At the sound of the front door opening, Gordon dashed from the living room and into the hallway, taking Jill in his arms almost before she'd entered the house. She emitted a surprised noise at the sudden contact with her husband, though after the momentary shock, she soon wrapped her arms around him.

"Are you okay Love?" She asked, suddenly concerned as to the cause of his actions. If he had taken the medication she'd left him at the time she had specified, he should be alright. But if he hadn't, he may be suffering from withdrawal induced anxiety once again. It came as a great relief therefore when he assured her he was fine.

"It should be me asking you that question." He continued, placing a kiss to her hair and holding her tighter still. Her doctors' bag, still in her hand was digging into his back slightly from when she'd wrapped am arm over her shoulder. But he didn't mind; he was just grateful he still had the privilege of being able to hold her. "I'm so sorry about this morning."

She shook her head. "No need. You-"

"Get off my son."

In an instant, Jill shot away from Gordon, yet he hooked an arm around her waist to bring her beside him once more. "Mum." He warned yet she appeared to take no heed. The glare she fixed on her daughter-in-law did not diminish in its intensity, and despite her small stature, she made a formidable presence sweeping towards them. Jill thought for a brief moment that she was not unlike Matron.

"I said get away from him."

Jill held her doctors' bag before her as if you protect her, and she shrank against Gordon. If it were anyone else trying to intimidate her, she would have retaliated, calmly, showing them she wasn't one to back down. But this was Gordon's mother. She couldn't respond to her as she would anyone else. She wasn't about to alienate Gordon from his mother. Or indeed alienate Gordon from herself.

"I think we all need to sit down calmly and talk." It was Gordon who uttered this, already exerting a gentle pressure against her back, and drew her with him, past his mother and through into the living room.

"Ah Jill." Henry looked up as they entered, offering her a gentle, sad smile. He had obviously heard the brief exchange in the hallway. "I'll leave you to it." He made to rise but paused as Jill spoke.

"No, Henry, you're a part of this family. Please, stay." She looked to Gordon for confirmation who nodded, echoing his wife's words. He then seated himself on the settee, bringing Jill down close beside him. The three occupants of the room then watched on silently as Betty swept into the room, choosing the middle cushion of the settee across the coffee table from the couple.

"I think-" Jill began, only to be cut off immediately by Mrs Ormerod.

"You have no right to think anything. I know what's best for my son. And that is to be away from you!"

Gordon closed his eyes briefly. Already the 'talk' he had envisaged was very far from a civilised discussion. He was feeling understandably ill from the process of withdrawal and this was not helping. All he wanted was to lie down in a dark, quiet room and let sleep take over. Yet he couldn't. He couldn't let Jill down again. He had to do this for her. "Mum, please." He eventually sighed, interrupting her string of criticisms of his wife. "Please, just listen to us." This seemed to work at least for the moment, so, taking the opportunity presented, he hurriedly continued. "We've both had our doubts. But we discuss it again, and every time we come to the decision that this is the best course of action."

Jill nodded beside him, taking comfort from the pressure of his hand on her thigh, his thumb stroking back and forth, creating a pleasing sensation, even through the material of her skirt. "There is no other way. We can't risk telling anyone. Gordon's reputation would be compromised; there's no telling what it would do to his career."

"What about your health Gordon?." Betty exclaimed, her expression filled with horror, much the same as when she'd discovered her son locked in the room above their heads. "Have you forgotten what you were like earlier? You can't surely continue to let her put you through that?"

"I'm not denying it's not nice Mum." Gordon replied calmly, his hold on Jill tightening as he sensed her growing upset. "But as we've said, it's the only way. But what I hate most of all is putting Jill through this."

"Jill! Putting her through what? She probably gets some sort of sick pleasure from watching you suffer. We all know she's a workaholic; you've complained about it often enough." She shot a glare at the younger doctor who averted her gaze. "She's probably going to publish this whole fiasco in a magazine or whatever you doctors do. She's only using you to further her career."

"Don't be ridiculous." Gordon sighed. He hated how his mother was attacking his wife, yet he barely had the strength to begin defending her. All he could do was turn from Betty for a moment, and place a lingering kiss into his wife's soft hair. He murmured an apology, before using his free hand to gently tilt up her face. She shot him a weak, forced smile, her eyes teary and averted. He placed another kiss to her temple, stroked the soft skin of her cheek a few times, before dropping his hold to grasp her slightly trembling hands. Her digits slid across his, bringing his hand further into her lap, effectively increasing the contact between them.

"Betty-"

"Mrs Ormerod." The older woman retorted.

With a sigh, Jill tried again. "Mrs Ormerod… I love Gordon, so very much. And I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have to. But can't you see? The drugs are harming him." She paused, thankful that her mother-in-law for now appeared to be listening. "Yes, withdrawal will be unpleasant. But the effects will only be short term. And once he's through, he can be free from the anxiety and pain the drugs are heightening."

When Betty didn't reply immediately, Jill held her breath. Had she finally gotten through to her? A feeling of hope crept upon her, but it was quickly turned once more to fear as there was a cough to her right. Henry… So far he'd remained silent, but now he looked set to speak. Jill gripped Gordon's hand tighter. It was crucial that he say something in support of them. If he were negative, it could undo all their hard work.

If Betty never came round to their way of thinking, neither Jill nor Gordon had any idea what the consequence would be.