So a little earlier than scheduled, here is your next update. Thank you very much to everyone who has read and reviewed yesterdays installment, your comments always make me happy!

I hope you enjoy todays chapter.

For better, for worse

Chapter 4

Thursday 1st March 2012

Zoe walked out into the burgeoning darkness of the car park and held her head in her hands, before running her fingers back through her hair in frustration. She pulled a cigarette and her lighter from her pocket and lit it without hesitation, inhaling the familiar contents as deeply as she could manage. It was only her second smoking break of the day and she knew she had been making extremely good progress in reducing her nicotine intake in recent weeks, mainly due to Dylan's abject refusal to allow her to smoke on his boat or around Dervla. He had never told her to give up altogether, nor would she have listened if he had, but she was well aware that he wasn't comfortable with her smoking or drinking habits and yet despite that had relented enough to allow her the odd glass of wine or two as the cosied up on the boat of an evening.

Her gentle reduction in cigarettes had seemed like a fair compromise in response, but that was before this particular day and the eternity of the shift she currently found herself on. At Nick's insistence she had thrown herself into treating minor injuries in cubicles and monitoring Dylan's remaining patients in CDU with Scarlett almost surgically attached to her side. She was unsure whether it was Nick or Charlie who had decided she would be unable to cope without the aid of her own personal nurse to fetch and carry for her, but whilst she had been grateful for the young woman's reassuring support her boundless enthusiasm had become wearing after an hour or so. She had finally managed to shake free of the nurse, leaving her busy taking bloods from a very petulant small child, and had been heading in the general direction of resus to get an update on Dylan's condition when she had come across Linda and Lenny huddled together in the corridor, deep in an intense conversation.

To say she had been shocked by the possible existence of Dylan's daughter would be an understatement, but that new confusion added to the stress that had been knotting in her stomach ever since the man himself had been brought crashing into the hospital on a trolley had caused her mind to swirl. She had felt an overwhelming urge to exit the department and gather her thoughts in private, so had stormed past the two awkward looking gossiping colleagues knowing full well they would be unable to follow her given how manically busy the E.D. still was at that time. It was fast becoming apparent that despite her romantic entanglement with Dr Keogh she actually knew very little about him or his past, a fact that was now troubling her deeply. Zoe was already filled with a sense of dread at the state Dylan's injuries could leave him in and the impact that this might have on their relationship, but she was now faced with the added humiliation of the entire team being made well aware that he had failed to mention whoever this girl was to her, especially if it did transpire she actually was his daughter. She was pretty sure that meeting your future step-daughter was meant to be a positive experience, not one that was undertaken at your partner's bedside as he lay critically injured. Although she smiled as she thought to herself, that very partner had already informed her that he was not the marrying type and therefore she would not be becoming anyone's stepmother anytime soon.

Zoe finished the last drag of her cigarette and stubbed it out on the ground, before reaching into her pocket instinctively to take out a second. However the moment her fingers wrapped around the small white stick she thought better of it. Working in such a busy E.D. she had grown used to having very few extremely short breaks, so had learnt to maximise her nicotine intake by almost chain smoking on these rare moments outside of the department. However despite the pressure of the day, she knew it was far more important to get back inside and introduce herself to Dylan's next of kin and resolve the current tension in her mind that was fast giving her a piercing headache.

She walked towards the entrance of her workplace, but before she could make her way inside she collided with a young woman hastily making her way through the same doorway. For a brief moment the two of them locked eyes and whilst Zoe had anticipated she might receive an apology for the rough way the stranger had walked straight into her, instead the girl looked her up and down quite rudely before turning on heel and continuing into the building.

Zoe felt the annoyance rise inside her but bit her tongue knowing that she had more important issues to deal with at that moment, so continued on her own course towards Dylan's isolated room next to resus. She noticed that the impolite woman appeared to be heading in a similar direction and as they walked almost in step she eyed her suspiciously, not quite willing to believe that this girl was the person she was so concerned about meeting, especially as she had never anticipated before that moment that she would be old enough herself to play step-mother to such a grown up woman. However she noted that those suspicions were well placed when the woman sped up slightly on almost reaching the doorway to Dylan's room and ensured she arrived first, turning round to meet Zoe's gaze with a scowl before she entered and allowed the door to drop closed behind her.

