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Jasmine died peacefully in her sleep at quarter past two in the morning of January first. Jac had held her sister in her arms smoothing her hair, watching the muted monitors as her stats dropped into nothingness. She lay with her sister for some time, accepting what was but not wanting to disturb the peace of the moment. Eventually she was made to let her sister go by Michael Spence's kind words but firm grip on her as he helped her up off the bed. Jac had insisted she stayed whilst Chantelle Lane gently laid Jasmine's body out on the bed, removing the wires and tubes still connecting her to redundant hospital equipment.

'Would you like to brush her hair?' Chantelle asked Jac kindly, knowing some relatives found it helpful to be able to do one last act of caring for their deceased relatives. Jac took the hairbrush Chantelle offered her and stood starting at the object in her hand in complete wonder. 'She has such beautiful hair' Chantelle spoke softly touching Jac gently on the arm to bring her back the present 'she always liked it to be brushed and neat before she had any visitors.'

Jac walked over to the body of her sister and began to brush out her long red hair with light, slow strokes of the brush. 'Do you believe in Heaven Chantelle?' she asked quietly, concentrating on her sister's hair.

'Yes I do' Chantelle spoke certainly 'I believe that if heaven was made for kind hearted honest people then Jasmine most certainly will be on her way up there now, listening to the voices of the angels and seeing the beauty of it all.'

'That's a nice idea' Jac's voice was small as she handed Chantelle back the brush. She leaned over the body of her sister and kissed her pallid cheek. 'I'll keep my promise' she whispered to the dead woman 'I'll take care of Ava for you, just as you would have done, I'll love her and cherish her as if she were my own.' She kissed her sisters lifeless cheek again as her final goodbye to the extraordinary woman who had brought her happiness and changed her life so much.

'Are you ready Ms Naylor?' Chantelle spoke kindly and professionally despite the sad emotions that she felt deep in her stomach. Jac nodded her head and allowed Chantelle to guide her from the room as the porters entered, ready to take Jasmines body down to the morgue.

'Perhaps you would like to sit in Mr Spence's office?' Chantelle chattered needlessly as she led the bereaved woman to a place where she was guaranteed privacy. 'Should I bring you a cup of tea?' she smiled kindly once more as she held the door open, allowing Jac to enter the quiet room.

'You're a good nurse Chantelle' Jac spoke meaningfully to the young blonde woman stood in front of her 'I suppose you don't get told often enough, but you're good nurse'.

'I'll bring you that tea' Chantelle nodded her understanding that this was appreciation from the redheaded consultant and left the room.

'I phoned Sacha' Michael spoke quietly from behind his desk making Jac jump as she hadn't realised the room wasn't empty 'he's bringing Granddad George in' he watched as Jac sat herself wearily down the sofa. 'I'm sorry Jac. I really am.'

'I should phone Jonny' Jac spoke practically, ignoring her friend's sympathy 'he should know what's happened'. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialled Jonny's number. He answered the phone quickly, sounding groggy but awake.

'Are you ok?' he asked her as she gave him the news.

'Not really' Jac answered him honestly 'but it was peaceful at least, she died in her sleep.'

'That's a sort of blessing' Jonny sighed 'do you want me to come to pick you up? Mo's here so she could watch Ava.'

'No stay with Ava' Jac answered, despite her longing to be held by him 'I'll be home as soon as I've seen Granddad'.

'Should I wake her up to tell her?' Jonny sounded so unsure of himself, Jac's heart went out to him.

'No, it's only four thirty. Wait for her to wake up' she advised him.

'Of course, I should let her sleep for as long as possible' Jac could hear the self-chastisement in Jonny's voice.

'Jonny, when Ava does wake up I know you'll know what to do' she reassured him 'don't be unsure of yourself, you're the best parent Ava could ask for.'

'Ok' Jonny breathed. 'Jac, I love you'

'I love you too' Jac spoke quickly down the phone, hanging up before her sob could be heard. She felt Michael Spence pull her into his strong arms and she allowed him to hold her. She wiped away her tears and forced herself not to break down, knowing if she gave in fully to her emotions she was unlikely to be able to stop.

'It's ok to cry you know' he whispered to her, knowing her as he did.

'I can't. At least not here' she breathed deeply, keeping the tears under control.

