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Jonny rushed out of the staffroom and looked wildly around him.

'Jonny Mac what's up?' his friend Mo called to him seeing his panic

'Have you seen Ava?' he spoke rapidly 'she was in the staffroom one minute and then she was gone.'

'Ok calm down' Mo tried to take control of the situation 'she can't have gone too far she's only got little legs, we'll start a search.'

'What's going on?' Jac appeared behind Jonny still dressed in scrubs.

'Don't panic' Mo spoke calmly and rationally 'Ava has gone missing'

'What?' Jac's face paled considerably 'how long ago?'

'I don't know' Jonny rubbed his face with his hands 'a few seconds maybe, a minute at most'

'How can you not know?' Jac voice wasn't angry it was panicked 'you were meant to be watching her!'

'Sorry….I…I was arguing with him' Jonny gestured to Joseph as he spluttered out some sort of explanation. 'I haven't got time for this I need to start looking' Jonny sped off to check around the ward.

'I can't believe my sister trusted me with her child and I've gone and lost her.' Jac lent against the nurse's station, her legs going weak as the reality of the situation sinking in.

'Jac calm down' Josephs genteel tones spoke behind her 'she can't have gotten far…'

'You have no idea do you Joseph?' Jac cut him off her voice now angry 'anything could have happened to her, but then being brought up in the perfect world sheltered from anything distasteful you wouldn't know that. It takes seconds to abduct a child. Perhaps if you were quite so busy distracting my fiancé than Ava wouldn't be missing, I could just…'

Joseph had stopped listening as soon as he heard the words 'my fiancé'. He realised there was indeed a diamond ring on her left hand. His heart sunk even lower. It would seem the male nurse had offered Jac what he could not.

'Ms Naylor I believe I have something here that belongs to you' Mr Hanssen suddenly appeared on the ward with a glum looking Ava in his arms. 'It would seem she was trying to find her mother, I intercepted her just at the top of the stairs here'.

'Oh my god! Ava!' Jac gasped as she rushed forward to take the child into her own arms. She hugged the little girl tightly. 'Don't you ever go off on your own like that again' Jac scolded 'anything could have happened to you!'

'I'm sorry Auntie Jac' Ava's bottom lip started to wobble and big tears formed in her eyes.

'Well all's well that ends well' Mr Hanssen spoke again 'she didn't get far, and I do think she's rather frightened herself enough not to try it again, haven't you Ava?'

The little girl nodded 'and I left behind Mr Bear'

'Come on, let's go and get him' Jac voice was still a bit shaky with relief. She positioned Ava onto her hip and she walked into the staff room.

'Jac?' Josephs face appeared at the door. 'Don't be too hard on Jonny, you were right it was my fault, I was asking him too many questions, prying where I shouldn't' he spoke sheepishly. 'I'm sorry' Jac nodded her head but didn't look at him 'I'm hoping you will consider coming tonight and help Elliot deliver the key note speech. I know he's being difficult but really the truth is it should be both of you, it is both of your work and ingenuity that have brought the Hertzig on after all.' Jac didn't acknowledge this but Joseph could tell she was thinking about it. 'Well I better go, Hanssen is waiting for me.' He turned to leave.

'I was sorry to hear about your mother' Jac spoke softly.

'I know I got your card.' He walked away as he recalled the condolence card he kept in his desk draw, taking it out to see her handwriting at will.

After twenty minutes and much nagging from Mo Jonny decided to go and face the music with Jac. He stepped into the staffroom to find Jac seated on the soft chairs with a sleeping Ava sprawled across her lap. Jac was absentmindedly smoothing the child's hair whilst she was lost deep in thought.

'I'm sorry Jac' Jonny spoke quietly.

'I know' Jac answered him.

'I promise to never ever let her out my sight again.' He sat down next to his girls.

'At least she didn't get far' Jac decided to let Jonny off the hook, the reality was Ava had managed to slip away within seconds and it could have happened with anyone taking care of her. Jonny's only crime was being distracted at exact same moment that the little girl had decided to act. 'What were you arguing about with Joseph?'

'I don't know, it was weird.' Jonny rubbed his face as he recalled the conversation. 'He was accusing me of holding you back, he seemed concerned that your career was fading away.'

Jac snorted 'he clearly doesn't remember me too well then, I've never let many man stop me from doing anything before.'

'You know in way he's right' Jonny took Jac's hand in his 'I should be encouraging you more to get your old feisty sprit back. I remember a woman who would go to any lengths to help a patient whether she had to break the rules to get it or not.' Jonny smiled 'And then that same woman would publish it; broadcasting it to the world 'hey look what I did and it worked', so more lives could be saved. I'm proud of your inventiveness and you should start believing in it again'

'Are you saying I've gone soft and lost my mojo?' Jac looked a bit insulted

'I'm saying you are a mighty fine CT surgeon and its time you started shouting about it again.' Jonny grinned at her. 'I think you should go to this dinner thingy tonight and present the speech with Elliot. It's what he wants, his research partner to be up there with him showing off his Hertzig. Elliot doesn't want to take all the credit for something you've helped him with.'

'I only made a few suggestions' Jac shrugged her shoulders 'it's still mostly Elliot's invention.'

'I don't think Elliot sees that way; if you hadn't helped him the Hertzig would have ended where it was, unfinished, unable to reach its full potential' Jonny kissed her cheek 'He is like a proud parent over you really. He once told me that a couple of years ago he realised you have the potential to be a better surgeon than himself and that at first he'd been cross with you because you had over ridden him theatre for the first time and you had been right. But then he had realised he should be proud because he had been your mentor and it had been him who had taught you not be afraid to try new things.'

'He said that?' Jac looked unconvinced 'because he's never said that to me.'

'He's a shy man' Jonny shrugged his shoulders. 'Go with him tonight and you'll see his pride in you.'

'What about Ava? I don't think I should leave her after last night'

'She'll be fine with me, and I'll invite Mo over. She loves Mo.'

Jac nodded her head just as Elliot bumbled into the room on his quest for a snack.

'Elliot you'd give the keynote speech tonight if Jac does it with you wouldn't you?' Jonny asked.

'Well yes of course I would' Elliot beamed.

'Well problem solved then.' Jonny grinned at Jac.

So what's Joseph Byrne like?' Mo asked as she and Jonny watched TV. Ava had been put to bed half an hour ago, Jonny having impressed Mo with his story telling skills.

'Strange' Jonny crossed his arms 'you know I just can't see what Jac would have seen him in. He was really pushy about her career, controlling almost. I can't imagine her being willing to put up with that.'

'You're not worried that she might still have feelings for him then?'

'Now I've met the guy most definitely not. She told me once that it was just as well it ended on friendly terms because if he hadn't left eventually they would have destroyed each other'.

The key note speech had gone well. Mr Hanssen and Serena Campbell were both pleased the hospital had been superbly represented and told the two surgeons so.

Joseph had been unable to take his eyes off Jac all the way through dinner. She had worn a dark green dress which brought out the green in her eyes and complemented the fiery redness of her hair which was lose and softly curled. He watched as she smiled politely as she conversed with some surgeons from St James. He remembered how beautiful she looked when she used to smile at him. He missed her.

'Could I have the pleasure of a dance Ms Naylor?' He asked her with a smile.

'You're forgetting that I don't dance' she smiled at him.

'Actually I remember you would dance if I could persuade you' he smiled back pleased she seemed to have forgiven him for the trouble he had caused at the hospital earlier that day. Jac sighed and took his proffered hand deciding dancing with Joseph was the lessor of two evils.

'You're lucky those surgeons were incredibly boring' she muttered to him as soon as they were out of earshot.

'I thought you needed rescuing' he laughed softly as he gently held her and waltzed her around the dance floor. 'I forgot to say congratulations on your engagement'

'Thank you' Jac smiled 'And how is married life treating you?'

'Good' Joseph lied. 'She's a wonderful mother to Harry' this at least was true.

'That's good. I'm pleased for you. I'm glad you are happy' Jac's voice was genuine and this pained Joseph even more.

'I'm sorry to hear your sister is so ill' he changed the subject.

'I just wish I'd gotten to know her sooner' Jac said sadly.

Joseph nodded his head, showing he understood. 'Ava's a wonderful little girl'

'She is' Jac smiled with pride. Jonny had been sending her pictures of the little girl all evening to show her all was well. 'Jonny and I are besotted with her.'

'May I cut in?' Ric Griffin interrupted the couple 'it's such a rarity to see Ms Naylor dancing I thought I better offer before she sits down again' he joked.

'Absolutely' Joseph smiled as he reluctantly let go of Jac. 'We can talk more later.'

'Has Joseph been bothering you?' Ric asked after Joseph had moved out of ear shot.

'No' Jac looked confused 'we're just friends, that's all'

'Well the way he's been watching you this evening I'd say he wishes you were more than that'

'Don't be so ridiculous' Jac huffed 'he's happily married, he just told me so, and he congratulated me on my engagement to Jonny.'

'If you're sure' Ric shrugged 'just be careful, that's all.'

Jac shivered as she stood out in the cool air. A Paediatric CT consultant had offered her his sympathies for Amelia and Jac had decided the room was suddenly far too crowded.

'Here' she heard Joseph say as he placed his dinner jacket over her shoulders. She had no idea anyone had seen her leave 'it's the end of October, you'll catch a chill out here in just a dress.'

'Thanks' she muttered.

'I was sorry to hear about your baby girl too.' He spoke softly to her.

'Amelia' she smiled sadly 'her name was Amelia.'

'That's a very pretty name' Joseph smiled.

'Do you think anyone would notice if I slipped off home?' Jac asked him

Joseph shook his head and then offered 'I'll drive you if you'd like, I haven't had a drink all evening'

'You wouldn't mind?'

'Of course not' he fished his car key from his pocket. 'Come on, I'm parked just over there'

When they got to the car he opened the passenger door for her and Jac smiled as she got in remembering how much of an old fashioned gentleman Joseph was.

'Thank you for coming tonight' he spoke as he drove her home 'I think it pleased Elliot too'

'You have Jonny to thank, he was the one who finally persuaded me.' She looked across at him 'of course I would have preferred it if you hadn't caused an argument with him and accused him of holding me back.'

'I'm sorry' Joseph looked embarrassed 'I had no idea what had happened to you, I shouldn't have interfered.'

'Well if it's any consolation you were right.' Jac looked out the window 'I have been hiding a bit and holding back. Take the next right' Jac directed Joseph 'and then it's just a bit further down the road.'

'It's been really good to see you Jac' Joseph spoke as he stopped the car outside the flat. 'You know I thought about you just before my wedding. I told myself to not be so stupid, no one is that beautiful. But you are Jac and I'm still in love with you'

'I…I…' Jac stuttered 'I have to go' she pushed the car door open and exited the vehicle as quickly as possible. Joseph waited until he had seen her enter the building before he drove off. He had either done something incredibly stupid or he had started something good. He couldn't tell from her reaction which.

Dun dun dun….! What do you think will happen next? :-)