Happy monday! I hope you guys enjoy this I quite like this chapter! Please review
Nick and Zoe both entered a relatively calm ED, which was a change as it was usually manic. They were greeted by an overly cheerful Noel and Louise.
"Morning Mr and Mrs J, I've got some post for you both." Noel revealed, handing over both of their post smiling.
"Oh and Zoe someone called from cardiology about a Mrs Turner here's the number." Louise smiled handing over a post-it note with a number scribbled down.
"Thanks Louise I will be in my office if anyone needs me." Zoe informed
"Very calm today Mr Jordan, guess the people of Holby have decided to stop hurting themselves." Tess passed by giggling
Zoe followed Nick up to his office. He typed in the code and then put all of his post down on the desk.
"What on earth has happened to my staff, it's as if they have turned into a bunch of daisies smiling all the time!" Nick exclaimed angrily, he was quite creeped out by the whole situation.
"It must be the party, it is quite scary to be honest but I guess they are all just looking forward to it." Zoe replied calmly trying to reason with him.
Suddenly the phone began to ring and Zoe really couldn't be bothered to listen to whatever board meeting arrangement her husband was about to discuss over the phone so she left to go to her office waving as she excited. Nick waved in reply and answered the call.
"Hello?" Nick questioned, he wasn't expecting a call
"Hi, Mr Jordan it's Guy Self here I thought I'd inform you that we have a new consultant starting today she will be in your office in around half an hour." Guy ordered, he liked to get straight to the point. There was no waffling with him around.
"I had no idea we needed one." Nick fought, they already had 4 in the department surely 5 was too many.
"Well, she will be an asset to your department, goodbye." Typical Guy Self, Nick thought. He knew Zoe was not going to like this as anyone that had any possibility of stepping on her toes, especially a female, would probably not go down well. He saw some female rivalry brewing already and he hadn't even met her.
He decided to go down the the department to see how they were getting on.
"Charlie, how are we doing?" Nick questioned
"Yeh fine, we are practically empty, Zoe and Linda are in cubical six with a rather difficult little girl but they are very good with her, Ash and Ethan are in cubical five with a broken knee and Dylan has a patient in cubical two awaiting x-Ray results. Everything's covered." Charlie very proudly informed Nick
"Brilliant, I will be in my office with one of Guy's new instalments in the form of a new FEMALE consultant." Nick put great emphasis on the female, knowing Charlie would pick up on this
"Ah, and is Dr Jordan aware of this?" Charlie couldn't help a smile creep on his face. Nick shook his head and both of them laughed
Nick had been in his office for 20 minutes. A knock on the door distracted him from his paperwork.
"Come in" he demanded still engrossed in budget cuts.
The door swung open to reveal a very familiar face, she had long brown hair, high heels and had a very familiar voice.
"Long time no see Jordan" the consultant revealed herself and shut the door.
"Well I never, Connie Beauchamp in emergency medicine, never thought I'd see the day." Nick exclaimed clearly shocked at the new arrival who was lingering before him.
"Take a seat." He gestured to the chair on the other side of the desk.
She smiled, but not a warm smile more of a stiff professional smile. She sat down on the chair.
"So what brings you to my ED." Nick proudly exclaimed making it very clear that she was now in his territory
"I fancied a change, I like private medicine but I fancied coming back to Holby and I thought the ED would be something different." She justified herself
"Fair enough, so you start today we do have five consultants in at the moment, we have two registrars and one F2, so we are quite full." Nick explained
"As I can see, don't mean to seem nosy but out of curiosity how many are female?" Connie seriously questioned
"Our F2 and a consultant." Nick didn't want to reveal to her about Zoe as he thought her reaction would be better if he waited.
"Outnumbered then." Connie laughed sternly
Nick was about to say something else before the door swung open roughly to reveal a clearly distressed Zoe with a cut in her face. She didn't see Connie so she rushed over to Nick and began to explain whilst bleeding. Connie was quite surprised that Nick didn't tell whoever it was off for barging in.
"What has happened to you?" Nick rushed over to Zoe's side clearly worried
"Oh, that girl I was treating freaked and scratched my in the face." Zoe explained, she was calmer than Nick. Zoe felt someone else's presence in the room and turned around to see Connie sitting in the chair.
"Oh hi, didn't see you there, sorry were you two in the Middle of something?" Zoe apologised.
