A few comments to start off with: Diane’s cat is called Mitsy (pronounced Mitt-see) – it isn’t a typo for Misty. I used to know a cat called Mitsy, and it’s my favourite name for a cat. And also, the amount of times I spelt Diane’s name wrong: either as “Dianne”, or with an “s” instead of an “a”, which my computer automatically corrects to “Disney”… lol!

And thanks for all your kind comments! You’re all wonderful!

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Little recap:

1) This is set 5 weeks after Steve’s death. Everything is pretty much as it is now.

2) Diane found out that she is pregnant with Steve’s baby. After spending much of the last story holding a newborn baby, she is happy.

3) Alex asked Diane out, she said yes, but later postponed the date when she found out she was pregnant. Alex was not happy.

4) Nothing has happened with Ed/Chrissie/Owen, except for Tom teasing Ed about Chrissie and the baby.

5) Tom found out that he has a twenty-year-old daughter. He also plucked up the courage to ask Anita out, and she said yes.

6) When we left off, Diane and Ric were reminiscing about their relationship, and ended up kissing in his office…

*~*~*

“Dad?” Jess called, wandering into Ric’s office. She stopped short as she saw him with a woman. “Oops… okay, I’ll, ah, I’ll…”

Ric and Diane, blushing, broke away from one another. Jess, also blushing, was shocked to see Diane.

“Diane? Oh my God. Ah, I’ll go… you two get back to… whatever it was… none of my business…” Jess stuttered, backing out of the room.

Ric turned around. “No, no… what, what was it?”

“You have lipstick on your cheek,” Diane pointed out.

Ric rubbed his cheek slightly, and turned back to Jess.

“Ah, I just wanted to say, ah, I’m leaving now,” Jess replied. “And I was going to ask if I could come round tonight, but… I won’t intrude, ’cause I’m sure you have better plans.” She almost fled out of the room.

“Well, that was awkward,” stated Ric. There was a silence.

“We-ell…” Diane began.

“It looks like I don’t have plans for tonight, then…” Ric said, leaving a heavy hint at the end of his sentence.

Diane smiled. “Yeah… why not? I might as well eat your ice cream and watch your TV.” She paused. “Besides, it’d be nice to have company tonight. It’s been a – stressful day.”

“Okay.” Smiling, Ric began to tidy his desk, getting ready to leave.

“And besides, I don’t have my car,” Diane continued. “I had to take the bus this morning.”

“You always hated the bus,” Ric remarked.

“I still do. So many people pushing into you!” As they were leaving, she paused. “Can we stop off at mine first?”

“Why?”

“Need to feed the cat,” she replied.

“I didn’t know you had a cat,” Ric commented.

“Mitsy,” she said. “She’s only a kitten, really. Six months old.”

“Never would’ve thought of you as a cat person,” Ric told her.

“I love cats,” Diane replied. “Besides, I’ve always had some sort of pet – remember the fish?”

“You had about fifty,” Ric remembered, laughing. “They were so boring.”

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “I liked them.”

“They lived ages, didn’t they?”

“Not ages…”

*~*~*

“So… how’ve you been?” Anita asked, sitting awkwardly on a chair, clutching her glass of wine closely to her. She’d been pleased to note that Tom had chosen to have a glass of orange juice. She almost felt guilty about choosing wine, but it seemed the obvious choice – and wouldn’t Tom have realised that she was only abstaining out of pity?

Tom was glad that Anita had chosen to have alcohol. To him, it showed that his alcoholism wasn’t a big deal to her. He didn’t know about the agonies she’d been having in her mind. Still, sitting in a bar, holding a glass of orange juice, in front of the woman he loved – or fancied, he wasn’t quite sure – was slightly embarrassing.

“Ah… fine, thank you,” he said. “I found out something interesting today, actually,” he added.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” she asked, politely.

She probably couldn’t care less, Tom thought. Never mind; it kept the conversation going. “One of my patients was an ex-girlfriend of mine – Jenn, we were engaged, pretty girl…”

“So this is how you act on a date, you praise your ex-girlfriends?” Anita queried. “Interesting technique.”

Oops. “Anyway,” Tom continued, pretending he hadn’t heard Anita’s interruption. “She had her daughter with her. Pretty girl too – she’s twenty, called Joanna, but everyone calls her Josie – and apparently I’m her father.”

