Zoe was dreading going back to treat Reanna. It wasn't Reanna that she didn't want to see. It was the memories. So she walked in to the room wearily, and Reanna looked up at her and smiled. Zoe was going to be polite, and she smiled back.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Zoe asked, looking at the patient notes.
"Fine, thanks." Reanna said. "Listen. I want to apologise about yesterday. I didn't know, i'm sorry."
"Its fine." Zoe smiled at her. "It just kind of upset me more than it should."
"Sorry."
"Basically, I took fertility treatment, and the other day I found out that I was carrying a child, but then I miscarried."
"Oh, that must of been hard." Reanna said, looking guilty.
"It was, but I have to get on with life, you know? I have a great man, and he doesn't mind." Zoe said.
"Thats great." Reanna said, and Zoe put her patient notes down. "I am really sorry about what I said."
"Don't worry. Its fine." Zoe said, and left the room. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Wow. So talking about your problems really did make you feel better.
She went into the staff room for her break, and waited eagerly for Nick to return from his scan. She was worried. She didn't want him having a relapse. She made herself a coffee, and sat at the sofa and got out a magazine. She sat trying to read it, but ended up reading the same line over and over again. She gave up, putting her magazine down and picked up her coffee. She sipped it as she stared into space, and then the door opened. It was only Lenny.
"Hey Zo." Lenny said, as he opened his locker.
"Hi." She replied, still in her own thoughts.
"Whats wrong?" He asked, watching her.
"Nothing. Nothings wrong." She said, taking her eyes off the door to look at him and smile.
"Good." Lenny said. Zoe sighed and stared at the door again. Lenny noticed. "Waiting for someone?"
"Yeah." She said. "Nick."
"Oh okay." Lenny said."Is there anything wrong? You look...on edge."
"His cancer. It might be in remission." She said, not taking her eyes of the door.
"Oh." He said. He didn't know what to say. Just then, Nick burst through the door, grinning like the cheshire cat.
"All clear." He said, and Zoe sighed with relief. Nick picked her up off the sofa, spilling her coffee all down her skirt.
"Nick!" Zoe squeeled, and ran to the sink to get a cloth.
"Sorry!" He said, looking guilty. He knew how much she loved her clothes. "I will buy you a new one."
"Okay." Zoe said happily, and stopped frantically scrubbing her skirt. Nick rolled his eyes.
"The stain will come out of that." Nick said. "The skirt is brown, and so is coffee."
"I know, but im not complaining with a new skirt." She said, and hugged him again, happy for him. Nick hugged her back, and Lenny snuck out the door to give them some privacy.
He found Linda sitting up in her bed with crossed legs, and she looked to be panicking.
"Lenny." She said, as he walked in.
"Whats up?" He asked.
"Social services." Linda said. "They want to know if I would take in Britney and Joe, my sisters kids."
"Oh." Lenny said.
"Its either I take them in, or they get split up in care!" Linda said, with shaking hands. "I don't think I could cope Lenny."
"Then don't take them in! Im sure someone will come and take them both in." Lenny rubbed her knee.
"But someone might not after seeing Britney's behaviour.." Linda said and picked up the childrens records. "She keeps getting excluded from school, shouted at, bad grades... Joe is the opposite. He will get adopted no problem."
"I see." Lenny said. "Remember, what ever your choice, I will be here."
"Thanks." she said, and she hugged him. They stayed in their embrace for several minutes, enjoying the warmth from each other.
Thoughts were going around and around in Linda's head. What on earth was she going to do? She wanted to take in the kids to keep them together, but she had her own life to think about too. She was still young, and could have her own children. Britneys report shows that she is a trouble maker, and Linda didn't think she would be able to cope with that. Joe would probably be fine. He never gets into trouble at school.
"Do you think I will be allowed to take them in to try, and if I can't cope, then..."
"I guess so." Lenny shrugged. "I will help."
"Thanks." She said, and they pulled apart. "I just don't know if I will be able to look after them well. I mean, they are my sisters kids. Look at what she did to me."
"Im sure they won't be that bad." Lenny said, smiling.
"I don't know..." Linda said, not so sure. "Its Britney that I am worried about."
"When are you meeting them?" Lenny asked.
"Tomorrow." Linda sighed.
"So soon?" Lenny said.
"Yep." Linda said.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Lenny asked.
"Please?" She replied.
