Authors Notes: Any quotes that you recognise in this chapter are from Casualty-Series 12-episode 21-Secrets.

Part Nine.

Standing just outside the doors to Rhesus, George attempted to stop herself from going in and banging both Mark and Richards heads together. They were both behaving like idiots! and she realised that she was furious with the pare of them. Stepping out of the way, she narrowly avoided colliding with Mark as he exited, looking just as angry as she felt. and instead of going after him, she stayed and listened to the ensuing conversation between Richard and Baz.

"Richard!" Baz's voice sounded a mixture of exasperated and disappointed. George was also aware, that this wasn't the first time there had been arguments between two or all three of them, so wasn't surprised.

"That was completely uncalled for! How do you think that's going to make George feel when she finds out what you said! Because she is going to"
"I didn't … I didn't think." Richards's voice sounded genuinely remorseful.
"Well! That much is obvious! What is the problem anyway? Because if it is the fact that George and Mark are together, I think that is a pretty childish way of dealing with the situation. Maybe if you'd actually spoken to George first without all this sniping and bickering, it wouldn't have come to this. Mark was so angry I thought he was going to punch you at one point!"
"It wasn't just me!" Richards's voice now sounded indignant.
"I'm well aware of that! And I'll be speaking to Charley about Mark, and I may very well decide to speak to George as well. If I were you, I'd be more worried about what she is going to say to the two of you! Because she's not going to be happy! and I can't say I blame her. Think what all this arguing is doing to her. How do you think she's going to feel seeing her closest friend and her partner constantly yelling at each other! I think this has gone far enough now. Don't you?"

Outside, George couldn't agree more. And was glad that Baz and Charley were speaking to both of them, because she wasn't sure she'd be able to hold her temper. Focusing back on the conversation, she was just in time to hear Richards's next comment.

"You no, I'm not even sure what we're arguing about anymore. We just seem to be constantly angry all the time, and I'm tired of it myself."

"Well, then do something about it!"
"Oh yeh! Like What!"
"Like speaking to Mark. And don't look at me like that, I know he's the reason your angry. You think that it should be you with George. You think that you are the only one who truly loves her. I know. I've been there, done that, I'm not that stupid."

The more of the conversation she heard, the more shocked she felt. She had spent so much of her time being angry with him, that she hadn't noticed that they were hardly ever civil to each other anymore. She roused herself quickly from contemplating how to remedy the situation, and continued to listen to the conversation on the other side of the door.

"Yeh. I guess you're right. It's strange, the more I think about whether a relationship between the two of us would work, I'm not even sure that it would. For one, I'm not even sure that what I want is a romantic relationship. I just enjoyed having someone to talk to, who was actually interested in things I'd got to say, and who didn't judge me, didn't take sides, just listened."
"Rite, and because George and Mark are together, you think that your friendship will just die? I don't think so."
"Mark really doesn't like me!"
"No! Richard … He's jealous! Up until recently we all thought you and George were going to get together. Your so close to each other, I mean I expect there's things that George has told you that Mark doesn't no. The relationship you two have, is much different to the one she has with Mark. That doesn't mean, it is any less important."
"Yeh. Your rite. I … What am I supposed to do?"
"Well apologising to both of them might be a start… you said some rather hurtful things back there."
" Yeh, I think I'm going to go and look for them, there's a lot of things I need to say. Baz … Thanks."
"No problem. Just please put an end to all this fighting! It's driving everyone mental!"

George turned away from Rhesus, and walked back across the department and outside into the car park. Sitting down on one of the benches, she began processing everything she had just heard.

Fifteen minutes later, her contemplation was interrupted by a voice calling her name. Looking up, she found Richard walking swiftly towards her.

"George! I've been looking everywhere for you for the past 20 minutes!"
"Well you can't have been looking that hard! Otherwise you would have noticed that I was only stood just outside rhesus, from the moment I walked out after pronouncing that patient. I only went out for fresh air!"

Steeling herself for the conversation ahead, she continued.

"What the hell do you think you were doing? Discussing me behind my back!"
"I was sticking up for you! Actually!"
"Well I can fight my own battles! Thank you very much!"
"I was trying to be supportive!"
"Well! Don't!"

Realising that she was getting angry, and that this would accomplish nothing, she took a series of deep breaths to try and calm down. However she found herself uttering a sarcastic retort, before she realised what she was saying.

"Thank you very much for what you said about me in there! by the way! It was very complimentary!"
"OH … How much of the conversation did you hear?" Richard sounded incredibly guilty.
"All of it. And I'll thank you not to talk about my loyalties!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."
"Yeh, rite. Whatever."

Taking a deep breath, in a vain effort to stop herself from shouting, and turning her well planned conversation into a shouting match, she continued.

