The next few weeks passed slowly. She missed having him to come home too, and she missed their lunch time coffee breaks.
"You know, I don't think you've had a proper lunch break since Jacob left," Charlie told her gently, "will you join me for lunch?"
She smiled, standing up and pulling on her coat, "of course I will."
"You miss him don't you?" Charlie asked and she nodded honestly,
"Yes," she admitted, "I miss him both here and at home,"
"How are things between you and Sam?"
"Strained... Again," she admitted,
"Sometimes I wonder why spending time with Jacob was so easy compared to everything else,"
"Connie... We need you to go out to a crash on the M1..." Guy told her,
"It's mad here Guy,"
"Zoe and Elle have got this... But you need to get a team together and go,"
She nodded, "I'm on my way."
He watched as a slim brunette managed to persuade the police and ambulance to stop the traffic on the other side of the road. Only when he saw her side profile did he know it was Connie.
He watched as she set up a triage station and called for a nurse, "you holla'd sweetcheeks?" He grinned and she smiled despite the situation they were in,
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, leaning into him as he squeezed her,
"Jacob," Robyn grinned and Connie stepped back as he hugged his friend.
Connie told the team of her plan and as she went to turn around, he took her arm,
"Be careful... And please don't leave without saying goodbye,"
"Connie... There's hardly any air entry," he told her and she nodded,
"I'm going to put in a chest drain... Robyn tell everyone they need to be quiet,"
They breathed a sigh of relief as the chest drain began to drain fluid. The young woman groaned uncomfortably and Connie watched as Jacob handed her the intubation kit, "we're going to make you a bit more comfortable," she spoke calmly, intubating quickly and accurately.
"Well done Mrs. Beauchamp," he smiled, running his hand momentarily over her forearm,
She smiled at him, "it was all down to my marvellous assistant,"
He got up, holding out his hand, "I'd assist you anytime sweet cheeks,"
They walked back to meet the other medics and she let go of his hand gently, "nice of you to turn up," Connie smiled, "we're almost done here,"
Zoe nodded, "okay, we can help load these guys into the back of the ambulances and we can take them back."
Connie nodded, "thank you."
"good work today Robyn," Connie smiled,
"Mrs Beauchamp, I hope you don't think I'm speaking out of turn... But I won't say a thing if you decide to take up the ambulance crews offer of a hotel room?"
"I'm married Robyn," Connie sighed and Robyn squeezed her hand gently,
"I believe in fate."Connie watched as Robyn hugged Jacob goodbye.
"So... I'd like to take you for dinner," he offered, and she nodded, "our ambulance crew are happy to drop us into town,"
Connie took his hand and sat beside him in the ambulance. She watched him as he laughed and joked with the crew, as she followed him out, the older ambulance man smiled,
"Your just as intelligent and beautiful as he described," he told her quietly, "I know you're both married but..." He shrugged, "he's a good bloke."
Connie smiled, "thank you for your help today."
They were drunk, the combination of fatigue, wine and lack of food, went to their head and they found themselves laughing and stumbling back to the hotel room. They stripped down to their underwear and stood cleaning their teeth beside each other. She was acutely aware that they were drunk and half naked. He was also very aware of that. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew this was by far the ideal time.
They fell into bed together and he smiled, "I've missed you," he told her and to her surprise she felt glassy tears roll down her cheeks,
"Sorry," she uttered, "I'm drunk and overwhelmed and I..." She watched him as he wiped her eyes,
"I've missed you too," she told him quietly, "I wake up and he's the other side of the bed... He's tidier and cooks more but he won't run or walk with me... We went to a ball the other day, and we hardly spoke all night,"
"Oh Connie,"
"I looked good as well," she admitted, "I made an effort for him and it's like he doesn't notice me anymore."
She turned into him and slipped her hand under his arm, her legs slipping one in between and one over the top of his. "I'm so glad we bumped into each other," she mumbled and he rolled his eyes fondly as, as he remembered she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes
