Maddy pulled away quickly, "Linden, I, I" She shook her head, moving to the other end of the sofa. "Maddy, I..." she shook her head, "I can't, you told me I should concentrate on Ruby." "I thought..." She shook her head again, "You're like a brother to me Linden, it would be, just..." She shook her head again, standing to her feet, "I'm sorry I should go." She grabbed her bag and moved towards the door, "Maddy." "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have, I gave you the wrong signals, I'm sorry". Linden shook his head, "Maddy, it wasn't" "I'm sorry" Maddy cut in, leaving before Linden had a chance to reply.
"Maddy" Linden grabbed her arm as she walked past him on the ward the next morning. "Can we talk?" Maddy shook her head, "I've got an appointment with Jayne Grayson." Linden nodded and let his hand drop from her arm, "maybe later" he whispered as she walked away.
"Okay?" Maddy smiled and nodded as Maria walked over to her, placing a mug of tea on the desk. "Thanks." Maria smiled, "no problem, you look like you could do with a break." Maddy laughed, "Ruby seems to be a bit nocturnal" she joked, her hands moving to cradle her stomach. "Ruby" Maria smiled, Maddy nodded. "Actually," she lifted her gaze to Maria, "I wanted to ask you a favour." "Sounds ominous" Maria laughed, leaning on the desk. "Will you be my birthing partner?" "Seriously?" Maria's face lit up. Maddy nodded, "I spoke to Jayne Grayson about my maternity leave earlier, and I mentioned it, she said as long as we give her plenty of notice she doesn't see a problem with you having the odd afternoon off to come to antenatal classes with me, if you want to that is" Maria leant over the desk and wrapped her arms around her friend, "I'd love to." Maddy smiled, "Right, Now I believe I've got patients to see" she smiled, standing from her seat, picking up a file and walking away.
"No, let go of me. Get off." The screaming of a patient being escorted by security caused Linden to walk from his office, "Mr O'Dowd, to what do we owe this pleasure?" He asked, seeing Tom sprawled across the floor, a bloodied towel held to his left hand. "Maddy" he slurred, the fumes from the alcohol he'd consumed almost overpowering. "I want Maddy." Linden shook his head, "Doctor Young is busy, you can let me treat you or you can let security escort you off the premises." "Maddy!" Tom screeched. Maddy frowned as she heard someone repeatedly call her name, "excuse me for a minute", apologising to her patient, she threw her stethoscope around her neck and stepped from the cubicle. "What the hell..." She saw Tom slumped onto the plastic seats Linden and the security guard had helped him onto. "What on Earth are you doing here?" "Maddy." He stood to his feet before stumbling forward, Linden grabbing him as he lunged towards Maddy. "Jeez Tom, when did you drink something that wasn't 40% proof." "I'm bleeding" he told her, "You need to help me." "Maddy" Linden looked concerned, she shook her head, "Into the side room, I'll sort your hand out and then you go" she said firmly, walking away, Tom stumbling after her.
"Don't you want to know what I did?" Maddy shook her head, "I want to stitch your hand and get you out of here Tom." They sat in silence for a while as Maddy removed several shards of glass from Tom's hand before stitching up the worst of the cuts and dressing his wounds. "You've put on some weight since I last saw you." He slurred as she wrapped a bandage around his hand. "No" Maddy snapped, pulling off her gloves and throwing them in the bin, "I've put on weight since I last slept with you." She yelled, storming out of the room. "Wait." Tom stumbled after her, falling through the doors. "No Tom, I told you I'd sort out your hand and then you had to go. I kept my part of the deal, now leave." Tom shook his head, "You can't tell me you're pregnant with my child and then expect me to leave." The whole ward stopped, turning to face Maddy and Tom. "Happy?" Linden snapped at Tom as Maddy fled from the ward, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Mads?" Sam's strong arms wrapped around Maddy as she ran into him on the stairs, instantly breaking down and sobbing into his chest. He sat her down on the stairs, holding her until her sobs softened. Sam nodded as he saw Linden approach, signalling that he'd take care of her. "Come on" he said softly, helping her to her feet, and leading her away from the nosy nurses in the corridor.
"So what's wrong then?" Maddy sighed, wishing there was a double vodka in the orange juice in front of her. "Tom came back." "Tom?" Sam was puzzled, "O'Dowd" Sam still looked confused, "I don't..." Maddy said nothing, but lowered her gaze, running her fingers lightly over her stomach. "He's..." Maddy nodded, "He's Ruby's father. The day I found out, I tried to ring him. I must have tried at least 100 times that week, but he kept ignoring my calls." Sam shook his head, "You don't need to explain yourself Mads, I know you'll have done what you thought was right". She nodded, "He was taking heroin, and then today, he smelt like he'd bathed in whiskey, she deserves better than that." Sam nodded, "that's the least she deserves." "And Linden kissed me." She whispered, "he told me I needed to concentrate on being a mummy, and then he kissed me Sam, now, I can't even look him in the eye Sam, it's all a big mess." She sighed sadly, more tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Hey" Sam reached out and took Maddy's hand in his, "Linden's right, you need to concentrate on you, and you need to concentrate on Ruby, and if other people put themselves in a position where you don't feel comfortable with them in your life, it's their loss, not yours". Maddy smiled, "Thanks". Sam winked, "Anytime. Now, I was on my way to invite you out for dinner Doctor Young, I feel like we haven't seen each other in ages." Maddy laughed, she could always guarantee that Sam would cheer her up. "Dinner would be lovely" she smiled, "I've got something to show you too." Sam raised an eyebrow, "Oh yes." "Yes, but If I show you now we'll have nothing to talk about over dinner, so come on" She downed the contents of her glass, waiting for Sam to do the same. "Got your wallet?" she asked. Sam nodded. "Good" Maddy took his hand as they left the bar, "you're paying for dinner."
