Citylightsonthew: Thank you so much, and it was. Thank you for your review.
Guest: I agree with you. There will be many questions being asked soon. Thank you for your review.
casualtyfics111: They will soon be in the story more! Thanks for your review.
Elle: Oh my god, this comment was so incredibly lovely. I'm so pleased to hear you say that, as I would love to be an author some day. I will bring Connie into the story more. I love writing small scenes between her and Lily. Thank you for your review.
ReadingxTherapy: Me too, bless her. Thank you, I had to write Connie into it, haha. I'm glad that you're enjoying it. Thank you for your review.
Guest: Thank you! That is so lovely of you. Thank you for your review.
Chapter Four
"Uh-What's wrong with Doctor Munroe?" Dylan asked awkwardly, as he strolled towards Elle.
Elle just frowned at him, clearly confused, and closed the folder of notes that she was holding. Dylan was stood there, hands on his hips, the usual serious look on his face.
"What do you mean?" She asked him and shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, I bumped into her earlier and she practically screamed her head off," he said.
"Well, I'm not surprised," Elle chuckled. "You're enough to scare anyone, Dylan."
"That's not funny really, is it?" Dylan sighed. "I'm actually trying to have a serious conversation here."
"Alright, Mr Serious," Elle said and turned to him with her arms folded, so that she could give him her full attention. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Uh-" He cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows. "I just told you that. It just seems unlike her, that's all. I was wondering if you were able to have a chat with her, um...Tomorrow, maybe?"
"Me?" Elle's eyebrows raised then as well. "What do you want me to say?"
"Just ask if she's alright," Dylan said.
"Why don't you ask Lily?" Elle said.
"Lily?" He questioned.
"Well, since Lily came back, the two of them have been spending a lot of time together," Elle told him.
As Max walked past with a wheelchair, he overheard the conversation and just said, "That is my kind of fantasy," before walking away in total silence. Elle couldn't help but laugh and shake her head in disbelief, as she turned back to Dylan.
"I'm sorry that I can't help you," Elle said. "If you are seriously worried about her, I can try and talk to her."
"I would appreciate that, thank you," Dylan said. "Mrs Beauchamp is in no fit state at the moment and she isn't exactly on good terms with Doctor Hardy. You and Alicia always seemed to be good friends."
"Well, I need to take advantage, don't I?" Elle chuckled. "It's unlike you to worry about your colleagues."
"Just talk to her for me," Dylan said and walked away before Elle could make any more jokes.
"What do you mean, Lily?" Iain wasn't exactly shouting, but his voice was raised, and he did sound cross.
Lily wasn't surprised. She'd left him, she'd upset him, and then they'd finally arranged plans to catch up and she'd cancelled. Alicia seemed really shaken up though and Lily didn't want to leave her alone for the night. She'd spent the majority of the day taking constant breaks in the staffroom whilst feeling close to tears.
"I thought you wanted to meet up," he said.
He didn't sound cross anymore, just disappointed. Lily had no idea which was worse. She went to speak, but Iain just interrupted.
"What's going on, Lily?" He asked. "We'd made plans, so...What's more important?"
Lily sighed, shook her head, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Iain. I promised Alicia."
"Alicia, again?" Iain asked. "Is there something that I should know?"
"No," Lily whispered and anxiously held a hand to her head. "She needs me right now, alright? She misses Ethan, and I...I'd promised her a girly night tonight before I even came to see you. I...I just forgot, that's all."
She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, as she waited for Iain's reply. So, it was only a tiny white lie.
"Lily, what's really going on here?" Iain asked. "Come on, you can tell me. I know everything about you, don't I? The way you always cry at Marley and Me, how you read Jane Eyre every single Christmas, how you never actually learnt to swim, and how your guilty pleasure is - Wait, don't tell me - Reality Television."
Lily shook her head and rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile at the thought of Iain remembering every little detail about her. That was true love right there.
"I'm always here, Lily," Iain said. "If you ever want to talk."
"I know," Lily sighed, and her smile soon dropped. "But this is something that I can't talk to you about. I'm sorry, Iain."
