"Do you know how far gone you are?" Rita asked as she glanced down to Connie's stomach.
"About a month, I was in Bucharest" Connie managed as she found the strength to sit up straight so that she could sit shoulder to shoulder with Rita who was now sat down beside her.
"Not Charlie?" Rita asked cautiously although she was pretty sure she already knew the answer. To her surprise though the question brought a chuckle to Connie's lips.
"Oh god no! It was a doctor, Alex"
"Does he know?" Rita questioned.
"No and his not going to, he doesn't deserve to ever know his child" Connie was angry, angry with herself, angry with Alex for making her so weak at the knee's.
"I've managed to free a space in cubicles, get some tests done…" Charlie re-entered the room this time pushing a wheelchair. Rita and Connie burst into a fit of giggles at the sheer idea of Charlie and Connie ever getting anywhere remotely intimate.
"What?" He asked almost amused, his face lifting slightly as he watched Connie return some colour and find her sense of humour.
"You can put the wheelchair back Charlie, no-one's dying" Rita smiled. Charlie looked at Connie questioningly.
"Its morning sickness Charlie" She placed a hand on her stomach, watching as Charlie's eyes began to sparkle slightly.
"A baby?"
"Just a baby"
"Thank god, I thought something was seriously wrong for a moment then…" Charlie laughed as he ran his hands across his face, relaxing. Then a thought popped into his head.
"The Father…"
"It's Alex, and no I won't be telling him" Connie promised herself.
"You don't need a man anyway, there all useless. No offence Charlie" Rita added.
"None taken"
"… So then I turned round and was like, I can'-" Robyn stopped short of the door, blinking several times as she and her fellow nurse froze and stopped their bathroom gossip.
"Sorry, I didn't realise…" She started as she looked from Connie to Rita then finally at Charlie.
"Impromptu staff meeting, we were just leaving" Rita said brightly as she leapt to her feet and held out a hand to Connie who seemed to be blushing slightly. Connie took the blondes hand and allowed herself to be pulled upwards.
"Yeah sorry about this guys" Charlie said before moving to the door and holding it open for both Connie and Rita.
"Such a shortage of suitable meeting rooms" Connie pretended to muse out loud as she slipped past Charlie out of the room, leaving Robyn and the other young nurse to look at each other and wonder what on earth had just happened.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To say she was dead on her feet was an understatement. Connie all but crawled to the car, her feet heavy, her back in two and her ankles sore. She found relief in just climbing into her car, the last part of the day, the drive home. She was one step closer to her bathtub.
It was beginning to rain, droplets pelting against the metal and glass of the car. Connie swiftly placed the windscreen wipers on, turned the radio on and started the car.
The sound of Steve Wright filled the car as she pulled out of the hospital carpark and turned left. The traffic ahead was moving slower than usual, the rain causing those on the pavement to become drenched. Connie was careful to drive nearer to the centre markings, trying to avoid soaking passing pedestrians.
The traffic lights ahead turned to red, Connie immediately placing on the breaks. As she waited she found herself glancing about the familiar street, the same street she drove up twice a day. To her left was a bus stop, a huddle of people finding solace underneath the glass shelter. Connie was grateful for her car.
As the brunette glanced closer she became aware of the small blonde, forced to stand in the rain, the shelter to full. Connie recognised the blonde immediately. She found herself opening the car window and leaning across the passenger seat.
"Rita!" She called. The blondes head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she bent slightly, peering into the car.
"Fancy a lift home?" Rita hesitated for a second, the history between the two was not the best and yet here Connie was offering a lift home. She looked to the crowded bus stop before glancing back at Connie and nodding.
"Come on then" Connie shouted. Rita grinned as she leapt from the pavement, pulled the car door open and practically threw herself into the passenger seat.
"You are a life saver"
"I know" Connie smirked" Anywhere were you heading too?"
"The train station" Rita sighed. Connie looked perplexed for a moment.
"I thought you were local?"
"I am, usually. My Flat's flooded so I'm staying with a friend, she lives about four miles west of Holby, not to far…"
"NOT TOO FAR! There is no way I am dropping you at the train station, you'll catch pneumonia. Come back to mine, I have a spare bed with your name on it" Connie argued.
"I can't intrude, not when you're already giving me a lift, this is way more than I deserve"
"Oh for god sake, is this because of the whole murder suspicion because do you know what, I am completely over it, now mine or a freezing cold train station?" Connie questioned as she put her foot down on the exhilarator.
"Fine, but you better have some warm pyjamas"