The following day, Zoe found herself longing for Max's company. Normally, she enjoyed her day off, revelled in having a break from all the chaos that seemed a permanent fixture in the ED. Since Nick had left she had become used to her own company, and even after starting up her - relationship? Could she call it that? - with Max, she had enjoyed spending her free day pampering herself. Today, however, she kept catching herself wondering what he was doing, when he'd be finished, even who he was talking to. She knew what it was of course - their fling had developed into something with feelings, at least on her part - but having gone so long being on her own, it seemed ridiculous the effect he was having on her. Suddenly, a knock on the door woke her from her reverie.

"Tess?" She wasn't sure who she'd been expecting to be at her doorstep at ten in the morning, but Tess certainly hadn't been top of her list.

"Hi Zoe." Her older colleague smiled warmly at her. "Is it okay if I come in?"

Zoe stepped back and led the way to the kitchen, a slight feeling of nausea washing over her as she realised the most likely reason for Tess' visit.

"Coffee? Tea? It's too early for wine, right?" Zoe laughed nervously, wincing at how guilty she must be appearing. It wasn't as though she had anything to feel bad about; Max and she were both fully grown adults, and considering how completely irresistible he was, she was being incredibly professional about it.

"I'll have a tea please." Tess was watching Zoe with interest - it wasn't often she got nervous. "How is everything?"

"Fine yeah." Zoe placed the two mugs on the table. "I could do without Guy Self breathing down my neck, but other than that-"

"Zoe." Tess gently interrupted. "I know. About you and Max?" She took a sip of tea. "I think it's great."

"You do?" Zoe looked in surprise at Tess. She'd been expecting a lecture, the Spanish Inquisition, something massively more painful that the reality was turning out to be. "It's nothing serious, I mean, he's nearly ten years younger than me, and I'm sure he doesn't want to be dealing with someone with as much baggage as me." She sat herself opposite Tess. "And what's everyone going to say?" Although she hadn't said it out loud, both women knew what she meant. A porter going out with a Clinical Lead? Even Zoe was having trouble with the status gap and she was the one in the relationship.

Tess reached across the table and held her hand. "Zoe, it wasn't you that gave it away. Have you seen the way he looks at you?" Zoe blushed, knowing exactly what Tess was referring to. On a couple of occasions, she'd turned to find Max gazing at her as though he couldn't decide whether to take her to bed or worship the very ground she walked on.

"But Tess, I don't know how to handle it. We've not discussed anything and I've not-" Zoe trailed off, resting her head in her hands. Tess watched her carefully for a minute, trying to assess what impact what she was about to say would have.

"Zoe, you don't need to handle it. It's just," Tess paused as Zoe looked up "he really does like you. Be careful how far you want to take it, because he's pretty far gone already." She stood up and picked up the now empty mugs as Zoe sat, slightly shell-shocked at Tess' revelation about Max's feelings.

"Right, I've got to get back to work." Tess announced, placing the mugs in the dishwasher. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course." Zoe stood and hugged her friend. "And thank you." Tess returned her smile before heading back to her car, waving as she drove off in the direction of the ED. As Zoe turned to go back inside, Tess' words filled her thoughts. She hadn't realised her feelings towards Max were reciprocated, but she was suddenly unbelievably happy about the whole situation. Max liked her. Really liked her. She could feel herself grinning like an idiot as she threw herself down on the sofa, reaching for her phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she found Max's number and quickly called, mentally telling herself to calm down.

"Hey, it's me."

"Yeah I know, your caller display sort of told me." She could practically hear him lounging against the wall, hiding from Louise or Charlie or whoever it was that wanted him to do some actual work.

"Shut up. Shouldn't you be pushing some trolleys or something?" She laughed as he gave an indignant gasp.

"I am on a break! Anyway, I'm on the phone to the boss so I'm not sure it's going to be much of an issue."

Smiling, Zoe glanced over a photo on her fridge. It was from the previous week, one Max had taken without her realising. He was leaning in to kiss her, and she had her eyes shut. She had never seen herself look so at peace with the world. "Zoe?" Max's voice tore her gaze away from the fridge.

"Yeah sorry. I was just wondering if you wanted to do something tomorrow?" She sat up, pouring herself a glass from the ever present bottle of wine next to the sofa.

"Sure, there's a posh restaurant that's just opened in town, I could pick you up at seven?"

"Great. And Max-" she grinned as she heard Louise yelling at him to come back inside.

"Yeah?"

"Don't be late."

Oooo two in one day, how exciting. Sorry (not sorry) for all the fluff, it'll start to heat up next chapter. R&R y'all. X