A/N: Sorry for the delay guys! I hope you enjoy it and all mistakes are mine. Don't you just love these two?! They are so fluffy! XD

4: Michael offering to drive her to work in the snow after she comments on how much she hates it

Stepping through the automatic doors of the place she practically called her second home, Connie cursed. Why in the middle of February it was 2 degrees outside with slush and snow, she had no idea. She walked over to the elevator as quickly as her heels would allow her, she had almost reached the open doors when she felt gravity pull at her a bit harder than usual.

"Woah!" A strong pair of hands wrapped themselves around her waist and caught her before she hit the floor. "Not sure those Choos are the right footwear for today." commented Connie's saviour.

Connie turned and looked at the person, who caught her and when she saw who it was, she rolled her eyes. "Any excuse, Mr Spence." she said, getting herself out of his grip and straightening her coat.

Michael's mocha eyes twinkled with mirth, it wasn't often he saw the Cardiothoracic surgeon anything other than graceful. "Aw, c'mon now, Beauchamp. No need to be like that. I saved you from falling on your ass."

"I wouldn't have fallen if someone had put a bloody wet floor sign up." said Connie, glaring at a caretaker that walked past her to get to the coffee shop.

"Poor guy has shovelled out half of the car park, he's entitled to a coffee." commented Michael as he watched Connie brush the last traces of snow from her coat. "Speaking of which, you not grabbing your skinny latte with hazelnut with a cheeky dash of chocolate on the side?"

Connie arched a slender brow, a little thrown that Michael had memorised her order, even Greg had difficulty. "As flattering as it is that you pay attention to my caffeine habits, Mr Spence, I, unlike you, am required to attend a meeting with the board."

"Sounds great." beamed Michael, letting her little barb go over his head. "Budgets?"

Connie scowled and made her way back over to the elevator, mindful of the slippery floor. "Knowledge is power, Michael."

"Jeeze, you're grumpy today." commented Michael as the petite surgeon waited for the doors to open. "Who'd have thought the Ice Queen didn't like a bit of snow?"

Connie looked at him over her shoulder. "Nice, Michael." said Connie, before the doors slid open.

"Argh, Beauchamp, I was kidding!" said Michael, but his apology fell on deaf ears as the elevator doors closed and the little number ascended, marking Connie's journey. Michael groaned and felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"Uh oh, what have you done to piss the Ice Queen off now?" sounded a husky voice.

"Oh, what now, Naylor?" sighed Michael, "Don't you have a board member to acquaint yourself with?"

Jac laughed. "Wow, you really have a way with women, Michael. It's a wonder Annalese stayed as long as she did."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Ah, go to hell, Jac." said Michael, storming off over to the coffee shop.

00000-00000

Connie yawned as she made her way through the ward, tending to each patient in an almost robotic fashion. Her mind was elsewhere. She still felt the sting from Michael's comment. Yeah, she knew she wasn't the warmest of people, but really? Talk about waiting for the 'right moment' to make a joke. It almost made her smile, only Michael would have a weather related joke about her personality stashed away for a snowy day.

She sobered up and turned her head to see Henrik Hanssen watching her with interest. "And what can I help you with today, Henrik?" asked Connie, rubbing her hands with hand sanitiser before picking up a few patient folders and walking over to him.

"I trust you found this morning's meeting enlightening." he said softly, following her as she briskly walked over to her office.

Connie scoffed. "Who wouldn't? Budgets are very fascinating, especially when one's ward is involved." said Connie, trying to open the door with her elbow.

Henrik leant over her and opened the door with grace, allowing Connie to stand up straight and walk into her office. "Sarcasm, I've noted, is not one of your most admirable traits. Anyway, it has come to my attention that AAU didn't have a representative during the meeting."

Connie deposited her folders on her desk and looked at Henrik with an arched eyebrow. "You know I'm not one for beating around the bush, Henrik. Just be blunt."

Henrik's impassive face showed the barest glimpse of a half smile at Connie's words. "As ever, you have a way with words. Perhaps you could put that talent to use and inform Mr Spence of what he missed this morning." he said as he watched Connie lower herself into her chair.

Both of her slender eyebrows disappeared into her hair line. "Excuse me?"

"I would like you to enlighten Mr Spence of this morning's budget meeting. There are some numbers that he should be aware of, especially considering we have to make cuts."

Connie rest her thumb and forefinger on the bridge of her nose. "Please, tell me. Why are you bestowing this pleasure on me?"

Henrik allowed himself to smirk. "You have a talent with words. And, well, we all know politics are your forté."

Connie set her jaw. She hated how Henrik knew appealing to her ever expanding ego would make her comply. "So is cutting hearts out of people's chests."

Henrik dipped his head, in a half attempt to hide the full blown Cheshire grin that was on his face. "See you on the ice." he said softly, before leaving Connie in her office.

The Cardiothoracic consultant watched him leave, disbelief written all over her face. She sighed before picking up her desk phone, she had started dialling Michael's extension number when her pager bleeped. She thanked whatever deity was looking over her that day and she put the phone down. Duty calls.

00000-00000

"D'you know what? I'm a very busy guy, I don't have time for timewasters like you! I have other priorities and I do not need to waste my time, my nurses' time or my goddamn resources on a hypochondriac like you! I want you out of my ward!" roared Michael, his mocha eyes almost ebony as his temper got the better of him.

