Connie

'No…get away from me…please, leave me alone!'

Jac's cries filled the house, jolting Connie awake with a start. It took a moment for her to register where the noise was coming from, but once she had she threw her dressing gown on and rushed out of her room and into Jac's. Connie's eyes widened as she saw her tangled in the bedsheets, her forehead glistening with a cold sweat in the light that came from the landing. Jac thrashed from side to side, further entrapping herself in the duvet which added to her already heightened anxiety. Connie felt her instinct to wake her up clash with her medical knowledge that she shouldn't, that she should instead wait for Jac to come out of the nightmare herself. She sat softly on the bed, settling for placing a comforting hand gently on Jac's lower leg, shushing her softly and whispering words of comfort, though that was as much for Connie's benefit as it was Jac's.

Eventually, after what felt like hours, Connie saw Jac's hyperventilating subside and she began to lay stiller, though she did still softly cry out occasionally.

'Jac?' Connie tried to wake her up and came closer to her, a hand rubbing her arm motherly. 'Come on, you're ok.'

Jac's eyes opened and Connie sighed softly, relieved.

'I thought the nightmares had stopped?'

Jac shook her head.

'How long has this been happening? I thought they stopped before you got out of hospital?'

'No, they didn't stop, they just weren't as bad as that. I didn't want the drugs they were giving me, or the pitying looks you're giving me now.'

'You should've told me. I could have helped you- don't let your pride get in the way of you getting better.'

Jac didn't reply and Connie guessed she was either tired or realised she had no argument for that.

'Anyway, go back to sleep and we can talk more in the morning.' She got up to leave but hesitated as she felt Jac's gaze on the back of her neck. As she turned around, her expression was one of pure terror at being alone.

'I'll stay for a bit,' she amended, pleased at how Jac's expression softened with relief. She positioned herself comfortably at the foot of the bed, pulling her dressing gown tighter around herself as she shivered slightly. Connie watched as Jac tossed and turned, unable to get herself comfortable for quite some time. As the hours dragged on and she finally fell asleep, Connie couldn't bring herself to leave for fear of Jac needing her again. Instead, she climbed further up the bed, drew a blanket around herself and closed her eyes, leaning against the headboard as she slipped into a light sleep, half of her brain ready to jump into action in case she was needed.

Jac

'I think it could be a good idea to have you referred to Psych, what do you think?' Connie asked Jac hesitantly the next morning as they sat in front of the TV. The conversation would go one of two ways: Jac would be on board with the idea or she'd berate Connie for having even come up with such a suggestion.

'More therapy? I just finished my last lot!'

'Jac, I saw the letters. You didn't finish therapy, you skipped appointments and refused to go back. I just think it could be a good idea, what with the nightmares and all.'

Jac sighed. It was perfectly reasonable for Connie to make such a suggestion, but she hated therapy so much. In her opinion, it was a lot of nonsense and just an hour of her time wasted each week. But on the other hand, she wasn't sleeping and if Max ever found out, she probably wouldn't be allowed back into work.

'I'll speak with Lucky Simpson about it,' she eventually muttered, rolling her eyes jokingly at Connie's sigh of relief. 'God, these people are so stupid!'

'Wow, who'd have thought that the great Jac Naylor would have been so emotionally invested in a quiz show?' Connie laughed.

'Shut up, it's you that's had me cooped up inside for the majority of this week. No wonder I'm going stir crazy,' Jac retorted jokingly. It was amazing, really, how quickly she had settled into trusting Connie, allowing her to gently mock her while knowing that she didn't mean a word of it. The pair understood each other, and that was all Jac needed to ensure she could carry on.