Another bit of a filler chapter really. This is only half of the original chapter I'd planned but realised it'd take me a while to finish it off totally, so thought I'd be better dividing it up. I promise there is some deeper stuff to come in the next few chapters, just not yet…but think a bit of froth and bubble is OK . As always, please review – I really like to know what people think.

Early Saturday Evening, Darwin

Jonny noticed, on his way back from doing his half hourly obs, Jil, who was still at the nurse's station, glancing up at the clock. "Do you want me to go and see how they're getting on in theatre?" he offered, correctly guessing that she was getting a little concerned about the time.

"Oh yes please" Jil answered, "if it's not too much trouble."

"No, it's no bother" he said, "although to be honest, I can't see them being that much longer really. Jac could almost do a mitral valve repair in her sleep and she's got the team so well trained that unless something's gone drastically wrong I'd say it'd be a three hour op tops. But I'll go and check anyway," he added, before setting off down the corridor towards Darwin's theatres.

"Thanks Jonny" Jil called after him

When he returned, a few minutes later, after being waylaid by Phillip to get his time-sheet signed, he saw Jil deep in conversation with Stephanie. Approaching, he heard them discussing work experience opportunities and, from the deepest recesses of his mind, remembered that Stephanie's daughter was studying psychology at university – Leeds, Leicester, somewhere that began with an L anyway, Lancaster maybe…."anything like that would be useful really" he heard Jil say. "And she could probably do something during term-time too, as well as in the holidays. I volunteered with Headway one day a week when I was at uni and I'm sure most charities would love to have extra people to help them out, especially now. And it shows willing too I suppose – that you're committed enough to give up your time for free, and I'm sure my Headway experience was one of the reasons I got my first psychology-related job, so it paid off in the long run too."

Jonny, sensing a natural break in their conversation, cleared his throat, and said, "Erm, sorry to interrupt but just to let you know they've just started closing up so I'd say Jac'll be done in about 15 minutes, 20 at the outside."

"Oh right, thanks Jonny," Jil said, glancing up at the clock, "Oh that's ok then - we should still have plenty of time," she continued, smiling.

"Anybody want a drink?" Jonny offered. "It's been at least 5 minutes since I had one, Stephanie?"

"Err, yeah alright then – coffee please, white 1 sugar, thanks."

"Jil?"

"Oh go on then, you've twisted my arm – a hot water please."

"Ok, 1 white coffee with one sugar and one hot water coming up." Jonny said, before turning round and heading towards the staff room. As he went he heard Jil and Stephanie resume their conversation, with Jil offering her services "And you can tell her that if she ever wants to talk to anybody about it, I'd be more than happy to. I mean I know I'm not an ideal candidate for her location wise but I'll give you my email, and I'll find out if I know anyone that's a bit more conveni….."

On his return a few minutes later with three steaming mugs, which he put down on the desk, he found Jil alone at the nurse's station. "Call bell" she said, in answer to Jonny's unasked question, "I think it's Mrs Phillips again", she added, trying, unsuccessfully, to supress a smile.

"Really?" Jonny asked. Jil nodded looking away from him in an effort to stop the laugh she was struggling to stifle escaping. Jonny, who was looking towards Bay 3 and so was ignorant of Jil's desperate efforts, continued, "If it is her again, that's the 4th time in the last hour. Honestly, think I might have to speak to Hanssen about instigating a no hobbies policy on the wards if they all cause as much disruption as Mrs Phillips and her bloomin' knitting." At this, Jil's already fragile defences , gave way and a giggle escaped, which she hastily, and unsuccessfully, tried to control by clamping both of her hands across her mouth. "What?" Jonny said, huffily "it's not funny you know. It's a waste of nurse's time – and it's not like we have nothing better to do than crawl around on the floor looking for patient's knitting needles." Unfortunately these comments tickled Jil's funny bone even more, resulting in another gale of laughter erupting, which, because of her hands being over her mouth, was soon transformed into a coughing fit, which left her struggling to breathe. At this, Jonny's attitude transformed from mildly affronted to concerned almost instantaneously, "Are you OK?" he asked, "Do you want me to do anything?" Despite Jil shaking her head he hurried round into the nurse's station and crouching down by her chair, began to say in his calmest, most reassuring voice. "You're OK, just try to breathe. Come on, take some nice deep breaths for me." Unfortunately for Jonny this had the unintended consequence of making Jil (who had always had a strong sense of the ridiculous) laugh even more. Jonny who was becoming increasingly concerned by the situation, stood up and said, a note of slight panic creeping into his voice. "Jil are you ok? I really need you to breathe now sweetheart. Come on, just breathe for me." And Jil, who could see how worried he was made a real effort and (even though she knew she was actually fine) eventually managed to gain control of the laughing fit, and began to breathe more easily again. "Oh thank god," Jonny said. "Are you OK? Do you need anything?...Oh god, don't you ever do anything like that to me again." And all Jil could do was shake her head, wipe away the tears the laughing-come-coughing fit had caused and concentrate on keeping her breathing calm and trying to recover.

