Summary: Patsy and Delia's relationship is tested.
Disclaimer: Call The Midwife belongs to the BBC and others - I am simply borrowing their beautiful characters.
Author's note: Heading towards the completion of this now - I will miss writing this. Special thanks for Jlynnsca who worked her editing magic even though she's on hols! Enjoy...
Dr. Parker stared at the young woman for a second. She looked assured, confident and totally in control. It was not a good sign. Steeling herself, she approached the car. "Nurse Busby," she acknowledged coldly. "Can I help you?"
Delia gave a tight-lipped smile. "I've been mentally rehearsing this little meeting for days now," she replied in a conversational tone. "I went through all the possible routes I might take."
The Welsh woman's smile widened slightly as she saw a flicker of nervousness in the doctor's eyes. "I had to split my decisions into a series of choices. The first one was whether I even bothered meeting you or not."
"I must be honest, I can't imagine what you hope to gain from this," the brunette doctor interjected.
"Well, that attitude tells me that my decision to go through with the meeting was the right choice," Delia answered pleasantly. "Once I decided that I did indeed need this interaction, my next set of choices was on a far more basic level."
Dr. Parker shifted uncomfortably. She did not like the sound of where this conversation was headed, and she was particularly conscious that it was Delia who appeared to be in complete control of the situation for the moment. "By that I assume your choices were either physical or verbal altercation?"
Delia nodded happily. "I am so glad you're keeping up with my thought processes. And I must say I'm a little surprised; I would have sworn that you have no idea about putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Interestingly, this was a far more difficult choice than I thought it was going to be. I mean, why wouldn't I want to demonstrate exactly how I feel about you with a well placed punch?" She sighed dramatically. "The trouble is, my conscience, also known as Nurse Crane, got the better of me and made me think about the consequences. Not to you obviously, but I realised that if you're so unscrupulous as to make an unfounded complaint about me, you would have no hesitation in reporting me for assault. The instant thrill at knocking you onto your backside isn't quite enough for me to risk my vocation, tempting though it is."
"It's hardy unfounded, is it?" Dr. Parker spat back.
Delia's eyes narrowed. "Your actual allegation was completely fictitious. I think it's reasonable enough to define it as unfounded, or do you have a different dictionary?"
"I don't have time for this. Now if you could just get off my car, I'll be on my way."
Delia shrugged. "Of course. I never really held out much hope that you would have the courage to confront me anyway. That's not your style at all, is it, Doctor?"
"I don't run away from anything, Delia." Dr. Parker put a clear emphasis on the Welsh woman's name. "What is it that you want?"
"Oh, just the obvious," Delia replied breezily. "Why did you do it?"
"You mean Patsy didn't tell you?" Dr. Parker shot back, surprised.
"She told me that you'd drop the allegation if she went out with you last night. I'm just wondering what sort of person would try and get between two others, particularly knowing how difficult it is to maintain any sort of meaningful relationship when everything has to be so carefully hidden."
"The truth is, I simply couldn't believe that Patsy saw you as anything other than a dalliance. You've no idea about class, and you certainly can't afford to treat her properly." Joanna looked Delia up and down sneeringly as she spoke.
Delia laughed out loud. "Nice try, Doctor. And I'll be honest, if you'd said that to me two years ago, I might just have been sucked into believing it, or at least letting it cast doubts on whether I'm good enough for Patsy." The Welsh woman slipped off the wing of the car and stood upright. "The difference now is that we've had plenty of time and a set of horrible circumstances to test our bond. We've also talked. A lot." Delia shrugged again. "So I know exactly how Patsy sees me, and what she thinks of me, and I'm very comfortable with that."
"How lovely for you. But how long do you think it will last? What happens when a pretty brunette comes along who has money as well as charm and an alluring accent?"
Delia nodded grimly. "You don't give you up, I'll say that for you. But you came along, with your brunette hair, upper class accent, high society background, and plenty of money to throw around." Raising an eyebrow at the other woman and looked directly at her. "Look how far that got you."
