(Alternative ending to the episode 'maybe this year')
"You wanted to see me?"
Connie looked up as Jacob entered her office and gave him a friendly smile. "Yes. Come in"
She rose from her desk and walked towards Jacob, who gave her a questioning look, waiting for her to explain why she wanted to see him.
"I just wanted to say thank you, for today. It was difficult." She said softly.
Jacob just shrugged and looked down. It had been a tough shift. It was always hard to loose a patient, but loosing Flo today, had been particularly difficult.
"You were right though" Connie said.
Jacob looked up and gave her a puzzled look. What did she mean?
"He did come, from Australia." Connie said with regret.
Jacob sighed. He usually loved to be right, especially when it came to Connie. But this time, all it did was make the situation more difficult.
"You should have called me, we could have told him together" he gave her a sympathetic look. "What did he say?"
It was Connie's turn to sigh. "Everything you'd imagine he would".
She looked down. The emotion was beginning to overwhelm her. "We got it so wrong today, didn't we?" She spoke quietly and didn't look up from the floor.
Jacob exhaled deeply and noticed the tears beginning to form in Connie's eyes.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and ran it gently down her arm.
Connie placed her hand on his and took a deep breath to compose herself.
Jacob was pleasantly surprised when Connie removed his hand from its place on her arm, and took it to her face, brushing her lips gently across the palm of his hand.
Connie finally looked up at Jacob, she still held his hand by her face. She was lost momentarily in those deep brown eyes. Jacob began to lean in. He had waited so long for this moment, his efforts were finally worth it.
Connie so badly wanted to surrender to her feelings and finally feel the touch of his lips that she had been longing for.
But she couldn't.
She forced her eyes away from his captivating gaze and let go of his hand.
Jacob frowned and let his hand fall back down by his side. He could tell she had felt something. He really thought he was getting somewhere with her, tempting her to let him in and allow her true feelings to show.
Connie coughed nervously and stepped away. "Thank you again, for today, staff nurse Masters" she said without looking at him, instead, focussing her eyes around the room.
Jacob just looked her her, the confusion and disappointment showing on his face. Connie could feel his gaze on her face, but refused to look back at him. She grabbed the stethoscope from her desk and fiddled with it as she stepped passed him, towards her office door. "I have to go" she muttered quickly, before opening her door and walking into the department.
Jacob watched her walk away and sighed. He just wished she would let her barriers down.
