Over on AAU, Tom was on edge. Maddy was very rarely on time for work, but at least he knew where she was most of the time. This time he didn't. Also, someone called Dan had phoned AAU asking if Maddy had turned up for work, so it was obvious that Tom wasn't the only one that was looking for her. "We are down a doctor again I see." said consultant nurse Mark Williams as he approached Tom. But mark had to eat his words. They watched in horror and shock as a trolley was wheeled in carrying an unconscious Maddy. Surgical consultant Linden Cullen, and also a good friend of Maddy's, was running along side yelling for people to get out of the way.
They turned left into a side room, which was private, so they could treat her properly without any disturbances. Tom rushed in after them, closly followed by Mark. "What happened?" asked Tom. As he did he went over to Maddy's side and held her hand. Linden and Mark gave eachother a knowing look as they saw this, but tactfully decided now wasn't the right time to say anything. "She was found lying on a bench at the train station. Ambulance crew said it looked like she had been there all night." Linden said as he started to cut through Maddy's jeans to get a better look at her leg. A nurse was checking Maddy's vital signs as he was doing this. There was a deep gash that stretched most of the way down her leg. "It looks like a nail has gone through her skin," said Mark who was getting quite good at guessing what caused most of his patients injuries. He continued. "If she was asleep on the bench there would have been any number of rusty nails lying about, especially at an old train station like that, and if she moved her leg after the nail went through then it would certainly create this kind of injury. What I don't understand is why she didn't feel the nail go through her leg in the first place." Linden answered that question for him. "She's freezing." he said. "Its possible that she was too cold to feel anything."
Linden took another look at the leg. "looks like it's infected." he said. They all looked up as the nurse spoke. "Vital signs are good" she said. Linden gave her a nod and they watched for a moment as she left the room to see to her other patients. Mark broke the silence. "What the hell was she doing staying out all night?" said mark. More to himself than to the others. He certainly wasn't expecting an answer from Tom who had remained quiet since entering. "Because of me." Tom said. Linden and Mark both looked at him questioningly. "We slept together last night," he continued. "She ran out in the middle of the night. She was nowhere to be seen when I woke up." Tom's eyes began to fill up with tears. Mark placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault" said mark.
"Let's get her cleaned up and start her on a course of antibiotics," said Linden. "Apart from the infection in the leg she seems to be ok. We need to keep her in for a few days though to keep an eye on her."
A couple of hours later, Maddy still hadn't woken up yet. Her leg had been cleaned and dressed and, thankfully, the antibiotics had started to work. Mark and Linden had gone to perform other duties while Tom remained vigil by her bed side. He felt guilty. She had stayed out because of him. He just couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Tom had thought it was a mutual attraction, after all Maddy did kiss him back. Apparently, he couldn't have been more wrong.
About twenty minutes later Maddy started to stir. "It's ok Maddy." Said Tom reassuringly. "You're in the hospital."
"Dan?" asked Maddy.
Tom's heart sunk. He knew she was still groggy but surely she would know who he was.
"No," said Tom sadly. "It's Tom". Maddy slowly began to get more coherent. "Do you remember what happened?" asked Tom.
"I was at the train station." Said Maddy. "I must of fell asleep."
"You did," said Tom. "You also put your leg on a rusty nail. You have an infected leg because of it." Maddy looked down at the dressings on her leg but didn't say anything. She suddenly remembered why she had ran out in the first place. She had betrayed the one person she had ever truly loved, Dan, afer he came back for her. Now he was likely to hate her forever. "i'll go and let the others know your awake" said Tom.
Tom walked out of the side room, spotted Linden over by the nurses station and walked over to him. "Maddy's awake," said Tom.
"That's fantastic," replied Linden. They started making there way back towards Maddy's room. Linden saw the unhappy look on Tom's face. "What's the matter?" he asked. "I thought you'd be pleased."
"I am" said Tom. They stopped walking for a moment.
"But?" Linden pressed.
"When she woke," Tom continued, " She asked for someone named Dan."
Linden knew exactly who this Dan was. He was talking about Dan Clifford. Dan had already left before Linden came to Holby but he remembered when Dan came back the first time. Maddy couldn't focus at work at work that day, all she could think about was meeting with Dan after her shift. Only Dan phoned her up at last minute, cancelling the meet. Maddy was gutted and Linden was forced to give her leave to give her some time to get her head round it. Given the fact that Maddy had slept with Tom, Linden decided not to make things worse and play dumb. "Maybe you just look like a Dan." said Linden.
"Maybe" said Tom. He sounded doubtful but the left the conversation at that.
They walked the rest of the way to Maddy's room. Maddy was sitting up now. She looked at them both and gave them a smile as they walked in. She was still weak but some of the colour had returned to her cheeks now. "Hi" said Maddy. She felt a little embarrassed of the situation she had gotten herself into. Only she could fall asleep on a bench and get an infected leg from a rusty nail. "How are you feeling?" asked Linden. He took hold of her wrist to check her pulse. "Better" said Maddy. "Maybe a little foolish." She took a quick glance at Tom who was hovering awkwardly by the door. He looked uncomfortable and was barely looking at her.
"Well next time," said Linden, with a slight smirk. "Make sure you pick a bench that doesn't have a rusty nail sticking out of it." Maddy gave him a smile in return but had no comeback for it. Linden sat down on the edge of Maddy's bed so he was closer to Maddy. "Look" said Linden in a low voice, so that Tom couldn't hear. "Tom heard you say Dan's name as you woke up. I assume there is only one Dan that could be."
Maddy nodded.
"Do you want me to call him?" asked Linden.
"No," said Maddy. "He's staying at my place. I feel fine. I'll be home by tonight."
"No you won't" said Linden sternly. They were speaking normally again now. "I want to keep you in overnight so I can keep an eye on you."
"I'm a doctor," said Maddy. "I know when i'm in trouble. Besides, there is a doctor at my flat too."
Linden paused for a moment. He didn't see any point in arguing with her. Maddy was as stubborn as they come. He knew that once she had her mind set on something there was almost no chance of her changing it.
"Please," said Maddy. "I have to see him. At this Tom couldn't take anymore and Linden and Maddy watched as Tom retreated out the door. Maddy felt a stab of guilt course through her body. For some reason she only wanted to see Dan and she wasn't giving Tom a second thought. Linden, thinking that Maddy had been through enough decided not to press the situation.
Half an hour later, Linden found himself signing Maddy's discharge forms. He phoned her a taxi and watched helplessly as Maddy limped down the corridor towards the exit. He had told her to keep taking antibiotics and to rest her leg, but he doubted that Maddy would get any rest. All she was concerned about at that moment in time was seeing Dan. Linden glanced over at Tom. Tom had resumed his work duties now but Linden had a feeling that he was respectfully keeping the distance between him and Maddy until Maddy was ready to talk. Hearing Maddy ask for Dan had seemed to hurt Tom more than he was letting on. Tom must truly love Maddy, thought Linden.