Rita filled up a glass with water before making her way back through to the lounge where Connie sat perched on the edge of the sofa and Dixie sat on the floor, her eyes scanning the BP machine that was attached to Connie's arm. By now Connie was a deathly grey, her eyes rimmed red, her mascara smudged. Rita had never seen such a sad sight.
"Here you go" She whispered as she handed Connie the glass of water and sunk into the seat beside her.
"Thanks" Connie mumbled, refusing to make eye contact with the blonde.
"How's everything looking Dix?" Rita asked as she peered down at the paramedic, who then handed her a slip of paper. Rita's eyes scanned the paper quickly, relieved when she realised everything was ok.
"You've been lucky" Rita informed Connie.
"Me, lucky. You're joking right?" Connie spat. It was plain stupidity if Rita considered her lucky. She could think of ten billion other things that could be considered lucky, but her situation was not one of them. In fact if Connie had to describe it she would have said it was quite possibly the end of her world. She felt frustration, sadness and most of all longing for her darling Gracie, so far away yet so dear.
"I don't think you quite understand the danger you just put yourself, not to mention the baby, in. This isn't you and you know that. What's going on in that brain of yours to make you so bloody half minded" Rita was sat up bolt straight, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"Maybe I've just given up. Maybe I'm fed up of people interfering in my life and making decisions that have nothing to do with them" Connie eyes Rita, ensuring that the blonde understood that the words were partly directed at her.
"I told you I was sorry…"
"Well maybe sorry just isn't good enough" Connie hissed before placing the glass of water on the coffee table, rising from the sofa and storming off.
Rita heard the creak of the stairs as the brunette disappeared. This was shortly followed by the slamming of what she assumed to be Connie's bedroom door.
"She'll calm down" Dixie suddenly spoke. Rita looked to the woman, she had almost forgot she was even there.
"This is Connie were talking about. She'll have my head on her wall by the end of the day…" Rita sighed.
"You'll sort it, I know you will" Dixie smiled gently as she placed a hand on Rita's shoulder" I best get going anyway, I'm technically still on shift"
"Thank you for coming, I really appreciate your help" Rita stood up from the sofa and smiled at her friend.
"I'd do anything for you, surely you know that by now" Dixie murmured as her hand moved up to Rita's face, tucking her short hair back behind her ear.
"Yeah, cheer's mate" Rita spoke stiffly, her body language also stiffening slightly at Dixie's touch.
"Don't let Beauchamp get you down, you're too good for the likes of her anyway" Dixie moved in closer, so close that Rita could feel her breath against her skin.
"That's unfair. You don't know her like…"
"I don't want to get to know her..." Before Rita could respond she found Dixie crashing her lips against hers. For a second Rita's mind went into panic, she froze. She knew this wasn't what she wanted, or in fact who she wanted.
"Oh please, don't mind me"
Rita pulled herself away from Dixie, her brain finally kicking in. She looked to the doorway where she found an exhausted looking Connie wrapped in her dressing gown, hair falling down her back in soft curls. Her eyes were narrowed and her arms crossed across her chest.
"Connie…"
"Don't you dare apologise to her Rita!" Dixie spoke, her eyes dancing as she looked to the other blonde.
"I'm sorry but what are you still doing here?" Connie spat back, her anger once again rising like the temperature in summer.
"Trying to convince Rita that you are in fact as trashy as the rumours say you are. Two children, no Daddy's in sight. Then there's half the hospital that you've slept with…"
"Dixie!" Rita snapped. Connie glared at the paramedic, her eyes were as cold as ice, but Rita could see through her exterior.
"Get out" Connie growled.
"Happily, come on Reet's" Dixie reached out to take the nurses hand, but it was snatched away, the hands turning to fists as she tried desperately to keep her own temper under control.
"Reet's?" Dixie questioned, confused.
"You heard her, go" She said bluntly as she moved to the doorway where Connie stood and wrapped an arm around the brunette's waist.
"But..."
"Just go, before your mouth comes out with anymore shit" Rita all but spat.
Dixie looked from Rita to Connie, her eyes narrowing before she shook her head in disbelief.
"Don't bother coming running to me when she fucks you over like the rest" She cried before pushing past the two medics, storming through the hallway and out of the house, slamming the door behind her. Connie winced at the impact, but Rita's grip tightened.
"I'm sorry about that, I should never have brought her here" Rita apologised as she moved so they were face to face.
"It's fine, you were trying to help" Connie practically whispered.
" No it's not ok, I've been such an idiot Connie, I know I've ruined everything between us, and I really hope that one day you'll forgive me, and I.."
"Rita? Shut up and take me to bed"