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Jac had walked the short distance to Michaels flat and stood on his doorstep holding her finger on his doorbell.

'All right I'm coming , I'm coming' Jac could hear his American accent grumbling. The door open and Michael's annoyed sleepy face appeared. 'Naylor! What the hell!' Michael exclaimed as he took in a furious looking Jac stood shivering on his threshold.

'I bet you can't guess who just turned up at the hospital' she spoke through chattering teeth.

'Oh hell' Michael sighed 'come on, come in' he stepped back into the hallway allowing Jac to enter the warmth of the building. 'Jac I'm sorry' he said as he closed the door 'I didn't think she would just turn up like that'

'You just didn't think' Jac spoke angrily

'Hey now, I told Jasmine this wasn't a good idea but she was insistent she wanted to see your mother'

'She's not my mother' Jac breathed heavily, trying not to cry 'don't you dare…'

'Hey come on' Michael spoke softly placing his hands on Jac's cold arms, attempting to rub some warmth in them 'you've had a big shock, I think you should let it all out'

'Maybe if you'd have told me it wouldn't have been such a shock' Jac yelled as she pushed him away 'I can't believe you've all been plotting behind my back!' her tears began to fall thick and fast.

'Jac we weren't plotting, we were trying to do our best for Jasmine' Michael crossed his arms across his chest 'she wanted her to understand how much she'd hurt you, she wanted that for you'

'Really?' Jac spoke harshly as she wiped away her tears 'because all its achieved is my personal business has been broadcasted across the hospital again.'

'That wasn't meant to happen, Jac come on you know none of us would have wanted that' Michael was unprepared as Jac suddenly landed a hard bony fist on his chest. 'Whoa, Jac hey calm down!' he shouted trying to bring her out of her rage. After a few hard hits from her balled fists he managed to get a hold of her skinny wrists 'I'm sorry ok, I'm sorry' he spoke softly to her now.

'You should have told me' Jac gasped as her body shook with force of her sobs 'why didn't you tell me?'

'I did wrong, I should have told you' Michael let go of her wrists and wrapped his arms around her. She didn't fight him, instead she allowed her body weight fall against him.

'I'm so tired Michael' she sobbed 'I'm so tired of constantly running from my past.'

'I know' Michael spoke softly, gently sliding down the wall, supporting Jac's weight until they were sat on the floor. 'I guess we were trying to protect you' he rubbed Jac's back as she sobbed uncontrollably. He sat with her against his chest murmuring any words of comfort he could think of.

Ric took a deep breath and let it go slowly before he opened the door to the relatives' room to face Paula. The atmosphere in the room was tense and awkward, Ric guessed conversation between the woman and Malick hadn't been free flowing.

'How is Jasmine?' Paula asked.

'I find it interesting that you would ask that question when you deliberately ensured your daughter couldn't call for help.' Ric frowned at the woman as he sat down in front of her. 'You sat there and watched your own child suffering and did nothing to help.'

'I didn't want her to make me go' Paula spoke bitterly looking down at her lap.

'I was hoping for remorse, but I'm guessing that is beyond you.' Ric considered the woman for a moment. 'Jasmine is resting. Your little confrontation has exhausted her energies. She has asked me to ask you to wait for her to wake and then she's like to talk to you again.'

'And you? What would you like me to do?' Paula looked up and stared Ric in the eye.

'I would like you to leave and never return' Ric spoke calmly 'I think you owe Jac a life without yourself in it.'

'I owe Jac nothing' Paula spat 'she seems like she's got everything she wants'

'You owe Jac your life, or have you forgotten the gift she gave you so readily?' Ric had to try really hard not to lose his temper.

'I never asked…'Paula started to say

'You didn't need to' Ric interrupted her 'you knew you could manipulate the daughter you abandoned into giving you precisely what you needed without the need to beg.'

'I'll stay to see Jasmine' Paula chose not to show any emotion at Ric's words.

'As you wish' Ric spoke as he stood and exited the room, Malick close behind him.

'Wow, you most certainly made her know she's not welcome' Malick spoke as the door to the relatives room closed.

'It probably wasn't the most professional meeting I've ever had with a relative' Ric smiled wearily.

'It was amazing' Malick shook his head 'there is no way I would have kept that calm'

'Just make sure she doesn't leave that room' Ric spoke as he walked away in the direction of the office, embarrassed by Malick's admiration.

'Yes sir!' Malick gave Ric a mock salute as he stood himself as a sentry guarding the door.

Michael didn't know how long they had sat there on the floor of his hallway. Eventually Jac's tears had stopped and her anger had abated to be replaced by an exhausted silence.

'I'm sorry' Jac whispered eventually.

