Part 12

'What would you know about wanting to protect your family anyway? Yours hate you.' The words rang in Jay's ears.

What was he thinking? She was trying to help and all he could do was tell her to get stuffed. She hates him now. He slumped back on the sofa he had tried everything; he called her every five minutes, he went round to hers and stood out in the rain for two hours, but nothing. So he thought he could get her to listen at work so he went down to the ED early before her shift started but she didn't arrive and then when she did she hid from him, everyone told him she wasn't in but he knew even though he hadn't seen her. This was Ruth she never missed work. It had been a week and all he could think about was her, when he would visit his Nan he would just sit in the chair and think they barely exchanged two words.

'Jay. Come on you need to get back to work.' Jay's thoughts were interrupted by Elham standing above him with his scrubs in her hands.

'What?' He rubbed his eyes in confusion. Then it dawned on him, he was back at work and for once he couldn't be happier. This was his best chance to talk to Ruth. He jumped up from the sofa grabbed his scrubs and bolted up the stairs for a quick shave, he needed to impress her if she was going to forgive him.

'Good morning sister Batman.' Jay said cheerfully as he bounced up to Tess at reception.

'And why are you so happy? You've been in a bad mood all week. What's changed?' She raised her eyebrow at him.

'Well today I plan to get my girl back.' He smiled at the thought of Ruth.

'Are you sure? You really hurt her.' She placed her hands on her hips and looked at Jay.

'I know but I can't let her go. It's time to woo her.' He grinned at Yes before heading over to cubicles.

It was a busy shift for Jay; he hadn't even seen Ruth to work his magic. But then he saw his chance, he was on his break and so was she, too took a deep breath in and flowed her into the staffroom.

'Hey.' She span around to look at him, her deep blue eyes burning into him.

She gave him a dirty look before turning around and pulling her bag from her locker.

'Ruth? Ruth please will you listen to me.' He puffed his cheeks out as she ignored him.

'Common give me a chance to explain myself.' He approached her as she pulled her food from her bag.

He just stood there waiting for her reply, then she span around t face him.

'You listen to me. All I have tried to do over the last couple of weeks is help you and what I get in return is. Your family hate you.' She said sharply.

'Jay I can't do this anymore. We fall out. We make up. I think we should just stay away from each other. It's for the best.' He knew she meant it by the way she looked, but he wasn't going to give up.

'So are you saying you don't love me?' He came close to her taking her hand.

'Of course I do. But this. Us, isn't going to work.' She took her hand away from his as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

'We can. Course we can. Just give it a chance.' He pleaded with her.

She just looked at him, the same look that melted his heart every morning and left him alone.

He was left alone once again. How could she think like that? They were meant to be together. He took a deep breath to gather his thoughts and hunched over the sink in frustration.

'Alright Jay.' He ignored them, whoever it was didn't matter getting Ruth back was the only thing he could think about right now.

'Jay, you ok mate?' he recognised that voice he turned his head slightly to look at them.

'CHARLIE.' Jay beamed as the old man titled his head to look at him.

'You ok mate?' He raised an eyebrow at him.

'Umm yeah...No not really. I'm a bit confused.' Jay looked dazed as he slumped down into the sofa.

'What's up mate? Do you want me to get Ruth?' He went to make his way over to the door.

'No she's the problem.' Charlie looked confused.

'Listen to me going about my problems you've just been realised from hospital after having heart surgery.' Charlie laughed.

'They realised me this morning I thought I would pop down and see how you lot were. Good job I did now seeing you like this.' He joined Jay on the sofa.

'Funny gramps. Don't you think you should be resting?'

'I'm alright; now tell me what she's done now.' He waved a hand out to Jay for him to continue.

'She hasn't done anything; it's me. My dad he beat me up a couple of weeks back and Ruth convinced me to tell the police, but whilst I was gone he went round to hers and threatened her. I was scared he would come for Nan and my sister so I asked Ruth to move in with us because I didn't want her being alone. Then...' He stopped and rubbed his head.

'Then he came round when me and Ruth were out. He pushed Nan down the stairs. I was so angry and Ruth was trying to calm me down but I just...'He trailed off putting his head in his hands.

'Just what?' Charlie looked confused.

'I told her that her family hate her, and she was only trying to help. Now she can't even look at me.' Charlie looked shocked.

'Have you trued...'Jay cut him off.

