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consultant.    
    "Mr Karvasis is here at my request, Ms Langdon. It's protocol." The doctor ignored her outburst, closed the door and indicated a chair. "Do take a seat. It's important that there be no misunderstandings."
    Did these men think she was incapable of making a decision?   "I'm quite capable of making my own decisions."  
    "Give it a rest," Leon said, exhaling on a sigh. "Thank you for coming."  
    "I gave you my promise," she said meeting his grey gaze without flinching. He looked tired and drawn, and she was sure he'd lost weight in the days since she'd seen him.
    "Thank you for your initiative in getting the initial blood work done." Professor Carey gave her a shrewd look from under beetling brows. "The results will be faxed here and this will minimise any delay."  
    Anxiety clutched at her heart. Was Jordan worse?
    With grudging reluctance, she conceded now was not the time to protest her need for separation from Leon and his family.  
    A worry teased at the edge of her mind.  
    Where was Julia? Surely she was concerned with Jordan's illness. Or was she one of those women who dissociated herself from sickness?  
    She had no time to dwell on the thought as Professor Carey was talking and she was forced to concentrate.
    "Before you can donate bone marrow we need to be sure your body will tolerate the intrusion. We must also be certain you have no underlying health problems that can harm Jordan. Mr Karvasis will meet any medical costs incurred, okay?"
    "That's fine by me." She gave Leon a narrow-eyed glance, then flushed as she caught the swift look Professor Carey directed their way as he opened a folder on his desk.
    "The initial blood work for compatibility is already underway. If you are compatible, then we will administer an anaesthetic to extract bone marrow from the large bone in your thigh. We'll need your authority for that procedure, are you okay with that?"
    Despite her apprehension, she nodded. "Of course."
    This after all is why I'm here.
    Leon leaned forward and gripped her hand. "Thank you."  
    The brief contact made her heart trip in her chest. I am a fool. One small gesture and it feeds the craving in my heart.  
    Kathleen's words ghosted through her mind. You fell in love with that man when you were in a very vulnerable situation.
    The memory of those hot, erotic dreams, sent heat into her cheeks.  
    "Here's what needs to be done to help Jordan." The Professor's words jerked her to attention. He turned and switched on an illuminated screen covered in diagrams and outlined the tests, then the procedure to extract bone marrow.
    "Every risk is minimised, but we can't guarantee you won't react to the physical intrusion." Escalating trepidation made it difficult for her to meet the doctor's eyes. "You do understand this?"
    "Yes." She took a shaky breath, rigorously damping down nerves. "And Jordan?"
    "Again there is no guarantee. During the procedure there's little risk, but there's a high risk his body will reject your bone marrow. We won't know until after the transplant is done."  
    Veronica stared at him as she digested these words, horrified. "You mean this isn't a complete cure?"  
    Professor Carey spread his hands. "Without the transplant, Ms Langdon, Jordan will die. With a transplant, he has a fighting chance."
    "I didn't realise," she whispered , shaken.
    She heard the sharp breath Leon sucked in, and then his hand was warm over her chilled one. Instinctively, her hand turned in his and clung. She would take all the comfort she could get in this grim situation.
    Any lingering hope that Leon had somehow exaggerated the gravity of Jordan's illness , died as she looked from one grim face to the other.  
    "We've despaired of finding a donor." The doctor's grave words emphasised Jordan's dire situation.
    And there's no guarantee I'll even be a donor match.
      Nausea churned in her stomach, and her hands were clammy. "What other risks does he face?"
    Dear God this is my baby we're