Zoe looked at Max in horror, he could see the blush in her cheeks spreading down to her neck and chest. "Oh my god" she whispered, feeling slightly sick at the though of one of her young nurses not only seeing her naked but have sex with her brother. "She's going to tell everyone, Max" she groaned, flopping back onto the pillow feeling thoroughly unsatisfied.
"She wouldn't" Max shook his head, doubting his sisters ability to keep her mouth shut. He thought for a moment before slipping from the bed and wrapping his dressing gown around himself "I'll go and have a word" he added, hoping to spare Zoe the embarrassment tomorrow.
"Robyn!" Max called, wandering through the house to find her, "Robyn where are you?" He caught sight of her in the back garden pacing up and down, as he edged closer he realised she was on the phone, in the middle of a conversation.
"… Yeah, Zoe! In bed with Max" she garbled on, her face almost gleeful at the gossip she had to spread "I know, I couldn't believe it, no I don't know how long. They were in bed… She has a tattoo"
Max had decided enough was enough, walking quietly behind Robyn and grabbing the phone from her hand.
"Oi!" She called indignantly, only looking slightly guilty at being caught.
"How many people?" Max growled, holding his phone from her reach.
"What are you talking about?" She asked innocently, reaching for her phone.
"Don't play dumb. How many people have you opened your big mouth too about Zoe and I?!" He could feel himself becoming angrier.
"Em…" Robyn stuttered, not expecting the outburst from her brother "Lofty, Fletch, Rita, Tash, Lily, Cal…" She muttered quietly "you shouldn't have been sneaking around" Robyn added, trying to defend herself.
"Did it occur to you that we were sneaking around because Zoe could lose her job? She could get the sack for this Robyn, besides that, we weren't ready to tell people. I can't believe you'd be so stupid" he hissed, turning on his heel and heading back to Zoe. Having no clue how to tell her that everyone would know by tomorrow.
"Well?" Zoe asked expectantly. Sitting up in bed with the sheets tucked firmly around her. He could see she'd been chewing on her lip nervously, it was starting to bleed.
"I'm sorry, Zoe" he replied shaking his head "she'd already told most of the nursing staff and a few others by the time I got to her" he sighed, sitting nervously on the edge of the bed.
"Well this is just brilliant" she sighed. She slammed her fist on the mattress and screamed in frustration. "It was our secret and now the entire EDs going to know" she whispered, fearfully. "What if I lose my job, Max?" She whispered, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes.
"Then we'll deal with it together" Max said firmly, taking her hand in his and kissing her; the coppery taste if blood from her lip mingling in with the raspberry lip balm she normally wore.
.
"I can't face it" Zoe groaned as her alarm woke her the next morning, she turned onto her side and looked at Max, who was already watching her through bleary eyes. They had gone to hers after Max's row with Robyn, spending the entire day in bed with takeaway food and films. She was dreading going into work this morning, it wouldn't be long before Connie heard the gossip on the grapevine; Zoe was sure the biting comments would be aimed directly at her.
"It'll be fine" Max replied, he wasn't bothered about finding out, but he didn't want Zoe to lose her position as alpha female. He moved from the bed, heading towards Zoe's en suite "are you joining me?" He called through as he turned the shower on.
.
Three song cups of coffee later Zoe pulled into the carpark, with Max in the car beside her. She noted Connie's car already there and sighed, she seemed to be here from the crack of dawn every morning.
"You go first" Zoe urged Max, unable to deal with the hassle they'd get arriving together.
The snide comments and wolf whistles were driving Zoe mad; she'd had Cal making comments about the chance of her sleeping with anymore of her juniors, the nurses giggling behind her back and fletch even had the cheek to ask if he could see her tattoo. She had Guy on the phone about budget reports when the red phone rang.
"Holby ED" she answered in her most professional tone. "Yep ok" she confirmed. They needed an on site medic, and Zoe wasn't missing a chance to get away from the chaos and innuendos. She promptly brushed Guy off and turned to Lily "they need a doctor at a helicopter incident, will you let the team know I'll be going?" She asked, Lily was the only one who'd kept her mouth shut about the whole affair.
Max couldn't help but going to find Zoe after hearing she was going on call "Zoe" he panted breathlessly, having managed to find her in the staff room; all kitted out in her green jumpsuit and black boots "shouldn't you send someone else?" He asked, worriedly.
"You do your job and I'll do mind" she snapped, brushing past him. Taking a deep breath she turned around to apologise, she knew she shouldn't have snapped at him "look, I'm sorry. I just can't deal with the comments and innuendos anymore. It's like they know every little detail of my sex life, they even know I have a tattoo for gods sake"
Max nodded in understanding "just be careful, yeah" he asked. Hoping she wouldn't so anything too stupid.
"I will" she nodded, moving forward to kiss him gently, her hand cupping his cheek before she pulled away and ran to meet Jeff who had just called her.