Friday

Becky had gone to bed as soon as she got home last night. It was amazing what eight hours of sleep could do for you.

She happily made the tea for everyone during handover.

John hadn't had a great night, it looked likely he would need yet more surgery. Becky felt sad for him, especially as Des was expected to go home today.

Becky thought she might just ask Jack for that autograph for John, she'd save it for John for when it was finally his turn to go home.

She went into room 3, but it was empty "Jack?" She looked around, the bathroom door was shut. "Jack you in the bathroom"

"Yeah" came his muffled reply.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, ya can come in"

For the first time in her entire career she felt apprehensive about opening the door to a male patient.

She tentatively opened the door.

"Oh Jack"

He was sitting on the edge of the bath in his boxers, hair wet, holding his arm across his torso.

"You've hurt your collarbone haven't you?"

"I can't move me arm up now, an' I could before, I mean it hurt, but I could do it an' now I can't do it, it hurts too much......"

"Did you try to wash your hair?"

He nodded

"You could have asked someone for help"

"Sorry...."

"Don't be sorry to me! It was only a hairline fracture, you're the one that's put yourself in pain, how far can you lift your arm comfortably?"

He showed her.

"Come on let's get you dressed and I'll find you a sling, more to remind you to be careful more than anything else"

Becky helped him put a t-shirt on, sliding it over the arm on the painful side first then stretching it over his head before helping get the other arm through.

He grabbed his shorts and stepped into them.

"If you're alright then I'll go and get you a sling"

Just as she got to the door he yelped.

She turned to see him feebly holding the waistband of his shorts in one hand. The other hand limp, "nah nurse ya gonna hafta help me" he licked his lips, trying to hide his smirk.

He was playing her. She knew it, and she knew that he knew that she knew it.

But he also knew she wouldn't call him out on it, because he was injured and it is her job to help.

As quickly as she could and with as little contact as she could, she swiftly pulled his shorts up. His face barely hid his disappointment at the speed of the moment.

"Right I'll get that sling, and leave you with your breakfast" Becky inspected the tray on his table. "Your boiled eggs will be cold now" she noted as she closed the door behind her.

-

Becky stood next to the Dr as she examined Jack thoroughly.

"Right I'm generally happy -"

" - can I go home today then?" Jack interupted

"As I was about to say, I think we need to take another lot of bloods at the same time this afternoon, so by the time they come back it will be late, I think one more night for observation, make sure we are on top of the infection......if all ok tomorrow I'll be happy to discharge you"

"Fair enough" Jack said.

The Dr left the room leaving Becky to update the paper notes.

"Anotha day with me then" Jack smiled at Becky.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are quite exhausting?"

He grinned back at her "allllll the time!"

-

After lunch Des left with his wife. John was folorn.

"You alright John?" Becky asked sitting next to his bed.

"Tough, when you see so many faces come and go, and I'm still here."

"I know John"

"Ah well at least there's the football tonight"

"Oh whose playing tonight?"

"Manchester City and Blackpool, FA cup, nice little local derby, I'll have to listen to it on a radio mind"

"Oh is it not on TV?"

"Nah pet, they've put it on bloody sky!"

"Oh that's shame" Becky said. She vowed to herself that she'd get Liam to check he was able to tune in to the right station ok later.

-

Becky went into Jacks room at 3.45 to do his blood test.

"No visitors?"

"Nah, I told them no point, me mom an' dad will pick me up tomorrow an' I'll go back to Birmingham with 'em until I feel a bit betta"

"Well that's as long as these show your infection getting better"

"I feeeel betta"

"Fingers crossed then"

"Becky?"

"Yeah" Becky started wiping his arm with an alcohol wipe.

"Can I order food in?"

She stared at him "like a takeaway?"

"Yeah"

Becky continued prepping to take the blood sample.

"Night shifts order in pizzas all the time"

"Wot about patients?"

"I think that's something I probably shouldn't answer more than I have"

He smirked at her. Again.

-

The afternoon dragged. Becky was on the bay helping a health care assistant change a bed over, but couldn't help but get distracted by spotting Liam and Dr Tim having a very animated conversation down the hall. There was lots of subtle touching and head tilting going on.

Becky couldn't resist and followed Liam into the store room.

"What was that about?"