"Look … I'm worried about you. That's all. You're going to mess up your career! You can't just walk out of the department any time you feel like it! What's going on? Richard! You take two weeks off out of the blue with no explanation, you don't even bother to answer the fifty or so messages I left on your phone…"
"It's not what you think …"
"Is it something to do with me?"
"No. Not really. It's more to do with me."
"What do you mean." Her reply was soft but firm.

He paused, seemingly unable to continue. Finally he managed to speak.

"I'm Ill, George … I'm not well."

His reply was hesitant, and George was not sure she liked the sound of that.

"What is it?"
"It's why I was off … its why I've been more irritable than usual…"
"It's a chronic condition … it's … ah"

George was worried now. There were several chronic conditions she could think of, and none of them were pleasant.

"I've got MS." His declaration was so quiet that she barely heard it.

George sat there in a state of shock, unable to believe it.

The next time she looked up at Richard, she saw that there were tears sliding down his face, and he was looking away from her, so she wouldn't see. Making a concerted effort to hold back her own tears, she leant forward and hugged him.

"Oh … Richard."

This simple act was enough to release the torrent of emotions that had evidently been building up in him for some time.

"How long have you known?"

He made an effort to speak through his tears. "About 18 months. Seems like a lifetime."
"Why didn't you say?" she whispered.
"Jack new. I didn't see any point in telling anyone else."
"I could've helped."
"How could you?"
"It's ridiculous, all this time we've been fighting and arguing."
"But that's not what it's been about. I think we both know that."
"Yes. We should probably talk about things. Listen. I'm sorry about the way things have turned out. It wasn't really meant to be like this. At first, I wasn't sure which one of you, if either I actually had feelings for. My plan was to invite both of you for drinks at different times, and see where we went from there." She stopped, to gage his reaction, but his face remained impassive.
"And, everything just snowballed from there."

Richard contemplated her for a couple of minutes, and then spoke. "So, are you and Mark together?"
"Yes."
"I am sorry. If it's any consolation I just didn't feel the same towards you. I do care for you deeply, but not romantically."
"Yeh, to be honest, I was thinking the same thing. Well … at least that saves any more orcward conversations now. I'm glad we sorted this out. I'm sorry George. For snapping at you and … I shouldn't have treated you the way I have. Friends aren't supposed to do that."
"Never mind. I understand, even if I was extremely hurt by some of the comments you made. I do think, you should apologise to Mark though. And before you say anything, what he said was also out of order, and I'll speak to him as well." She cleared her throat and then continued. "Do you think there's any chance you and Mark can at least be civil to each other, now that you're not both viing for my affections? This isn't a competition!" She looked back at Richard just in time to see him attempting to wipe the smirk off his face.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. I love him, Richard. It's bloody annoying trying to keep the peace between you! I tell you! Sometimes, I think the boys in Tom's class behave better than you do."
"OK! OK! He probably didn't deserve all the flack I gave him anyway."
"No! He didn't!"
"Did you tell him about Martin?"
"Yes. I told him everything. Including all the stuff I wouldn't tell you."
"Good."
"Richard, just because Mark is my partner, doesn't mean that our friendship is over. I hope mark is mature enough to except that we are very close friends and nothing more."
"I hope so."

"I think I can manage that."

Both of them spun around. Mark was standing about 3 feet away from them looking pale and shaken.

"Bloody Hell!"
"Mark!"
"Sorry … I came to find both of you to talk things through about 20 minutes ago. I was looking for George first, but I found both of you instead. I'm sorry I eavesdropped, but I couldn't walk away without you realising that I was there, so …" He looked extremely sheepish.
"Richard, I'm sorry … I don't think most of the things I said were entirely fair earlier. I was just angry. We haven't stopped arguing for so long, I've forgotten what it's like to be civil."

Richard looked away, attempting to regain his composure.

"No … I should apologise to both of you. Everything I've said recently has been an insult or a comeback, of some sort and it wasn't fair to either of you. I'm sorry. Mark, please take care of her, when she lets you that is."
"Excuse Me! I am standing rite here!"

Mark ignored her, and continued speaking to Richard. "I'll try."

He was about to suggest they all go back inside, when he thought he should just clear everything else up while he had the chance. So, feeling slightly uncomfortable, he carried on.

"Err you've got another friend. If you want one that is. I know there might be times when you'll need people to help out, and things…"
"Thanks Mark. I'd appreciate that."

Richards reply was sincere, and heartfelt.

"Are the two of you going to shake hands or not?" George entered the conversation.

They moved forward, and Richard extended his hand. But Mark, surprising everyone including himself, pulled Richard into a manly hug, but let go very quickly, looking embarrassed.

At that point, George interrupted the moment, sounding much happier than before.

"Well, is there something I need to know? I didn't know you swung that way! Mark."
"Oh! Shut up!" Mark then stuck out his tongue.
"Oh, very Mature! Come on, we'd better see to some patient's."
Richard sounded very much like he was trying not to laugh. The three of them turned, and headed for the department, smiling. Maybe the day wouldn't be so bad after all.