“Congratulations… I guess…” Anita trailed off. “I’m sorry, just – you have a daughter who isn’t quite eight years younger than me. It’s a bit shocking.”

“Shocking enough to make you want to leave?” Tom asked, leaning towards her. He could smell the wine on her breath – damned alcohol!

“I doubt anything would be.” And, as she leaned in to kiss him, for the first time in months, alcohol could not have been further from Tom’s mind. And when they arrived back at his flat, there was clearly only one thing on his mind – luckily, the same thing was the only thing she cared about at that moment.

*~*~*

The journey to Diane’s flat passed quickly, and soon she was unlocking her door, and scooping up a small grey cat. “This is Mitsy,” she said, showing her to Ric. “Meet Ric, Mitsy.”

“Do you really think she can understand you?” Ric asked, incredulous.

“You used to talk all the time to that dog of yours!” Diane retorted. “What was his name?”

“Bruno?”

“Yeah. And Mits is a lot cleverer.”

Ric shook his head. “Now, I can understand talking to a dog. Bruno’s head was about as big as that thing’s entire body – thus his brain was much bigger.” He leant against the counter as Diane scooped the cat food into Mitsy’s dish.

“It’s quality, not quantity,” Diane laughed. “Now, see, your head is bigger than mine, but we both know that I am a lot more clever.” She put the dish and the cat down on the floor, and the one attacked the other.

Ric laughed. “That isn’t true.”

“Want a drink?” Diane queried, opening the fridge.

“What do you have?”

Diane held up a selection of bottles. “Water, orange juice, lemonade, beer, white wine.” She paused. “And now you’re going to tell me to throw the beer and the wine out, aren’t you?”

Ric laughed. “No, I’m going to tell you to give it to me.”

“All of it?” Diane asked, gesturing for him to look in the fridge. An entire shelf was dedicated to alcohol. “I wouldn’t drink all of it in one go, anyway.”

“Why do you have so much?” Ric demanded, looking from the drink to Diane.

“I like a glass of wine in the evenings,” Diane defended herself. “It helps me to sleep.”

“And the beer…?”

“They had a special offer on at Sainsbury’s,” she replied, sheepishly. “I don’t drink beer unless I’m out.”

Ric laughed, and took the can of beer that she held out. He paused. “Wait. Is it cruel for me to drink in front of you?”

“No… do you plan on being teetotal for the next nine months?” She poured herself some water, and perched herself on the counter. Ric pulled up a chair, and sat down.

“So… how are you?” Ric asked, after a few minutes.

Diane seemed surprised at the question, but replied, nonetheless. “Fine, thanks.”

“No, Diane – you’re not,” he replied. “Tell me.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted. “Considering that I’m pregnant, with no father for my baby because I decided to cruelly dump him the day after we slept together, and then failed at my job when he was depending on me for his life, I’m sitting –”

“Wait,” Ric interrupted her. “Is that what you think? That you failed Steve?”

“I did, didn’t I?” she replied. “I couldn’t resuscitate him. I failed. It’s my fault he died.”

“No!” Ric exclaimed. “No, it is not your fault.”

“It is,” she replied, and for the second time that day, she felt the tears coming. Stupid, she chided herself. She’d never cried this much before.

“I couldn’t resuscitate him either. Does that mean I’m guilty?” Ric demanded. “Jess took him on a walk around the hospital – does that make her guilty?”

“No… but I was – I couldn’t stop him dying…” She sniffed. “I should’ve tried something else, I don’t know, I should have…” The tears took possession of her now.

“You did everything you could do, Diane,” Ric said, firmly, hugging her. He let her cry in his arms for a little longer. “And I’m sure that it meant a lot to Steve that you were there.” He swallowed to stop himself from crying.

“I doubt it.” But she had quietened somewhat, and soon was calm enough to pull away from Ric, and ask, “Do you think he can see us?”

Ric paused, thinking. “I believe he can, yes. And I don’t believe that he would want you to be so upset. I think he would want you to be strong for the baby.”

“The baby.” It was just a statement, but it held so much meaning for Diane. She wandered into the living room, and sank into the sofa, turning on the TV. Ric followed her.