'Jeez Naylor, the first time I get an unprompted apology from you and it should be me apologising to you' Michael joked softly.

'well I guess it's not entirely your fault' Jac sighed 'but I wish you had prepared me.' Jac moved herself off Michael and sat beside him leaning against the wall. 'Actually if I'm wishing for stuff I'd rather your plan had worked and I'd never knew she'd turned up.'

'You know what I think you should do?' Michael smiled at his friend 'I think you should pick yourself up, dust yourself off and forget all about Paula Burrows. Why let her spoil your first Christmas with Ava?'

'That's true' Jac mused 'I suppose really the only way she can get to me now is if I let her.'

'Exactly' Michael was encouraged by Jac's new positive outlook 'you're not that twelve year old little girl anymore Jac, you are a successful woman with a loving family'

'What do I do about Jasmine?' Jac chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about the problem 'I can't go back to the hospital until I know that woman has gone so that means I can't see Jasmine'

'Why don't I call Ric?' Michael offered 'get the lay of land so to speak. If she's gone I'll drive you back to the hospital. If she's still there I'll drive you home'.

'Ok' Jac nodded. 'Can you tell Ric to tell Jasmine that I understand and I'm not angry with her, only at the situation?'

'Sure'

'I hope she didn't introduce Ava to her' Jac spoke quietly, knowing she had no right to tell Jasmine not to do so.

'Believe me, Jasmine had no plans of a cosy family reunion. It was meant to be as I said earlier, a chance for Jasmine to vent her anger' Michael stood up and stretched. 'I need to get showered and changed' he muttered, remembering he was still in his pyjama's.

'So where is Jac now?' Jonny asked angrily pacing up and down the Keller office.

'We don't know' Elliot spoke calmly 'but you know Jac, she'll be back when she's had chance to think.'

'I think I should tell Paula to leave' Granddad George spoke quietly 'she has no business being here.'

'No' Ric shook his head 'I think this should be Jasmine's decision. She said she wanted to speak to Paula again when she's rested.'

'Well I don't think that's a good idea' Jonny spoke still pacing angrily 'I agree with George, we get her to leave.'

'Jonny, we need to respect Jasmine's wishes' Elliot spoke reasonably 'you can't make decisions for her.'

'What about Jac's wishes?' Jonny suddenly stopped pacing 'it seems to me you lot have forgotten to consider the one person you were meant to be protecting.'

'The situation was difficult' Elliot spoke sternly now, not liking the criticism in Jonny's voice. 'We were hoping to get Jasmine's meeting with Paula done without Jac ever finding out about it. We thought we were doing the best for all concerned.'

'I can't believe you didn't tell me about it at least!' Jonny shouted as he resumed his pacing 'I can't believe Mo didn't think I should know!'

'Mo didn't know Paula had returned' Ric spoke in defence of the young registrar 'nor did Sacha. You need to calm down and stop looking for people to blame. What's happened has happened.'

'Mr Griffin is right Jonny, you need to calm down so when Jac turns up you have a clear head for her' George spoke to is grandson-in-law 'we also need to keep calm for Ava, I don't want her knowing what's going on'. The little girl had been swiftly removed to the on call room by Chantelle to have an afternoon nap.

Jonny stopped pacing at the mention of Ava's name. 'You don't think she's come for Ava do you?' he asked quickly.

'No Jonny, I do not think that is her intention.' Ric answered him honestly 'She hasn't mentioned Ava the whole time she's been here.'

'Oh' Jonny breathed a sigh of relief as he finally sat himself down.

Ric's phone started ringing. He looked down with every intention of ending the call when he saw it was Michael Spence. 'Excuse me' he spoke stepping outside the room.

'What a mess' Jonny breathed rubbing his eyes tiredly just as Granddad George's phone started ringing.

'It's Jac!' the old man exclaimed as her took the phone out his pocket. 'I suspect she'd rather talk to you' he held out his phone to Jonny, knowing Jac probably would have called her husband if he had a phone that worked.

Jonny took the phone gratefully and answered the call. 'Jac? Where are you?...ok, did you want me to come and get you?...Ava's fine and Jasmine is fine. They're both napping…no I want to come and get you…Jac…I am calm…right ok, if that's what you want…yes I promise to tell Jasmine…ok. Jac? I love you.' Jonny hung up the call and handed George back his phone.

'She's at Michaels, he's going to drive her home' he informed George and Elliot. 'She wants us to wait until Jasmine is awake, let her spend a bit more time with Ava and then meet her back at the flat. She said she can't face coming in whilst Paula is still here'.

'Maybe that's for the best' George sighed. 'Was she ok?'

