Rita glanced to the left then right before swiftly entering the ED and crossing the lobby to the locker room. After the embarrassment of Friday night, she couldn't face seeing Connie. Getting changed, she let the scene play out in her head for the millionth time and cringed.
Jesus Freeman you could have been a bit more subtle come on. Now she felt like a silly teenager with a crush. Without waiting to see Connie's reaction she had just run away! God today couldn't get any worse.
Opening the locker room door, Rita surveyed the area. The coast was clear - no Beauchamp in sight. Quickly she stepped over to the Nurse's station and began sorting through patients notes. There was no other option, she'd have to lay low for a while and hope Connie forgot about her little comment. 'Not bloody likely' her conscience provided.
Robyn interrupted her thoughts.
"Morning Rita. Good weekend?"
Rita plastered on a fake smile. "Yeah thanks. Pretty relaxing" she lied.
She had in fact spent most of it fretting about Connie's reaction.
Suddenly Connie herself appeared from her office and was coming straight towards her. Panicking, Rita ducked below the desk. Connie walked straight past calling after Zoe.
Robyn's face appeared under the desk.
"Are you okay Rita?"
"Yep sorry. Dropped a file."
She clambered up and checked the coast was clear.
Robyn just smiled knowingly and bustled off to cubicle 3.
Jesus christ what was she doing? Connie had her hiding under desks now. This was ridiculous.
"Rita!"
She snapped back to reality.
"You're needed in resus." Nodding, Rita followed Tess.
Cal was conducting the primary survey on a patient with a large shard of glass sticking out of their abdomen.
"Okay Rita can you cross match 6 units of O-neg and get a line in please?"
"Sure"
Getting on with her tasks, Rita was oblivious to the fact that Connie was stood outside resus watching her through the window.
The patient groaned and clutched at the shard, dislodging it slightly. Fresh blood began to leak from the wound.
"No Mr Williams don't touch it!"
"Cal I think he's nicked an artery! We're going to have to get this glass out now."
Rita immediately started packing the wound, trying to stem the bleed getting covered in blood herself.
Dr Knight came rushing back in.
"Okay can we prep for the procedure please!" Cal shouted, whilst he put on an apron and gloves.
Zoe rushed in to help.
"Alright thanks Rita. Do you want to go and get cleaned up, we've got this."
Looking down at herself, she did really look a mess. Blood covered her scrubs top and was all down her arms. Some had spattered her face as she tried to stem the arterial bleed.
Leaving resus, Rita went to the staff toilets and began to wash down her arms.
The door swung open and Connie stepped in. Rita froze.
"Connie...I. About Friday...sorry...I shouldn't." She stopped when a wide grin spread across Connie's face.
"Look at you. That really was some excellent work in resus. Acting on instinct like that. You'd make a good doctor..."
Connie took the tissue from Rita's hand and washed the blood off her face holding back Rita's hair with the other hand. Their faces were centimetres apart.
She took hold of the bottom of Rita's scrubs top and motioned for her to raise her arms. Rita stood slightly shocked but complied. Removing the top, Connie paused to take in the sight of Rita's body. A tiny smirk crossed her lips. Then she picked up the fresh scrubs top she'd brought in and pulled it over Rita's head.
"There. All better."
Connie tucked Rita's fringe behind her ear slowly and smiled before spinning on her heel and leaving the bathroom.
Rita let go of the breath she had been holding. Had that just happened or had she dreamed the whole thing? Snapping back to reality, Rita took one last look in the mirror and left the room putting her dirty scrubs on the washing trolley as she went past.
At the Nurse's station, Rita sat down heavily. Her legs were shaking.
"You okay Rita?" Lofty asked curiously. "You look like you've suffered another 'Beauchamp bollocking'."
Rita smiled weakly. "Not quite..."
