A/N: Finally an update guys! I've been working on this for ages, and then end result is six pages of Microsoft word! Would really make my day if you leave a review :D I hope you enjoy! –LittleBooLost/Ciara xx

Connie opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the pale light filling her bedroom. It was early, she realised, checking the time on her phone. 6.30am. Her alarm wasn't due to go off for another half hour and she smiled in relief. She nestled back into her pillows, until she heard a small sigh beside her, and rolled over.

It was Rita. The small blonde was beginning to stir, unfurling from the foetal position and stretching her legs. Her cold toes brushed against Connie's shin as she moved, and her quiet groans broke the sleepy silence.

'Morning,' Connie breathed, stretching a tentative hand towards Rita's face. Her fingers brushed against Rita's forehead, pushing her blonde locks of hair back.

'Nnngh.' Rita grunted in distaste, swatting Connie's hand away half-playfully. 'Let me sleep.'

'Bit rude, I only said morning!' Connie teased, pretending to be insulted. She sat up leaned over the blonde, hesitating before lightly brushing her lips against Rita's. Rita deepened the kiss enthusiastically, her tongue sliding into Connie's mouth as she began to fight for dominance.

When Connie pulled away, breathing a little heavier than usual, her hair was mussed up and her lips were swollen. Rita grinned and propped herself up on her elbows. 'Looks like you enjoyed that.' Her tone was dangerously flirtatious, much more than it had been the night before and Connie tensed up.

'Yes. No. I don't know!' She put her head in her hands, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She wasn't used to someone else making her feel this way – in personal relationships, Connie liked to be in control.

Rita felt her heart clench painfully, and an overwhelming desire to pull the other woman into a tight embrace. 'I- sorry. Too soon?' She mumbled, cautiously rubbing Connie's shoulder.

'I don't know.' Connie looked over for a second and then she sat playing with her fingers. 'I don't know what this is, Rita. I don't know if this is just some silly little fling, or-'

'Do you want it to be?' Rita's voice was emotionless. Her eyes were burning: with anger or tears, she wasn't sure.

'Let me put it this way.' Connie finally looked up, pulling the duvet slightly so it covered her bare chest more securely. 'You're not the first woman I've slept with, Rita.'

'Same here,'

Connie ignored the little comment and continued. 'I said slept with. They've all been one-night stands for my own personal gain. I have never dated a woman.'

Rita snatched her hand from where it had been on Connie's shoulder. 'So yesterday, when you brought me back here to talk, it was actually to shag?! For your own personal gain?!'

'No, of course not.' Connie shook her head desperately. 'It was just to talk, and so I could apologise properly. Having sex was never on the cards.'

'Oh, you really expect me believe that.' Rita laughed humourlessly. 'I've heard the rumours – that you shagged practically every man on Darwin!'

Connie bit her lip and tears spilled onto her cheeks. 'I never intended to sleep with you, Rita. It just happened. I shouldn't even have kissed you – you were I drunk, I took advantage…I'm sorry.'

The sight of her boss crying made Rita calm down. 'Maybe that's true.' She sighed. 'But I wasn't drunk, not really. I knew what was going on and so did you. We both wanted it.'

'I'm sorry,' Connie apologized again, wiping her face roughly, before inhaling deeply. Rita started to talk again but she interrupted. 'Please, just let me get to the point. You asked if I wanted this to be a silly little fling and to be honest, I don't. I've never felt this way about another woman – about anyone, really. Can we just… try?'

'Well….' Rita reached over and began to play with Connie's hair, carefully pulling it free of the bobble and fixing the parting. She trailed her fingers through the delicate curls, teasing them out of any knots. 'It's a good thing I feel the same way, then, isn't it?'

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'Right, what we have we got?' Connie fell into step beside Rita and Dixie, hands clasped around the trolley rail.

'This is Hannah Dayle, 26, took a tumble down a flight of stairs. She was unconscious on arrival to the scene but is now semi-conscious, her GCS is sixteen and obs are twelve.' Dixie steered the trolley into a free cubicle and left.

'Hello Hannah, I'm Rita. Squeeze my hand if you can hear me?' The nurse lightly laid her hand on the patient's upturned palm.

'I'm awake, I can hear you.' Hannah ignored Rita's request and started to fumble with her neck brace. 'Get this stupid thing off me!'

'Leave the neck brace alone, please.' Connie's tone was short and clipped as she took her stethoscope from around her neck. 'We'll remove it later if your x-rays are clear – now, where does it hurt?'

'You can't give me an x-ray! I'm pregnant, my baby will get cancer!' Hannah's voice became panicky, and she glared at Connie venomously.

