Disclaimer: as chapter one, so please do not keep making me write it out. This is for fun and not for profit! This disclaimer is also relevant for the 'Boy meets Girl' song...

WARNINGS: A little mild swearing...

All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

Summary: Lexie and Tyrone show they got the rhythm! JGxOFC

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

PIECES OF THE HEART

Chapter Fourteen

Lexie avoided Jack as much as possible these days; she saw Zan round the hospital, heard the rumours that she and Jack were dating, albeit fairly casually. Apparently the other doctor had been to Jack's apartment – Veronica said she'd been seen there, and more than once; it appeared another medic from Wharton lived in the same block – and so Lexie doubted it was as 'casual' as was being implied by others.

She still saw him of course, spoke to him on the phone – but she also let the machine pick up whenever she could, and she made sure their meetings were short and to the point. She ignored the small frowns he gave her, or the worried looks; she just made sure he was as up to date as always on Becca (and vice versa), beyond that she endeavoured not be alone with him.

When she was she paid as little attention as possible when he cracked a joke or gave that cheeky grin of his; the one that turned her to a puddle of goo...thankfully he didn't know the latter or she knew he'd use it against her.

She'd have dearly loved to avoid the hospital altogether – but David and Tyrone had requested she visit, and she wouldn't break her promise to them to do so. Finnian Buchanan was happily settled at his grandma's now, along with Deeogee, and so she could at least avoid Jack there...for the most part - he had turned up there one day, but her cold shoulder showed him that this was her private time and so he left fairly early on; the frown he gave her as he said goodbye she ignored.

It was just a stupid crush she would constantly remind herself; she was not going to give in to the black cloud of depression again because of something that ridiculous. She was being very sensible acknowledging it was just a crush; by avoiding him and ignoring his fling with the stunning female doctor. She was doing everything right, so what was the problem?

It wasn't as if someone as nice and good looking as Jack would want a fat, ugly woman like her. Far better to be realistic and just get on with her life – Jack Gallagher was merely a transient part right now, but he'd leave and she'd go on as she always did. She was a survivor – reluctantly maybe, but a survivor none the less.

The plus side was the kennels had her back a lot more now and so the new dogs that were causing concern began to turn around; especially as Lexie threw herself into her work with a gusto she didn't really feel. If any one of her friends noticed, they tactfully refrained from commenting...that included her newer friends at the hospital, like Veronica and Nora.

She'd become good friends with them lately as she often spoke to them in lieu of Jack if she could; like her friends at the kennels, they avoided asking her about this apparent sudden wish of hers to avoid Jack Gallagher as if her very life depended on it.

Mind you, this didn't stop them discussing it between themselves – even Chloe Artis, who had appeared quite laid back about it all, felt Jack had 'played' Lexie and so her attitude towards him suffered even more.

Lexie laughed when she told her and said there'd been nothing there to 'play'; she hugged the young woman and thanked her for her support "listen, you want to get someone back for me, go trip up Belle!" she'd winked. Chloe watched her walk away; head high, shoulders back – the young doctor wondered who she was trying to fool more; herself or everyone else.

0-0-0-0-0

Today was a hospital day; Lexie was with Tyrone in the main common room. She'd bought in her boom box as she called it – a fairly big CD radio. It had a good sound; she'd saved up a good few years back and spent all her birthday and Christmas present money for two years to get it. It was her pride and joy.

She stuck in a CD she'd made up herself from music on various albums she owned. It was easy, she explained to Tyrone – first you ripped all the music from your own albums onto the music player on your computer, then you made up your own playlist and burned that onto a blank cd.

He'd merely looked at her in admiration until she'd giggled "come and dance!"

He shook his head "I can't – seriously...I think God ran out of feet, so I got two left ones."

She ignored him and dragged him into the middle of the room "come on..." she put on Serena Ryder's 'Stompa' – a favourite of hers and with its slower beat she helped him find the rhythm. Pretty soon they were dancing in time – he was grinning from ear to ear and Lexie was laughing out loud; the first time she had in weeks.

When they'd stopped, she was still chuckling "fancy something faster?"

"Can I?" he looked doubtful.

"Sure; a beat's a beat Ty. Just pick up the pace." She put on 'Jai Ho' by the Pussycat Dolls and they fell about laughing as they attempted Bollywood style dancing. She was utterly unaware that they were being watched by Jack and Zan.

After she'd put on Mark Ronson's 'Uptown Funk' with Bruno Mars; she then had him and a few others dancing to, of all things, Pharrell singing 'Happy'. This was followed by McBusted's 'Air Guitar'.

She knew the moves to this hilarious song she said only because her, very patient, daughter (who was a seriously huge McBusted fan) had taught her. If she could do it, so could they; and soon about fifteen people were chuntering around the room all in, fairly, good time and whatever happened they were all laughing up a storm.

Then she put on the Backstreet Boys and 'Backstreet's Back'; a few dropped out as the moves were fairly complicated now, but Lexie was thrilled that Tyrone kept up. As she finished with a flourish she realised they had an audience and flushed a beet red.

Veronica and Nora stood open mouthed "she's really good!" Veronica murmured to her boss, who nodded.

Lexie merely held up her hands "sorry folks; didn't mean to take over..."

"Let's do another!" Tyrone was on Cloud Nine; he never thought he could do this and so she looked at Veronica who nodded, it was up to her as his doctor.

