It was early morning and the department was unusually quiet.
Connie was restless, there wasn't much to do.
There had been very few major casualties to treat and although cubicles were relatively busy as usual, they had somehow managed to have far too many staff on shift considering how quiet it was.
Jacob walked into Connie's office, where she was sat, looking bored.
"I have an idea" he announced.
Connie raised her eyebrows. "Go on"
"We need something to do, to pass the time. It's dead out there"
"And what do you suggest we do?" Connie asked, intrigued.
Jacob grinned. "A game"
Connie shook her head. "The department is no place for games. I have an idea for you, go and treat patients to pass the time instead." She said sarcastically.
"That might be difficult, since there are barely any patients out there to treat" Jacob smiled smugly "Come, on sweetcheeks, it will be fun"
Connie sighed. He was right, there literally weren't any patients to treat. "What's this game that you're suggesting then?" she asked curiously.
"A competition. A series of challenges throughout the day, whoever wins each one gets a point." Jacob said excitedly.
Connie raised an eyebrow. She thought about it.
"Before I agree, let's get a few things straight. Nothing dangerous, nothing ridiculous. Patients come first at all times and if any come in, we immediately stop to treat them."
Jacob grinned. He knew she would give in. "Of course."
Connie smiled. "Ok then, as long as you're not going to cry when I win every challenge"
Jacob raised his eyebrows. "In your dreams, sweetcheeks"
Connie put on her best game face. "So, what's the first challenge?"
Jacob paused to think. He looked out of her office door and saw Dylan stood at the nurses' station and an idea came to mind.
"First one to make Dylan smile wins"
"Are you being serious?" Connie asked as she raised one eyebrow. This was going to be impossible, she couldn't think of a time she had ever seen Dylan smile.
"You're already admitting defeat?" Jacob asked with a smile.
Connie shook her head. "Never"
Connie watched from her desk as Jacob left her office and entered the department again.
Jacob stopped next to Dylan and gave him a big smile. But before he even had a chance to speak, Dylan had frowned and walked away.
Jacob stared after him. Maybe this was going to be harder than he thought.
Connie got up and made her way to the nurses station to join Jacob. "Ooh you almost got a smile there, so close" she smirked at him before walking away.
Jacob watched as she approached Dylan.
Connie gave him a smile. "Dr Keogh, I just wanted to say a thank you. You never fail to impress me with your skill. You really are a talented doctor and I don't say it enough."
Dylan looked at her with a blank expression. Why was she thanking him? He was just doing his job, as usual, as a doctor.
Connie gave him a big smile, in the hope he might show he was at least a little pleased at the recognition. Come on, just give me a small smile, she thought. "I thought you might be happy to hear that you're efforts are appreciated..." She widened her smile.
Dylan's facial expression was unmoved however.
"Thank you" his voice held no emotion and he merely gave a small nod before walking away.
Connie slowly turned around, knowing that Jacob had been watching her.
Jacob gave her a smug smile and shrugged.
Connie pushed her tongue in her cheek and strode back to her office.
Jacob followed Connie back into her office and smiled.
"Let's just say that one was a trial run...maybe we should start with an easier challenge instead. First one to make Rita roll her eyes wins."
"Easy" Connie said confidently.
They both looked out of the office door to see if Rita was busy.
Rita was at the nurses station.
Jacob and Connie looked at each other. They knew that the real winner of this challenge would be the one who reached Rita first - it wasn't going to be difficult for either of them to annoy her.
Connie quickly stepped past Jacob and rushed over to Rita. But Jacob caught up with her, and the pair reached the nurses station at the same time, startling Rita as they both stopped directly in front of her.
"Everything alright?" Rita asked as she glanced between Connie and Jacob, who both looked rather suspicious.
"Yes." They both replied at the same time.
"Well, I actually wanted to inform you that Staff Nurse Masters has offered to help you with all of the reports you have to do this week." Connie added with a smile.
Rita immediately rolled her eyes. Jacob was the last person she wanted to help her write the reports. "I appreciate the offer Jacob. But that really won't be necessary."
Connie bit her lip to stop the smile. And Jacob just nodded at Rita.
Rita looked at them both in confusion. They were acting strangely today. "Right, well I'm just going to get back to work..." She gave them both a small smile before heading off to cubicles.
"I think that's one point for me" Connie gave him a smug smile.
Jacob rolled his eyes. "I'm just glad she didn't take me up on that offer of writing reports for her"
"Better luck next time" Connie called after her as she made her way back to her office.
Jacob entered Connie's office an hour later.
"Ready for the next challenge? First one to get back here with a rubber glove from resus wins" he grinned.
Connie wasn't sure about that one. But, then again, resus was empty at the moment...
Connie rose from her seat and placed her hands on her desk for support as she leant forward, face serious.
"You're one, Masters"
They stood side by side in the doorway of her office, poised and ready to set off.
Jacob looked down at Connie's feet. "You're not taking off your heels?" he frowned.
"Never underestimate a woman's ability to run in heels" she smiled.
Jacob shrugged and resumed his position. "Ok. Ready? Three...Two-"
Jacob stopped as Connie had set off and was already on her way to resus. He opened his mouth and shook his head, then quickly set of after her.
Connie was laughing as she ran towards resus and pushed open the double doors. She made sure to swing them back closed, right in Jacob's face.
She rushed to the dispenser which held the rubber gloves and grabbed one. Jacob was close behind her and tried to stop her as she made her way back to the doors but she was too quick and was soon entering the department again.
Zoe and Dylan stood at the nurses station watching their behaviour. They were completely speechless.
The watched Connie run by them in the direction of her office, rubber glove in her hand, closely followed by Jacob, also holding one.
Connie was just about to step through her office door when she felt a pair of hands grip her tightly. She was lifted off the ground by Jacob, who placed her down behind him and stepped into her office instead.
"I win" he grinned, before bending over to catch his breath.
"Not fair" Connie said breathlessly.
"That's what you get for cheating sweetcheeks" Jacob grinned.
They both looked at each other and began laughing.
Both Jacob and Connie turned and saw Dylan and Zoe watching with their mouths open, which only caused them to laugh even more.
Jacob followed Connie into her office and they both collapsed onto the sofa to catch their breath.
Connie shook her head at him. "You are such a bad influence staff nurse Masters."
