"Zoe?" She couldn't answer, she couldn't turn around and see his gorgeous, goofy face and look into it with sore, tired, crying eyes. She just couldn't. She wasn't used to having someone… a man, care about her. Did he care? Had this thing become more than sex? From her point of view, she suspected it might do if only she could let down those barriers. Those barriers she'd had to build up from years of one-night stands, betrayal, hurt and knowing that she'd sleep with someone and never see them again. If she was honest, this whole thing scared her to the core. More than being a failing clinical lead. She'd been fine with that until Connie had come along and pointed out all her short-comings. But Clinical Lead. Pah, she could jack that in any time. Guy would be more than happy to accept her resignation.

But affairs of the heart are never that simple, you can't just give in your resignation and step away. Maybe it was that, the knowledge she'd gone too far, fallen in too deep to ever turn around that caused her to snap and throw that careful filing on the floor. The bloody filing that had meant she'd missed out on having time with HIM. Oh, it was all such a mess. To her, it felt like her life was someone's headphones that had been put in a pocket and become so tangled and twisted the strands were impossible to separate; who could possibly say what was frustrating her?

Big, soft hands attached to strong arms wrapping around her waist distracted her from the anger that was building up inside her and threatening to turn her into a sobbing mess. A gentle kiss was planted on top of her and although she tried half-heartedly to pull away from him – she didn't want sympathy, she just wanted someone, something on which to unleash her wrath – he was stronger than her, and although being as gentle as possible, pulled her back into him until she subsided and turned around to face him, well his chest as his head fitted perfectly on top of hers and her face, wet with falling tears was pushed firmly into his strong chest.

Through her tears she was able to feel his gentle hands massaging her, drawing circles on her back. She wasn't sure if she liked it or if she could cope with someone seeing her this broken. When she finally regained her composure, she realised he must have manoeuvred the both of them to the floor, his back leaning against the wall and her body wrapped so snugly around his she wasn't sure where she finished and he started. Looking up at his face, Zoe wasn't sure if she could remember seeing him like this. She was pretty sure she couldn't. She was so used to seeing his cheeky grin or charming smile that the pain on anguish on his face made him almost unrecognisable.

"Max, please…." She didn't need to feel the guilt for making him feel bad as well as everything else. Half expecting one of his cheesy line, she was surprised by the concern that flooded his eyes. "Zo. You're back" he whispered. Looking into her eyes for her permission, he began gently kissing and wiping the tears away.

Zoe heard a whisper in her ear; "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Zo" "What on Earth have you got to be sorry for?" "Oh, well if you didn't notice…" "Uh uh, you can't back out now, Mister" Zoe chimed, poking Max in the ribs "Nah, I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time over Arthur. You didn't need that, not on top of everything else. I should have been on your side and I wasn't really, and I'm sorry". A cheeky grin spread across Zoe's face "I'm sure you can make it up to me" she winked. Max's only answer was a kiss on the lips.

"I look a right mess" Zoe realised, taking out her pocket mirror. "I don't think I've ever seen you look more beautiful". Both of them were somewhat taken aback by Max's statement; he'd seen her in the throws of passion, he'd seen her dressed up and he'd seen her naked but he'd never seen her this vulnerable, and although it scared him, he was pleased that she was letting him share the moment with her.

"Shall we get you home, babe?" Zoe gratefully nodded. She was thankful for his concern, for coming back, even if he had rejected her offer of breakfast. She didn't mind that he didn't know what to say. There wasn't really anything she wanted to hear. His presence was enough.

A few hours later, Zoe and Max were snuggled together under his duvet. Words weren't needed and they were enjoying the feeling of their naked limbs wrapped around each other. "Max? Max?" Zoe repeated his name, realising he'd fallen asleep in the warm. "Hmm, what is it, babe?" "What are we? I mean, what is THIS?" Zoe questioned, gesturing downwards towards their entangled bodies. "Well… sex, did you, er, not do sex ed at school?" "Shut up!" Zoe giggled, covering her ears. She was glad Max had returned to his old self. "No, but seriously, I don't know, the thing is, I'm not sure I can let you go. I mean, this is different to all the one night stands, and believe me, I've had a lot". Zoe's arms tightened around him as he spoke; she was glad he felt able to be open with her. "I know… it's just, I'm a lot older than you, are you sure you don't" Max's mouth on hers stopped her talking and answered her question. "Are you sure you can put up with going out with a porter? Although may I just remind you, this is not just any old porter, but a particularly fetching and handsome one" said Max, winking and grinning. "Shut it, you". Zoe thwacked him in the stomach and they settled down to go to sleep together.