(no subject)

It’s great to be back. Guppy knows that he must try not to look too happy; to everyone else here it’s just the next day. But he is in high spirits despite the fact that he has an exam in the afternoon.

Things don’t go entirely according to plan however. He starts the day with his best intentions of how he has decided to change, and he knows that if he doesn’t sort things out that there’s no way he can go back into the bar. He doesn’t fancy being Bound again so soon.

"Nice to see you looking awake this morning Guppy, but where’s your tie?" Harry says, looking at him sternly.

In my wardrobe in Milliways unfortunately

"I stayed with a friend last night and couldn’t find it in the morning. I wanted to get enough sleep for the exam."

He doesn’t like lying to Harry, so tries to persuade himself that it’s just a slight bending of the truth. After all, he has been with friends, just trapped in a bar for six weeks. Harry looks at him sternly, and for a moment he fears suspicion.

"You’ve only got one tie? That’s disgraceful. And I told you to get your accommodation sorted out. I’ve got a spare room for rent in the house I rent out to Nina. Would you be interested?"

Wow, is he psychic or something? I was just going to ask him that.

"Yes, I would thank you."

"Good. Come and see me after your exam and we’ll discuss terms of rent and so on."

Harry goes to tell Nina’s boyfriend that he can no longer sleep in that room rent-free.

Having had an extra month and a half to prepare, the exam is easy. There is an unexpected bonus when he finds that the first question asks to describe the effects of severe sleep deprivation. When questions on the diagnosis and treatment of depression come up, he starts to wonder if the Bar knew something he didn’t, but eventually decides that it’s just coincidental.

Returning back to work, confident about his exam result, Guppy goes back into the department and finds his father berating one of the nurses. He hesitates; this evidently is not the ideal time to make up with him, but when is the ideal time. Having been shooed away by the Sister, his father storms out through the door that Guppy was waiting behind, pushing him out of the way.

"What are you loitering there for, boy? Get out of my way!"

"Father, please. I was waiting for you. We need to talk."

Guppy follows Jaz into the lift.

"I have nothing to say to you Gurpreet. You embarrassed me in front of the whole accident and emergency department."

"But hasn’t this been going on for too long? You’re my father and I want to respect and like you."

As the lift arrives at Jaz’s department he strides out, with Guppy following behind.

"Please, can’t we at least talk? We could meet for dinner or something. I’ll pay."

"I am busy, and even if I wasn’t I wouldn’t waste a perfectly good evening on a waste of space like you. Get out of my sight."

"This has to stop father. This is Holby, think of the curse. Either of us could be killed any day. We should make up whilst we still can."

Jaz turns and gives his son a scornful glare.

"What stupid nonsense, boy! There is no such thing as the Holby curse as you very well know. Now get out of my face, out of my sight, out of my department and out of my life. You would not be a great loss even if you did get killed."

The words stung. The glare cut through him like a knife. Everyone was staring at them. He looks at his father straight in the eyes.

"I’m going to keep trying."

He stands his ground, which surprises the arrogant consultant. Becoming aware that everyone is watching, hoping to see him taken down a few pegs, Jaz opens his office door.

"Get in there."

He returns to his flat after his shift, having stopped to get lots of coffee, to find his bathroom flooded. Mitzi stands at one side next to a pond snail, which she is watching with interest. Guppy knows the signs.

"Mitzi, who’s that?" he asks, with a hint of danger in his voice.

’I don’t know. Horrible scratchy creature that tried to eat me. It was self-defence.’

"Turn it back."

Mitzi shrugs again, closes her eyes and glows. Blackie the cat reappears, jumps on the sink and runs out of the flat as fast as he can.

"You won’t have to worry about cats for long. We’re moving flats, tonight."

Mitzi removes the pond and hops around, helping him to pack his relatively few possessions.