Back again, and with quite a long chapter! Please let me know what you think in the reviews, it means so much! If there is anything that you would like to see in later chapters, then I am very open to suggestions and really appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thank you again!
The moment that the first glimpses of dawn began to show around the edges of the curtains, Patsy slipped silently from Delia's room. At first she considered spending the remaining time before the shrill ring of the alarm clock in her own bed, but eventually decided against it. Instead she changed quickly and quietly in the corner. It was unusual for her to have full use of the mirror, and so she took her time smoothing out the untidy knots of sleep and pinning her copper locks up into her trademark style.
Smiling in satisfaction, she descended the stairs and unloaded the autoclave. By the time she had finished packing her medical bag, she heard the pounding of feet on the stairs as the other nurses made their way down.
Trixie poked her head around the doorframe.
"Ah, there you are! I was wondering where you had gotten to. You're up early,"
Patsy shrugged, "I woke up early. No sense in lying about when there are things to be done,"
"Suit yourself," Trixie yawned, "It's not a philosophy that I'll ever understand. Anyway, breakfast is ready,"
The dining room was busy, with people bustling back and forth. It was noisy too, with directions and orders being called back and forth across the table, but Patsy did not feel much like talking this morning. Instead she helped herself to a plate and sat down.
It was just beginning to quieten down when Delia ran in, still trying adjust her hair as she did, and mumbling apologies for her lateness.
"We wondered when you'd be joining us, Delia," Trixie teased, and Delia pulled a face in return before setting herself down beside Patsy.
"Good morning," she whispered.
"It can't still be morning!" Patsy joked, pretending to check her watch.
"Oh, give over," Delia rolled her eyes, "You must have been up with the lark,"
Patsy eyed her carefully.
"I am sorry for leaving so early,"
"It's alright. I wouldn't have expected you to stay," Delia said, shaking her head, "But you could have at least given me a shove. I only woke up because Trixie gave her door one heck of a slam on the way out,"
"She always does," Patsy grinned, "We've had pictures fall off the wall before,"
Their laughter was interrupted as the morning newspaper dropped down onto the table beside them. Patsy looked up to see Nurse Crane stood above them.
"I don't know if you're still interested in the case, but they're running an article about the Mr Croft case,"
Delia blinked.
"Mr who?"
"The chap who died. He was called Croft, and the man in police custody in police custody is Mr…" she stopped to flick the paper open and check the facts, "Mr Ashworth,"
"I see,"
"It was just if you were still curious about the facts, kid. You don't have to read it, if you don't want to,"
"No… thank you," Delia managed a smile, "I will read it when I get the chance to,"
"Of course,"
Nurse Crane left and Delia stared down at the paper, biting her lip anxiously.
"Are you going to read it?" Patsy asked her softly.
"Honestly, I don't know," Delia said, lightly skimming her fingertips across the inky black lettering on the page, "In the end I might not be able to bear to,"
Patsy nodded, being able to sympathise with her feelings immediately.
"Don't think of it now," she told her, "Put it out of your head. We could look at it later if you want to,"
That seemed to provide some comfort to Delia until she glanced up at the wall clock.
"Oh, heavens! Tell me that isn't the right time!"
Patsy cringed as she checked her wristwatch.
"That clock is telling perfect time, I'm afraid,"
"I don't know what the matter is with me today, I just can't keep up,"
Cursing, Delia bolted down the rest of her breakfast, before bidding Patsy and the rest a good day, and running out of the door. Nurse Crane shook her head in mild disapproval.
"I so rarely see Nurse Busby in any sort of disarray," she commented, "What on earth has come over her?"
"I can't imagine," was all the response that Patsy was able to offer.
The rest of the day passed without incident. Patsy was on the district rounds, and enjoyed being back into her normal routine and being able to work through her tasks methodically. Feeling purposeful and focused again was immensely satisfying, and she ended up finishing her list of appointments early.
