Richard put his lips to Isobel's forehead, thankfully her temperature was going down again and he thought it would be best if he unwrapped his body from hers - hard as it was - and prepare dinner for her. Looking at the clock, he realized it was 7:30 already and knowing his wife when she was feeling less than her sparkly 100 percent, he figured he'd better prepare something light. Mentally running through his mother's instructions, he got busy making her chicken soup ending the deal with Isobel's favourite treats - crumpets with butter.

If there was such a thing as comfort food for his beloved nurse, it was his mother's soup and crumpets. He just hoped she would be willing to eat after he woke her up. He loved taking care of her...he wasn't sure whether it was his doctor's instinct or husband's instinct but he knew he would not get any sleep tonight before she had something and her fever had completely broke. Fondly, he remembered how she ended up looking after him not long after the cold shower she gave him when they first met.

Flashback

The small hospital in Cambridgeshire was having an easy night, the hot air outside made the air-conditioned, antiseptic smelling Emergency ward seem like heaven for those like doctor Richard Clarkson who couldn't stand the heat. He had just finished updating his charts when he heard commotion at cot 15.

"Mr. Nichols you need to calm down - please lay on the bed!" he heard nurse Isobel's voice commanding the yelling patient.

"Leave me alone you stupid bitch! Where's my car? I'm gonna kill that bastard myself!" yelled a boisterous male voice. As if on cue, Charlotte came out from behind the curtain, rubbing her forearm and met Richard half way as he rushed to the cot.

"Thank God! Help us doctor, he won't calm down and he's too big for us."

"I'm on it!" Richard reassured, not stopping his stampede to the scene. What he saw made his blood boil...a Burly man was cussing at Isobel and another nurse trying to shove them out of his savage way. Clearly the nurses had decided to dope him but as Isobel reached the syringe, he saw the ruffian pulling his fist. Without thinking twice Richard, grabbed Isobel by the waist and pulled her back - not fast enough to avoid the flying fist colliding with his cheek. Richard merely swayed to the side before pummelling the man to the ground.

"You don't treat my nurse that way, you swine!" growled the Scot before a crack was heard.

Isobel was pacing in front of her father's office. Unfortunately the door was too thick to hear the words but she could hear her father tearing the stripes off the new doctor. She did not particularly welcome the new arrival but he might have just saved her face before it go disfigured. Also it turns out the Scottish lad had a good punch, Charlotte had just told her that apart from nursing a hangover, the drunk guy would also be nursing a broken jaw.

Getting out of his boss' office, Richard was greeted by the lovely sight of Isobel in her favourite blue polka dot dress. Clearly she had finished her shift and was waiting for him. He had just realized that it wasn't just blood in his mouth he was tasting but some of it was trickling down to his lips from his cheek. He'd forgotten that the bastard had a ring.

"I'm sorry you had to sit through that. My father can be pretty stupid sometimes." said the nurse apologetically. "I wanted to say thank you - I would probably be nursing a bigger hit if you hadn't taken it for me and after my behaviour this morning I knew you did not have to...I'm sorry." she ended with a sad smile stepping inside his personal space.

"No vile animal, drunk or not, treats nurses like that - not on my watch but you are more than welcome and apology accepted. " he finished with a kind smile and Isobel was starting to see how he always put people at ease with his presence. "Now excuse me but I must clean myself up or I'll start scaring the patients!"

To his surprise the young woman followed him into the empty staff room and pulled out the first aid kit as he washed his wash in the basin. Before he could reach for the needle driver and the thread to stitch his face she motioned for him to sit.

"Absolutely no. It's the least I can do...besides you'd end up looking like Frankenstein!" teased Isobel as she applied disinfectant to the delicate skin of his face. He was truly handsome even this close and he smelled so good - it was all she could do not to lean in and place a kiss on that cheek.

"You wound my spirit, nurse Crawley!" he chuckled, she was truly a beautiful girl...her beautiful features and those big brown beguiling eyes. How can anyone think of hurting her?

End flashback

That's it for today :) Let me know what you think? Is it getting better from the first chapters? Ooooh and I'm so exited about the press conference and the details we got - cannot wait!