I'M A DOCTOR, CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was only when they decided to take a taxi to the best Weatherspoons (according to Ethan) that they realised their mobiles had gone forever with the collapse of Redmyres.

They wondered briefly about insurance but it seemed a lost cause. The destruction of the mansion obviously came under "An Act of God".

Connie borrowed a mobile from a member of the Weatherspoons staff and asked Jac if she could stay in charge of the A & E for a couple more days.

"I have one member of staff in hospital with concussion and the rest of us are exhausted."

"I've got it covered; we saw it on the news. Apparently there actually was some psychic phenomena while you were there. You get yourselves rested, Connie."

Jac switched off her phone, grinning. Well, well, well, so something had finally knocked the stuffing out of Connie Beauchamp. Jac hoped it was only temporary. She enjoyed sparring with Connie at her feistiest.

"Look at you" Dylan grumbled, "All that thick hair of yours and you still managed to get bruised where it showed."

Lofty knew the huge bruises on his forehead and cheekbone looked bad, but they'd heal.

"And when those heal you're going to have two more" Dylan snapped, "What were you playing at, you stupid bugger?"

"I couldn't let Dervs die!"

"Ben, look at me. Properly! Right, now listen. I love Dervla, true, but not as much as I love you, you cretin. Never, never put yourself on the line like that again."

"I'm sorry."

"You pull a stunt like that again, Benjamin, and you really will learn the meaning of 'sorry'."

"So when can we all see Ben?" Cal asked Dylan that afternoon.

"Tomorrow if you like. He'll be glad to see you."

"Good. We've got him a new mobile and a basket of fruit."

"Er… you have half a basket of fruit now" confessed the shameless Ethan.

"The Holby Hoover strikes again" Cal snapped, adding:

"You can get yourself to Sainsrose on your break and buy him another one."

"I've had a traumatic experience and they make me hungry" Ethan defended his actions.

"NEVER!" was Cal's response.

Morris Dewhurst looked severely at Lily.

"I'm afraid, Ms Chao, we have a lot of details to discuss about the incident at Redmyres Grange. I shall need to interview you again soon."

"You would be better off asking Connie or Rita. I was not there."

"Oh I'll think of plenty to ask you. Can't have an uncomfortable silence during dinner, can we, now?"

Lily blushed prettily.

"Sergeant Dewhurst, are you asking me on a date?"

"If you're up for it."

"Oh I think I might be."

Things settled down again at Holby; Ben was off work for a week and then came back, to Dylan's disapproval. He felt Ben needed at least one more week. Connie remembered her promise and told Lily and Louise how grateful she was for their stepping in and keeping the ED working. She also made a formal apology to everybody about the fact that she'd been duped over the promise of money for the Childrens' ward and was almost reduced to tears again by the support she received from her colleagues. There was a moment that Rita could only describe as surreal one day during her shift, when first of all Connie and then Iain bought her some pretty new panties, each of them sidling up to her almost shyly with the parcel.

One afternoon towards the end of Connie's shift she was informed by Charlie that a Mr Jonathan Mileham wished to see her.

"That's him waiting outside for you. Go on, Connie, I'll cover for the rest of your shift."

Charlie had been concerned about Connie's mood ever since the group had come back from Redmyres. He didn't like seeing her with the fight gone out of her.

"Mr Mileham, my name's Connie Beauchamp. How may I help you?"

The man smiled. He was in his thirties, tired-looking but pleasant.

"You haven't seen my photograph in the papers?"

Connie did a double-take.

"The Redmyres murder case; you were acquitted and freed."

"Yes, thank the Lord, it was hard enough losing Keira and Orlando in such a vile way without being accused of their murder! I believe Harper-" Jonathan almost spat out the word – "Died when the place collapsed in a freak accident? The police confirmed some psychic phenomena and they said Harper panicked and confessed in front of witnesses."

"That's true. He was a disgusting man, Mr Mileham."

"Please call me Jonathan. I know he was; he used to visit my sister and her husband and smarm round them. Well, it's all over now and I have my life back."

"I'm sorry the place was destroyed, with it being your property now…"

Jonathan shuddered.

"Mrs Beauchamp, I don't want to look on that place again. Okay, I'll lose some money but compared to peace of mind, that's nothing. And I do stand to inherit a lot of money plus my compensation for being imprisoned wrongfully for so long. Again, I don't want to gain from anything that killed my nephew and niece. But I believe you were tricked into thinking you'd get money for your hospital?"

No, thought Connie, he can't mean…

"I was stupid…" she began.

"He was poisonous! Anybody would have been taken in. Well, Mrs Beauchamp, I want to give you that money for the hospital. There'll be the legal issues first, of course, but the money will be released to me by the end of the year, and I'll be donating it to Holby General's Children's Ward. How does that sound, Mrs Beauchamp?"

"It would sound even more wonderful if you'd call me Connie!"

She slept well for the first time in over a week, and next morning made the announcement. There were cheers and general embraces. Jack did a whoop and a cartwheel, Robyn snuggled into Cal, Ethan said not a word about missing his coffee break.

Connie invited everybody to the local pub – the second time she'd ever been in one – and bought the first round. She asked everybody to raise their glasses.

"To Jonathan Mileham … and to his lovely niece and nephew, Keira and Orlando, who I'm sure must have been lovely children."

She raised her glass. Outside, the sun lit up the clouds for a fleeting moment. Psychic phenomenon or just the weather… it didn't matter.

Cal and Ethan looked over at Dylan, Lofty and Jack, Dixie hugged Rita and Iain together, Cal hugged Robyn to him, and slowly they all began to sing "All you need is love."

THE END