Here's chapter 10, sorry again for making you wait. Enjoy.

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Christmas 2013

Christmas, there had been a time when Luc would have shunned the idea of celebrating it. In the past he would have done anything to avoid the festivities. Yes he would reluctantly go and share a soft drink or two with friends and colleagues during Christmas Eve and New Year and toast everyone's health and future happiness. He would sit and pretend not to be appalled as he watched normally sensible people behave in a way that made him recoil in his shell. Losing their self control as they stagger and stumble and try to warble karaoke songs into the microphone. Trying to convince Luc to let his hair down and loosen up, and don't be such a spoil sport. He'd rather be in his 'safety zone' of the laboratory or locked away in the peaceful solitude of his beloved camper van. Christmas was a difficult time for Luc. It had been since he was a small child, he wasn't socially equipped for what was, for him an arduous occasion. Polite awkward turkey lunches with his mother - sitting and waiting , watching - as he opened his presents under the tree and mumbled quiet thanks for gifts he would neither use or need. His mother was and is still a staunch Royalist and would always sit down at three o'clock on the dot to watch the Queen's speech. Occasionally his Uncle Thomas would come round bearing more suitable presents for an eight-year-old. A train set on one visit, followed by a science kit two years later. It was this present which really opened up a whole new world of possibilities and stirred a dormant fascination with all things scientific. He remembers once sitting in the kitchen, dissecting a dead mouse on the kitchen table, which he had found in the garden. His mother walked in and promptly squealed at the sight of a dead rodent with half its innards displayed and laid out in front of her. She ticked him off sternly and told him not to do it again. After that he took to the shed at the bottom of the garden armed with a torch. As he got older he had his mind firmly set on a career in medicine. His mother set aside half of her life savings and her brother generously helped pay the rest of Luc's medical school fees so that his nephew could fulfil his dream.

Now fast forward to 2013 and for the first time in years he was actually enjoying the prospect of Christmas and all that came with it. No feeling of dread or of reminders of other people having things which he didn't have. Namely a family. A strong sense of finally being part of something special and being able to realise he was not just a doctor – but someone who was a multi dimensional person. Luc no longer felt like an outsider anymore.

His pager bleeped and his mind was back on the job he quickly finished his cold coffee. He was being summoned to AAU. As he walked into the ward he was met by Mr Hanssen. Looking as calm and serene as ever.

"Ah good Mr Hemingway, I have an urgent case for you to look at. I would do it myself but unfortunately Professor Hope is currently incapacitated with a bad back. Meaning I will have to take on his cases while he recuperates". He draws back the curtain. "This is Mark Harris he's just returned to the UK after six weeks travelling in India, he is suffering a fever, headaches, muscle aches sweating and vomiting." Hanssen passes Luc Mr Harris' medical notes which he quickly reads.

"It looks like Malaria." Hanssen informs him. "The blood tests have not come back yet but I fully expect confirmation of that diagnosis shortly." Hanssen adjusts his glasses. "I will be in theatre, but should there be any significant change let me know please." Luc nods, as Hanssen strides down to theatre in that business like manner of his. This is not what he had planned today, a straight forward day with no medical complications and no grappling with diseases that are notoriously difficult to treat – and no patients at deaths door. He knows he can't pick and choose his patients. But today, he feels edgy and nervous for reasons known only to him. He adjusts the drip. Mark Harris has beads of sweat on his forehead and his face is only a slightly darker shade of white than the pristine white sheet beneath him. The whites around his eyes are yellowish in colour. Luc can see the young man looks terrified. As does the woman sitting by Mark's bedside.

"It says in your notes that you stopped taking the anti Malaria tablets due to adverse side effects. How long since you last took them Mr Harris?"

"About three weeks ago." Luc's facial expression remained impartial but Mr Harris' admission left him feeling somewhat annoyed.

"I see. Is there anyone you'd like me to contact for you?"

"No, not yet." His girlfriend looks at Mark pleadingly.

"Mark, you promised me if your condition got any worse we'd tell your parents. You heard what Mr Hanssen said, this could be very serious. They should know."

"I haven't even had the tests results back yet so what's the point in making them worry anymore then they have too?" He looks at Luc for backup. "Tell Natalie to stop panicking. It could be a bad case of flu, right?" Mark tries to sound positive – But he's not fooling anyone himself included.

"I'm afraid with all the symptoms you have it seems highly unlikely that you are suffering from anything else other then Malaria. I'm going to chase up the results, I'll be back as soon as I get them."

###

Eddi was on Keller today as they were understaffed and she had offered to cover. She was feeling upbeat and positive and was generally happy with her lot. Life was good with Luc. Olivia was spending Christmas with them this year. Plus they had just brought a house together. Luc still had his camper parked out on the drive. But seeing Olivia more often had made Luc realise if he was serious about becoming a family, then putting down permanent roots are essential. They still enjoyed regular weekend 'escapes' together.

"I'd be careful smiling like that, you could pull a muscle Nurse McKee."Michael Spence had caught Eddi unawares momentarily making her start. She rolled her eyes in mock irritation.