"No it's fine Connie this is Zoe our consultant." Nick signalled and Zoe smiled at Connie and she smiled back
"I'm Dr Jordan nice to meet you." Zoe suddenly forgot about the cut on her head and was more interested in who this was.
"Mrs Beauchamp, are you two..." She began but Nick cut in
"Married, yes 11 years and counting." Nick smiled and wrapped his arms around Zoe who instantly flinched at his touch which didn't go un noticed. But even then Zoe remained her strong independent self. One of the things that deeply annoys Nick but what he loves about her and drew him to her in the first place
"Zo, did she hurt you anywhere else?" Nick said trying to be sympathetic without being patronising
"I'm fine! She kicked me in the abdomen, ONCE! I'm fine, anyway better be getting back." Zoe argued
"Oh no you don't!" Nick argued
"Oh yes I do" Zoe tried to be persuasive whilst rubbing his arm and giving her best puppy dog eyes. Nick gave in and nodded, if it was anyone else they would be taking the day off but because it was Zoe she could persuade him with one look.
"Thanks babe, see you later" Zoe kissed Nick on the lips not caring that she was probably making Connie very uncomfortable, and left the office leaving Nick still pouting, showing Connie that she was in charge, (of Nick anyway.)
Once Zoe had left Connie decided to speak first "never thought you'd settle down." Connie revealed. When she knew Nick he was forever juggling women, unbeknownst to her Zoe used to be exactly the same.
"Neither did I but then I met Zoe, I would elaborate but this may turn into a very touchy feely type of conversation which I know you're not too keen, on plus we have got work to do." Nick ordered standing up and heading down to the ED with Connie closely following behind.
"Tess, gather everyone one round in the staff room 5 minutes." Nick demanded. He was going to do a proper introduction to avoid any confusion. Tess nodded, she was in the ED when Connie was on the Darwin ward.
"Connie, no way!" Tess exclaimed she was surprised. She didn't know Connie that well, but better than most of the ED staff.
"Tess Bateman" Connie smiled, warmer than before but still not that warm.
5 minutes later:
Most of the staff were now in the staff room, all confused to what this was about. It wasn't that much of an issue as the ED wasn't busy.
"What is this about I'd rather be on a fag break." Zoe exclaimed
"I'd second that." Max agreed
"I swear the pair of you are like two children at the back of a classroom making fun of the teacher." Jay laughed at his comment, followed by Max and Zoe who were now great friends.
"Oh yeh thanks for doing my stitches Jay." Zoe thanked Jay, even though he can be a bit of a plonker he was a good nurse
"No problem, how's the head?" Jay asked concerned for one of his best friends
"Yeh yeh fine, nothing a couple of painkillers can't sort out." Zoe giggled.
"Where have I heard you say that before?" Jay joked, he thought back to the old days when him and Zoe would go out clubbing, before she was married.
"Back when I was Dr Hanna." Zoe exclaimed, this made Jay laugh but max was slightly shocked.
"Never took you as the party type." Max teases
"Back in the day, still am but I guess you haven't known me long enough to find out!" Zoe promised grinning
"Guess we will tomorrow." Max sang also grinning
"When you find out about Zo's past you will probably be shocked outta your mind mate!" Jay chuckled
"My life's like a TV show." Zoe added in, not ashamed she was very aware that most of the ED knew about her messed up past
"Can't wait!" Max looked genuinely excited to learn about Zoe's past
Nick then did his introduction, short and professional, much to Zoe's happiness as she could then go for a fag break. She went round to her corner by the no smoking sign, it's been her signature spot for ages now, but she currently shares it with max. They are 'smoking buddies'.
"I can't believe we have some stupid new consultant, with her heels and her skinniness" Zoe was not the happiest person at this moment. "Is skinniness even a word?" She was now pacing, smoking and having a rant all at the same time.
"No it's not, and who cares. she isn't fancyable, she hasn't got much of a figure, she looks quite witchy, take it from me as my personal man opinion, you're a lot better." Max tried to reassure her
"You honestly think that?" Zoe was really shocked, the fact that a younger man thought she was better than Connie really lifted her spirit. "Don't let Mr Jordan hear you say that though." This triggered a laugh off both of them.
"Honestly, I mean I wouldn't... You know... That's weird. And you're married but you're quite good looking, for am older woman." Max joked. Zoe then swatted him on his head and laughed.