It was far later than Zoe had hoped it would be, when when she finally arrived home.
The patients from the accident had taken up all of the morning and most of the afternoon. To her surprise Nick had obeyed her instruction to remain in her office, when she had chance to check on him almost an hour after she had banished him there, he was curled on the sofa, fast asleep. He had woken just before lunch, his temperature almost back to normal and showing few ill effects from the operation, other than the expected soreness as the local wore off. Zoe had signed the discharge forms, allowed him to go up to Darwin to visit his heart patient, given him her house keys and instructions to rest. Charlie had offered to drive him back to her house at lunch time.
.
Zoe's home was all quiet and filled with a delicious aroma when she let herself in. In the kitchen a large pan full of spaghetti sauce was simmering gently, but there was no sign of Nick. The bathroom door stood open but the bedroom door was closed. The sound of quiet snoring met her ears as she eased it open. Nick's stocking feet hung over the edge of the bed, he was sleeping fully clothed, on his stomach, lying diagonally across the bed, the duvet draped at an angle, one corner of it covering his hips and thighs. Zoe leaned on the door jam, resting her head against the solid frame, content to watch him for a little while, still hardly daring to believe that he was back in Holby and that he had sought her out.
.
"Nick." She spoke his name quietly, perching on the edge of the bed, laying a hand on his shoulder, hoping to wake him gently. The sleeping worried her, he had always needed far less sleep than most people, yet here he was soundly asleep again. He opened his eyes lazily, a slow smile spread across his face.
"Hey." He breathed.
"How are you feeling?" Zoe asked.
"Better." He stretched. Zoe laid her hand on his brow, his was quite warm but the feverishness had faded. "I've made us some dinner."
"Ready to eat it?" Zoe asked, he nodded in reply. "In that case I will put on some water, and you can cook the spaghetti."