*~*~*

Jess threw her coat on the table as she entered her flat. She felt so lonely. Everyone seemed to have his or her own business to deal with. Her dad was always busy. Steve was gone – and that hurt so badly. Lisa, although she was getting better, was far from the confidante and friend that Steve had been. Sandy and Chrissie were nice enough, but each had her own problems. She didn’t dare tell Diane too much, as she didn’t know how much Ric – or worse, Alex – would find out. And as for Alex himself – it hurt more than Jess could put into words to see him flirting with Diane. She liked Diane, but it just seemed so unfair – Diane had everything, and she, Jess, had nothing. And now it seemed that Diane was making moves on Ric – again. So there was no one that she could trust.

Sighing, Jess flopped onto her bed, and began to cry.

*~*~*

“This film is boring,” Diane remarked, nearly an hour later.

“Change the channel, then,” Ric suggested.

“Nah.” She lay back on the sofa. “Too lazy.”

Ric got up and turned off the TV. “Happy now?”

“Ecstatic.”

“I aim to please.”

There was silence for a while, broken only by the sound of rain falling outside. Eventually, Diane spoke. “What’s Jess going to say? It’s going to be all round Holby by tomorrow, isn’t it?”

“What are you saying?” Ric asked. “Other than the fact that Jess is a gossip.”

“I’m saying that we should decide what we’re going to tell people,” Diane replied, softly.

“We should probably decide what we are going to tell ourselves first,” Ric countered.

They normally had a fun, jokey relationship, but today, no one was laughing. This was deadly serious.

“So… what did it mean to you?” Diane queried.

“I…” Ric paused. “If I tell you, and it meant something different to you, would it hurt you? Or embarrass you? Or me?”

“I think I’m all cried out for today,” she replied, smiling. “If you’re going to hurt or embarrass me, then today’s the day to do it.” She paused. “But I’d rather you didn’t.”

Ric nodded. “I can imagine. Well… to me, it really did mean something. It reminded me of what we – used to have.”

Diane opened her eyes, which she had closed to brace herself for disappointment. “Me too.”

“So…”

“What now?” Diane finished the sentence for him.

Ric stopped her. “Can I just ask one question? Why did you end it?” Off her look, he explained himself. “I want to know everything – we should make an informed decision. So why did you finish it? There were no flaws – not that I could see, anyway.”

Diane looked at him. “Ric, I was scared. I was twenty years old, I was still a student, and I was madly in love with you – and it terrified me.”

“But that’s not enough of a reason to break up over.”

“No… no, it isn’t,” she replied. “I was stupid, Ric. See… my parents, they didn’t have a very happy marriage. My dad used to hurt my mum, and she used to get drunk, and they would fight, and I would hide under the bed because I was scared and I’d look at a photo of them before they got married, because they looked so happy. My aunt always used to tell me that it was when they got married that things went wrong. And I – I suppose I associated marriage with hate, and violence, and everything my parents were. And when you asked me to marry you, I panicked.”

“Did you really think that I’d ever hurt you?” Ric asked, gently.

“No – I didn’t. But my mum, she’d always tell me to never let a man get too close to me, he’d just hurt me, like my dad had hurt her – and like he hurt me,” she added, softly. “And when you hear that when you’re five years old, you think it’s true. Because when you’re five years old, you believe everything your mum tells you. I wasn’t scared of you – I was just scared. Scared of us, of our relationship, of the fact that it was getting serious. I was feeling things I’d never felt before, and that’s always scary.”

Ric smiled. “It is… but we could have got through it together.”

“I was stupid,” Diane repeated. “And I’ve regretted it for eight years. You don’t know how much it hurt when I came back and I saw you about to marry Sam.”

“You helped me so much with Sam, though,” Ric said.

“I felt that it was wrong to – feel what I felt,” Diane said, slowly. “And I thought that by helping you and Sam, I was making up for it. Do you understand?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Did I hurt you?” Diane asked, abruptly.

“More than anything in the world,” he replied. “I loved you, Diane. You left me – with no real explanation.”

“I’m sorry. But I was hurting too.” She turned to face him. “Is it too late?”

He looked at her for what seemed like eternity. At last he spoke. “It’s never too late.”

FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS

SHANIA TWAIN

In your arms I can still feel the way you
want me when you hold me
I can still hear the words you whispered
when you told me
I can stay right here forever in your arms

And there ain't no way--
I'm lettin' you go now
And there ain't no way--
and there ain't not how
I'll never see that day....

