This fic is set during episodes 03:07 and 03:08 (Skin Deep and Cliffhanger). I've taken some dialogue from those episodes, but the main focus of the story is around Sister Brigid's thoughts and reasons.
I wrote this fic in 2006. However, I've decided to leave the story as it was when I originally wrote it.
When the Truth is Found
Sister Brigid walked along the corridor in St. Aidan's Royal Free Hospital, file in her arm and searching for Nurse Samantha Beaumont. Matron was due on her ward rounds in half and hour Nurse Beaumont was needed to help Pearl make the beds in Milner Ward. Sister Brigid shook her head; sometimes she thought that girl was a liability, but other times, she really proved herself and showed that she had the potential to be a fantastic nurse.
She glanced into the hospital kitchen and wasn't too surprised to see her in there with Staff Nurse Meryl Taylor. She was about to reprimand Nurse Beaumont when she spoke.
"Aren't they so sweet? They're in love."
Curiosity getting the better of her, Sister came up behind them and followed their gazes out of the window to see Doctor Gordon Ormerod and Doctor Jill Weatherill talking together in the hospital grounds. She admired the way Doctor Ormerod had come through the terrible illness of his wife and then her death. Hearing Samantha's comment, she drew herself up with anger. "Don't you think that poor man has suffered enough without you spreading vile rumours?"
Nurse Beaumont turned to face her, incredulity written on her face. "Don't tell me you didn't know."
Staff Nurse Taylor turned around as well and said in a mock whisper, "Those two have been an item for ages apparently."
Sister was taken aback, she had no idea. She felt strangely betrayed, disappointed and angered by the doctors. She swallowed hard, pulling herself together. "Nurse Beaumont, go to Milner Ward immediately and help Pearl with the beds." She said it a little more harshly than intended, but how she spoke to a slacking nurse wasn't one of top priorities at that moment.
She stayed in the kitchen for about ten minutes after that, gazing out the window at the doctors talking, her head still spinning with the revelation. How had she not seen it? How had she let herself believe something that was blatantly impossible? She found herself questioning many events, words, atmospheres, tiny details that had happened over the last few months.
As she did this, she felt Staff Nurse looking at her, probably wondering why she was acting so out of character, Sister Brigid imagined. It wasn't like her to stare at people, to stand, apparently doing nothing while she was at work.
Sister turned abruptly and left the kitchen, throwing Nurse Taylor a quick, sideways glance. She was standing, slightly opened mouthed and looking after her bewilderedly and quite concerned.
Sister Brigid had made her decision. She marched down the corridor, stopped outside and office door and knocked.