Crash (complete)

chapter two

When Connie pulled up outside her house she sat in the car trying to calm herself before going inside. Taking a deep breath she picked up her bag and left the car. "Gracie! I'm home." Connie called closing the front door behind her.
"Mum!....how come you left early?" Smiled Grace as she ran down the stairs.
"I wanted to spend some time with my favourite girl." Beamed Connie pulling Grace into a hug.

Sending the child minder on her way Connie turned to Grace. "So what was so creepy about her then..." She asked.
"She had a funny eye...it kept starring at me!" Said Grace completely serious.
Connie chuckled. "She came highly recommended..." She explained but Grace frowned. "...ok...I'll find someone else...the agency must think I like firing people!"
Grace looked at her mum, a puzzled expression on her face. "But you do...don't you?"
"Just a little..." Grinned Connie jokingly as she hugged Grace again. "...so what do you want to do?"
Grace shrugged. "Anything...I'm just happy your home and I get to spend time with you." She said smiling up at her mum.

Connie and Grace sat cuddled on the sofa, the film they had been watching was coming to an end.
"Mum?" Grace asked quietly.
"What is it sweetheart?"
"Why was you crying in the car earlier?" Quizzed Grace.
"Oh...Erm...it's nothing...nothing for you to worry about." Said Connie brushing off the question. "Shall we make some food?"
"Please mum...I don't like it when your upset." Begged Grace.
"Well I'm not upset now am I -" "Not now...but...everyday this week I've notice how sad you've looked...Please!" Interrupted Grace.
"I've been arguing with someone at work...it's getting me down, that's all." Said Connie standing up and moving into the kitchen hoping that her explanation was enough to appease her daughter.
"Can't you fire them?" Asked Grace.
"No sweetheart, I can't just keep firing people." Answered Connie with a chuckle trying to lighten the mood.
"Is it Jacob?"
"What?" Connie's head shot up with surprise. "Why would you say that?"
"Because it's true isn't it?...I saw how he ignored you the other morning...he looked really angry." Explained Grace.
Connie sighed realising Grace wasn't going to let it go. "My boss hired someone to replace Zoe and I don't like her...She just happens to be a good friend of Jacob's...add that to the fact that he's still angry with me for breaking up with him... so because he's mad at me I've said some pretty horrible things...it's all just gotten out of hand..." Connie looked up at Grace and smiled. "It'll be fine...like I said, it's nothing for you to worry about." She added.
"You miss him." Said Grace, it wasn't meant as a question, she was stating the obvious.
Connie consider lying but instead she gave a small nod. "But I don't regret leaving him Grace...you have to know that...you mean the world to me...I'm not going to mess this up again...I love you so much!"
"I love you too mum." Said Grace rushing up to her mum and wrapping her arms around her waist.

The next morning Connie arrived at work after dropping Grace at school. "Morning Charlie." She said brightly walking through reception.
"Someone seems in a better mood today." He said following the clinical lead into her office.
"I spent a lovely evening with Grace...it's put a few things into perspective." She told him honestly.
"I'm glad...so are you going to give Elle a chance?" Asked Charlie hopefully.
"Oh no...I stand by my convictions with her...I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her...What I am going to do is, not let it bother me anymore...I'm good at my job Charlie...so I'm just going to get on with it...if I do that she'll have nothing to report back to Hanssen about." Said Connie thumbing through her messages.
"And what about Jacob?" Wondered Charlie.
"Yes...Well...I'll be civil...I've already apologized from yesterday...nothing but professional from now on!" Said Connie plastering a exaggerated smile on her face.
Charlie didn't look convinced but nodded all the same. "Well I'll let you get on then...but my offer still stands...you know where to find me if you want to talk..." And with that he was gone.
Connie lent heavily on her desk. "Today's going to be a long day." She sighed.

Keeping herself busy with patients away from Jacob and Elle hadn't been as easy as she thought, especially when the three of them worked to save a gravely injured man brought into resus. Connie held her nerve, she was the picture of professionalism.
Clapping the bleed inside the man's chest Connie stepped back and instructed Jacob on the next course of action. "Staff Nurse Masters...tell the surgical team he's stable...he needs to be transferred upstairs."
"Nice work." Said Elle sweetly smiling at Connie who swiftly removed the mask and green smock that covered her smart white blouse and black skirt, screwing them together and depositing them in the waste bin. Only once Connie reached Elle's side did she break the glare she was giving her. "Your mistaken if you think I need your approval Dr Gardener." She snarled and then continued out of resus.

