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Jonny couldn't help himself listening in on the conversation flowing between the group of night shift nurses as they breakfasted behind him in the canteen. He smiled to himself as remembered what his life as a bank nurse had been like in his twenties. Life had been much simpler back then. He had managed a whole hour of undisturbed sleep in the on call room and was fortifying himself with coffee for the day ahead. He flicked through the photographs of Emma on his phone, deciding which ones he should show to Jac now she was well enough for visitors again. It was the sound of her name which brought his attention back to the gossiping nurses.

'Apparently little Harry came up with idea all by himself, actually wants her to be his mother' a genteel non-descript female voice spoke.

'Really? She always seemed so cold, hard to imagine her being maternal at all' a Devonshire accented female voiced her thoughts.

'It turns out she's nice to children and Harry is already calling her mummy' the first female confirmed for the group 'their relationship is quite sweet to watch really, he hangs off her every word.'

'Is Ms Naylor wearing a ring at all?' A male voice Jonny recognized from NICU inquired.

'Yes!' the female nurse was now eagerly interested 'a gorgeous blue sapphire and diamond ring on her middle finger, although one can't help but think it's intended for her ring finger.'

'Well I believe that's where it was originally placed' the male nurse imparted his knowledge casually 'I overheard Mr Byrne telling baby Emma Ms Naylor had made him the happiest man on the planet. Although they are trying to keep it discreet.'

Jonny froze in shock, she was committing to marrying him. Throughout their relationship Jonny had failed to get her to commit to living with him, let alone the idea of spending the rest of her life with him. Jonny breathed deeply trying to control his jealous fury. She'd loved him once, he knew she had and perhaps she even still did. Why else would she have continued with the pregnancy, continued to grow and give birth to his child? Now Joseph Byrne had strolled in and casually taken what should have been his; a beautiful wife and family. Jonny resolved to sit until his anger had passed.

'You know I think its nice Ms Naylor has the chance to be happy, I've always felt a sadness around her' an Irish voice now added her input. 'Mr Byrne is perfect for her too; money, career, handsome...'the speaker sighed as she let her voice trail off.

'It's the way he treats her that's so romantic' the original speaker spoke up again 'like a princess. And she, well, you can tell she only has eyes for him, only wants him. Its mutual adoration'

Amid the sighs and giggles coming from the table behind him Jonny pushed himself to his feet and strode purposefully in the direction of Holby Care


Joseph sat in the chair next to Jac's bed holding her hand whilst she slept. The conversation with Mr T had been difficult as he debriefed them on last night's emergency filling in the gaps they had missed. The fact of her even further reduced fertility and her realisation her breast milk would now be unusable to Emma due to the medication she'd been pumped full of had rendered Jac into a rather negative mood. When informed she may be able to visit Emma later that day Jac had remained impassive, muttering how futile her role as a mother now was.

He watched her sad face as she slept, grateful it appeared to be dreamless for her, and wondered what he could do for her. At least she now appeared to believe him when he said he wouldn't leave her, her wanting to marry him had confirmed this for him. She hadn't wanted to let go of his hand, unwilling to be left alone. She'd become almost tearful when he had suggested he might get himself showered and changed before Colette returned with Harry and thus Joseph had remained, clutching at her hand unable to leave her lest she would have to battle the demons in her head alone.

There was a soft knock at the door and a timid nurse carefully entered the room 'Mr Byrne? Your mother is here to see you.'

Joseph turned to face the young woman as she spoke 'my mother?' he questioned in a whisper 'are you sure?'

The nurse nodded her head and then added 'she seems somewhat anxious to talk with you' she hesitated before continuing 'if it's not too impertinent of me to say, she was also rather impolite when referring to Ms Naylor.'

Joseph shook his head angrily as he carefully let go of Jac's hand, watching her to ensure she hadn't stirred from her sleep before standing to leave the room. 'Please, lead the way' Joseph spoke politely to the nurse, following her out into the hall where his mother stood waiting for him.

'Hello mother, you look well' Joseph crossed his arms defensively as he greeted the disapproving woman. He watched her as she looked him up and down, carefully removing her leather gloves and unbuttoning her wool winter coat, unneeded in the heated hospital. She was just as had been three years ago, petite, fair haired and with an aurora of superiority which irked Joseph relentlessly.

'You look like you've been to hell and back' she sniffed disapprovingly 'hardly surprising; drama seems to follow whenever that redheaded whore involves herself with you.'

'Don't call Jac that' to Josephs own surprise her words had less effect on him now than they used to allowing him keep his voice calm and even 'I'd like you to leave, you're not welcome here.'

