"I've got coffee." Max whispered, setting the cup down on the only free area of desk he could see. Zoe winked her thanks at him and gestured for him to shut the door as she finished her phone call.
"Okay. Yeah, that's great. Bye." She sighed as she hung up and took a huge gulp of the coffee. "God did I need that."
"Long day?" Max said, leaning against Connie's desk.
"Something like that." She gestured at his reclining figure. "Careful, she'd have a fit if she saw you."
"Now there's something I'd love to see." He grinned as she downed the rest of her coffee with one hand while rummaging in her desk for some pain killers. "Anyone would think you were old hat at hangovers."
"I am not hungover!" She pulled out the pills with a flourish before wincing and holding her clearly pounding head in her hands. "I just have a headache."
"Yeah, and I've just signed a record deal."
"Anyway, what makes you think I'm not old hat?" Zoe looked up at him, eyebrows raised and Max got the sense that there was a whole lot that she wasn't telling him. Any reply he was about to formulate was, however, cut short as Charlie burst through the door, throwing a confused look in Max's direction before turning back to Zoe.
"Zoe, you're needed on site. There's been a helicopter crash and they need an experienced doctor with them." Zoe sighed and heaved herself up, handing her empty coffee mug to Max with a wink.
"Duty calls." She followed Charlie out of her office leaving Max standing slightly forlorn, watching her go with a sense of apprehension. Anything where an experienced medic was required was normally serious, he'd learnt that much, and whatever his messed up emotions towards Zoe were, they meant he wasn't sure he'd cope if anything happened to her. Realising how odd he looked standing alone in the middle of her office, he quickly headed outside to clear his head. In the last few weeks, he'd completely fallen for Zoe, though she didn't know it yet. He'd wake before her and watch her sleep, dark hair falling across her face. He'd make a complete fool of himself to make her laugh because it was the most incredible sound he'd ever heard. He'd buy her coffee and doughnuts because when he did she beamed at him like he'd done something magnificent.
Obviously, he hadn't told her this yet.
"Nah, the green really brings out your eyes." Max mentally shook himself as he heard Jeff and Zoe approach the ED entrance. Despite his reservations, he couldn't help but laugh as Zoe emerged, tugging at the unflattering jumpsuit as she hurried after Jeff. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he lent back against the wall, content with watching the pair from afar. Only when the flashing lights of the ambulance were no longer visible did he make his way inside.
An hour later, there was still no news. Max was spending perhaps more time than was necessary waiting at the nurses' station, hoping that any minute now Tess or Charlie would appear with news of Zoe's imminent arrival. Eventually, the red phone rang and Max had to do everything in his power to stop himself pouncing on it. He patiently waited as Charlie took the call, looking for any signs in his face that everything had gone to plan. However, when Charlie put the phone down and caught Tess' eye, shaking his head almost imperceptibly, Max's stomach dropped.
"What's happened? Is she - they, are they okay?" Max looked frantically between the two nurses. Tess came over and gently led him away to the staff room - his sudden outburst of concern for Zoe was drawing attention from the rest of the department who weren't aware of their relationship.
"Max, you need to calm down." Tess shut the door, signalling to Charlie that she'd be through in a minute.
"Why? What's happened?" Max knew he was being indiscreet but he couldn't bear not knowing.
"The helicopter's collapsed." Tess sat down next to him, and he could see just how upset she was about the situation - he covered her hand with his, comforting both of them. Tess took a deep breath. "And Zoe's inside."
As Max tried to take in what Tess had just told him, Rita burst through the door.
"They're on their way." With one last look at Max, Tess followed Rita out of the room. Max hadn't moved from his position, his hand still over where Tess' hand had just been. Zoe. He couldn't think of anything else, his head filled with Tess' words. Zoe was still inside. Zoe was still inside. Zoe was still inside.
Thanks for the reviews people, they make my day. I don't own anything, not even Max sadly. Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter, I'll try and update again today.