'Cause I'm keeping you
forever and for always
We will be together all of our day
Wanna wake up every
morning to your sweet face--always

Mmm, baby
In your heart--I can still hear
a beat for every time you kiss me
And when we're apart,
I know how much you miss me
I can feel your love for me in your heart

And there ain't no way--
I'm lettin' you go now
And there ain't now way--
and there ain't no how
I'll never see that day....

'Cause I'm keeping you
forever and for always
We will be together all of our day
Wanna wake up every
morning to your sweet face--always

In your eyes I can still see
the look of the one who really loves me
I can still feel the way that you want
The one who wouldn't put anything
else in the world above me

I can still see love for me in your eyes

And there ain't no way--
I'm lettin' you go now
And there ain't no way--
and there ain't no how
I'll never see that day....

'Cause I'm keeping you
forever and for always
We will be together all of our day
Wanna wake up every
morning to your sweet face--always

I'm keeping you forever and for always
I'm in your arms

*~*~*

Anita was sleeping peacefully, and Tom was watching her. He had never looked at her so closely before – he had always been afraid that she would see him staring. And, as he sat there, propped up on one elbow, staring at her, he knew that he was perfectly happy. He hoped that she felt the same way.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered into the darkness.

“Thank you.” Tom started as a sleepy voice replied to his comment.

“Anita?”

“Who else are you keepin’ in here?” she asked, drowsy but still sarcastic. “And thank you – in case you didn’t realise it, it was me who said that.”

“I didn’t mean for you to hear it,” he said, embarrassed.

She sat up. “Why not? It’s a nice thing to hear.”

“It’s embarrassing to tell you.”

“If it wasn’t the small hours of the morning, I’d tell you what that shows about you as a person.”

“Thank Heaven for the small hours of the morning,” Tom retorted. “Do you always analyse the people you sleep with?”

“I’m still single, aren’t I?”

“Not if I can help it,” Tom replied, kissing her.

“S’pose this isn’t the right time to tell you that I’ve got an eight a.m. start, and should be going now?” Anita queried, politely.

“Oh.” Tom drew back, disappointed.

“Only joking,” she laughed, leaning in to kiss him. “Besides, even if I did, this is far more important.”

*~*~*

“Diane?” Ric asked, sleepily, looking around. His only answer was the sound of retching from the bathroom. Groaning, he got up, yelping in surprise as his feet touched the wooden floor. “Who has cold floor at the side of their bed?” As he left the room, he noticed that the floor of Diane’s side was covered in a rug. Huh!

“Diane? Are you okay?” he asked, entering the bathroom, where she was bent over the toilet, being sick. He held her hair back for a few minutes, and eventually, exhausted, she fell against him.

“Ugh.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“Don’t be silly.” He stood up. “Come on. It’s four o’clock, you need to get some sleep.”

“I will, I promise.”

“Will you be all right for work tomorrow?” Ric queried.

“I’ll be fine,” she replied, sleepily, climbing into the bed. “It’s cold.”

“That’s because you’ve been out of bed,” Ric explained. “Do you want a cup of tea?”

“Yeah,” she said, starting to get up again.

“Relax, I’ll make you one.” He pulled the covers over her, and left. He was back within seconds. “Where do you keep the tea?”

“Third cupboard from the door – oh, don’t tread on Mitsy!” she added.

“I won’t,” he laughed. Within a few minutes, he’d returned with two cups of tea. “There you go. Milk, one sugar.”

“Thanks.” There was silence for a little while as they drank, the only sound made by the gulping and swallowing. “You make good tea,” Diane commented.

“Thanks. But then, anything would be better than that weak watery stuff you call tea,” he teased her.

“Eee…” came a soft sound from the doorway, causing Ric to jump.

“Mitsy,” Diane called, softly. “C’mere, Mitsy.” Mitsy obediently climbed up onto the bed, and Diane smiled smugly. “See? I told you she understood me.”

“She’s only going to you because she associates you with mealtime,” Ric retorted. Mitsy wandered across the bed, and Ric moved away, warily. “Does she sleep in the bed?”

“Do I have to choose between you?” Diane teased. “Bye-bye, then.”

