Zoe's heels struck against the frosted tarmac. The world was blanketed beneath the veil of ice and snow, as though it were slumbering beneath it, each daffodil and snowdrop bulb embedded beneath the frozen soil waiting patiently to rise, like a gift to everyone who should see it. And how fitting, today, for the start of winter to reveal itself like a gift.

She sucked in the cold air and felt it bristle and pull tight within her chest. She was flushed and breathless and she pulled her coat more tightly about herself, wrapping her arms about her waist, hugging herself to counter against the shiver of her body beneath the wool of her coat. And as she made her way across the car park towards the hospital entrance she was warmer inside than she had been in summer time, and she raised her face to the clear blue sky, smiling deliciously in the morning sun.

On her way to the double doors she slowed her step, she reached out to touch her fingers to the cool brick of the hospital, just at the corner where she and Max had smoked so many cigarettes.

She exhaled, her breath white before her, rising up, and up until it disappeared completely and she was left facing the trees in the distance. Icicles dangled from their stark grey skeletons. She drew in another chilled breath and glanced down at her feet – to the frosted ends of forgotten cigarettes frozen solid into puddles that showed her own reflection as clear as a mirror and the chill breeze that sliced through the air seemed to whisper 'ice... ice... ice...'

She pushed her hands into her pockets and drew up her shoulders, shuddering. She stood listening and watching. All was quiet. Hardly even a breeze about the building. Yet somewhere in the distance there was the rumble of a wheelchair, or a trolley, the murmur of voices, and in the trees a robin sang a melody she had heard a thousand times over and never before.

"Dr Walker..."

A familiar voice roused her from her thoughts and she turned, still smiling.

"Mrs Beauchamp."

She bit her lip against her greeting. Connie pressed her arm briefly against her own, smiling too – there seemed to be something in the air today...

"You seem to be shining – like the ice..."

Connie murmured as they fell into step with one another, nodding to someone as they approached the hospital entrance. The double doors hissed open, a belch of warm air sucking them in.

Zoe laughed in response, though she glanced at Connie out of the corner of her eyes. Her face was pale from the cold, her hair darker than she'd seen it before and it was loose about her face in glossy curls that bounced about her shoulders despite the damp in the air.

They passed through reception without a word – their relationship was such that they were just as comfortable with words as without. They reached the navy double-doors with their smudged glass windows and their dull chrome handles – worn dull from use.

"How's Max?"

Connie asked, pausing, and Zoe looked away from the highly polished linoleum floor to catch a glimpse of the hallway that stretched beyond them, cut into tiny squares by the thin wire in the window panels.

She smiled again, she couldn't help it.

"Better. He seemed much better this morning."

Connie smiled in response, a curious knowing smile that creased the skin at the corners of her eyes. Without pause she pushed with the weight of her body against the doors, though she needn't have as it swung open soundlessly and with ease.

"You give me hope, you know, you and Max."

A draft of air buffeted towards them as the doors closed behind them, cool air with a tincture of bleach. Ahead lay magnolia walls, decorated with old black and white photographs and paintings made by local primary school children and instead of straight walls the hallway had a curve, disappearing slowly from sight.

"Hope?"

Zoe repeated, adjusting the straps of her handbag on her shoulder.

Every few seconds they passed a different set of doors with a hand-sanitizer dispenser: to oncology, to outpatients, to maternity. They bypassed them all heading for the ED.

"Mmm."

Connie's heels sounded loudly against the floor, louder than her own, Zoe realised, though she didn't have the time to wonder why this would be.

"Well if you can maintain such a strong relationship for so long..."

Zoe's laugh cut her off and once again Connie leant against her ever so slightly, a look of affection playing behind those pretty hazel eyes.

They reached the doors to the ED, beyond them they could hear the hum of movement – of voices and bodies, of rubber soled shoes and the rumble of trolleys.

"You'll find someone."

Zoe said, distracted by the sudden prickling feeling of being watched. She glanced behind herself to the empty corridor from where they had come before leaning against the door.

Connie murmured something she didn't catch as they entered the ward, and almost immediately there were calls for Mrs Beauchamp! and bodies of harassed nurses hurried towards her.

"Before I forget..."

Connie lowered her voice.

"Dr Mollengraaf...did you-"

"I heard."

Zoe cut her off as Rita came to an abrupt halt in front of them, her dark eyes wide, her lips parted, ready to speak, and Connie reached out to squeeze Zoe's forearm gently as they parted ways.

-.-

I'd neglected this, I apologise. This is for Amy, I hope you enjoyed it? Happy New Year to all, and thank you for continuing to read this! xxx