A/N: Finally got around to writing another chapter. Will be writing more very soon :)

Goodcyberman,

"Hey," Dom spoke into his phone; Zosia had finally found the time to ring him after abandoning him for America, "How're you settling in?"

"Great, the program here at Yale is just amazing, but I didn't call to talk about me. How is everything going with Lofty and Freddie? It's been ages since we have had some love triangle drama." She replied.

"Well, there is no Freddie. I told him about what happened at the wedding and dumped him-"

"So, you and Lofty, eh?"

"Actually no, well sort of, I don't know. After getting rid of Freddie I told him that he didn't really have feelings for me and it wouldn't work"

"Dom! Sometimes you really can be an idiot. Go find him right now and ask. Him. Out." Zosia shouted down the phone.

After putting the speaker back to his ear, Dom smiled and said "Well I already did, which I would have explained if you hadn't tried to deafen me. Earlier I asked him to go to the roof and I told him I didn't mean it and we're meeting at Albie's tonight"

To this Zosia almost squealed, "Oh Dom I'm really happy for you. Lofty actually sounds like a nice guy. You haven't had a nice boyfriend since Kyle."

"Yes, well I messed that one up, didn't I?"

"Which I was just coming on to; You have come so far since then. You've kicked the lying and you've become much friendlier and less competitive. So, don't go back on that, yeah? Be good and honest with Lofty, he deserves that. And you deserve him."

"I think I have finally found a nice guy. Any way how're you doing?"

"Better than I thought I would be. How's Ollie doing?"

"Well I spoke to Jac the other day," hearing Zosia's shock he added, "Yeah I know, and she said he's been wallowing a bit at home with his box sets but he's being kept busy while mentoring Damon."

"Good, look I have to go now. My break is nearly over. Love you, bye" Zosia said.

"Love you too, bye." Dom said before hanging up.

He left the locker room to go see to his elderly patient in bay 6 with only an hour to go until the end of his shift.

With Zosia's words echoing in his head he entered the lift, having gotten changed out of his scrubs, and waited to be taken down to where Lofty would, hopefully, be awaiting his arrival; He had been held up sorting out discharge papers for Mrs Neddley in bay 6 due to the lack of nurses on the ward.

"Dom!" Lofty shouted catching his attention as the lift doors opened, "I've been waiting for nearly half an hour, I thought you'd bailed or something" He finished a shy smile finding its way across his face.

"I was held up." Dom replied smiling, "Doing your job" He said pointing his finger at Lofty.

"Sorry," He said back, looking down.

"It's ok. Not like it's your fault Fletch can't sort out any competent agency nurse to fill in"

"I guess not," He said, crouching down to pick up his bag, "Shall we go then" He said, motioning for Dom to walk ahead and out of the door.

They headed out of the, somewhat slow, sliding doors and towards Albie's. The evening was rather cool seeing as it was October, but neither were bothered as they were both far too nervous to feel the cold.

"A pint and a glass of red wine, please" Lofty asked the bartender as Dom went to get them a table in a corner to evade gossip; but, as Lofty had pointed out, it wasn't really necessary due to the fact Zosia was in America and Dom was the gossip its self.

After getting the drinks, Lofty headed over to the table Dom had found and chuckled slightly as he noticed Dom trying to hide behind a pot plant from Essie who had just walked in arm in arm with Raf.

"One red wine, Serena Campbell would be proud." Lofty said, placing the drinks down on the table.

"You know about Ms Campbell? I'd have thought she was before your time started in the civilised upstairs." Dom replied, gracefully sliding out from behind the plant.

"She may have left before I came back, but her fondness for Shiraz was known throughout the hospital thanks to the glare she wore when there wasn't any." Lofty answered, smiling lightly.

"So, how was your day on AAU?" Dom asked, picking up his glass for a sip.

"It was alright. But I don't think it's for me; brought back too many bad memories from my last few days in the ED. And I also had a bit of a clash with people, I guess I didn't quite fit in down there."

"Um, look, Lofty I- I hope you don't mind me asking, but what did happen before you left the ED?"

"No, of course not, it's just a bit hard to talk about." Lofty said after taking a drink.

"It's ok. I just can see it is affecting you and wondered if I could help in any way." Dom said, resting his hands on the slightly sticky table to stop him from rubbing them together under the table.

"Well, it was a really busy day and we had this agency nurse in, Dianne. I was in a lift with a patient, Mr Keogh and Dianne, the patient went in to VF and we started compressions, then we had to shock them, so we got the pads on and I charged said clear and shocked only Dianne got shocked too. She died." Lofty finished, looking down at the table with his hands on his head.

"Hey," Dom started, reaching up for Lofty's hands and taking them into his own, "It wasn't your fault, Lofty. And I'm sure you did everything you could." He continued, squeezing Lofty's hands, this didn't have much affect however, so he bit the bullet and went out to where Essie would surely see them to hug Lofty. After a few minutes the curly haired man had calmed down enough, and they sat back down.

"I'm sorry, Dom. Not exactly the best first date." Lofty said finishing his drink.

"It is perfect because it is between me and you." Dom smiled back.

"So how was your day?" Lofty asked, his smile returning to grace his features.

"It was ok. I had a call from Zosia finally, during which she nearly bit my head off for how I dealt with the whole Freddie and you situation, until she found out about the roof, of course."

"How's she doing, she's at Yale, right?"

"Yeah, she's ok. Though I can tell she's missing everyone. Especially Ollie."

"And how's he coping. I ran into him briefly this morning in Pulses and it sounded like he did nothing but watch boxsets all weekend."

"That sounds about right. He's a bit hung up over the whole thing. And I heard he's put himself back into competition with Darwin's very own Italian heartthrob."

"Who, Matteo Rossini. I always thought I looked like him but without a beard, you know" At this Dom began laughing and just shaking his head, "What?!" Lofty asked beginning to laugh himself.

"It's just, I'm imagining Matteo showing up to a fun run in a chicken out-fit" Dom managed to get out, still laughing, "But, seriously, I wouldn't like you if you were like that stuck up Italian consultant. He may have managed to melt Jac's heart, but he'd never make it anywhere near mine if he tried. I'm only interested in one guy at the moment." Dom smiled, finishing his drink as well.

"Oh, um Dom, Essie is looking right at us and I think she's getting ready to move over here."

"Oh, crap. Do you fancy getting out of here? I'm starving, we could go to the chippie and go for a walk?"

"Sounds great" Lofty said, as Dom stood up, putting on his jacket.

After Lofty had done the same, they headed toward the door.

"Oh, we were just coming to join you two. Why were you hidden over there anyway?" Essie asked, grabbing Dom's arm.

"Our usual spot was taken when we arrived, we are just going now, Lofty's driving me home. See you tomorrow" Dom lied, a little too unconvincingly but Essie just smiled at them as Lofty waved and they made their way through the door.

"I can't believe you ate all those chips!" Dom exclaimed as they left the chip shop.

"It wasn't that many," Lofty defensively responded, "And I didn't have any lunch today."

"I'm only messing." Dom said as he shivered.

"Are you cold?" Lofty asked, and without waiting for a response, put his arm around Dom's back, pulling him in closer.

"Thanks," Dom said, smiling at being so close to Lofty.