“No, I can cope,” replied Ric, putting his mug down, and climbing into the bed. “’Night.”

“’Night.”

*~*~*

When Diane woke the next morning, she smiled as she noticed that Ric was still asleep, and that Mitsy was curled up next to his head on the pillow, watching him intently. It was a rare occasion that Mitsy saw anyone apart from Diane – she tended not to invite people back to her flat. Yawning, Diane got up, showered, dressed, did umpteen other things, then sat down and waited for Ric to wake.

After ten minutes or so, he began to stir. “Morning,” Diane whispered, causing him to open his eyes. He shouted in shock when he saw Mitsy’s green eyes staring at him, and Diane giggled.

“I was going to say good morning, but I don’t feel like it anymore,” he told her.

“So, did you sleep well?”

“Perfectly – except for your cat,” he replied, shooting the cat a withering look. Mitsy simply yowled.

“We should get up, because my alarm didn’t go off,” Diane continued. “It’s nine o’clock.”

“Diane! We’re meant to be in at nine-thirty!” Ric exclaimed.

“Relax, I’m sure Jess will explain,” Diane assured him.

“Oh good, people will know that we were late because we were sleeping together!”

“No, I rang Jess earlier and explained.” She decided not to mention the photo she’d taken of Mitsy and Ric. “Besides, I’m all ready. If I make you some toast, you can eat it on the way… if you let me drive?”

“Let you drive my car? The way you drive?”

“Well, if you want to be late…”

“Fine, fine. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Don’t use the pink towel!” she called after him. “I’ve left one out for you!”

Twenty minutes later, Diane kissed Mitsy goodbye, and they left, Ric munching his way through his second piece of toast. “Finished,” he announced. “I’m driving,” he added, snatching his keys from Diane.

*~*~*

“So…?” Jess hinted broadly at Ric and Diane, as they strolled into AAU.

“You owe me fifty pounds,” Ric replied, holding out his hand.

“Is this a bet, or…?” Diane began.

“No, I lent her fifty pounds.” He looked at his daughter. “No? Jess, you said you’d pay me back by the end of the week.”

“I meant next week,” Jess said, exchanging a look with Diane. “And you promised to tell me everything!”

Ric glared at Diane. “I might have done,” she replied, sweetly. “And I might also have said that we were NOT going to let him know that I was going to tell you everything,” she added pointedly to Jess.

“Oops.” Jess looked round for an escape. “Ah, Lisa said that there was a patient… Lisa!” Upon seeing Lisa arrive, she fled.

Lisa walked over. “I’ve been hearing some stuff about you two,” she began, grinning.

“Great,” Ric replied. “Now, then, the patients?”

“Oh, yeah. Mrs Garland…”

“Judy?” suggested Diane, smiling.

“Helen,” Lisa corrected her. “Stomach pain, vomiting… Intestinal blockage, apparently.”

Diane grimaced. “Ugh, vomiting. Don’t remind me!”

Lisa glanced at her curiously, but said nothing. “Bed five. Over there,” she added, pointing.

“Mrs Garland?” Ric asked the woman.

“Yes?” the woman turned to him. She looked about sixty. “Are you the doctor?”

“I’m Mr Griffin, the consultant. This is Diane Lloyd, my registrar.”

“Now, I need a bed in a private room, I can’t stay here,” Mrs Garland said, as if Ric had not spoken. “It’s bad enough that I’m in pain, but to have to be around all these – people…”

“This is going to be fun,” Diane whispered to Ric.

“Mrs Garland, we’ll try and sort something out in a moment. But firstly, I hear you’ve been experiencing pain?” Ric asked, politely.

“Yes. Stabbing pains in my stomach. Now then, about a private room…”

“Just a moment,” Ric interrupted. “Let me feel.”

“Goodness, no!” She was scandalised. “Surely you don’t have to do that?”

“He does,” Diane said. “Otherwise, we won’t know what the problem is.”

“Well, I’m not having a man touch me. Not even a medical man,” Mrs Garland replied. “You do it, dear,” this last to Diane.

“I…” She trailed off, looking at Ric, who nodded. “Okay. There’s, ah, a lump in the small intestine… near the base.”

“Right – thank you, Mrs Garland,” Ric said, smiling, and he and Diane began to leave.

