The men hurtle towards each other at a worrisome pace. Neither intends stopping before their inevitable collision – this is war.

'Get out of my way, Secretan,' Mac says firmly, eyes fixed on the entry to the doctor's mess.

'Fat chance, tosspot.' Guy's face is set in a determined scowl. He's held his tongue, waiting for Mac to do the right thing, but now he can hold it no longer. 'You've really fucked things up, you know that?'

'Christ. I'm getting lessons in morality from the biggest twat in the hospital,' Mac sneers. He knows he's out of line but right now he doesn't care. He has to get to Caroline. 'Move it, Secretan!' This is the closest Mac gets to yelling, a composed hiss, but his eyes depict a more fierce fury than Guy has ever seen.

The men meet, chests out, knocking each other backwards, but neither retreats. They pause, eyes locked; Guy's mouth forms an angry snarl as he blocks Mac from reaching the doorway.

'Fuck off back to ginger town, twat,' he says quietly. 'She doesn't want to see you.'

Mac stops pushing and stands still, his breathing ragged and his arms tense at his sides. 'Get out of my way,' he repeats, matching Guy's tone with a loud whisper.

Mac can't understand Guy anymore. Here he is, the most childish, narcissistic man Mac knows protecting the woman Mac loves. It doesn't make sense. Just this morning Mac and Caroline were a united force against the immaturity that was Guy, sharing bemused smirks and sparring with petty insults – now he means every bit of abuse that he throws at the man stood before him, and he knows Guy feels the same. He can't help himself, he almost feels proud of the way Guy is acting now; there is something noble in the way he stands, guarding Caroline from the person who had hurt her the most.

Guy can't understand Mac anymore. Here he is, the most composed, selfless man Guy knows acting like a prick. It doesn't make sense. Just this morning he watched Mac and Caroline stealing glances and secret smiles across the corridor, and all the while he knew what Mac had done to her, the way he had acted like she meant nothing to him at the party. There was no way he was letting him near her again – he'd had his chance and now it was Guy's turn to be the one supporting her, comforting and reassuring her that the world wasn't quite that bad.

'Look, there's something I have to tell her –'

'She fucking knows! Why do you think she's been avoiding you all afternoon?'

Mac's arms relax and he is stunned, silent, as the news melts his fury and turns it into fear. 'How?' is all he can manage.

Guy hangs his head. 'I told her. I didn't mean to...I-I thought she already knew.'

'I don't...I didn't tell you,' Mac says, still confused.

'I saw you and Emily at the party...I came to get my coat and you were there with her.'

'Jesus,' and Mac pushes his palms onto his face. 'You were th...Jesus.'

Guy drops his guard and his snarl becomes a sympathetic grimace. Despite all appearances, the man before him is his closest friend, and it hurts to see him make mistakes this big. 'What the fuck, Mac? Why would you throw it all away?'

'You think it was a logical decision?' Mac asks, looking directly into Guy's face as if demanding an answer. 'You think after all the shit with Holly that I really needed this as well? Why do you think I left straight after? I drank too much, Emily saw an opportunity and she took it, but the worst part is that I let her.'

Mac slumps against the wall and runs his hands through his hair, his agony obvious to Guy. This was the kind of mistake that Mac never made, and yet here they were. Guy wasn't the one being morally judged, and it was a profoundly strange feeling for him. He slumps next to Mac, still pouting with anger, but too concerned to throw punches

'Christ, you're an absolute tit,' he sighs, more out of sympathy than malice. Mac nods in silent accord, and stares at the scuffed linoleum floor.

Neither of them see Caroline standing in the doorway, watching the men silently, until the sound of her fleeing footsteps echo down the corridor.