The other man

Friendship

"Where's mum?" Grace asked, her pale skin and thin, blonde hair made her look a lot younger than her twelve years.

"I managed to persuade her to get something to eat... I can call her if you want," he offered, placing down his notes, before she stopped him gently,

"No... no... she hardly ever has any time to herself. I take it she only agreed if you stayed here?"

He offered the young girl a haribo sweet before nodding, "I have so much of this stuff to catch up on... I promised her I'd look over you."

Grace smiled at the kind nurse, "Mum used to be a doctor... not that I remember her being one... she always used to fight with the junior doctors that treated me and dad would laugh at how she knew more than them... I think she wishes she was still a doctor... I feel bad I ruined that for her."

He shook his head, "No, sweetheart you didn't ruin anything."

"Dad and mum don't talk anymore... dad spends all his time working and Mum spends all her time with me... it's no life for her." 

Connie smiled as she entered the room to see Grace and Jacob arguing over a game of hangman. She rolled her eyes before entering the room, her tired face lit up by her smile, "Hello sweetheart," she smiled, leaning over and kissing her daughter's cheek softly.

"Hope he looked after you," she smiled at the nurse who sat scribbling away at notes by her daughters bedside. He looked up and smiled, "I'm all done here... I'll see you two tomorrow,"

"I hope she behaved," Connie nodded and Jacob grinned at Grace before nodding, "Apart from cheating at every game we played, she was pretty good,"

"I did not cheat," Grace uttered and Connie laughed at just how similar her daughter was to herself.

"It's not a good idea," Trisha told him as he caught him looking through the side room where Grace was sat out in her chair.

"What?" He asked,

"She's a patient's mother... and she's married."

He shook his head, "Come on... I'm not stupid."

"And neither am I,"Trisha admitted," have I seen how you look out for them,"

"I look out for all my patients," he tried.

"Not like that," she replied knowingly, "I'm not interfering... I'm just telling you to be careful."

She came into the staffroom dressed in skinny jeans and an off the shoulder cream top. She smiled up at him, "Thank you for this," she smiled at Jacob as she made herself a milky coffee, stopping at the door.

He looked up at her, "You're welcome,"

She shook her head, "I mean it you know... thank you... for all of this... it's nice to have a nurse who let's us know what's happening... and who is getting to know Grace... it makes is that bit easier to have someone we trust."

He nodded, "I'm just doing my job,"

She smiled, "Does that mean I can't say thank you?"

He shook his head, "No."

"Good," she smiled, before turning and walking from the staff room. Stop it, she told herself. She was surprised at how she was flirting with him. Not in the way she'd used to flirt, but she knew herself and she knew there was some definite flirting there.

"Mate, if I didn't know you better I'd say you fancied her,"

"Don't be silly, she's a patients mother."

"She's beautiful though..." his brother offered.

"And married... with a poorly child... so give it a rest," Jacob told his brother not unkindly.

"Do you ever go home?" She asked softly, leaning over the nurses' station, tucking her hair behind her ears.

"Contrary to popular belief... yes... every now and again," he replied before placing his pen down. "Don't suppose you fancy some air?" He asked her.

She nodded, "I'll just check with my sister, can you wait a couple of minutes?"

They walked , her arm linked into his through his, through the quiet countryside. He watched as she breathed in the warm, clean air, her hair blowing softly in the wind.

"Jacob," she smiled, watching as he looked at her, his dark eyes capturing her fondly.

"Yes?" He asked, as they walked, stopping and sitting at the top of the hill that overlooked Holby.

"Who loves you?" She asked, her eyes 

"Who loves me?" He repeated, a smile on his strong face.

She nodded, "Apart from my family and my friends... no one to name," he told her honestly.

"That's a shame," she admitted, "You seem like a good man."