Hi people, I'm back on that one! I finally got my inspiration back and found the plot line I've been waiting for! This one should keep us occupied for a few chapters... Hope you like it! Cheers, and as always, reviews are much appreciated!

Late April 2021

Anna walked into the nurses' room and looked at the patients' board. A few weeks after her Covid ICU had closed, it still felt weird not to read "COVID" in each and every diagnosis case. There was only one Covid ICU left in York hospital, and its size was decreasing day after day. The hospital staff was collectively letting out the breath they had been holding for more than a year now. It felt surreal, walking through the A&E and not meeting stretchers haphazardly put everywhere one could fit, with oxygen bottles lying around. Things almost felt too normal, like they all had forgotten what "normal" looked like, before. Outside too, Anna still felt uneasy with "normal" life. Of course she was happy to see pubs and restaurants reopening, although they were still not fully functioning, she was happy to be free to meet her friends and family. But seeing people gathering in close groups, not wearing masks, was causing her anxiety surges. There still was a feeling of impending doom that she couldn't quite shake off. Like she couldn't get herself to get out of her "catastrophe-mode functioning". A sort of post-pandemic PTSD in a way. But she tried, every day, to put all this behind her. She had made a mental celebration, when it had been a week since she had admitted her last new Covid patient. And the day it had been a whole month since she had called her last family to announce a Covid death. All this felt good, yet she sometimes felt empty inside, like she had given all the strength she had in those last fifteen months, and there was nothing left. Her last holiday, apart from her sick leave from when she was herself ill with Covid, had been last summer when she had gone to Scotland with John. It all felt like a century away. She was glad she had John's unwavering support, and they could focus on their house project, to help her picture herself into the future, otherwise she thought she might have crumbled down with the accumulated exhaustion. But at least she had not lost her interest and dedication to her job. Some of her colleagues had done just that. Not a day passed without hearing people talking and saying they were preparing for a change of career. Many healthcare workers had met the end of their rope during that last year. Not a few had been put on extended sick leave for burn-out, and had not been seen back for weeks. The work load had not lessened since the Covid cases had, because there were now months of elective care put on hold, that had to be addressed. People had been made to wait to get surgery, for serious conditions like cancers, and of course their illnesses had worsened during all that time. It would be months, or maybe even one year or two, before things really went back to normal. And that was assuming that there would be no "fourth wave", with yet another worse variant.

As the night crew came to settle into the nurses' room, Anna tried to push those thoughts away.

- Hi Ed, so, what are you leaving me with today?

- Oh, some interesting, non-Covid stuff, smiled her fellow doctor.

When Ed had finished his summary to the day crew, Gwen asked around:

- So, who's coming to the pub tonight? We thought we'd have a little night out. You know, what they call "a social life". We thought we'd try that, should be fun. Anna, will you come?

- Hum, I don't know, I have to see, there's Timmy and…

- Oh, come on, girl, it's only a quick drink! You need to cut yourself some slack! Thomas and Ed are coming too.

- Alright, I'll see what I can do.

- Good, smiled Gwen. I'm counting on you!

The patients were all pretty well stabilized that day and everything had run smoothly when Anna left them at the end of the day in the care of the night shift. She had used her lunch break to call John and ask him if he wouldn't mind she went out for a drink with her work pals. He had nothing to say against it. So at the beginning of the evening, as the day was slowly fading, Anna walked with Gwen to the pub near the hospital where they had had their usual table, before it all began. They wouldn't be able to use it that night, because they were serving only outdoors, but it still gave them a taste of their previous life, as a small dozen of the ICU staff gathered on the terrace. Anna and Gwen greeted those who were already there, among which was Thomas, and they ordered a round of beers. Anna was trying her best to relax and not to wonder if any of the many unmasked bystanders were in fact Covid-positive without knowing it. She was beginning to let go and enjoy herself when Ed arrived.

