Hi, chapter 2 is here! By the way, CharlieSpike18 if you want to know where I got the idea to eat cereal out of a mug from, watch Dylan's first episode, then you'll know!
It was the second day in a row that Sam Nicholls had woken with a thumping headache, due to too much alcohol consumption. This morning was different, as Sam opened her eyes she was greeted by the frowning face of husband. In those first seconds, Sam felt as if the last year had not happened and they hadn't separated. Dylan was standing in the doorway, the frown etched on his face. "What's wrong?" Sam asked, after she had digested the fact that he was standing there.
"What do you think?" Dylan's tone was angry, but he was trying to keep it under control. Sam looked back up at him, memories from the night before coming tumbling back. Gasping she brought her hand up to her face.
"I'm so-" Sam started but Dylan cut her off. He shook his head, solemnly and turned and walked away. They had never been very good at discussing their feelings and Sam believed this night would never be discussed again, if Dylan had his way. Wincing, she stood up, her head was killing her. She pulled her clothes off the floor and dressed quickly. She stumbled through the doorway and into the main section of the boat. Though the house was different - it was a boat for one – Dylan had placed things in the same place. Her brow creased in confusion as she swept the area. There was no trace of her in the boat at all, she hadn't expected there to be and she didn't know why but that thought nearly brought tears to her eyes. It was unsurprising really, but it didn't stop it hurting. Then she saw it, a gold band sitting on a shelf. It was this that brought the threatened tears in to actuality.
"Sam, what's up?" Dylan said, breezing into the room, unaware of the emotional turmoil his estranged wife was going through. Sam shook her head and rubbed fiercely at her eyes, stopping the tears.
"Nothing." She said. "Are we going to-" He interrupted her.
"No." He said, his eyes fixing on to hers. She slowly nodded her head. They had always been better at reading each other than speaking aloud.
"I'll leave then." She intently watched his face as she finished her sentence. He shrugged his shoulders. His lack of emotion nearly set the tears off again. God why was she so emotional today? She turned on her heels and leant down and pulled her shoes on, gently cursing her choice in footwear. She froze when she saw the ring again, but shook of the effect the lonely band - that had once meant so much to her husband, sitting, dusty on a shelf in his home - had on her. She swung the door open and emerged out in to a beautiful, crisp morning. She wandered down the path, knowing the way to her flat because she had run this route in the past. She passed more boats as she walked down the tow path. She suddenly glanced down at her watch. 6:55 am it read. Her shift started at half seven.
As she walked up to the door of her flat it finally hit her. She'd had a drunken one-night stand with her estranged husband. She wondered what effect it would have on their already strained relationship, if it would now disintegrate, or start healing itself.
St Paul's Hospital – London: 6 Months Later
Dylan was impatiently taping his fingers on the wooden table in front of him. He'd been waiting outside Dr Norris' office for the best part of half an hour. A couple of seconds later, Dr Norris emerged from his office. His face was haggard and grey and his skin was stretched tight over his bones. "Dylan, come in." Dylan noted the sharp tone that Dr Norris had used and the fact that he hadn't said please. He had known Dr Norris for several years now and he was always courteous and kind. This didn't bode well.
He walked, cautiously, in to the office. Dr Norris was close on fifty with a wife and two kids, and pictures of them adorned the walls. Dylan sat down in one of the available seats opposite his desk. "Miss Nicholls is currently talking to Dr Turner." Again Dr Norris' tone was sharp. Dylan's brow creased in confusion, why was Miriam talking to Sam? "How could you be such an idiot?" Dr Norris' spoke quietly but with intention and a hint of disappointment crept into his tone.
"I have been reliably informed that I am not an idiot, by you yourself." Dylan raised an eyebrow, whilst speaking.
"Dylan, this is not the time." The sharp tone was back. Dylan was starting to get worried, what if they'd found out about- no he shoved that possibility from his head only to be proved correct a few seconds later. "If I'd given you any other student, would she have ended up in your bed like she has?" Dr Norris was angry now and Dylan could hear the anger in his voice. Dylan, usually supremely confident, had sunk back into his chair. "She has an extremely bright future and you could have ruined it for her!" He told Dylan, trying and failing to keep his temper.
"I have done nothing of the sort." Dylan replied, shortly. "It was not my intention to sleep with my mentee but it has happened and you cannot change the fact. It has not affect my ability to mark her work-" Dylan continued but Dr Norris interrupted him.
