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Jac hesitated outside the hospital entrance as she arrived with Jonny and Ava on Boxing Day morning to visit Jasmine. Her left hand held by Ava's small fingers and her right was protectively enveloped by Jonny's.

'She won't turn up again' Jonny whispered in her ear. 'Malick ensured me Jasmine has made sure she won't return.'

'It's not that' Jac shook her head 'it's more the thought of hushed up conversations and hidden glances'.

'I refuse to believe Jac Naylor-Maconie would falter at the thought of a few hospital gossips' Jonny laughed unhelpfully.

'There are some things I just didn't want to be public knowledge' Jac shrugged.

'Morning' Mo smiled as she greeted the group stood just in front of the hospital entrance. 'You know when the automatic doors open like that it's safe to walk through them'

'Jac is nervous of gossips' Jonny joshed with Mo

'Come on Jac' Mo spoke sympathetically to the red haired woman, knowing Jonny's sarcasm was unlikely to be helping 'since when have you cared what everyone is thinking?'

'Right' Jac took a deep breath 'you're right'. She stepped over the threshold and walked with less confidence than usual into the hospital foyer. 'Elliot Hope, please tell me you went home last night!' she exclaimed as she spotted the professor purchasing a coffee.

'Yes of course I did' Elliot smiled, glad to see Jac looking so well after yesterday's events. 'Are you here to see Jasmine?'

'Yes we are, aren't we Pumpkin?' Jac spoke as she reached down and lifted the little girl up onto her hip.

'I popped down to see her this morning' Elliot spoke quietly to Jac 'she had a bit of a restless night I'm afraid'

'The antibiotics aren't doing much are they?' Jac asked sadly.

'It was worth a try' Elliot shrugged his shoulders uselessly. 'She could well be sleeping when you go up there, I convinced her to try a bit of morphine for the pain.'

'Ok' Jac gave Elliot a sad smile 'I'll come up and see the latest developments on the hertzig in a bit.'

'Right time for me to go and do some work' Jonny spoke as he and Mo re-joined Elliot and Jac after buying themselves coffee. He kissed Jac's cheek and then Ava's knowing Jac would take the stairs after yesterday afternoons lazy inactivity.

'Bye Uncle Jonny!' Ava called happily over Jac's shoulder as she headed for the stairs.

'That kid is so cute' Mo admired as Jonny waved at his niece. 'Maconie your statistic remarks to Jac this morning were not helpful' she decided to scold his thoughtlessness as they waited for the lift.

'What did I do now?!' Jonny exclaimed as they stepped into an empty lift

'Think about it. What precisely did Jasmine and the delightful Paula broadcast across the ward yesterday?'

Jonny thought for a moment before breathing out 'oh'.

'Hmmm' Mo answered him along with a stern look.

'I should warn you there is gossip going around and whilst it is sympathetic in Jac's favour it does deal with a certain topic she wished to remain private and you know how much she fears pity' Elliot decided to add in his own thoughts on the matter.

'Any suggestions?' Jonny asked pathetically, feeling guilty he hadn't taken Jac's hesitant mood seriously.

'I'm afraid this is a storm Jac is just going to have to weather' Elliot answered him unhelpfully as they exited the lift.

Jac had walked quickly to the ward ignoring the whispers and sly glances that were occurring in her wake.

'Ms Naylor and Ava!' Nurse Lane greeted them with her usual enthusiasm as they walked up to the nurses satiation. 'Jasmine was hoping you'd come in today!'

Jac smiled gratefully at the young nurses normality. She knew Chantelle would now know her biggest secret and the fact she knew not to treat her any differently meant a lot to Jac. 'Is she awake?' Jac asked.

'Unfortunately no' Chantelle smiled 'but the staff room is empty if you wanted to wait in there with Ava.'

'Hey Jac' Malick greeted his colleague as he exited the office closely followed by his son Jake 'could you tell this one that if you want to be the best you need to go to the best university which means being the best at collage also?'

'Perhaps you need to give poor Jake a bit of break over Christmas?' Jac smiled at the father and son arguing good naturedly.

'Thanks Mrs Naylor-Maconie' Jake smiled gratefully.

'Thanks Mrs Naylor-Maconie' Malick mocked joshingly. 'Did you and Jonny try out this new surname of yours, because it is one hell of a mouthful to say in an emergency' Malick decided to tease her for siding with Jake.

