Part 15

'No!' Ruth said bluntly as Jay stood in front of her after just asking if he could tell Big Mac and Noel about their engagement.

'Why not?' He questioned as Ruth puffed out her cheeks.

'Because you tell those two then they tell Jeff, who will tell Dixie and Polly, who will tell Zoe, who will tell Tess, who will Tell Charlie and Adam, who will tell Mr Jordan and then everyone will know.' Jay laughed at Ruth.

'That's not everyone what about Lenny and Yuki?'He continued to laugh.

'Jay you know what I mean so stop playing around.' Ruth said sharply.

'You're over reacting in my opinion and what's the big deal if everyone knows anyway?'He frowned at her.

'Because I don't want to make a fuss about it ok?'Jay rolled his eyes.

'No it's not ok I want to tell everyone that I'm marrying the most annoying, workaholic, control freak...'He looked at Ruth as she rolled her eyes before continuing. 'Beautiful, smart, amazing women ever.' He grinned at her.

'Please just for a bit longer.' She titled her head at him.

'Fine. But after that I'm going to stand on the reception desk and tell everyone.' He puffed out his chest.

'Whatever. Now come here and give me a hug.' Ruth held her arms open.

Jay approached her wrapping his arms around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. They stayed there for a few minutes before Ruth pulled her head away and looked up at Jay as he played with her hair.

'We better get back.' Jay sighed deeply.

'I completely forgot we were at work.' Ruth laughed at him.

'Am I that much of a distraction?'Ruth pouted at him.

'Yes.' Jay grinned at her as she walked towards her locker.

'Well I better stay away from you nurse Faldren.' Jay approached her as she went to leave the staffroom.

'What without a goodbye kiss, it's almost criminal if you don't give a goodbye kiss.' Ruth laughed before leaning up and giving him a tender kiss on the lips.

'I think you've got away with that now Dr Winters.' Jay said cheekily.

'Good. But I have work so I'm off.' She smiled at him before disappearing out of the door.

The shift went slow for Jay after extending his break to another ten minutes Tess had assigned him to cubicles. And boy was he bored. As weird as it sounded he wanted something to happen so he would be needed in recues, because the most exciting thing that had happened this shift was a child with a pencil stuck in his nose. Just as he wandered over to reception to chat to Noel he caught a glimpse of Ruth working in recues he couldn't help but smile, she loved a challenge.

'Alright mate.' Jay turned his attention to Noel.

'Yeah mate just bored.' Noel laughed as Jay lent himself on the desk.

'Well you only have...'Noel looked up at the clock.

'Two hours left.' Jay groaned at the thought of two more hours in this place.

'Well if you're not busy can you take this to recues and give it to Jordan?'Noel passed Jay a brown package.

Jay accepted the package and made his way through to recues, pleased he had a chance to see Ruth.

'Hey, Mr Jordan Noel told me to give you this.' Nick and Ruth looked up at Jay.

'What is it?'He eyed up the package.

'He didn't say he just told me to bring it through.' Jordan signalled to Jay to open it.

As Jay's hands ran across the top of the package the paper rippled open, Jay unsealed the last of the package and then a large flush of deep black powder came out, Jay's hands sprung away from it as he flung it away from him. The whole of recues stopped and looked as more powder leaked into the air.

'What the hell was that?' Jay's eyes were fixed on the package as Jordan and Ruth had similar looks of disbelief and confusion.

'Jay stay away from that we need to call Henry and get him to cordon of the area until the inspection team can get here.' Jordan removed his gloves and moved towards the phone.

'What? What's in there?' Jay stuttered slightly as he backed away from the package moving closer to Ruth.

'It could be anything; we don't want to risk contaminating the whole department.' Jordan placed the phone down and walked back over to Ruth and Jay

'You have to be joking me, this is a joke right.' Jay looked at Ruth and Nick for an answer.

'Jay calm down, we need to stay calm for the patient and wait for the result.' Ruth tried to calm him down as he began to panic.

'What if?' He went to speak but Ruth moved closer to him and took his hand reassuring him that it would be ok.

After a full five minutes of Ruth's reassurance Jay finally calmed down and began to think more rationally. At first he couldn't believe that he had brought a dangerous powder into a room that the women he loved the most in the whole world was in, and by that he was risking her life. He was taken from his trance by nick sending a sample off and a plastic sheet being placed around the door, it felt so unreal Jay could see the rest of the staff looking in as the containment team worked to secure the area. He could see Noel, Big Mac, Kirsty and Lenny leaving the building as the fire service entered.

'When can we get out?'Jay span around to see Ruth close to tears.

'Aww come here baby, I'm so sorry.' He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly as she nuzzled into his chest seeking the comfort she got from being so close to him. All Jordan could do was watch as the young couple comforted each other, wishing he had Zoe to hold.

'Right have you two felt any sickness or dizziness?'Ruth pulled her head away from Jay's chest and looked at Jordan.

'I'm good, but we haven't been in long so you never know.' She looked up at Jay as he stroked her hair.

'I feel fine to.' Jay nodded at Nick.

'That's good. Let's hope it's nothing serious and just some sick joke.' Jordan turned and walked back over to the door where the team were working.

'I'm scared.' Ruth looked up to Jay.

'Look I'm here and I promise to protect you no matter what. Just like I'll do when we declare our vows.' He lent down and kissed her soft lips still holding her close.

Nicks head span around quickly as the words slipped from Jay's lips.' Did I just hear correct?' Jay bit his lip as Nick looked at the pair.

'What?' Jay tried to pretend like he dint know what he was on about.

'You're getting married?'Nick eyed up the pair as they separated and Ruth slipped her hand down to Jay's and held it tightly.

'Umm...I suppose we are.' Jay smiled as Ruth blushed.

Ruth and Jay looked for his response. 'Congratulations, its great news.' He smiled at the pair.

'Thanks.' Ruth squeezed Jay's hand.

'So when are you getting?'Jay looked down at Ruth and waited for her to give him the go ahead. She gave him a weak smile and he turned back to Nick.

'Well tonight after the shift. We wanted it to just be us two, not make a big deal.' Nick looked shocked at Jay's confession.' Well Ruth wanted to not make a big deal about it, I want to tell everyone have the whole department there. But you know what she's like.' Ruth poked Jay in the ribs as Nick laughed.

'Well I'm pleased for you.' Nick smiled at Ruth.

'Thank you. It means a lot.' Ruth walked over to the patient that her and Nick had been treating before the accident.

Jay couldn't shake the feeling; he had it in the back of his head the whole time he watched Ruth talk to the patient. Her sparkling blue eyes blinking as she spoke and that perfect smile, he just loved to see it. What if he didn't see it again? They could be stuck in a room with a really serious poison and there was no-where to run. He looked up again as Ruth spoke to him.' Jay? Can you pass me some more morphine?' Ruth frowned at Jay as he walked towards her.

'Yeah, yeah. Sorry.' He looked at Ruth as her eyes blurred over and her face paled a complete contrast to just minutes ago.

'Ruth?' He touched her arm.

He didn't get a response, his girlfriend's fail body collapsed away from his hands as she slipped to the floor banging her head on the bed rail on the way. And all he could do was watch and then he clicked back into nurse mood and shouted Nick.

'Ruth? Mr Jordan I need you.' Jay shouted as Nick ran over to them.

All Jay could do was shake Ruth as she lay unconscious. The thought of losing Ruth suddenly becoming real.