Part 9

Usually it was Jay that woke first just to get a chance to stare at Ruth for a god half an hour. But this morning Ruth stirred first she cautiously turned to face Jay making sure not to wake him. His cheek was blue and both his eyes swollen, he didn't look the same in her eyes. She lightly stroked his cheek partly out of comfort for herself at the fact he was ok and lying next to her. His eyes flew open to look at her as her fingers ran across his lip.

'Hi.' He winched at the pain as he moved his arm to her waist.

'You ok?'She looked deep into his eyes as he moved closer to her.

'A little sore, but I'm ok apart from that.' He whispered before looking at Ruth's cheek.

'What happened?' He looked confused as she looked away from him.

'Ruth?'His face looked serious she could tell he wasn't going to drop it until she told him.

'A patient husband punched me for getting involved in recues.' He ran his fingers over her bruised cheek.

'Why didn't you tell me? Who was he?'His body tensed at the thought of someone hurting his girlfriend.

'I didn't tell you because you was in a state last night and I wanted to get you sorted...He was just a very angry guy just leave it. Now are you going to tell me what happened to you?' She sighed as Jay began to fiddle with the bed sheets.

'Jay Faldren. I thought you said we could tell each other anything.' She took his hand to stop him fiddling.

'You can, don't ever think you can't tell me anything.' He replied quickly.

'Go on then.' She nodded at him to continue.

'I...I was walking into town to get some things for your place as I was going to cook you a meal, when this guy came beg=hind me and grabbed my arm and pulled me against a wall.' He choked back the tears, as Ruth squeezed his hand for him to continue.

'He tried to grab me bag, but I pulled him back to try and see his face. Then he punched me.' A tear ran down his cheek.

'Baby.' Ruth whipped away his tear.

'When he punched me I dropped to the floor and he kept kicking and kicking me.' He took in a deep breath.

'It was my dad.' Ruth looked confused as he ran his hand through his hair.

'What?'Ruth's voice faltered slightly as she struggle d to understand what Jay had jus said.

'He wanted drug money and I said no so he beat me up.' He cringed at the thought of his father.

'Jay why would he want drug money? When I met him the other day he didn't like he took drugs.'

'That because Eric my step dad. My real dad left me and my sister with my Nan after my mum left him and went off with Eric. I've only just started seeing her again, that's why Nan's so important to me she's been my mum, dad and Nan all the time. And my dad well I never planned to see him ever again.' He took a deep breath in he knew he was taking a risk telling Ruth this, she thought her family was messed up well his wasn't perfect.

'Hey, don't cry. He's a waste of space, a loser. Look I'm ok now.' He pulled Ruth into a hug as hot tears rolled down from her blood shot eyes.

After a while are tears slowed down and she managed to peel herself from Jay's arms.

'What you doing?' He sat up as she climbed out of bed and made her way to the landing.

'To get you a coffee before I go to work.' She gave him a weak smile before disappearing down stairs.

'Please let me come in.' Jay pleaded down the phone to Ruth as she sat in the staff room on her break.

'No!' Her voice was stern.

'Fine, but at least let me come and see Charlie?'She rolled her eyes at his persistence.

'On one condition. You report your dad to the police.' There was a long silence as she waited for his reply.

'I don't think I can, he's still my dad.' He sounded close to tears.

'Jay please. Think about it at least.' She whispered as Big Mac entered the room.

'Ok. Do you mind if I stay at yours, I don't really want Nan seeing me like this?'

'Of course. I'll buy some food on my way home and cook you something nice.' He laughed slightly.

'Alright I better let you go Mr Jordan will want his pet back.' He chuckled to himself.

'OI you. Love you.' She smiled

'Love you to.' The dead tone at the end of the phone brought Ruth back to work mood as she downed the last of her cold tea and went back to work.

After her brief conversation with Jay Ruth headed back to the ED only to be greeted by Nick wanting her up in his office immediately. She was slightly worried that he was going to say something was wrong with her work but as soon as she got in there she realised he wasn't worried about her. It was Charlie. He explained that his condition was worsening after they had taken away the ventilator, and he knew that Jay and the older nurse were very close so he wanted to inform Ruth just in case the worse was to happen. She didn't know what to say after that Jay had enough on his plate with his dad now Charlie getting worse would just send him into turmoil. But she knew that if she didn't tell him he would never forgive her so she formulated a plan in her mind of how to break it to him. And boy did she hope it would work.

'hey you, let me get one of those.' Jay smiled at Ruth as he opened the door for her grabbing one of her shopping bags as she walked through the door.

'You should be resting.' She complained as they headed through to the kitchen.

'What did you expect me to do sit on the sofa whilst my girlfriend struggled to carry the shopping through the door?' She laughed at him as he placed the bag on the table.

'No but I want you to get better, so that means nothing to strenuous.' He rolled his eyes at her.

'so does that mean I can't do this.' He came close to her wrapping his arm around her waist pulling her close to him.

His breath tickled her skin as his eyes scanned her, she lent up and kissed him deeply her hands running through his thick black hair .As his hands ran up her t-shirt, she pulled away quickly and looked up at him.

'Jay Faldren what d you think you're doing?' She hung off his neck as he grinned down at her.

'Me? Just kissing my beautiful girlfriend. Is that so bad?' He pouted at her. As she moved up and kissed his bruise cheek.

'Kissing it better.' Ruth said seductively before kissing him up his neck and then to his lip once more. He saw his chance and deepened the kiss, keeping their lips locked together as he moved through to the longue. When they got into the longue he fell back on the sofa making Ruth fall back with him. She continued to kiss him as he began removing her t-shirt. Before she could complain he wiped it off her and ran is fingers across her back making patterns across her small body as she gave slight moans as he kissed her collar bone.

'Shall we take this up-stairs?'Jay wiggled is eyebrows as Ruth began to un-buckle his belt.

'I think that would be a good idea.' He pulled her off the sofa and grabbed her around the waist and began carrying her towards the stairs.

When they reached the stairs Ruth managed to escape from his grip and pulled his hand to stop him.

'Hey I thought we were...'He winked at her as she rolled her eyes at him.

'I need to talk to you first. Please?' She titled her head at him. Smiling at the fact she wanted to have a serious conversation with him when both of them are half naked.

'Umm .Talk. Sex .Sex .Talk.' He chuckled as she smiled at him encouraging him to follow her.

'Fine. But next upstairs missy.' He pointed his finger at her as she led him through to the kitchen table.

She sat him down taking his hand and gripping it tightly. She puffed out her cheeks wondering how to tell him something like this; she was never any good at this kind of things.

'Babe.' His voice was soft as she looked away from him.

'Mr...Um Jordan, he called me into his office today.' She paused looking at his concerned face.

'What happened?'He placed his hand on her leg.

'He told me to tell you that, Charlie has worsened since they took the ventilator away.' He paled as tears sprung in his eyes. She dropped his hand and wrapped her arms around him pulling his head to cry into her chest.

After his tears had slowed and he could breath once more he pulled away from her and wiped any stray tears away.

'Jay it's ok to be upset you know.' He stood up and grabbed her house phone.

'I know, I just need to straighten myself up to call the hospital.' He took a deep breath in.

Just as he dialled the last two numbers into the phone it rang, he rolled his eyes and answered it. Ruth just sat there waiting for his reaction as he had turned his back to her, so all she could hear was the odd yeah and no and then he turned to face her.

'That was the hospital.' Ruth scanned his eyes looking for answers but they were blank. What had happened?