After assuring him more than once that she didn't need any company, he dropped her at the kerb outside her apartment where they exchanged a muted goodbye. He would check in with her later when she arrived for her shift at St Bonaventure - she obviously needed some space right now.

He stopped by his place to pick up a few things before heading back to the Tesla dealership to complete his test drive. He was going to tell them he had a few more options to try and would get back to them... they didn't need to know it would be in a couple of years time. It really was a great car to drive and when the time came for him to upgrade, he'd certainly be trying one again.

When they did run into each other later that day at changeover, she was quiet and subdued. Understandably so and he didn't want to press her so after exchanging pleasantries, he headed off to change into his running gear to do a lap of the park before going home. His thoughts turned back to her many times that evening, hoping that she would come out from under the grey cloud hanging over her and would be back to the Audrey they knew and loved.

X

He was disappointed when her dark mood lasted longer than he expected it to. He knew she would miss Jo, they all would, but he hadn't realised quite how much and so far, he had found it hard to catch her at an opportune moment to try and talk about it.

"When are we go see Antman, it's been out a couple of weeks now?" Neil asked eventually cornering her half way through her lunch as he arrived for a quick coffee in between consults.

"I can't sorry" she replied, not really looking up from her plate.

"Can't this week?" he said, a little confused at her vague response.

"I can't go and watch it with you" she said bluntly. "I need some space."

"From what?" he asked with a frown.

"From the whole reliance on other people to make me happy" she replied sharply. "I can go and see a movie by myself you know."

"I know" he said, biting his lip not sure what to say next. He really didn't want to push her any further so he needed to tread carefully. "But I though..."

"You thought wrong" she interrupted, putting down her cutlery with some force making some heads turn at nearby tables. "I've got to go" she said gathering her tray and stalking away leaving him shocked at her brutal reaction.

"I thought it was our thing" he said quietly to his coffee, feeling unsure of whether he should go after her at the risk of causing a scene.

Just moments later, he was startled from his thoughts as the seat opposite was occupied again and he looked up to see a concerned face.

"Dr Glassman" Neil said politely. "How can I help you?" he asked, finding it unusual that the senior surgeon was sat looking at him, head slightly cocked to one side with a questioning look on his face. He had been promoted to Hospital President a few months earlier but could still be found walking the halls, checking in on his staff and showing a genuine interest in the day to day running of the hospital.

"What's going on with Dr Lim?" he asked, staring straight into Neil's eyes, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Shouldn't you be asking her that?" Neil suggested, knowing how pissed Audrey would get if she knew she was the subject of gossip.

"I could" he replied softly with a knowing smile. "But I'm asking you. You know her better than anyone else here. What's going on?"

Checking over his shoulder to make sure she was gone, he turned back and filled Glassman in on the basics. Once he was done, he looked at him expectantly waiting for some pearl of wisdom to come flowing out, but there was just silence.

"Any advice?" he asked eventually once the pause had become uncomfortable.

"Sorry, no!" Glassman exclaimed, a little too loudly. "She's a law unto herself that one. All I can do is wish you luck" he said before getting up and leaving Neil alone again.

X

The week passed quickly, despite being quite uneventful and it was the weekend before they knew it. They completed scheduled surgeries without any real drama, and although the Emergency Room had been busy there was nothing that would keep them outside of their scheduled hours.

Neil had spent the morning in his office taking consultations before spending the entire afternoon on research for a procedure taking place next week. He was finding passing his knowledge onto the team of residents empowering and was growing in confidence more and more as they looked to him for guidance. Despite that, he was looking forward to getting out of St Bonaventure today, he was going to catch a late showing of Antman... by himself.

Kevin was to busy. He had spent the last few hours carefully stitching up an amateur tree surgeon who had tried to start his new chainsaw with the tip resting in the ground. It had jerked into life and kicked back into his face causing some significant damage. He was very lucky that it missed his eye by just an inch and once Kevin had sutured him up, he would be discharged with a course of suffering antibiotics. He was still disgruntled at having to compete with Dr Andrews for every high profile procedure but was trying not to let the stress show. He was working hard and hadn't had much time to hang out this past week, not that a visit to watch Antman was high on his list if things to do.

Audrey had been on call when a lady who had been shot multiple times was brought in on a gurney. The number of individual injuries was approaching double figures but all she could focus on was her hair clip digging into her scalp. Not a single, solitary complaint about the 10-20 holes across her body. After all the necessary testing, she was wheeled into surgery and the repair work started. By some miracle, each bullet had missed all her major organs and blood vessels but it would still take some time for her to recover fully.

