PART FIVE

Henrik Hanssen stared at the computer screen in front of him. He was reading through the staff profiles of Holby City. Hanssen clicked onto a profile marked, Jac Naylor: Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon. Hanssen looked at it for a few seconds before clicking off. He sat back in his chair and checked his mobile. There was one new message.

I'll do it.

Hanssen smiled victoriously. If there was one thing he knew, it was how much the hospital needed Jac Naylor and he wasn't about to let her go without a fight. Since Jac's announcement to resign, Hanssen had been formulating a plan to change her mind and now at last, he felt he had just the answer. The perfect way.

Jac Naylor clicked her fingers authoritatively. All heads turned towards her. She had an important announcement to make to her team and now at last had come the time to make it.

"I'm not going to keep you all waiting, I'm sure you all have better things to do but I feel I must inform you that today will be my last here in Holby. This is my last shift." Sahira Shah looked appalled.

"You can't resign Jac!" She cried out desperately. Jac attempted a smile.

"There's nothing for me here," she explained.

"But what about your work, Darwin?" Sahira asked.

"Darwin will survive without me," Jac said unconvincingly.

"Please reconsider Jac, Darwin needs you," Sahira pleaded.

"I've made my mind up Sahira. Can you please just drop it so I can get on with my shift. It may be my last one, but I can still make it good," Jac said exasperatedly. Sahira sighed and left Jac to her thoughts.

Michael Spence and Sunil Bhatti were deep in hushed whispers as Jac walked past. She winked at Michael obviously.

"Oh if it isn't Bill and Ben," Jac said with a derisive laugh. Sunil glared at her and then returned to Michael, but Michael was not listening, his eyes fixed upon Jac who was slowly disappearing from view.

"Michael!" Sunil said loudly causing him to blink in alarm.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Michael said pathetically. Sunil sighed.

"You need to be careful over Ms. Naylor. I don't trust her."

"Well luckily for you, today's her last shift," Michael said glumly. Sunil's face twisted into a look of glee.

"Let's hope she doesn't say anything," he muttered and with that Sunil marched away. Michael looked uncomfortable.

A car pulled up inside the hospital car park. It came to a soothing stop and once the engine had died away completely, the front door opened slowly and its occupant stepped out. It was a handsome young man who looked to be no older than mid-thirties with a clean-shaven face and short brown hair that complimented him nicely. He bent down to wipe the door handle clean and then stood back up. Straightening his tie the man locked his car and proceeded to walk towards the hospital's Wyvern Wing entrance. It had been almost nine months since he had last stepped inside this building and a familiar sense of foreboding washed over him. His eyes flicked up to the sign nailed to the wall at the bottom of the stairs. He began to climb the stairs, taking care not to skip a step.

Jac looked down at her patient in disbelief.

"Let me get this right, you didn't come in earlier because you didn't want to make a fuss?" Jac's eyes flashed dangerously.

"You've got enough on your plate without my problems," the patient, a doddering old man, said.

"Have you any idea how much you've risked your life?" Jac told him. "Another day and you could have died." The old man looked at Jac in shock.

"Is it really that serious?" He asked, panicking.

"Yes. Mr. Davidson, I must warn you that due to your delay, you have seriously damaged your chances of a full recovery."

"There must be something you can do?" Mr. Davidson asked.

"I'm afraid your heart is too weak to risk surgery," Jac said with a hint of sorrow in her voice.

"So that's that then." Mr. Davidson looked forlornly up at her. "What do I do now?"

"We'll try to make you as comfortable as we can but it is my belief that you wont last the night." There was something about the helpless look on Mr. Davidson's face that made Jac's anger melt away. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the bumbling old man lying in front of her. "I'm really very sorry," Jac said uselessly.

The man exited Hanssen's office quietly. From here he made his way to Darwin. He marched softly down the corridors and headed for the on-call room. He rummaged around in the cupboards for the 'good biscuits' and made himself a mug of steaming hot coffee. He sat down in a chair, coffee mug in one hand, custard cream in the other. He looked up at the clock and prepared to wait.

Jac was approaching the end of her shift, there was less than an hour to go and her life would never be the same again. So much of her was invested in this hospital, her career, her relationships, her family. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by an ear-splitting bleeping coming from Mr. Davidson's heart monitor.

"I need some help over here! Crash team!" Jac shouted busying herself over Mr. Davidson's breathless body. Seconds later the crash team arrived. Jac grabbed the defibrillator. "Stand back," she said. Mr. Davidson's body gave an involuntary jolt. "He's in asystole." Jac's eyes were uncharacteristically sad. Michael placed his hand on her arm.

"Jac stop. He's gone." Jac looked up at him desperately. "There was nothing more you could have done," Michael explained.

"I know. I know," Jac said quietly. She brushed past Michael and made for the on-call room.

Jac pushed open the door and flicked the light on.

"Hello Jac," said Joseph Byrne smiling up at her. Jac's heart fluttered.

TO BE CONTINUED