"Is it something to do with Alicia?" Iain asked. "Why else would the two of you be spending so much time with each other? Unless you're secretly dating her."
"Don't be ridiculous," Lily spat.
"I'm joking," Iain quickly defended, and there was a long pause. "Is it something to do with her though?"
"I'm sorry, Iain." Lily just seemed to be doing nothing but apologising. "I can't say. Look, I have to go, okay? Maybe we can go for that drink another time."
"I don't even know anymore," Iain said. "How am I supposed to know if you really want to see me or not?"
"I do, honestly," Lily said. "Just not tonight. Another time though, I promise."
Lily slowly leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. It wasn't a kiss on the lips, but it was still the first kiss since she'd left him for Hong Kong. It sent shivers up her spine, and she felt Iain's body tense up as well.
They still loved each other. Both of them knew that, even if they didn't want to admit it.
"See you soon," Lily said and wiped a small tear away from his cheek with her thumb, before leaving the ambulance station in silence.
"Was Iain angry?" Alicia whispered.
She was curled up on the sofa in a pair of pink, spotty pyjamas, a warm and cosy blanket pulled up to her chin for comfort.
"A bit," Lily whispered and set a bowl of popcorn down on the coffee table in front of them.
She was thankful for Alicia's offer to let her stay until she was sorted, but her mind was still on Iain. She didn't want to ruin things between them again. She loved him, she always had and she always would, and she hoped that he knew that.
"Are you okay?" Alicia asked. "You didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to." Lily sat down and shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "You seemed really upset earlier."
"Thanks, Lily," Alicia said. "You're a good friend, even though I did completely humiliate you at my birthday party that time."
"That wasn't your fault," Lily laughed, tilting her head to one side. "I did bully you out of your job. I'm sorry about that by the way; I know we're on better terms now, but I don't think I ever truly apologised for my actions."
"You were grieving," Alicia said.
"I may have also been a tiny bit jealous of you though," Lily admitted. "Mrs Beauchamp had always praised me for being a good doctor, we'd had a good relationship, and it all changed as soon as you started. I thought you were better than me, and I guess I just wanted to be the best. I wanted to be praised again."
"I idolise you, Lily," Alicia told her. "I know that seems totally childish, but you're who I want to be like. If I ever become as good a doctor as you are, then I'd be extremely happy with my life."
"That's sweet, thank you," Lily said. "I've always wanted to be like Mrs Beauchamp."
"You're already like her," Alicia said. "You're amazing. I wish I was as strong as you two."
Lily gave her a sympathetic smile and reached across to give her arm a comforting rub.
"But you are strong," Lily whispered. "You've come this far, haven't you? Don't give up, Alicia. You're doing well."
"Thank you," Alicia said, her head hung. She slowly lifted it and said, "I'm so glad you came back, Lily. Honestly, I wouldn't be coping well at all if it wasn't for you. You're the one who's making me strong."
"It helps to talk to someone who's experienced, huh?" Lily said, moving closer to wrap an arm around her.
Alicia faintly nodded and rested her head against Lily's shoulder, her weary eyes slowly closing.
"Things will get better," Lily said. "It might not seem like it now but they will. Do you want to watch something?"
"I'm not sure." Lily felt Alicia's body tense, as she spoke. "What is there?"
"Let's have a look," Lily whispered, and kept her arm around Alicia as she flicked through the channels. "There is some medical show that's on. Looks quite good, about a group of doctors and nurses set in an Emergency Department."
"Just like us," Alicia said, and Lily was sure that she saw her crack a small smile.
"I wonder how realistic the medical side of things is though," Lily said. "Sometimes, these shows never actually do their research, and they end up making the NHS look like a bed of roses. Sometimes..."
When she got no response, she turned her head and saw that Alicia had fallen asleep on her. She smiled and carefully moved to one side, gently lying Alicia down whilst adjusting the blanket for her.
Turning the TV off, she stood up and headed into the spare room to try and get some sleep herself.
A bit of a shorter chapter there, but I hope you still enjoyed it. Loads more to come. Also, yes, Max is in the story even though he has left the show, lol. I like writing small scenes with Max x