The ambulance came to stop outside of the ED entrance and immediately Max was wheeled out and into the ED with Zoe following behind.
"This is Max Walker, he's 31 and has suffered a queried head injury. He's confused, temperature is high at 39. Blood pressure 140/93 and pulse is 80." Dixie explained as she handed him over to Connie and transferred him into resus.
"Zoe, you know you can't come in here." Connie warned as Zoe tried to follow them.
"Please, I can't leave him." Zoe begged, tears clouding her vision as she saw the nurses begin to work on him.
"You know you can't." Connie told her, and then left her staring through the window of resus.
"This is your fault." Robyn hissed as she appeared next to Zoe with Holly not far behind.
Zoe turned to her with shock and glanced at Holly. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
Hearing the tone of Zoe's voice, though he couldn't hear what she was saying, Max tried to take his mask off again. "Zoe!"
"You did! You know just what to do to get him to drop everyone else, just like last time. Well, guess what? You're no longer his next of kin, so please leave the room." Robyn stared at Zoe, hands on hips.
"But-" Zoe began.
"Take her out, please." Robyn asked security.
"Zoe!" Max tried again, struggling as Dixie held him down once more. "Zoe, just go wait in your office." Connie demanded strongly.
"I'm not leaving him." Zoe stressed. "You might not like me Robyn, but I'm still his wife and I have a right to be here. I'm sorry for what happened last year but maybe it's time you got over it. Max has and it was him that I hurt, not you. I'm sorry Holly, you didn't deserve this but I think you know where this is going. Just know that he didn't cheat on you. Now I'm staying here and you're going to have to put up and shut up Robyn, because right now I think it'll be worse for Max's health if I was to leave." She finished as she stared at Robyn, waiting for her to argue back but she never did.
"Fine. Stay but this isn't over Zoe. As soon as he's better he'll start to think straight again and realise what a screw up you are."
"Maybe he will, but that's his choice and I'll be here until then."
"Can we get him to CT please?" Connie asked quietly, trying not to let Zoe or Robyn hear what was going on.
When Zoe was back in his sights, Max calmed a little, but when Rita saw his lips moving, she moved closer and said softly, "What's that, Max?"
"I don't feel too good, mate."
She rested a hand to his shoulder, rubbing it gently. "I know, but we're going to make you feel better, you just need to stay calm."
"Will you look after Zoe for me?"
Rita glanced up at Zoe and saw by her expression that she'd heard this. "I will, not that you'll need me to because you can do that yourself soon enough."
Unable to look at Zoe, Max pulled his mask aside again. He hoped Zoe understood how he felt and what he was trying to do. In his mind, he wasn't going to last for much longer, and he didn't want to leave knowing he'd hurt the woman who had basically looked after him for the last year. "Holly. Where's Holly? I need her."
Zoe looked back at Max, worry beginning to kick in already as all she could do was stare at the man whom she thought she'd won back.
"See, he's already come to his senses." Robyn whispered to Zoe, venom dripping from her voice as she spoke. Despite knowing inside that Max loved her, the current situation was fragmenting Zoe's heart.
"Are you sure Max? Zoe, your wife, is here." Rita reminded him quietly, but Max kept his gaze at a single spot on the ceiling.
"I'll go and get her." Robyn spoke happily before she turned to Zoe. "I expect you to be gone when I get back. You are neither wanted nor needed here."
As Robyn exited the room, Zoe rushed towards the bed where her husband lay. Finally his gaze met hers as he turned slightly.
"Max." Zoe whispered, the love that she knew was present in her eyes was reflected in Max's as she stared at him.
"I'm sorry." Max replied softly. "She-" Max wanted to explain what he was trying to do, that he thought he was going to die and he owed the woman who'd worked so hard to bring him happiness when he didn't think he'd ever feel it again, but he was too breathless.
"His fever is getting worse, Zoe." Rita spoke softly, feeling she was intruding in something important.
Zoe glanced up at her colleague and then back down at Max as he reached out and once more held the wedding ring that dangled from the chain around her neck. "Mrs Walker."
When Holly rushed into the room, Max's hand dropped from Zoe, but his eyes lingered on hers, only moving when Holly grabbed his hand.
Zoe looked down at Max's hand and then at his eyes before she looked back up at the various machines that were monitoring her husband.
"Okay, I need a litre of saline putting in to try and flush the painkillers out of his system. I need that CT scan rushed through and I think we need to sedate him to try and limit any damage." Zoe ordered before she begun to falter slightly until Rita gave a slight nod.
"Max, I love you and I'll be here when you wake up baby." Holly told him. Robyn finally came forward now that she realised that this could be serious and looked up at Zoe.
"Is he going to be okay?" She asked anxiously.
"I'm going to do all that I can to make sure that he is Robyn."
A porter entered the room seconds later and Max was taken away to CT, with Holly and Robyn following behind.
"It's not Holly that he wants Zoe, but he doesn't think he's going to make it. He was trying to explain but he couldn't get the words out, just ignore Robyn and stick with it."
"Do you really think so?" Zoe asked Rita softly.
"I know so, Zoe. Max has always loved you, that's why he had to leave and it was the reason he came back. Have you not noticed the similarities between you and Holly? You could be sisters."
Zoe let out a long sigh and watched Max being wheeled away.
Max began to feel disorientated, lights flashing past him overhead, and soon he began to feel like he was floating. He knew he was about to pass out when his heart began to race. He opened his mouth to call to Zoe again, panicked now, but he passed out before the word could leave his lips.