Jill pulled up in the doctor's car park just after the ambulance had pulled up in its bay. By the time she had exited her car and run to it, Frankie and Steve were lowering the stretcher onto a trolley, with Meryl holding the drip high above it. It was soon pushed through the swinging doors into the redbrick building.

She followed the gurney into casualty, meeting Gordon in there. He stared at her for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face. She nervously glanced down at herself. She had to admit, she looked a state, but this wasn't a rare occurrence. Every week at least one of them came back at least once with tattered clothing, muddied or wet or bloodied, or all three. The perils of practicing in a rural area she supposed.

She glanced once more at Gordon and then at Mr Rose as he moved to stand beside her. "Severe laceration to the lower inner thigh and I think the femoral artery's been torn. Possible ankle fracture."

"Has you given her analgesia?"

"Yes, Pethidine, fifty milligrams, IV, twenty minutes ago." She immediately responded, there wasn't time to start analysing his tone, to try to discern his attitude towards her.

"Right just point six of a milligram of atropine please staff."

She watched as he took the vial and syringe Staff Nurse Taylor handed to him, and administered the drug with ease. She willed him to make eye contact, needing to know that things were okay. But he didn't. Whether it was purposeful or not, she wasn't sure, but there was no time for her to talk to him as Anita was soon wheeled away. Gordon and Mr Rose went to scrub up as Jill went to explain the situation to Mrs Barton who was being kept calm by Frankie and a cup of tea from Lizzie. Jill then went to scrub up as Gordon anesthetized Anita.


"Could you swab the wound please nurse."

Jill watched as Mr Rose made room for Staff Nurse Taylor to do as he instructed. She stood opposite him, Meryl to her right, and Gordon, anesthetising to her left. She drew her attention briefly away from the operation, meeting her husband's gaze, their eyes locking only for a second before he flicked his away on the pretence of checking the machines. None of their usual relationship was there, no hidden message was passed in the look meant only for themselves as would normally happen. She kept her attention on him, willing him to look back at her, willing him to convey to her some signal to reinstate some familiarity between them.

"Very very gently."

She turned back at Mr Rose's voice. Meryl swabbed the deep crimson wound with uttermost care and delicacy, skilfully clearing the area.

"Right let's have a look." The swab was removed, and Mr Rose moved forward, quickly but thoroughly inspecting the area. Jill watched on, spotting the offending item at the same time Mr Rose did and it was quickly removed. She wasn't strictly needed in the operating theatre, but the felt she had to see the child the whole way through.

"Ah there we are. Thank you." He put the steel clamp in place with delicate ease. She gazed upon the instrument, its metal one of the strongest materials on Earth, and yet it held something as fragile was an artery with its wall only a fraction of a millimetre thick, and its purpose so vital to the functioning of the human body.

Her attention turned from the instrument to its wielder. If anyone could save the child, she knew Mr Rose could. Despite being a bore with his golf talk, and at times infuriating, she had to admit he was a good surgeon. His skill was demonstrated as he completed the procedure quickly but thoroughly, taking no more time than was necessary.

"Done!" Mr Rose's triumphant exclamation caught everyone's attention. "If you'd like to finish her up Staff Nurse."

Beneath her mask, Jill smiled, exhaling slowly in relief. "Well done." She whispered, glancing at him, receiving a gruff grunt in response.