The next day dawned. The weather had calmed and now varied between heavy fog and milky sunshine. The sun barely gathering enough warmth to break through to heat the day. The tell-tale sign that autumn wasn't far away.

Upon leaving her office the night before, Connie had discovered that the window that Max had broken free for her could no longer close, jarred and stuck in it's hinges.

She came in that morning to discover a fine film of condensation on the inside of the window and a scattering of birch leaves across the carpet, the window sill wet with early morning dew. She touched it with her fingertips, it was cold and just deep enough to cover the soft underside of her index and ring fingers.

Outside a pigeon coo-cooed somewhere above her, answered by the soft fluttering flap of a neighbouring pigeon who swooped up from a tree to join him or her on the roof of the hospital.

She withdrew her hand from the puddle and wrapped her arms about her chest, watching the cars drawing into the car park below. The scaffolding no longer creaked or wobbled and far below on the hard black tarmac she could see the men fixing it, occasionally the clatter or clunk of metal floating up to her. Was Max down there with them? She couldn't tell, the six or seven men below all dressed the same, a series of yellow hats moving about beneath her gradually moving up the scaffolding.

She withdrew from the window in search of something to mop up the water with, noticing as she did that the carpet just beneath the window was also damp.

Finding a tea towel she mopped up the water and wrung it into the sink, hanging it over the tap to dry off before making her way over to her desk where she sat, faced with the black and white photograph of Grace which was set at an angle at the corner of her desk.

She looked at it for a moment, just let her gaze move across her daughters frozen face. She was smiling, something she rarely seemed to do. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face and braided in a long plait that hung neatly across her shoulder. Connie touched her fingers to her lips, they felt dry. She looked away from the photo, fighting the urge to turn it from view.

Instead she moved about the room tidying things away. She had left last night without clearing away the glasses, wine bottle...as she took hold of it she remembered how he had held it. How eagerly he had filled her glass. She found herself at the window again, looking down once more at the yellow hats. They were making slow progress up the side of the building. She surprised herself by searching for a tell-tale white bandage on an arm...but they were too far down, too close together to see.

She seemed unable to focus on anything. Again the pigeons cooed and she glanced up, seeing the soft grey tale feathers protruding over roof above her. Clawed feet shuffling, never seeming to stay still. If she held her breath she could hear the scraping of their claws.

"Connie?"

A voice made her jump and she turned so quickly that she caught her knuckles against the window frame.

Charlie was standing in her doorway.

"I did knock..."

He said, stepping into the room and letting the door close behind him.

"I was..."

She paused, waving a hand non-committally in the air.

"...miles away."

She concluded, rolling her eyes at herself, moving to her desk.

"Everything al-right?"

He asked, glancing to the window.

She smiled, shaking her head.

"I'm fine. Just one of those days."

She murmured.

"Already!?"

He asked, glancing to the clock. It was still early, only twenty past nine.

She followed his gaze, murmuring her response.

"Anyway..."

He rested a hand on the door handle.

"You're needed on the ward..."

He said, pushing the handle down and opening the door, watching as she cast another quick glance at the open window.

"I'd get someone to have a look at that if I were you...?"

He said, she smiled slightly.

"I don't mind the fresh air."

She said simply, moving past him into the corridor, leading the way onto the ward.

Guy met her just outside of the double doors that opened out onto the ward, Zoe and a man she didn't recognise stood at his side.

"Connie!"

Guy greeted her, reaching out an arm to touch her. She folded her arms instinctively across her chest, looking from Guy to the other man and back to him, noting the frown that creased Zoe's forehead.

"Guy."

She murmured his name, stepping out of the way as a patient was wheeled past them.

"Listen, I'll keep this brief, I've noticed the department struggling over the past few weeks, and what with winter on it's way..."

Guy paused, noticing the slow raising of Connie's eyebrow, the slight purse of her lips. It was after all, only the tale end of summer.

"He arrived sooner than I expected, I would have mentioned something had I'd known."

He gestured to the man who stood next to him.

"This is Dr Cutler, he's the son of an old friend of mine...I trust you'll make him feel welcome?"

He lowered his voice as he spoke. The man now introduced as Dr Cutler smiled slightly, his green eyes narrowed as he looked at her, no hand shake, just the slight nod of his head, dip of his chin.

"Welcome...?"

Connie began, slightly lost.

"He'll be joining your team as of tomorrow. Today I thought that yourself and Dr Hanna could show him the ropes..."

Connie fought the tense twitch of her lip, she inhaled slowly, arranging a slow smile across her lips.

"Of course."

She said simply, again catching the look of pure disbelief on Zoe's face.

Guy nodded to himself, seemingly rather pleased with himself.

"Perhaps you could start by giving him a tour...?"

He coaxed as Connie seemed to pause.

"I'm sure we can manage."

Connie answered, still rearranging her thoughts. She looked pointedly to Zoe who raised her eyebrows, mouth partially open.

"Dr Hanna, would you show Dr Cutler where to leave his things..."

She looked toward the bag he held and the brown tweed coat he had hung over one arm.

"And I will meet you on the ward."

She looked again to Zoe who visibly sighed, glancing at Dr Cutler before pressing her ID badge against the door to open it.

"Follow me..."

She instructed with much more enthusiasm than Connie had expected.

Dr Cutler dutifully followed Zoe onto the ward, tossing a backward glance to Connie as they passed through the doors.

She watched him go, making sure they were out of sight before turning to Guy, her expression pinched, her voice low, hands firmly placed on her hips.

"I was under the impression that the hiring of new members of staff would be my decision, OR at the very least I would have some sort of say in the matter?!"

Connie spoke so quickly that Guy had to visibly lean forward to keep up with her. He held out his hands in defence.

"I told you, Connie...I didn't know..."

"Oh Guy! Please..."

She rolled her eyes as she cut him off, almost smiling at such a blatant lie.

He crossed his arms, regarding her with a sigh.

"He's a good doctor, Connie."

He said eventually.

"I've no doubt about that."

She answered curtly. She drew in a long breath and exhaled it all at once, running a hand through her hair.

"I suppose I will just have to go and..."

She left the sentence unfinished as a porter pushed an elderly woman in a wheelchair between herself and Guy.

"This is my department, Guy."

She said instead, lowering her gaze to fish for her ID tag, pushing open the doors to the ward with much more force than was necessary and leaving Guy to stand in the corridor alone.

More later, I hope whoever is reading this is still enjoying it :) Much more excitement to come xxx