Hey all,

This chapter was meant to be released tomorrow but I got sent home from work early because my car broke down, oh dear. Least I got two weeks off now :D

After treating a couple of patients, It was 17.30. Ethan was sat in St James's staff room, it was around the same size as the Holby one but maybe slightly smaller. As he sat on the long blue sofa, Alicia made her and him a cup of tea and then brought it too Ethan.

"Thank you." Ethan smiled as he took the mug. Alicia sat next too him. "You look well." Ethan smiled.

"Thank you. Wish I could say the same about you. You look exhausted." Alicia frowned.

"Yeah." Ethan chuckled lightly. "The ED has been busy lately." Ethan lied. Alicia wasn't convinced.

"Ethan, when was the last time you slept properly?" Alicia asked. Ethan was quite impressed with how professional Alicia sounds.

"I guess; five days a go maybe?" Ethan guessed. Alicia's eyes widened. "I've kind of been throwing myself into my work."

"Why?" Alicia asked.

"Distractions really. But enough about me. What are you doing here?" Ethan just wanted to change the subject of his life.

"Well after Holby, I didn't want to give up on my dream so I applied for an F2 here and recently I passed my MCEM exam." Alicia smiled proudly.

"Well done, Alicia. You should be very proud of yourself." Ethan smiled. Alicia continued to smile back at him. "Alicia. You can say it's none of my business but why did you leave Holby? Was it because of Lily?" Ethan watched as Alicia's smile went.

"Does everyone know what she has done?" Alicia asked. Ethan nodded. "Don't get me wrong Ethan, Dr Chao is an exceptional doctor but she is cruel." Alicia sighed.

"I know." Ethan spoke softly. "Everyone was mad at her."

"Was?" Alicia asked.

"Yeah. Everyone has just kind of stopped bothering now." Ethan replied.

"It's wasn't her fault." Alicia sighed. "Her father just died."

"Alicia, that's no excuse. Louise told me everything. I know grief does funny things to people but what Lily did to you was horrendous." Ethan felt slight anger even though he made up with Lily the other day. He couldn't shrug off what she did.

"Look, Ethan. I appreciate what you all have done to me but even though Dr Chao has bullied me out of Holby, she was going through a hard time and I'm not sure she has moved on from it like I have." Alicia spoke honestly.

"But Alicia, we were all there for you, it was only Lily who was the problem. Why didn't you come to one of us? We could of given you another mentor." Ethan suggested.

"It was complicated Ethan. I was going to speak to Mrs Beauchamp about Lily but by that time Mrs Beauchamp was refusing to sign off my exam when she suggested I could sit it early. I thought she was mad at me but turns out Lily has said something to her." Alicia frowned. "I felt like I couldn't talk to anyone about it."

"We had no idea you felt like that Alicia. We stick together." Ethan stated. "Come back to the ED. you're too good for here." Ethan chuckled. Alicia smiled lightly.

"I can't Ethan, I can't go back to there." Alicia's smile disappeared.

"It's just one little email or phone call to Connie. Do you have any idea how much you have impressed her? Lily was jealous of you." Ethan bursted. Alicia seemed shock.

"She was jealous of me?" Alicia asked.

"Of course she was. Connie described you as 'a breath of fresh air' on your first day. Lily was rarely complimented by Connie. That's why she is dressing like Connie. Too impress her. It worked for ten minutes then it just got old." Ethan scoffed.

"Wow, I didn't know that. I thought Connie was annoyed me after that incident at the ambulance station." Alicia looked down sadly.

"You saved a life Alicia." Ethan spoke proudly. Alicia looked back up and smiled at Ethan. "Come back to the ED, Alicia."

Just as Alicia was about to speak, a nurse came into the staff room.

"Dr Munroe, you're needed in resus." The nurse smiled then left. Alicia sighed as she put down her mug then stood up to leave.

"I best get back to work. Dixie should be waiting for you outside." Alicia changed the subject as she looked at her watch. She walked past Ethan to the door.

""But Alicia-" Ethan was interrupted.

"You take care, Dr Hardy." Alicia held back a tear then left the staff room. Ethan sighed greatly and was left feeling downhearted.