Raf & Natalie- Here For You
Part One
Raf was doing the usual rounds of the ward with Fletch when Serena calls him over to her office where she is not alone,
"Ah Dr. Di Lucca this is Miss Thomas she is our new HCA and I would like it if you could make sure her first day in the team will be a pleasant one!" Raf smiles warmly over at a anxious Natalie as soon as he catches eyes on her his heart begins to race wildly inside his chest and he feels perspiration on his forehead,
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Thomas. I'm Raf Di Lucca. But please call me Raf!" He says his hand out for her to shake as she touches his hand he holds his breath slightly,
"Nice to meet you. My name is Natalie"
"Lovely now that your both introduced perhaps you should do some work. Natalie you have my number if you need me now I must dash for my meeting" Serena leaves them as Raf introduces Natalie to the team and to Fletch who will be in charge of her as he was the head nurse.
She had settled in nicely as Fletch was his usual charming self Raf couldn't help but smile watching her at ease with the patients,
"Why are you smiling like a Cheshire Cat?!" Fletch asks making Raf jump slightly blushing slightly and looking uncomfortable,
"Like I can't already guess mate! You should go for it you know she's really sweet!" Fletch offers patting his shoulder making Raf brush it off,
"I honestly don't know what you mean?! I am just keeping an eye on her like Serena asked!" Fletch laughs not believing Raf as Raf walks away towards the staff room where he sat trying to compose himself,
"Oh uh hello Dr Di Lucca" Natalie says smiling friendly as she enters the room placing herself next to him,
"Uh please call me Raf. So how's your first day going?"
"Brilliant I'm loving it!" She beams making Raf grin watching as she opens her yoghurt pot,
"Keeping healthy!"
"Yeah. I'm trying to lose weight!"
"Well if you don't mind me saying so you really don't need to!" They both blush smiling over at each other,
"Thanks uh Raf that was kind of you to say!" Raf was about to respond when fletch barges through the door,
"Raf there's been an accident and we need you out here mate!" Raf and fletch rush out the door and too busy to notice a dazed Natalie watching the madness. Raf came out of surgery and onto the ward to find calm which made him exhale in relief,
"Am I on the right ward?!" He jokes to Fletch making fletch grin,
"You certainly are mate. Listen Natalie is in the locker room I think she's bit upset"
"So why aren't you in there with her?"
"Because I have been busy here keeping an eye on everything!" Raf sighs before making his way over to the locker room as he cautiously enters the room,
"Natalie?" He sees her sat huddled onto the bench sobbing silently to herself,
"Hey it's always difficult on your first day! Sorry that I wasn't on the ward to support you"
"You don't have to explain yourself you were saving lives. Oh I was fooling myself I can't do this! I just stood there in the way and useless! I'm so ashamed!" Raf lightly wraps an arm around her,
"You are far from useless! And your a natural from what I've seen today"
"You really believe that?!" She asks a tear falling down her face making Raf automatically wipe it with his hand gently both smiling warmly at each other,
"Yes I do believe that. And I'm hardly ever wrong!" They both let out a laugh as she wipes her eyes,
"Then I guess we better get out there then!" She says standing up which Raf does as well and as he makes his way to the door he feels her touch his arm making him turn,
"Raf thank you it's means a lot"
"Of course your one of us now and we are like a family down here!" They both walk out the locker room side by side as they continued with their work, Natalie feeling confident and feeling that with Raf she could be anything that she wanted to be.
At the end of a long shift Raf and Natalie walk side by side out of the ward,
"So uh kind of ritual round here to have a drink at the local pub you fancy it?"
"Uh well..."
"Go on I'll buy your first round"
"Since you've offered it would be rude to turn down! Would love to go to the pub with you!" Raf beams pleased that she said with him making feel special as he lifts his arm out to her as she grins placing her arm through his as they walk out the hospital. As they enter the pub a rapture of cheers came from the staff making Natalie blush and giggle as Fletch steps forward holding to glasses of champagne to give them,
"Welcome to AAU I have a feeling your going to fit in around here!" Natalie hugs Fletch before making her way towards the bar where Serena sat smiling warmly over at her,
"I here you had one hell of a day today"
"Yes but your team got me to realise that I can do it" she replies her eyes looking over at Raf who was talking happily with Fletch making Serena follow where she was looking grinning to herself,
"Perhaps you mean one person in particular!" Natalie cringes as Serena places her hand on top of Natalie's,
"Dear if you want my advice there are much worst men out there than Raf Di Lucca. Just go with what your feeling my dear!" Serena leaves her to her thoughts her heart pounding quickly and her breathing becoming rapid as the fear she felt in actually telling him how she feels was too much as she rushes out the pub feeling the cool air hit her as she leans against the wall shutting her eyes trying to steady her breathing,
"You ok?" His gentle voice pulls her out of her state as she smiles over at him,
"I'm good. Just bit uh overwhelmed I think I better go home"
"If you'd like I could walk you back it be no bother?"
"You sure?"
"Course not. Come on let's get out of here!" Natalie automatically places her arm through his as they begin to walk down the street,
"So it really wasn't that bad today then?"
"No. Raf I'm sorry for having a total meltdown earlier I just...doubt myself a lot!"
"Well I'm here to make you see what I see"
"And what do you see?" Raf stares intensely over at her before he spoke gently,
"A caring, warm person who doesn't see how special and beautiful she is..." Raf for a moment was in shock to have her lips on his that he was frozen until he realised he must seem a bit stupid just standing there so he deepens the kiss wrapping his arm around her waist pulling her closer.