As requested there is a little bit of Ava and Auntie Jac at the end of this chapter. Please read and review; thoughts and opinions are always appreciated :-)

Jac was scrubbing down after the successful operation when Jonny took the phone call from Michael Spence. He watched through the window at his fiancée as she was smiling and laughing with Professor Hope. He could tell both surgeons were buoyed with the success the Hertzig trial was currently enjoying. From the way Michael spoke as soon as he answered the phone Jonny could tell it was going to be bad news.

'Jonny when you and Jac are done could you come up to Keller and meet me in the office?' the American asked his voice depressed.

'Sure. Why?' Jonny asked confused.

'Jasmine has asked me to talk to you.'

'It's not good is it?'

'Jonny I need to tell Jac face to face.' Michael hung up the phone. Jonny watched Jac for a couple more minutes. If he could spare her seconds of worry and angst he know he would. He sighed as he forced himself to push open the door to the scrub room. Jac had her back to him drying her hands.

'Jac?' She turned around at the sound of Jonny's voice still smiling. 'Michael wants to see us in his office when you're ready. Its to do with Jasmine.'

'What?' Jac's smile instantly disappeared to be replaced with a worried frown. 'Did he say…?'

'He wouldn't tell me anything over the phone' Jonny interrupted her.

'Well go…go' Professor Hope waved the couple out of room. 'I can deal with the patient and his relatives'

Jac didn't need telling twice. She threw the paper towel in the bin and quickly exited the room pulling her cap off her head as she went. Jonny was close behind her and he managed to grab hold of one her hands.

'Hey slow down a minute.' He managed to get her drop her pace slightly. Jac didn't bother to knock when they reached the consultants office, she pulled her hand out Jonny's grasp as she barged through the door.

'Ah Ms Naylor' Henrik Hanssen smiled at the young consultant as she burst into the room. Jac could see Ric Griffin and Michael Spence were also in attendance.

'This isn't good news is it?' she spoke as her hand griped the scrub cap in her hand tighter. She felt Jonny place his hand on her shoulder.

'Jac I'm sorry its spread to her lungs and there are already new tumours growing on her liver and bowel'. Michael said as Ric handed Jac a tablet so she could see the scans for herself. Jac felt Jonny guide her to a chair and she sat herself down whilst she flicked through the images. The four men were silent watching her reaction.

'Well I guess this is nothing new' Jac took in a shaky breath. 'We knew she was stage four so this was inevitable.' Jac studied the scan images of Jasmines lungs. 'It's just so rapid' she muttered under her breath.

'It's spread and regrowth is disappointing' Mr Hanssen spoke this time. 'I had also hoped that perhaps Jasmine could have had longer.'

'Disappointing?' Jac looked up at her employer with anger burning in her eyes 'Its bloody unfair is what it is'. Her hand was still clenched around her scrub cap tightly. She handed the tablet to Jonny. 'I don't want to look any more' she whispered as she looked at the ground. Jonny looked helplessly at Michael. He wanted Jac to cry or scream or do anything to release some emotion. A silent and still Jac Naylor worried him.

'How is Jasmine?' Jonny asked.

'I think she was in shock' Ric spoke. 'Your grandfather has taken her home'

Jac nodded her head as she heard this.

'Well I think I'd better get back to ward' Mr Hanssen spoke again. 'I am sorry Ms Naylor' he offered his sympathy as he exited the office. Jac didn't respond.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes with the three remaining men watching Jac intently. She continued to stare at the ground her breathing was slow and even. Having worked with Jac for many years Ric recognised the look of concentration on the woman's face; he knew she was processing the information and working out what to do for the best.

'I'd better be getting back to AAU' Ric broke the silence apologetically. 'I can send Sacha up if that would be any help?' He asked as he reached the door.

Jac finally looked up and released her grip on the scrub hat still in her hand. 'No I think I need to get Ava and go home.'

Ric nodded his head and smiled. 'I think that would be good idea.' He exited the room looking over his shoulder as red haired woman finally broke down into tears. He quietly shut the door behind him leaving Jonny and Michael to comfort her. Ric knew his perceived role in Jac's life would not allow her to accept comfort from him and he knew any attempts to do so would be met with hostility. His role on 'team Naylor' was practical advice and stern guidance when needed. Ric decided what was needed now was a meeting with the whole of team Naylor and Serena Campbell. In his opinion these dealings with Jasmine Burrows were only undoing the previous efforts of the 'Naylor/Maconie recovery plan'. He silently cursed Michael Spence and Sacha Levy for introducing yet more heartache into Jac's life, however accidently it may have been.

After a good cry in Michael's office Jac had wiped away her tears and resolved to be strong for her sister and niece. She stuck to her plan and collected Ava from nursery and headed home to face Jasmine.

She had arrived home to find her grandfather anxiously pacing in the hallway of her flat.

'Granddad!' Ava had exclaimed excitedly when Jac had opened the door.

'Ava my darling' George had tried to match his great granddaughter's enthusiasm with little success. He relived Jac's arms of the little girl and gave her a hug. George set the little girl on her feet and Ava grinned broadly before dashing off in the direction of the living room still in her coat and shoes.

