A/N: I saw Milly's (read-a-holic17) list of '100 ways to say I love' you ficlet prompts and I couldn't help myself but to write this one (with Milly's blessing!) You need to read hers if you haven't already she's the queen of fluff and writes so regularly she's an absolute superstar :)


Call me if you need anything

"And you're sure you're okay?" Iain asked for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Seriously I'll be fine, I am fine. Thank you but there really is no need for you to fuss" Rita smiled shyly back at her colleague as he loitered on her doorstep.

"Well you weren't fine, you looked terrified" the paramedic mumbled almost to himself. "Do I take it you've an idea who might have done it?" Unlike when he'd been driving her home this time he was able to look for a reaction in her face when he asked the question. Rita hung her head low, avoiding eye contact, chewing on her lip nervously as she chose her words.

"There's this ex… You...erm...might have heard stuff about him… I… I wouldn't put it past him but I thought he'd left Holby. But then I've had run ins with patients at work too. The kind that could click their fingers and get some kid to trash any car they wanted… I… well I seem to bring out the worst in people" she gulped attempting to make light of the statement with a half hearted smile.

"Hey… not me!" Iain replied, grinning cheekily. He put his arms round her and pulled her naturally into an embrace again, just as he'd done outside the ED earlier. She had practically bowled him over as she ran in a blind panic back towards work having discovered all four tyres on her car had been slashed.

It had been late, it was dark and she was tired and she hadn't appreciated how much she had just needed someone to hold her and tell her everything was okay as he had done. Someone to take care of what happened next and to take care of her. She had insisted on not causing a fuss then as well so he'd taken her back to the quiet of the Ambulance station staff room rather than parade her in front of all her colleagues in the ED in the state she was in.

After calling the police he'd made her a cup of sweet tea and sat her down on the sofa with his fleece around her shoulders to stop her shivering. She'd sipped her drink, fingers gratefully curled around the warm cup and watched him thoughtfully as he'd continued to sort things out. He'd made a call to one of his mates who owned a garage, sharing the details necessary for Rita's car to be picked up and taken away for repair the next morning. Next he'd cleared it with Jez that his younger colleague could finish up without him, leaving him free to meet the police with Rita before he could deliver on the promise of getting her home safely.

"Rita?" He'd shaken her from her thoughts to let her know he was going to get changed so they could leave as soon as the police had finished with them. While he was gone she tried to make sense of the thoughts swirling around in her head.

And now here she was, in Iain's arms again, feeling safe. Her breath caught in her chest as she inhaled his reassuring scent once more and she returned the hug for perhaps a fraction longer than she should. Iain pulled away first and she looked away in an attempt to conceal the slight blush that had risen in her cheeks.

"Reet?" Iain had checked again

"I'm fiiine. You can go. Go" she made a show of shooing him away.

"You sure? I can stay if you want? I mean… I don't mean…" It was Iain's turn to stumble over his words. "Just… just call me if you need anything okay?" He pecked her on the cheek and turned to head back to his car, cursing himself for his awkwardness under his breath. Before he reached the vehicle he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Pulling it out he glanced at the caller ID on the screen and furrowed his brows in confusion. He looked back up towards Rita's house to see the blonde woman still stood in the doorway, phone in hand, her eyes following his movements. Iain dismissed her call and retraced his steps towards her, his eyebrow raised quizzically.

"So I thought of something I need..." she started.

"Right… Go on" Iain's eyes narrowed in confusion as Rita now seemed reluctant to ask for whatever it was. He was suddenly conscious of how much she was staring at him and found his pulse quickening as he looked back at her and appreciated just how dark a shade of brown her eyes actually were. He noticed her gaze flick from his eyes to his mouth and before he knew what was happening her hand was grabbing at the back of his neck, she was on her tiptoes and pulling him closer and then her lips were pressed hard against his. Iain froze, his heart hammering in his chest, completely caught off guard by what had just happened.

Rita stopped and sank back down onto her heels, her arm slowly dropping back to her side.

"Shit." She addressed the floor rather than look him in the face, mortified at what she'd just done, that she'd thought for a minute he might be interested back. "Iain I'm sorry… I thought you might… I shouldn't have done tha-" she was interrupted by Iain's lips crashing back onto hers. One hand was around her waist pulling her back into him, the other already tangled into her hair as she responded, a small moan escaping as she allowed his tongue to explore her mouth. She pulled him further into the hallway and, with his hands otherwise occupied, Iain somehow managed to use his foot to kick the door shut behind them...