'I'll drive you home, I won't be missed for ten minutes' he informed her as they stayed sat as they were, his arms protecting Jac from the grief and misery of the world outside the office door.

Sacha had enveloped Jac into a bear hug as soon as she saw her on their arrival at five thirty that morning. He was surprised to feel her hug him back so he held her tighter, releasing her only when he felt her squirming for her freedom. As they parted he could see tears rolling down her cheeks. He handed her a tissue from his pocket, knowing as little fuss as possible was needed.

'Oh my Jac' Granddad George spoke softly to her, taking her hand in his. 'My Jacky girl' he smiled at her miserably as he wiped away her tears for her with his soft handkerchief.

'I've not heard anyone call me that since I was eleven years old' Jac smiled sadly at her grandfather.

'Ah well I'll let you into a secret' he chuckled softly 'in the eyes of a grandparent granddaughters never grow older, to me you'll always be my Jacky girl.' He brushed a strand of lose hair away from Jac's eyes. 'Was it peaceful?' he asked her seriously.

'She was asleep, she wouldn't have known it was happening' Jac answered him honestly, knowing after watching his wife die in an horrific struggle to hold onto life this had been Granddad's main concern.

He acknowledged this with a brief nod of his head. 'I'm glad you were with her'

'She understood, you know that' she comforted her grandfather also knowing he still felt guilty that he hadn't felt able to witness his granddaughters passing after what happened with his wife. 'She got what she wanted, a painless, peaceful passing free from worry and stress. That's all that matters' she squeezed the old mans hand.

'You should go home, get some rest' he patted her hand before letting it go 'I'm here now to do the official paper work side of the whole business'

'You should see her, she looks so peaceful' Jac spoke softly to him.

He acknowledged this with another brief nod.

Jac arrived home at the flat at six thirty to be immediately met with the sounds of Ava's screaming wails. 'What's happening?' Jac asked Mo who was stood somewhat uselessly in the doorway of Ava's bedroom.

'We gave her the news about half an hour ago, Jonny did it brilliantly, she seem to accept it calmly and rationally until about five minutes ago when she tipped over the drawing table and developed into this rage' Mo informed Jac stepping out of the way so the red head could see for herself.

Ava was sprawled across her pink rug, her hair a tangled mess and her cheeks red from sobbing uncontrollably. Every so often the little girl would let out a mournful screech. It would seem the depth of the child's feelings were beyond the words available in her vocabulary. Jac looked around the room to see her husband sitting helplessly on the end on the child's bed at a complete loss as to how to end Ava's distress. The drawing table was up-ended its contents strewn across the floor. The wooden dolls house had also bore the brunt of Ava's anger, knocked backwards so all the furniture and dolls would be in a jumble underneath. Ava was not a child prone to tantrums, like Jac she was more of a brooder and disposed to long sulks, thus this behaviour was completely out of character for the normally placid little girl.

Jac didn't think twice about what to do, she scooped Ava up into her arms and carried the child, who hung limply from her arms, over to the rocking chair. The child was hot and sticky from the effort she was using to display her grief. She made no effort to cuddle up against her aunt, nor did she fight against her either. Instead she continued as she was lying floppily against the body of her caring aunt. Jac set the chair in motion rocking the child and smoothing her damp hair. Eventually Ava's wailing stopped and only her muffled crying could be heard.

Jonny stared at his wife in amazement, any attempt he had made to comfort Ava had only made her rage worse. Without words Jac had managed to achieve something he'd thought would be impossible. 'Jac…I…I don't know what's just happened' Jonny stuttered out, still stunned by the whole situation 'one minute she was doing ok and then the next' he gestured at Ava with his hands.

Jac shook her head at him 'this isn't your fault' she spoke softly to him 'this is grief'. She looked down at Ava's tear stained face as she continued to rock her. 'Could you run Ava a cool bath?' she asked her husband, knowing he'd want to feel able to do something useful for their child. Jonny nodded as he stood up and passed Mo on his way out of the room. Mo was watching Jac curiously, wondering how the woman knew precisely what to do for Ava.

'My mummy's dead' Ava mumbled against Jac's chest.

'I know Pumpkin, I'm so sorry' Jac spoke quietly to the child smoothing her hair, feeling the child starting to calm down.

