In The Darkest Hour

Part Two - Chapter Twelve: First Day Back

Isla took a deep breath as she stood in the locker room, it was her first shift back at l'Hospital de Barcelona and she was more than a little nervous; Montserrat had reassured her that everything was going to be okay.

Isla was a little nervous about her first day and she couldn't believe that she was actually back at the hospital that had caused her so many problems and she hoped this time it would be better. 

Montserrat had made some positive changes on procedures in the hospital, she wanted nurses to feel like they could tell the board anything and that they could report doctors or anyone else for wrong doing without fear of being ignored. 

Isla closed her locker and tried to calm her nerves, she couldn't believe that she was back and she knew when her parents returned next week that she would have to tell them that she had moved back to Barcelona. 

Gerard had been so supportive in the three weeks that they had been dating and Isla didn't know what she would have done without him; it was still strange to think of the fact that they were now dating. 

Isla took a steady breath and tried to ease her nerves, she didn't know what to expect from her first day back but she was hopeful that it was going to be okay. 

Isla was relieved to find that no one had said anything to her when she had arrived to collect her things from the office; her new Id badge and her uniform along with her schedule for the next month. 

Isla had actually gotten a warm welcome from some of the nurses, they were happy to see her back and she knew that this could be a good sign for how all of this would play out. 

Isla took one finally deep breath before she walked out of the locker room, there was no pointing hiding away in the locker room and she was sure that her first day would be fine.

***

"It's great to have you back," Joanna Simmons whispered smiling at Isla, the morning had been busy and the two had been kept on their feet with the influx of patients that had kept them busy right until their lunch break. 

Isla smiled at Joanna, she had missed her friend while she had been in Australia; she had tried to keep in contact but it had been difficult at the best of times. 

"So how has your first day back been?" Joanna asked brushing some hair from her face as they sat down for lunch, she was starving and she hoped that no emergencies came up that would mean that they would have to leave their lunch behind. 

"Good so far," Isla replied surprised that no one had really recognised her, she was a little relieved and things were back to how they had been when she had first worked there except that the doctors weren't as annoying. 

Isla knew that it had something to do with Montserrat, the doctors seemed to have a lot more respect for the nurses now and how hard they worked on their shifts. 

"And how is the boyfriend?" Joanna teased, she had seen Gerard drop Isla off that morning and she was happy that things had worked out so well for her friend. 

Isla deserved to be happy and being with Gerard had made her that way, Joanna just hoped that there wasn't going to be any trouble in the next few weeks when people discovered that Isla was dating Gerard Piqué. 

"Things are going well," Isla replied grinning, she couldn't deny that being back in Barcelona was hard for her but being with Gerard made it better; she loved the fact that she would get to go home to him and Milan when her shift finished. 

Joanna smiled at the look on Isla's face, she looked so in love when she talked about her boyfriend and Joanna could only hope it would last when everyone knew about them; it wasn't going to be easy especially with what happened. 

"I'm happy for you Isla," Joanna murmured watching her friend, she had no idea what it had been like for Isla to decide to come back after what had happened but she was sure it was down to Gerard. 

Isla nodded her head, she wasn't going to pretend that everything was okay, she was living with Gerard but they were taking their time with their relationship; they weren't going to rush after everything that they had been through. 

Isla opened her sandwich, she had a feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon and she was going to be glad to get home; she was missing Gerard even if she knew that he was at training right now while Milan was spending time with his grandparents. 

"It doesn't feel like I ever left," Isla mused a little looking around, she wrinkled her nose a little at her sandwich knowing that tomorrow she would remember to bring her own lunch. 

The hospital canteen wasn't the best and Isla didn't have time to leave the hospital to go anywhere for her lunch; she would just have to deal with what she had right now until later on. 

Joanna nodded her head, she chewed on one of her chips knowing that it was good to have Isla back; they were good friends and she knew that things would get better now. 

Isla took some of her sandwich and started to eat it, she still had hours to go until her shift ended and she hoped that Gerard was keeping out of trouble while she wasn't home. 

Isla could just imagine her boyfriend sulking over the fact that she wouldn't be home until about eight that night, she had twelve hour shifts mostly at the hospital and Gerard was going to have to get used to not having him to herself anymore.

***

Gerard grinned leaning against his car as he waited for Isla to come out of the hospital, he didn't care that he had missed her while she had been at work; he had even tried to talk her out of going but it had been useless. 

Gerard would have been more than happy for Isla to stay at home with Milan, he didn't see the need for her to work when he earned more than enough to support them but Isla had been insistent that she went back to nursing again. 

It wasn't long before Isla was walking out of the hospital talking with one of the other nurses, Gerard smiled at the look on her face; she looked so happy and he was glad that she seemed that way.

Isla hugged Joanna goodbye before walking over to where she had spotted Gerard, she was exhausted but glad that her first day back at work had been a good one. 

"Hola," Isla greeted walking over to her boyfriend, she was glad that he had come to pick her up and she could already see that he had missed her. 

Gerard moved away from the car and walked over to his girlfriend, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her; he was glad that she seemed so happy, he guessed that she'd had a good day. 

"Hola," Gerard murmured back, he brushed some hair from her face before he kissed her again; he was glad to have her back in Barcelona with him and he just hoped that things stayed this way. 

Isla wrapped her arms around Gerard's neck, she loved how tall he was and she knew that he wasn't bothered by their slight height difference. 

Gerard kissed Isla wanting to enjoy this moment, he couldn't imagine how much he was going to miss having her all to himself now she was back at work. 

Unknown to the couple, a man stood across the car park snapping pictures of them, the news would break soon that Gerard Piqué had gotten himself a new girlfriend.