'Yes' Jonny gave the old man a look of relief 'she sounded strangely calm and in control.'

'I want to talk to Paula before we leave' George spoke quietly trying to put more confidence into his words than he felt 'there are few things I need to say to her, things that I should have said a long time ago'

'I'll do it with if you want' Jonny offered, as he listened to George's voice waver in confidence.

The old man nodded his head gratefully.

'Jonny, I meant what I said' Ric spoke sternly as he led Jonny and George to the relatives room 'one angry outburst and you leave the room.'

'Yes, I've got it' Jonny frowned 'but I promised I wouldn't'

'I know' Ric spoke kindly now 'but Paula has a way of getting under your skin. I'll wait outside' he spoke as he opened the door allowing the two men to enter the room.

Paula's face fell as she looked up. 'What are you doing here?' she spoke accusingly

'I've been visiting Jasmine' George answered his daughter pleasantly, as though they were in regular contact. 'Why are you here Paula?'

'Jasmine asked me to come' she gave Jonny a long stare 'who are you?' she asked him.

'I'm Jac's husband' Jonny answered matter of factually.

'She's married?' Paula spoke in surprise. 'Any children?'

Jonny shook his head, unable to voice the true answer.

'I don't expect she'd have any plans to either' Paula spoke nastily 'she was always a bit cold that one, thinks with her head and not her heart.'

'You truly are a despicable woman' George spoke angrily. Jonny placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

'We had a child, a daughter. She died last February.'

'I'm sorry for your loss' Paula appeared to speak genuinely this time. 'I suppose now you have Ava.'

'Jac and I are her guardians, yes' Jonny confirmed for her.

'Well at least that little girl will have you, you seem relatively normal' Paula spoke not taking her eyes off Jonny.

'Jac is a wonderful mother' Jonny managed to keep his tone even 'warm, loving and gives Ava all her undivided attention. Ava is lucky to have her in her life just as much as we are lucky to have Ava.'

'You know what Paula? You'll never change' Granddad George copied Jonny's calm tone 'I just wanted to tell you that I am ashamed you are my daughter. The only good thing you ever did was bring those two girls into the world and you even made an unnecessary mess of that.' The old man sighed at the look of indifference on Paula face. 'The things you have done to Jac are unforgivable and you broke you're mothers heart using her as bait and leverage. I'm just glad my beautiful Jac is a born survivor.' George took a deep breath and let it out slowly. 'So for all the disgrace I feel for you being my offspring, it is more than outweighed by the pride I feel because of my granddaughters'. George span on his heal and walked out of the room.

'I think I speak for both George and I when I urge you to leave when you've spoken to Jasmine and never come back. Jac doesn't need you causing her more misery'. Jonny stared at Paula coldly. 'We have been through hell and back this past year and if you have any feelings for your first born daughter at all you'll stay away.' Jonny followed George's suit and turned to walk away. As he reached the door Paula spoke up.

'You know Jac surprises me, allowing a man to fight her battles for her' she smirked 'it is not how I raised her.'

Jonny didn't dare to allow himself to turn around to face the vile creature sat behind him, instead he spoke his parting words to the door knowing Paula would still hear them. 'The way I understand it you particular brand of child rearing did only harm and no good. Jac is, as George said, a born survivor, she is only and purely a product of her own grit and determination. I love her for all that she is and as a result she loves me for all that I am. Don't you dare try to belittle that.' Jonny quickly opened the door and stepped out into the hustle and bustle of the corridor. As he shut the door he realised he was shaking.

'Are you ok Jonny?' Malick asked him softly.

'Yes' Jonny lied trying gain control over his shaking 'where's George?'

'Ric's taken him for a cup of tea, didn't want Jasmine and Ava to see him upset' Malick gently placed a hand on Jonny's elbow and guided him over a chair. 'Come on, take a seat before you keel over.'

'Sorry I…' Jonny suddenly let his head fall into his hands as he let out a small sob.

'Hey its ok, let it out' Malick spoke handing Jonny a tissue from his pocket 'its clean I promise.'

'Oh god…' Jonny muttered trying to pull himself together as another sob caught in his throat 'you know I was so unprepared for that. I thought it would be the same as talking to a patient with a undesirable past ' Jonny took a couple of deep breaths 'but knowing that it was my Jac she'd hurt, it was hard' Jonny let out another shaky sob 'really hard'.

'I'll be honest with you, I was listening at that door making sure nothing kicked off. I heard every word. You did better than most people in your shoes would have done' Malick reassured the nurse he held a lot of respect for 'so go ahead let it out, I'm not going to tell anyone. You should be proud of yourself today and if Jac knew, she would be too'