Consequences

Chapter 7

The next afternoon, Connie watched as Grace was sat with Charlie in the staff room, laughing over something he had just told her; she turned her head slightly as she noticed Zoe standing next to her.

"Thank you...for letting me stay last night" Connie said.

"It's not a problem; she looks happy?" She said, gesturing to the young girl.

"It was homework issues, and her birthday but we talked it through; she's looking forward to the weekend"

"And you?"

"I am" she answered as she saw Grace leaving the staff room and running over to her. "Hey baby"

"Uncle Charlie was telling me some awesome stories mom" she said, hugging Connie.

"I'm glad; why dont you go to my office and i'll be there in a minute to help you?"

As Grace disappeared, Connie turned back to Zoe.

"I should go and help her"

Zoe nodded as Connie followed her daughter into her office.

On the Friday, Connie had finished work at 2.30 and gone straight to pick Grace up; along with Zoe bringing her daughters case and Connie bringing hers with her, they had everything they needed to go straight to the hotel. Pulling into the car park, they got out the car and locked it, Connie taking Grace's hand as they each pulled their own cases behind them; after checking in and been shown to their room, Grace got changed before they went to have dinner in the restaurant.

By the time Connie dropped Grace back at school on Monday morning, they had become a lot closer and were definately on the road to reconciliation; that was until that fateful Monday afternoon. Connie was stood outside the Emergency Department, waiting for her daughter to arrive after school; she smiled as the taxi pulled up and Grace got out. Then, in slow motion, she watched as a car came out of nowhere and went straight into her daughter; letting out a scream, she ran over and knelt next to her daughter.

"Gracie, mommy's here"

Whilst Grace hadnt been knocked unconcious, she was clearly in a lot of pain as Zoe, Max and Charlie ran over along with Dixie and Iain to help her onto a stretcher after been immobolised. The young girl was immediately whisked through to Resus where Connie held Grace's hand as Zoe got to work; it took all the restraint she had to stop herself from taking over but she knew Grace needed her as a parent, not a doctor in that specific moment.

"Grace, can you tell me where it hurts?" Zoe asked as she listened to Grace's heart.

"My head, my arm and my chest..." she cried.

"It's okay baby" Connie whispered, stroking her hair back, careful to not touch the cut on her forehead. "You're gonna be just fine; you've got Zoe and Uncle Charlie looking after you"

"Grace, we're gonna take you for a very quick scan of your head and arm and then we'll get you sorted" Zoe explained.

"I'm scared mommy" she cried.

"Hey Grace, fancy going for a ride?" Max asked as he stood at the head of the bed and pushed the trolley towards the doors, singing her favourite song from Frozen to keep her mind off the pain; Connie's hand holding hers the whole time.

With the scans complete, Grace was wheeled back down to Resus where Zoe checked the results on the tablet as Connie checked her vitals.

"You've been very lucky Grace; you've got some bruising to your chest and a broken arm but that's it. So Uncle Charlie is going to get you sorted and i'll come and see you in a little while, okay?" Zoe explained before telling Charlie how much pain relief to give her.

As Zoe and Max left, Charlie stitched up the head wound and put her arm into a pink cast before also leaving the room; Connie sighed before sitting on the edge of the bed and stroking her daughter's tears away.

"I'm proud of you for been so brave"

"I'm sorry mommy"

"What for baby?"

"Scaring you"

"None of this was your fault; you're here and you're okay, that's the main thing. And in a few hours, you can go home and Zoe will look after you"

"I wanna go home"

"You can later baby"

"No...i want to go home. I want to be with you mommy..."

"Are you sure? Do you really want to come home?" She asked, holding her daughters hand.

Grace nodded; Connie smiled and nodded as well until the door opened and Zoe entered.

"Everything okay here?"

"Yeah; we're doing okay, arent we baby?" Connie smiled.

"Yeah; i'm going home Zoe" Grace smiled.

"You are?" Zoe asked, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.

"Yeah but ill still come and see you"

"We'd like that; you got anymore pain?"

"No"

"Okay well you can take her home now Connie; you know the rules"

"Thanks Zoe...for everything"

"Anytime"

"I'm almost done; i'll head back and pack her stuff. Want me to drop it off later?"

"We'll spin by on our way home, wont we baby?"

Grace nodded before Zoe left; later that evening, Grace was curled up in her bed, Connie sat on the edge of the bed, stroking her hair as she watched her sleep. She finally had her baby girl back after 2 months, and even though she was hurt, she wouldnt change a thing. Now she just had to keep her promise.