and Jonny will have a beautiful baby to take home. Someone who will rely on you and love you unconditionally," said Mo sadly remembering William.

"Ohh, Mo. I am so sorry going on like this knowing what you did," uttered Jac fighting back tears.

"Don't cry," murmured Mo as she rubbed Jac's arm. "It was my decision. I chose to do it."

"I still don't know how you did it for someone else. Don't think I could have. I am not that strong," said Jac, realising what Mo actually went through and admiring her for it, while trying to rain in her own emotions.

"Don't be going soft on me, Naylor. You are strong look what you have achieved. Anyway were is Jonny with that tea?"

"Right three teas," said Jonny walking towards them with a tray, as if on cue. "And no I didn't squeeze the bag." Jac smiled at him gratefully with watery eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, kneeling down in front of his girlfriend, placing his hands on her knees, which were grabbed by Jac.

"Just a moment of weakness," said Mo, realising Jac was still struggling to control her emotions. "Why don't you two go to Jac's office. Have some privacy." Jonny nodded in response and helped Jac to her feet.

"Thank you," mouthed Jonny to Mo, as he went into Jac's office behind her, and lead her to the sofa. "Come here you," he said to her as he sat next to her and pulled her in close. He could feel her tears soaking into his top and tried to sooth her as best he could.

"I need to get back to work," mumbled Jac, after about 10 minutes of allowing Jonny to hold her, making her feel safe.

"Mo said she would call if we were needed."

"I can't stay in here forever."

"I know but just a while longer," he said kissing her quickly on the lips, catching her off guard.

"If you are looking for your afternoon delight in the linen cupboard, you can think again," said Jac snuggling back in to him.

"Of course not," he replied shocked that Jac had thought that, before she started laughing at his reaction, before kissing him passionately. "You have changed you tune quickly," he laughed, between kisses. They stayed like that for a couple of minutes before a knock at the door interrupted them.

"Hey guys sorry to interrupt but a patient is asking for you, Jac."

"Ok, give me a couple of minutes and I will come see them," she told Mo, before planting a last kiss on Jonny's lips and straightening up her clothes.

"How about we carry this on tonight?" suggested Jonny, receiving a nod and a nod from Jac as she left her office and returned to the ward.