Jessica: 36.
Adam: 41.
Linda: 34.
(These are the ages, I calculated the characters to be when Jessica was lying in her coma, and as this chapter is set during her coma, they are them ages)
For this chapter: Jessica never heard the message that Adam left her on the show, but deep down she knows.
Lucas and Amelia survived the accident, but are with their father.
The Secret Life Of Casualty.
Chapter 248.
"Jess, it's um, it's Adam, er, there's er, there's something that I have to tell you. It's about Harry. "
The young woman is lying in the bed, a ventilator doing her breathing for her, an NG tube up her nose, and a pulse oximeter on her finger. There is a man sitting by her bedside, waiting for her to wake up, but even though, he is a doctor, he doesn't know if she will. It breaks his heart. You see, the woman lying there is, supposed to be his wife, but an accident stopped them from making it legal. An accident which robbed them of their baby boy, a secret only the mam knows.
"Jess, please, " He pleads quietly, hoping that she will open her eyes to the sound of his voice.
The woman who is sitting next to him, can't believe that her friend, the friend she hasn't seen in 10 years, is lying in a coma. She's unaware of what has happened, the man doesn't seem to want to share.
As the woman who Adam learns, is called Linda, leaves, Jessica moves her head, slowly at first, before opening her eyes, blinking a few times, before settling on her husband. He whispers. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, " She whispers back.
The doctor in charge of her care comes in, asking her what day of the week it is, who is the president, just so she understands, as major surgeries can sometimes leave the patient feeling frightened and confused. She answers it's a Saturday.
Satisfied with her progress, he signs her release papers.
It is Jessica's first night back at home, in the detached house that Adam brought back when she was pregnant, it feels empty without Harry. In the corner of the living room, she spots Harry's Moses basket, blanket and teddy inside, it takes all her effort not to hurl it across the room and start crying.
"Hey, Jess, it's ok. " Adam whispers, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She hates him, it is his fault, their baby is in the ground, alone and cold. Adam heads upstairs to start dismantling Harry's cot.
She sits down on the couch, and gives a yawn, covering her mouth, she doesn't realise how tired being at home is making her feel.
There is a knock at the door, which surprises Jessica as she isn't expecting anyone. She gets up and catches a sight in the mirror, she has a plaster on her neck, covering the incision the surgeons made. She walks out in to the hallway and unlocks the door.
It is her old friend. She learns from Adam that Linda was there while she was fighting for her life.
"Can I come in?" Linda asks.
"I don't know" Jessica says.
"Oh, come on Jess. " Linda uses the same voice, that she used when they were younger, when she tried to convince her to come out.
"Sure" She replies, as she allows Linda in to the house. She walks in to the kitchen, opens the cupboard and gets out two wine glasses, taking them through to the living room, she puts them on the table as she unscrews the lid on the bottle, pouring the liquid in to the glasses and she hands one to Linda, as her eyes catch a picture on the wall, it is of Harry, her precious baby, further along the wall, there is one of her older children.
Linda picks up her glass and takes a sip. Turning to face Jessica, she kisses her.
Jessica pulls back, stunned. What the hell does Linda think she is doing? Adam could come down at any moment and catch them. She tells Linda to leave and is grateful when she does. She hopes it won't happen again.
The next day, at work, Jessica hopes she won't be paired with Linda, but as she walks through the double doors, Zoe informs her that she is.
"We need to talk, " Linda tells Jessica as she's on a break, in the staff room.
"I know, " Jessica replies, quietly, taking a sip of tea.
Adam notices her as she walks out of the staff room. He grabs her arm. "Hey, what's wrong?"
She doesn't know how to answer. "I'm fine. "
"Jess?"
This is one conversation that Jessica doesn't want to have, but she owes Adam the truth.
"Linda kissed me,"
"What?"
"Adam. "
She watches as his face darkens. He warns Linda to leave her alone. She goes home as her shift has ended, but even though she's grateful that Adam has stood up for her, she's unsure about her feelings for Linda, they are friends, that's all, nothing more. Linda pleads with her to leave Adam, Jess is hesitant and says "I don't know. " She can't break his heart, it's only been a few weeks since they've buried their baby. And if she leaves, she'll be breaking his heart more.
Taking a deep breath she says, "Fine. "
To be holding a hand that wasn't Adam's felt weird. Adam spots that from afar.
Jessica knows that he is hurt and so is she, but she can't make this better.
They walk in to the staff room to change in to their scrubs.
Back at Linda's apartment, the two women sit in the living room, Jessica has just got off the phone to her daughter Amelia, who is in Saudi Arabia with her father and brother. It broke her heart to see them leave with him again, but she knew she was in no fit state to look after them. As she sits beside Linda, she moves her hair out of her face, and kisses her, but the older woman pulls back, she is betraying the man who gave her the gift of life, who saved her from a water death.
She tracks Adam down at the cemetery, where he is talking to their son.
"Hey mate, " He whispers, running his hand over the stone.
Jessica stands there, watching him, but he doesn't seem to hear her. "I'm sorry, " She whispers.
And he repeats: "No problem. "
It is Linda's 35th birthday and Jessica contacts their friends from "Holby Angels, "
Jess has organised a party and Zoe is helping her with the decorations. After that, she has a quick drink and goes home to change.
Zoe returns to the party and she grabs a glass of champagne. She heads over to talk to Tess, who is sipping an orange juice. Zoe chats to Tess and turns around, she can't believe what she is seeing Linda's arm is around Jessica's at her waist.
Zoe's mouth drops open in shock. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you two together?"
"Sure. " Jessica replies, quietly, she glances up at her friend to see the disappointment in her eyes.
"Does Adam know?" Zoe questions.
"Sure. " Jessica answers, quietly.
Zoe is aware that Adam is going to be cut up about this, he's worked hard to have Jessica in his arms, to have the family he's craved since his parents died in a car crash when he was 8, that left his younger brother Alex disabled. She leaves the party in tending to find him.
She finds him still at Harry's grave, she takes off her heels and sits down next to him. There is silence between the two, before Adam starts to speak.
"I'm leaving Zoe"
"Adam, don't joke about that, "
"I'm not, " Adam shakes his head sadly, he feels sad to leave his son, but he can't stay knowing that his wife is sleeping with another woman. "I've handed in my resignation letter. "
Zoe is sad to see him go, she hugs him and as they part, she whispers. "Take care Adam. "
"I will. " Adam replies as he walks off, taking his memories of Holby with him.
Jessica and Linda return to their apartment. Linda thanks her for a good night and as Jessica shifted in her arms, a star shone brightly in the sky, she then knew that Harry was looking down on her. She rested her head against Linda's as her eyes drift shut. It's been a rollercoaster as she learns her precious baby is dead, she had almost died, but even though she had lost her son, she knew that she had the kids and Adam to share her memories with and for that, she is grateful.