On following the girl into the room, the two of them eyed each other distrustfully over Dylan's bedside. Zoe picked up his patient chart and deliberately busied herself with checking her partner over, to ensure she legitimised the motivation for her presence despite not being sure why she felt the need to justify her reasons in front of this stranger. She moved to stand by Linda who had been surveying the two of them attentively from the corner of the room, a bemused expression fixed to her face as she watched them silently wrestle for control of the room and to be by Dr Keogh's side.

"Her name is Sam," Linda whispered in Dr Hanna's ear as they both focused on the younger woman. "Sam Nicholls I believe she said," she added, before continuing, "Although Noel has her name down as Samantha Keogh."

Zoe looked round at the nurse, considering that statement for a moment before responding. "So you're suggesting what exactly?"

"Well, given the two names and her age, I'd day she was his married kid sister or his daughter, but she uses her mum's name perhaps," Linda put forward, having given the topic much thought since initially meeting Sam just a short time previously. She removed the file from Zoe's hands and turned her back on the room to lean against the countertop as she added some notes to Dylan's chart. "Whoever she is though, they seem quite alike. She doesn't talk much for one thing, plus definitely a bit of a grumpy attitude there," she added, smiling to herself at her comment on Zoe's partner.

Dr Hanna reflected on the two options put forward and Linda's remark as she watched Sam across the room. She was definitely surprised by quite how protective the girl seemed over Dylan and regardless of her connection to him, be it as his little sister or more shockingly his daughter, it was clear she was also very possessive over the unconscious man. Sam's fingers kept flickering, as if instinctively, in the direction of Dylan's hand and Zoe could see that she was barely keeping control of her emotions, yet every time their eyes met Sam's spoke nothing but sheer hostility towards her.

Nick pushed open the doors and caught the attention of all in the room, meeting each of their gazes with a reassuring smile. He was acutely aware from the tension he could almost cut with a knife that the two women in Dylan's life had not known each other prior to today and whilst he knew Zoe cared about Dr Keogh deeply, it was clear young Samantha was the person closest to him in that moment.

"I've just come to check on Dylan's injuries," Nick started, moving across the room towards the bed. "Linda, chart please," he added, directing his comment in the nurse's direction and holding out his hand until it was provided to him.

The door swung open again and Big Mac appeared, nervously shifting his gaze from Dr Hanna to the young woman he had yet to meet but had been reliably informed by Noel was the feisty female he had heard in the earlier phone call to the patient's next of kin.

"Ah," he started, unsure which of the strong women to direct his statement to. "I've found something I think belongs to Dr Keogh outside. I think you might want to come and have a look." Zoe and Sam both looked at him with a complete sense of bewilderment, but on seeing the other being interest both moved to follow him from the room, with Linda close at their heels determined not to miss out on seeing the two of them interact away from the confines of the treatment room.

The four of them reached the semi-darkness of the car park and Big Mac led them around the corner to where they identified a small huddled creature curled up by Dylan's car. Dervla, on recognising the youngest woman, bounded over in their direction and Sam dropped to her knees in surprise on seeing the familiar mutt, drawing her into a doggy cuddle and greeting her akin to how she expected other people may welcome a small child.

"Hello you," Sam spoke fondly to the dog, ruffling her coat and allowing the canine to lick at her face and clothes. "What is she doing here?" she questioned, looking up at the man who had reintroduced her to Dervla.

"Dr Keogh was walking her when he got hit by the car," Big Mac offered as way of an explanation, before trying to reassure her on seeing the alarm cross her face. "She seems fine though, I found her here looking a bit sad and sorry for herself the poor thing. I guess she came back here to find her master."

"No one even told me she was missing," Sam remarked accusingly before glancing back at the dogs sad wide eyes once more and taking in how thin the creature was. "You don't look very well do you darling?" she asked her, worry evident in her voice.

"Dervla's not been very well recently," Zoe intervened, feeling a need to demonstrate an ownership of the situation and connection to Dylan, whilst drawing Sam's attention back in their direction. "She's been at the vets most of the last week and we've been keeping a close eye on her the last few days. She seems to be on the mend now though."