“Wait – about my room?”

“Jess!” Ric called. Diane stifled a laugh. Jess came running up. “Mrs Garland would like to speak to you. Oh, and can you organise an ultrasound?”

“Okay. Yes, Mrs Garland?” Jess asked, as Ric and Diane left.

“You’re horrible!” Diane accused him, as they walked up to Keller ward.

“I’ve been hearing all sorts of things about you two,” Kath confronted them as they walked through the doors.

“Like what?” Ric asked.

“You tell me,” Kath countered.

Diane, smirking, leant against the desk to hear how Ric would answer.

“We-ell… if Jess told you, then you should believe nothing of what she said. What actually happened was very mundane.”

“Ahem!” Diane put in. “What was mundane about it?”

“You can tell your side in a moment,” Ric said. “Just let me do some damage control for my unruly daughter.”

Kath was growing impatient. “And…?”

“Sorry, Kath,” Ric apologised. “It was not mundane, then. Diane and I have had a long conversation, and have decided to try – being together.”

“Congratulations!” Kath exclaimed, hugging both of them. “I knew there was a reason that you were happy yesterday.”

“No, this only happened last night,” Diane corrected her. “Yesterday I was just… happy.”

“Oh… well, I’m very happy for you, anyway,” Kath said, smiling. “I hope you’ll be happy together.” She was sure that they would, in fact. Although she knew that they had dated and broken up a long time ago, they were both older and wiser now.

“I think we will,” Diane replied, sharing a look with Ric that made Kath feel almost jealous.

“Well, I’ve got patients to see,” Ric announced after a moment, and, kissing Diane, left. Sandy, standing nearby, scuttled over to hear the news.

“What’s happening?”

“I’ve got a boyfriend,” Diane smiled.

“Mr Griffin?”

“Yep.” It was obvious that Sandy would have liked to ask more questions, but at that point, a patient called her. She left quickly.

“So, your life’s going well?” Kath asked.

“Never been better,” Diane laughed. She paused, debating whether or not to tell Kath about the baby. She decided to. She and Kath had become close recently. “And, ah, I want you to be one of the first to know. I’m pregnant.”

“You have been doing it all, haven’t you? Congratulations, Diane,” Kath smiled.

“Thank you,” she replied, softly. “It’s Steve’s, of course. And Ric does know,” she added, forestalling Kath’s next question. “But, well, can you keep it quiet for a few weeks? I’m happy about it, but I don’t want the whole hospital congratulating me. I just want to tell you and Jess.”

“I’m flattered,” Kath commented. “When did you find out?”

“Yesterday. It was a busy day,” she added, laughing.

*~*~*

“Tom?” Ed asked, abruptly, bursting into Tom’s office.

“Yes?” Tom queried, humming. He was in an excellent mood. He and Anita had come into work together, and the memories of the previous night were still fresh in his mind.

“Wow, you’re in a good mood.”

“Did you want something other than to tell me that?”

“Yes, ah, Mrs Whitten, that woman…”

“I know who Mrs Whitten is. Get on with it,” Tom snapped, feeling his good mood evaporating. Jenn was not exactly his favourite subject.

“Sorry. She’s arrested – they want her back in surgery, you’re needed,” Ed continued, handing Jenn’s notes to Tom.

They bolted from the office.

*~*~*

“So, Mrs Garland, are you happy with this room?” Ric asked, as he prepared to make an incision in Mrs Garland’s stomach. The ultrasound had shown that she had a blockage, just as Lisa and Diane had thought. Diane laughed at Ric’s comment.

“Is she going to get a private room?” Diane queried.

“She’s going up to Keller ward, and as she’s not high-dependency, then she won’t.”

“That looks painful,” Diane commented, looking at the bulge in Mrs Garland’s intestine.

“I’ll say.” After Ric opened the intestine, he gestured to Diane. “Have a look at this.”

“That’s not just a blockage.”

“It’s a tumour. This might be more serious than we thought,” Ric replied.

“Maybe she’ll get her room now,” Diane remarked.

“It’s not a joke,” Ric chastised her, as he prepared to cut the tumour away.

*~*~*

“Well, we meet again, Jenn,” Tom sighed. Jenn was on bypass already, and he was trying to discover what was wrong.

“So… did you speak to Josie?”