After wishing Kevin luck for his last couple of hours, Audrey headed out and walked to the parking lot feeling quite light on her feet. She sat astride her bike, thinking about the range of emotions she'd been through in the last week since her friend had left. She'd been angry and upset and had taken it out on Neil, but after speaking with Jo earlier today, she'd realized she'd been really unpleasant. She owed him an apology and maybe a drink to go with it.

Digging her phone out of her backpack, she let her finger hover over his name before locking the screen and stuffing it back in her pocket. She knew where she'd find him tonight.

She pulled into a space near the door, turned off the ignition and looked around. She couldn't see his car in nearby but this was their usual movie theatre, she was quite sure he'd come here. Heading inside, she joined the short queue for tickets and picked up her snacks before following a couple of other late comers towards the door.

As they walked in, the seating began almost immediately to their right and rose up in tiers. She scanned the rows of the premier seats spotted him straight away, sat alone with his soda stowed safely in the cup holder. His eyes were fully focused on whatever trailer was showing on the big screen in front of him and she wondered how close she could get without him noticing her.

"Is this seat taken" she asked smiling as he jumped a little at the sound of her voice. She had gotten right up close without him taking his eyes off the screen. He looked up at her straight faced, intending on making her sweat a little but not being able to follow through.

"Go ahead" he smiled, moving his cup leaving her have both sides of her seat for her snacks and drink.

"Thanks, do you mind?" she said, nodding to the popcorn tub in her hand. He reached up and took it, pinching a couple of pieces with a small smile and a shrug. She turned and put her helmet and jacket safely on another seat and sat down heavily.

"I just wanted to..." she started before she was interrupted by the opening credits.

"Ssshhh" he said with a smirk before handing back her snack and nodding at the screen. "No talking."

She smiled back and settled in to watch, happy that he was not going to make a big deal out of this. Jo was right. He was too good to her.

X

Settled back into old routines, shifts came and went with the odd dinner or drink thrown in here and there. Thanksgiving and Christmas were approaching fast with the old favourite of Halloween which always brought in the most entertaining patients.

"How are you Aud?" Jo asked, smiling back at her friend as they looked at each other on the screens of their tablets.

Jo had left 3 month's ago and they had settled into a nice routine of a weekly catch up via video chat. They told the exact same tales they would if they had still been sat across from one another in the hospital cafeteria.

"I'm good" Audrey replied. "Busy!"

"I've heard" she said with a slightly accusatory tone. "Not seen much of the boys over the last couple of months by all accounts?"

"I've seen them a bit" she replied. "We've been to the movies and out for a drink or two. I'm just busy. I'm trying to establish myself, trying to get my name out there. You know it's not easy."

"A drink? Literally just the one? I know what you're doing and why future Chief Lim. But do you really have to work every single hour?"

"Yes, I do" she replied with a laugh. "How's Matt? His Mom doing okay?" she asked changing the subject.

Before she could answer, the door to the break room opened and another participant of the call came bursting in.

"Hi!" Kevin said excitedly, jostling in on Audrey for a better view of the screen. "What's the special occasion?"

"Why does there have to be a special occasion" she replied with a laugh. "Can't I just want to see all your ugly faces together for a few minutes! Where's Neil?"

Jo had scheduled this particular call to catch them all at the same time. She did actually want to speak to them together - she had something to share but wasn't going to give it away just yet.

"On his way" Kevin replied. "He should have just scrubbed out" he said checking his watch.

"Was it a good one?" she asked.

"A landscaper came in after falling on a fence post. It went in just under his ribs and came out just above the opposite shoulder. They've had some serious repair work to get done" Audrey said having seen him as he was wheeled in the doors of the Emergency Room.

"The guy was so blasé about it all" Kevin exclaimed. "He told Nurse Davis 'I've got a nasty splinter I think you might need to remove' and then he just passed out!"

With that, the door opened again and in came Neil looking drained. He'd spent the last few hours in the very intense surgery and would give anything for a strong coffee right now.

"All okay?" Jo asked, sounding concerned.

"Yeah, got there in the end" he replied, stifling a yawn. "He's going to be in ICU for a long time but the surgery was sound. Enough about that though, what's going on? Why the group chat?"

"Why does there have to be something going on" she replied feigning innocence and laughing when the three faces looking at her responded with eye rolls and shaking heads.

"But I might have something to tell you guys" Jo started with a smile...

"You're coming back!" Kevin exclaimed.

"No!"

"You're getting married" Neil suggested.

"Not quite" she replied.

"Congratulations" Audrey smiled softly. "When are you due?"