Chapter 4 – Bonfire Hearts

The sun was beginning to shine through the gap in the curtains as Max opened his eyes to an unfamiliar setting. It took him a few moments to completely realise where he was. He carefully rolled over and saw Zoe still asleep next to him. He thought he'd dreamed the previous night and couldn't quite believe that it had happened. Max carefully moved a strand of hair from Zoe's face behind her ear which caused her to pull a face. "Well now that's a beautiful face if ever I saw one." Zoe opened her eyes and smiled over at Max before lying on her back. "What time is it and how long have you been looking at me?" Max checked the time and looked back over "Almost 7 and not long…" Zoe huffed before sitting up with the blanket pulled across her leaving Max's chest bare.

"Max we start work soon and I've got to get myself ready." Max rolled onto his side and leant on his elbow looking across at Zoe. "Reeallyy? 10 more minutes?" Max pulled Zoe back down so that she was lying next to him. He leant over and kissed Zoe and she responded before pushing him back slightly "Max we really need to get up-" "10 minutes is not going to matter…" Max moved himself over Zoe and kissed her again "Maybe 15…" He deepened the kiss until Zoe put her hands behind Max's head "Okay 20" Max said with a sly grin soon covered by Zoe kissing him again.

Half an hour later and Zoe was getting up out of the bed to find some clothes. "Has anyone told you how good you look?" Max was watching Zoe from the bed while she was wandering around the room. "Has anyone told you how lazy you are?" Zoe pulled another sarcastic smile at Max who threw a pillow at Zoe. "Hey! This is my house you know… Anyway are you actually going to get up and dressed?" She pulled out a tight black and cream dress from her wardrobe and stepped into it. It hugged her figure perfectly which Max noticed straight away. He sat at the end of the bed just looking at Zoe, he couldn't believe how beautiful she really was. Before she knew it Max was stood behind her pulling the zip up at the back of her dress. "Good for something I guess" he smiled as she turned around to face him. "And if anyone ever tells you you're not, send them my way" Zoe responded laughing. She bent down to put on her heels before standing back up to face Max. Max put his arms around Zoe's waist and bent down to kiss her. "Come on we've got to leave now or we'll both be late."

Zoe stepped out of the car and began walking over to the entrance of the ED. "Morning Zoe, oh there's someone waiting in your office to see you." Zoe smiled at Charlie before nodding and stopping by the wall next to him. "Max! Where were you last night?" Robyn called out to a running Max who was late… Again. "I stayed at a friend's-" "Oh and would this friend happen to be a girl… Seriously Max when are you ever going to grow up a bit?" Max laughed at his sisters interrogation as he noticed Zoe stood by the wall smiling at what was unfolding in front of her. Zoe and Charlie began walking inside, Max walked next to Lofty and Robyn into the hospital. "I'll catch you guys later I need to go change…" Lofty and Robyn parted ways with Max who wandered past Zoe and whispered in her ear "For the record I don't count you as just another girl". He turned and winked at Zoe who was looking up at him shaking her head slightly.

Zoe picked up the folders which Louise had handed to her before heading for her office where someone was already waiting to speak to her. When she opened the door she didn't recognise them at first and so continued walking in to put the folders down on the desk. "Ah Dr Hanna, nice to finally see you this morning. There's me thinking that you weren't going to bother coming in." Zoe looked up and smiled at the man stood in front of her "It's good to see you've not changed a single bit either Dylan. Still the same arrogant you." Dylan smiled a bit before sitting down in the chair opposite Zoe's desk. "So what was so important that you needed me to come here? I was busy-" "I know where you were. Look there's an opening for a consultant here and I wanted to ask you before I got palmed off with a list of 'suitable candidates' from Guy Self… I know it's a long shot but would you think about coming back here?" Zoe leant back into her chair watching Dylan "Yes" "Thank you, just let me know when you've made up your mind."

As Dylan was about to say something else to Zoe Charlie came into the office. "Sorry, Zoe you're needed out here. There's a patient refusing to be treated by anyone out here." Zoe got up and walked out of the office, followed by Dylan who just smiled at Charlie as he walked past. Zoe walked into the cubicles to the patient who was refusing treatment. "Thanks Cal I'll take it from here. Hello I'm Dr Hanna, can I take a look at your hand so we can sort out what's wrong?" "Who the hell are you? I want to be seen by someone who actually knows what they're doing not some glorified nurse!" Zoe stepped towards the bed "I'm the clinical lead of the department, in other words in charge so if you want to be treated you'll let me look or leave the department with security. Is that clear?" Everyone stood back watching as Zoe checked the man's hand "It's broken, I'll send you for an x-ray to check but I'm pretty certain. Lily arrange for Mr Scott to go to x-ray as soon as possible please." Zoe turned around and walked towards the nurses' station.

Dylan was talking to Charlie and Tess when Zoe saw him again. "Hey, you're still here" Dylan nodded and leant back against the desk "Clearly…Yes, I'll help." Zoe looked up at Dylan "Really? You'll come back… when can you start?" Dylan shrugged as there was a loud crash from reception. They all rushed through to see what was happening. Lofty and Robyn were stood in front of a large man who was demanding to see a patient. "Excuse me what is going on here?" Zoe walked over to see that some of the chairs had been thrown across the room and people waiting to be seen had been moved out of the area. Robyn and Lofty had kept their distance which Zoe had just stepped in between. "I'm going to have to ask you to keep your voice down please-" Zoe wasn't too sure what happened next as it all happened in a blur.

The first thing Zoe remembered was holding her head which she had just hit while watching the man be restrained by Big Mac and Dylan. "Zoe are you alright? I think you hit your head on the desk but I could see what he was doing." Max offered her a hand to stand up which she took hold of and sat back on the reception desk. Her head was spinning but when she finally regained her balance she looked at Max who had a small cut on his cheek. Zoe went into doctor mode holding his face to the side "That's going to need stitches Max… Wait did you push me out of the way?" Before Max could answer Charlie and Tess were taking them both into cubicles to check them both over.

It seemed like hours to Zoe before she was being allowed to get off of the bed. "I really don't think you should be driving after today." Zoe shook her head "It's fine, 5 minutes and then I'm home so don't worry. I'll be fine any problems and I'll phone you." Charlie accepted Zoe's answer and let her go to her office to get her things. Dylan had left as Zoe wanted him in the next day to start properly. She opened the door to her office to see Max sitting on the couch. "Hey, I'm sorry about that." Zoe looked at his face and realised he must have took quite a hit. "This, it's nothing. I just wanted to check everything was okay with you anyway… So I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Max stood up to leave her office but Zoe stopped him "Wait Max. Thank you" she walked forward and kissed him. Max moved his hands to her waist and kissed her back. "So am I right in thinking you shouldn't be on your own tonight… You know in case there's any problems-" "I think that is probably the worst way I've ever had anyone ask about coming home with me." Max smiled at Zoe "Well I do like to please" and then he winked as she picked up her things. "See you in 5 then Dr…"