OK so this may be the last chapter I am posting for a while, as I have an unexpected day off today so finished and published this chapter. I hope it reads OK.

The conversation between Lofty and Dylan before Dylan speaks to Dom the next day:

They arrived at Dylan's boat, as Dylan opened the door Dervla awaited to greet them.

"Hey girl" Lofty said smiling as Dervla started to lick him and greet him, obviously remembering who he was and loving the fact he was back.

"Well she's certainly pleased to see you" Dylan remarked

"I've missed her. I was thinking of getting a cat" Lofty said with a smile

"Dogs are better companions" Dylan answered

They both went onto the boat.

"Tea, Ben?" Dylan asked remembering social norms.

"No, can I have some water though" Lofty asked

"Sure" Dylan said and gave some to Lofty

"So how's it really been on Keller?" Dylan opened the conversation

"It's been great, you saw my team." Lofty said with a smile

"Yeah, they were very...friendly" Dylan said awkwardly

"They..well I like to think so, especially now Fredrick's gone" Lofty said

"I was away that day, but of course I heard about it. That must have been … unsettling"

"It was more frightening for Dom than me, I mean you know me, optimistic as long as possible. Plus I have to keep patients calm"

"So Dom..Dr. Copeland and you were together" Dylan clarified

"Yes we were, I was meant to be on AAU but then got changed last minute. It was going really well until then." Lofty replied

"Well you handled it well, from what I have heard" Dylan wasn't lying when word had spread to ED Robyn was first to know everything including the fact that Lofty was OK.

"I didn't think about it till afterwards, then when Dom decided to be stupid" Lofty began

"Stupid?"

"Yeah he knew Fredrick had it in for him, so decided to try and stop him. Stupid really but I had to try and stop him. He was...well trying to right a wrong, but I fear he made things worse"

"You could have been caught in the line of fire though" Dylan said

"But it's Dom, I...I couldn't let him get hurt" Lofty said

"You seem to care a lot about Dom?" Dylan remarked

"Yeah we um had a thing a while ago, well he liked me, I wasn't really ready to accept anything at that point, then after his friend's wedding we slept together...and well I thought it was something, he didn't. Then I moved wards" Lofty continued

"Running way again?" Dylan said though in a fond way, not critising

"Yeah, seems to be something I am good at. I have got better though, sometimes its still good for self preservation." Lofty answered quietly. One thing he had learnt to admire about Dylan, he told things as they were.

"Yeah but when you start, it's hard to stop" Dylan said wisely

"True, It's just...I was ready to commit you know, I was ready to stop running and take a chance and yet when I was..."

"..He wasn't. I have heard quite a lot about him, you know how Robyn likes to gossip and I think Fletch is it? Is also good at that" Said Dylan

"It's what we nurses pride ourselves on" Said Lofty with a chuckle

"Well apparently his a bit of a bully..." Dylan answered "...his had a hard time too"

"Really?" Lofty questioned "I mean I know about the hard time, I don't think his a bully, I just think, that well he doesn't trust people"

"Yeah, it's only what I've heard though...but he seems to be...I don't know, I don't want you to get hurt and I think...he could hurt you, you know in the long term"

"Oh, Don't worry. I am learning to put up those walls and stood up to him the other day. He really annoyed me" Lofty said

One thing Lofty knew was that what he told Dylan wouldn't get back to anyone else.

"He called me 'naïve' . Do...do you think I am naïve?"

"Maybe when you first started, but not now" Dylan answered truthfully "Hopefully optimistic and people centric, but that doesn't make you naïve"

"It's just easier to see the good in people, and it's actually helped in a few situations but I tried to defend him to a new F1 and perhaps made a mistake, but I can't stand people thinking bad things about people"

"I know, you really should learn that you can't make everyone look good and you can't control people's feelings" Dylan "That's always been your problem"

"I know, but I just felt...like it was a reflection of how he felt about me, a reason why he didn't want to be with me. He was the first guy I had been with in that way, and he thought I couldn't have feelings for him, that I just wanted to be with a man"

"Well from what I saw today, he was watching your every move. So if he wants you, and you want him, why can't you get together and have a go?"

"Because something bad happens every time" Lofty answered quietly

"And it's easier to keep running" Dylan finished

"I..." Lofty said knowing Dylan was right

"I don't know much about human emotions, but I know when I can't control something I feel powerless. It's something I am working on. Maybe you can work on the running. Maybe you can stand your ground, like you did when he said you were naive. You ran the first time he kissed you, you were confused obviously"

"I was just...I only ever liked one guy, and things never got further than kissing" Lofty replied shyly

"I know, but you ran from your problem, then when you had a chance, he ran, then when he was ready to try again, your walls were up. Would that be accurate?" Dylan asked

"Its not so simple," Lofty said "When his...when he gets upset he lashes out with words and well you know I am not the best with harsh words"

"Yet you chose to spend time with me," Dylan answers "does he apologise afterwards?"

"Yes, he does...but I..it's different with you" He finished

"Most things are," Dylan finished

"Can we move on?" Lofty asked

"Sure, how come you didn't come back to ED?"

