Chrissi – I completely agree, what with her being bubbly and him being kinda uptight. Anyone else out there hate Faye?
Blackness – Yes to updating, as you can (hopefully) see!
HallowAvengence – living on Maddy/Linden fics isn't sad! I would if I could find enough to read! Maybe I'll try and search for them… realises how thick has been for soo long…
Glad you guys all like it! Can be complete or in progress…depends how many plotbunnies attack me XD
The bar was not very busy; a couple of junior nurses sitting in the corner, eying up the F2s on the table next to them. Linden chose one of the tables in the corner out of their view – he did not want to become an item of gossip. He only had a few seconds of thought before Maddy walked in. as she looked around to find the table, Linden could see that she had put a little make-up on. As she approached, he could see that it complimented both her hair and her clothes perfectly; the green eyeliner combined with her green jacket offset her brown eyes and hair. He stood up as she got closer.
"Hi. Is here okay for you?"
"Yeah, thank. What do you want to drink?"
"No, no; I suggested a drink after the shift, so I'll buy."
"Oh. Thanks. Erm, a Southern Comfort and coke?"
"Of course, I'll only be a minute."
For himself, he ordered a whisky – he did not trust himself to get drunk, so he doubted as to whether he would have any other alcoholic beverages, but would see how the evening went. Carrying both drinks over, he noticed that Maddy had chosen the seat next to where he was. Well, better than the one furthest away, he thought to himself, at least there's nothing too wrong with me.
So they chatted, laughing over their drinks, enjoying each other's company. This was the most relaxed Maddy had ever been in Mr Cullen's presence, and the most at ease she had ever seen him. It was not just her being loud and making the jokes – he was as well.
It was around 23:00 when they left and, as each of them were over the limit for driving, Linden hailed a cab. They both got in and Maddy gave her address first. It was a 20-minute journey and when they arrived Linden got out as well, having told the cabbie to wait.
"Seriously, Mr Cullen, you don't have to walk me to my front door. It's only a house or two down."
"It's Linden. And yes I do. If I didn't, then it wouldn't be right. Okay?"
"If you want…" Maddy smiled to herself as she opened the gate. "Look, no one is going to leap from a bush and attack me now; especially considering that there aren't any bushes to leap from." She got out her key, unlocked the door and pushed it open a little.
"Dr Young-"
"If I get to call you Linden now, then it's only fair you do the same."
"Maddy, thanks for tonight. Normally-" he paused, not sure how to go on, "Normally I would have gone home and sat alone, thinking over the day's work. Maybe even coming up with other ways I could have handled things. You changed that, so thank you."
"Really? Well, you were the one who suggested it…" she trailed off, hoping that the darkness was hiding her blushing from his gratitude. She took half a step forward, hesitated and then continued. Placing one hand on his cheek, the other on his shoulder, she carried on talking. "I enjoyed tonight as well. Thank you." Maddy reached up and lightly placed a kiss on his lips, before turning away and going into her house. Looking through the spy hole on her door, she saw that Linden was flummoxed. He started to walk forwards, then changed his mind and returned to the cab. Maddy grinned. She had done it! Broken into the hard shell that Mr Linden Cullen hid behind. Maybe she would invite him in for coffee next time…
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