“Josie? You were right. Turns out she is my daughter,” Tom replied, calmly. “Have you got any news on Chrissie?” he added, turning the tables completely. Chrissie had started her maternity leave the week before, as she had high blood pressure, and most of the staff thought it would be better for her to be in a less stressful environment. Chrissie herself had disagreed with this – she claimed that the environment of Holby City Hospital was more relaxing than spending all her time with Tricia, her mother. But everyone had agreed that she must not be allowed into work.

“Just a month to go now,” Ed answered. “But she’s not speaking to me unless she wants something. She wanted money yesterday – it seems she doesn’t have anything for the baby yet.”

“Did you give it to her?”

“I had to – Tricia was there,” Ed replied, sheepishly. “I can stand up to Chrissie, but not to her mother.”

“Looks like the valve’s burst,” Tom commented, looking at Jenn. “Stress, probably.”

“Put another one in?” Ed queried.

“Yeah… you start, and I’ll find out if Josie has been told anything.”

“I can’t start!” Ed exclaimed, scandalised. “I’m not qualified to do that.”

“Get Alex Adams down here then,” Tom replied, dismissively. “We can’t afford to waste time. Someone page Mr Adams.”

He stepped outside theatre, and looked around for Josie. He was nearly at Keller ward when he spotted Sandy. He grabbed hold of her. “You work on Keller, don’t you?”

“Yes, Mr Campbell-Gore,” Sandy replied, meekly.

“Is there a young girl there, she’s about twenty, she came with Mrs Whitten yesterday?”

“Josie, you mean?” Sandy asked. “She’s not here today.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

“Is something the matter?”

“Jenn – Mrs Whitten – has had to be taken into theatre again. I’d like to get Josie down here.” He sighed. He hoped that Josie hadn’t parted with her mother on bad terms, because Jenn’s condition wasn’t looking good.

“I called her when Mrs Whitten was taken down to theatre,” Sandy replied. “She should be here in about ten minutes.”

Tom smiled. “Oh, thank Goodness! Well done, Sandy.”

Sandy smiled to herself. “Should I send her down here when she arrives?”

Tom considered. “No. Keep her in the visitor’s room. Tell her I’ll be up to see her soon.” He paused. “And – tell her that it is quite serious, I’m afraid.”

“Oh.” Sandy’s face fell. “That poor girl. Her stepfather died recently, too. And I don’t think she ever knew her father – she’s going to be all alone.”

“No, she won’t,” answered Tom, firmly. “She met her father yesterday, and he won’t let her be alone – not if anything happens to her mother.” Something in Tom’s voice made Sandy look at him oddly. He looked – almost as if HE was Josie’s father. Surely that wasn’t true?

*~*~*

“And we’re done,” Ric announced, dramatically.

“You sound as if it’s the first time you’ve ever operated,” Diane commented, going to wash up. When she was done, she smiled. “I’ve got to go – I’ll be back soon.”

“Where are you going? Are you feeling sick? Should you lie down?”

Diane laughed. “I’m perfectly fine. I just have a few things to do.”

“Such as…?”

“You’re too possessive,” she replied, kissing him lightly. “I’ll tell you later.” She didn’t think Ric would approve of any of the three things she was going to do. Firstly, she was going to collect the photo she had had developed of him, asleep, with Mitsy. Secondly, she was going to find Alex and apologise. And finally, she was going to talk to Jess.

But things didn’t work in that order. Firstly, she almost walked straight into Alex as she left theatre. “Sorry,” she said, embarrassed.

“About what? Walking into me, or cancelling on me?” he demanded.

“Both.” She looked up at him – he was a lot taller than she was. “How are you? The Parkinson’s?”

“Like you care.”

“I do care, Alex!” she protested.

“Like hell you do,” he retorted. “You couldn’t care that much if you can cancel on me.”

“I had a long day… I didn’t feel up to it.”

“Then how come you left with Ric?” he asked, angrily.

“Ah.” How was she going to answer this one?

“Forget it,” Alex snapped, storming off. And, although Diane knew that she shouldn’t feel bad about it, she still did. Was it really wrong to feel like that?

*~*~*

“Jess, how busy are you?” Diane asked, coming into AAU.

“Depends. Are you asking, or is Dad?”

“I’m asking, and I’ve got gossip.”

