Chapter 1

Zoe was at work, sitting at her desk. It was busy outside on the front line, and neither Max or Zoe had had a break all day. Their shift ended in four hours. Georgina was at home, but things were about to get a lot worse.

Georgie was ill, not physically ill, but medically ill. She had had a fit and so was in her wheelchair. She always had her phone with her, but Zoe had left it on the bathroom window sill and said not to do anything until she and Max were home. However, Georgina just wanted to do all the normal things other people of her age did. So she decided to have a shower.

"Zoe, do you fancy a break?" Max walked into her office with coffee in his hand.

"No thanks I have a pile of paperwork to get through".

"OK." He was about to walk out but then turned back again. "Oh and the other thing, have you heard any word from Georgina lately, she hasn't rung me and its been over an hour."

"No I haven't, you're right, its unlike her. I'll phone her in a bit, see how things are. Thanks Max." Max shut the door.

"Max you're needed in resus for a patient transfer." Robyn was making sure Max was doing some work.

Georgina was on her own. She had attempted to go to the toilet before her shower as she always did, but she slipped and was lying on the floor unable to move, she had landing funny on her left side and Max and Zoe had no idea this had happened. All she wanted to do was to be normal.

"dam" she said to herself "why do I never listen to sensible consultants and porters when they tell you to do something. Now I can't even reach my phone2.

Max met Zoe in cubicles a while later "Zoe have you phoned Georgina yet?"

"Oh crap no I haven't" Zoe had a panicked expression on her face.

"Zoe, it's fine, I'll have my break early and go round to the flat to check on her OK. " Max had both his hands on Zoe's shoulders.

"but…"

"OK?"

"Yes, alright then, just make sure she's alright and bring her in if not, I need to know if anything happens" Zoe was shouting down the corridor to Max as he ran off to find his coat and Zoe's car keys

There was a knock at the flat door. It was Max.

"Mum, Mum is that you?" Georgina was calling from the bathroom.

"No darling it's Max, Zoe told me to check up on you, are you alright?"

"Max, no no you can't see me like this". Georgina was in a bit of pain

"Why not?" Max could hear Georgina in the bathroom but stayed in the bedroom doorway.

"Because it's embarrassing" she was beginning to cry. Max could hear this, it was crying of pain and embarrassment.

"it's only me, not your Dad or anyone else, you trust me and Zoe" Max had his concerned porter's voice on.

"OK, just promise you won't tell anyone, not even Mum. "

"Well, not telling Mum might be hard, but no-one else will know. I promise." He paused to wait for a reply.

"Can I come in now. Please me and Zoe are worried".

"OK" Georgina responded reluctantly. Max walked into the bathroom and found Georgina lying on the floor wet. Georgina hung her head in shame.

"Oh Georgina", Max came and sat down next to her with his hand on her right shoulder, " why didn't listen to Zoe, she knows what she's talking about". Max was calling an ambulance at this point and Georgina was crying on his chest, deep hard sobs.

Georgina was taken to Holby ED by Dixie and Jeff. She trusted them with her secret, but knew Zoe would find out sooner or later. She held her breath as they wheeled her into resus.

"Right Ethan, this is Georgina, she took a tumble in the bathroom and has a bruised left side, slight pain when moving her left leg but all the robs are normal, she is instant that Zoe doesn't find out though." Max followed behind.

"OK thanks Dixie".

Charlie heard the news that Georgina was brought in and knocked on Zoe's office, she was busy working and forgot to ring her daughter unaware of what she was about to hear.

"Hi Charlie, sorry I just need to get this paperwork done". Zoe highlighted more words in her report.

"That might have to wait." Charlie looked at Zoe with his head on one side, Zoe knew something was up

"Why, is there a problem?" Zoe looked puzzled at Charlie who was stood in her office doorway.

"Yes I would think so, its Georgina."

"Oh Dam, I forgot to phone her back, is she alright" Zoe at this point has begun to panic, picked up her stethoscope and was walking quickly to resus.

Zoe rushed into Resus and was greeted by Max.

"Zoe, please don't panic, she doesn't really want you to know what happened. she's very embarrassed," Max was holding Zoe by the arms and quietening his voice as to not be too loud.

"Ah Dr Hanna, I believe this is your patient" Ethan laughed slightly as he looked at Georgina who gave a small smile.

"Yes, well she wouldn't have been if she had done as she was told." Zoe darted a stare at her and was angry at Georgina for not listening to her before.

"Well you could have helped by finishing your shift at the right time, you promised you would come home and help me." Georgina began to start raising she voice.

"Hey that's enough, nor is that fair, you could have rung me".

"You left the phone on the bathroom window sill. I couldn't reach it", Georgina said as her head began to sink down and tears appeared in her eyes.

Zoe came over, held Georgina's hand, but Georgina only pulled away and turned towards Max

She paused and Ethan backed away to give them some space, Max was still there and stood Zoe, Zoe spoke, "I'm sorry, I was having a bad morning and there was some paperwork that I needed to get done, then I got held up here, and you know my timings at work are not always the same. I love you so much. I make it up to you, I promise."

Georgina held her head down, "you said that before, this morning when you left for work, it was Max who found me. Lying there in my own mess because I was desperate and you hadn't arrived home, I had waited over 3 hours", there were tears running down Georgina's face, she held her hand out for Max. the 2 exchanged cuddles, Max looked at Zoe and she knew what he meant.

"I'll finish off my paperwork and then come back and see you shortly."

Zoe went back into her office, she realised what she'd done, she'd been too involved in her work to even notice her family, but the question she had to ask herself was 'what can I do to gain Georgie's and Max's friendship back?', but she knew it would not be much.