Hi Folks. Sorry - this is a very short update, but really thought the next part needed a new chapter (which is I promise longer). As ever, enjoy and please review if you have the time - I really do like to know what everyone thinks and constructive criticism is always welcome.
Wednesday morning, Holby
Jac's flat
Jac woke suddenly, as if from a bad dream but with no memory of having had one. She rolled over on to her back and feeling Jonny next to her began to relax again. And then she remembered….'Jil' she thought and felt the dread suddenly sweep over her. She felt her heart begin to beat faster as she was suddenly overwhelmed by thoughts about what was what to come, what might happen. She was extremely tempted to wake up Jonny knowing that he would be able to reassure her and calm her down but glancing over at the clock which read 5.42 the less selfish part of her decided that she couldn't. He had a late shift today and had already had one disturbed night's sleep. And she had a sneaking suspicion that he hadn't slept particularly well over the weekend either. As, if she was honest, had been the case for her too. She had, she admitted to herself, missed Jonny's presence and, although it hadn't been quite as bad as when he was working those three night shifts, because at least Jil was there next to her, she knew that her own disturbed sleep wasn't just due to Jil's couple of trips to the toilet. And she was surprised to find that this fact, that she missed Jonny, wasn't as scary as she'd thought it be, actually that it wasn't scary at all. Instead it actually felt right somehow. She realised that following this particular train of thought had calmed her down somewhat, but also that, as there was no chance she'd get back to sleep, she might as well get up. So, after the briefest of pauses to look at Jonny sleeping she slipped as carefully as possible out of bed, trying not to wake him. After a brief toilet stop she padded down the corridor towards the kitchen, remembering just in time that Daniel was sleeping in the lounge so she couldn't go in there.
She filled the kettle and turned it on before walking over to the sink to look out of the window. The click of the kettle disturbed her reverie and she realised that she must have been gazing out of the window, seemingly without thinking, for at least three minutes. "For goodness sake," she said to herself, "come on, pull yourself together. You're not going to be any use to anyone like this."
"You do know talking to yourself is the first sign of madness don't you?" a voice said from the doorway.
And Jac, who had been startled by the interruption span quickly round and said, "Jeez Jonny are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Before continuing, "and talking to yourself is NOT a problem. If you hear people talking back when there's no-one there, then you might be in trouble, but otherwise it's fine. Just as well really, seeing as how you're always complaining that's what you spend your life doing with me and Mo," she concluded, grinning cheekily at him.
"Well I do," Jonny said, "you never listen to anything I say."
"Oh diddums," Jac replied, "do the nasty doctors keep ignoring you? Maybe it's because they can't understand what you're saying because of your accent."
"Oi," Jonny said, raising his voice slightly in mock anger, "don't you diss my accent. I could have you for racial discrimination for saying things like that."
"I'd like to see you try," Jac replied smiling, "and keep your voice down – Daniel's still asleep." She paused for a moment and then asked, "Which reminds me, why aren't you?"
"Why aren't I what?" Jonny asked, confused.
"Still asleep," Jac replied.
"I could ask you the same question." Jonny answered, having considered but quickly discounted the possibility of telling her about his internal 'Jac-watch' alarm.
"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep," Jac replied simply.
"Another nightmare?" Jonny asked concerned.
"No, I don't think so" Jac said. "Although it did all come back to me in a bit of a rush."
"Oh baby" Jonny said, walking over to her and giving her a hug.
And Jac stayed there for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of safety his arms engendered in her, before, as was her way, saying. "You can let go now, I'm not about to fall about at the seams."
And Jonny who had by now become accustomed to, if not particularly comfortable with Jac's usual response to displays of affection did let her go. But only after giving her one final squeeze and gently kissing the top of her head. To prove that, though he was doing what she asked, he would do it his way.