"Jil are you OK?" asked Jac, who had turned the corner from theatre to see Jonny bending over her best friend, who appeared to be crying. "What have you done to her?" she demanded of Jonny.

"Nothing Jac," Jil managed to get out, adding "laughing fit" by means of an explanation.

"Grief Jil – I thought you'd grown out of them," Jac said, entering the nurse's station "she was always having them when we were younger," she explained to Jonny. "Oh, do you remember that one with the coleslaw?"

"Yep," Jil said, "how could I forget? That was funny though!"

"Oh yeah – hilarious!" Jac said sarcastically, "Jil I almost had to give you the Heimlich manoeuvre – that is not funny, it was seriously scary!"

"No, you didn't nearly have to give me the Heimlich manoeuvre, you thought you needed to whereas I knew I was fine." Jil objected. "And I kept telling you that too."

"Yes, but I couldn't hear what you were saying because of the choking noises you kept making and your gasps for breath didn't help with the whole intelligibility thing either." Jac said, determined to have the last word on the subject. "What are you doing here anyway?" she said.

"Oh Jac, you've not forgotten have you? The ball; drinking, dancing – our last hurrah!"

"Of course I haven't forgotten – it's just I thought we were going from mine."

"Yep, well I thought it would save some time if I came in, and anyway I was bored waiting at yours on my own."

"But what about everything we'll need – my dress for a start"

"All sorted," Jil said confidently. "Everything's in your office. Jonny can't wait to see you all dressed up – I've told him what a treat he's in for, haven't I?" she asked Jonny, who, still trying to recover, just nodded in reply. "But don't worry I didn't let him peek, so it'll still be a surprise."

"Right," Jac said suspiciously, "which dress did you bring for me to wear?" Jil glanced over at Jonny and beckoned Jac to come nearer and with Jac bending down whispered into her ear. "What!" Jac exclaimed, "why on earth did you bri…"

"Shush," Jil interrupted, looking over at Jonny who was all ears. "You'll ruin the surprise. Oh" she said suddenly, "you are still up for this aren't you? You're not too tired after this op? Cos if you are, we can just go home and watch TV if you'd rather. Apparently there's been some good football today so 'Match of the Day' should be good and"

"Since when do you watch 'Match of the Day'" Jonny asked, addressing Jac.

"I don't, she does" Jac replied, pointing at Jil, as she sat down. "I just happened to be sitting in the same room with her when it was on, that's all. And to answer your question Jil – yes I am definitely still up for this evening – it'd take more than a mitral valve repair to tire me out. Could do with a caffeine fix though."

"Oh that reminds me." Jil said, "Have you eaten since lunch?"

"Nope – I've been a bit busy saving somebody's life to worry about stuffing my face."

"Hah," Jil said, an obviously fake smile on her face. "She thinks she's funny" she said, addressing Jonny. "You're not" she continued, this time directing her comment at Jac, "not in the slightest! But luckily, I have a very forgiving nature so will ignore your sarcasm and provide you with something you can "stuff your face" with."

"What are you talking about woman?" Jac asked.

"Supplies," Jil said triumphantly, turning back towards Jac and holding the cool bag she'd picked up from the desk aloft. "I've got your tea in here - homemade veg soup and pasta, with Eton mess for afters. It just needs heating up, well not the Eton mess obviously but the soup and the pasta."

"What, when…when did you make soup?" Jac asked

"This afternoon," Jil replied, "I didn't really feel like doing more shopping after you left, so I just went back to yours. And well, I did say I was getting bored on my own there, and it was either cooking or cleaning and cooking won. But don't worry" she added, "I did clean up after myself, so your kitchen is just as tidy as it normally is. So, if you want to finish up whatever you need to do with your op, I'll go and get everything warmed up and meet you in the staff room, yeah? I'll even make you a coffee, can't say fairer than that.

"Well doesn't seem like I've got much choice does it?" Jac said, "seeing as how you've got everything sorted. Right, I just need to write up the operation notes, and then check on Beth in recovery, so I'll be about 10 minutes – ok?"

"Okey-dokey!" Jil answered, standing up, and walking out of the nurse's station "I'll see you in the staff room then…Oh, and Jonny" she added, turning round to face him on her way to the staff room, "she SO WAS watching 'Match of the Day' last time I was up – 22 good looking, fit men in shorts, who wouldn't be? We'll get her cheering you on from the side lines at one of your matches yet!" she concluded, shooting a triumphant smile Jac's way. "And" she called out, as she walked off towards the staff room door, "how many times do I have to tell you Jac – those looks of yours don't work on me? Never have and never will!" And Jac, who had indeed given her one of her best 'Miss Naylor' looks, realising the truth of her friend's statement, exchanged a smile with Jonny, shrugged her shoulders and got on with writing her notes up…...