I was hesitant to post this as it's not my best work and I wrote it ages ago. But I was thinking of continuing it and I wondered what your thoughts were? Please review if you can and let me know wether I should write more or not :) -Sophie x


It was just another typical day in Holby's ED. Cal and Ethan were at loggerheads, Lily didn't smile once, Robyn and Lofty were late again, Connie strode around like she owned the place, Charlie and Tess did their usual amazing work, and Zoe Hanna was sat in her office, weighed down with a huge pile of paperwork.

Again.

For the fourth time that week.

She sighed wearily and put her head in her hands. It was Friday, and she'd spent the whole day sat in her dull, dreary office writing report after report after report. She didn't get to do any hands on work once, and she was itching to get home. So when the clock turned 8pm, she grabbed her bag, shoved the papers in and shot out of the door, as fast as her high heeled shoes could carry her.

Once outside she lit a cigarette and breathed in the cool evening air. It was almost Christmas, and there was a light scattering of snow on the ground from earlier that day. The day shift, minus a few, were going for drinks in the pub, and Tess motioned for her to join them.

"I'll be with you in a minute!" Zoe called back, watching as they made their way inside. Just as she put out her cigarette, her phone started vibrating in her pocket. She answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello is that Miss Zoe Hanna?"

"Depends who's calling." She said suspiciously.

"Sorry, I should have introduced myself. I'm Sharon Davies, I work for Holby Police force. I'm calling about a fire that happened next door to your home earlier today."

"There was a fire?" Zoe asked, surprised. She hadn't heard anything about it.

"Yes, did Mrs Flack not call you?"

"No, I haven't had any calls today at all. She probably forgot." Mrs Flack was her lovely but elderly neighbour, and she had a terrible memory.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I thought you knew. Anyway, the fire service has deemed your house unstable as a precaution, so I'm calling to ask if there's any chance you could stay somewhere else tonight, whilst the fire crews evaluate the safety and stability of your home?" Sharon asked.

"Well I'm still at work, and I'm sure one of them will have me to stay do that should be ok. But what about my clothes, etc?"

"No-one is to go in the house I'm afraid."

"But I have no money with me, and my cards are at home!" Zoe said despairingly, her voice rising.

"There's nothing we can do Ms Hanna, I'm sorry."

Zoe sighed and stomped her feet a little. The cold was starting to get to her.

"It's Dr Hanna, actually. Right, ok, whatever. I'm going to have to go. Thankyou for informing me."

"You're welcome, could you make your way home for about 12 midday tomorrow? The crew should be done by then."

"Yeah that's fine. Ok, bye Mrs Davies."

"Bye Dr Hanna."

Zoe pressed the end call button and made her way to the pub. She went inside and went straight over to the table where her colleagues were sat.

"Hey guys, I have bit of a favour to ask you." She said as she sat down.

"Drink, Zoe?" Charlie asked.

"Not just yet, thanks. Would it be possible for me to stay with one of you tonight? There's been a fire next to my house and the fire crew need to investigate my house to make sure it's not been damaged."

The adults sat round the table looked at one another, looking sheepish. After a few minutes of silence, Zoe spoke again.

"What, nobody?" She asked incredulously. She turned to Charlie. "Charlie?"

"I'm going to visit my son in Australia for Christmas, that's why I booked next week off, remember? I need to get packed and go shopping for some clothes. Sorry, Zoe."

"Tess?"

"Going to London to see my sister early tomorrow, so I'm afraid I can't." She smiled sadly.

"Robyn? Lofty?" She asked hopefully. She knew Robyn had a kind heart.

"We're going to a gig with Max and his mates." Lofty said, looking down.

"I don't believe this." Zoe muttered, looking at Cal.

"Cal? Please?" She was almost begging now.

"As much as I'd like a beautiful woman asleep in my one bedroomed, humble abode-" he began before Zoe stood up.

"Ugh, never mind. Where's Ethan and Lily?"

"Staff room, um, going over some work I think." Tess said, and Cal winked at Robyn who giggled.

"Ok, thanks for absolutely no help whatsoever." She said shortly before walking out of the swinging doors of the pub, and into the swinging doors of the ED.

In the staff room, Lily and Ethan were reading through a report, and they were really getting into it when Zoe walked through the door.

"Can I stay at either of your houses tonight?" She said tiredly, getting straight to the point.

"Um, no not really, we'll be here until late then I've got to be somewhere tomorrow morning." Ethan said, looking at Lily.

"If it was all the same Dr Hanna, I'd rather you didn't." Lily said emotionlessly, "it wouldn't seem professional. Also my new flats very unorganised at the minute-"

"Oh I bloody give up." Zoe said angrily, hitting the nearest wall. "All I want is somewhere to spend the night where I don't have to pay for a room. Is that too much to ask?!"

"Have you tried Mrs Beauchamp?" Lily asked.

"Oh yeah, like she'll say yes. Besides, she'll be at home by now."

"No, I think she's still in her office." Ethan said, checking his watch.

Zoe sighed. "Well, I guess it's worth a try."

She made her way to the office they shared and opened the door. Connie was sat at her desk on the computer, typing away. She had some classical music coming from her phone that lay on a pile of papers, that was almost as high as Zoe's.

"Dr Hanna, what are you still doing here?" She asked in surprise.

"Had a bit of bad news, one of my neighbours houses set on fire earlier and the fire service have deemed my house possibly unsafe to go into, so I need somewhere to stay for the night. I've already asked the whole day staff but they're all busy. You're literally my last hope. So, would it be possible for me to spend the night at your house?" She asked. "I know we have our differences but I have no money at all so I cant afford a hotel room, and my family live down in the south of London."

Connie sighed. "It's very inconvenient but I can hardly say no can I."

"Thankyou Connie, you won't regret it I promise." Zoe smiled.

"Are you taking your own car or do you have to come in mine?"

"I got a taxi this morning so your car please."

"Very well." The clinical lead sighed again, gathering up her belongings and turning off her computer. "Come on then."

The two women made their way to Connie's sleek black Mercedes, and got in. This was a big difference to Zoe's wreck of a car and she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

The car ran almost silently all the way home, and up the driveway.

"Wow." Was all Zoe could say.

Connie's house was a huge, detached, modern beauty. Inside, it was black and white and very shiny- much like the owner's personality. Everything was pin neat and sparkling with cleanliness. Zoe quickly removed her shoes and dumped her bag on one of the stools next to a breakfast bar that sat in the kitchen.

"Bag OFF the seat Dr Hanna, and under the coat rack where it belongs." Connie called from the living room.

"Yes miss." Zoe muttered sarcastically as she shoved her bag under the stand.

"Neatly!" Her boss shouted.

"Jesus Christ." She muttered, straightening the handles. "Does she have eyes in the back of her bloody head?"

"Nope, I just know you." Came the next shout.

This is going to be a long night, Zoe thought, before hesitantly padding further into the devils lair.