The cycle home was particularly pleasant. The heat of the day was just beginning to subside, and the streets were quiet, allowing her to cycle back in peace.
When she entered Nonnatus House, she found that Trixie was the only one a home. The gramophone was playing cheerily in the corner and there were various fashion magazines lying out on the floor of the nurses' sitting room.
"You'll have to clear all of this up before Nurse Crane gets back," Patsy noted, "She'll have a fit if she sees it like this,"
Trixie stretched out in her chair and threw her legs over the armrest; a posture that most certainly would have been frowned upon by the tough older nurse. Shrugging, she exhaled a long stream of smoke before stubbing out her cigarette.
Patsy made to sit down on the sofa before recognising the morning newspaper amongst the magazines. As she made to pick it up, Trixie stopped her hand.
"I wouldn't, Pats. It doesn't make for a good read. There's hardly any facts about the case at all. It's just been written to appeal to fans of gossip and scandal,"
"Really?"
"Really. The journalist who wrote it is a pig. Do yourself a favour and give it a miss, old girl. Cigarette?"
The blonde nurse hooked her toe beneath the paper and kicked it away, before passing Patsy the cigarette pack. She gratefully took one, and they sat together without talking for a little while, just listening to the music. When the record ended, Trixie threw her magazine onto the floor with a slap.
"Right, I'm bored. Let's go and sit outside. It's such a pleasant afternoon; it would be a shame to miss it,"
"We're not going anywhere until you at least arrange those into some sort of presentable pile," Patsy said, pointing at the mess around Trixie's feet.
"Oh, do be quiet," Trixie grumbled, and she stood up to kick them underneath her armchair so that they were just out of sight, "There. All tidy,"
"You're unbelievable,"
Trixie blew her a kiss and winked.
"I know,"
Fred was working on the vegetable patch when they sat out on the steps. He tipped his hat to them and shouted something vague about a new business venture that he was working on.
"It'll make me rich, you mark my words, Nurse Franklin,"
"Fred, you're not going to do anything of the sort. I can't have you gallivanting off to be an entrepreneur when the middle stove still isn't working, the bath leaks, the toilet lightbulb has blown and my rear tyre has deflated again,"
Fred gave her a cheeky grin and got back to his digging. From down the road, there was the loud honk of a bus horn.
"That'll be Deels' bus," Patsy said, nudging her friend, "Let's go and meet her, I'm sure she'd appreciate that,"
"I've been on my feet almost all day Pats. I doubt I shall even be able to stand, let alone to walk to the end of the street. You shall have to carry me back inside bridal style, I warn you now,"
Patsy grabbed her by the hands and hauled her upright.
"Don't be ridiculous. Come on,"
Trixie made various disgruntled noises, but relented in the end, and they set off down towards the bus stop. The double decker bus was indeed sat there, and Patsy's pace quickened as she saw Delia inside. When she noticed that Trixie was not keeping up, she flicked her head around and gestured impatiently.
"Trixie, if you were going any slower you'd be going backwards,"
"No, Pats…"
The blonde nurse had stopped and was pointing forwards.
"What?"
"Something isn't right… look,"
When Patsy looked back around, she saw with horror that Trixie was right. Delia was being supported by the bus driver and another male passenger, and it seemed that her legs were barely able to keep her upright. Her head was slumped forward and her shoulders were shaking.
"Delia!"
Both nurses broke into a run.
"My God! What's happened?!"
The bus driver helped Patsy to loop her arm around Delia's waist so that she could hold her upright.
"She got on the bus in one hell of a state: all pale and shivering, and barely able to keep her eyes open. I know that she gets off here, but when I looked around, I could see that she wasn't going to be able to get off herself,"
Delia's skin had faded to an alarming grey colour, and she began to sway back and forth until Trixie leapt in to hold her other arm.
"We'll get her inside immediately," Patsy assured the driver, "Thank you so much for taking care of her,"
"Ain't a problem, nurse," he said sincerely, "But I'd call a doctor. Sharpish,"