As she got dressed she was painfully aware of the fresh bruises on her stomach and her arms. She hadn't slept much due to the pain she felt every time she moved. Still Warren hadn't come to bed until late and when he did she could smell the wine on his breath, meaning that he probably wouldn't wake whilst she was getting up.
Kirsty was down in the kitchen when there was a knock on the door. Opening it she was faced with two smiling girls. "We're walking to school with Nita", the taller blonde one said, Kirsty knew this to be Ella.
"Nita" Kirsty called. As Nita rushed down the stairs she said,
"Might be a bit late home mum, we're thinking of going to the park after school".
"Alright sweetheart, just don't be too late".
Nita smiled and nodded giving her mum a hug. Kirsty winced as Nita made contact with her bruised ribs.
"You okay Mrs Clements?" Ella asked innocently.
"Yup, fine thanks. Off you go Nita, you don't want to be late". Nita seemed reluctant to let her mum go, and Kirsty wanted to know why, but she couldn't ask now, she couldn't be late again, and she didn't want Nita to be either.
Thirty minutes later Kirsty had changed into her scrubs and was drinking her coffee in the staff room. On time today. And Adam was back too.
"Anyone seen Kirsty?" Zoe's question was not aimed at anyone in particular, just anyone who was listening.
"Staffroom" said Noel, she came in about five minutes ago.
"Thanks Noel", Zoe said as she made her way towards the staff room door.
"Nice to see you're on time this morning Kirsty". Zoe's smile was warm and Kirsty felt instant guilt about having to lie to her. "How's your head?" said Zoe gesturing towards the back of Kirsty's head. In all honesty she hadn't even noticed any pain in her head, her battering from last night was more pain.
"Yeah. It's okay. Thanks... for yesterday" Kirsty replied looking at the floor.
Zoe didn't like to see Kirsty like this, all closed off. After a few moments of silence she reached out and touched the top of Kirsty's arm. Kirsty flinched away and knocked her coffee mug off the worktop. Zoe looked at Kirsty, and was about to say something when the door burst open.
"Ladies," Adam's voice was cheery as usual, "incoming RTC need you in resus". Adam shot Kirsty a smile and left. Kirsty grabbed her stethoscope and followed pursuit. Zoe sighed, tidied up the pieces of broken mug from the floor and made her way to resus as well.
"So how was the holiday?" Kirsty asked, glad to be having a normal conversation for once.
"Sun, sea and alcohol, what else could you ask for? Miss me?" Adam grinned and Kirsty's mood instantly lifted.
"Course I did", Adam didn't need any more than that, he hugged Kirsty tightly. Zoe looked over and caught sight of the look on Kirsty's face, relief.
"Glad to be back then?" Kirsty asked.
"Hmm. Well I'm glad to see Zoe hasn't run the place into the ground without me being here".
"Ha. Ha. Mr Funny" Zoe called across from the other side of the desk.
Kirsty smiled, Adam ducked as Zoe launched her pen through the air at him.
An hour later Kirsty was working her magic with an uncooperative teenager in cubicles and Zoe and Adam were talking in the staffroom. "Seriously Zoe, you did a good job".
"Glad you're back. It's not the same without Nick." Zoe said truthfully.
"He'll be back when he's ready."
Zoe looked thoughtfully at Adam, she couldn't just let it go. "What do you know about Kirsty's husband?"
"Bit of a random question Zo, Warren, used to be a fireman. That's about it".
"Hmmm..." Zoe looked thoughtful.
"What? What is it?" Adam questioned anxiously.
"I don't know. She isn't herself. She won't open up to me. I tried to get her to talk when I did her stitches."
"What stitches?" Adam's eyes grew wide.
"She had a cut on the back of her head, was quite deep, I patched her up", Zoe decided to leave out the mood swings and fainting, "Jay mentioned she had a bit of a cry on his shoulder too..."
"Just keep an eye on her." Adam said.
"I just wish I knew what was wrong, so I could help". Adam reached out and squeezed Zoe's hand.
"Dr Hanna, pub tonight?" Jay's called from by cubicles.
"You bet." Zoe grinned.
"Adam?" Jay questioned.
"Only if Zoe's paying" came Adam's reply.
"I'm in", Lenny called.
Adam walked up to Kirsty, "You coming?". Kirsty looked up from the notes she was writing, and shook her head.
"Come on Kirst..." he persisted.
"Adam I said no, drop it", Kirsty snapped the record folder shut and walked off. Zoe looked at Adam and raised her eyebrows.
"Five – four- three – two – one. End of shift" Jay announced. He walked over to the staffroom and saw that Kirsty was already changed and on her way out. This did not go unnoticed by Zoe and Adam.
"Someone's in a hurry" Adam said.
"You know there's definitely something not right..." Adam half nodded, and the pair of them watched her leave.
"I hear first rounds on you Dr Hanna," Lenny grinned putting his jacket on.
Zoe was about to reply when a familiar voice said what they all wanted to hear. "All right children, first rounds on me", Nick said. Zoe turned round and embraced Nick in a hug.
"All right", Jay said, nodding at Nick.
"Welcome back Mr Jordan" Lenny smiled.