"Max, people are looking." Zoe slapped his hand away from the hem of her dress, glancing frantically around the crowded pub. They were at the bar, some distance away from the rest of the ED staff but still much too close for comfort.

"I just want to get you home." He whispered in her ear, his hand grazing her breasts. Over his head, Zoe caught Rita watching them with narrowed eyes and shoved him off.

"Stop it." She hissed and stood up, avoiding Rita's gaze as she pushed her way through the crowd and slammed the door behind her. Max watched her leave, forlorn and vaguely resentful. He understood why she was reluctant to make their relationship public, but it didn't mean he had to like it, and it was getting harder and harder to keep it a secret. He picked up the remainder of her drink, smiling despite himself at the lipstick mark on the rim.

"What was all that about?" Rita slid into Zoe's vacant seat. "I didn't know you two were close." Max gave a non-committal shrug; as much as he disliked having to hide their relationship, he wasn't willing to throw it away over a petty argument.

"No idea. Too much to drink I guess." He smiled at Rita, who was unconvinced but sober enough to recognise there was no point pushing it. She gave his shoulder a light squeeze before heading back to the table, where Cal was attempting to balance a pint on his head. Max glanced over to the window where Zoe normally stood, wondering whether he should go and make peace with her, but there was nobody there. Frowning, he looked around the pub to make sure she hadn't come back inside and then made his way outside. "Zoe?" He pulled his jacket around him, peering around the deserted benches and car park. "Zoe, it's Max." He waited for a few seconds but there was no reply. She hadn't left - her bag was still at the bar - and it wasn't like Zoe to sulk, he'd had enough blazing rows with her to know that much. Feeling slightly apprehensive, he made his way round the side of the pub, fumbling with a cigarette as he scanned his surroundings for any sign of Zoe. It wasn't like her to disappear; whenever they argued it was loud, they were cruel, but it was always short lived and if anyone sulked it was him. This internal rambling was cut short as Max glanced down - he'd stood in something liquid and vaguely sticky. As he examined it, a wave of nausea hit him and he retched - the sticky liquid was blood. "Zoe?" He was yelling now, hastily following the pool of blood to its origin. Pushing aside one of the bins he found it. Zoe was slumped against the wall, her dress pushed up past her hips and ripped to reveal a huge gash on her thigh that was bleeding profusely. Max scooped her up bridal style, his brain going into overdrive as he caught sight of the bruising on her neck. Somehow, through the blind panic, he made his way to the ED, barely registering the brief silence that fell over the crowded reception as he burst through the swing doors, the blood from her leg staining his shirt.

"Lofty, call Tess now." Charlie rushed over to Max, commandeering a trolley from a passing porter. "What the hell happened?" Max couldn't and didn't reply - ignoring the trolley, he pushed his way through to resus, Charlie in close pursuit. Connie turned as they entered, the shock on her face only visible for a brief moment before she took charge, much to Max's relief. He watched as they worked, unable to take his eyes off Zoe.

"Max." Rita appeared next to him, her hand resting gently on his arm and he turned to her, desperate to find something to focus on amidst the chaos. "Let's get you cleaned up." Her tone was soothing and Max suddenly stumbled, his knees giving way as the emotion of the last half hour hit him. He grabbed onto Rita, gesturing weakly at Zoe.

"I can't leave her. I can't -" his voice broke and he tried to move towards her but was held back by a gentle but firm Rita.

"Max, let them do their thing. She's going to be fine. Come on." Reluctantly, he allowed himself to be ushered through to the staff room where he was issued with a cup of tea and a clean shirt. Rita sat next to him in companionable silence, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. Max's gazed was fixed on the area of resus visible to him and Rita could tell he was barely holding it together.

"I bought her that dress." Max broke the silence, his voice no more than a whisper. Gone was the cheeky, self-assured porter, in his place a lost, terrified boy. Rita was always amazed at how tragic events could strip away the layers and barriers until all you were left with was someone both at their weakest and strongest with their emotions on the line. "It was for her birthday." Max continued, and Rita looked up at the ceiling for a minute as she composed herself. "He's ruined her birthday present." Max's voice was louder, more aggressive and Rita glanced at him warily.

"Max-"

"He's had his filthy hands on her, Rita, and he's ruined her present." Max stood up and Rita braced herself for an onslaught. "I should have been there. I shouldn't have been so bloody selfish, I should've gone out sooner, protected her, fought him off, killed the twisted little creep." He overturned the coffee table and Rita flinched, not entirely sure how to cope with the situation. The commotion however had attracted Charlie's attention and he entered the room, holding a placating arm out to Max.

"Thanks Rita." He smiled at the younger nurse who nodded slightly shakily and headed back out to the department. Charlie turned to Max, who was pummelling the lockers as though his life depended on it. "Max, calm down."

"Calm down? Charlie, some creep has done this to her, to my-" Max broke off and Charlie realised why he was reacting in such a violent manner.

"Max, this isn't going to help anyone. Just sit down, okay?" Max remained stood up but stopped hitting the lockers, breathing heavily as he paced the room. The pair remained in silence, both wrapped up in their concern for Zoe, until Tess appeared at the door.

"They're taking her up."

Sorry it's taken me so long to update! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, please R&R it would be great! On a separate note, how emotional was last night's episode?! X