Chapter 24

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As Connie sat up in the unfamiliar bed she looked around herself. It was still dark but she couldn't sleep in here. All that kept crossing her mind was how quickly things had changed. Only a week ago she was having a baby, a family with the one person she loved more than anyone else and now she was lying in a hospital bed recovering after surgery.

Deciding to try and take herself to the bathroom she carefully rose to her feet. She was fed up of having to get people to help with everything, and she knew that her injury wasn't substantial enough that she needed help to the bathroom.

Wandering out of the room carefully she got to the toilets only to be found by Rita. "Hey, what are you doing? Why didn't you call for someone?" Connie rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone keep tip-toeing around me, I can take myself to the toilet." She went into one of the cubicles hoping Rita would be gone by the time she came out.

Stepping out she noticed the blonde nurse still standing there looking at her. "Just remember, that no matter how much you don't want to be, you're recovering-" "And I've been here a week Rita… I'm going home tomorrow and Cal isn't going to be there all day to help me." They walked back towards the room she was in and went inside. "How are you feeling now?" Connie shrugged "It's not as painful now -" "I didn't mean that."

Connie's face changed as she looked away from Rita who perched on the edge of the bed next to Connie. "You know he doesn't blame you right?" She didn't answer but just stared at the floor. "Connie, you need to talk about this because keeping it bottled inside won't help anyone-" "And say what? I lost my baby Rita, that's all there is to it. It's happened before and it didn't surprise me that it happened again." Rita sat on the bed looking at her friend who was clearly broken over this but didn't want to show it. "Zoe has wanted to come see you, shall I tell her to come by today?"

Rita knew it was an offer Connie would agree to and meant she'd hopefully open up to someone about all of this. "I'll let her know, Cal said he'd come by later after his shift." Connie smiled as Rita got up and went to leave the room while she got comfortable in bed. She didn't realise she was tired until she rested her head back and fell asleep within seconds of lying down.

She woke to see Zoe sitting in the chair across the room smiling. "Hey!" She stood up and came over careful not to hurt her as she gave her a hug. "How you doing?" Connie shrugged "Honestly? I don't even know what to think right now." Zoe nodded watching as Connie sat up in the bed. "You know, Cal came to me the other day… Says that you've not been the same around him since-"

Connie knew what she was saying was true but she couldn't help how she felt now. "I just don't know if I can carry on with him and act like nothing ever happened." Zoe sat on the bed next to Connie before speaking again. "It'll take some time before you move on, but you will… With him, because you both love and need each other. He's so worried about you Connie."

"Just promise me something. No matter how hard this gets, do not push him away… All he cares about is you being okay, and right now he's scared you're going to shut him out." Connie nodded before resting her head back again. She got tired out so quickly now and she hated it. Zoe could tell from the look on her face she was annoyed. "You know as well as I do, in another week's time you're going to be back to normal and strutting around the department. Just don't bottle it all up, and keep us out."

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Later that week, as sure as Zoe had been, Connie was walking into the department at 9 o'clock on the dot for her first shift back. She'd been for a final check up yesterday and had been told everything was healing fine and that she could return to work.

Walking in had never felt so good. She was bored out of her brains at home, despite Cal's attempts to keep her occupied. He had been so good to her that it broke her heart being cold with him. She couldn't help it but sometimes she just needed to shut it all out to get through the day and he seemed to understand that.

As she looked around the nurses' station she noticed there wasn't anybody around. Maybe Zoe had them all in the staffroom for a meeting? Heading that way she was stopped outside by Charlie. "I'll warn you now, they're in there because Cal and Zoe told them it's your first day back… I'm supposed to get you inside, now you know make my job easier." She smiled at the older nurse as he gave her a hug welcoming her back before going inside with her.

"Welcome back!" She smiled slightly seeing everyone standing around greeting her. She scanned the room to see Cal standing at the back of the room avoiding her eye contact. Moving past everyone she headed straight for him. Cal looked up and prepared himself for the moaning he was certain he'd hear, but instead was pleasantly surprised when she leant up and kissed him. "Thank you… I know this has been tough on you too-" "I love you, there's no need to thank me." She hugged him as he wrapped his arms around her smiling to himself.

The day passed quickly for Connie as she was picking her bags up to go home. "Hey, how you feeling?" Cal stepped beside her and walked out with her as she leant into him. "I want to talk to you about something…" A worried look passed across his face as she took hold of his hand and wandered towards the bench outside.

Sitting down Cal watched as she looked off into the distance. "Ever since it happened, I felt like there was this hole… Like something was missing that I'd never be able to get back." Cal watched as tears filled her eyes and glistened in the light. "I'll never forgive myself for what happened that night, but I can't lose you too-" "Hey, I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be right by your side." He rested his hands either side of her face pulling her eyes to his. "I think finally today, it's starting to go away… I just needed you to know, that everything you've done I really appreciate it. I know I don't act that way sometimes."

Cal pulled Connie into him and held onto her before she sat up again. "What you said before this happened, about us. Getting married and starting a family, you want all of that?" He smiled "I've never wanted anything else so much in my life. We don't have to do it now but one day you'll be Mrs Knight and we'll finally be a million miles away from where we are right now." Connie smiled as he kissed her gently before standing up and taking her hand. "We should get home, before this cold air gets to your head anymore." He winked as he pulled her up and they started to walk home.