"One more" she held up a finger "and as I need to get my breath back before I have a heart attack – I suggest this one" she skimmed through the numbers, showing she knew the selection backwards. Finally the opening bars of Boy meets Girl's 'Waiting for a Star to Fall' echoed round the room. "What can I say? I'm an Eighties girl at heart!" she chuckled.

She started dancing with Tyrone and a few of the others paired up to follow them. However, when it got to the words:

"I want to reach out and pull you to me

Who says I should let a wild one go free

Trying to catch your heart

Is like trying to catch a star

But I can't love you this much baby

And love you from this far"

Tyrone spun her out and then let go; when she revolved back into his arms, a wide grin playing on her mouth...she found herself staring up at Jack; an enigmatic look on his face – and she stumbled slightly.

Breaking away from him, her face ablaze with mortification; she gave an embarrassed chuckled "that's how not to do it! Anyway, dance lessons are over for today, people – as you were; nothing to see here."

The others started dispersing, but Jack remained exactly where he was – Zan, who'd arrived with him, came to stand beside him; Lexie saw the other doctor looking at her with undisguised shock on her face.

Blushing even more furiously, thinking the female doctor was probably laughing at her and Jack was mad because she'd made a show of herself, Lexie hugged Tyrone and told him she'd see him soon; she pecked him on the cheek and tore off across the room, studiously avoiding Jack, who was still standing where she left him – the same inscrutable look on his face.

She waved to Nora and Veronica and disappeared up the corridor "Ill grab my boom box later!" she called over her shoulder – her main goal being to escape Jack and the humiliation of being seen by him and the fabulous looking Zan, dancing around like an idiot. The two female doctors both turned to look at Jack, wondering what he would do. It was obvious that whatever it was going on between the two had now, finally, reached its 'tipping point'.

Jack hesitated for brief moment, and then started off in the same direction as Lexie; his long strides eating up the distance between the two. Veronica sighed "I owe you ten bucks" she nodded at Nora "I honestly didn't think he'd leave Zan standing there to go follow Lexie; talk about slap her face why don't you?"

The other woman smiled "some men are just too predictable; Zan's a fling; but Lexie? Well I think we can guess she might be more, whether they admit that to themselves yet or not is open to question."

Veronica smiled "double or quits as to how long it'll take them to admit it?"

Chloe wandered up "I'm in; I reckon Lexie will be the stumbling block, not our illustrious director..." She sighed "our girlfriend's got some serious issues..."

0-0-0-0-0

Jack finally caught up with Lexie as she was leaving a note in his office; she managed to dodge past him. A too bright smile plastered to her face as she desperately tried to escape before she broke "Bye Jack; I've left you a note about Becca!" she called lightly, the smile beginning to make her face ache "gotta dash; dogs to see, groceries to buy, errant daughter to school run home with..."

He caught her arm and dragged her back into his office "not so fast Lex; why are you avoiding me?"

She noticed with a sinking feeling that not only had he closed his door, he was standing in front of it. She looked around for another means of escape; he read her mind "this is the only way out, Lexie."

She huffed her frustration, and dropped into a seat; Jack wasn't fooled...he remained blocking her sole escape route. She glared mutinously as she realised he'd guessed what she might do.

He leaned against the door to emphasise the point "so, why are you avoiding me?"

She gave him an innocent look "I'm not; I've been busy that's all. But I've still come here; still spoke to you about Becca..."

"I've had more conversations with your answer machine than I have with you recently." He slapped his forehead "oh no wait – I've also had notes from you; like that one" he gestured to his desk "do I get to thank my sister for that consideration; did she tell you to do that? And then of course there's the messages from Nora, Veronica, Chloe or even Arturo. The only person you've spared me getting information from is Belle..."

Lexie remained resolutely silent whilst he spoke then mumbled "like said, I've been busy."

"For nearly two months?!" Jack's eyebrows rose "Lex, don't try and con me, alright?" He rubbed his face "what did I do? I must've upset you, but for the life of me I can't figure out how..."

Lexie stood up; once more her was head high and her back poker straight. Jack was beginning to know the signs that this was her going into stubborn mode – this was intractable Lexie; he didn't like this version of her, she was more stubborn than even a mule. "You were busy too Jack; with Mr Peters and that other doctor...Ardani; I didn't want to bother you."

She dropped her gaze as she mentioned Zan and blushed a little; suddenly Jack had an idea as to what was going on. "Oh for God's sake! Yes, I've been out with Zan. I've met her for lunch, she's even been to my bloody apartment and we've slept together; but it wasn't really anything, Lexie – nothing but a fling! As soon as she got serious about stuff we broke up!"

"Are you implying I'm just jealous!" Lexie glowered at him "because I can damn well tell you you're so bloody wrong, it's not even funny!"

In two strides Jack was standing before her "are you sure?" he murmured, standing so close she could almost feel the heat from his body through his shirt. She didn't dare look up at him; instead, she dodged past him and made a break for the door.

As Jack made to go after her, a man blocked his path. "Doctor Belle?"

Jack just tried to look past him, to see where Lexie was going "I'm sorry – what?"

A fist snapped out and connected with Jack's face; as he spun backwards, he heard Lexie shout "Jack? Oh my God, Jack!"

The man looked confused "that's not Carl Belle? Who the hell is it then?"

"Jack Gallagher; you great bully! Belle's boss!"

Even as he was seeing stars all Jack could think was 'oh well at least it stopped her leaving.'