Zoe's scream pierced the air, her sobs reverberating through the house like shots. Max woke with a jolt from his position on the sofa, massaging the crick in his neck as he took the stairs two at a time. He'd stayed at hers for the night but had slept downstairs - despite their reconciliation earlier, he wasn't convinced she wasn't just putting up a front and he didn't want to push her too hard. Throughout the day she'd been magnificent, barely flickering when the subject was brought up, fobbing off concerned colleagues with a bright smile and a wink. But he'd seen her earlier, had spoken to Charlie. It scared him, how much she meant to him, how quickly he'd fallen for the doctor with the killer shoes, the drunk with the wandering hands and the woman who was more broken than she'd ever admit. He'd caught her earlier, laughing with Rita, and he'd been awestruck that someone so beautiful, so effortlessly amazing would want anything to do with him. As he burst into her room he took a sharp breath, raising a panicked hand to his forehead. Zoe was still asleep, sobbing in a corner, but she'd managed to reopen the wound on her leg and the sheets were soaked in blood. Pressing one hand against it and trying to ignore how quickly his hand turned dark red, he shook her awake, fumbling with his phone.

"Zoe. Zo, wake up." She came round with a start, lashing out at whatever was tormenting her dreams before focussing on Max and her leg. Her eyes widened, the panic visible on her face.

"Max, what-"

"It's okay, you're going to be fine." He soothed, desperately trying to keep the tremor from his voice. Finally pulling his phone from his pocket, he shakily dialled 999, leaning over to kiss Zoe gently as he listened to the operator. "Okay, thanks." He pulled off his shirt and pressed it against the gaping wound, all the while talking to Zoe, trying to keep her calm. "They're on their way, just focus on me Zo, that's it." He locked eyes with her, forcing a grin. "Good girl." She reached out and grabbed his hand, her nails digging into his palm briefly before her eyes rolled back in her head and her grip slackened. "Zoe? Zo, please look at me. Zoe!" He was yelling now, his voice breaking as he heard a knock on the door.

"Hello? Ambulance service?" Max had never been more relieved to hear Jeff's voice, twisting as he entered the room, closely followed by Tamzin. "Max, what are you-" he broke off as he caught sight of Zoe.

"Jeff, she's not breathing, she was having a nightmare and then-" Max gestured to his shirt, now almost dripping with blood. Jeff nodded, but Max caught the uneasy glance between the two paramedics. Whatever Zoe had managed to do to herself, it wasn't good.

"Okay mate. Just give us some room, alright?" Max felt himself being gently manoeuvred to one side and watched, helpless, as they worked on Zoe. He caught sight of himself in the mirror, hands covered in her blood and tears staining his face. His bare chest was splattered as though someone had thrown crimson paint on it, but he didn't have time to grab a new shirt. Jeff and Tamzin were starting to take Zoe downstairs, only pausing briefly as Tamzin looked back at Max.

"Are you coming? Max?" When there was no reply, she shrugged at Jeff and the pair continued downstairs. Only when he heard the door shut did Max snap out of whatever trance he'd been in and run down the stairs, grabbing the door of the ambulance just before Tamzin shut it.

"I'm coming with her." It wasn't a question and he pushed past before Tamzin could reply, sitting next to Zoe and kissing her hand. "It's okay Zo. I'm here." Tamzin gently put a blanket over his shoulders and he smiled gratefully.

"Are you two..." She trailed off, gesturing at their linked hands. Max shrugged - in truth, he didn't know what Zoe and he were. There were moments when he thought they were something more serious, but at other times it felt as though she just needed someone to be there for her, and it didn't really matter if it was him or someone else.

"I'm not sure. I think - I know - I love her Tamzin, and I don't really care what we are as long as she's okay." Max turned back to Zoe, smiling sadly. "I've never told anyone that." Tamzin rested a hand on his shoulder, and the pair remained in silence for the rest of the journey, Zoe's unsteady breathing and the rush of late night traffic filling the ambulance.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, it's taken me ages and I'm not completely happy with it so any advice would be great! I'll try and update again tonight because I'm going away for two weeks tomorrow. Please R&R people, it would be fab! X