As the January sunlight broke through the crack in the blinds of the private side room Jonny stirred in the green armchair. After letting his eyes adjust to his surroundings he remembered where he was. Looking up to the hospital bed it was clear that Jac was still deep in a peaceful slumber. He daren't wake her; she had spent the best part of the night staring into space- impossible to comfort.

The Nurse stepped out of the room quietly, in need of some air. Outside the cocoon of their private bay the normal runnings of the hospital continued, as if the birth of their daughter was an everyday occurrence- which it was. It came as a relief to the Scotsman, a sense of normality.

'Ah Jonny' smiled Mr T as he walked around the corner nearly knocking the new father over 'Morning'

'Hi' he replied shaking the gynaecologist's hand

'How's Jac?'

'Asleep. The whole thing has knocked her for six' he explained rubbing his face 'Do you know how our daughter's doing?'

'I'm just heading down to check on her actually. Er, you could join me?' Asked Mr T carefully. Jonny didn't reply, just simply nodded his head and followed the taller male.

The short walk was done in complete silence. It was obvious that even Mr T was nervous about what he may be faced with on his arrival at NICU. On arrival he keyed in the code to enter the secured unit and then used the gel to sterilise his hands; Jonny followed suit.

'She was moved after you left yesterday so she could be monitored around the clock during the night' he pointed over to the right 'If you'd like to follow me' Approaching the sterile incubator Jonny immediately recognised the small tuft of hair he'd etched in his mind; making him smile broadly. While he gazed at the tiny baby Mr T consulted with the on-duty nurses; talking figures and statistics.

The baby's positioning had been moved overnight to avoid pressure sores. Her body was still riddled with wiring and tubes enabling her to fight and survive.

'Hello darling' her father whispered 'Aren't you a beautiful wee thing'

'Right, I've looked at her charts and spoken with the nurses who have been looking after her.' Started Mr T. 'Er As-as you know she wasn't breathing on delivery but after some work they managed to even out her stats. She's showing some positive signs at the moment but she's most certainly not out of the woods yet. She's a fighter though, I'll give her that' the two peered over the glorified box.

'Just like her mum then, ey?' smiled Jonny

'Absolutely' he reassured, placing a hand on Maconie's s back 'Would Jac like to see her?'

'I don't know...I think so. Do you-do you think she's ready?' he stuttered barely able to answer.

Nurse Maconie walked back to maternity- a sense of renewed energy filled his body. He still wore the same clothes he had put on the day before; a shower and change of clothes the furthest thought from his mind. He pressed the buzzer to be let in and a new voice replied 'Come on through Jonny' his presence on the ward already well noted.

He paused outside the side ward and looked through the window; Jac still lay asleep in the hospital bed. The previous day's activity had clearly worn her out. Jonny crept in quietly and took his place back in the old armchair. He tentatively held onto Jac's hand and looked at her relaxed features. The slight touched stirred the woman from her sleep- immediately her eyes were coloured in pain.

'Jac...' Jonny uttered 'Jac, it's alright. You're in a side ward on maternity'

'I know where I am!' she replied sharply 'How-how is she? How is she Jonny?'

'I've just been with Mr T to see her and she's a wee fighter. She looks so so peaceful, not a sign that she's suffering at all' the new mother seemed to relax a little 'Mr T said I can take you to see her today'

Jac's stalled for a second trying to come up with a believed excuse to get out of the encounter 'There's no need for me to be by her side. I can't do anything for her. I'm no use to her' she whispered, her eyes brimming with sharp tears.

'You mustn't think like that. You're her mother Jac, she needs you to protect her from the world. Believe it or not Naylor; you're a mum now' His ex-partner smiled a little at realising that she was actually a mum; her daughter was alive.

Just as he had little more than twenty-four hours ago Jonny eased Jac into a wheelchair. He'd stood outside the room for over an hour whilst she had dressed herself in a spare pair of blue scrubs. From the other side of the door the excited Nurse had heard Ms Naylor quietly crying to herself- it hit him how vulnerable the female was.

'When I saw her yesterday they had her in the left wing but when Mr T took me down today they'd moved her to the right so she could be watched round the clock during the night' babbled Maconie whilst pushing the wheelchair through the corridors of Holby. Jac kept her head down- hating being seen in such a compromising situation. 'She hasn't got any clothes on yet...obviously because of the er tubing and wires. They've done a great job with the incision into her wee stomach'

For Jac the journey to NICU passed in a blur. Each step closer they came to the ward the faster her heartbeat became, her hands beginning to shake a little. After being let onto the secured ward Jonny stopped in the reception area and bent down in front of Jac.

'You ready?' he asked, looking her in the eyes 'She's just through that door' he pointed in front of them. The female nodded and took a deep breath, clenching her hands together. Jonny stood back up and walked backwards, pulling the wheelchair into the room. He parked the chair next to the plastic incubator.

'There she is Jac. There's our daughter' The consultant lifted her head and with Jonny's help stood up to take a closer look. Her ex held onto her to ensure she didn't fall. He had been right; she had the same hair as her mother, and her hands were laying palm face-up. The tubing that covered her was extraordinary. Of course this particular Consultant worked on people who were on the brink of death on a daily basis but for such a tiny child to need so much help was painful.

