A/N thank you for all the lovely reviews, comments, follows and favourites so far! This chapter will focus mainly on Zoe and Connie, Zax and other characters more so soon. Enjoy and please read and review! Xx

Zoe stared up at the ceiling of the hospital room that she was currently occupying in HDU, she had been moved from ICU when she had showed signs of recovery although they still wanted to keep her in hospital to monitor her progress. Max had just left as his shift started soon, but he had promised to come back and see her as soon as he got a chance.

She hadn't been short of visitors. Tess, Sam, Tom, Martin, Charlie, Robyn, Dixie, Polly, Jeff, Connie and Max amongst others had been in to see her. Aside from Max and Connie, Rita had been the most frequent visitor but she appeared to be slightly on edge the last couple of times that she had come to see her. Zoe tapped her fingernails on the wooden table that was next to the bed, frowning. Why had she been so jumpy, so on edge? If anyone should be jumpy and on edge at the moment, it should be her.

*Flashback*

"He-help me. Please! Someone please h-help m-me!" Zoe shouted as loudly as she could before lapsing into an uncontrollable coughing fit, hoping that someone would hear her, even in the torrential rain.

"Hello?" she heard a voice say, her tone edged with caution and concern as a bright yellow light suddenly filled the small alleyway, illuminating her shivering frame. She listened as she heard footsteps come towards her.

"H-he-help" Zoe repeated, fear and relief filling her mind as she suddenly realised who had found her as the woman knelt down in front of her, pressing a wad of cloth onto her stomach and talking to her quietly, although she wasn't really taking any of it in.

"I'm going to help you Zoe" those words brought her out of her almost trance like state and she looked at Connie. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. She had stopped to help her, and she hadn't walked away when she had found out who she was.

She was barely aware of the tears that were rolling freely down her face; she was already drenched from head to foot anyway due to the heavy torrential rain "I-I'm…" Zoe stammered, feeling herself getting weaker and weaker as the seconds passed but desperate to get her point across "s-sorry" she just about managed to say the second word before she started coughing violently.

Realising that she was struggling to breathe, Connie removed the jacket that was around her shoulders and placed it underneath her head which seemed to help somewhat "What for?" she said, smiling genuinely at her "It's in the past, Zoe. Let's leave it there, yeah? Right now, let's concentrate on getting you into hospital so you can get better"

*End flashback*

Zoe sighed, wiping away a stray tear as the memory came back to her. She looked up as there was a knock at the door "Yep!" she shouted, giving her permission for whoever was outside to come in.

"Hi Zoe" Connie's voice quickly filled the room, her tone strong and confident, but not without concern or compassion, either "How are you?" she asked, taking a seat next to her bed.

Zoe looked at her, giving her a small smile before starting to speak "Oh, you know. I'm getting there. Slowly" she paused for a moment, unsure of how to phrase what she wanted to say next.

Connie returned the smile, then lowered her gaze to the floor, sensing the tension. Whatever Zoe wanted to say to her must be important, she thought. She waited patiently, placing her hands in her lap before once again making eye contact with her colleague.

"I know I've already said thank you hundreds of times, but I wanted to apologise as well"

"Apologise?" the lead consultant repeated, confusion apparent in her features "What for?"

"For being such…such a cow when you first started in the ED. I should have been nicer to you" she said "I-I guess I felt threatened, almost. That sounds so stupid, doesn't it? Anyway, I guess that I felt threatened by someone new coming in, wanting the job that had been mine for so long" Zoe admitted, slightly embarrassed but knowing that it needed to be said.

Connie chuckled slightly, gaining a bemused look from Zoe "You don't have to apologise for that, Zoe. I could have been nicer to you as well. A lot nicer and a lot more professional" she paused, giving the woman chance to take in what she had said before continuing "You're a brilliant consultant, Zoe, and an even better doctor. Just because you don't want all the paperwork and hassles of Clinical Lead, doesn't mean we can't get along"

"I'd like for us to be able to get along" Zoe said, smiling "You must have been here every day since I've been in here, and in ICU. That shows you care"

Connie smiled back at her, taking in what she had said "I'd like that, too. I think we'll make a great team"