"Nowt to worry you!" Liam shrilled at her.

"Why did he ask me your surname the other night?"

Liam grinned, he was rubbish at keeping anything to himself. "Ok, he found me on Grindr and we matched! And he's coming to the party tomorrow night! Hot doc in my bed alert!"

"Liam!" Becky was gobsmacked "that's fast even for you!"

"He found me.....it's just a marvelous coincidence that I'm newly single babes...."

_

At 5.30pm Becky was trying to cheer John up. Four of the eight beds were empty and the other three patients were all likely to be home by Monday, poor John was so fed up. To make matters worse Liam and several other staff members had struggled and failed to find him a station to listen to the football on.

7pm Becky was checking charts at the desk when Sue appeared "Becks, sweetheart, any chance you can stay until 10? Becky agreed without a second thought.

Becky went in to give Jack his medication, he was laid back on his bed watching the TV, it sounded like football.

"You watching the city game?" Becky asked

"Yeah course I am"

Becky peered at his TV, he had balanced his iPad into the frame of the overbed TV screen and was watching skysports on it. "Oh how have you done that Jack?"

"Done wot?" His eyes searched her face.

"Sky?" She pointed at the iPad.

"I've logged into me sky account...."

"Oh I didn't know you could do that, I'll have to see if my patient on the bay has sky"

Jack smiled at her "ya so cute, like ya a nurse so ya obviously dead cleva, but ya like dunno about other stuff"

Becky looked at him "literally I just don't know about football and sky...."

"Do ya do private nursin'..."

Becky raised her eyebrows "what?"

"Me moms makin' me stay with them, but if I hadda nurse at home I could go home......"

"There's agencies that do that, but no I don't...."

"Nah wouldn't want anyone else...." He muttered.

Becky exhaled slowly. She was glad he was hopefully going home tomorrow. She was starting to struggle. The way he spoke to her and the things he said, could be construed as unsuitable, a bit sleazy. But with Jack it just like he was being honest...he touched her arm and she jolted at the spark again.

"Sorry! Ya seemed like ya drifted off there" Jack's eyes were big and dark...

"Just thinking about my other patient. If I found an iPad anyone with sky could log in for him to watch the game?"

"Yeah if they had sky sports"

Becky studied him, his face was healing well, his light stubble now a full beard. She could pick out his freckles now the bruising had faded slightly.

"This other patient, he a city fan yeah?"

"Yeah" Becky picked up his chart to distract herself from his face.

"He could watch in 'ere with me?"

Becky thought about how that would absolutely make John's day, cheer him up no end.

"I don't know....."

"Please, bab I'm so bored...... it'd be really nice to watch the game with someone"

"I'd need to check....." She said

"Other patients are allowed to talk to each other.......honest I'd be happy to be on a propa ward to jus' chat to people...."

Becky was surprised that Sue agreed to Jack's request. But she agreed with Becky John did need cheering up.

7.30pm

Becky went to see John taking a wheelchair and speaking quietly. "John, I've found a way you can watch the game"

"Hey? How?"

"Just trust me?" She helped him into the wheelchair and they set off down the hall.

Becky pulled John into room 3, opening the door with her back, so John couldn't see immediately where they were going.

As she spun him round he let out a loud joyous cry.

"Knew ya was hiding him from us! Jack lad! How are you doing?" John beamed, looking like Christmas had come early.

"Alright? Wots ya name? Cos the little miss good nurse here wouldn't tell me nuffin' about ya apart from ya a city fan an' wanted to watch the game" Jack beamed, teasing Becky about the lack of information she'd given him.

"Like hospital blind date eh?" Offered John.

"Oh come on you two, patient confidentiality and all that, right I'll let you two get on with it? Need anything?"

"Couple of pints and two bags o' crisps, eh lad?" Said John, causing Jack to chuckle, and quickly grab his ribs.

"Not a bloody pub!" She smiled, it was nice to see John looking happy.

"Actually Becky, any chance of summat to eat, I'm actually starvin' 'ere?" Jack pipped up.

"I'll look in the staff room, otherwise if you ask nicely, I might do a vending machine run for you....if you're good"

"Always good nurse, me" Jack smirked.

As Becky headed to the door Jack asked John what he was in for.

"Life lad, I think" John sighed.