Thank you for reading. Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts :-)
'You know for someone who is meant to be signed off work for rest and recuperation you seem to be working more hours than ever' Jonny Maconie frowned at his wife as he leaned against the door frame of her study.
'It's the Hertzig, you and Guy agreed I could work on the Hertzig' Jac rolled her eyes at her husband.
'Jac its half five in the morning!' Jonny exclaimed 'how long have you been working?'
'Since four' Jac mumbled 'I had another nightmare'
'Oh' Jonny softened a little, walking into the room 'why didn't you wake me?' he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. He had been home for a little over two weeks and was still determined to look after and spoil Jac.
'Because you've been working hard, I thought you'd appreciate the sleep' Jac shrugged embarrassedly.
'I want you to wake me, ok?' Jonny crouched down in front of her looking deep into her eyes.
'Ok' Jac smiled softly.
'Perhaps you should consider postponing the launch?' Jonny suggested tentatively.
'No' Jac shook her head firmly 'I need to do this Jonny, the date is set and Elliot and I are ready.'
'It just…' Jonny started to say before Jac cut him off.
'No Jonny, I might not be allowed back on the ward because of that stupid therapist refusing to sign me off' Jac's eyes flashed angrily 'but I need to do this, to prove I haven't lost my edge.'
'Whoa, no danger of that Ms Naylor!' Jonny joked, holding up his hands in mock surrender, trying to abate her anger 'that's the old fiery Jac I know and love' he kissed her, pleased when she responded. 'Just take today off, for me at least?' he begged her. 'I've got the whole day off, let's spend it doing something to help you relax, just you and me.'
'Like what?' Jac huffed.
'I don't know, whatever you want' Jonny laughed at her. 'How about I run you bath and you can think about it?'
'Ok' Jac agreed with a curt nod, leaning forward to kiss her husband gently.
'Why are you up so early?' Ava complained rubbing her eyes blearily in the doorway.
'Sorry Pumpkin' Jac spoke guiltily.
'Oh well' Ava yawned 'just five days of school and then its half term' she smiled now excited by the prospect of two weeks free of St Catherine's. 'Who's driving me today?'
'Me' Jonny quickly answered before Jac could 'and I'm making breakfast too.'
'Oh good!' Ava exclaimed happily before skipping off in the direction of the bathroom.
'Hey, what's wrong with my breakfasts?' Jac yelled after her.
'I don't think you want to hear the answer to that' Jonny laughed before quickly kissing Jac.
'So any thoughts on what you want to do today?' Jonny asked his wife as he arrived home. Jac was sat in the kitchen idly flicking through a newspaper. Days of freedom had always been struggle for her and it felt all the worse when the reason she was spending so much time at home was because the therapist she was seeing thought taking an extended break away from the stresses of work would be beneficial. Jac was seriously regretting seeing the PTSD specialist, especially as Guy Self had taken an apparent fancy to the woman and hung off her every word, readily agreeing with her that Jac was not yet fit enough to return to the pressures of surgery.
'I don't know Jonny' she sighed irritably 'want I wanted to do was go over the Hertzig data with Elliot one more time but when I phoned him it appears my husband had already called and told him to refuse such ideas'. Her eyes flashed angrily letting Jonny know he was in trouble.
'I'm just worried about you' Jonny retorted a little crossly 'and is the idea of spending a little time alone with me really so bad?'
'Don't twist things Jonny!' Jac snapped pushing the newspaper away from herself and getting to her feet to storm out of the room.
'Look I'm sorry' Jonny caught her by the wrist, calming his voice. 'I understand you're worried and stressed about the Hertzig launch and frustrated that you can't return to surgery just yet but the world will not fall apart if you just decide to take a day off' he smiled softly at her 'in fact it could even help you if you took time to relax.'
'But I don't know how to relax!' Jac snapped 'and don't you dare laugh at me Maconie!' she could see his smile was turning into one of mirth.
'Och well sorry' he laughed anyway 'but do you really think you not knowing how to relax is news to me? You cannot just keep on powering through like you used to do Ms Naylor, you are not in your twenties and thirty's anymore and you've put your body through a hell of a lot.'
'It's powering through that has helped me achieve everything I have' Jac snatched her wrist out of his grasp, irritated because she knew he was right.
'Not everything Jac, not me and most certainly not Ava. We're here no matter what and we need you fit and healthy and happy.' He grasped hold her hand once more, gently this time 'so will you let me help you to find a way to de-stress and get some r and r?'
'Will you stop making those puppy dog eyes at me if I agree to try?' Jac muttered submitting to him.
'That's all I ask' Jonny smiled.
'Ok then' she nodded.
'Ok' Jonny laughed as he kissed her. 'Go and get some walking shoes on then because we're going for a nice long walk in the fresh air.'
'But…' Jac started to protest.
'Nope, no buts' Jonny spoke firmly 'you promised!'