'I'll never see her again' Ava mumbled, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

'No and that's sad isn't it?' Jac soothed the little girl 'but we can remember her, we'll always have lots of nice memories of her.'

'I was naughty, I did bad things to my toys' Ava sniffed.

'It doesn't matter Ava, we can tidy up your toys' Jac continued to rock Ava.

'Mummy would be cross with me'

'I think mummy would understand that you were sad and cross' Jac spoke as Ava started to sit up on her lap.

'What if you don't want me anymore?' Ava suddenly asked.

'Don't you ever think that Ava' Jac spoke sternly to the child cupping her face with her hands 'I'll always want you and I'll always love you, do you understand? You'll never ever be left on your own.' She watched Ava nod her head. 'I love you so much, you know that don't you?' she spoke softly this time and the child nodded her head again.

Mo walked away, heading for the kitchen, overcome with the emotion of what she'd just heard. She knew Jac was giving Ava all the reassurances she'd never had in her own childhood. This was how Jac knew how to handle Ava, the woman had been through a much worse version of this herself.

'You ok?' Jonny asked her as he asked her in the hallway.

She nodded her head 'Just go and be with your wife and child' she smiled reassuringly despite the tears running down her cheeks.

After Jac had bathed Ava the little girl became much calmer, although a little quiet and subdued. As Jac helped the child to dress Mo picked up the upset furniture and toys.

'After breakfast perhaps you can help me to put all the furniture back in the dolls house?' Mo smiled kindly at the child, who nodded in response as her aunt finished french platting her hair for her. 'Come on' Mo held out her hand to Ava 'we'll get breakfast whilst Auntie Jac gets herself cleaned up.'

Jac smiled gratefully at Mo, suddenly realising just how exhausted she was feeling. She made her way to the bathroom, listening to the sounds of Jonny and Mo fixing breakfast. It felt strange to hear such normal domestic activity on the day of her sisters passing. She turned on the shower and undressed before stepping under the warm spray of water. She was washing her hair when suddenly her own emotions caught up with her. She sank down to the bottom of the shower cubicle, sitting down on the floor and hugged her knees as her sobs forced their way out. She didn't hear Jonny enter the bathroom, she was only aware of his presence as she felt his naked body wrap her round her, holding her tightly as they sat under the spray of shower, sharing each other's pain.

'She died in my arms' she cried to Jonny 'I held her as she was dying'

Jonny tightened his grip on her 'At least that way she knew she was loved' he whispered to her. He softly kissed her forehead and her cheeks as she sobbed bitter tears of grief, wanting her to know that she was loved and always would be loved.

Eventually Jac's tears stopped and Jonny stood up to turn off the shower. He stepped out of the cubicle and wrapped a towel around himself before holding one up to Jac. She stood up slowly, feeling weak and worn out, and allowed her husband to wrap the towel around her. 'I don't want you to argue with me' he spoke to her sternly, gently touching the side of her face with his hand to force her to look into his eyes 'you need to rest so you're going to take one of those sleeping tablets Elliot prescribed for you.' He kissed her forehead and took his hand away from her face.

'But what about Ava?' Jac started to protest.

'She's calmer now, Mo will keep her occupied' he smiled softly at his wife 'and now we know the rocking chair trick I'm sure we'll be fine.'

'Trust me that was another flying off the cuff child care moment' Jac sniffed, wiping at her puffy eyes with a corner of the bath sheet.

'Jac you need to rest, you look exhausted' Jonny placed his hands on her shoulders 'so please just do as I say'

'Ok' Jac nodded, knowing he was right 'no arguments.'

Jac dressed into a pair of pyjama bottoms and one of Jonny's old t-shirts before slipping under the duvet of their double bed. She took the tablet Jonny held out for her and washed it down with the glass of water he'd provided. 'Stay with me' she commanded him 'just until I fall asleep.'

Jonny laid down on the bed beside his wife and cradled her in his arms. He knew words were not needed between them, Jac knew she had all his support in this time of grief. He watched as her eyes grew heavy as the tablet eased her into a medicated slumber. He held her for a while longer, listening to her deep and even breathing. As he gazed down at her beautiful face he made a pact with himself. If he couldn't do the best for Ava then he would do all he could to take care of Jac to enable her to take care of the child. His two girls needed him and he was determined to give them his all.