The surprise was visible on her face, raised eyebrows, lips pursed, briefly at a loss for what to say.
"Zoe..."
Eventually she spoke. Although Zoe was left unsure as to whether she was pleased to see her or not.
"Someone I know was bought into the ED..."
Zoe paused, again feeling uncomfortable in her own skin. She fiddled with the ring on her finger.
"I thought I'd come and say hello..."
She glanced about the office.
"...see how you were getting on?"
Her gaze finally rested on Connie who had regained her composure. She nodded, lips still pursed shut. She narrowed her eyes as if contemplating where to take the conversation.
"Did Charlie ask you to come and see me by any chance?"
She asked, watching her so intently that Zoe began to feel her cheeks begin to flush. She shifted from one foot to the other before shaking her head.
"I just wondered if you'd spoken to Guy? If anything had been mentioned about me?"
She asked as if really, it didn't matter.
Connie smiled, glancing at her computer screen as it bleeped a notification.
"He hasn't mentioned anything, bar the fact that you absconded your duties in Michigan..."
She let her head fall slightly to one side as she spoke, still watching, seemingly unblinking.
Zoe laughed.
"Absconded?! That's a bit over the top isn't it? Did you hear what happened out there?"
Connie nodded as she spoke.
"I couldn't stay after that..."
She folded her hands across her chest, looking to Connie who regarded her with a sigh, placing her hands neatly in front of her and rearranging her expression to something of a neutral one before she spoke.
"Zoe, I need you on my team."
She said matter-of-factly.
Whatever Zoe had been expecting from Connie it hadn't been that. She remained mute for a moment, still twisting the ring she wore, the ring Max had given her this time. She thought of him now, and of the baby growing inside of her, which she hadn't had much time to give thought to yet. She pushed it from her mind.
"What about Guy..."
She began, but Connie raised a hand and again shook her head, her smile returning.
"Leave Guy to me."
She said quietly.
"He knows that to run this department successfully then I need to have the best team behind me. You are the best Zoe. And I'm not afraid to admit that I need you...especially now."
She added, drawing in a breath and pushing herself up from her chair, moving to stand in front of Zoe.
"Especially now?"
Zoe repeated the other woman's words, realising how much taller Connie was as she stood before her.
Connie smiled again, this time slightly ruefully.
"The reason's aren't important. What's important is that you say yes..."
She watched Zoe intently, seeing the thoughts flicker past her eyes.
"I'm sure I can have a word with Tess about Max's position..."
She added, again her voice low, the first half of a whisper.
Zoe smiled despite herself.
"That wasn't what I was thinking...but yes, please..."
She chewed absently on her bottom lip.
"What were you thinking about?"
Connie asked, folding her arms neatly across her chest, her white shirt puckering and creasing against her arms.
"I'm pregnant."
Zoe said the words before she was ready, almost laughing at the absurdity of it. How alien it sounded.
Connie raised her eyebrows, glancing briefly at Zoe's abdomen.
"Only a few weeks I think...I, we've only just found out..."
"I won't say a word."
Connie cut in, touching her lip with her fingertips.
"Thank you..."
Zoe whispered, again feeling her cheeks flush, self-consciously placing a hand low against her body just above her pelvis.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?"
Connie asked, her composure regained, the surprise seeping from her features.
"See you tomorrow."
Zoe agreed with a bob of the head, reaching out and opening the door to leave.
"And bring that porter of yours with you."
Connie murmured as Zoe stepped out into the corridor, a smile creeping across her lips as Connie called after her.
Hello everyone! We are ill again, horrible colds so hardly hgetting any time to do anything (sorry, again) xxx