"Well, if he's anything like you when you're sick, I'll avoid him."
Zoe knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as the words were out of her mouth when she saw a flicker of pain cross his face. After a short pause, she added, "I finish in an hour. If you hang around until then, I'll let you drive my car and I might even cook you breakfast."
This brought a smile to max's face, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I've had one of Dr Hanna's cooked breakfasts before."
"Ah, but this would be one of Mrs Walkers breakfasts, and she learnt from the best."
"...Don't go near him, Zo. Please."
"I won't."
…
"Did you find him?" Robyn fell into step next to Zoe as she rushed towards the ambulance bay.
"He's gone home sick."
"Are you sure? Because-"
"He's gone home sick, Robyn. Leave it."
Robyn stopped and watched the doctor rush outside. After a moment, she looked in the direction Zoe had come and rushed up the stairs.
…
When Max heard the door open, he gave a smile. "Couldn't keep away?"
He jumped and sat up when it was Robyn's voice instead of the one he'd expected. "You're impossible to track down, you know that?"
"Yet here you are. Did Zoe tell you where I was?"
"She said you'd gone home. He's asking for you, Max, and I don't know what to tell him."
"How about you tell him to piss off."
"Max-"
"No. I've told him before I want nothing to do with him, Robyn. It's not my fault he won't stay away."
With a sigh, Robyn folded her arms. "Fine, but the girl in cubicle 2 wants you, and we both know what it's like to be let down by an adult."
Grumbling, Max pushed himself to his feet.
As he approached cubicle 2 a short time later, he saw his wife exiting cubicle 8.
…
"Max, I'm all done for the day, and I-" Zoe stopped when she realised Max was no longer in the on call room. Muttering to herself about him disappearing all the time, she sat on the bed and dialled his number. When it went straight to voicemail, she rubbed her temple and waited for the beep. "If you didn't text me useless messages all day, your phone wouldn't die before the end of our shifts. I'll wait for you in the on call room." After a pause, she added. "I love you."