- Hi Ed, come! called Gwen. We're taken the liberty of ordering you a beer too.

- Thanks Gwen, that's very considerate! smiled the older doctor with his usual southern American accent. So, how has been the day? he asked to the two girls.

- Fine, fine, they were all well groomed, thanks to you! laughed Anna.

- Hey, I from now on forbid anyone standing at that table to talk about work! yelled Thomas, who had already well loosened up, since he had already spent some time drinking with his boyfriend Richard before the others arrived.

- Oh, hum, sorry, but there was something I needed to talk to you all about, said Ed, and I'm afraid it is work-related.

Thomas frowned, and dramatically looked at his watch.

- Alright, you've got ten minutes, not one more, after that I'll smack your head.

- Thank you Mr Barrow, replied Ed deferentially. So, erm, I've been in touch with Harendra Vardhan, you know, from Hyderabad. We've talked for two hours on Skype today. We're working with both hospitals technicians and logisticians to send some relief out there, the hospital is completely overwhelmed. There will be some equipment shipping, and we need some volunteers to go there for three-weeks rotations. Help relieve the staff, and teach them what we know about Covid-management. Experience-sharing on invasive and non-invasive ventilation, etc. So, are any of you interested? Gwen? Anna? Thomas?

- Oh, I'd like too, but there's the small matter of my plane phobia, said Thomas. I. Am. Not. Flying. Not if I can help it.

Anna looked thoughtful. The Hyderabad General Hospital had a long-time partnership with York Royal University Hospital, and she had spent a four-months internship there when she was a student. She had fond memories of that stay, away from all she was used to, confronted to a whole different way of life. Her adventurous nature pushed her to go, but she remembered about Timmy and John, and her heart was torn.

- I'd like to go, said Gwen. I've never been to India!

- Yeah, I'm afraid it will not be a touristic trip, and it's not the best of times to appreciate the charms of the country, but every goodwill is valuable.

- Come on, Anna, said Gwen, elbowing her in the ribs, we could go together. I'd like to meet that friend of yours, how was her name?

After her internship, Anna had stayed in touch with a doctor she had met there. They exchanged news from time to time on Facebook, and she realized as Gwen talked that she had not inquired about her for several months, and felt ashamed about that.

- Danhya, she answered. I… It's tempting, but… I'm not sure. When would the volunteers leave? she asked Ed.

- First flight is scheduled in a week.

- But I have plenty of shifts planned in the next three weeks. And I have a child, I can't leave him for three weeks.

- Ah… hesitated Ed. It's three weeks on site. And then when we come back we'll have to quarantine in a hotel for two more weeks. So it's five weeks really.

- Good Lord… exclaimed Anna. But how will we find people to cover our shifts for five weeks?!

- I'll cover for yours if I can, said Thomas. I can't fly but I can help free people who want to go.

- But my son… she still hesitated.

- Anna, said Gwen, seizing her friends by her shoulders and looking straight into her eyes, I know you want to go. Deep down. I know. Super Anna wants to go and help.

Anna avoided her piercing gaze and looked down. She did want to go. But she didn't want to leave Timmy and John on their own for five long weeks. Gwen let her go, and turned to Ed:

- I'm in! she said enthusiastically. You'll be going of course?

- With the first rotation, yes. So, Anna, what do you say?

Anna sighed.

- Look, let me think on it, sleep on it, talk it through with my son and my boyfriend. When do you need a firm answer?

- Well, I'd say as soon as possible, but in forty-eight hours would be nice.

- OK. I'll give you an answer by Friday.

- Thank you.

- Alright, are you done, Ed?! snapped Thomas. I'm afraid the ten minutes are over! Now who want to take me on a darts game?

- Oh, yeah! shrieked Gwen. I'm going to destroy you, Thomas Barrow!

Gwen had a solid reputation at darts.

Anna had thought about Ed's offer over and over on her whole way back home and couldn't quite shift her inner balance one way or the other. The flat was quiet when she closed the door behind her later that night. John was on the couch watching some telly. Anna went and kissed him.