'I will still answer to Ms Naylor' Jac smirked 'anyway I thought you weren't going to pressure Jake into medicine?'

'Of course he'll go into medicine' Malick proudly put his arm around Jakes shoulders 'he's a chip of the old block'

'Or maybe there's something else I'd rather do' Jake spoke quietly pushing his father's arm off his shoulder. 'I can look after Ava for you Mrs Naylor-Maconie if you want to sit in with your sister' he offered.

'Wouldn't you rather be out with friends or something?' Jac laughed 'you seem to forget you're eighteen Jake'

'Nah' Jake gave an embarrassed shrug 'Christmas time is family time so whilst he's here' Jake nodded his head in Malicks direction 'I might as well stick around.'

'If you're sure?' Jac asked him as she transferred Ava into his outstretched arms.

'Of course, we'll be ok for an hour or so won't we Ava?' Jake smiled at the little girl who beamed as she nodded. She liked this young boy who could read stories with many different voices and draw brilliant pictures for her to colour in.

'Ok then, there's a few books and toys in here' Jac spoke gratefully as Jake took the rucksack off her and began to walk to the staffroom asking Ava all about her Christmas.

'He's a good kid' Malick spoke proudly as he watched his son.

'Yes he is' Jac considered Malick for a moment before deciding to impart her wisdom. 'Malick, who decided for you that you would study medicine?'

'No one' Malick scoffed 'the Malick makes his own decisions'.

'I thought as much' Jac shook her head 'push that boy into something his hearts not in and you'll both regret it' she spoke as she walked away in the direction of Jasmines side room.

'What does she mean by that?' Malick asked Chantelle.

'I think she means perhaps you should let Jake tell you what he wants to do' the nurse smiled.

Jac had sat beside Jasmines bed for half an hour, lost deep in her own thoughts, before Jasmine finally began to stir from her sleep.

'Hi' she smiled at Jac 'you came in.'

'I said I would' Jac smiled back at her sister.

'I'm sorry Jac, I shouldn't have asked her to come here' Jasmine apologised as she sat herself up slightly.

Jac shook her head 'she's she your mother you have every right to see her if you want to.'

'Michael and Ric told me not to but I didn't listen.' Jasmine spoke as Jac stood and rearranged her pillows for her 'I thought she'd show some contrition but she was just horrid'.

'I'm sorry things didn't work out how you wanted and she disappointed you' Jac spoke with such genuine empathy for her a lump formed in Jasmine's throat and tears flowed down her cheeks. 'Hey' Jac soothed her sister wiping away her tears 'don't upset yourself, you'll make your breathing worse'

'How can you be so calm and understanding?' Jasmine spoke through sobs, gasps and coughs making it difficult for Jac to understand her.

'I wasn't calm' Jac helped Jasmine to sit up right and positioned her leaning forward a little to help ease her breathing 'you can ask Michael if you'd like. I went storming around to his flat and spent a good twenty minutes taking it out on him'

'He's a good friend' Jasmine wheezed, her chest was staring to feel less constricted now.

'Yes he is' Jac agreed as she rubbed her sisters back. 'We talked a bit and he made me see something I hadn't realised. I'm not that scared, angry, confused twelve year old girl anymore. The only way she can hurt me is if I let her. So I'm choosing not to.'

'But aren't you angry? For all that she did to you?'

'I'll never forgive her if that's what you mean'

'Good' Jasmine leaned back against the pillows her breathing now eased although the effort had left her exhausted. 'Can you help me with something?'

'Sure' Jac watched Jasmine carefully, observing the differences in the young woman from yesterday.

'Can you help me to freshen up a bit? Granddad will be visiting soon and I'm too exhausted to sort myself out.' Jasmine was no longer embarrassed to have to ask her sister to help her with personal tasks.

'Do you think you could manage a trip to the ward bathroom?' Jac asked practically and she watched as Jasmine nodded. 'I'll just go and fetch a wheelchair then.'

'Jac?' Jasmine called her back as she was about to exit the room 'is dying always this exhausting?'

'It can be' Jac spoke quietly 'you're following pretty much the same path as most terminally ill patients'

'Oh well so long as I'm normal at something' Jasmine smiled mischievously to herself. She was sure she heard Jac's stifled laugh as she went to find that wheelchair.

Granddad George had arrived with Sacha not long after a clean and refreshed Jasmine had been helped back into bed by Jac.