He stormed off towards his office, slamming the door behind him. He didn't care who was staring at him and he certainly didn't care that he had left Sacha to deal with the fallout. He was pissed and after his issue with Connie and his argument with Jac, his day had just got worse. He all but threw himself into his chair and clacked away at his computer.

"Oh for Christ's sake!" he cursed as the door to his office opened.

"Feeling calm yet?" sounded Sacha's voice. He entered the office and closed the door gently behind him. "What's eating you?"

"Ah, forget it, Sacha." said Michael, waving his hand in the gesture to dismiss him.

"Not a nurse, I'm afraid." said Sacha, jovially before perching himself on the edge of Michael's desk. "It's kind of my office, too. Spill the beans, a problem shared is a problem halved and all that."

Michael let out a huff before glaring at him. "Not in the mood for the Dr. Phil routine, Sacha."

"So there is a problem then?" When Sacha was ignored, he sighed. "I thought you Americans were friendly.."

Michael stood abruptly, scaring Sacha. "Not today, Sacha, okay? I'm sorry, alright?"

Sacha nodded and stood aswell. "Okay, but I'm here if you want anyone to listen." he said, as Michael left the office. He smiled and did the same.

00000-00000

Connie left surgery and she threw her gloves into the bin. A simple pager bleep had turned into life saving emergency surgery. The patient was okay, after three flatlines, but still, Connie lost four hours. She checked her watch as she opened her office door and was annoyed to see that it was half six in the evening. She could just imagine the traffic and the extra traffic on top of that because of the extra snow that had apparently spontaneously fallen while she was in theatre. Her stomach grumbled and her head gave her a sharp jolt telling her that her caffeine reserves were dangerously low. She decided instead of going home now, she would get a small bite to eat and go home later, after most of the snow and traffic died down. She could also catch up on paperwork and send the minutes of the budget meeting to Michael, that way she wouldn't have to speak to his face.

She left the warmth of her office in search of food. She quickly made her way down to the café and had bought herself a sandwich and was back in her office in under fifteen minutes. She was about to take a bite of her sandwich when she cursed to herself. She had forgotten her bloody coffee. She placed her sandwich back down and grabbed her purse, when the door of her office opened. Michael walked in with two large cups from the coffee shop in the reception.

"Well, let yourself in."

"I will." said Michael, closing the door behind him with his foot. He walked over to Connie and set one of the drinks in his hand in front of her. "A skinny latte with hazelnut with a cheeky dash of chocolate on the side."

Connie took it and afforded him a small smile. "Thank you."

"Any time." said Michael sitting on the sofa opposite her desk.

"So, why have you graced me with your presence?"

Michael scoffed. "I read my emails this afternoon and apparently, I was supposed to be at the budget meeting this morning. Hanssen said that you'd give me the 411 on the situation."

Connie nodded. "I was halfway through an email actually. There was no need to come to my office, Mr Spence. A bit of a wasted trip if you ask me."

Michael looked at Connie for the longest time before sighing. "I wanted to apologise for earlier. I didn't mean what I said."

Connie regarded him warily. "You aren't the only one who seems to think that this ridiculous weather matches my personality."

Michael dropped his head. "Connie-"

Connie waved his explanation away, "I'm not looking for an apology, Michael. I've heard it all before, if anything I have to applaud your ability for waiting for the right time to make a joke."

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment? D'you know what? I don't even want to know, I'll take it." said Michael, feeling a little unsure about Connie's lack of an attempt to castrate him. "So, we good?"

Connie sipped her latte and rolled her eyes. "Well, we've never been great, have we?" After seeing his smile drop a bit, she added. "However, we have never been bad, either."

Michael laughed, before sipping his coffee. "Not only is she beautiful, she's a tease!" He shared another laugh with Connie, while she got up and walked over to the sofa he was sitting on with her tablet.

"Michael..." warned Connie, hiding a small smile.

"So, how much is Hanssen taking off of me?" asked Michael, watching Connie with sparkling eyes.

00000-00000

The two finished later than they had expected, looking up from her seat Connie sighed. While the snow went down, there was still a considerable amount. Michael waited patiently for Connie while she gathered her belongings and wrapped herself in her coat. He held the door for her and shut it after her as she walked past him.

"You get grumpy real quick, don't you?" observed Michael, nudging Connie with a grin.

"I can't stand the snow." commented Connie, her green eyes flashing. "I don't like driving in it. It is such an inconvenience."

"Ah, I see." smiled Michael, standing at the hospital entrance with Connie, while she tried to find the courage to leave the warm hospital for the frigid air outside. "Have to admit, while things like snow are annoying, you can't help but find beauty in them."

Connie raised an eyebrow at Michael, trying to look annoyed at him, but her emerald eyes were wide with amusement at what he had said. "Still referring to the snow?"

Michael cleared his throat and gave a cocky chuckle. "Of course, Beauchamp." But both of them knew he was lying. "You, ah, you sure you don't want me to drive you? My 4x4 is better equipped for days like these."

Connie flashed the American with a genuine smile before making her way outside. "I didn't have you down as a gentleman, Michael. However, there is no need." she stopped and turned to look at him, she bit her lip. "Thank you though."

Michael shrugged, still smiling. "Any time, my favourite Ice Queen."