Sorry it's late, school is out for the summer so lots going on! Thanks for your patience :-)

X

There was a fresh start coming for more than just Audrey in the weeks that followed. The six new surgical residents for that year had finished their inductions and had already started making waves in more ways than one.

This intake seemed to be like a group of over excited puppies, bounding around, making mistakes and generally causing chaos until Dr Glassman eventually had enough. There were reprimands for the whole team and that appeared to be the catalyst that would prompt the change the dynamic of their small group forever.

Leaving the hospital that evening, Jo saw one of the first years sat on the bench outside, shoulders slumped and his head in his hands. He was by himself and she felt sorry for him. She thought back to her first few weeks as a resident and smiled as she recalled how the six of them were solid as a rock pretty much from the start. None of them would have found themselves sat outside alone, so she walked up and sat herself down.

She didn't say anything, but eventually, he looked up and gave a small smile.

"Hi" he said quietly. "Are you okay?"

"Me?" Jo replied. "I'm good. I came to see if you were okay?"

"I'll be fine" he smiled. "That thing... thing with Glassman today. I've never... never been in trouble before" he stuttered.

"You'll be fine" Jo assured him. "Just keep yourself in his good books, get your head down and get the job done and you'll be fine" she said with a smile.

"Thanks Dr Walker" he smiled.

"Jo" she confirmed. "Any time. Residency is a tough time, it's hard work and you'll need good support to get you through it. Don't be afraid to ask for help."

X

A few days later walking through the lobby with Audrey, Jo was stopped by Dr James, the new resident she had talked to on the bench outside.

"Do you think I can get you a coffee?" he asked sounding hopeful. "Just to say thanks for the other day."

"Erm, I was just... I'm just" she started gesturing towards Audrey.

"I need to catch up with Neil about Thursday. Come find me later" Audrey said, seemingly oblivious to what she was doing wrong.

"Do you want to sit?" he asked after he'd paid for their drinks.

She was about to decline, but changed her mind as she looked into his eyes. He looked nervous, but there was a nice twinkle behind them that she liked the look of.

"Sure" she smiled. "I'd like that. One condition though, no hospital talk?"

"Deal" he smiled. "I guess I should introduce myself properly" he said, holding out his hand. "Matthew James, Matt."

"Nice to meet you, Matt" she smiled.

They talked for a good fifteen minutes while they drank their coffees with no mention of hospitals, med school or cases and it was like a tonic for both of them.

"Thanks for the coffee" she said as they got up to head back to the surgical floor.

"Any time" he smiled as he picked up her cup and took it to the trash.

As they walked towards the elevator back, Jo was called to the Emergency Room so they bid each other goodbye and went their separate directions, both of them with a smile on their faces.

X

"How was your date?" Audrey teased as she arrived in the ER to wait for the incoming bus. There had been an accident outside a school where a car had run a stop sign and seriously injured a crossing guard.

"Date?" Kevin repeated. "What's this?"

"Coffee with Dr James, that's all" Jo said shooting Audrey a glare while she grinned back. "He's a nice guy having a tough time."

"He's quite cute too" Kevin teased. "That can't hurt!"

Saved by the sirens, the patient was wheeled in with an EMT sat on the gurney applying serious pressure on one of the patients legs. As Dr Glassman lifted the packaging surrounding the wound, a spray of blood escaped, catching Kevin as he stood nearby while the rest of them held in their laughter.

Audrey was chosen to assist on what could possible be a lower leg amputation and rushed out of the ER as soon as an operating theatre was confirmed.

The other two headed back towards the locker rooms for Kevin to change his shirt, running into Neil on the way.

"I'd heard the rumour" he laughed. "But seeing it for myself it's more than I could have hoped for!"

"Shut it, Melendez" Kevin snapped with a smirk. "This was one of my best shirts!'

"I'm sure it'll be fine" Jo added. "Just dab it a bit here and it'll be like new" she laughed.

"Oh hush" Kevin moaned. "Why don't you tell Neil all about your date while I change" he said with a smile as he opened the door, knowing full well that was the spark that would light a roaring flame of teasing from Neil.

After giving him a scowl, she turned to face Neil expecting a barrage. Instead, he just smiled at her which threw her a little of balance.

"A date?" he asked. "First one since we started here, right?"

"Just a coffee in the lobby" she replied. "Hardly first date material."

"Think there'll be a second?"

She stopped and thought before answering.

"Maybe" she replied cryptically.

"Why not?" Neil asked. "Is he nice?"

"Seems to be. But wouldn't it be complicated, working together?"

"You're asking the wrong person, I'm afraid" he replied ruefully. "Do you really want advice on your love life from me? Surely it's less complicated to try something now than it would be if you get a fellowship and he's still a resident? You'd be his superior, would they even allow it?"

"This from a guy whose pretending to be 'just friends' with someone he cares about, just so you can spend time with her?"

"Pretty much" he smiled.

"She's still soft on you, you know?"

"Let's not go there right now" he said. "We're good as we are, I'm grateful for what we've got."

"You do realise you're dating, right?" she asked him with a nudge. "Well as much as a third year resident has time to date!"

He looked at her innocently.

"You're telling me that your not going to the movies again this week?"

"Maybe" he smiled.

"Come on, I'm quite certain you wouldn't be going to see the new Transformers if it wasn't for Audrey. It's not your thing."

"Maybe my thing, is whatever her thing is" he whispered with a small smile. "Take a chance on Dr James, you'll regret it if you don't" he said. "Trust me."

With that, Kevin reappeared and Neil's page sounded.

"Gotta go" he smiled. "Think about it" he said cryptically before he walked off towards the ER.