'Connie' she heard Chrissie calling out and crawled into a bush, wanting to hide away from Chrissie, the world, him, forever. She couldn't face him, especially not in this state. She might have sobered right up but she was clammy, shivering and smelt very slightly of sick. This wasn't how it was meant to be – he'd left her in a state not unlike this one and she would not have him finding her like this all these years later. He had to see that she'd changed from the frightened eighteen year old he'd left behind but crouched behind the hedge, out of Chrissie's sight, terrified of being caught, she felt just as small, just as scared and just as stupid as she had all those years before. Even now he had the power to make her want to run and hide from the world just at the sight of him and it terrified her.

'Connie' Chrissie repeated a final time, glancing around the car park and finding no trace of her boss. Eventually, convinced that Connie must have performed a miracle and found a cab, despite looking like she was going to throw up at any given moment, she turned and went back into the bar and back to her date, not giving Connie another thought, assuming that her boss was well on her way to being at home, in bed, sleeping her way to an enormous hangover.

Finally, the coast was clear and Connie stood up, brushing mud and dirt from her trousers and running a hand through her hair, still feeling slightly wobbly although she was utterly convinced she couldn't possibly have anything left inside her to throw up. The combined effect of the alcohol and the shock of seeing him had seen to that. Slowly, finding it easier to walk now she wasn't constantly on the lookout for the best place to dive and throw up, she made her way to the hospital, deciding to phone Michael so he didn't worry, although she doubted he would anyway, and spend the night in her office. She didn't think she could face a ride home with one of Holby's many opinionated cabbies, always assuming she could find a taxi in her current state. Slowly she flipped out her mobile and hit the speed-dial, listening to the monotonous ringing and eventually the ping as her own voice cut in on the answer phone, telling her that they weren't in and to leave a message so she did, struggling not to sound like she was drunk or in the advanced stages of shock, telling him she would be staying in her office and not to worry before she slammed the phone shut and made her way slowly back to the hospital, feeling the cool night breeze wash over her. This calmed her slightly but the effect was ruined by a hysterical burst of laughter that could only be Chrissie and sounded far closer than Connie was comfortable with. But where he was concerned, Mars would be too close for comfort.

'Connie' she heard Chrissie call out and knew that she'd been spotted so she increased her pace, hoping to outrun them although in her current state, she knew it would be impossible 'hang on' Chrissie called and started to follow her, catching her up with ease 'it's my boss' she added to him and Connie watched him frown, as if trying to place her

'Is there a problem Chrissie?' Connie asked tiredly, thankful that he didn't seem to have a clue who she was 'Or are you just trying to waste my time?'

'I was…' Chrissie struggled for the right word, fearing that expressing concern for Connie would be professional suicide 'I just wanted to see that you were okay'

'Well I'm clearly fine' Connie barked, giving him a sidelong glance, pleased to see that he still looked slightly bemused

'Suit yourself' Chrissie shrugged as Connie breathed a heavy sigh bourn of relief and a heavy weight of misery that had descended upon her without warning

'I always do Sister Williams' Connie remarked dully, as she stormed into the hospital, pleased on this occasion to have maintained the upper hand 'I always do'

'Who was that?' Phil turned to Chrissie, a bemused expression on his face as he struggled to place her

'My boss, I told you' Chrissie replied as they walked through the car park in companionable silence

'Connie?' he confirmed, as she reached for his hand, entwining it with his as they strolled along 'does she have a surname?'

'Beauchamp' Chrissie almost spat it as though it was a swear word 'one half of the most vile couple on the planet. They're totally gorgeous and completely poisonous. I honestly don't know why I was remotely concerned about her'

'You like her then?' he remarked sarcastically as they arrived at his car and pressed the key fob, unlocking the car

'I tolerate her' Chrissie shrugged 'if I didn't I'd be fired'

'Fair enough' he nodded slowly 'so what do you know about Connie, apart from the fact she is a complete bitch?'

'Why?' Chrissie asked suspiciously 'She's married you know'

'So you said' he looked at her with a small smile on his face 'she's just, intriguing' he finished lamely, not wanting to share his deep suspicion that he had met Connie Beauchamp before until he pinpointed where and whether she would be baying for his blood.

'Well apart from being one of the three most highly recommended cardiothorasic surgeons in the country and married to Michael' Chrissie pulled a face 'I don't know much'

'Kids?' he enquired idly as they pulled away from the car park and he cast a last glance up at the hospital where Connie had disappeared

'God I hope not' Chrissie shuddered slightly 'the idea of them procreating is terrifying. The child would be an evil genius' she added with utter certainty 'either that or screwed up beyond help'

'Why were you so keen to stop her choking on her own vomit?' he couldn't help enquire quietly as his girlfriend clearly despised the woman

'Because I'd hate to be haunted by her' Chrissie replied with a shrug 'now can we talk about something else'

'Sure' he shrugged, a grimace of realisation crossing his face as they pulled on to the ring road. He had only ever met one Connie in his entire life and if she was the same woman then he was in real trouble.