"You know what" Zoe sighed, taking a long drag on the cigarette she had just stolen from Max "it's not my problem anymore" it felt so good to be saying that, to no longer have to worry about what others were doing, about the budgets or staffing issues. It was all Connie's problem now, she wanted the job; she could deal with all the problems Zoe had faced in the last year and a half.
As she walked towards the carpark she realised that Max hadn't caught the hint, turning around with a smile "aren't you coming, Mary Jane?" She laughed turning away and waiting for him to catch up with her and walk her to her car. He had made her laugh with the Spider-man reference, she hated when he was angry with her and his little reference to the superhero romance proved he cared, underneath all of the player bravado.
"It's not your problem?" Max questioned, confused by her statement as she had take his cigarette; he was so glad she was ok, his heart had been in his mouth the full time she was on site. He'd just wanted to hold her when her patient died, he could see the tears building up, her armour wouldn't hold forever.
"It most certainly isn't" she replied with a grin, unlocking the car and sliding into the drivers seat. "I've quit" she told him as she clipped in her seat belt and started the ignition. "So now that you're speaking to me again, how shall we celebrate?" She murmured, her hand grasping his knee firmly as she pulled into her street and parked up the car.
.
It was unlike Max to be tender when he was sleeping with a woman, the passion and ferocity usually got them going, but, as he undressed her after they had shared a bottle of wine he saw the bruises forming on her otherwise flawless skin. It was just the he realised what he stood to lose, she had been dealing with people in a horrific accident and something more than a few bruises and cut on her forehead could have happened.
He kissed his way from her forehead to her ankles and he removed each item of clothing delicately, laying over her in the bed and kissing her soundly; he put all his feelings into that kiss, his tongue dance over hers as his hands wandered along her body, teasing her to the brink of pleasure and letting her fall back down gently. His hips lined up with hers as he slid into her, responding to the sighs and pants that came from her mouth. He silenced her with kisses.
As they lay together in the darkness Max pulled Zoe back into his chest, curving his body to around hers and hold her tightly, protecting her. He kissed her neck gently as she sobbed for everything she'd lost today. Her job, her patient, her armour.
"You had me worried, spider man" he whispered to her, chucking slightly as he realised she'd fell asleep – their feelings could wait for another day.