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Chapter 10 – Preparing for the unexpected
Thursday
Zoe was coming out of her bathroom when she noticed Max had already moved from the bed. She walked in and grabbed her dressing gown before heading out to find him.
Walking through the flat she couldn't see him anywhere, but she could smell something and it was amazing. "Max, where are you?" She heard someone moving behind her and turned to see him stood in doorway of their balcony. "Morning beautiful, I made some breakfast. We don't get to have it often so I thought it'd be nice." She walked over to him and saw everything set out behind him "This is lovely." Zoe wrapped her hands around his neck as he leant forward and kissed her.
When Rita was dressed and ready the pair left and begun the short walk to work. "You know, I'm quite looking forward to going out tomorrow night. It should be nice, oh and you know Zoe and Max are finally telling people about their relationship." Dylan looked at Rita who just laughed "Like nobody has realised!" The pair continued to walk hand in hand towards the ED.
After dropping Grace at school, Connie had taken Sam back to his so that he could change his clothes. She was waiting in the small living room of his flat for him to come back. "You can sit down you know…" Sam wandered out from the bedroom with a clean shirt in his hands. Connie smiled back as she carried on looking around the place "Nothing special, I know but it's somewhere to sleep." He walked over to Connie and put his arms around her and rested his head in her shoulder. "What are you thinking about, because you've been quiet ever since we dropped Grace off."
Connie turned around in his arms and looked up at him. "I don't know. I wish I did, but I honestly don't know what I'm thinking right now." She rested her head on his chest before taking a deep breath and letting it go. "We better get going or we'll be late-" "You go, I'll walk in. It's fine, I know you and know you're not going to want everyone jumping down your throat straight away." He stepped backwards and looked down at her "Hey, if you want me to come by tonight I can, or we can do this all properly and I can take you out tomorrow night." She smiled again before hugging him and turning to leave. "Con, I love you." She turned around to see Sam watching her, and then opened the door and left for work.
The ED was relatively quiet as Zoe gathered everyone in the staffroom. "As you all know Mr Self will be down in the department tomorrow to 'observe' us. It's nothing to worry about, he's down here to see the management side of things and not you guys…" Max and Connie wandered in quietly and gave smiles of encouragement as they stood to the side. "I know how much this department has turned around recently and I want to congratulate and thank you all for that. So let's get back out there and prove how much this department has changed."
Getting back to it Zoe watched as everyone moved around her, treating patients and laughing with each other. Even though there had been no news on how Jeff was doing, things were getting better with the department. Everyone helped each other through all the problems that had once been a disruption to their work and Zoe had no doubt that the department had been better. "Hey Dylan are you still okay to handle the department while we head out this afternoon?" Cal, Jay and Lofty were standing at the nurses' station as Charlie and Sam walked over. "Zoe go enjoy your afternoon, we're all here and can handle the department for an hour or so. I hate to say it but even Max is pretty good at his job at the moment!" Zoe had to laugh as she saw him walk past with a sarcastic smile on his face as he wheeled a patient to the bathroom.
It was a hot summer afternoon as the women wandered out of the ED and headed for their cars. "I can drive some of us there." Maggie walked towards her car with the women and Zoe noticed Connie was distracted. "I'll drive myself and Connie over while you guys head there together." She smiled as Connie looked back over and walked to her car.
"What's going on?" Zoe asked on their way to the restaurant breaking the silence. "What do you mean-" "Connie I know you well enough to when you're not alright. Is it Sam being back?" Connie laughed and shook her head "I don't know what it is really, because I should be happy that I've got a chance again." Zoe looked over at her friend "Sometimes it just takes a little while for us to realise that." Connie laughed again turning to Zoe "Anyway, you and Max seem to be going well and don't try deny it because you are so obvious."
Arriving at the restaurant they all regrouped and got a table together. They began talking and everyone was enjoying their afternoon. Connie eventually forgot about everything else and joined in with the other women. "So Maggie, have you seen much of Charlie since being back?" Tess looked at her friend as the other women turned their attention to them. "Tess, I do not think I know what you mean. Charlie and I are friends-" "Yeah like Zoe and Max are 'just friends'!" Zoe turned to Rita "Hey!" The women all laughed as they all knew there was something going on with them. "Well if we're on the subject why don't we all dive into personal lives, hey Rita… How's Dervla?" Connie laughed as she saw Rita frown slightly "I dislike dogs, big time! Anyway Connie, what's the deal with you and Mr Strachan then?"
Connie smiled and moved her hair from her face, "He's Grace's father but I hadn't seen him properly for nearly 10 years…" Rita looked at Connie in disbelief "Well he is pretty fine if I can say so… So is there any chance of something happening between you two again? You seemed pretty happy the other day anyway." Connie blushed a little and Zoe sniggered making the other women look at them questioningly. Zoe looked at Connie then the other women "She slept with him already-" "Zoe! Look who wouldn't?" They all laughed before Connie started again "Really though, can you just not say anything please… Right now I just need to see if this is even going to work for us." The women nodded "My lips are sealed…" Rita nodded while physically showing what she meant.
As the women finished up with lunch Connie found that actually saying something to the others had helped her see things a bit better. Getting out of the cars at the ED they noticed Cal and Max standing outside smoking. Max smiled over at Zoe and all the women began making noises, and looking at Zoe. She turned her back to Max staring at the others and smiled at them, turning again walking to Max. "Nice lunch ladies?" Cal had walked over to them and passed Zoe on her way to Max. "Everything okay Zo?" She nodded smiling watching everyone else walk past. "You realise there isn't anybody in this hospital to tell-" "I know, I just didn't want to tell you that." She turned and playfully hit Max who caught her hand and wrapped her into a hug. "Seeing as there isn't anyone to tell, there's no one left to hide from." He leant forward and kissed her as she put her arms around his neck, not caring who saw them anymore.
As the shift drew to an end everybody began getting their things to leave. Dylan and Rita were already walking out of the department when Robyn and Lofty caught up to them. "Have you guys seen Max? He was supposed to be buying dinner tonight but he's disappeared!" Rita laughed as they carried on walking "I think he's buying dinner, just not for you guys."
Max was in the office with Zoe waiting for her to finish when Connie walked in. "You not going home yet?" Zoe looked at her colleague "No, I'm covering the night for Maggie… She's helping Charlie with something tonight." Zoe nodded and left the conversation there "Do you want me to stay?" Connie shook her head straight away "No you guys go home. You deserve a night off before tomorrow with Guy." The two left, leaving Connie by herself in the office.
Maggie and Charlie were on their way back to the house. "You don't have to do this you know-" "Yes I do. You're not alone in this Charlie." Arriving home Charlie looked towards his house where Louis was. "Come on, you're going to get through this, both of you together."
Connie was sitting in the office signing paperwork when someone came into the office. "Sam? Why are you still here, you should get home." He walked in with a bag and out it down on Zoe's desk before settling down in her chair. "Zoe would kill you if she saw you." Sam leant back and looked at Connie, "Good things she's not here then. You really think I'd leave you to do an all night shift on your own?" Connie looked back down to her paperwork as Sam stood up and walked over to her desk. He moved her hands away from the paperwork and sat in front of her "Zoe told me what you said earlier about a second chance, don't kill her she wanted me to know…" When Connie didn't answer he stood up again "So what do you want chicken or egg because I know what I'd prefer." She just laughed, appreciating how well Sam knew her to change the subject on to something else. It might be a long night, but at least it wouldn't be a lonely one.