Patrick had a lot of time to think whilst lying on his back in hospital. And disturbingly, instead of his thoughts being populated by images of Rachel, he kept finding himself thinking about that nurse, Lucy Hart. She hadn't been to see him again since that one time, but let's face it, once was weird enough. She was the last person he'd have expected to see. Well, apart from Max Gallagher or, he thought wryly, Greg James. But she was certainly not on his top ten most likely to visit list. And yet she'd come and had seemed genuine enough in her intentions. He was almost certain she wouldn't have gone straight back down to the ward and filled Chloe, Jack and Tony in on his condition. Now he thought about it, he'd never seen Lucy Hart gossiping like the Welsh nurse. Thinking back now, he could barely remember her saying much at all to the other staff on the department, unless it was strictly necessary. So she hadn't come up on a mission set by anyone else. So why the hell had she come at all?
Pulling into the car park, Lucy noted that Patrick Spiller's beloved sports car was parked in its usual spot. He must be back at work. Nerves filled her entire body. Everyone seemed to have forgotten her strange outburst of a week ago and she'd once again resumed her overlooked position. She prayed Patrick wouldn't say anything today.
"Lucy, you're late. Again." Charlie wondered if it would be easier to tattoo it onto his forehead as the blonde nurse shot into the ED department, trying to look as if she'd been there all along. "You've got to sort this out, I can't keep making allowances for…"
"Don't you live out towards the football stadium?" Both Lucy and Charlie looked round in surprise as Patrick interrupted the conversation without even looking away from the x-rays he was studying. "The traffic was bad out that way this morning. I heard it on the radio."
Lucy briefly wondered what the hell he was talking about. She lived nowhere near the football stadium… then she realised he was throwing her a life line, and she grabbed at it thankfully.
"Er, yeah." She nodded, hoping she could blag her way out of this one. "It was pretty bad."
Charlie sighed. "Well, that's no excuse, but I suppose on this one occasion…"
"Thanks Charlie. I'll get straight to work. Where do you want me?"
"There's an RTA coming in in a few minutes," Charlie informed her. "Two serious injuries and a minor one. I'm sure you could do with the help in recus, right Patrick?"
"Sure," Patrick agreed. He took the x-ray off the light box. "Not broken, just sprained," he informed Duffy. "Like I thought." He headed towards the door and gestured to Lucy to follow.
"Er, thanks," she said as they walked through the department.
"For what?" Patrick asked, not even looking at her. Lucy had to jog to keep up with his fast long stride.
"For saying that to Charlie," Lucy explained. "You didn't have to."
He shrugged. "I won't in future then." He opened the door to resus. "Okay, people, RTA on its way in. Can we clear some space in here please?"
"Duffy, have you got a minute?" Charlie asked the ward sister. "I'd like a quick chat."
"Well, we're pretty snowed under here," Duffy said, as she signed a patient off. "It'll have to be a very quick one."
"Two minutes," Charlie said. "Promise. In my office."
Once inside his office, Charlie folded his arms. "How much do you know about Lucy Hart?"
Duffy looked puzzled. "Lucy? How do you mean? She's a good nurse, a bit less advanced that I'd have thought at her age. She should be on about a par with Dillon really, she's got the potential but -"
"I meant more about her as a person," Charlie interrupted her. "I've been asking around and no one can really tell me anything about her."
Duffy shrugged. "She's very quiet. Maybe she's shy." She smiled wryly. "Maybe she doesn't want all this lot knowing her private business."
"Maybe." Charlie hesitated before adding. "Only I've looked up her address in our records."
"So?"
"She lives on Clifton Street. The other end of Holby from the football stadium," Charlie informed her. When she still didn't respond he continued. "You heard Patrick this morning, saying she must have been stuck in traffic. I thought it was funny at the time, why would he know where she lived? So I…"
"Looked it up?" Duffy looked at him incredulously. "Honestly Charlie! She made up an excuse for being late…"
"No he made up an excuse for her being late," Charlie corrected her. "And Lucy went along with it."
"She saw a chance to get herself off the hook. I'm not condoning it, and maybe you should have a word with her about it, but that's it. There's no big secret with Lucy Hart."
"Good work everyone, thanks," Lara congratulated them, as the driver from the RTA was taken up to a ward. "Minimal problems there. Beat that, Spiller!"
Patrick smiled triumphantly. "Saved the kid's life and his leg. I think we win on this occasion."
Lara rolled her eyes. "Typical! I'm going to get a coffee. You coming?"
Patrick hesitated. He had no idea why but he had an overwhelming urge to get Lucy on her own and… what? What could he ever have to say to her?
"Yeah sure." he nodded. "Black, two sugars."
"Don't push your luck!" Lara laughed as she headed to the staff room.
Charlie passed her in the doorway. "Can I borrow Lucy for a second?" he asked Patrick.
"All yours." Patrick nodded, before following Lara. It was only once he'd left recus that he wondered why Charlie wanted to talk to her. It was unlike him to ask to speak with one of the nurses on duty unless there was something important he wanted to say. Then he wondered why he cared.
"I'm actually in the middle of something," Lucy insisted, somehow sensing that this wasn't just a casual conversation. She fluffed pillows, attempting to appear busy.
"I'm sure Dillon and Collette can manage in here," Charlie said firmly. He fixed her with a steady gaze. "You and I need to talk."
Lucy nodded reluctantly.
"In my office, five minutes," Charlie directed her. "Dillon, can you let Duffy know where she is?"
"Sure." Dillon nodded. Lucy shot him a look. Trust him to be on Charlie's side. Dillon tried his best to look supportive. It wasn't his fault that she'd got herself into trouble.