“Not busy at all,” Jess decided. “Actually, I get off for lunch in about ten seconds,” she added, looking at her watch. “I’m sure Lisa won’t mind me going a bit early.”

Lisa looked up. “I don’t mind, as long as you tell me what the gossip is.”

“She will,” Diane replied. She dragged Jess into the office that used to belong to Steve, and now stood empty, and produced the photo she had just collected. “Look at this!”

Jess giggled. “Oh my God! Is that Dad?”

“That’s your dad, and my cat Mitsy.” Diane smiled. “Do you know that your dad doesn’t like cats?”

“He’s scared of them,” Jess agreed. “And yet he slept in the same bed as one?”

“Well… she wasn’t there at first. And I told him that if I had to choose between them, Mitsy would win,” she added, laughing. “That made his mind up.”

“So are you…?”

“We are.” She paused. “And there’s something else.”

“About Dad? Because I don’t want to know too much, Diane,” Jess said, grimacing.

“No – it’s not about Ric. It’s… I don’t know how you’ll feel about it,” Diane said, slowly. “I wanted you to be one of the first to know, though. I’m going to have a baby – Steve’s baby.”

Jess was silent for a moment. Then she spoke. “Oh my God! Congratulations! Really? You’re really going to have his baby?” She hugged Diane. “Congratulations! Does Dad know?”

“Of course he does,” Diane replied. “He was the first one I told. And – I’m so glad you’re happy. I didn’t know how you’d feel, because of Steve and everything.”

“I’m thrilled!” Jess laughed suddenly. “You know, if this all goes well, that baby could be my step-brother or sister. Hey! You’d be my stepmother!”

Diane giggled. “I think we’re getting a little bit ahead of ourselves here.” Her pager beeped. “I’ve got to go – tell Lisa everything, but NOT about the baby, please.” She’d run off before Jess even had time to reply.

*~*~*

Tom marched back into theatre, desperately hoping that Jenn was stable. But Ed’s face was enough to tell him. “I’m sorry, Tom.”

“Tell me you’re having a joke in very bad taste,” Tom said, his voice shaking.

“I wouldn’t… I’m so sorry, Tom.”

“Where’s Adams?” Tom demanded. “Don’t tell me he didn’t come.”

“He did come…” Ed said, slowly. “He – his hand twitched, and it went wrong.”

“Josie… oh my God, Josie!” Tom exclaimed, going to look at Jenn’s silent body. “Poor Josie. Why didn’t I send someone else to find her? Why did I leave Adams in charge? Where did he go?”

“I’m not sure. I heard him talking to Diane outside after he’d left. It sounded as though they were having some sort of argument.”

“I can’t think about that,” Tom decided. “I have to see Josie. She’s alone now.”

“At least she’s got you, though, hey?” Ed reassured him.

“Yes, the man who broke her mother’s heart and then caused her death. That won’t be a comfort to Josie, Ed. But thank you.” Sighing, he walked dejectedly out of theatre, changed, and went to find his daughter.

To his surprise, when he got to the visitors’ room, he found Josie talking to Anita. They’d obviously introduced themselves, and they were laughing about something. He just hoped it wasn’t him. “Josie, Anita.”

“Tom, hi,” Anita greeted him.

“Mr Campbell-Gore! How’s Mum?” Josie asked, eagerly.

“I – I’m sorry, Josie.” The look on her face was unbearable, and, instinctively, he held out his arms. Just as instinctively, she threw herself into them, crying.

*~*~*

“Why’d you beep me?” Diane asked, entering Ric’s office.

“Got a present for you,” he replied. “Well, two really.”

“Ooh, I could get used to this.”

“Firstly – flowers,” he said, handing her a bunch of flowers.

“Thank you,” she smiled, taking them.

“And secondly – Owen sent down a Polaroid of Kellie’s baby. I thought you might like it,” Ric said, gently, handing her the picture.

Diane took it eagerly. “Thank you.” She looked at it. “I told Jess and Kath about the baby, by the way.”

“Was Jess all right about it?”

“She was fine. Thrilled, actually,” she added. “She was thrilled. I think she’s more excited than I am.”

“And are you feeling okay?” Ric asked, concernedly.

“Yep. In fact, I’m more than fine. Everything’s perfect.”