Thank you for reading. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter. Please take a moment to leave a review; your suggestions and opinions really do help me to improve my writing :-)

Michael Spence stood in the doorway of the side room on AAU watching the way Jonny Naylor-Maconie was watching over his wife whilst she slept. Michael studied Jonny carefully, taking in his worried posture and the way he gazed down at Jac with what could be described as devoted adoration. Michael coughed lightly to get the man's attention and then motioned for him to join him out in the corridor.

'Is everything ok?' Michael asked with concern. 'Mary-Claire said Jac was showing signs of being distressed earlier.'

'Maybe Mary-Claire ought to mind her own business' Jonny crossed his arms defensively.

'She was only doing her job Jonny, I asked to keep me informed of any changes' Michael frowned at Jonny, unsure about his sudden resistance to their help.

'Gossiping more like' Jonny shook his head. 'You know she tells any new nurses to be weary of Jac Naylor because she is crazy?'

'Well this time she wasn't gossiping' Michael spoke sternly 'and to which members of staff has she been telling this to?'

'The two new nurses on Darwin' Jonny spoke angrily 'they obviously didn't realise Jac was my wife because when Mr Self and I introduced ourselves to them and had a little chat they seemed a bit concerned the efficacious Ms Naylor was still being allowed to treat patients despite her state of mental health.'

'Oh' Michael's face ill hid the amusement he found in this.

'It's not funny Michael' Jonny snapped.

'Believe me Naylor would find that funny, probably get a kick from it.' Michael mused.

'I didn't find it funny seeing as they knew about Amelia, Jasmine, Jac's mother and the whole kidney debacle' Jonny spoke angrily. 'If she was just joshing the new members of staff to be weary of Jac then fine, even I could see the funny side. But she was using highly embroiled tales that Jac seriously wouldn't want the whole hospital to be gossiping about.' He glared at Michael 'I don't want her nursing Jac.'

'Fine' Michael held up his hands in surrender. 'It won't be problem for much longer anyway; I've found space for Jac on Keller.'

'No' Jonny shook his head firmly 'you want to put her on the same ward her sister died on? I don't think so.'

'She can't stay on AAU' Michael huffed.

Jonny thought through the available options before coming up with the obvious answer 'Holby Care, transfer her up to the private suite. I'll pay, I don't care how much it costs'.

'No' Michael spoke firmly 'she'll get better more specialised care on Keller.'

'She held her sister in her arms as she died on that ward' Jonny spoke through gritted teeth, trying not let his anger boil over. 'Now you will do as I say, she's my wife and has no relation to you other than being your patient!' He turned on his heal and walked back into the side room, shutting the door firmly behind him.

'Well that looked a little heated' Guy Self spoke quietly as he approached a slightly stunned Michael Spence.

'Who the hell does he think he is?' Michael spoke in a low tone watching through the glass pane in the door as Jonny sat himself down next Jac, taking hold of her hand once more. 'I know Jac better than almost anyone and yet he's withholding information from us.'

'Today Jonny Maconie is the husband of a very sick patient.' Guy looked sympathetically at the couple in the side room. 'Transfer Ms Naylor up to Holby Care Michael at no charge. We'll figure out a way to manage her care from there. She's a valuable member of staff after all; I'll have no trouble clearing this with the board.' He considered Michael's stubbornness for a moment before adding 'if Jonny is hiding something about Jac from us we won't get it out of him by going against every one of his wishes. If he wants Jac out of the way of prying nurses and somewhere peaceful we'll damn well give it to him.' Guy turned to walk away before offering his main reason for giving the Naylor-Maconie's free private health care. 'At the moment that man is freefalling through something neither he nor his wife have any control over. Listen to him as the husband; give him that one bit of control at least.'

'So Ms Naylor how would you like an all-expenses paid stay on Holby Care?' Guy Self cheerfully greeted her as he entered the side room an hour later having made all the necessary arrangements.

'I'd much rather go home' Jac answered him bluntly without even bothering to open her eyes.

'She means thank you very much that sounds lovely' Jonny rolled his eyes as he accepted for his wife.

'Not at all' Guy grinned at Jonny as he played along, pleased to see Jac wasn't behaving as differently to her normal self as reports had led him to believe. 'Anything for my top CT surgeon.'

'If you've come in here to schmoose just because you're worried about a delay in the launch of Hertzig six you can get out again' Jac rolled onto her side with the intention of falling back to sleep.

'Actually just the opposite, I've come to offer you some leave.' Guy causally flipped through the chart at the end of her bed.

'Huh?!' Jac opened her eyes and sat up a little in surprise. 'Who are you and what have you done with Mr Guy Self?' She glared menacingly at him 'and my notes are confidential.'

Guy dropped the file back into the holder at the end of the bed 'so anyway back on topic' he coughed embarrassedly 'I think you've been over doing things what with your grandfather passing and I'm sorry I should I offered you some compassionate leave at the time'

'You sent a card' Jac shrugged 'that was nice at least.'

'Did I?' Guy looked up in surprise 'I really ought to give that PA of mine a raise.'

'Get out Guy' Jac slumped herself back against the pillows.

'So how does a month off sound?' He watched her carefully as he could see her weighing up her options. 'Too little, too much?'

'Why?' she looked at him questioningly.

'Look I need you to be match fit when the Hertzig six does launch. I can't have you paraded in front of the worlds best and the media looking sick and over worked.'