'you know you could have asked one of us to help you bathe and change Jasmine' Nurse Lane scolded the young girl cheerfully as she showed in the visitors and took obs.

'I know but you're always so busy' Jasmine answered at the same time as Jac spoke 'I don't mind, she's my sister after all.'

Chantelle smiled to herself as she slipped the file back into the holder at the end of the bed.

'Hey Naylor, why didn't you tell us Ava had started reading?' Michael Spence spoke as he entered the room with Ava in his arms and Jake following close behind clutching a couple of Ava's new books.

'Don't be ridiculous Michael she's only three and a half' Jac answered him rolling her eyes.

'Are you sure she wasn't just retelling the story from memory?' Jasmine asked as Michael sat Ava down on the end of her bed 'some of her favourites get read to her a lot'

'I don't think so, Jake was reading her one of the books I got her and she suddenly read a page out aloud' Michael smiled at the disbelieving women.

'She was definitely reading' Jake spoke up 'she stumbled over a couple of the words but it was definite reading' he handed Jac the book they had been reading.

'How is that even possible?' Jac spoke quietly as she stared at the cover of 'the little engine that could' as though that held the answers.

'Come on Jake, let's leave them to it' Chantelle spoke kindly as she exited the room with Jake knowing this should be a private family moment.

'Well I remember a certain other young red head who was reading at a pretty young age' Granddad George chuckled as he picked up a notepad and pen sat on Jasmines bedside cabinet 'you would have been about the same age as Ava, Jac, when you read me out words from the newspaper as clear as a bell' he wrote down a few words in large clear script on the notepad before turning it towards Ava and asking 'what does this say sweetheart?'

'The cat sat on the mat' Ava read carefully and slowly. She smiled proudly when George praised her with a kiss and a cuddle.

'Bloody hell' Jac spoke under her breath as she sat down heavily in the chair

'My daughters a genius and none of us noticed' Jasmine spoke like a guilty parent 'what do we do?'

'Perhaps you could consider a pre-school instead of nursery?' Sacha suggested helpfully.

'No' Jac spoke firmly 'unless you want your daughter to become a swoty know-it-all child genius I suggest we let her carry on where she is as long as she's happy'

'But surely we should do something to help her to reach her full potential?' Jasmine spoke thoughtfully as she considered her daughter.

'She's happy at nursery' Jac argued her point 'she has friends there and it's not as though she wouldn't be encouraged at home anyway' Jac laughed 'between us we've already taught her numbers, the alphabet and how to read apparently. I say if its working don't interfere with it but if she starts getting bored we can put her in pre school. I've already started researching schools anyway.'

'You have?' Jasmine gave Jac a shocked look along with the rest of the people in the room.

'Of course I have' Jac shrugged as though it was no big deal 'obviously Ava's bright; she has a bigger vocabulary than Michael and can draw better than most F1 I've ever mentored.'

'Hey' Michael scowled at her crossing his arms.

'Of course I want Ava to have the best opportunity's' Jac continued ignoring Michaels annoyance 'but also want her to be normal and happy. I want her to have everything I didn't.'

'I agree with Jac' Granddad George spoke up 'Ava is happy and I most certainly do not want her to turn into one of those awful over coached socially awkward children you see in documentaries on the telly. I'd rather she was just Ava.'

'Me too' Jasmine smiled at Ava. 'Where do you think this genius gene comes from? And why did Jac get it and Ava get it but not me?'

'It definitely comes from your Grandma Naylor' George laughed 'I remember the day Jac shocked me with her reading skills. Your Grandmothers reaction was to shrug and say of course she's clever she's my kin'

'Its not always a blessing ' Jac spoke quietly.

'Right I think that is enough excitement for one morning' Michael spoke sternly watching Jasmines face becoming increasing exhausted 'let's get less people in here.'

'I'll go' Jac stood up 'you've hardly seen Granddad'

'I want Ava to stay too' Jasmine requested sleepily.

'Fine' Michael agreed 'the rest of you out' he held the door open for Sacha and Jac as they filed out of the room.

'I'm losing her Michael' Jac spoke quietly as Michael shut the door behind them. 'I'm losing my sister'

'I know' Michael spoke honestly 'she's reached the end now Jac'

Sacha put his arm around Jac as they walked towards the office. 'Its time to let her go now Jac' he spoke softly to her.

'I know' Jac nodded 'I just don't know how'.