A/N: Hey guys. This is something pretty different to what I usually write so please bear with me. I've got this one all planned out and it'll be a fairly lengthy one by the time it's finished I hope. But for the time being, enjoy this little introductory chapter. It's short, I know, but it didn't fit to make it longer.

Oh and Nick, Zoe and Casualty still aren't mine. My mistakes are though; do forgive the odd typo or whatever you might find.

Enjoy.

Zoe looked at herself in the mirror. This was it.

Leaving her home, she hopped into her Mini and drove to Holby City Hospital. She sat inside her car for a good few minutes, the apprehension was building. Zoe could feel it knotting up her stomach and making her mouth go dry.

Taking a few deep breaths and checking her make up in her rear-view mirror, she stepped out of the car, grabbed her handbag and headed into the E.D.

"Morning Doctor Hanna," came Noel's cheery greeting.

"Hiya, Noel," she replied, faffing with something inside her handbag.

"Everything alright?" The receptionist asked her as she passed him by.

"Yeah," Zoe answered although her voice gave away that she was pre-occupied.

Noel merely shrugged and went back to telling people where they should sit and that a doctor would see them soon.

Zoe didn't bother to put her things away in her locker; she doubted she'd be here long enough to warrant her spending the time.

Weaving through doors and around people she finally reached Nick Jordan's office. She took a quick glance through the glass to make sure that he was alone in there; she came to speak to him, not Miriam. As much as Zoe had come to get along with her, she preferred to talk to Nick.

Calming herself once more, Zoe knocked on the dark wood door.

"Come in," she heard him call.

Zoe opened the door and stepped inside. She didn't speak, instead waiting for him to look up at her.

"Zoe? What can I do for you?" He put down the large medical journal he'd been reading and looked at her.

"I wanted to make sure you'd received my letter." Zoe worked hard to make sure her voice was cool and professional even though her insides were churning.

Nick sighed, "Yes, I did. I can't say I agree with it but it's your choice, unless of course you've come here to tell me to tear it up." Zoe heard the hope in his voice.

She couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Glancing towards her feet for a moment before meeting his eyes, she spoke.

"No, Nick, I haven't. My decision is final. It's time for me to move on." Her voice carried the notes of sadness and regret but she knew what she had to do.

Nick nodded slowly before getting to his feet and approaching her.

"You haven't told the others have you?" It wasn't so much a question as a statement. She couldn't bring herself to tell everyone for some strange reason. She just wanted to go quietly.

"No. I couldn't bear the party they'd probably have ended up planning. I'm taking a leaf out of your book I guess."

"Yes, I can't say I blame you." Nick smiled sadly.

"Well, I guess I should be going. The removal people are coming at eleven," she paused for a moment before continuing, "tell them I'm sorry, will you?"

He nodded, "Of course. Now, you take care of yourself."

Zoe held out her hand expecting him to shake it. He ignored it and pulled her into a hug. They stood there for a few long minutes. Minutes where they were who they used to be and not who they'd become. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut she willed herself not to cry. The strong arms around her didn't seem to want to let go and neither did she but with all of the willpower she had, she pressed the faintest trace of a kiss to the skin just above his collar and pulled away.

"Goodbye, Nick," Zoe said, voice barely above a whisper.

With that she turned and left his office, her perfume lingering like a ghost.

Nick stood rooted to the spot. He never thought she'd go while he was still here. He had always been of the impression that it would be him that went first for obvious reasons.

He heard the door open again and he hoped it'd be her telling him she'd changed her mind but instead it was Miriam. Nick struggled to hide his disappointment.

"Nicky? What's the matter?" Miriam had clocked his reaction. Bloody woman.

"We've just lost the best doctor we have and I've just lost… well, I don't know what I've lost."

She gave him a sympathetic look and started rummaging through the bottom draw of her desk.

Nick didn't move but his eyes followed her movement.

"Time to break out some of the good stuff then?" Miriam pulled out the bottle of whiskey she kept in there for when the day had been particularly stressful.

Nick acquiesced and took the tumbler of the golden liquid she offered. He mulled it around in the glass watching how the light reflected though it.

Before he could even raise it to his lips Mads burst through the office door, "I'm sorry to interrupt but we have a major RTC incoming. ETA three minutes."

"Thank you, Mads," he said casting a look towards Miriam, "We'll be right there."

Mads nodded and rushed back to the E.D.

"Come on, we have a job to do."

Nick nodded.

Miriam patted him on the back as they headed for the door.

Zoe closed her front door behind her and looked at the sea of cardboard boxes that greeted. In a few days' time she'd be unpacking these in a house one hundred and fifty miles away. She sat down heavily on the sofa and contemplated opening a bottle of wine but then the fact that she'd be driving popped into her head. So she just sat in the quiet room waiting for the knock of the removal men.

She didn't have to wait long.

A/N: Well there you have it. I told you it'd be different. I hope you liked it. :)