I had the idea for this last night, but didn't get round to writing it until just now. Let me know what you think, I might carry it on if I get the time but only if you guys want me to :D

Enjoy, and please leave a review with your thoughts if you can! -Sophie x

It was a cold, crisp morning, and Connie shivered slightly under her duvet. She'd left her window open that previous evening, and was now bitterly regretting the decision. Reaching out for her phone, she pressed the home button to reveal the time; 7:45, and time to get up for work as she'd already slept in much longer than she should have.

With a slight groan, the clinical lead swung her legs over the side of the bed, instantly feeling the goosebumps rise on her smooth skin. Pushing the hair from her face, she grabbed a towel from her airing cupboard and padded into her en suite to freshen up. She let the hot water trickle down her body for 5 minutes or so, warming her to the bone before grabbing the soap and shampoo.

The woman stepped out 10 minutes later and got herself dressed quicky before applying her make-up, then making her way downstairs for a mug of coffee. Just as she flicked the kettle on to boil, there was a small knock at her door. It was so quiet she thought she was imagining things, so she stopped what she was doing and stood still; but there it was again.

She went out into the hall and took her keys from the table, before unlocking the door and un-doing the bolts. She twisted the handle and opened it.

There, in front of her, stood a small girl around the age of 4/5 with long blonde hair. She clutched a bag to her chest and looked up at the woman with wide, innocent brown eyes.

"Hello." She said, and smiled widely, revealing a small pair of shining teeth. Connie raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Hello." She replied, before looking to see if there were any adults about that could be her parents. The street was still however, and she let her gaze fall back to the little girl.

"I'm Eleanor Lillian Chambers." She said clearly, still looking up into Connie's eyes.

"Hello Eleanor Lillian Chambers. I'm Connie." The woman replied, slightly unsure as to what to do.

"Just Connie?" Eleanor asked, and Connie crossed her arms, looking down at her curiously.

"You're a nosey one aren't you?" Eleanor blinked twice but carried on smiling, and Connie felt her lips twitch at either side.

"My full name is Constance Beauchamp, but everyone calls me Connie or Mrs Beauchamp."

"Ah." Eleanor nodded enthusiastically, her little wrist watch glinting in the morning sun. It was then that Connie became conscious of the time. Her shift began in 15 minutes, and it usually took her 20 to get there. Clearing her throat, she looked around again.

"Are you here alone Eleanor? Where are your parents?" She asked, leaning on one foot then another as the girl sighed and unzipped her bag, before pulling out a letter. She handed it to Connie who read it curiously.

"Dear Mrs Chambers,

You have been accepted onto our "Travel and Tourism" course, week beginning the 17th of January. Congratulations! Please arrive at Holby International Airport for a prompt start at 8:00am.

Best regards,

Joanne Heathcliff

Ann Jaquelyn's PA."

The letter was dated the 6th of January that year, nearly 2 months ago.

"I've been by myself since the 17th of January. I found this yesterday and thought I would tell someone."

The clinical lead's eyes widened as she handed the letter back to Eleanor, who folded it neatly and slipped it back in her bag.

"You've been by yourself in your house for 2 months?!" Connie exclaimed, and she nodded. "How old are you?!"

"I'm 4, 5 in June."

The woman's mouth dropped open in sheer shock. How on earth could someone let their child stay in a house by themselves for a whole two months at the mere age of four?!

Connie stepped aside from the door, aware that the bitter wind was starting to pick up again, and the little girl only had a thin raincoat and t-shirt on.

"Come in. Where's your father, does he not live with you?"

"What's a "father"?" Eleanor asked, stepping inside and looking around in awe. "Your house is really pretty Connie. Ours is very untidy as mummy hadn't been there to clean it."

Evidently he doesn't live with you then, she thought, the corner of her eye catching the clock, biggest hand of which was moving ever closer to number 12.

"Listen, I have to go to work today so is there anyone I can call for you? Do you have anyone's phone number?"

Eleanor shook her head, blonde curls bouncing over her shoulders. Connie bit her lip, unsure of what she should do. She should call social services, but it would take too long to get through and she'd be late for work. She couldn't call a nanny as she wasn't her daughter, and she certainly couldn't leave her in the house.

Eventually the woman sighed and shrugged on her coat before pulling her bag over her shoulder and holding out her hand.

"It looks like you're coming to work with me then. Come along, I'm late as it is."

Eleanor took Connie's hand, skin cold against the warmth of the clinical lead's palm, and let herself be lead out of the house and to the Mercedes parked in her driveway.

"Sit in the front with me, just in case. I don't have a booster seat anymore so you'll have to do without."

"Ok." She smiled, cheeks pink where the wind had bit at them and she climbed up and onto the seat, before reaching for her seatbelt and clicking it in place. Connie started up the engine and drove down her driveway and onto the road.

"What did you mean, you don't have a booster seat anymore?" Eleanor asked, unzipping her bag that she had placed on her knee.

"I used to have one but I threw it away."

"Why did you used to have one?"

"Because my daughter needed it."

"You have a daughter?"

"Yes."

"What's she called?"

"Grace."

"Does she live in that pretty house too?"

Connie's breath caught in her throat as she thought of her little girl over in America.

"No, she doesn't."

"Why doesn't she live with there with you?"

"Why are you so nosey?" Connie retorted irritably, swerving a car that pulled out in front of her, and she slammed her hand on the horn sharply.

"IDIOT!" She yelled out of her window, glaring at the retreating car in her mirror before coughing and collecting herself together again.

"Sorry." Eleanor whispered, looking down before pulling out a small, white lion teddy from her bag and clutching it tightly. Connie sighed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she turned left, sending them both flying sideways.

"Eleanor, I didn't mean that, it's just I don't like to talk about it. Ok? Anyway, we're almost there now."

"Ok. Where's "there"?" She asked quietly, looking around.

"Holby City Hospital. I'm a doctor."

Suddenly the girl's head snapped up, and she looked at Connie in awe.

"Really? I want to be a doctor when I'm older. I might be able to make mummy better then."

Connie's brow creased as she pulled into the car park.

"Has your mother been ill Eleanor?" She asked, parking the car in her usual spot. The girl nodded and zipped her bag up, still holding her soft toy.

"She said her brain was sick so it was making her sick too. She said making her laugh and drawing her pretty pictures would help make her brain better again. But I don't think it did." She added, opening the car door and getting out, with the clinical lead doing the same.

Something about this child intrigued Connie. There was an air about her that told the woman something wasn't quite right, and that not everything was as it seemed. Biting her lip again, the woman smiled slightly and held out her hand for the little girl to take, then they made their way towards the entrance to the emergency department, Connie's mind whirring with questions.