Hello! Right, this chapter is so late because for the last couple of weeks, I did start a new storyline within the fic. Then I realised how forced it seemed compared to the natural closure I had previously planned. So I'm afraid that this is actually the penultimate chapter! But never fear! I have a few one shot ideas sticking to this storyline which I will publish following this one's end.
I feel like this is a short but sweet chapter which is what I think is required, at the end of the day this was playing out my hopes for Connie's future, so it gets a bit soppy :D
Isabella :)
Chapter 21
Connie gave a small gasp before, eyes wide in complete bewilderment, she choked out the rhetorical question,
"He's here...?"
Henrik looked at her, and for a fraction of a second, his lips curved strangely, almost as if he was smiling. With that, the man turned swiftly on his heel and walked off, leaving the clinical lead of his ED department beaming to herself.
Yet as the reality of the information divulged actually hit her, the fearless 'Ice Queen' started to get butterflies fluttering about in her stomach. Agitatedly, Connie started fiddling with her hair. The work she had done that morning hadn't completely been lost, even after the drama of the chest drain. She shuddered to think of someone being so close to her- so intimate- to carry out that kind of procedure, more so than when she had needed full on surgery. Then her cheeks went cherry pink as she started blushing at the very notion.
Cheeks. Face. Connie panicked whilst she fumbled around on her bed for a mirror that couldn't be found. No reflective metal in sight. Well that's just perfect! She thought. In the end the already stunning woman resorted to a quick swipe under her eyes with a tissue, to remove any eyeliner that had strayed, the old fashioned technique of nibbling her lips for more colour, and a little flick of her eyelashes to remove the mascara clumps.
Her shattered body would hardly stand a walk to the mirror in the ladies at the moment so her makeshift makeup would have to do.
Within what seemed like no time at all, the sound of footsteps rang in Connie's ears. Every second they got louder, and every second Connie kept thinking about what on earth she was going to say to him. She should be fuming, but instead she felt like a giddy teenager waiting for her true love to sweep her off of her feet.
It suprised her more than it should have that the man who rounded the corner and faced her, looked rather worse for wear. There was a certain redness to his eyes denoting lack of sleep or crying, his stubble had surpassed 'five o'clock shadow' completely and entered the 'unkempt scruff' zone, and the way he looked at her... It was like she was his oxygen and he was gasping for lungfuls of air.
"Sam, I-"
"Connie, I am so, so sorry... I don't know what I was thinking... I just... I can't excuse it... I'll never do it again... Not as long as I draw breath-"
"Sam, I love you,"
The words tumbled out of Connie's mouth so naturally, it surprised even her. Suddenly her face broke out into a smile so beautiful and bright that the sun itself would have been jealous.
Sam stared at her, listening but not hearing. When those four tiny words had fully registered in his mind, the look of pure relief and complete adoration that entered the previously distraught man's eyes, and practically glowed within his soul, was proof enough to Connie that he would indeed never leave her again. Their mutual understanding was practically tangible.
Bounding over to her and gingerly embracing her, Sam spoke softly and sincerely, his face buried in her blossom scented hair;
" And I love you, so much.
Connie Beauchamp...my beautiful champion,"