'You're making it sound like you're showing your pedigree bitch at Cruffs' Jonny spoke in an undertone, offering Guy this tip seeing his wife was getting increasingly angry.

'Anyway, I just thought no annoying patients and a bit of time at home with…' Guy searched around in his head for the name of Jac's niece '…Eva?' he tried hopefully.

'Close; its Ava' Jonny smirked at Guys discomfort.

'I knew there was a reason I promoted your husband' Guy smiled apologetically at Jac 'great at remembering details, excellent people skills.' he decided not to be perturbed by Jac's glare. 'Anyhow, so how about it no annoying patients, no blood and guts and absolutely no stresses for a whole month?'

'I can still have lab time?' Jac questioned curiously, knowing she was getting off lightly. Most CEO'S when presented with a sick, unweight malnourished consultant would have involved occupational health meaning assessments on her state of mind and capability.

'Absolutely' Guy nodded 'as much or as little of it as you need.'

'Ok then' Jac nodded 'but only a month.'

'See how it goes' Guy smiled kindly 'I don't want to see you back until you are fit and well.'

'You'll be lucky to keep her out of theatre for longer than a month' Jonny joked his face even more relaxed now he knew Jac was being moved to his ward of choice and she was under no pressure to get well quickly.

'Jonny why don't you come with me to the nurses station, there's a few bits of paperwork I need you to sign.' Guy smiled warmly before he exited the room waiting outside for Jonny as the male nurse reassured Jac he would be back soon.

'So I see Team Naylor have gotten to you' Jonny spoke bluntly as he closed the door to the side room.

'You know about that?' Guy asked with surprise as they made their way not to the nurses station but instead to the office.

'Oh yes, I know all about Team Naylor' Jonny spoke bitterly. 'You did well in there, she wouldn't have suspected a thing, but if she ever finds out you know…' Jonny let his voice trial off menacingly.

'Jonny' Guy placed his hand on his shoulder in a fatherly fashion 'I'm not the enemy here, I'm just trying to do what's best.' Jonny nodded his head to show he understood. 'Right then' Guy paused in front of the office door 'Ric and Michael are in there and they think you're hiding something from them, something which might be relevant to Jac's condition. I've done you a favour getting Jac a free bed on Holby care so now you can return it by telling them what you know.' Guy opened the door a motioned for Jonny to step through it.

Jonny waited for Guy to leave before he spoke crossly 'Why can't you lot just let things be with Jac?' He slumped himself down into a chair. 'You're obsessed with her.'

'Well yeah' Michael spoke defiantly, sitting with his feet up on his desk 'when it comes to Naylor's well-being I am a little more than obsessed, as you put it. That woman is like family to me.'

'Where's Sacha?' Jonny spoke angrily 'doesn't he want to hear the juicy details about what Jac was crying about this afternoon?'

'He's in theatre, he doesn't even know Naylor was in a highly distressed state because believe me if he did he would have been right in there offering comfort regardless of whether or not the pair of needed space' Michael glared at Jonny.

'Jonny we're not out to undermine you in anyway' Ric spoke reasonably searching in Serena's desk draw for the bottle of whisky she kept in there for emergencies. 'We understand you're the one she confides in the most. I think she trusts you even more than she does Sacha.' Ric poured a glass of the amber liquid and offered it out to Jonny. He smiled kindly as Jonny took it 'the thing is we need to know what we are dealing with here and you have our full promise we won't shut you out if you don't shut us out. We all want the same thing; to help Jac.'

Jonny took a sip of the drink, finding the burning sensation in the back of his throat comforting, helping his anger to ebb. 'It's the rape, she's been reliving it ever since she found out George knew about it.'

'I thought as much' Ric nodded his head.

'When you say reliving it are we talking just hazy flashes or vivid memories?' Michael asked deep concern evident in his voice.

'We are talking full Technicolor glory reliving of the entire thing' Jonny swallowed down the last of the liquid. 'She said she feels soiled and ashamed.'

'I tried to tell her it didn't change the way George felt about her' Ric shook his head sadly 'the evidence of that is in the way he never treated her any differently once he knew.'

'He treated as though she were precious' Jonny put the empty glass down on the end of Serena's desk. 'As though she were worth something, the little girl only he was proud off.' Jonny stood up to leave the room. 'You see how easily that has all been taken away?'

'I'm sorry Jonny' Ric's voice was full of remorse.

'Thanks for the drink' Jonny walked over to the door. 'Don't you dare try discussing this with Jac, I don't want her knowing this conversation took place.'

'I wouldn't even know how to start a discussion with her about this' Michael shook his head 'as far as I knew she'd never discussed it with anyone.'

'Yeah well she discussed it with me, I had to sit and listen whilst the love of my life recalled every detail of what that piece of filth did to her' Jonny hand was shaking with supressed anger as he rested it on the door handle. 'You have no idea how much on some days I wish she hadn't, that she'd chosen to tell one of you instead.' Jonny paused trying to contain his emotion, he swallowed hard before continuing. 'But she trusted me because I made her feel loved and protected. What right have I got to wish I hadn't heard it when she has to endure those memories day in, day out?' he pulled open the door.

'Jonny wait, sit down' Ric spoke worriedly 'have another drink.'

'No' Jonny shook his head 'I need to get back to my wife, try to work out a way to comfort her through this.' He turned to look at Michael 'thanks for everything you've done for Ava the last couple of day's but I think she should come home now. She needs to be with her real family.'