Alicia woke up with a start sweat streaming down her face panting heavily. She kicked the soaking wet sheet off of her body and swung her legs of the bed. She looked at the clock and placed her head in her hands. 5:30am. That was better than before she supposed. Getting out of bed she gathered up her running gear and changed into it. She quietly crept down the stairs into the kitchen wrote a note for Bea, picked up her keys and locked the front door, leaving the house and starting to run. The beach seemed like a good place to calm her mind.
By the time Alicia got to the beach the sun was starting to rise and what a sunrise it was. The crowning of a new day, the colours were unlike anything Alicia had seen before and sitting on the sand gazing into the reds and oranges. It was more than just a sunset to her, it was a symbol. She suddenly felt full of hope and it was as if she could finally see the end to this dreadful chapter of her life. Glancing at her watch Alicia realised that it was almost six thirty, she ought to be getting back if she was going to be able to shower and get ready for her shift.
*8am in the E.D.*
Bea walked in through the double doors and off in the direction of the staffroom. She'd got Alicia's note, but wanted to make sure that she could have a chance to talk to Alicia before her shift started. Mrs Beauchamp had not forgotten the events of yesterday and neither had anyone else. She needed to make sure that she new what Alicia wanted.
Alicia entered the ED with all eyes training on her after yesterday's outburst. She sidled into the staff room and shut the door behind her.
"Alicia." Bea's familiar Irish voice was comforting to Alicia and she turned around and gave Bea a warm smile. "I need to speak to you."
"Why? What's wrong?" Alicia gave her a questioning look. "Oh. About yesterday?" Alicia came to the sudden realisation that she left without being punished yesterday.
"Yes. Mrs Beauchamp said that she would want to speak to you this morning. Do you…do you want me to come with you, if you are going to tell her?" Bea said hesitantly having no idea what was going to happen.
Alicia pondered this for a while. How on earth was she going to be able to not get suspended? Was honesty really the best policy?
"I think…yes please. I don't know what to say. How will I know how to start?"
Bea slowly walked up to Alicia and grabbed her by both shoulders, looking Alicia right in the eye and said "We'll find the words together."
With that they both walked towards Mrs Beauchamp's office.
*Mrs Beauchamp's office*
Alicia knocked as loudly as she could trying to appear confident and keep her composure.
"Come in." Mrs Beauchamp said turning around from where she was looking in a filing cabinet. "Ah Dr Munroe I was just about to go and look for you. Take a seat." She said in her icy manner.
Alicia and Bea sat in the two seats on the opposite side of the desk.
"Dr Kinsella there is no need for you to be here."
"I'm sorry Mrs Beauchamp but I'm staying. Alicia needs me." Bea said firmly taking Alicia's hand under the table giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Alright it's going to get pretty crowded in here then because Dr Gardner asked if she could be present."
This is beginning to get too much. Alicia thought suddenly beginning to feel panicked. Just then the door opened and shut and Elle walked in and took the seat in the corner behind Mrs Beauchamp's side of the desk.
"So…are you going to tell me this reason that you had for slapping your colleague who seemingly won't hear a bad word about you Alicia?" Mrs Beauchamp said coldly.
"It's not like you Alicia." Elle stood up and squatted next to Alicia watching the tears form in her eyes. "Please Alicia. I've known that somethings not been right for a while."
"I…I." Alicia stammered. Bea squeezed her hand and gave her a comforting look and then the words tumbled out of her mouth like a waterfall and by the time she was done the tears came flooding back and she was weeping like she had done last night, struggling for breath between sobs, but this time it was not Bea that took Alicia into her arms. It was Elle. And she was beginning to guide Alicia out of the confined space of the office and back into the staff room. Alicia want sure how long they were sat there just hugging in silence. It was comforting. Elle was like a mother to Alicia. Elle slowly stood up and walked over to the cupboard and took out a packet of tissues and walked back over to Alicia wiping the tears from Alicia's face.
"Sweetheart, would you like a cup of tea?" Alicia nodded unable to speak her throat was raw and she was afraid to speak for fear of her losing her composure again that she was fighting to keep. "If you need to talk to me at anytime you know that you can talk to me don't you, or even come to my house at anytime because you are like a daughter to me Alicia." Elle bent forward and planted a kiss on Alicia's forehead before placing the mug of tea in her hand and then went back to putting Alicia in a comforting embrace.
*Mrs Beauchamp's Office*
The silence was uncomfortable. After Alicia's revelation and hers and Elle's swift departure Bea and Mrs Beauchamp had been sat there in silence with Mrs Beauchamp remaining in a stunned state, mouth partly open and eyes wide. Never before had Bea seen Mrs Beauchamp's expression change from anything but hard, cold concentration. After a few more minutes Mrs Beauchamp's usual demeaner returned.
"How long have you known?" Mrs Beauchamp questioned, gaze softening slightly.
"A couple of weeks but she was trying to cope with it before I found out."
"Is she getting counselling?"
"Yes, I persuaded her to go to SARC a couple of weeks ago."
"I won't keep you for much longer but are you alright too? This sort of thing obviously affects the victims but it also affects the people closest to them."
"I'm fine, but I'm worried about Alicia and Eddie seeing each other. Where is he now?"
"He went out as an observer in the ambulance. When he gets back I'll make sure he doesn't go near Alicia. I promise."