S&MJ x
Chapter 2: "Lose the uniform, meet me in 5"
It had been just under 2 weeks since the kiss outside the ED, yet Zoe and Max had barely seen each other, apart from the odd passing as one of them was leaving work and the other was arriving, and one night spent together at Zoe's. Most of the ED staff knew about them now, as Robyn had managed to get it out of Max, and being herself, had blabbed to the rest of the staff. This was convienient for both Zoe and Max, as no awkward announcements had to be made, but since Connie had found out, she'd been doing her utmost to make sure they weren't working the same shift. After 13 days, they were finally working the same back shift. Zoe detested the back shift. She dragged herself in to work feeling low; it was a Friday night which meant it'd be busy with teenage lightweights and rowdy party-goers - the kind of unnecessary, time-wasting patients she hated. When she was met with the familiar cheeky smile that could only belong to Max, her stomach fluttered and her mood instantly lifted. She smiled as they approached each other. "Dr Hanna! Long time no see!" Max said quietly as they made their way to the staff room. She noticed a few of the nurses looking as they walked past, but surprisingly she found it didn't phase her. "So we're being watched then" Zoe mused, as she put her stuff into her locker and got out her lanyard and stethoscope. "Mhmmm, every move" Max replied, making them both a coffee. "Connie's been trying to keep me working all the time since she found out about us - she even tried to deny me a break last week until I reminded her it was actually written into my contract". Max complained. "We're just going to have to lie low and obey her commands until she gets over it" Zoe sighed, picking up her coffee and touching his arm as a sign of thanks. Max picked up his and headed for the door. "Yeah, I mean, she's probably just jealous because she isn't getting any" grinned Max as he left the staff room. "Max!" scolded Zoe, laughing at what he'd said "Not appropriate!". She couldn't help the small smile that appeared on her lips as he walked away. "Well, someone looks happy today" Tess commented as she came into the staff room to get ready for the shift. "Is this to do with the fact a certain Mr Walker is working with us today as well?" Zoe smiled coyly into her coffee and replied with "It may be Tess!" "Well I haven't seen you this smitten since you were with Nic..." she trailed off, realising what she'd said, waiting for Zoe's reaction. "You can say his name Tess, its okay" Zoe said warmly. "That's all in the past now anyway, now I have Max." Tess smiled at her friend. "Well I'm glad. It's nice to see you so happy again."
Like Zoe had predicted, the shift was a busy one. There was one minor RTC, a suspected case of meningitis and one heart attack patient among many of the young drunk patients she'd expected. She was waiting on the tests to come back from the lab to confirm the meningitis when she felt Max's hands around her waist. "The coast is clear, I take it" she grinned, checking for Connie in the near vicinity. "Yep, I'm surprised she hasn't found you yet. She's having to go home, Grace has been expelled from her new boarding school, she's having to be picked up from the train station." Max informed her. "Really!? Poor Grace. All she wants is a bit of attention from Connie, anyone can see that. Actually Max, while you're here, can you take this young lady through to cubicles please? She's going to sleep it off." Zoe asked, giving Max a knowing look, raising her eyebrows. Connie burst through the doors into resus, and made her way over to Zoe. "Always an entrance" muttered Zoe, rolling her eyes. Max had to stifle a laugh as he pushed the drunk teenager towards the doors Connie had just entered through. She glared at Max with suspicion as he passed by her and then turned to Zoe. "I hope things are remaining professional in here" she remarked icily. "Connie, Max and I were together before you even arrived and we've managed to stay professional for that long, I think we can manage 5 minutes in the same room together" Zoe retorted hotly. "Anyway, was there a reason for this visit or were you just coming to make sure I was behaving myself?" She added snidely. Tensions between the two women were never running low, and Connie's attempt to keep Zoe and Max apart heightened Zoe's resentment towards her even more. "Yes there was actually" Connie replied, almost, but not quite, through gritted teeth. "I'm having to leave. Family emergency, I won't bore you with the details, can you take over as lead for the rest of the shift? That'll be all." She said, and headed for the door. "Yes ma'am" Zoe mimicked, pulling a face.
The rest of the shift went by smoothly and before Zoe knew it, it was time for her to clock out. Max caught up with Zoe in the corridor. "Hey Zo" Max breathed, catching a door for her, then allowing her to walk through first. "Nice, ummm, shoes again" he coughed sarcastically, knowing full well she would know he was staring at her bum. "Shut up Max!" she moaned through her laughter, giving him a coy smile. "What are you doing after this shift?" Max asked, picking up some paperwork for Zoe. "Well, I was planning on going home, it is 1am and I'm working back shift again tomorrow. What about you?" she replied, giving him a cheeky smile. "Going home alone? We'll have to fix that, won't we Dr Hanna?" he flirted. She rolled her eyes at him before sliding the paperwork from his arms. She leant in towards him. "Lose the uniform, meet me in 5" she said seductively, and walked away, knowing full well his eyes were following her, and what part they were focusing on. 5 minutes later, Max was standing in the doorway of Zoe's office. "Ready to go?" He asked, wathcing her every move, as if mesmerised by her. "Yup" Zoe replied, putting her jacket on and picking up her bag. They made their way to Zoe's car and she drove them home to her flat. "Coffee?" Zoe asked, throwing her keys down on the kitchen unit. She turned to face Max, leaning against the unit. He put his hands on her waist and replied "I was thinking we could skip that part" and kissed her passionately for a few moments. She took his hand and led him through to the livingroom...
Zoe loved lying in Max's arms at night, feeling his chest move up and down. It was the only place she felt safe, she felt protected and more importantly she felt loved. Although she hadn't actually told him yet, she knew she'd fallen for him, big time, which was something she didn't normally do. She felt like nothing could come between them, not Connie, or her stupid rotas, nothing. And she didn't doubt for a second that the feeling wasnt mutual. She had never known love like this, but she was glad she had been aquainted to it.