A/N: Again, thanks for the reviews, I love reading them :D This one shot is mostly to do with Connie, with other characters too. There is a little bit of Connie/Cal, I'm not sure I can even call it that because it's so tiny, but yeah. I'll do a proper Connie/Cal one shot later on when I can think of an idea for those who requested. Hope it's up to standard! :3

~Mini Peacelet~

Wintry Advent

5. Scrooge

"Do you think Connie will let us start putting up the Christmas decorations now?" Caleb was optimistic that they had waited long enough for their clinical lead to approve their immature desire to deck the emergency department with festive decorations.

"You'll be lucky, I live with Ebenezer Scrooge herself." Rita scoffed as she deposited a pile of patient files onto the counter at the nurses station.

"You're joking aren't you?" Max popped up from virtually nowhere, an expression of pure concern succumbing his serene features.

"No. She hates Christmas. She won't let us put our Christmas tree up until at least the second weekend in December." The blonde nurse huffed forlornly, "She'll never let you decorate the ED this early."

"Oh, shit." The porter muttered and swiftly dashed off in the direction of the confined office that Connie and Zoe shared. As a cordial surprise for his girlfriend - who adored this festive season - he had garnished the office she shared with the leading consultant with many jolly trimmings and decorative items. He hadn't anticipated that his boss wouldn't be as appreciative towards the kind gesture.

Max halted abruptly in his tracks as he noticed that the light in the clinical lead's office now now switched on. His breath accumulated in his throat and his hands were noshing at the pockets of his trousers and he concluded that it was a sensible time to try and blend in with the crowd.

The leading consultant's office door opened hastily and the temperature suddenly plummeted sharply as her icy presence adorned her department, hands resting firmly on her hips, "Who decorated my office with Christmas decorations? Come on, own up. I want to know who is responsible, now!" She was burdened with voluminous scorn that projected in her manner and expression.

There was a silence. Nobody came forward.

"I will find out who is responsible, so the culprit needn't think he or she is safe." She announced and rotated towards her office again.

"Mrs B..." Caleb approached his boss cautiously but with his flirting charm.

"It's Mrs Beauchamp." Connie corrected irritably as she reentered her office and stalked over towards her coffee machine, inserting a mug and pressing the button to make a cappuccino. It was evident that it was going to be a long day.

"Mrs Beauchamp." Dr Knight emphasised the brunette's surname patronisingly, following her into the confined room, "Now probably isn't a good time to ask if we can put the Christmas decorations up in the ED is it?"

"No, it certainly isn't." The clinical lead pirouetted around briskly, attitude remaining cutting and prickly, "And the answer is still no. It's far too early. You are paid to treat people's injuries or solve their medical problems, not to make the department look like there has been an explosion of sparkles."

Cal propped himself against the door frame leisurely, "You're such a scrooge you know." He stated matter-of-factly with a subtle grin dancing upon his lips.

"Excuse me?" She scowled exasperatedly and raised the mug of her freshly made coffee to her lipsticked lips, inhaling the strong coffee bean aroma contently.

"Well it's true, you are a Scrooge." He repeated himself before he opened one of the cardboard boxes that had been stacked neatly in the corner of the office from where Max had retrieved them all and abandoned them there until the festive season was finished.

"What do you think you are doing? Dr Knight, don't you have anything constructive to be completing." Her anger is increasing, she deposited her cappuccino on her desk and stationed her hand on her hip again, glaring bitterly at the male doctor.

"You'll see." Cal smirked teasingly, "And nope, I'm on my break at the moment."

"Well, Caleb. Can't you go have your break somewhere else? You may not have noticed but I am incredibly busy at the moment and you are just being a hinderance of yourself." Connie's tone was gradually becoming more austere as he continued to push his luck.

"Ah ha! Found it!" The consultant spun around proudly clutching a santa hat that was black with a white rim and fluffy white pom-pom, "You will have to wear this then." He swiftly placed the hat on the brunette's head.

"What? Don't be so ridiculous." She hissed as she snatched the hat from her head and raked her fingers through her wild locks in attempt to smooth them from where the hat had ruffled her style, "It says bah humbug? I am not wearing this, it's stupid."

"You have to wear it. It's a tradition we have here. And you are definitely the person who is most like Scrooge and hates Christmas! Your hate is worse than Dylan's!"

"So what if I hate Christmas? It's just a waste of my money and it just adds strain and pressure to this ED's time and resources because people get drunk and do stupid things! I am not wearing that hat." The former heart surgeon stated bluntly.

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"Are."

"Not."

"Are."

"Fine." Connie's mood was rapidly decreasing, she was even more cranky and moody. "If it'll shut you up and you'll go do some work then I'll wear it. Now go!" She was desperate for some peace and quiet - it was too early for his irritating behaviour.

"I'm going." Caleb grinned, holding his hand up in surrender and then departed the office.

"Mrs B takes the title of Scrooge this year and get's to wear the bah humbug hat." He announced as he rejoined his colleagues around the nurses desk.

"Finally! You have all discovered someone else to give your juvenile name and hat to instead of me." Dylan said bluntly yet ecstatically, "Perhaps now you'll leave me alone." He muttered as he walked off again.

"She'll never wear that hat." Rita laughed, "Never. Despite what she might have said."

"She will." Cal preferred the positive approach to life.

"So, can anybody guess what this years Holby pantomime is going to be?" Noel's excitement was zealous, eyes flickering around the doctors and nurses who had clustered together for the announcement, "Ebenezer Scrooge!" Simultaneously, everybody's head rotated round promptly and locked on the brunette.

Connie's glare was hostile and prickly, arms folded across her chest fiercely, "No. No. I am absolutely not taking part. It isn't up for discussion. End of. Now, please return to what you are paid for - treating patients!" And with that she strutted out of the chaotic ED and back into her little office.

"I told you she wouldn't wear that silly hat." The blonde nurse smirked smugly.