MOST BITS TAKEN FROM 'LIFE AFTER LIFE.'

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Jac sat outside theatre situated in NICU, thoughts racing through her mind. Jonny slipped out of the room in which their daughter laid, leaning against the doorway and watching the Consultant. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and hold her close. He wanted to whisper words of understanding but instead, and rightly so, he stayed stuck to the spot.

The bang of distant doors could be heard to which Ms Naylor lifted her head and stood up, barely bothering to greet the Doctor. She walked at his speed down the corridor jutting out her desperate words.

'I've assessed the patient and thoroughly reviewed her notes both pre and post delivery. Oxygen levels are good. Cardiac output is adequate. She's well within the premises of which is considered safe to go ahead with the corrective surgery.' Crossing her arms the female made it clear she meant business. Jonny did his very best to ignore the fact she had referred to their daughter as 'the patient.'

Mr Solis humoured the women; investigating deeper and querying her words 'And do you think that would be best for the baby, to go ahead with the surgery?' Without stopping to think she opened her mouth again, as if she had planned the whole speech from start to finish.

I do. At this point more time won't increase the likely hood of a positive outcome bu any significant margin. The patient has survived the most critical point and can't improve further without the procedure, so why wait?' the question wasn't meant for answering but instead to state a fact that Jac was in fact right.

'You're right. I agree. She's ready. If there's a theatre ready I'd like to do the corrective surgery today' a nearly invisible smile graced the red-heads lips; she was right. Jonny too looked beyond happy- his jaw falling open.

'That's fantastic news. Thank you. Thank you very much' the proud father laughed shaking the surgeons hand and following him through the double doors.

After leaving his ex-partner to marvel over their daughter Jac had gone back to the ward to complete her first theatre slot since giving birth. She had failed to admit how much she loved their child, instead deciding her patients needed her skills far more. Jonny was bemused by her approach to the situation they found themselves in. He wanted to hold the woman down and shout that their daughter may die, but he didn't have the heart. Instead he had nipped up to Professor Hope's office, avoiding Jac and spoke to him briefly.

'Hi...' he spoke entering the room

'Ah Jonny, it's good to see you!' greeted the professor welcoming the man in 'How are things?'

'Not great. Emma's surgery is going ahead today' he explained, leaning against the wall 'And Jac's just left her'

'Does she know?' The older male questioned

'She was there. She was the one who insisted Emma was well enough for the corrective surgery to take place' Maconie used his hands to signal the frustration he felt 'What am I supposed to do Elliot? How am I supposed to make her spend time with our daughter before her surgery?'

'Leave it with me' nodded the Consultant. 'You concentrate on Emma and I'll sort Jac out'

Jonny lowered his head and made his way to the door. 'Jonny...She'll be fine. She's a fighter.' uttered Hope regarding the baby. After several moments of thinking Elliot too exited the office, making his way to find his female colleague. Turning round the corner he bumped into her.

'Jac, can we just go over the transplant facts?'

'Sure' she replied walking with him

'I've booked theatre for half past one' he instructed.

'Okay, that gives us time to sort out the paperwork and the parents'

'I will er head up the retrieval team'

'And you'll harvest from both parents or shall we call in a third surgeon?' she questioned, feeling a little vague about the facts.

'No I'm happy to do both' the details span around his head working out the precise time each operation should take himself ' er by the time er you've attached the first love I should be ready with the second'

'Good' the thought of the operation being an intimate and procedure pleased the woman, meaning she could take more credit 'What is it Elliot? If you think I've pushed Robbie into this somehow-'

'No-no not at all' he jumped in trying to justify their actions 'Helping someone change their mind isn't the same as pressuring them'

'And yet you have your pensive face on' declared Jac studying his face

'Yes'

'Your "I'm about to say something" profound face' she continued, crossing her arms

'Well erm I don't know if it's profound but erm necessary' the Professor fiddled with his hands, dodging the females sharp eyes.

'Well go on then get it over with'

'I heard a rumour that they're doing Emma's corrective surgery today at four o'clock'

'A rumour?' Her eyes narrowed

'Jonny might have mentioned it'

'I bet he did!'

'I can't help feeling that your place is with Emma' braved the aging fella

'My place?!' repeated Jac angrily

'Look, I have several very good surgeons on speed dial. I'm sure Robbie would understand'

Jac was well aware of her status, power and skill 'He was promised the best. I'm not going to rope in a substitute at the last minute. What are you trying to do here Elliot; help me to change my mind or pressure me? I can't tell!'

