Feelings of.. 6 years too late.

I had to do this. I had to.. I'm sorry, reuniting Connie and Sam!,it's been building up in my mind for some time now. Sorry if I ramble on a bit and sections seems to drag apologies in advance!

Enjoy! X

Twitter - _ifyouseekatie (shameless plug...)

His heart fluttered, an odd sensation. He looked out through the window of the taxi, the rain dripping down the window, slowly he watched it race down the pane, stopping at the bottom.

Noting the hospital he was now stood in front of him, a small umbrella protecting him from the rain. People bustled around him, life went on, without him, a unwanted thought crossed his mind, he promptly dismissed it, he looked up at the building.

Closing his eyes memories moved like a conveyer belt, one woman clearly visible as images flickered through.

Connie.

He'd heard on the grapevine that she'd started working in the ED, but couldn't be sure. He rubbed his forehead, before making a move, pulling his suitcase behind him. He felt a shiver, he shook his head at the state of the weather. Forgetting just how bad it was compared to the warmth he'd living in.

Hesitation over the threshold. He didn't expect it to be so hard. Okay, after 6 years you don't expect to walk In and everyone to remember you, or start being all pally with people you don't even know. He walked in despite this.

Despite booking a 2 week holiday back to the UK, was he actually here for Connie? , just not wanting to admit it? Maybe so.

He ordered himself a coffee and took a seat, feeling odd, noting then that cafe had completely changed places. He laughed to himself feeling that maybe this wasn't all he would feel out of place with!

"Thanks" his reply as the coffee was brought to the table, a slight American twang on the end of his word.

Watching people walk past he took a sip of his coffee, grimaced, it didn't taste like the American coffee. He put the cup down, and that when he saw her, Connie. So it was true.

His heart was beating fast now, keeping up with her fast paced footsteps. She was heading straight towards him.

He gulped. Wondering wether she would even recognise him having put on a little weight, hair had grown out a little wayward too, and with his neatly trimmed bread which he'd been sporting for the past few months.

She diverted her path up to the counter not seeming to notice him.

She looked amazing. Better than ever. Noting the length of her hair, it suited her. He thought, he wondered wether to speak, anything to get her attention.

"Coffee please" she spoke her words soft, not how he remembered them. She let out a sigh. He watched her rub her eyes. This felt wrong he was sat watching her. It felt like spying but it wasn't because he knew her.

"Thank you.." She took the coffee from the lady standing there she took a long gulp.

"Connie" he gulped hard.

Connie turned around. "Yes?" She didn't recognise him at first then studied his face further. Her eyes darted across his face, the way he was sat, his demeanour. She stood silent for what felt like the longest time. An unwanted emotion washed over her. "I have to go.." She spun around quickly on her heel and headed off.

Sam stood up and dragged his suitcase behind him. "Connie.. Wait" he raced to catch up with her. She stopped.

"What do you want Sam?" She asked him in exactly the same way she used to. With that certain tone and sharpness.

It made Sam shiver slightly. He didn't really know what to say. He thought for a while. "Can we talk?"

"Not now, I'm on shift, but yes afterwards we can" her tone was much softer now. He gave her a smile which she didn't return.

For now, he would head back to the hotel he's booked himself into for the few nights. He watched her walk off.

Connie's head spun as she walked into the ED. Her hand touched her forehead. He'd walked back into her life. Uninvited. But she couldn't help the connection she still felt. He looked so different, but still the Sam she used to give the biggest lectures to. She smiled slightly, she got on with her shift.

"Grace?, how is she?" Sam asked sitting opposite Connie, at little cafe just on the outskirts of Holby, coffee and cake, for Sam. Connie on the other hand had a glass of coffee and some fruit.

Connie nodded. Studying his face further. He really looked like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. Jet lag she thought, or not, maybe this was his new rough look. "Fine, she's at boarding school now.." she gave a small smile.

"So you weren't joking.." Sam took a sip of coffee.

She raised her eyes brows. "Would I ever joke about my daughters future"

"Our..." He corrected her, feeling slightly disappointed. "Your hair looks lovely by the way, I like it like that"

Connie scowled. "And you didn't like it before?"

"I didn't say that" Sam shook his head.