"Really? Tough crowd tonight" Lofty said leaning back in the chair and absent mindedly stroking Delvia "I'm just, not cut out for AE nursing the pace for a start. On the wards things move slower, you spend more time with people, and its more suited to me, I don't need to move fast, it doesn't matter that I am a little clumsy and I still get to be a nurse"

"Yeah..." Dylan said

"Besides I am happy. I love my role. I get to spend time with patients, its a slower pace and at times I'm more like a social worker. AAU was a little quicker pace, but things were good. I like it now I am back on Keller, even if the situation isn't the best. Sacha is a lifeline, and Essie is so motherly, and Dom is...well his something else."

"But so was Charlie, Robyn...me, I just don't understand why you...you have unfinished business Ben"

"I don't think I do. I've moved on from the accident and while I will never be able to completely forgive myself I have learnt my lessons and moved on. Did you know? My first shift on Keller I was performing CPR in the lift on a patient and it all felt so natural."

"Have you used a defib since then? Since you've been on Keller?" Dylan asked

"Of course I have, before I left I updated my training as requested." Lofty answered "But it doesn't often happen on Keller, we have more time in a lot of ways to prevent anything getting to that point."

"See you've admitted it"

"Dylan, Is it so wrong that I want a different life, I mean I love it on Keller."

"Why don't you do some over time in ED?"

"Why?"

"Well we could see you, and you could work on your skills. You have so much...potential I would hate to see it, well not used" Dylan finished

"My talents include forming a connection to patients, observing unusual things, helping people when they are unsure, working with children...things more at a more regular pace. I really enjoy it Dylan,"

"Well it's your choice" Dylan answered huffily

"Let me make it then. Anyway how are things with you? Whose this David people talk about, who seems to have befriends you?"

"His different, he sees things differently, has a good bedside manner and his helped me quite a bit, even if half the time I swear he causes the problems"

"I heard you went to help the refugee's in Calais. I bet that was hard" Lofty said quietly

"See if you were with the department, you could have done that" Dylan said

"No, I men I love the idea of helping people in that situation, but I would want to take them all home. I couldn't leave them there and come back to my comfy life" Lofty finished but he chanced a look at Dylan

"You didn't!" Lofty said in disbelief

"Did what?" Said Dylan

"Nothing" said Lofty knowing Dylan wouldn't talk further about it, but his heart felt filled with joy and a little admiration.

Dylan knew he had sussed it out, however was relieved that Ben didn't want to talk about it further and knew that Ben wouldn't say anything.

"I hear Sam's back in action" Lofty began

"How did you...I didn't even think you knew Sam?"

"I'm a nurse...we have already worked out nurses are huge gossips, plus I know Robyn and well you know how she is. So hows that been?"

"It's been difficult, but I am still in ED" Dylan answered

"That's good" Lofty said

Lofty knew he wouldn't get much out of Dylan tonight, but it felt nice talking to someone who didn't dress things up, and he knew Dylan wouldn't repeat anything. Lofty also knew that while he let things slip, he was also great at keeping secrets.

"Here's something I wondered, what did you actually do while you were away?"

"I..well I did the sponsored trip, that was exhausting but amazing, then set up camp in Oz. Managed to find some work." Lofty said quickly

"As what?" Dylan asked curious

"Oh well I looked into nursing, but I felt that I needed a break to refresh, so got a visa to work in a bar. Got to listen to people, make people happy and serve awesome drinks" Lofty said with a smile

"So when you returned you were a little...rusty" Dylan said

"I was actually ready to run again after small mishaps on my return, but then Robyn talked me down and I stayed. See I have stopped running...sometimes. I'm home I guess. Sacha made me laugh, he kept offering incentives like offering doughnuts to persuade me much to Dom's astonishment, Essie was just so much fun and Dom may have seemed like a hardball but well you know my need to have people like me. Something struck me, and it just went on from there. I am very happy I managed to stay"

"Well you seem happy, I still think you should challenge yourself and so some overtime on ED" Dylan said

"Maybe, I will" Lofty answered

They relaxed the rest of the evening, enjoying each others company especially for one person who found he was missing a young lad being at home with him.

The next day when Dylan popped up to get his things, he noticed Ben, Dom and Essie sitting at the desk (Yes he did pay attention to names, eidetic memory) chatting. He saw Lofty walk off with Dom to deal with a patient, and took note of how relaxed Lofty looked in his role. They were talking and smiling as they moved around patients. Maybe Lofty had a point, he wasn't taking the easy way out, he had simply found a better were he fit. Maybe the smallest part of Dylan selfishly wanted Ben back in ED, and while he had David, David was no Ben. He still took pride in being able to call him Ben, instead of Lofty. No one else seemed to have that privilege.

I do plan on at least one more, but might not be for a while. It will be Lofty and Dom discussing Lofty's unique relationship with Dylan, as Dom still can't forlorn why they get on so well. It should be fun. I will try to get it up soon.

Thanks for your support guy,

MysticGirl84/Blackness