'You're forgetting what she did to our family Joseph, I think whore is entirely appropriate'

'I remember, but I choose to forgive. After all she opened my own eyes as to just how dysfunctional our family was all neatly hidden by money and good manners.' Joseph was still surprised at his own calmness 'now will you leave of you own accord or will I have to ask for you to be removed?'

'I'm not going anywhere until I've had chance to meet my granddaughter' Lady Byrne gave another disapproving sniff 'she may have a foster care urchin for a mother but the poor thing is still a Byrne'

'Well as disappointed as you may be Emma is not a Byrne' Joseph was starting to become irritated.

'So you impregnated yet another unsuitable woman and you let her dictate to you that your own child will not have your name?' Lady Byrne tossed her head, unable to control her anger any longer 'to say you are a disappointment is an understatement…'

Joseph stood with his arms still cross letting his mother continue her rant, knowing he would be unable to get a word in edge ways anyway, and feeling for the first time just how pathetic his mother really was. This was the scene Jonny Maconie barrelled into, deaf to the ranting's of Lady Byrne by the anger pounding in his own ears, he marched up to Joseph and punched him squarely on the jaw splitting the man's bottom lip. Joseph reeled backwards, his hands flying to his mouth instinctively.

'That's for stealing away everything I had' Jonny panted cradling his now bruised fist 'what possible reason could you have to want to marry her?'

'Who on earth are you?' Lady Byrne addressed Jonny as though he were something she had inconveniently stepped in.

'Mother, meet Jonny Maconie the father of Jac's daughter' Joseph spoke reasonably as he spat out blood from his mouth 'and in answer to your question Jonny, because I love her and it would appear she loves me'. He turned to face his mother before shouting for her benefit 'I ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL JAC NAYLOR!'


Jac awoke with a start in the private room. She thought she'd just heard someone shouting they loved her. She sat herself up slowly, listening intently. There was definitely something going on outside her room and she deduced from the raised voices it wasn't something good. She carefully and expertly detached herself from her IV lines and taking a deep breath she swung her legs so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She let the breath go slowly as the pain she'd just caused herself at the incision site ebbed. Breathing slowly and deeply she gingerly stood up onto her own two feet, supporting herself with her hands pressed on the bed as her head swam from being laid down for so long. Jac waited until the dizziness had subsided before she cautiously took small steps towards the door, not caring she was barefoot and dressed only in a hospital gown. She lightly pressed her hand against her incision site, knowing she probably wasn't doing herself any good but desperate to know what commotion her name was currently causing outside her door.


'I…I think I need to sit down' Lady Byrne stuttered, taking a seat on the chairs lining the corridor. 'So the baby isn't yours?' she questioned Joseph shakily.

'No' Joseph inexplicitly found himself wanting to laugh as he held his hand up to his bleeding lip.

'How long have you and she been back together?' Lady Byrne sneered as she referred to Jac as 'she'

'Not long, just over a month' Joseph hid a smirk behind his hand.

'So you and she were having an affair?' she watched as Joseph shook his head.

'Jonny had left her on her own so she called me' Joseph willed himself to sensible 'Jac and I have pretty much picked up where we left off'.

Lady Byrne sighed 'well at least the poor wee thing isn't yours; I'll count that as a blessing.'

'Excuse me Missus but just who the hell do you think you are?' Jonny snarled at the woman stood before him.

'Jonny may I introduce my mother?' Joseph voice had started to show signs of his uncontrollable and inappropriate mirth 'Lady Anne-Marie Bryne'.

'I don't care what official titles you have' Jonny growled 'how dare you be disrespectful about Jac like that and, in particular, so foul about my daughter. I'm proud Jac is Emma's mother, I wouldn't want anyone else to be the mother of my children.'

'Oh my dear' Anne-Marie shook her head sadly 'how misguided you are, clearly you have no idea about the enchanting Jacqueline Naylor, or should I say Burrows? I forget Joseph, which surname was it she desperately tried to burry?'

'NOW THAT'S ENOUGH!' Joseph suddenly roared, the ridiculous of the situation suddenly becoming far too personal.

An abrupt silence followed Josephs sudden outburst broken by Michael Spence's brash enquiry of 'what the hell is going on here?' as he and Sacha Levy, both laden with gifts and treats for Jac, entered the spectacle unfolding in Holby Care's corridor.

'That's just what I would like to know' Jac's faint voice spoke up as she leaned against the door frame of her room. Sacha dropped the packages he was carrying and rushed to her side to help support her as her legs started to give way.

'Jac, you're bleeding' he informed her gently as he took her hand away from her incision site where a stain of red was steadily seeping through the cotton fabric of the hospital gown.

'I…I…' Jac looked intently into Sacha's kind eyes before her world became black and her body slumped against his.