"Leaving so soon?"
Connie stopped and turned around. "I'll be half an hour...I need to pick Grace up from school Henrik." Said Connie resuming her walk across the car park.
"You left early yesterday as well." Hanssen stated.
Connie rolled her eyes. "Your spy is very observant." She said facing him again to see his reaction.
"I'll wait for you in your office." Came his reply.
"What?...not even going to attempt to deny it?" Quizzed Connie smirking as she slid into the drivers seat.

Twenty minutes later Connie strolled back into her office with Grace in toe. "Ok sweetie, make a start on your homework." She instructed as she also made herself comfortable behind her desk and continued the paperwork.
"Mum?" Asked Grace.
"Mmmm?" Answered Connie distracted by her work.
"Is that the new doctor?" Wondered Grace pointing through the blinds.
Connie looked up following Grace's gaze. "Yes it is." Mumbled Connie standing up and walked out of the office.
"Mr Hanssen...you wanted to see me?" Asked Connie interrupting what looked like a private conversation between him and Elle.
The couple instantly parted and Hanssen casually followed Connie back into her office.
"Hello Grace." He said.
"Henrik." Came Grace's dry reply. It was all Connie could do to keep the smirk of her face.
"So...What do I owe the pleasure." Asked Connie wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible.
"The board meeting next week...they want a full expenses report from the department." He told her which made Connie frown.
"You came all the way down here to tell me that?...an email would have been a more efficient use of time."
"I also came to see how your new recruit was fitting in." Added Hanssen.
"Now that's more like it...and she's not my recruit...she's yours!" Connie told him flatly.
Hanssen smirked and wondered out just as casually as he walked in.
"I don't like him." Said Grace looking up from her homework.
"Neither do I Gracie...Neither do I." Said Connie shaking her head.

A few hours later and Connie's shift was over. "You ready to go home sweetheart?" She asked walking into her office and packing up her bag.
"Yep!" Said Grace jumping up and doing the same.
"What's your problem?" Boomed Jacob's voice behind them. "...seriously?...come on...let's here it!" He shouted, stood in the middle of the E.D gaining the attention of passing staff.
"Whined your neck in Staff Nurse Masters before you regret it!" Barked Connie stamping her authority.
"Elle was trying to make an effort with you in resus today...and that's how you act!" He continued ignoring her warning. "And I've seen the looks you've been giving her!"
Grace moved to her mum's side holding her hand.
"In my office tomorrow!" Connie hissed at him. "And if your not there at nine on the dot don't bother coming in at all!" Jacob stood there looking at her definitely. "IS THAT CLEAR?!" She raised her voice.
"Crystal." Mumbled Jacob, walking passed her he added. "Now I hate you!" Just loud another for her and Grace to hear.
Connie swallowed hard, refusing to show any emotion. Refusing to look weak in front of the crowd that had gathered. "Get back to work!" She shouted looking round.
"Come on sweetie." She said gently, realizing what Grace had witnessed had scared her.

In the car Connie quickly wiped away any tears as soon as they left her eyes.
"Is that what its been like all week?" Grace asked.
"Ye." Admitted Connie.
"Will you fire him for talking to you like that in front of everyone?" Inquired Grace sadly.
"I don't know...I don't want to..." confessed Connie.
"Why?" Frowned Grace.
Connie shuck her head not wanting to tell Grace why.
"Why?" Asked Grace again.
"Because if I fire him he'll leave and I won't see him again." Sighed Connie starting the car.
"Surely that's a good thing..." said Grace not quite understanding what her mum was saying.
"I'd rather fight with him than never see him again..." Connie said quietly.
"But why?"
"Because I love him Grace...that's why!" Snapped Connie instantly feeling bad for taking it out on her daughter. "I'm sorry for shouting...shall we going somewhere for tea...let's eat out...forget about that place!"
"Ok." Said Grace spending the rest of the journey watching out her window deep in thought.