"Of course it, Dylan. If the GMC hear about this it could be the end of you and her. It depends on what spin they decide to take; the older mentor seducing his vulnerable student or the manipulative student who is sleeping her way to the top, which would you rather, Dylan? The end of you or the end of her?" Dr Norris' delivered his lines with a crisp precision.
"Why can't you just accept that I've fallen in love with her?" Dylan's tone was quiet and there was also a quiet anger in it. Unbeknownst to Dr Norris this was the first time Dylan had admitted the fact. Dr Norris was blown backwards by Dylan's words; he leant his head back and whistled softly.
"You've fallen hard." Dr Norris stated. Dylan shrugged.
"I know Sam feels the same way." Dylan replied, quickly.
"She's told you this?" Dr Norris asked his brow creasing.
"No, but this is special, Dr Norris. We are both consenting adult, so I-" Dylan was interrupted by the door banging open. Dylan turned his head to see Sam bound in, tears slipping down her face. "Sam!" Dylan called and he opened his arms and Sam fell into them. Miriam stood in the doorway, staring at the couple. She slowly turned her head so she was looking Dr Norris in the eye. She raised an eyebrow. Sam removed her head from his chest and stood up straight, but Miriam noticed that their fingers were still intertwined. The whole room was deathly silent, and then Dr Norris reached up to his faced and pulled his glasses off. He started to clean them as Dylan spoke. "Do you really think I meant to, David?" Dylan addressed Dr Norris by his first time and his tone was questioning.
"I've known you a long time and I definitely didn't think this could happen. Do really think your relationship will last - remember you are not a person who commits easily, are you Dylan?" Miriam spoke from the doorway. Dylan had turned to face her when Dr Norris spoke.
"No, I don't think you would mean to fall in love with her." He hesitated before asking a question. "How long?" He inquired. His eyes studied Dylan's face as he considered the question. Dylan briefly closed his eyes and then spoke.
"Four months." He answered. Nobody spoke for a while, everyone digested the news. Sam's eyes found Dylan's and they did what they did best, speak without words. "Will you report us to the GMC? If you do, blame me." At Dylan's last words Sam started to talk.
"No way. Blame me. I don't want to be the end of you." Sam boldly said. Dr Norris shook his head.
"I'm not going to report you. I know Miriam won't. You are two of my best doctors, you work very well together. Dylan – don't let this get in the way of marking her work – unbiased. I expect you to work even harder to prove to me that you are good enough doctors to work in this hospital." Dr Norris replaced the glasses on his face and stood up. "I wish you luck." He reached a hand out and Dylan shook it.
"Thank you." Dylan said, quietly.
Sam had spent a long, tiring day trying to avoid Dylan, and the awkwardness this cause. She was sitting in the staffroom, having just collected her things to take home with her. She now believed that the new situation was going to break them apart even further. Her pride got in the way of admitting the fact that she was in love with him – in truth she had never stopped. She had now realised that he regarded her with contempt and the love that once inhabited his eyes had gone. She had tried and failed to fix their broken relationship. She pulled her phone out and almost called the solicitors- her reasoning being she had to give him freedom. She had to set him free, but she couldn't find it within herself to. She still loved him, but at this moment in time it felt more like a curse than a blessing. She put her phone in her pocket and stood up just as Zoe walked in to the staff room. "Why is it so busy?" Zoe moaned. Sam shook her head and brushed passed her and out of staffroom. She glanced Dylan as she walked through the doors.
As she walked across the car park she realised that there was someone standing next to her. She glanced sideways and saw Tom walking in step with her. "Hi, Tom." Tom smiled and then spoke.
"We're going to the pub, come with?" Tom asked, excitement lighting up his eyes. Sam sighed and shook her head. There was no way that she was waking up for the third day in a row with a thumping headache and a hangover. Sam saw Tom's shoulders sink. "That's fine." He said, turning and walking off.
Sam arrived back at her flat ten minutes later. She swung open the door and dumped her stuff in the hall. She resisted grabbing an alcoholic drink, and slumped on the sofa. She didn't have a T.V. so she just sat there, immersed in memories. It didn't take long for Sam to realise she was crying. She was broken, forever in love with a man who didn't even give a damn anymore. The worse thing? She could of saved herself from this hurt. It was her fault. She had broken him, and she could hardly take it any longer.
Chapter 2 is here, sorry for the wait. I'd love to say that the next chapter will definitely be up quicker than this one is but I can't so sorry! Hope you enjoy, oh and thanks for all your lovely reviews!