Joanna stiffened. "Well, it really doesn't matter anymore, does it? It would appear that a nurse from the country has more sway than a woman who's fought her way through medical school." She sniffed. "Make the most of it while you can. Remember, you're just her bit of rough."
Delia straightened immediately and clenched her fist.
"Nurse Busby!" The clear northern tone of Nurse Crane stopped her from swinging. Delia turned her head round to see the senior nurse approaching from the convent. "There you are. I've been looking for you."
"Can I help you?" Delia struggled to keep her tone civil and her anger controlled.
"Well, it's more a case of me helping you," Nurse Crane supplied with a soft smile. She looked around the street carefully, noting that there was no-one around, before returning her gaze to the Welsh nurse. "It's just unfortunate that you don't have a coat for me to hold," she continued with a wink.
Delia grinned suddenly and turned back towards the doctor, tilting her head slightly. "Well, as you've already described me as a bit of rough, I'd hate to disappoint." With that, she swung her fist and punched the woman squarely on the nose.
Dr. Parker was taken completely by surprise and the force of the blow set her off balance. She landed on her backside, clutching her nose in horror. "I'll have your job for that," she spat furiously.
"For what, Dr. Parker?" Nurse Crane interjected mildly. "All I saw was you tripping up a wobbly kerb."
"Don't be ridiculous. You witnessed the whole thing." Dr. Parker fumbled in her bag for a handkerchief so that she could use something to stem the bleeding.
"Yes I did," Phyllis agreed happily. "Like I said, the footing round here can be treacherous. Do come back to the convent where I can give you some ice if you'd like," she offered innocuously.
Dr. Parker stared malevolently at the pair of them before she glanced round the street.
"Oh, would you look at that. There's no one else around." Phyllis stepped closer to the doctor and bent down slightly. "Let me paint a picture of what happens when you try and report this. You put in a complaint about a nurse, claiming that she has assaulted you. This is the same nurse that you made a false allegation about so she has reason. However, it's not a simple case of your word against hers. There's a senior, well-respected midwife present as the only witness, who states quite clearly that she saw you trip up the kerb. Now, given that you've already made one vexatious complaint, how do you think the hospital is going to view this one?"
"You wouldn't dare lie in an investigation," Dr. Parker stated, her voice muffled by the handkerchief pressed against her nose.
"In normal circumstances, you'd be absolutely right. The difference here is that everyone at Nonnatus is family. We all look out for each other and we stand by each other. Nurse Busby may not a midwife but she is very much part of our family and she has never let me down. It's my turn to demonstrate to her that I won't let her down either." Nurse Crane straightened and looked down at the woman. "And let's face it. After what you've done, you can't deny you deserve it."
Delia felt her eyes well up and had to take a few discrete deep breaths to keep her composure. She hadn't really thought that Nurse Crane would be so fiercely protective. It was quite humbling.
Joanna scrambled to her feet and located her car keys from her bag. "I think it's time I was leaving," she declared, yanking the car door open.
I think that's the wisest decision you've made in a while, Dr. Parker," Nurse Crane lauded.
The two nurses stood to one side and watched as the doctor drove off. "In most circumstances, I detest physical violence, Nurse Busby," Phyllis mused. "But that woman was never going to listen to anyone else, or consider that what she did was intrinsically wrong."
Delia turned to the older woman. "Thank you," she said sincerely.
"I had my suspicions about her from the day I met her, Nurse Busby. Sadly, I don't think she will have learned anything from this incident." She paused a beat. "Except, perhaps that her nose is fragile." The two women shared a grin.
"I will make enquiries as to her next location of employment and if I have any contacts there, will advise them appropriately," Nurse Crane decided, fervently hoping that the doctor would rein her deplorable behaviour back, for a while at least.
Delia ruefully shook her head as she rubbed her fist. "You know, it's all very well wanting to punch someone, but it actually hurts."
"Probably a little less for you than for her," Nurse Crane replied shrewdly. "Come back to the convent and I'll get you some ice. You have a visitor."
"What?" Delia's eyebrows shot up. "Who?" She asked as the pair picked up the pace.
