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Jac crept into Jonny's side room and quietly sat herself down in the chair beside his bed. He was sleeping but he looked far better than he had yesterday. Ava was at school and Julia was being tutored at Mo and Sacha's house, with Mo keeping a watchful on the teenager in case the stress of yesterday's events came bubbling to the surface. Jac put her hand into the pocket of her scrubs and felt for the email she had printed out from the family liaison officer giving her all the details she needed about her mother. She ran her finger over the folded edge of the piece of paper and reflected on whether to tell Jonny. This internal battle had been going on inside her head since this morning. So far she hadn't dared to tell anyone the news her mother was dying in a London hospital.

'Hello' Jonny smiled at his wife as he awoke. 'How was today's performance in surgery?'

'Faultless' Jac answered him 'Valentine is giving the good news to the parents.'

'Jac you're going to have to talk to the parents of these children at some point' Jonny scolded her.

'Its working fine as it is' Jac answered him firmly. The truth was Jac couldn't bear to consult with the parents of the infants she was helping to fix when her own daughter couldn't be saved all those years ago. 'Valentine does the hand holding, I do the surgery, happy parents and healthy babies. What more do you want?'

'Well at the moment I'm in no fit state for a row so I guess I'll have to leave it there' Jonny sighed.

'Good' Jac nodded. 'How are you feeling this afternoon?'

'Better, still exhausted though' Jonny answered. 'I just can't wait to be able to get home. Hansen said I could be here for over week!'

'Jonny you basically cheated death' Jac rolled her eyes 'and I think you should be grateful the thug didn't cause life changing injuries with that knife.'

'So you don't miss me at home?' Jonny teased.

'You know I do, I'd just rather they made sure you were one hundred per cent fit and healthy before they let you out.' Jac took hold of her husband's hand 'besides, if I know you're here then you can't be risking your neck for others can you?'

'Trust me, this is the last time I act like a hero' Jonny shook his head crossly. 'The police were in here earlier, do you know what I basically risked my life for? An iPhone and twenty quid!'

'Jonny, you weren't to know he had a knife' Jac kissed her husband's hand affectionately. 'There aren't many men who would have gone after that kid.'

'Yeah well, I feel like a right idiot laying here today' Jonny still fumed.

'Well I love you and I've always known you were an idiot' Jac kissed her husband's hand again. 'Just make good on that promise to not put yourself at risk ever again. I don't know what I would have done if I had actually lost you yesterday.'

'Find yourself a handsome neuro surgeon?' Jonny joked.

'I'm being serious you dim-wit' Jac couldn't help but laugh at her husband. 'I was really scared yesterday.'

'I know' Jonny squeezed Jac's hand. 'I promise I'll never ever do that to you again.'

'Good' Jac gave her husband one of her rare smiles. 'Would you mind if I went to London for the day tomorrow? Amanda has said she'll help out with the girls.'

'No of course I wouldn't. Why have you got to go to London?'

'There's a case at the Royal London they'd like me to consult on' Jac lied to her husband, trying not to feel guilty she wasn't sharing the real reason she was going. 'I thought maybe I could do a bit of Christmas shopping for the girls whilst I'm there.'

'Sure, why not. What were you thinking of getting them?' Jonny smiled at his wife.

'Ava still really wants a Tiffany's charm bracelet so I thought maybe…'

'Och Jac that's too expensive' Jonny cut in.

'How can you say that?' Jac laughed 'do you even know how much money is in our account?'

'It's beside the point, I don't want them to grow into spoilt woman who think they can easily have whatever they want in life with little work or effort.' Jonny huffed.

'I disagree, the girls both know how hard I work for my money and neither of them could be described as over-indulged or shellfish' Jac argued back. She looked up as Serena entered the room. 'Serena would you describe our children as spoiled brats?'

'Absolutely not' Serena looked outraged 'who's been saying such things?'

'Jonny here' Jac answered.

'Och, you're putting words in my mouth' Jonny retorted crossly 'that's not what I said at all and you know it. I just think buying the girls expensive jewellery and clothes like you do all the time is setting them a president that life comes so easily.'

'Aha, so I'm guessing this little spat is about Christmas presents?' Serena chuckled. 'Enjoy spoiling those girls Jac, they understand how hard you work to give them those lovely things. If anything it should inspire them the aim for it themselves.'

'I bet if I asked Mo, she'd be on my side' Jonny sulked.

'Sacha if I tell you something do you promise not to tell anyone else?' Jac asked her best friend as she found him sat at the table dunking his biscuits into a cup of tea in the Keller staff room.

'Of course' Sacha nodded.

'Not even Mo?'

'Sure' Sacha discreetly crossed his fingers under the table as he nodded his white lie.

'The police came to the house this morning, they've found Paula' Jac spoke quickly.

'Oh my god, are you ok?' Sacha spoke worriedly 'where is she?'

'In London, dying of lung cancer.' Jac answered 'and to be honest, yes I'm ok with that.'

'Right, well I guess that's good in a way' Sacha nodded 'I mean not that I would wish cancer on anyone.'

'But it certainly solves a problem right?' Jac sighed. 'She wants to see me'

'Right, ok' Sacha nodded 'so are you going to go?'

'Tomorrow' Jac nodded. 'She also asked to see Ava but there is no way that is ever going to happen. I'll just wait until she's died and then I'll tell Ava it's finally over.'

'Ok, that sounds like the best idea' Sacha nodded his agreement. 'Although I don't think you should go alone. '

'I have to Sacha, and I don't want Jonny finding out because he'll only worry' Jac looked firmly at her friend. 'The thing is, this could be last chance I get to get some answers.'

'Are you sure, even if you got truthful answers, they would be what you want hear?' Sacha asked.

'I don't know' Jac shrugged. 'But the fact is I'll never be able to rest until I've tried.'