"Goodbye Dylan." Zoe whispered as she hugged him. She didn't want him to leave, but she knew it would be better for him in the long run if he did. It must have been awful for him to see his wife move on while he still loved her so much. Maybe now he could get the space he needed.
They parted from the hug and looked at each other before the both walked in a different direction. Sam and Tom passed Zoe on the way out, and Zoe turned back wondering whether Sam knew where Dylan was going.
"Dylan." Sam said, and Dylan turned back. "Going somewhere?" She looked at his bag.
"I'm sorry Sam. I can't stay here anymore. I resigned." Dylan said bluntly as Tom looked on.
"Oh." Sam said, as if she wasn't really surprised. "You got a new job?"
"Not yet but I was thinking about applying for the GP job at the doctors near the canal." He explained.
"Right." Sam said, not knowing what to say. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too." Dylan said, surprised as Sam hugged him. Zoe watched Tom look on awkwardly, as he thought about staying or leaving the two to talk in private. Before he came up with an answer, they parted.
"Coming for a drink?" Sam asked, and Dylan shook his head.
"No. I don't do alcohol. And Dervla needs me." Sam nodded.
"So, i'll see you around then." Sam said and smiled gently. Dylan smiled awkwardly back, and Sam and Tom continued towards the pub, holding hands half way there.
Dylan made eye contact with Zoe and smiled. Zoe waved at him as she couldn't bring herself to smile. She was going to miss him, and as she watched him walk away she couldn't help but let her eyes well up. She wouldn't let the tears fall though, not infront of her collegues.
She quickly pulled herself together as two of the paramedics approached her, also ready to go to the pub for a drink.
"Doctor Hanna, coming for a drink?" Dixie asked, smiling as she linked arms with Jeff.
"Not tonight Dix." She said. "Too much paperwork that has to be finished." Dixie looked at her surprised.
"Oh right." Dixie looked at Zoe. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah i'm fine." Zoe smiled at her.
"Sure?" Dixie asked and Zoe nodded.
"I'm sure." Zoe replied and smiled at them to she that she was.
"So no drink then?" Jeff asked.
"Maybe. Maybe after i've finished. But it will be late." Zoe smiled, looking forward to the idea of a drink.
"There's the Doctor Hanna we know." Dixe said. "See you later yeah? And i'll buy you a drink."
"That would be great Dix thanks." Zoe said. "Have fun."
She walked away from them and shut herself in her office where she let the tears fall for a while before returning her mind to the paper work. She was really going to miss Dylan. All of his remarks, however rude they were, she would miss them. She would miss going into the staff room and seeing the cereal box telling her and her collegues that the cereal was his and no one elses.
She knew she was going to have to let him go because he wasn't going to return.
Soon enough after setting her mind to it, the paperwork was done earlier than planned. It was now ten thirty, enough time for a drink or two. She gathered her things and made her way down there, looking forward to chatting to her collegues and drinking.
She was sat at the bar on her own a while later after the first drink, when someone came and sat next to her.
"Two of these please." He pointed to Zoe's drink, and handed her one after the bar tender got them.
"Thank you." Zoe smiled and looked up at him. The man was quite tall, middle aged and good looking. He had brown short, spiked hair and he wore a suit, making him look smart. He smiled down at Zoe and she blushed, hoping that the dim lighting wouldn't show it.
"I'm Darren. Darren Thomas." He smiled.
"I'm-" She was interrupted.
"Zoe Hanna." He said. "I know." He smiled at her, making her blush again. "I'm going to be working in the E.D. Taking over from Mr Jordan until he returns."
"Oh I see." Zoe replied. She had taken over from Nick's job earlier in the month but she found it too hard over her duties. "It's nice to meet you."
"Same to you." He smiled. "So, glad to be stopping all the paperwork tomorrow?"
"You start tomorrow?" Zoe smiled. "Thats great."
"Yes. And take the load off your shoulders." He laughed. "I was talking to the other doctors and nurses over there and they encouraged me to buy you a drink and talk to you."
"Oh right." she rolled her eyes and grinned. "I'm glad they did."
"So am I." He smiled. "I hope you don't mind me saying, but I hear you are single."
"You heard right." She laughed and looked down.
"Really? A beautiful woman like you single?" Again Zoe blushed and nodded. "I'm sure that will change soon."
"You really think so?" She looked up at him.
"I know so." He replied with a grin. "I think i'd better get going. As should you. If i'm right, we both have an early shift tomorrow."
"Yes. We start at seven." Zoe smiled.
"Do you need a lift home? You can't drive now, after all." He offered.
"Neither can you if you've had a lot." Zoe said.
"I've only had this one, all others were not alcoholic." He smiled. "So, that lift?"
"That would be great." Zoe said and stood up. Her heels made her wobble slightly and Darren steadied her.
They both walked out of the pub with collegues eyes on their backs and then Darren drove Zoe home.
"Goodnight." Darren said as he walked her up to the front door.
"Night." Zoe replied as he kissed her cheek.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He said before walking down to his car and driving away.
Zoe shut the door behind her and exhaled deeply. She had just said goodbye to a friend only hours ago, and was already falling for the new clinical lead. She felt her cheek where he had kissed it and thought for a while. When Darren said she wouldn't be single for much longer, did he mean that he liked her? Zoe hoped so, and went to bed looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow.