Connie stood just outside the office door, buttoning up her coat and smoothing down the collar, the blue wool soft beneath her fingers. She heard the gentle sticking sound of the double doors opening, and she felt a spasm of excitement because she knew instinctively who it was, or at least knew who it was she wanted it to be. She glanced up, and she couldn't help but smile as she realised that it was Rita who had passed through the doors, it was Rita who was walking towards her, with her dark eyes bright and smiling.
"Ok?"
Connie asked, making to reach out to the blonde coming towards her, but thinking better of it at the last minute, and instead, forcing her arms to remain by her sides – a motion which didn't go unnoticed by the blonde.
"Fine. Tired..."
Rita grinned as she spoke, and she stopped just before her, glancing to her lips, and Connie raised an eyebrow, knowing very well that Rita was contemplating kissing her right there, on the ward, in front of everybody.
"Come on."
Connie pursed her lips against a smile and raised an arm, gesturing for Rita to fall in step with her as they turned, casting a quick eye about the ward as she did so, only catching a few backward glances as she did so.
She let her hand graze the back of Rita's coat as she bought it back between them and, with a flutter in her chest, she took hold of Rita's hand, intertwining their fingers. Rita glanced up at her, the twitch of a smile at her lips, though she said nothing of it as they passed through reception. She nodded to Noel as they went, catching the look of mild alarm at their close proximity, his eyebrows furthering their journey north as he noticed their hands.
They passed through the doors side by side, so close that their shoulders were pressed against one another.
Outside the evening air was bitter cold. The wind whistled and called as it rushed about the corners of the hospital building, sending empty Styrofoam cups and half-crushed cigarette packets scuttering and turning somersaults about the damp tarmac.
Rita shivered, wishing she had worn something warmer than her leather jacket. Perhaps it was time to invest in a proper winter coat...
"Cold?"
Connie asked, pushing her free hand into her pocket, and Rita clenched her jaw against the chattering of her teeth.
"Little bit."
She murmured, and Connie squeezed her fingers ,tugging her just that extra bit closer as they made their way against the bluster of the wind towards the car park.
As they walked Connie raised her eyes from the orange glow of the city before them, to the sparkle of the stars in the great black sky, realising after a moment, that Rita was humming softly to herself.
"What're you humming?"
She asked, pausing briefly, stopping just by the edge of the pavement to push her hand into the pocket of her coat, double checking that she had her car keys.
"I've never met a girl like you, before..."
Rita laughed as she sung the words, amused at the roll of Connie's eyes and she leant against her, feeling the wool of her coat against her cheek, and just for a moment – a split second – she thought how incredible it was that such thing like this, like resting her head against the shoulder of this coat, was possible.

"You seem happier."

Connie said quietly, locating the keys within the depths of her pocket, fingering the cold metal as she looked down at the blonde next to her. How her eyes sparkled, as though full of stars, how her smile never seemed to fade, even when it wasn't there at all...

"I am. Yeah. I'm dreading speaking to my parents though..."

Rita sucked in a breath and pulled her shoulders up, frowning slightly.

"What you did today..."

"Oh..."

Connie batted away the words that Rita had been about to say, and made to step off the pavement towards the car, but Rita held her steady, refusing to move from where they stood beneath the sky, with the wind that stole their breath from them and prickled their cheeks with the cold.

"No, seriously...nobody has ever stuck up for me the way you did today."

She looked up at Connie, her eyes wide.

"You knew full well how it could affect your position, and the rumours...I know you can't stand the thought of that...and yet you did it anyway."

She watched as Connie glanced down between them, flustered.

"Nobody has ever loved me the way you do."

She added, and Connie looked up, the lights from the hospital reflected within her eyes.

"Are we about to burst into song, Nurse Freeman?"

She asked quietly, only the ghost of a smile at the corners of her eyes. Rita bit her lip against a grin and gave a slight shake of her head.

"No...Well, I can if you like..."

"No, no...it's quite alright."

Connie took a step closer as she cut her off. She drew in a breath, feeling the chill of the air inside of her. The air that carried the noise of the city, the faint murmur of distant cars, the wail of a faraway ambulance and the suck and hiss of the hospital doors a little way off behind them. People were going in and out of the hospital, milling about, staff members just finishing their shifts, and some just beginning.

Connie let go of the breath she had been holding. She remembered what Charlie had said that morning. Rita needed her...

"I've never loved anybody the way I love you."

She said finally, looking into her eyes, seeing the flush of cold, or something more at Rita's cheeks.

For a moment there was nothing between them but a sudden rush of absolute happiness. And then, hesitantly, Rita pushed herself up onto tip toes and kissed her, a gentle kiss that lingered.

"I love you, too."

She whispered, barely moving away as she spoke, so that Connie felt the warmth of her breath against her mouth. She remembered earlier, in the office, and she felt her cheeks grow warm as she placed a return kiss against Rita's honeysuckle lips.

From behind them a whistling cheering noise erupted from the entrance to the hospital. Both women stiffened and Connie pulled away quicker than she had meant to. She turned sharply, following Rita's gaze as they glanced over to see Max, Lofty and Robyn grinning at them from where they were clustered by the exit, blue-grey streamers of smoke spilling from Max's lips as he gestured with a thumbs up, to Rita.

Connie cleared her throat and dipped her chin into the collar of her coat.

"Shall we go?"

She asked, her voice low, despite the fact that from such a distance, nobody else could hear the words that were said between them.

"Yep..."

Rita turned back to her, searching the green of her eyes, wondering for a moment if she was cross. But behind her eyes was nothing but the sparkle of amusement, and as they made their way across the car park, hand-in-hand, she glanced back to the three behind her, struggling against a smile.

-.-

To come: More Charlie, more Grace, and Connie does what Charlie suggested, and spends the evening looking after Rita.

If there's any particular fluffy moments, or things you'd like to suggest, feel free :) xxx