"Okay. I will come." He smiled, and took hold of her hand.
"How did the scan go?" Charlie asked Nick when no one else was around.
"It went fine." Nick smiled. "All clear."
"Thats great." Charlie said and patted him on the back.
"Thanks for making me go." Nick said. "I wouldn't have gone and would have worried for God knows how long."
"Its fine. I learnt to go to appointments after I kept putting mine off. It doesn't end very well." Charlie said, remembering when he had a heart attack.
"I know." Nick said. "Its just nerve wracking."
"I know it is. But if its needed, you have to go." Charlie said, before getting back to work.
The next day soon arrived, and Linda was being discharged.
"Ready to go home?" Zoe asked.
"Yeah." Linda said. "But I can't. Im meeting social services here in an hour."
"Why?"
"They want me to take in my sisters kids." Linda said. She was visibly nervous.
"Oh." Zoe said. "Do you want to take them in?"
"I don't know." Linda said. "Britney, the eldest, has been in a lot of trouble... but Joe's records are fine."
"I see." Zoe said. "Are you going to give it a try?"
"I might aswell. What harm can it do?"
"Thats a great atittude." Zoe smiled. "I hope it all goes well."
"Thanks." Linda said, and Lenny walked in with the discharge forms.
"Okay, can you sign there, and there." Zoe pointed.
"I know. I am a nurse." Linda smiled, and carried on.
"True." Zoe said, and they were soon finished. "You are officially not a patient here anymore."
"Yay." Linda said, hopping off the bed, but she still had a headache.
"Slowly. Just because you aren't a patient doesn't mean you are one hundred percent cured. You still have a fractured skull."
"I know." Linda said, and she swayed a little bit. She had been laying down for a while.
"I know what I am going to do for the next hour." Lenny said, and took hold of Linda's hand.
"What?" Linda asked.
"Buy you a coffee." He said, and they left to go to the cafe.
"Buy me one!" Zoe shouted as they left the room. She sighed as she didn't think they heard her.
"They had better bring me one too." Sam said. "I think im going through caffiene withdrawal." Zoe laughed at her. "Im serious."
"I know. You haven't had a coffee for days!" Zoe said.
"Tell me about it." Sam said. "I have no energy what so ever anymore."
"Well, you will be able to get one yourself tomorrow because im discharging you then."
"You are?" Sams face beamed.
"Yeah." Zoe smiled.
"Thank you so much. I need coffee."
"I know." Zoe laughed, and sat and talked to Sam.
Lenny and Linda were enjoying a coffee each, at a table for two in the hospitals cafe.
"How long until social services get here?" Linda asked, hands shaking around her cup.
"About forty minutes." Lenny told her, and saw her shake. "Relax, Linda. It will be fine. Trust me."
"I know." Linda said. "Im just nervous."
"I know." Lenny said. "I will be there, and I will help you. Just please relax a bit."
"Im trying." Linda said, and took another shakey sip of her coffee.
They soon finished their coffee, and stood up to leave.
"One sec." Lenny said, and got back in line. Linda was confused. "Im getting Sam and Zoe one."
"Oh okay." Linda said, remembering Zoe shout as they left.
"Two double expresso's please." Lenny asked, and gave the money. He picked up sachets of sugar and little cups of milk, and picked up the coffees once they were done and took them to resus where he found Zoe and Sam talking. He lifted up the coffee's and winked.
"Oh you're a life saver!" Sam said, relieved, knowing she could have caffiene.
"Thank you." Zoe said, reaching into her pocket to pay him back.
"No no. They were on me." Lenny smiled.
"You sure?" Zoe said.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Thank you." Zoe said, and sipped it. "My favourite! How did you know?"
"You are always buying them Zoe." Lenny said. "I didn't know about you Sam so I bought the same. Hope its okay."
"Coffee is coffee. It doesn't matter what type." Sam laughed. She took a sip and sighed with relief. "Thats better."
"Great." Lenny smiled.
"Well we had better go and get ready to meet the kids." Linda said, looking at the time.
"We still have twenty minutes." Lenny said.
"I know, but I want to get changed." Linda said.
"Okay." Lenny said.
"See you." Linda said to Sam and Zoe.
"Bye. Have fun." Sam said.
"Yeah have a good time." Zoe said.
"Ill try." Linda said, and Lenny waved at them before they left the room.