"Ha bloody ha. I must make sure I get you to tell me when you next see me looking happy in public heaven forbid!" She tried her usual sarcastic response but it hadn't worked she still couldn't wipe the subtle smile off her face.

"Are you sure you don't need me to call the psych team?" Michael had that wicked twinkle in his eyes as he quickly swerved to avoid getting hit by the large folder Eddi swiped in his direction.

"Alright, alright. Well Hemingway must be doing something right! Anyway I gotta go." Eddi watched him saunter off into his office. Leaving Eddi to do her ward rounds in peace.

###

"I'm afraid the tests have confirmed our suspicions that you do have P. Falciparum Malaria which can be dangerous. We will give you a course of Quinine through a drip. You'll will have to be monitored very closely to avoid any further complications."

"Complications? Like what?" Mark Harris fears were building up like a massive tidal wave that was about to envelop him completely. He'd never felt so ill in his life. He just wanted to survive this disease.

At the moment the type of Malaria that you have contracted, the symptoms appear to be relatively mild. But like I said you will have to be watched in case the severity of the illness gets worse."

"I still feel like crap." Mark said bluntly.

"Well at least we caught it early. The main thing is you're still alive."

"Thank you, Mr Hemingway. That's a massive weight off our shoulders." Mark's girlfriend was a little peeved at her partners lack of gratitude.

"Maybe phoning your parents wouldn't be such a bad idea now," Luc said.

"I will do. It's not going to be easy though, she wasn't keen on me 'gallivanting' as she calls It around India in the first place." Mark has a tired but relieved smile on his face.

"Parents tend to be generally more forgiving when their offspring's life is at risk. Trust me."

"You don't know my Mother!" Mark Harris said with a chuckle. Luc left Mark and Natalie to make the phone call in private.

###

It was the end of the shift. Eddi was looking forward to going home and lounging in the bath for a long hot soak in the bath. Her phone bleeped in her pocket. She expected it to be Sacha. She had seen him earlier and he had asked her if she and Luc fancied a meal out with him and Chrissie. She already declined the offer. Knowing Sacha he was checking whether she had changed her mind. But the text message wasn't Sacha at all but from Luc. It read: Meet me on the roof ASAP. Luc. X

Eddi read the message frowning at her phone. "Why?!" She asked herself out loud. She put the phone in her trouser pocket still puzzled. What on earth was he playing at? It was dark outside and freezing cold.

Ten minutes later...

She was hit by a very cold wind as soon as she stepped out on to the roof. At first she couldn't see a thing but as her eyes gradually became more accustomed to the darkness she could make out a faint orange glow and as she walked closer to a figure crouching down, there Luc was - busy lighting up candles of all things! There were seven in total lined up in candle holders.

"Luc, what exactly are you doing?" Eddi asked incredulously. Luc finished lighting the final candle. His face stood out in the candlelight. He looked up at her.

"Oh this? I admit I did struggle to come up with a suitable gesture. Doing things on a whim is not really me, especially not 'romantic' ones.

"OK, so why do it?" Eddi hoped she didn't sound ungrateful. "I mean it's a nice thing to do, don't get me wrong Luc."

"This is where we met." He stood up slowly. "As I recall you thought I was on the verge throwing myself off the building. Although how you came up with that ludicrous assumption I don't know?"

"Yeah, well I told you at the time it was a perfectly normal reaction to have!"

"Anyway, I came up here for some peaceful time to reflect. And there you were. Ready to save me from death." The sentiments were meant to be serious and they were but he was obviously teasing her as well. He paused inhaling deeply before adding with absolute sincerity. "This is going to sound like an awful cliché but I don't care because, you did save me in a sense." Eddi grinned.

"Thanks to you I found a Philippine hangover cure – and unbelievably found someone – although at first I thought you were a bit weird." Eddi was trying not to shiver. "I really appreciate what you've done here but if I stay here any longer I'll get Hypothermia." She said through chattering teeth.

"Just one more minor question to ask you. Now I have no idea what you'll say but." He reached into his pocket. Will you marry me Eddi?" Luc was on one knee ring in hand. Eddi just stared first at the ring and then at Luc.

"Y-You can't be serious? Are you joking?" She stuttered in a whisper.

"I'd say the ring is a pretty good indication that I'm not joking. Luc replied deadpan. Eddi looked up at the sky. Apart from the candles the only other source of light was the moon. There was no point in trying not to cry.

"You can stand up now, because my answer is undoubtedly a YES!"

"Phew. You had me worried there for a second." Luc stood up and took Eddi's shaky hand and gently slid the white gold band on her finger. "I never thought a day would like this would happen, but boy am I pleased it has. I love you so much."

"This means more to me then I can possibly put into words right now. I love you too Luc." They didn't even feel the cold anymore as they pulled into a passionate embrace. This was the start of their new chapter together. A new life as husband and wife. Something which they were both relishing and thoroughly looking forward to.

Well I finally have reached the end of this Leddi fic. Thanks to all of you who have read/reviewed this story and stuck with it throughout. Hopefully the ending is fitting and gives perhaps a more satisfying conclusion to the TV version!

I've loved writing this, so I may be tempted to do a sequel at some point!

Thanks again.