A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews on the previous chapter. A successful first Zade date was certainly had by all, it seems. Now, let's check in with both Wade and Zoe at work...

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 9

As Wade and the rest of Sippin' Whiskey finished playing their newest song, there was applause from beyond the screens. Each of the guys turned to see Bradley, their new manager, seemingly in raptures about their efforts so far today in the recording studio. It made a real nice change after Alan 'The Ass' McKenzie.

"You guys are something else," said Bradley with no lack of enthusiasm. "I really think we could do great things here. The world is ready for this kind of sound, I'm sure of it."

"You got more confidence than some," said Wade with a look. "I mean, our former manager, he thought we were good, but he never seemed so happy to have us as you do."

Bradley rolled his eyes. "That guy is just... Well, he knows talent, clearly, or he never would've signed you up at all, but he sure as hell does not know good country music."

"But you do?" asked Clayne curiously. "You got just as fancy a New York accent as anybody else I hear around here."

"Because I have lived here for most of my life," said Bradley with a smile. "Truth is, I'm just a good ol' boy, like the rest o' y'all," he said then, with a distinctly Southern twang that didn't sound half so fake as some they'd heard from New Yorkers thinking they were funny. "My family comes mostly from Texas, at least, my mom's side does, and I know things are a little different in Alabama and all, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. Hey, we were all raised on Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, weren't we?"

"Couldn't exactly call ourselves Southerners if we weren't," Mark agreed. "So, I was thinkin', Brad..."

When Wade realised their lead singer was going to start messing with the bridge in 'Lightning' for the hundred and fourth time, he breezed out a little. Honestly, it was great that anybody else's opinion was even being considered. Alan hadn't been too hot on letting the band have their own ideas, thinking he knew better on everything, all of the time. Bradley was definitely a better fit for Sippin' Whiskey which was a good thing. At least, it should've been.

There was a part of Wade that was almost disappointed to have a new manager that wanted to be so helpful to the band and all. That was crazy and he knew it, but it might just have suited him better if this whole music career thing hadn't quite panned out. He didn't really mean that, at least, Wade told himself that he didn't, but sometimes, the homesickness just crept up on him. If things had gone south, then that was exactly where Wade and his buddies would've been headed, back down to 'Bama where they belonged. As great as New York was, as cool as it was to be a success and everything, it could never be like home.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound cut through the melancholy fog in Wade's head and he looked to the corner where he left his stuff. His cell phone was vibrating on the chair there and he went to grab it, frowning a little when he realised he missed a call, but smiling again the moment he saw he also had a text message.

Zoe:
Finally got a break in my super-busy shift and just wanted to say hi, but I guess now you're the busy one. Hope your day is less stressful than mine :)

The timestamp showed she had sent the text just a minute earlier, so Wade was pretty confident in replying, sure that she would see it immediately.

Wade:
Not a bad day at the studio. The new guy is so much better than the old one!

Zoe:
Like he could be any worse!

Zoe:
Anyway, glad you're having a good time. When that album comes out, I expect a signed copy, cowboy!

Wade:
You'll get one, doc. That's a promise :)

"Okay," said Bradley then, clapping his hands together. "Seems to me that now would be a good time to take a break," he said, encouraging the band to disperse a little, "not least because Wade clearly has a lady calling for his attention," he said with a look in Wade's direction.

If that didn't prove Bradley was both smarter and a better guy in general than Alan McKenzie, nothing ever would.

"You're a good man, Carlton," he said, putting his hand up for a high-five.

Bradley didn't leave him hanging. "She's a special one, huh?" he said, nodding towards the phone in Wade's hand. "I know that look, man. I wear that look since I met my fiancée."

"Ah, it ain't as serious as all that." Wade shook his head. "I mean, me and Zoe, we've only been on, like, one date so far," he said, one hand rubbing the back of his neck.

Bradley laughed. "That is all it takes sometimes, Wade. You'll see."

When he walked away then, Wade meant to call after him to tell him... well, something, though he wasn't sure what. A part of him thought he should be denying how tight him and Zoe were, how close they had become, but he just wasn't sure why he should. Sure, the whole rockstar lifestyle usually meant a different girl every night and all of that, and that was the way Wade had lived for a while. In fact, he was doing that kind of thing back home, long before a potential music career presented itself, but now things were different. Zoe was different.

As if thinking her name made her do it, she sent another text, the phone vibrating in Wade's hand to let him know he had incoming.

Zoe:
I have to get back to the crazy-busy shift now :(

Wade:
No problem, doc. Go save those lives :)

Wade:
You know when your next night off might be?

Zoe:
Not sure yet. Why do you ask?

Wade:
Like you don't know :P

Wade chuckled to himself as he quickly fired off that text and then read Zoe's quick reply.

Zoe:
Maybe I do ;) I'll let you know when I know, okay? It might be a while.

There was a smile on Wade's face in spite of the fact his next date with Zoe might be a little while in coming, because he was certain the reply he was sending her way would make her happy too.

