Max, Noel and Cal met in the staff room at the end of their shift to try and come up with a story that would get them in to less trouble.
"I say we just tell her the truth, she is bound to be in a good mood without Connie present." Max said which caused the others to laugh.
"I think we should just say how we planned it when we thought Zoe was away, which is sort of true. Then continue to explain how we had to continue with the plan so that we didn't let the female nurses down." Cal said and the others just nodded.
"What Zoe doesn't know won't hurt her." Cal said but Zoe stood outside the staff room door eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Well Zoe isn't stupid Cal she knows what goes on in her department." Max said.
"We're screwed!" Noel and Cal echoed and at this moment Zoe walked through the door.
"Indeed you are." She added causing them to hold their heads in their hands.
"How long have you been standing there?" Max asked.
"Let's just say long enough. How about we finish this in my office?" She said whilst the three men followed her to her office terrified of the consequences that they were about to face.
"Now that you've all got your cover story straight, would anyone care to tell me the true version of events?" All of the guys looked down at the floor trying to avoid eye contact with Zoe.
"Okay... I guess I'm just going to have to pick one of you. Noel, seeing as you didn't get hurt would you care to tell me your part in all of this?"
"I was purely there to judge the matches, every game needs an umpire."
"And you thought this was a productive use of your time?" Zoe questioned causing Noel to quiet down.
"Zoe, the ED was quiet, even you know that." Cal retaliated causing Max to shake his head.
"I don't care how deserted the ED is. You are paid to do your job and in that description it doesn't say hold an ED Olympics. What if one of your patients deteriorated and there was no other doctor around, what then? Apologise to his family about your negligence and how you're sorry but you were engaged taking part in a stupid ED Olympics." Zoe was getting angrier the more she thought about what was going on in her department as she knew that if Guy Self caught word of this she would be fired on the spot.
"Who was the mastermind behind all of this? Cal? Max? I already gather it wasn't Noel." All three men went quiet not wanting to pass all of the blame onto Cal.
"Funny how you go quiet now Cal. I've been told by various members of staff that the idea was yours but I also know how, Max, you were just as much involved."
"Look Zoe we are sorry, we know that an apology isn't good enough but that is all we can do. I promise you, we promise you that this will never happen again. I know it's no excuse but we thought what with Connie being away we could have a bit of fun for once. We wouldn't have even considered it if we knew you were here." Max spoke up for the first time.
"You're right Max that is a feeble excuse but I appreciate the apology. You realise I can't let this go lightly but I am definitely not going to take it further because I can't take the risk of Guy Self finding out."
"Thank you Zoe." They all echoed.
"Don't thank me just yet. I expect you all to buy me drinks at the pub tonight." This caused them all to laugh and agree.
"Good. Now get out of my office and I never want to hear about any one of you pulling a stunt like this again." All of them stood up and left the office apart from Max who made an excuse to the others allowing him to stay behind.