'Well alright then' Jac surrendered with a smirk 'but if you won't let me say what I was going to say and I turn out to be right I will be telling you so.'
'See this is what I was going to tell you about Maconie!' Jac laughed at her husband as they ran through the sudden torrential downpour towards home.
'Then why didn't you say something?' Jonny grumbled as he pulled an unimpressed Apollo behind him.
'Because you wouldn't let me' Jac jogged up the front steps to their door and unlocked it stepping inside the house and kicking off her sodden shoes before rushing down the hall to the utility room for towels to dry off Apollo before the dog had chance to shake himself dry.
'I can't see why you're suddenly so amused' Jonny grumbled as he followed her with Apollo keeping a firm hand on the dog's collar to stop from him from his instinct to shake.
'Because I was right' Jac laughed as she threw at towel at him and then grabbed another to help dry off the dog. 'Daddy gets very grumpy when he knows Mummy is right, doesn't he Apollo?' she baby talked to the animal who grunted in response, happily waging his tail as he enjoyed the attention.
'You're so irritating you know that right?' Jonny muttered but with a slight smile. He positioned the dog bed so it was next to the radiator hoping he would be able to get Apollo to stay in it to help dry the poor drenched animal out. 'Apollo here boy' he spoke kindly to the animal patting the bed 'see all nice and warm for you' he patted the dogs head as the animal settled down in it, apparently grateful to be somewhat dryer.
'I'm feeling so much more relaxed, I don't know about you' Jac teased him as she stripped down to her underwear and put the soaking wet clothes she had been wearing into the washing machine. She wrapped a clean towel around herself and threw another at Jonny as he followed her actions, removing his sodden garments.
'Ha ha Naylor' Jonny couldn't help but laugh now too, seeing the funny side as he caught the towel she threw him. 'Your hair is curling' he commented reaching out a hand to touch the lose waves that had formed in her wet hair. He smiled at her before kissing her softly. 'How about I light the fire and make us some tea to help warm us up?' he asked her.
'Sounds good' Jac muttered but she was distracted by something, a sudden feeling that she hadn't had for a while. She kissed him again, just to test out the theory, and the feeling intensified. She looked deep into his eyes for a moment and then leaned in for a third kiss, more passionate this time. She grabbed hold his hand and starting pulling him out of room and along the hall.
'Wait a minute, where are we going?' Jonny stuttered in shock at her sudden change in mood.
She stopped and turned to face him, kissing him again, pressing her body up against his. 'Where do you think?' she laughed at him as their lips parted.
'You sure?' Jonny asked her running his fingers through her wet hair, smiling as she nodded in answer. 'In that case then…' he scooped her up into his arms and carried her quickly up the stairs ignoring her laughing protests.
They were still laughing as he laid her on the bed, sharing quick kisses and caressing each other's bare skin. She suddenly stopped laughing as she saw a serious look fall across his face. 'What's wrong?' she touched his cheek lightly with her fingertips, suddenly concerned he didn't want to do this.
'Nothing, I was just thinking how beautiful you are' he leaned in to kiss her softly. 'I love you so much, my beautiful wife' he whispered in her ear.
'I love you too' she smiled as she looked intently into his eyes.
He smiled back at her, enjoying the moment, lightly brushing the long hair that had fallen across her face behind her ear. 'This is how I could just stay for ever, you and me, just like this' he spoke softly before pulling her close to him and kissing her slowly and lovingly, letting her know this was how he intended to proceed; tenderly and leisurely, allowing them to savour each and every moment.
Jonny looked across the bed at his wife. She was sleeping peacefully, content and exhausted by their love making. It had been worth the wait Jonny mused to himself as he watched her but he hoped she wouldn't make him wait that long again; it was crazy much he desired her and only her.
'Jonny are you staring at me?' she muttered suddenly.
'Of course' he reached out and gently smoothed her hair 'as your husband it's my privilege to watch you sleep.'
'It's creepy' she opened her eyes smiling softly.
'It's nice to see you relaxed' he gently stroked her cheek smiling at her.
'Hmm' Jac mumbled sleepily closing her eyes again.
'See I knew I could help you relax, you just had to trust me'
'I think this was my idea' Jac laughed softly keeping her eyes closed 'if you remember correctly.'
'I think you'll agree I implemented it rather well' Jonny joked with her as he gently picked up one of her hands and held it tenderly in his own.
'It was perfect' she smiled, opening her eyes to look at her husband. 'That was how I wanted it, for it to happen naturally, a spur of the moment because I love you so much sort of thing' she squeezed his hand lightly, their little way of communicating their love for each other, before closing her eyes once more.
'I love you Jac' Jonny spoke softly and smoothed her hair, knowing she was going to slip back into sleep.
'I know' she mumbled 'I'm lucky to have you Maconie.'
Jonny smiled to himself as he heard her say that, knowing she would deny it later if asked. 'I'm the lucky one Jac' he whispered to her, seeing she was asleep 'because I have you.'