'I'll see you in surgery' he muttered swiftly before walking off

'Count on it!' the woman shouted behind him, and all the time they'd had such a personal conversation in the middle of the corridor. Of course the new mother knew he was right but she would use any excuse to avoid the harsh reality that the three of them faced.

To distract herself from the truth Ms Naylor had surrounded herself with work, rushing to get the paperwork sorted for Robbie's transplant case. Any other time she would have left it to the Nurses to sort out, but this gave her a reason to be in Darwin. At half past one on the dot she was in the wash room scrubbing up ready to perform the longed for operation. Elliot barged through the doors of her surgery.

'Hi...remind me what time Emma's surgery's due to go ahead?' he asked, a sense of fear in his voice.

'No'

'I checked the on-call availability if-if you want to step out I can have someone here in twenty minutes'

'It really doesn't both you at all does it sounding like a broken record'

'Not when the point is worth making, no' he insisted

'Well then let me also let me make my point again and this time with absolute clarity. I do not need to step out so please put a sock in it. Robbie needs me more than Emma, it's as simple as that'

'Robbie is not your child. Jac I just think-'

'Go and get scrubbed or we'll be here all night' she didn't need to repeat her instructions twice, the Professor had disappeared no sooner had he arrived. Jac leant against the sink staring at the floor. Her eyes stung with the prickle of small tears.

Just under three hours later she was racing from the very same theatre down to NICU. The healing incision on her abdomen burned with each hurried movement she made, but she ignored it; a sense of adrenaline kicking in. Stumbling through the doors she landed next to Jonny, clutching her stomach. To her relief their daughter still lay in the cot.

'Dr Solis had an emergency come in so erm they won't be ready for Emma for another twenty minutes' he explained. Tentatively Jac crept towards the sedated baby. Pausing for a second before raising her hand Jac let herself place her fingers on the tiny foot. The warmth of the soft skin was of some comfort. Jonny looked on pleased to some sort of progress.

'I'm sorry' the surgeon whispered indirectly 'I'm making this up as I go along and making a terrible mess of it all. But I'll be here when you come out of theatre'

The moment was broken by Mr Solis making his presence known 'We're ready for Emma now'

Jonny smiled weakly, his heart racing 'Okay'

The two of them spent a minute looking at their daughter for what they prayed wouldn't be the last time 'So I-I feel stupid even asking this but-'coughed Jac before Solis jumped in to save her the heartache of asking.

'We'll do absolutely everything we can' he answered whilst wheeling the cot out with a nurse.

'We'll be waiting' stated Jac; both of them watching their daughter being taken away. They stood there alone for a while, unsure of what to do. Each minute passed far slower than they thought normal.

'I'll meet you in the relative's room' suggested Jonny 'I'll go grab something for us both to eat.' For once his ex partner didn't argue as she left the room, the two of them going in different directions. Jac sat alone on a chair in the colourful room unable to think of anything else but her precious child. She imagined what they would be doing to her; cutting her open; breaking bones and rearranging her organs. Naylor herself had operated on people more times than she cared to remember but she had never been on the other end. She had never been a relative of someone in theatre. Usually Jac was in control.

'I never think about it when I'm in theatre doing my thing, there's always some poor sap back here waiting' she sighed, trying to pass time.

'Yep' Jonny replied whilst eating some chocolate

'Getting fat on vending machine food and being fussed over by nurses...no offence'

Jonny nodded and opened his mouth 'She'll be holding her own in there' All the time they'd been talking Jac had anxiously been pulling at the ripped fabric on the chair; a sign of the despair she was in. Jonny looked down and took hold of her hand, clasping it tightly to comfort her.

Hours later Jac and Jonny were again back in the NICU watching over their daughter. Her body was now wrapped in a host of bandages and her arms and legs fitted with more wires and tubes. Jac, as usual, stood further away from the cot than Jonny. The father was l want over, his hand on his legs, cooing the sedated child.

'Who's a pretty girl then? Who is daddy's beautiful wee girl?'

'She's a baby not a parrot' stated the mother before sitting on the chair beside the cot.

'I know. But she's tough as old boots...just like her mum' he uttered

'She's a Naylor, of course she survived the surgery' exclaimed Jac, stroking the child's arm.