As Griffin entered Erica was sat up in bed, staring forlornly at her tray of hospital food. It was chicken hotpot today which included the obligatory pot of orange jello. He never could work out how they managed to make a pudding that unnaturally vibrant. Erica did not look impressed.

Griffin gave her smile as he checked her chart.

"Good evening," he said in full doctor flow, "And how have you been today?"

"When can I leave?" she asked abruptly.

"Sorry what?" asked Griffin thrown by the question.

"When can I leave?" Erica asked again.

"Is the food that bad?" Griffin joked.

Erica didn't react to the humour, she just stared back waiting for an answer.

Griffin sighed.

"You are still undergoing therapy. I recommend at least another week of observation."

"But that's just a recommendation." said Erica carefully. "I mean I feel fine! I feel like I could go home tomorrow."

"That is because of the Orpheus treatment. We still need to ease you off of David's meds and onto a new pain relief regime."

"Why, when Orpheus is working so well?"

"Because we all have concerns about the treatment's long term effect. David included."

Erica pouted.

"I have to get out of this hospital, I've got too much to do." She cried in frustration. "Couldn't I just keep taking the Orpheus treatment until after the New York premier? I promise I'll be right back in hospital and I will take whatever medication you choose."

"Erica." warned Griffin.

"This is important." said Erica sternly.

"So is your health." replied Griffin just as firm.

Before Erica could respond there was a knock at the door and Jackson peered in.

"Am I disturbing something?" He asked noticing the stand-off between Erica and her doctor.

"Please talk to her." said Griffin, turning to go.

"What's happened now?" Jackson asked looking back at Erica.

"There is no use looking at me so accusingly." said Erica a little sharper than she intended. "I was just asking when I could go home."

"Erica." said Jackson sitting beside her on the bed. "We've talked about this. They will let you go home when it is safe for you to do so. And they aren't going to stop you going to New York. They just want you to stay under observation until the day before the flight. It's for your own safety."

"But it's not just the going. There is so much more to organise."

"Such as..?"

"Such as I have nothing to wear!"

"You have closets of clothes."

"But this is a special occasion!" said Erica, frustrated that Jackson didn't seem to understand.

Jackson laughed.

"Well we were going to keep it as a surprise. But as you seem hell bent on spoiling it, because you won't admit that staying in this hospital bed is the best thing for you right now, I shall have to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Your favourite Paris fashion boutique is sending over a dress. It is, I have been reliably informed by Kendal, a one of a kind, never been worn in public before, design, fresh from the Paris runway. And it is in just your size."

Erica blinked in surprise.

"You did that for me?"

"Well with a little help from your girls. This is your dream, I see that now, and I want you to enjoy it. I care about you and I don't want to be the one to stop you. That wouldn't be very fair of me."

"You are a wonderful man." said Erica taking Jackson's hand. "I do love you."

"I know." said Jackson quietly.

"I wish you would come to New York with me!" said Erica.

"It's not really me, all the press and the bright lights. You go and have a wonderful time and when you come back we can start getting our lives back on track."

"Yes we can." said Erica smiling serenely at Jack. "There is nothing I want more."

"So you will stay in bed one more week?"

"I'll stay in bed." said Erica reluctantly.

"It's not so bad." quipped Jackson, poking the vibrant orange dessert on Erica's tray. "You do get to eat jello every day!"

Erica gave a polite smile to Jackson's corny joke.

That man never changed and deep down Erica hoped he never would.

…