Sam nodded slowly, taking in both the doctors use of the word "we" and also that her beloved dog had been in a bad way recently, wondering why Dylan had failed to notify her of that key fact. She could only assume that the illness had not been serious or else he would surely have contacted her, or at least she hoped that was the case anyway.

"I'm happy to look after her," Big Mac said, breaking the momentary silence and looking from Zoe to Sam for an answer. "I mean, I assume neither of you will be going anywhere for a while, not whilst he is still in there," he added, gesturing back into the department. "I can keep an eye on her here until one of you can take her home."

Zoe stepped back instantaneously, physically distancing herself from the decision but Sam picked up on the fact the question had clearly been asked of them both. She looked back towards Dervla, who had rested her head back on the ground and was evidently tired out from the events of the day.

"Thank you, that would be great," she responded, before continuing pointedly. "I know he never lets anyone except me look after her but I think we'll make an exception in this case." Sam buried her head in Dervla's coat and whispered to her, "Grumpy is going to be okay you daft thing; I just need you to behave yourself for this man for a little while until we can get you home okay?" She moved backwards slightly, making eye contact with the dog as if waiting for an answer, before standing up and handing the lead over.

Nick exited the department and spotted one of his consultants, a nurse and a porter conversing with Sam over Dr Keogh's sick dog just yards away. Even from that distance it was apparent how awkward the entire situation was and as he strode over he identified that he would not want to be in Dylan's shoes when he awoke given the explaining he was going to have to do to these two particularly feisty females.

"Are any of you going to do some more work today?" he shouted over, getting the attention of the group and causing most of them, notably including Sam, to wonder back in his direction, leaving just Big Mac and the dog by the car. Sam turned her head slightly and waved goodbye to Dervla as she returned towards the E.D. before returning her gaze towards the Clinical Lead with a half-smile.

Lenny appeared behind Nick without warning, making him jump slightly as he quietly spoke, "Noel says there is a very important phone call for you in resus."

Nick looked at him inquisitively, before speaking to Zoe and Linda, "Back to work please." He nodded in Sam's direction, before heading into the department leaving Dr Lyons with the three women outside the entrance.

"Lenny, this is Sam," Linda said, emphasising her name and raising her eyebrows at him to demonstrate the strangeness of this situation and highlight the woman's importance within it.

"Samantha Keogh," Sam spoke, surprising even herself at the forceful way in which she spoke the now unfamiliar name and offering the newly introduced doctor her hand to shake. She deliberately did not elaborate further, not wanting to engage in any discussions over her connection with Dylan in the presence of the older female doctor if she could avoid it. "I'm going to go back and sit with him," she added, before making to re-enter the hospital building.

"I'm going to grab some coffee in a minute," Linda stated kindly. "Can I get you one?"

"Yes please," Sam replied, grateful to be offered a drink. "No milk, no sugar. Thanks," she added before leaving the other three standing outside.

"Plain and simple, just how Dylan drinks it," Zoe commented, before realising on seeing Linda and Lenny's bemused expressions that she had made that observation aloud. "I'm going back in too," she continued, "I'll see you back inside."

The remaining nurse and doctor were left standing in the entrance way to the department as they watched Dr Hanna hastily follow her younger counterpart back inside, making it clear she did not want to leave the girl alone with Dr Keogh for any length of time.

"So sister or daughter then?" Lenny asked, grinning at the bizarre hilarity that was being caused by their colleague's secretive personal life starting to come out into the open in front of their eyes.

"I really don't know," Linda responded, her face lit up almost as brightly as Dr Lyons' own with the excitement of the speculation she knew would be rife through the staffroom by the end of the shift. "She doesn't look like Dylan, but there is something about her that is just so like him. She barely said a word to any of us, but she talked to that dog like it was an old friend. Zoe said he does that all the time," she added, remembering the long chats her and Dr Hanna had been having in the past months over the woman's new relationship with their grouchy and uncommunicative colleague.

"If anyone can find out what is going on, you can," Lenny cheekily commented, before bringing Linda into his arms for the briefest of sneaky kisses, quickly checking around them that no one had seen his actions. "We'd better be getting back before Jordan has our guts," he added, bundling the nurse through the doorway and back into their workplace.

Thank you for reading and if you liked it (or even if you didn't!), please review :)

I am hoping to get the next part up tomorrow. Callie x