So here is something slightly different. It has been a long time since I have written a multi-part fic, but this one has caught my imagination. It is very much Sam/Dylan, but with Zoe in a supporting role. I will be updating it with a new short chapter every day this week (have 6/7 parts in total) which will keep me going until Casualty next Saturday!

I hope you enjoy - and if you do, reviews are always welcome!


War is never easy

Chapter 1: The phone call

Zoe

Zoe couldn't help but be grateful that the day was quiet because it had been manic all week. It was a few hours into the shift and they had only had two cases that required any real attention – the old man her and Sam had just stabilised and the woman Dylan was currently working on across resus from them.

She had just about to tell Sam she could go back to cubicles when they had been interrupted by Noel.

"Sam," he called out. "Personal call for you."

Zoe noticed Dylan's ears prick up at this statement and both he and Sam turned to Noel with a bewildered look on their face.

"Do you know who it is?" Sam questioned, but Noel shrugged in response.

"No, he just said it was important that he speak to you straight away," he stated before walking back out towards reception.

When Sam looked back, Zoe waved at her to follow him out and she quickly departed resus. Zoe observed that she glanced over to Dylan before averting her gaze as she left the room, whilst she noted that the man himself hadn't moved from his position since Noel had stated Sam's caller was male. He was standing over his patient, gloved hands halfway through a movement but completely still.

She left her own patient and made her way over to him, bringing him out of his trance. From where they were now stood, Zoe could see his stare fell on Sam in the next door room. Even though they were unable to hear her conversation Zoe could tell Sam was tense from her body position and she appeared to be speaking very little into the phone.

The conversation ended and Sam replaced the handset before turning to look straight at Dylan. For the briefest of moments the depth of feeling in that reciprocated stare made Zoe feel uncomfortable, like she was intruding on a private moment. However quicker than Sam looked towards them, she looked away and left.

As Dylan returned to wordlessly treating his patient, Zoe watched as Sam approached Nick outside of the door and after a brief conversation headed towards the staffroom. A few minutes later she disappeared down the corridor towards the exit with her coat and bag in hand, never once looking up from the ground.

When Nick entered resus a short time later Zoe was busy writing up her own patient's chart ready for his move to Keller.

"Things okay in here?" Nick asked, gesturing to both Zoe and Dylan's patients' simultaneously.

"All under control," Dylan stated simply, to which Zoe nodded an acknowledgement.

Nick smiled before starting to walk away, but as he went to leave the room Zoe spoke, "Have you seen Sam? Is she back in cubicles now?"

Nick frowned slightly before answering, "I assumed she'd already spoken to you. She said something had come up and she needed to pop out for half an hour. From what she said Dr Keogh here agreed to cover for her?"

Dylan looked up at the sound of his name and Zoe saw a look of consternation cross his face.

"Yes. I did. She won't be long I'm sure," came his simple response.

Nick seemed satisfied with that and left, leaving Zoe staring at Dylan slightly gobsmacked. She went to speak but Dylan got in there first.

"Before you say anything," he started. "I'm well aware that Dr Nicholls never asked me to cover for her, but whatever it is must have been important."

"You don't even know who it was that phoned," Zoe stated. "Does she have any family or friends who could have called her?"

"Sam doesn't have anyone," Dylan replied.

Zoe resisted the temptation to add "except you" to that statement and instead focused on finishing her chart. She wrote a few sentences before glancing back up at Dylan again, still intrigued by the dynamic she shared with his ex-wife and his willingness to cover for her regardless. From Dylan's distracted behaviour she could tell he was still wondering about who Sam's call was from, especially given it was important enough for her to leave work immediately afterwards.

Today might be quiet but it had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.


Thank you so much for reading. Next part will be up tomorrow.