There's been quite a bit of a time skip between the last chapter and this one. It did take me a while to write because I wasn't sure how to deal with the reunion of Rita and Connie. Anyway, I hope you like it.
The Clinical Nurse Manager didn't return until the end of that year. The days were getting shorter and darker, and there seemed to be a perpetual chill in the air, along with a frost that had settled over the whole of Holby.
The ED was relatively quiet, for a change. It was approaching seven o'clock in the morning, and the December darkness showed no signs of abating for another few hours at least. The only signs of life came from the doors, where a few staff members had gathered in a small huddle, braving the cold for the sake of a quick cigarette.
Rita Freeman stood opposite them, gazing up at the building with a definite air of apprehension. Her arms were folded tightly across her leather-clad torso, although the jacket was slightly baggier on her petite frame than it had been eight months ago. She seemed, if possible, even smaller against the darkness of the department's exterior, although a familiar determined light was still present in her eyes.
She started forwards towards the door, the wind catching in her hair. It had been bleached recently, although it was much shorter, closer to the length it had been when Connie had first arrived at the ED.
Connie Beauchamp. Rita would be lying if she said that she no longer thought about the Clinical Lead. In fact, they had kept in touch for the first week of her absence, until work and the stress of chemotherapy made contact difficult. Thus, Connie had no idea that Rita would be returning that day. Nor did anyone else, for that matter. It had all been very rushed.
The sound of footsteps behind her made Rita glance around, arms tightening around herself as the wind resisted the movement.
A man was heading towards her in the direction of the ED, a rather large duffel coat wrapped around his body. Rita could just make out tufts of white hair in the darkness, and she smiled to herself.
"Charlie!"
The nurse looked up, brow furrowing as he struggled to identify the woman ahead of him. And then it clicked.
"Rita! Good god, is it really you?"
"I'm afraid so," she responded playfully, beginning to walk with him as he caught up.
"Blimey! It's been, what, eight months?"
"Just about. I've missed this place."
"Well, we've missed you. It's been very quiet without you." Charlie paused, as if thinking carefully about what to say next. "Connie's been fed up with nobody to argue with."
"Oh, I bet she has," Rita replied, smiling despite herself. They had reached the doors, and Charlie stopped, evidently waiting for her to enter first.
"Erm, the chemotherapy..." He sounded anxious, and his voice lowered so they could not be overheard. "Was it successful?"
Rita just smiled and pushed the door open. "Yes. Yes, it was."
Charlie mimicked her smile, watching her head through to reception before following at a slightly slower pace. He felt almost like a great weight had been lifted from his chest; Connie's mood over the past few months had been worrying him. Without the verbal sparring she and Rita were often engaged in to occupy herself, she'd become more and more distant from work. Maybe now she'd be back to her usual self, even if it did mean that the rest of the staff would suffer from a touch of the old 'Ice Queen'.
Rita hadn't anticipated just how much might have changed whilst she was away. She barely recognised most of the nursing staff she passed, and the ones she did know failed to acknowledge her. Rita sighed inwardly, losing her nerve a little. She was suddenly aware of just how much she had changed physically. The chemotherapy had taken its toll on her figure, and she had lost a lot of weight. Even her facial features were more pronounced as a result - the softness of her cheeks had slipped away somewhat, drawing attention to her cheekbones. It was a quality that she had often desired when she was younger, but now she wasn't sure if she liked it.
However, as she made her way to reception she saw Louise glance up. Her eyes widened in recognition, and she jabbed Noel in the arm to get his attention.
"It's Rita!"
"You're back!" The receptionist exclaimed as he looked up and registered what was happening. "How did it go?"
"All fine," Rita replied with a grin. It cheered her up to learn that she hadn't changed that much after all. "Hey, can I go through and visit everyone? I know I'm not back working yet, but I've missed it."
"Course you can," he said cheerfully, tossing her a visitors badge.
"We're glad you're back," Louise added, her voice unfamiliarly warm.
Rita smiled in return, pinning the badge to her shirt and saying a quick goodbye to the receptionists before she made her way through to cubicles.
The first person to notice her presence was Tess, who immediately dropped the folders she was carrying onto the desk and pulled her into a tight hug.
"We've missed you." She said, drawing back to smile at the blonde woman.
"I missed you all as well." Rita responded, a little taken aback by the fondness in Tess' voice.
"Is that Rita?" More voices surrounded her - she could pick out Robyn's in particular, and turned to face the nurse. Lofty was stood a while off, looking vaguely confused. Ethan and Cal had also stopped to find out what was going on. The two brothers looked equally surprised to see her, although Cal seemed to conceal it more effectively. Ethan pushed his glasses further up his nose, mouth hanging open.
"You're back," he stated simply, the awkwardness about him increasing by the second.
"Hi guys." Rita's voice took on a sheepish tone.
"It's good to see you," Ethan said after a brief pause. He gave her a somewhat calculating look. "Um, how did it go?"
"Very well," she responded, a little tired of the question by now. "I'll be working again by the end of the week. Sorry, have you seen Connie?"
Robyn grinned, clasping her hands in front of her body as she joined the conversation. "She's in her office. You know, she's been a lot quieter since you left."
The crowd had started to dissipate, and Lofty made his way over whilst Robyn was speaking. "I think she misses the arguing," he supplied. "It's good to have you back, boss."
"It's good to be back," Rita countered. "Erm, I'm just going to speak to her now. She doesn't know that I'm back yet."
"We're right here if you need anything," a sly smile curved Robyn's lips as she spoke. "I guess you two have a lot to sort out."
Rita's cheeks reddened. "What's that supposed to mean?" Her tone was somewhat defensive, although the question was punctured by a nervous laugh.
"Oh, nothing. Come on, Lofty, before Tess has us both disciplined again."
And the two nurses hurried off, laughing to themselves. Rita was left, a vaguely stunned expression on her face as she watched them leave.
"Charlie, can it wait? I'm really busy," the Clinical Lead sighed wearily from behind her desk as the door opened. She didn't bother to look up, absorbed as ever in her paperwork. Some things never changed.
"I know it's been a while, but not quite that long," came Rita's teasing reply.
There was a moment of silence as Connie looked up, her eyes widening. The blonde woman's lips quirked into a smile, and she closed the door behind her and took a few steps into the room. "Hi."
"Hi," Connie breathed. Both women stared at each other, the air thick between them. The Clinical Lead's eyes asked a single question.
Rita's expression softened. "Complete remission," was all she said.
A relieved puff of air escaped Connie's lips and she stood, the movement slow, almost dream-like.
In a few steps she had crossed the length of the office, and stood before the other woman. Rita's breath caught in her throat as Connie's arms embraced her, pulling the smaller woman close to her body. After recovering from the initial surprise of the gesture, she buried her face in the Clinical Lead's shoulder, breathing in the sandalwood scent of her hair. She was all too aware of the soft rise and fall of Connie's chest against hers, and found herself synchronising her own breathing to match it. A shiver passed through Rita's body at the intimacy of the embrace, and she was sure that in any other context, her face would be bright red. But too much had happened over the past year, and all she could feel was an overwhelming sense of relief.
For what might have been an age, they clung to each other, seemingly content in their shared warmth. When at last they broke apart, Rita's eyes were red-rimmed, and she blinked furiously a few times to dispel the pricking sensation behind them.
"I- erm, I've missed you," Connie said, the slightest hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"We sort of lost touch for a while there," Rita returned, her tone unusually coy.
"I'm sorry."
"No, no, it wasn't your fault. We both had things going on."
The Clinical Lead paused, her gaze flickering over Rita's body quickly. It was evident that she had noticed the physical change in the younger woman, and she pursed her lips. "You've lost weight."
"Chemotherapy's not exactly a walk in the park," came the somewhat subdued reply. "I feel like I've aged ten years."
"Well I think you look fine," Connie muttered quickly. She realised a moment later what she'd just said and her cheeks flushed with colour. "I mean, you look..."
Rita laughed, shaking her head. "It's not like the Mrs Beauchamp I know to be lost for words."
"Well, it's been eight months. People... People can change."
"Yes, I s'pose they can," Rita gave her a strange look that she couldn't quite decipher. Eager to change the subject, she spoke again. "How's Grace?"
"She's fine. I had her stay for two weeks over the summer whilst I was off work. We made pancakes one morning and went to the cinema and the park together, and fed the ducks on the pond. She didn't even argue with me once."
"They do say that absence makes the heart grow fonder," Rita said with a smile, blissfully unaware of the parallel she was drawing up.
"Yes," Connie's expression was curious, and she was suddenly very aware of their proximity. "They're right."
There was a knock at the door, and both women took a few hasty steps away from each other as Ethan entered.
"Mrs Beauchamp, could I have a second opinion on one of my patients, please?" He glanced between them, brow furrowing slightly as if he was trying to figure out what exactly was going on.
"I'll be out in a minute," Connie said, exasperated. She turned her attention back to Rita as Ethan nodded and closed the door. "I'm sorry, Rita, you know how it is."
"No, no, don't worry about it. I'll be back again within the week to start work properly. I just thought I'd come and say hi-"
"Let me buy you a drink tonight," Connie interrupted, faltering slightly after she'd spoken as she realised that she'd perhaps been a little too bold.
Rita looked surprised, but she nodded. "Well it'll have to be water. I've not had alcohol for eight months and I'm not about to start drinking again now."
"Water it is," the Clinical Lead said, relaxing visibly as she retrieved her stethoscope from the desk and draped it around her neck. "I'll meet you in the Hope and Anchor at seven."
"It's a date then," Rita teased as they moved towards the door.
She'd expected Connie to remain silent. Instead, the older woman glanced over her shoulder, eyebrows slightly raised. "Indeed it is."
The blonde's lips parted in shock as the door clicked shut. That was one response she hadn't anticipated. Eight months of planning a return and Connie had gone and ruined it with three words. Bloody typical.
Still, she was back at the ED, and Connie was there. Somehow, that was all that mattered.
