AN: I'm so sorry I haven't updated in, what seems like, years. I've been extremely busy and I've had a nasty case of writers block and am completely stumped at what to write. So, bear with me :)

Chapter fifteen

Just outside of the ED entrance she stood there. One arm was folded across her chest and the other was to her mouth, holding her cigarette. She looked up at the smoke, watching how it twisted and curled in the air before disappearing into the sky. If only her thoughts could vaporize as quickly as the smoke. Right now her brain was pestering her on the James situation. Forget him. You did nothing wrong, he came onto you.

At that moment a hand found its way to her shoulder. She jolted and dropped her cigarette on the floor as her mind was brought back to reality. Turning around she saw the hand belonged to Noel. He gave her a subtle smile, "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you jump but I thought I should let you know that James has asked that the complaint be dropped."

Zoe felt the weight being lifted from her shoulders. She sighed with relief and returned Noel's smile, "Thank you Noel."

"No problem Dr Hanna." and with that he turned around and walked back to reception.

Zoe lent her back against the brick wall and allowed herself to continue to smile. Maybe she was wrong. Perhaps thoughts could disappear just as quickly as smoke. Problems, on the other hand, weren't as simple. Mrs Kennington was her biggest problem right now.

Just as she turned to walk back into the ED a figure engulfed her personal space. Before she had a chance to process who it was, she was being shoved backwards. The woman was shouting things at her. It took a while for the words to sink in.

"You cow!" The voice shouted, "You've got off scott-free despite harassing my son. So, I'm taking matters into my own hands."

Zoe was trying to hold the woman back, but her attempts did nothing but aggravate the woman further.

"Mrs Kennington, it isn't what you think. You didn't see what he did to me."

There was no point in reasoning with the woman, she wasn't listening. Before Zoe could say another word she was swept off her feet and sent to the ground. She could feel a burning pain on her side as the gravel dug its way into her skin. As Zoe began to push herself up from the floor Mrs Kennington flung herself onto the woman. Zoe's arms collapsed under her and she was forced to remain on her back whilst her ribs were being crushed by the overly large mother.

"Mrs Kennington, get off of me!" exclaimed Zoe.

"Just you try and make me" the woman spat back at her.

It was then that Zoe managed to wriggle one of her arms out from under the woman and send it to her jaw. Being unprepared for the blow, Mrs Kennington was dazed and Zoe managed to free herself from the iron tight clamps that was Mrs Kennington's thighs.

Zoe had regained her footing and was dusting her suit jacket off when Mrs Kennington joined her in standing. With one hand clutching her bruised jaw the other clasped Zoe's hair and yanked the doctor backwards.

"You stupid cow." Yelled Mrs Kennington in Zoe's ear, she could smell the grease oozing from the woman's pores. No wonder Mrs Kennington was the size she was. It seemed as though the woman had never eaten a vegetable in her life. Despite her size this woman was strong. She threw Zoe to the ground, causing her chin to slam into the gravel. Zoe could taste the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, it had an iron like taste to it. Feeling dazed Zoe attempted to push herself up only to have her head kicked in. She could feel a warm liquid oozing down the side of her face. As the final blow was sent her way she blacked out.

At that moment Dylan came running out through the double doors. As he ran to the unconscious Zoe two security guards ran a few meters behind him. They grabbed Mrs Kennington by the arms and restrained her.

"Get her out of here." Ordered Dylan to the two security guards. He knelt down beside Zoe, placing his hand on her neck he felt her pulse. Looking behind him, back to the hospital, he called for someone to bring a gurney.

Someone came and they lifted her onto the gurney. Pushing the gurney back into the ED, Dylan didn't take his eyes from Zoe's bruised and battered face. He felt something he hadn't felt in a long time. He could feel the same emotions bubbling in him that he felt when he came to the realisation that his mother was dead. He felt like an 11 year old child again, vulnerable and heartbroken. He wanted to run away and hide like he had done before but he knew he couldn't because this time it wasn't about him. This was about Zoe and he needed to be here for her.

"What happened?" asked Sam as she took hold of a bed bar and assisted with pushing the gurney to a private cubicle. Dylan could see she was truly concerned about Zoe's welfare.

"She, um, she was attacked by a woman." Mumbled Dylan to the floor rather than to Sam.

"By who?" exclaimed Sam

"I don't know. I think she was a patient's mother."

Sam's face relaxed and her eyes widened as she realised who caused this. She returned her gaze to Zoe and gave a little shake of her head.