A/N: I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to comment on and read my fics during the past year. Other things had to take priority, but I'm hoping to now get back into writing, and hopefully will be posting more regular updates to my fics.
OOOOO
It was with a certain trepidation that Jill entered The Royal the following morning. She collected her files from Lizzie, offering only a brief 'thanks' in response, and made her way a little slower than usual to her office door. Gordon was close behind her, his softer footfalls echoing her clipped ones. She selected the new gleaming key from her key ring and inserted it into the new keyhole. A sharp click prompted her to depress the handle, leaning a little of her weight against the painted wood. She had gone through the same routine thousands of times, but never before had she felt quite so much fear at performing such a simple action. Her husband's hand brushed against her lower back, offering his support as she inched the door open.
A shaky breath was released upon seeing the interior of her office. There was no obvious destruction; everything was as she had left it the previous evening. Still, she stepped slowly into the room, glancing around warily, then going over the contents of the room more thoroughly. She exhaled slowly, leaning against her desk, noting only then the trembling of her hands.
"Okay?"
A nod was all she offered in response, taking a deep breath to steady her breathing before speaking. "I'm just glad we didn't have a repeat of the past couple of mornings." She released a laugh, feeling a little relief spreading through her, releasing some of the nausea in her stomach, and slowing her pulse.
He made a noise of agreement, and reached out to brush his hand down her arm. "Ready for Matron's meeting?"
She nodded with a sigh, grudgingly following him out of her office and into reception. He chose two seats at the back of the room; the chairs already set up that morning by Lizzie to face in the direction of Mr Harper's office. The twenty minutes were undoubtedly going to be immensely uncomfortable for Jill and Gordon, and both were eager to sit where they couldn't be seen and stared at.
Matron had suggested the meeting the night before to stem the building gossip around Jill and Gordon's 'situation' as the older woman had infuriatingly dismissed it as. Though it was more of an order than a suggestion; it was clear that the meeting would go ahead with or without the two doctors' agreement. And so Jill and Gordon had nodded, uttered some brief words and left Matron's office; both wanting to escape the prying eyes and whispered suggestions of the hospital staff.
Reception had filled up rapidly since Jill and Gordon had entered, resulting in almost every chair being occupied. Matron was the last to arrive, sweeping in the very moment the hand on the star-burst clock in reception hit 8:30. "Thank you for your attendance," she said, immediately quieting everyone in the room. "I've heard the gossip. I know the rumours that are going around. And they are just that; rumours. No one knows anything for certain. If we did Doctors Ormerod and Weatherill wouldn't be going through all this. So I want them stopped. It's not helping anyone creating fanciful stories."
Jill shifted in her chair, already hating the meeting, and it was less than a minute in. She was actually hoping some poor unfortunate person would be injured so herself, and preferably Gordon as well, would have to escape to casualty or to the accident site. She hated being the centre of attention at the best of times. But now, with everything aspect of their ordeal being aired in front of the entirety of their colleagues…
Gordon brushed her forearm with the backs of his fingers. The contact, though light, was still felt through the material of her jacket sleeve; it still sent the familiar yet still exciting tingle up her arm. A glance at him told her he was feeling as she was. He shifted in his seat, angling his body so his shoulder settled next to hers. She increased the pressure between their bodies, leaning against him, though not so much as anyone would notice. This simple action was enough to lighten her mood a little. Perhaps the meeting wasn't so bad after all.
