Joseph didn't react in the way that Jac had expected, the way she had hoped. She needed him to retaliate, to vent his frustration, to slap her in the face just as hard...like the good old days. But no, nothing. He didn't even blink, but merely gazed at her; the steely, yet wounded, look in his eyes penetrated her defences which, once again, crumbled in front of his eyes. Vulnerable Jac Naylor.
"I really deserved that", uttered Joseph, swallowing hard. "I pushed you away when I needed you the most. I get that now...I was just angry, I didn't know which way to turn. I'm a bit of a hopeless case. Jac, I've treated you badly and I couldn't be more sorry...I need you. Now more than ever..."
They were both completely soaked through now, yet Jac, shivering violently, didn't move from her spot; Joseph's declaration was only acknowledged by the sadness that plagued her facial features, that flooded into her eyes. Then, as if on cue, they both took a step towards each other, and then another, until Joseph took the initiative and grabbed Jac's arms, pulling her possessively into a tight embrace. A sense of desperation overwhelmed them both, and, with Jac flinging her arms around his neck, and Joseph combing his fingers through her sodden locks, they kissed passionately. Fervently. They were whole again. In those few minutes, everything, and everybody, paled into insignificance; the rain was plummeting harder and faster but Jac Naylor and Joseph Byrne were oblivious even to nature.
After a while, Jac pulled away and stared meaningfully into her lover's eyes.
"Well, you're my hopeless case", she whispered sincerely.
"And you're my feisty bitch..." A small smile broke across Joseph's face. "I think we're compatible, don't you?".
Jac responded with a mock withering look, pretending to be hurt by his comments, but then the corners of her mouth twitched into a small smile, her eyes glittering playfully. The Naylor that he knew and loved was back.
"And I'm your feisty bitch", Jac repeated, more as an afterthought than anything else.
"I have to go now, though. I still have my son to think about". A look of disappointment flit across Jac's face, only slightly; this was not what she wanted to hear at all. Yet, holding her arms affectionately, Joseph tilted forwards and whispered something in her ear. Then, after kissing her tenderly on the cheek, got into his car and slowly drove away.
It was now the early hours of the morning. Jac stood there for a while, gazing meditatively into the eerie blackness of the night, however she eventually turned around and made her way back, her pathway illuminated only by the hospital lights.
Sacha Levy was standing there in the entrance, waiting. Concerned by his colleague's rash behaviour earlier, he wanted to know if she was okay; he wasn't used to seeing her in such an emotional mess.
"Jac! Are you okay?"
"Mhmm. What are you doing here?" Her eyebrows rose questioningly. Jac Naylor style.
"Just checking to see if you wanted that Levy squeeze", he grinned cheekily, sensing her good humour.
"Shut your face Levy, and go back to work!" Jac Naylor replied light-heartedly, walking inside. "I mean it, your boss has spoken..." The corners of her mouth twitched once again, revealing her dimples. In those few seconds, everything that she had said to him in the staffroom was mutually forgotten, an understanding reached. She had a friend.
"And what did Joseph have to say...?", Sacha called after her.
A pause.
"Oh...nothing. Nothing of importance".
If she was facing him, Sacha Levy would have noticed the brief twinkle in her eyes, but she was already gone.
Jac stood and waited for the lift doors to open, pondering over only one thing.
How on earth was she going to deal with bloody Henrik?
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"I'll come back for you, Jac. I love you"