"Matron Lightly is waiting to see you. That's why I came out." Nurse Crane shot the Welsh woman another look. "And it was a good job I did. Please assure me that you won't act so rashly in future."
"Nurse Crane, I promise you that if I ever get into a situation where I feel I need to punch someone again, I will discuss it all with you."
The two women stepped into the convent and nurse Crane laid her hand gently on Delia's arm. "Nurse Busby, you really can talk to me about anything. You can trust me."
Delia nodded before impulsively hugging the elder nurse briefly. "Thank you," she whispered. The brunette was somewhat surprised to see Phyllis look quite emotional as she stepped back.
"Matron Lightly is waiting in Sister Julienne's office. I suggest that you sort your hand out after you've met, rather than draw any unwanted attention to it." Nurse Crane raised her eyebrows knowingly as Delia nodded. "I have to get back to the clinic, but I'll leave you a bowl of ice and a cloth out. I can't imagine you'll be in with Matron for long."
Delia smiled her thanks and then hurried to the office. She had already kept the Matron waiting for too long. She knocked on the door and entered when beckoned before sitting down opposite the senior nurse.
"Nurse Busby. You were obviously a little more difficult to track down than Nurse Crane thought," she commented curtly.
Delia winced. "I am so sorry, Matron. I didn't expect you to come to Nonnatus House today."
Matron nodded. "That is a fair point. I didn't expect to visit so soon either, but the board were very swift in their assessment this morning."
Delia sat up straight. "You submitted the report?" She asked unthinkingly.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Matron Lightly looked over her glasses at the brunette.
Delia blanched and mentally kicked herself. "Sorry. I don't know why I said that. I think because I absolutely know that the complaint couldn't have been about me, I thought that it would just get dropped." Delia's heart was pounding, and she hoped her spontaneous excuse was enough.
Matron nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation. "Nothing in my investigation indicated that it was you, and the board were happy to have the complaint dropped and you completely exonerated."
Delia heaved a huge sigh of relief, unaware of just how much tension she was still holding within her. She felt the tell-tale prickling behind her eyes that would trigger tears, but was determined not to cry in front of Matron Lightly so she blinked rapidly and and forced them back.
Matron Lightly's features softened slightly as she witnessed Delia's reaction. "I appreciate that this has been a very trying experience for you, Nurse Busby. Do allow your emotions out, when you're ready and in a place where you feel you can."
Delia nodded, managing a watery smile. "Yes, Matron."
"I visited the Ward this morning," Matron Lightly continued briskly, knowing that Delia would want to concentrate on something else for the moment. "I reviewed the off duty for the next three weeks. I've taken the liberty of assigning your shifts." She handed over a neatly folded piece of paper that Delia took and pocketed, deciding to review her schedule later, when she felt more composed.
"I've also spoken with the ward Sister. She's expecting you back now that you have completed your assignment for me." She rose one eyebrow at Delia before continuing. "She seemed even more keen than me to get you to review our filing systems."
Delia's eyes widened in horror. "Really?" She asked, shutting down the rest of her reaction as she saw Matron Lightly's lip twitch slightly in amusement. "Matron, that's not fair."
"You looked like you needed a spot of levity," the older woman replied, her grin widening just slightly.
Delia smiled as she nodded. "Thank you."
"Nurse Busby, I am officially returning you to full duties. I have a letter explaining the rest of the process and clearly stating that there is no case to answer with respect to the complaint received." She handed a sealed envelope over to the Welsh nurse before taking off her glasses.
"Nurse Busby, I have something else to say, but this will stay off the record."
Delia swallowed, and nodded, feeling suddenly nervous.
It took a few moments for Matron Lightly to frame her next sentence. "I've been in Nursing for almost 40 years. I retire next year. Then, and only then will I be able to breathe a sigh of relief and not look over my shoulder every time I spend time out with my best friend." She canted her head at Delia and nodded minutely as Delia's eyes widened in realisation. "Be careful." Matron Lightly warned clearly. She flicked her head towards the door. "Dismissed."
To be continued...