'Talking? Yeah done that and calling. But she doesn't want anything to do with me. I tried earlier and she told me that we should stay away from each other.' He bit his lip.

'Give her space. You two always work it out.' He tried to comfort the downtrodden nurse.

'The thing is Charlie I don't know if we will. She said she loves me but she can't keep doing this.' Jay gave a weak smile to Charlie before heading back to work.

'Jay can you go to cubicle two please.' Jay's head rose as Tess pointed him to cubicles.

'Yeah sure.' He puffed out his cheeks and strolled over to the cubicle, pulling back the washed out cubicle curtain to see Ruth treating a young man.

'Oh...Um where do you want me?' He hung back by the curtain.

She looked up at him and passed him the patient's notes. Jay scanned the notes as Ruth began treatment giving her an occasional look.

'Right can you stitch up his leg while I order an x-ray for his arm?' Her voice was stern and she didn't even look at him, he simply nodded and began work as she left.

'Nice looking girl there.' Jay looked up at the patient as he spoke.

'What?'Jay felt defensive over Ruth.

'The doctor. She's fit, don't you think so.' He laughed but Jay just looked at him.

'She gorgeous, but no offence she's out of your league.' Jay tried to push away from trying anything with Ruth.

'Well you never know. Might as well try my luck, nice drink out she'll be like putty in my hands.' He winked at Jay, anger bubbling in Jay's body. No-one talks about Ruth like that.

'You listen to me.' He came close to the guy.

'You stay away from Dr Winters. Or...' He grabbed his T-shirt and pulled him close so no-one would hear.

'Who do you think you are? What you going to do?' The patient pulled away from Jay and the pair glared at each other.

'Try me.' Jay raised his fist.

'What the hell is going on here?'Jay span around to see Tess stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him as his fist hung in the air.

'Tess...I was...'He trailed off not sure what to say at the situation he has been caught in.

'You were just leaving. Now! 'She pointed him to get out; he hung his head in embarrassment and made a swift exit from the cubicle.

As he made for an escape Tess shouted him back, he slowly turned around to face her.

God he was in trouble now.

He bit his bottom lip awaiting her outburst.

'My office please.' He could see the anger building in her face.

He took a deep breath in before looking at Ruth who was watching at reception and walking slowly into her office.

'What the hell do you think you were playing at? Hitting a patient is unacceptable, you need to pull yourself together nurse Faldren and know the difference between right and wrong.' Tess ranted at Jay as he rubbed his forehead.

'I...he was saying stuff about Ruth, I couldn't take it.' He stuttered as Tess rolled her eyes.

'I knew this would happen if I put you pair together. Jay you need to accept that it's over.' He stood up quickly in protest.

'I was only defending her and I won't accept it's over because I love her.' He shouted taking Tess by surprise.

She took a deep breath in to calm herself down and then talked in a softer tone.

'Look I know it's hard but I can't let you act like this. How about you take the rest of the shift off; were not that busy.' He bit his lip but nodded in agreement.

'Thanks Tess.' He said the sadness in his voice obvious.

As he headed out of the office he looked up to see Ruth still stood at reception her eyes fixed on him, he didn't have the energy to win her back right now he needed some space so he just bowed his head and made his way to the staffroom. Once he reached the empty room he couldn't hold in his emotions anymore the tears just started coming and they wouldn't stop he just lent himself on his locker and cried, he didn't realise anyone had entered until he felt a hand on him.

'I'm here'. He turned to see Ruth stood behind him.

'What you doing here?'His voice faltered at the shock of it being her.

'I don't forgive you but you need me right now. With your Nan and everything I need to be here for you.' She bit her lip.

'Really? So were back together?'A large smile graced his lips.

'Oh. I see.' He breathed in deeply to stop the tears falling.

'Look...'she took the time to think before she spoke. It was killing her not being able to hold him and kiss him better but she had to do it, this was the only way it could be. She shuffled closer to him as he lent back on his heels leaning on his locker.

'You go see your Nan, I'll look after Elham. I'll do tea for you lot so you can relax then I'll get back home.' She said in a quieter tone.

'Thanks.' He ran his hand over his face.

'Look I know it's hard right now but it will sort itself out.' She passed him his rucksack.

'If you say so.' He said before leaving.

He thought he had her back for that short period of time and then she dashed his hopes. He just wished that his Nan had some answers; because now she was talking to him he stood a better chance. He hoped.