It had been three months since Connie's abduction, and after several physio therapy sessions and countless hours with the psychaitrist, life finally seemed to be returning to normal.
Rita stood at the nurses station, filling in yet another set of notes. Connie leant on the desk in front of her.
"What are you doing tonight?" she asked. Rita looked up from her notes, smiling.
"Why?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner."
"That sounds great. Are you cooking?"
"Well I'm not going to let you cook now am I?"
"That's probably a good idea."
The pair giggled. It was a well known fact in the ED that Rita could barely make a piece of toast without setting fire to something (thank goodness Ethan had been there with a fire extinguisher!)
"I'll see you at the end of the shift then." Connie walked off, leaving Rita grinning from ear to ear. She hummed happily as she finished off the notes, much to the amusment of a watching Charlie.
"That's a nice tune." he laughed as Rita lept in the air.
"Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I take it that things are going smoothly then?"
The blonde nodded, a grin plastered on her face.
"How's she sleeping now?"
"Better. She still has nightmares, but the number and the intesity has decreased dramatically."
"And you?"
"What about me?"
"How are you coping?"
Rita shrugged.
"I'm fine. I'm managing."
Charlie put a comforting hand on her arm.
"If you ever need someone to talk to, you know where I am."
"Thanks Charlie." she smiled gratefully at him.
"Rita, Charlie RTC due in five!" Zoe yelled, winking at Rita. "How are things?"
"Good thanks Zo."
"Brill! Can you join me at the door? Charlie can you prep resus?"
The pair nodded, the blonde racing after the consultant.
"Okay what've we got Dixie?"
"This is Jeniffer Walker 32, driver of the second vehicle. KO'd at the scene but regained conciousness en route. Queried broken ribs and fractured collar bone, confirmed broken right wrist. GCS of 3, SATS at 92, BP is 100 over 80."
"Right thanks Dixie. Can we get her on the bed please?"
"Okay on three. One. Two. Three."
"Alright, Ethan can you carry out the primary survey, Rita can we cross match 6 units please and see if we kind find her notes."
The crew bustled around, hastily performing the procedures nessecary to save the woman's life. Rita left resus in search of the notes. As she walked past Connie's office, she heard her yelling down the phone.
"No, I can't just take her back! I'm running the ED! I'm sorry Sam I haven't got the time to... I don't care! For goodness sake you're her father! No... don't you dare throw that in my face! Fine!"
She slammed the phone down and let out a scream of frustation.
"Everything okay?" Rita stuck her head in.
"No. Sam is sending Grace back home because he has a confrence in Stockholm and refuses to take her with him."
"Why?"
"Because he's a waste of oxygen and a terrible parent!"
"Hey, it's okay. It'll be good to see her again."
"Are we talking about the same Grace? She's got the attitude of a teenager and she's NINE!"
"But she is your daughter."
"Hmm. There's too much of me in her."
"A bit of a rebel yourself where you?" Rita asked arching her eyebrow.
"Something like that... anyway, it looks like they'll be three of us for dinner tonight."
"Wait, she'll be back tonight? Talk about short notice!"
"Yes well, Sam's never been very co-operative."
"Can I come with you to pick her up?"
"I was hoping you'd suggest that. I'd love that, thank you."
"No problem." Rita winked.
They pulled up at the airport, Connie sighing heavily.
"I'm knackered Reets. All I want is a nice long bath."
"I know, it was a long shift."
"Come on then, let's go and get her."
The pair walked into the arrivals department, hands intertwined. They waited patiently at Gate Four until,
"Mummy!" Connie dropped Rita's hand and held her arms out for her daughter.
"Hello sweetie! How was New York?"
"It was fantastic. We saw the Empire State Building and there was this restraunt with burgers that were bigger than me! I played loads of video games with Kieron, I've gotten really good at Mario Kart, and I've got some new friends at school-"
"Woah, okay slow down! It sounds like you're having a wonderful time." Connie laughed. Grace noticed Rita for the first time, and arched her eyebrow, a hand on her hip.
The blonde had to fight back a fit of giggles. She was the spitting image of her mother.
"Who are you?"
"Gracie, watch your tone!"
"It's alright Connie. I'm Rita, your mum and I work together in the ED." she smiled softly at her. Grace sniffed and sauntered past, heading for the exit.
"I'm sorry." Connie apoligised, taking her hand again.
"Ah, it's okay. I assume she doesn't know about us?"
"No. I just never found the right moment y'know. Then Mark happened and I just..."
"Don't worry about it. Shall I just leave you two to it?"
"No, we'll tell her tonight over dinner."
They exited the airport and walked over to where Connie's black mercedes was parked.
"I call shotgun!" Grace called.
"Rita's getting in the front Gracie."
Grace huffed and threw her suitcase into the boot, slamming it hard as she shut it. She climbed into the back, her face as dark as thunder. Connie pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing heavily. It was going to be a long night. Rita smiled warmly at her before climbing into the car. The brunette followed, starting the car.
They made the long drive back to Connie's house in silence, any attempt at conversation by ethier adult squashed by Grace's temper tantrum. They eventually arrived at the grand house. Grace stormed up to the door, tapping her foot impatiently. Connie opened the door and let them, the nine year old stropping off upstairs.
"Where are you going Gracie?"
"MY ROOM!"
Connie sighed, turning round to shut the door. She froze, staring into the shadows.
"Con? What is it?"
"I thought I saw... nevermind. I'm being paranoid."
She locked the door and turned to Rita.
"I'm not in the mood to cook anymore. Chinese or Pizza?"
"How about I go and ask Grace?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Wish me luck!" she kissed Connie before racing up the stairs. The brunette shivered. She was sure she'd seen Mark in the shadows. She may put on a brave face for Rita and her colleges, but when she was alone the darkness and the fear closed in, the isolated feeling setting again.
She would soon discover her instincts had been correct.
Rita knocked tentativly at Grace's door.
"Leave me alone Mum!"
"Grace, it's Rita."
"Oh, then, leave me alone Rita!"
"I'm coming in Grace."
"What the hell? Invasion of privacy much?"
Rita poked her head around the door, as Grace glared at her.
"What do YOU want?"
"Connie, sorry, your mum's ordering takeaway. What do you fancy?"
"Don't care."
"Oh come on Grace, I'm trying to extend an olive branch here."
"Why? What's it to you?"
Rita walked in and sat on her bed.
"Look, your mum and I... we... God how do I explain this without making you hate me more?"
"I know. I know you and Mum are seeing each other."
"What? How?"
Grace raised her eyebrows, "I may be only nine, but I'm not stupid!"
"Are we that obvious?" Rita asked horrified.
"You were holding hands."
"Oh."
"...Chinese."
"What?"
"Takeaway, I'd like Chinese please."
"Oh, right, that was briefly very weird."
Grace laughed, rolling her eyes at the blonde.
"I'll go and tell your Mum."
"Rita?"
"Yes sweetheart?"
"...Nothing, nevermind."
"Kay."
Rita winked and left Grace to her tablet. She would later regret not pushing the nine year old for answers.