'Would you-would you like to hold her hand?' uttered the father to which there was no response. Instead the male nurse unclipped the small opening and pulled the cover open. 'There you go Jac. Hold her hand' reluctantly the red-head slipped her bony hand inside and gently took hold of the tiny hand that lay in front of her, rubbing it with her thumb. It was just about the only part of the girl's body that wasn't hidden underneath medical equipment.

'Jonny' called a familiar voice 'I've got er Ralph? Here' laughed Mr T handing over the small baby toy 'He's been sterilized now'

'Great' Jonny smiled and squeezed his arm past Jac's to place the soft pig in the corner of the casing 'Thanks Mr T' In respect to their daughter's size, the animal almost certainly seemed gigantic.

'It's good to see you here, Jac' encourage the male gynaecologist 'I know all this must be a shock for you. Your daughter's an impatient madam' he wittered before catching a glimpse of Jac's raised eyebrows 'I'll give you some space... I've called an MDT meeting for twelve o'clock tomorrow to discuss where we go from here'

Once the infuriating man had left the room Jac collapsed back into the wheelchair 'Take me back Jonny!' she ordered as he shut the incubator back up.

'Don't you want to stay a wee bit longer?' he questioned, a little taken aback

'Just take me back!' she hissed adamantly

'I think she's in denial... actually, I'm certain she is!' ranted Jonny pacing the Darwin office with Mo and Elliot listening 'She's barely spent five minutes with her and even then it was because I wouldn't take no for an answer'

'This is all very new for you both Jonny' Elliot responded lightly 'The birth didn't go to plan and we all know how much Jac likes to be in control of things'

'What the hell am I meant to do?' he questioned for the second time in a two days 'How am I meant to sort this out?'

'Just give her the support she needs even if she denies she needs it' soothed Mo hugging her best friend 'She needs you more than ever now Jonny. But first you need to go home, get a few hours sleep and a shower'

'No-no I need to be here'

'Seriously! Go home and come back this evening. You'll feel a whole lot better'

'We'll keep an eye on Jac, and the baby' smiled Elliot to which Jonny headed for the door with his bag.

'Mr T!' cheered Mo as she entered NICU. He'd spent more time than normal on the unit assessing Baby Naylor

'Mo!' he replied in an equally high-pitched tone 'It's great to see you, again'

'Ditto! ... Me and Elliot promised we'd keep an eye on the baby and Jac whilst he went home for a shower' she explained her presence

'Well, baby Naylor-Maconie is just through there. Come with me' he signalled taking hold of Mo's hand and leading her through the double doors. He pulled over a stool for Mo to sit on 'You can stay as long as you like. I'm sure she's aware of people's presence'

'Be honest with me, how's she doing?'

'Honestly? She's alive- that's all we can ask for at the moment. Every hour is a positive step forward though' he paused, letting the information sink in 'I'll be back shortly' He then backed away and went to find a member of his team about another patient.

Mo sat on the stool taking in every detail of the tiny baby lying inside the incubator. Just as Jonny had done for Jac, she opened the flap on the unit and put her hand in to hold the girls miniscule hand 'Hello there baby Naylor, its Auntie Mo here' Spoke the woman 'I see your daddy's put Ralph in with you. He came running into work with that the day he bought it eager to show us all. Now, Grandad Elliot and I want you keep on fighting for your mum and dad's sake. You got that? If you can do that I'm sure you'll be well and truly spoilt by us all'

A short distance away Elliot was sat with Jac in her side ward, trying his hardest to get through to her 'I hear you went to see her earlier on today? I bet that was a great feeling? I remember the first time I saw my two; I didn't think it was possible to love somebody so much' he rambled, sat in the same chair Jonny had occupied earlier 'What does she look like, Jac?'

'Jonny told you yesterday' she bluntly replied

'I know he did, but I want to hear you describe your daughter'

The pair sat silently for a few moments, Jac going over words in her head 'She's got a small bit of ginger hair, her hands are facing palm up' she explained before a crack appeared in her voice 'She's so tiny Elliot- so tiny and fragile' the Consultant broke down, tears rolling down her cheeks. Mr. Hope climbed onto the bed besides her and wrapped his arms around the skinny woman. 'Why did this happen to her?...she doesn't deserve any of this!' sobbed Jac into his shirt.

'I know she doesn't but it's happening Jac and we've all just got to deal with it. She needs you Jac. You may not think it but she needs her mum to fight for her' Elliott rubbed her back as her crying eased 'You're not alone; you've got me, Jonny and Mo. Nothing will change that. And nothing will ever change the fact you're a mother now'

Three hours after he had left the hospital Jonny entered again, this time in a fresh set of clothing and a brighter shine in eyes. He greeted members of staff as he walked through the hospital corridors, heading for NICU. From behind he could tell the figure sat at his daughter's side was Mo.

He barged through the doors smiling 'So I see you've met my stunningly beautiful daughter then!' chirped the Scotman

'I have. We said we'd look after them both and that's what we've done. I'm relieved to say she's definitely got her mum's looks'

'Hey!' Jonny joked hugging his best friend 'How long have you been here?'

'About three hours. I think Elliot's still with Jac' she looked at his clean shaven face 'Feeling better now?'

'Yeah. You were right. Couple of hours sleep and a warm shower and I feel like a new man!'

'Now you listen to me Maconie. Me and Elliot are here for both of you. Whatever you go through, we'll go through as well; as a team. Got it?'

'Loud and clear! We're going to get through this Mo' declared Jonny looking at his daughter 'I'll do whatever I can for the both of them'