Just good friends?

Chapter One:

It had been quite a strenuous day, a busy department, a few rowdy patients. All were causing no end of annoyance and trouble to the staff. Trying to calm one situation in particular had been a bit of a task, for him, until, she walked in. And with a knowing smile, an idea, and action, she'd given the patient his injection, and he walked off unknowingly. That was her, if something needed to be done, or said, she did it. Well, not usually as easily as that, but, she was a fantastic nurse. One of the best he'd ever worked with. So, it was only fair they celebrate her shift down at the pub, it gave her the chance to get to know everyone. Especially when everyone could let their hair down.

He had sat down at the bar, slowly drinking his whiskey, thoughts whirling around in his head. This was the first time they had been around each other, outside the hospital, since his wedding.

So, he was also unsure how to react around her. He'd thought about their encounter at the wedding for weeks, and he didn't think he'd see her again, so that thought slowly faded from his mind. Until she decided to come back to work at the department. Fantastic, he'd said to her. And it was, to have her back. He's missed her, missed her more than he could actually tell her. But, it also added to the confusion. She missed him too, and by the looks of it, was even willing to step over that mark to tell him exactly how much.

How else could I react? She was going to kiss me.

He still hadn't even discussed it with her. Not outright.

Would she even remember? I know she was drinking. Maybe that was it. She was just overly emotional because of Andrew. She didn't mean it. Not, at my wedding. No.

Charlie thought to himself, as he then caught sight of her talking with Eve.

"Come on, what have you said to her this time?" Josh said, as he took another sip of his whiskey.

"Huh?" Charlie said, as he stood at the bar, looking over at Duffy talking with Eve.

"Duffy?" Josh said, as he shook his head at him.

"What about Duffy?" Charlie asked, frowning at him.

"You've been avoiding each other most of the night. It's either you've had a row, or it's something else." Josh asked, as he gave him a knowing look.

"Don't be daft." Charlie said, as he scoffed at him.

"One of your oldest friends comes back to work, and you avoid each other like the plague?" Josh said, taking a sip of his whiskey.

"It's not like that." Charlie said, as he sighed and took a sip of his whiskey.

"Oh really?" Josh said, as he frowned at him.

"Just leave it Josh." Charlie said, as he avoided looking at him.

"That's what it looks like to me." Josh said, as he raised his eyebrows at him, then took another sip of his whiskey.

"I just thought it'd be nice she get to know everyone first." Charlie said, as he looked over at Duffy again.

"Oh, right, gotcha." Josh said, as he smirked at him.

Charlie just sighed and shook his head.

Meanwhile, Eve, was talking candidly with Duffy, trying to get to know her new colleague; but, had an opinion of her already.

"So, how long have you and Charlie known each other?" Eve said, not skirting around the topic at all, she was a forthright type of person.

"Charlie? Oooh, we go way back." Duffy said, cheerily, as she took a sip of her wine.

"So I gathered." Eve said, as she frowned at her.

"Excuse me?" Duffy replied, confused.

"You were at the wedding." Eve said, giving her an explanation to her question.

"Oh, oh, yes, yes I was. I'm sorry, I don't remember seeing you there." Duffy replied, in recognition.

"Oh? I remember seeing you." Eve said, as she raised her eyebrows at her.

"You do?" Duffy said, as she frowned at her again, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Shame, coz I thought better of Charlie." Eve replied, with a stern look.

"Excuse me?" Duffy said again, looking shocked, and a little worried.

"Makes sense why Baz left for Birmingham." Eve said, as she shook her head at Duffy.

"What?" Duffy replied, tensing up.

"Didn't want the department to know." Eve added.

"Know what?" Duffy asked again.

"About you and Charlie." Eve said, as she gave her a knowing look.

"What about us?" Duffy replied, getting a little bit defensive.

"Having an affair." Eve said, as she moved closer to her and whispered it.

"What?" Duffy exclaimed.

"I saw you, together, at the wedding." Eve said, as she scowled at Duffy.

"You, you saw us, at the wedding?" Duffy said, as she took a step back from her, utterly shocked and unnerved.

"Yes." Eve practically spat back at her.

"No wonder you got a job so quickly." Eve added.

"But, we're, we're just friends." Duffy said, nervously.

"Oh, I don't think so, I heard him tell you he loved you." Eve said, as she bit back at her.

"He, he, um." Duffy replied, unsure what to say.

"That 'just friends' isn't going to wash with me." Eve said, as she gave her another stern look.

"But, we are, just friends." Duffy said, as she momentarily looked away from Eve; and saw Charlie, sat at the bar talking with Josh.

Briefly their eyes met, as he had been watching her, he knew by the look on her face something had upset her, and he frowned back at her. She looked horrified, as she turned away from him, and walked away from Eve and headed towards the toilets.

-x-