'Where's Jasmine?' Jac asked as she removed her jacket and shoes.

'She's in Ava's room' George informed his eldest granddaughter. 'She is just sat in the rocking chair not speaking or moving. I don't know what to do.' Georges voice had a hint of desperation about it. 'I don't think we should let Ava see her mother like this.'

'Probably not.' Jac agreed. 'Why don't you take her for a walk down to the play park? That way I can talk to Jasmine.'

'Sounds like a plan' George smiled weakly at Jac. 'I'm so glad you're here.'

Jac kissed her grandfather lightly on the cheek and squeezed his arm. 'Ava?' she called the little girl back 'Granddad wants to go on a walk to the swings. Would you like to go with him?'

'Yeah!' the little girl responded enthusiastically and Jac hoped her granddad still had plenty of energy left.

'Come on then' George put on his coat and hat before taking Ava by the hand. 'See you in bit' he smiled bravely at Jac and Jac forced a smile back before closing the door after them.

She walked into Ava's bedroom resolving to be strong for her little sister. She paused at the sight of Jasmine sat slumped in the rocking chair gazing at the far wall with unfocused eyes. Her frame had never looked more emaciated and she had a distinct look of hopelessness surrounding her like a shroud. Jac recognised this look as one of the condemned man. She had lost count of the number patients she given news of their impending deaths to. She had borne witness to many different reactions but it was the reaction Jasmine was displaying that always led to the quickest end. It was a look of final resignation, the defeat to fate and destiny. Why fight when the potential of winning had been lost?

Jac started tidying the room around Jasmine. 'You know Jonny would say I'm mad to do this for Ava and we should get her to help us so she'll learn to tidy up after herself.' Jac chattered as she tidied the paper and crayons that littered the table from that mornings quick drawing session. 'Granddad has taken her to the park.'

'I know. I heard.' Jasmine's voice was flat and monotone.

Jac pulled up one on the tiny chairs and sat herself so she was directly in front of Jasmine. She placed her hands on her sisters knees. 'Do you want to talk about today?'Jac watched as Jasmine shook her head. 'I'm sorry Jasmine. I really am.'

'I'm glad Granddad gave you this chair' Jasmine was still gazing directly ahead 'it should belong to you, you are a Naylor like our grandmother after all.'

Jac didn't know what else to say so continued to sit as she was with her hands resting on Jasmines bony knees.

'I think perhaps I will go for a lie down.' Jasmine spoke again in the flat monotone voice.

Jac moved her chair back she stood up. She helped her sister to her feet.

'I can manage thank you.' Jasmine said as she brushed away Jac's hands. Jac noted that there was still no emotion the young woman's voice. Jasmine walked slowly across the room.

'When Ava gets back with Granddad would you like me to send her in to you?' Jac asked as she followed her sister to her room.

'No I don't think so' Jasmine said as she lay down on her bed. 'I don't think I'm up to being a good mother at the moment.'

'Jasmine...' Jac started to say but she was interrupted by one last request from her sister.

'Can you shut the door please Jac? I think I just need quiet.'

Granddad George had decided to stay for tea and was impressed by the improvement Jasmine's lessons had already made on Jac's cooking. He had tried again to get Jasmine to talk but she had remained laid on her bed staring at the wall. On his arrival home Jonny had also tried taking Jasmine in some of Jac's Bolognese and a cup of tea. He left his tray of offerings with her, his chatter having been met with silence. When he popped back in an hour or so later the Bolognese hadn't been touched and the tea had only been half drunk.

'I think we might need a bit of help here Jac' George whispered to his granddaughter as he put on his coat and hat ready for Jonny to drive him home. Jac nodded her head and kissed her grandfather's cheek as he left.

'Come on pumpkin its time you had your bath' Jac spoke softly to Ava.

'I want Mummy to bath me.' Ava said quietly. She had become increasingly quiet all through dinner.

'Mummy's not feeling well Ava so would it be ok if I help you with your bath?' Jac knelt down so she was at the child's level.

Ava's eyes filled with tears 'is mummy cross with me?'

'Oh Ava.' Jac pulled the little girl into her arms. 'Why would mummy be cross with you?'

'Because she doesn't want to see me' Ava cried into her Aunties chest.

'Mummy is not cross with you Ava. She's sad because her tummy is feeling poorly again.' Jac scooped the little girl into her arms and walked with her to the bathroom. She sat Ava down on the closed lid on the toilet seat and turned the bath taps on. Whilst the bath was filling she wiped away Ava's tears with toilet roll and reassured the child that no one was cross with her.

Once the bath was ready Jac lifted the child into the warm water. 'Can you read me the very hungry caterpillar book after my bath Auntie Jac?' Ava asked her voice still a little snuffled from her cry.

'Of course I can' Jac smiled at Ava as she dropped the little girl's toy ducks into the water.

'Will Mummy be better tomorrow Auntie Jac?' Ava asked as she played with the ducks.

Jac didn't know what to say to Ava. She had never had to tell a child bad news before and couldn't think how on earth you broached the subject of death with one.

'Maybe she will feel a little better' Jac said a last whilst deciding to email Peter Smyth once Ava was in bed. Granddad was right. They needed help.