- Hi darling, she said softly. Has everything been OK tonight?

- Goodnight sweetie. It's been great. Timmy's in bed, I think he's asleep.

- I'll go check on him.

When she had kissed the sleeping child, she came back to the living-room and snuggled on the couch beside John. He was watching some news channel, and there was a report on the situation in India.

- Jesus, he sighed. These folks are really having it the hard way…

- Yeah…

After a moment's silence, Anna shifted herself on the couch and turned to face John.

- Speaking about India, there's something I need to talk to you about.

- Oh? he said curiously, wondering what on earth she could have to say to him regarding that far away country.

- I don't know if you're aware, but York's hospital has a partnership with Hyderabad General Hospital. Trainees' exchanges, developing programs, and such like. I've been there for four months when I was a resident.

- Oh, really? I didn't know you had ever been to India! Although, I think I remember we did a fundraising event once, at Downton a few years ago, for Hyderabad's hospital.

- Yeah, so, you see how it's going there right now, she went on, making a head gesture towards the telly. So, Ed, who's head of the Partnership Committee, is putting up a relief operation. We'll be sending equipment, respirators, oxygen extractors, Optiflows, PPEs and all that stuff.

- Oh, that's great. And do you want me to ask Robert to cash in?

- No, that was not where I was going… Although it'd be nice if the Crawleys want to chip in. No, the thing is, we'll also be sending staff. Doctors, nurses, logisticians, and oxygen circuits technicians. Ed has asked me to go there with him.

- Oh.

John stayed silent for a while, processing the news.

- But… didn't you say you were so fed up about dealing only with Covid for more than a year? And you were relieved to go back to regular ICU?

- Well, yes, it's true. But they really need help. You saw what it's like, it's hell out there. I have acquired some competences in the past year that are worth sharing with them.

- How long would you be gone? he asked.

- Three weeks in Hyderabad, and then two weeks quarantining in a hotel in London near the airport. So that would be five weeks altogether.

- Five weeks… he repeated, thoughtful. And… Do you want to go?

- The adventurous part of me wants to. The woman in love with you and Timmy doesn't.

He smiled.

- I am not going to tell you to stay on my behalf. I will not be the guy who stands between you and what you want to accomplish in life. If you think you can make a difference and your place is there, then go. I'll miss you, but I'll be there when you come back.

- That's so sweet, she said, bringing her hand up to his cheek.

Her eyes watered at his unwavering support. He turned his face to kiss the inside of her palm.

- I'll miss you too. Very much. But I'm worried about Timmy though. Five weeks is a hell of a long time for him.

- I'll take care of him, he said, in a tone that allowed no argument.

- Are you sure? He could stay with the Carsons you know. You don't have to do that.

- Hey, Anna, if we are to be a family, it's only natural I'd look after your son, isn't it?

She smiled.

- I do love you so terribly much, you know that, Mr Bates?

- I think I do, Miss Smith…

She closed her eyes for a moment, and exhaled slowly. When she opened her eyes again, she looked in his eyes and whispered:

- So, I guess I'm going to India then…

- Good for you my darling, he said, reaching for her hand. And I'll stay here, take care of Timmy, and worry about you every day.

She squeezed his hand and replied:

- Oh no, don't… Between my being ill and the vaccine, I think I'll have a pretty good immunity.

- It's a new variant, will your immunity work on that one?

- I'll be very careful anyway.

- Please, do be careful. Not just about the virus. About everything else too. I want you back in one piece.

She saw the worry in his eyes, and knew he was refraining from holding her back.

- I will. I promise.

She bent forward and captured his lips. She moaned when his hands caressed the small of her back and the back of her neck, then she laughed when he let himself fall backwards on the cough, pulling her on top of him.

- We should continue this in bed, she said huskily.

- Yes, let's, he agreed.