Hi guys, I've decided to start a series of freechamp oneshots because I am ridiculously in love with the both of them. I'm not sure how good these stories will be, but I hope you enjoy them. Reviews are always welcome x
Connie's heart was beating wildly as she continued chest compressions. She was not about to let this little girl die. No, not this little girl who could almost be mistaken for her own child. Not this little girl who, until under two hours ago, had been enjoying a game of football in the park with her friends. It wasn't her fault for running out into the road to get her ball, it was the fault of the absolute bastard who was drunk, and speeding way over the limit.
The defibrillator shocked the tiny body; nothing. Connie began chest compressions again.
"Connie-"
"No. Not yet" Connie harshly interrupted Charlie's cautious voice.
"Connie, she's been in sinus for fifteen minutes"
Connie's voice cracked and her eyes began to swim with tears as she turned towards her friend, but her hands continued compressions on the little girl's chest. "Charlie, please. Once more" she begged. At Charlie's almost imperceptible nod she moved away, "clear!" she commanded, "and shocking". She waited with baited breath as the tiny body was heaved up off the bed with the effort of the electric shock attempting to restart her heart.
Nothing.
Charlie carefully made his way over to the clinical lead, "we can't keep doing this Connie" he murmured, gently taking her hands away from the girl's lifeless body. Connie bent her head, felt her throat begin to contract and several hot tears began to leak their way down her face, gathering herself together enough to address the room of people: "time of death, 17:42" before storming from resus.
Rita smiled to herself as she made her way into the staff room to begin her evening shift, thinking back happily to the way she had woken up this morning. It had been no different from most of her mornings as of late, but Rita could never deny the warm feeling that spread through her each day when she woke up to find herself in the arms of a certain clinical lead, their legs tangled together under a pile of blankets.
'Speaking of Connie,' Rita thought, reaching for her phone, she frowned when saw a screen absent of any messages. Connie usually texted her throughout the day if they weren't on the same shift, if only to complain about Guy Self or Erik Hansenn being constantly on her back. Shrugging slightly, Rita assumed that her girlfriend had just become swamped in paperwork, and began to open her locker to change into her uniform.
Making her way out towards the nurse's station, Rita's brow furrowed concernedly, seeing Lofty and Robyn huddled together whispering and glancing furtively towards Connie's office.
"What's up guys?" she asked as she approached the pair.
"Everyone's worried about Mrs Beauchamp" Lofty said gravely. Robyn nodded her head in agreement, "she lost a patient earlier, and well, it must've really affected her. She went into her office straight after, and hasn't left it for hours".
"Uh…" Rita struggled with what to say as her inner panic level began to rise rapidly. No one at work knew about hers and Connie's relationship, and neither nurse nor clinical lead wanted to risk their relationship being discovered. "I'm sure Mrs Beauchamp will be alright guys", lifting up several patient files, "let's get on with business, shall we?"
After Robyn and Lofty had each taken a file and walked off to their respective cubicles, Rita swiftly made her way over to Connie's office, and knocked gently on the door, speaking as quietly as she could: "Connie? Connie sweetheart, it's me. Please open the door, darling".
Hearing the soft click of the office door unlock, Rita quickly glanced around the ED to make sure no one was looking, and crept into the darkened office.
Connie had drawn all the blinds, and was sitting hugging her knees to her chest, rocking herself slightly, her cheeks marked with tears and her eyes shining. Rita sighed worriedly and gently crouched down until she was level with the clinical lead, sitting next to her and wrapping her arms around the older woman's shoulders, guiding her head to rest in the crook of her neck.
It was then when Connie began to weep, and Rita began to feel her heart crack and break for the woman she loved so deeply to be in so much pain. "Connie?" she asked tentatively "What happened?"
"God, Rita" Connie's voice was barely more than a whisper "she looked so much like Grace and I-" a sob wracked her body "I couldn't save her, and I'm so far away from Grace and I-" she buried her face in the blonde's shoulder and continued to weep quietly.
"Oh my darling" Rita pulled girlfriend closer, rocking their joined bodies together. There was nothing to say, and Connie appreciated the quiet the younger woman provided, feeling intensely comforted by her steady breaths, her smell of cinnamon and warmth, and the protective circle of her arms.