Wade:
Like I told you before, I just know you're worth the wait :)

"Here we go again!" said Zoe with a sigh, as she leaned heavily on the reception desk. "I am exhausted already and this shift is only half done."

"Exhausted and yet smiling," said Marcy with a look. "What happened on your break to make you so sunny in the face of adversity?" she asked curiously.

"Oh, nothing." Zoe shrugged, though she was pretty sure she was doing a crappy job at hiding her grin and being coy. "Okay, so, maybe there's a guy."

"Ooh, new boyfriend!" Marcy said happily, clapping her hands. "Tell me everything."

"I really wish I could, but I can't right now," she said, looking over as the doors opened and another serious injury case came almost literally tumbling into the ER. "Later, I promise."

"I'll hold you to it!" Marcy called behind her, even as she had to take another call.

Zoe went straight into work mode, cleaning and patching up wounds, resetting bones, and diagnosing diseases and conditions to be treated. For a few hours, it was all she could think about, but eventually, as the crazy-busy went down to a dull roar and it was almost time to call it a day, she headed back to the reception desk and kept her promise to Marcy.

"You really want to know all about Wade?" she checked with a smile.

"Wade, huh? Good name," said her friend with a grin of her own. "Where'd you meet him?"

"At a club, but it's not the way that sounds. He was actually playing in the band there, and I know, I know, that doesn't sound so great either, but it's really not like that. I am not a groupie and he has never treated me like one. For a guy who plays lead guitar in a country-rock band, he's actually really sweet and kind and decent, plus insanely hot, obviously," she said, rolling her eyes and laughing at the same time.

"Wow," said Marcy with a look of wonder all over her face. "Sounds like the whole package to me."

"He does, doesn't he?" Zoe agreed wholeheartedly. "Honestly, I did not see myself dating a guy like Wade, and the first time he hit on me, I was so not into it, but things have changed. We got to know each other and... I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I really think this could be something, you know, a relationship worth pursuing."

"Then I say go for it," Marcy told her happily. "God knows, if I ever get so lucky as to meet a guy like that, I would be pursuing it for all I was worth. Hey, how about the other guys in this band?"

"Hmm, I don't really know them yet," said Zoe thoughtfully, "and I can't guarantee they're exactly like Wade. I could ask though?"

Marcy laughed as she got up from her seat, her shift clearly over too as her colleague came to relieve her. She walked towards the break room with Zoe, clearly eager to continue their conversation, but unfortunately, they never got the chance.

"Dr Hart," said a voice behind them.

Zoe turned to find Dr Menzler, the Chief of Surgery, behind her and immediately pulled herself up to a more attention-like stance, while Marcy sensibly excused herself and went on into the break room alone.

"Can I help you, sir? I just completed my shift, but if you need me to..."

"No, no. From what I've been hearing, you've more than done your share today, Dr Hart," he said with a rare smile. "It's just that Dr Breeland here was hoping to meet you."

Another man appeared from behind Dr Menzler then, a much younger, very good-looking man that made Zoe take notice. She was particularly interested to know why this guy would want to meet her. She was sure she never heard of him before and wondered how he was even a doctor when he looked so young, not to mention pretty.

"Dr Hart, a pleasure," said Dr Breeland, reaching out a hand that Zoe dutifully shook. "You know, we had a little confusion when Dr Menzler here mentioned Dr Hart was working under him. I had a notion he was talking about Dr Ethan Hart, but I believe that great man is your father."

"Yes, he is," said Zoe, nodding her head. "Um, do you just know him by reputation or did you actually meet at some point?"

"Uh, actually both," he said with a winning smile. "When he was in New York last week, giving his talk on cardiothoracics, I was lucky enough to be attendance. Your father truly is a genius, Dr Hart. I can only imagine you were the reason he had to rush off so fast at the end of the lecture, but I'll forgive you for cuttin' short the long talk I was hoping to have with him."

Zoe's eyes were wider than wide for two reasons before the young doctor was ever done speaking. Not only was she a little surprised to be in close quarters with another attractive man from the South - because judging by his accent, Dr Breeland hailed from somewhere close to where Wade was from - but the very thought of her father being in the country, in the city no less, and not seeing her made her feel cold. Last she heard, Daddy was in Germany.

Before she could say anything, Dr Menzler insisted on not delaying Dr Hart any further as she looked, as if she really needed to get some sleep before her next shift rolled around. Truthfully, she barely heard what he said at all, and only just caught Dr Breeland's comment about hoping to see her again very soon before they both walked away.

Zoe rushed into the break room then, going straight for her cell, and immediately speed-dialling her father's number. The line didn't even ring, just made a strange beeping sound, then an electronic voice declared the number she had dialled was disconnected. Zoe was only glad that Marcy was gone and there were no other staff members around either by now. The last thing she needed was for her colleagues to see her cry.

To Be Continued...