So, so, so sorry that I've not updated in a while! I've been so busy and a few things have happened in the past week or so, plus I've had 0 motivation to write. This is two chapters into one, I hope you enjoy and I apologise if it's not as good, also for any errors. So, in the last chapter we found out that Zoe was secretly married! There's a lot of speech in this chapter, sorry if it's too much.

"What?" Max questioned, eyeing the stranger up and down as he rose from the floor. Zoe hung her head in shame, the embarrassment of her secret being exposed in front of Max was bad, but the ED team was even worse.

"I said, she's already married" the man said, entering the pub to reveal his identity, "isn't that right, Mrs Jordan"

It was Nick Jordan. The famous Nick Jordan was Zoe's secret husband.

"Zoe?" Max choked, looking at her for reassurance that this was all a big joke, "is this true?"

Looking up, her eyes met his. She didn't need to speak, her eyes told confirmed his nightmare was a reality. Barging past Nick, Max ran outside.

"Max, wait!" Zoe called after him as she ran in his lead, pushing past Nick as she did so.

Max rested his forehead against the wall, wrenching his eyes as they began to sting; the tears cautioned to fall. His fist clenched as he hit the wall with a hard punch, his anger increasing.

"I'm so sorry" Zoe whispered, salty tears cascading down her face as he backed away from her soothing hand on his shoulder.

"You bitch"

"That's unfair, I didn't intend for this to happen you've got to believe me. I had no idea you were thinking of proposing!" She argued.

"So it's my fault?" Max spat, grabbing her by her arms and slamming her against the wall.

"Max, please don't" Zoe pleaded, petrified as she hadn't seen his temper flare like this before. "Of course it's not your fault" she cried, her scouse accent rumbling at the back of her throat as she spoke. "Nick and I finished a long time ago. It's over, done, history."

"So why are you still married to him?" Max asked, his eyes watering as he hit the brick wall once again, his knuckles blooded. "Why didn't you tell me you were married in the first place?!"

"Because it didn't matter - it doesn't matter, I don't want him I want you" Zoe continued to weep, desperately trying to save her now destroyed relationship with Max.

"Yeah well, I'm not sure I want you anymore" he said, lowering his voice.

"Max" she said in a whisper, feeling like a scream as he walked away, never once giving her a second look. Throwing her head back, Zoe cried as she slid down the wall. More than she's ever cried before. She loves Max, she's totally smitten with him. Seeing him walk away broke her.

Charlie softly approached her, offering her his hand to take. She accepted. Pulling her back to her feet, Charlie soothed her by running his hand down her back. Straightening her dress, she wiped her mascara stained face; her eyes focusing on one man's in particular. Clearing her throat, she walked her way over to Nick who stood out in the crowd of formed colleagues.

"I hope you're happy" Zoe said to Nick as she stood in front of him, face to face.

It had been a week since the fall out, and boy it was a massive one. Zoe hadn't spoken, seen or heard of Max since he found out about she and Nick being married. To make matters worse, Nick had reclaimed his role as clinical lead as Connie went back to her roots upstairs in surgery. Zoe argued with Nick, fought with him and even slapped him around his face a couple of times. She knew she was in the wrong; she should have told Max from the start. But she had no clue Nick would suddenly turn up out of the blue.

"Good morning Dr Hanna" Nick bellowed as he stood behind Zoe. Popping another painkiller, Zoe swallowed with a reasonable amount of water.

"What do you want, Nick?" she said, her voice tone less than impressed.

"Why are you late?"

She sighed, "I overslept"

"Again?" he smirked; he could see through her lies. "My office, now" he ordered before clomping away in his, as Zoe calls them, annoyingly loud shoes.

Deeply sighing, Zoe pinched the bridge of her nose.

As she slouched her way to Mr Jordan's office, she shared the current corridor with Robyn. Staring at the floor as they brushed past one another, Zoe paused.

"Robyn" Zoe called, stopping the young nurse in her tracks.

"What do you want, Zoe?"

"Listen, I know I probably have no right asking this but is Max okay? He's not answering my calls or texts, I just want to know if he's alright"

The hurt and genuine concern was blatant in Zoe's eyes, Robyn could see how much she truly was sorry. "He's staying with mum for a bit, he needs time to clear his head."

"As long as he's safe" Zoe said, half smiling "thanks Robyn"

Robyn nodded before leaving. As Zoe finished her travels towards Nick's, stopping outside she could hear his raised voice; obviously ranting on the phone. By the tone of his voice she could tell he was in a vile mood. Mentally preparing herself for the sarcasm she knew he was about to throw at her, she entered his office, uninvited and slamming the door behind her; true Zoe Hanna attitude.

"..Yes well, that's just not good enough. I want it sorted by the end of the day!" Nick shouted down the phone before hanging up. "Doctor Hanna, what can I do for you?"

"I haven't got time for this" Zoe rolled her eyes, "you wanted to see me?"

"Ah, yes. Why were you late again this morning?"

"I told you, I overslept" she stood tall, her arms folded.

"I don't believe you overslept"

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"With your track record, I wouldn't be surprised if you were out on the piss all night"

"Oh Nick, you know me so well" she hit, her voice smothered in sarcasm.

"I've had enough of this now"

Stepping towards the desk, she placed her hands on the cold wood, leaning over into his face. "If you want me to change my attitude, then divorce me and fuck off back to Michigan"

"I've told you, it's not going to happen. I came back to try to salvage our marriage" he replied, his husky voice threatening to break her. He knew he made her weak; they were each others drugs, needed a fix every so often to keep surviving.

"And I've told you, we're over." She moved away fast, his lips dangerously close to hers. Turning for the door, she pushed down on the handle as she was interrupted.

"How about we make a deal"

"A deal?" she questioned, repeating his words. "What kind of 'deal'" if she knew her husband as well as she thinks she does, it will either involve money or sex.

Strutting towards her, he towered over her petite form as she looked down on her. Running his hand through her hair, he tucked a strand behind her ear. "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement."

What does Nick mean? What's he planning? Hmm. Hopefully will be updating this again soon, thanks to everyone who's reviewed and stuck with it. Please leave a review as they make my day, I adore them :-) I know this fic is about Zax and this chapter doesn't feature Max much, but he will be coming back soon! X