Connie bit Into her apple, gracefully. She finished her mouthful before speaking. "Sam, why are you back, you can't just turn up..."

Sam looked at her. "A holiday, 2 weeks"

"Nice.. Is that all just a holiday, your not thinking of moving back?"

Sam nodded. "Why? Would you want me to?" He smirked.

Connie glanced down, picking up her coffee cup and answered with a firm. "No"

"I was also wondering, even though Grace is at boarding school could you pull her out for a few days is I can spend some time with her?"

Connie rolled her eyes. "She has a weekend out this week, yes I suppose so.."

Sam beamed.

"You look as if you've been through a hedge backwards Sam, you've let yourself go out there.." She spoke her words playful. "Is this our rough look?"

"Always one for compliments aren't you Connie?" Sam looked at her. "I heard that your now working in the ED? Why?"

"New challenge.." She took another bite of apple.

Sam smirked. "New domain for Connie Beauchamp you mean?.. How's your farther?" He drew his last sentence with a little caution.

Connie frowned. "How do you know?" She questioned, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Elliot.. He emailed me"

She raised her eyes brows "he's told you about my farther?"

"With the best of intentions Connie, he was worried about you.."

She looked him in the eyes, with much thought she decided to tell him. Open up, something she found hard. "He passed away a few months ago, god only knows how he hung on for so long.. " she let the sentence hang in the air for a moment. "He was a very poorly man, it was peace-" She almost choked on her words. Her eyes filling with tears, the emotion clearly still raw, although she hides it well.

Sam grabbed her hand. Unexpected. But needed.

"No it's okay, he had me at his side" Connie continued letting go of his hand, shaking off her emotion. Sam always wondered how she did that. Just shut off. "So tell me, how's life been for you across the pond?"

"Not all plain sailing I'll give you that" he smiled awkwardly. Connie sensed he didn't really want to say much, but with an intake of breath he told began.

After telling her Connie regretted her comment about him looking so rough. It all now making sense.

"Depression is a horrible thing Connie, some days you feel on top of the world, other days you feel so low you wonder what you've got left to give to the world, Kieran, he's been a rock, I can say that with confidence" he sighed. "But sometimes you just more, another person to lean on, he's been fantastic but he's so young he needs to life his life without worrying about his Dad.."

Connie nodded. Letting him continue.

"That's why I came over here, I needed to see wether different surroundings would help, feeling so low I just felt coming back here to Holby, old colleagues would lift me, I don't know" he smiled slightly.

She gave his hand a rub with her thumb. "And has it?"

"Seeing you, yes it has actually" he smiled.

She smiled. "Good, I'm glad" after hearing what he's been though, she was genuinely pleased for him. "Listen I have to get back to work, but if you'd like, you could come over to mine tonight, I have wine in the fridge and a few DVDs, I've been saving"

Sam's mouth dropped. Connie rolled her eyes at him. "Sorry, can you just repeat that, Connie Beauchamp inviting Sam Strachan for drink back at hers?!" His cheeky demeanour wasn't something she'd missed.

"Watch it..." Playfully narrowed her eyes. "It may do you some good, I finish about 7, If you give me your hotel address I'll see you around then?" She questioned keeping her gaze fixed, her heart sank slightly, he looked slightly unkempt, through no fault of his own.

Sam nodded smiling. "Sounds good.." He looked at her, she looked as beautiful as when he left 6 years ago. "Times change don't they?, I hate to add after all these years, we may have turned a corner, you and me"

"Your saying I've gone soft aren't you?" She rolled her eyes slightly.

"Maybe..old age" he muttered.

Connie lips parted slightly. "Cheeky bloody sod, now off you go"

Sam walked out first, Connie followed, her heels clicking on the floor. Sam turned to her just near the door.

"Thank you Connie" he hesitated slightly then hugged her.

Why did he hesitate?

Connie wrapped her arms tentatively around him. "It's okay" she pulled away. "Look after yourself and I'll see you tonight 7pm"

Sam pulled his jacket around him and headed out the door. Watching him leave Connie smiled, willing to help in anyway whilst he was here.

Maybe she had softened more than she hesitant to admit. Maybe it was the connection she felt in Sam's presence that made her stomach churn inside. Or maybe it was just because after all he was the farther to her daughter.