A/N: i'm so sorry for the infrequent updates. i've been feeling pretty down lately and i've been floored with school projects, tests etc. i'd like to thank elsaistherelifeonmars, who has given me amazing ideas for this story. check out her stories if u get a chance! (also, yes, i do love waterloo road!)

The door of the locker room opened and slammed shut behind Zosia as she changed back into her usual wear. She whipped around to see Jac still in her Darwin scrubs, pretending not to look at her chest. 'I was wondering where you were. I'll be 10 minutes, just wait for me outside the hospital?' 'Sure. But, just one thing?' Jac paused to listen. 'Stop staring at me.' smiled Zosia. Jac didn't even give Zosia the time of day and shut the door.

Zosia held a lit cigarette between her fingers, inhaling deeply - an old, terrible habit she had recently fallen back into. However, she was blissfully unaware she was being observed. Holby City hospital was always a thriving hub of activity and that evening was no different. She watched as people started and finished their shifts, and as ambulances came and went. A sudden, sharp voice brought her back to reality. 'I wouldn't have taken you for a smoker, Zosia?' Zosia quickly moved to stub it out on a nearby overflowing ashtray. 'I'm not,' she mumbled unconvincingly. Jac decided to tactfully drop the subject, which Zosia was grateful for.

'So, where to?' asked Zosia as the autumn leaves crunched under their feet. 'Well,' began Jac, 'I know a place in the town centre called Emerald City?' Zosia laughed. 'Sounds very dodgy,' she joked. 'You don't have to go if you don't want to!' replied Jac, jesting. Zosia peered at a sign to the city centre outside the hospital gates, detailing the places to be in Holby City. 'Alright then, let's go.'

Emerald City was buzzing, especially for a weekday, and Zosia dragged Jac in by the wrist, itching to get a good seat. Zosia immediately went to the bar to order shots. Jac tapped her shoulder. 'That's a bit too much for a Wednesday evening, Zosia. Get something lighter' Zosia shrugged Jac off. 'It'll be fine, I can handle it. Get somewhere to sit.' Jac wanted to argue back but resigned herself to raised eyebrows and the shake of a head. Jac reserved two bar stools in the corner of the bar. She'd only been here a few times over the years and marvelled at how much it had changed. She scanned the crowds but there seemed to be no familiar faces - from the hospital, at least. She watched Zosia pay and spoke to her as she came back. 'You did amazingly today, you know.' 'I don't think so. You were so bossy, you practically did all of it,' replied Zosia in a lighthearted fashion, impatiently waiting for the shots to arrive. 'I'm serious. I see a lot of myself in you. That isn't necessarily a compliment, but it does mean you'll be an excellent surgeon.' Zosia smiled meekly, but that sudden shyness was soon forgotten.

Six vodka shots were placed in front of them, each one filled generously near the brim. 'Three each?' propositioned Zosia. Jac shook her head. 'Jesus Zosia, it's a school night. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm booked in for theatre tomorrow.' 'You can't even handle one. I never thought I'd see Jac Naylor like this. What a fall from grace!' chided Zosia. She could see she was getting to Jac and eventually the two clinked classes before taking the shots. 'God, this tastes like shit!' spluttered Jac. The two collapsed into peals of laughter at the impromptu remark. Zosia immediately went for another one and Jac followed suit, but when Zosia tried to take another Jac put her hand on her arm to stop her, not noticing how she winced. 'Wait a bit.' The two kept lighthearted conversation about the days they'd had going back and forth throughout the next few minutes until Jac's phone rang. Jac showed Zosia the screen - Jonny. She knew she had to take it and went outside for peace and quiet.

'Hello?' Jonny was ranting and raving about some parent-teacher meeting she was supposed to attend with him a few days ago. 'Alright, let me get a word in edgeways. I was performing surgery and couldn't go.' 'Yes, it was urgent! Only two cases in the country in the last ten years.' Insults blared through the phone's speaker and Jac hung up before stepping back into the bar. Zosia was still at the counter but Jac noticed two shots missing. I must have been a while out there. 'There she is,' said Zosia to nobody. 'Sorry, it was to do with Emma.' 'S'okay. Is she alright?' 'Yeah, yeah, it doesn't matter. I see you've helped yourself.' she suggested, nodding at the empty shot glasses. Zosia shrugged. 'How strong is that stuff, anyway?' asked Jac. 'Strong enough,' replied Zosia. 'We should probably go back, come to think of it.' Zosia rested her head on her hand. 'Is that the royal we, Jac, or me and you?' I didn't even realise I said we, thought Jac, but it sounds good. 'Me and you.' Zosia smiled. 'See? That's what I'm talking about.'

Jac's house was quite ornate, with paintings on the wall reminding Zosia of her old house. Much better than my dingy old flat, thought Zosia, although she hadn't realised a tear had fallen while she was thinking about when the whole family was together. 'Zosia?' asked Jac, concern in her face. Zosia shook her head. 'It's nothing, I just thought of something.' Jac sat down on one of the sofas and Zosia sat next to her. 'I don't think it is nothing. Will you tell me what it is?' Zosia shook her head again. 'I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. You can understand that, right?'

There was a palpable silence while Jac thought, turning ideas over in her head, before Zosia did the unthinkable - leaned forward, and kissed Jac. Before Jac knew what she was doing, she was kissing back, consumed with the heat of the kiss and how close their bodies were, how their thighs were touching. Jac wasn't sure if it was her rational self or the drink, but something made her not want this moment to end. All previous thought forgotten for now, Jac pulled Zosia closer, deepening the kiss, tracing her fingers along the small of Zosia's back. Zosia kissed along her lover's jaw down her neck, biting the soft flesh near her pulse point, making Jac gasp. 'Not here,' said Jac weakly. 'Where, then?' asked Zosia coyly, her eyes not leaving the consultant's body. 'The bedroom,' replied Jac. Zosia needed no further instructions and the two could barely keep their hands off eachother on the way to Jac's bedroom, let alone when they were inside.

Zosia woke with the bed empty next to her and only a hazy memory of the night before. She remembered…. She remembered Jac and her in Emerald City, and how much fun they shared. She remembered their kiss and what happened afterwards and covered her face with her hands, blackening her vision. This was little comfort to her banging headache, worsened by the sound of her mobile ringing. The light of the screen blinded her, but she could make out Arthur's name. 'Zosia! Where are you? Apparently you're an hour late for your shift? Are you alright?' Zosia looked to her watch. Shit. 'Yes, I'm just getting ready now, I'm so sorry. Can you tell someone on Darwin I'll be there soon?' 'Okay, but I'm not covering for you if Ms. Naylor chases this up.' 'Somehow, I doubt that'll happen.' Zosia ended the call and hurried to get dressed and into work.

'Good morning! Great night last night I take it?' grinned Dom, hanging around Darwin with an excuse of chasing some CTs. 'Do I know him?' 'What?' 'Well, you were out all night and didn't even return home! I'd say you were swept off your feet.' Zosia couldn't help but smile, despite her hangover. 'No, I don't think you do.' she said dismissively, but Dom pressed on. 'Who was it? I know it wasn't Digby, I was working late with him. It wasn't that creep Valentine was it?' Zosia rolled her eyes, trying to catch up on the happenings on the ward, checking notes. 'No. Can you drop it? I'm trying to work and I'm sure you should be, too.' Dom decided to leave it for the time being. 'Fine. Either way, you can't hide it forever. I'll find out soon enough.'