Without Her

Chapter 1 - A New Start

It had been a year and half, since the departure of Jac Naylor - The news that she was returning had hit the hospital.

"Can you believe it?" Nicky smiles, at Chloe.

"I know, I thought after everything to do with the recent shooting and that." Chloe starts "That she wasn't coming back."

"I mean she has been gone, for a long time." Nicky replies.

Just then Kian, walks up to them.

"Who's the gossip about?" He asks, trying to stay perky.

"Nothing really...." Chloe lies.

"Nicky?" He says, looking at her expectantly.

"Um..." Nicky starts, trying to escape this conversation.

"Well, I have an operation to do." Chloe says rushing off.

"Oh great, well thanks Chloe!" Nicky shouts, after her.

"Sooo?" Kian says, cocking his head.

"Okay, okay." Nicky replies "Jac's coming back."

"What?" He says, standing backwards for a second.

"She's coming back as clinical lead." Nicky replies.

"How do you know?" He asks "Is it true?"

"Yeah, it's been going around the hospital."

"Then how come, I haven't heard?" He asks.

"Well you don't go around the hospital much, it's either Darwin or Pulses." She smiles.

"Yeah, that's true." Kian smiles back.

Meanwhile...

Jac is sitting in her car, she is in the hospital's car park.

She looks at herself in the mirror, she sighs and gets out of the car.

She walks into the hospital's entrance, and into Pulses.

Where she bumps into, Sacha.

"Jac!" He says hugging her "Oh, I've missed you."

"I know." She smiles.

"The FaceTimes, just weren't doing justice." He smiles "You, look so different."

"Well, I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not?" She laughs.

"Compliment, you look beautiful." He says, patting her shoulder.

"You haven't changed." She laughs, "You look the same."

"Thanks for that." He laughs with her.

They sit down at a table in Pulses, "So, how have you been?" He asks.

"Fantastic." Jac smiles "It was lovely to get away, from here."

"Was it?" He asks.

"Yeah, it was nice to get away from a chance of sudden death."

"So where did you go?"

"To be with Emma, I spent my time in Scotland." She replies "It was lovely, I finally put my daughter before - My career."

He smiles at her "Are you staying for long?"

"Maybe." She sighs, rubbing her head.

"Well, we have missed you." He smiles "Especially, Kian."

"You promised not to talk, about him." She says, narrowing her eyes.

"I know." He replies "But, I'm telling the truth."

"Why would I care?" She replies "I don't have time, to care for another child."

"Especially, a grown man."

"Wow, look at that Naylor sarcasm." Sacha laughs, drinking a sip of his coffee.

"I'm going to order something." She says standing up, and walking to the counter.

"Pumpkin Spice Latte." She says, to the woman serving.

The woman starts to make her latte, and Jac pays her.

She sits back down at the table, and sighs.

"It's not very busy here, like it used to be." She says, looking around.

"Yeah, well things slowed down after you left."

"Hold on, are you blaming me for this?" She replies, narrowing her eyes again.

"No of course not!" He says, trying to defend himself.

She starts to laugh "I know, you wasn't blaming me."

"Soooo, anyone in your life?" He asks, interrogating her.

"Yeah, actually." She says putting her drink down "There is."

"Oooh, who?" He asks, getting excited.

"Emma." She replies

"That's not what I meant." He sighs, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I know." Jac smiles, putting some sugar in her latte.

"So is there really anyone?" He asks, still trying to get things out of her.

"Yeah, Clayton someone from the nut house."

"Wow, you have a new boyfriend?"

"Not exactly, we sort of broke up." Jac replies "When I said, I was coming back here."

"Oh." He says, he then looks at her hand.

"Hold on, is that an engagement ring?" He asks, standing up.

"Yeah, we were engaged." She says "We are going to talk, tonight."

"The Jac Naylor, is engaged?!" Sacha says, shocked.

"Yeah." She smiles "And I'm happy."

Her and Sacha hug

"I've really missed you."

"I've missed you too."