'Miss Dayle, please calm down. We are well aware of the risks of x-raying a pregnant woman.' Connie replied patronisingly, before starting to listen to Hannah's chest. 'Rita, sort out an ultrasound machine please.'

'Sure.' Rita pulled back the curtain and stepped outside. Glancing back over her shoulder, she shot an impish grin in Connie's direction and winked before mouthing 'gonna miss you!' Before Connie could reply with a condescending look or a helpless smile – she didn't know which to pick – the curtain had been dragged back into place and Rita was gone and all that remained was the scent of her coconut shampoo.

Half-heartedly, Connie turned her attention back to Hannah. 'Now, does your stomach or anywhere else hurt?'

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When their shifts finally ended, Connie and Rita left the ED together. It was blisteringly hot outside, and Connie instantly regretted putting her blazer on. She tore it off and stuffed into her bag, while Rita followed suit with her leather jacket.

'Why is it so hot?! It's the middle of September!' Rita moaned, fanning herself breathlessly. Her face was already flushing pink.

'State the obvious, then.' Connie rolled her eyes, tying her hair into a messy bun. 'Do you fancy going to the pub then?' Her tone was disdainful as she flicked her hand in the direction where the local was. The pub was a family-orientated one that was small and stuffy. There was no air conditioning, and the rest of the ED were already heading there in a large group.

It was Rita's turn to roll her eyes now and she grabbed Connie's hand. 'Obviously not, if they're all going. I want to be alone with youuuuuu!' She sang the final word happily, and Connie shook her head in amusement. But then Rita's face fell, and she sighed. 'It's not like any of them are talking to me anyway. Some "friends".

'They'll come round eventually, Rita. What happened yesterday with your husband was a big surprise for everyone.'

'Why can't they just be grown up about it, though? You and Tess and Zoë are the only ones that aren't treating me like a piece of dirt.'

'I don't know. But just try and forget about it for a little bit, while we go do something fun. I want to see you smile!' Connie squeezed Rita's hand tightly and the nurse managed a weak half-smile. 'Come on, you can do better than that! Or do I have to tickle you?' She wiggled her fingers threateningly and Rita squealed in fear.

'No! Absolutely not! Let's go do something fun!'

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Twenty minutes later they were perched on a rock in the middle of the beach. There weren't many people around, but then again, it was still only early afternoon. One of the perks of working shifts, Connie thought. There's never noise pollution when I decide to grace the outside world with my presence. At that moment, Rita's voice caught her attention and she diverted her gaze away from the sea. 'What did you say?'

'I said, what were you thinking about? You looked a bit out of it. Did your brain stop working? It's very dangerous for brunettes to think too much, you know, wears out the cogs-'

'I'm sorry?' Connie laughed. 'I thought the stereotype was that it's dangerous for blondes to think too much?'

'Well, yes, maybe that is true, but do you know what they also say?'

'What's that then?'

'That blondes have more fun!' Rita slid off the rock, yanking off her shoes and socks. She started to pile handfuls of sand onto her feet, and then tipped her head back to smile crazily at Connie.

'What the hell are you doing?!' Connie giggled, and began to wonder if Rita was a bit on the nutcase-y side.

'Burying my feet in the sand, and having more fun than you! Hah!'

'Well, we can't have that.' Connie kicked off her Louboutins before joining Rita on the sand and copying her actions. 'See? You're not having more fun than me anymore!'

Rita leapt up. 'Prove it.'

'How?'

'Run into the sea. With me. With your clothes on!'

'Rita, you've got to be kidding-'

'Oh no!' Rita suddenly looked very serious. 'I never joke about this kind of thing. In fact, I DARE you to run into the sea with your clothes on!'

'Yes, well-' Connie jumped back up- 'I never back down from a dare!' And with that, she grabbed Rita's hand and together they sprinted into the waves.

'Argh!' Rita squealed as soon as her feet contacted the freezing water. 'It's too cold! I'm out!' She yanked her hand out of Connie's, but didn't run away fast enough.

'Oh no you don't!' Connie latched her arms around Rita's waist and pulled her back.

'Hey! Connie!' Rita laughed, and tried to struggle free. After a few moments of writhing about, she realised that the feeling of Connie hugging her from behind was actually quite nice, and she relaxed.

'See? Cold water isn't that bad, is it?'

'I suppose I can put up with it for a while. But if I get frostbite, I am so blaming you!'

'Shut up.' Connie giggled and tickled Rita's stomach, feeling the blonde jerk and laugh in her arms. 'You'd never do that - I'd lose my job!'

'Okay, fine!' Still laughing helplessly, Rita grabbed at Connie's hands and finally they stilled. 'Maybe I won't!'

'Just maybe?'

Rita twisted round in Connie's embrace. 'Just shut up!' She wound her own arms around Connie's waist and kissed her.

'