What Should Have Been

Part 2

"I don't care whose fault it is, get this mess cleaned up!" The steely voice echoing about the corridor as nurses hurried about before her causing more mess. "For goodness sake..." She huffed in annoyance turning her back letting the heels carry her to her office. Pushing the door open she noticed someone already in her office. "Oh Henrik, great, why have I got the pleasure of seeing you right now?"

She flicked her hair over her shoulders and down her back as she sat down. Lifting her hands she grasped them together, elbows on the desk as she eyed him suspiciously. He only ever came down when he wanted something, so this was bound to be interesting. "I have the same level of happiness at seeing you too Mrs Beauchamp."

A tightened smile was forced as she continued her intense stare over Hansen. "Get to the point, what do you want?" "Actually I came to inform you of an email I received this morning." Connie sighed placing her hands against the desk. "Oh really? This is important why-" "I thought with the importance of it you may want to know..."

"Is it to do with my department?" "No-" "Does it affect my department in anyway?" "No but-" "Then I don't care." With that she pushed her chair back standing up. "If you don't mind, which I'm sure you don't. I have a job to do, and several incompetent staff out there unsupervised." She grabbed her stethoscope moving to the door holding it open.

Hansen got up straightening his blazer as he did so. "I see... Sorry to have bothered you then." Charlie noticed Connie waiting at her door before seeing Hansen stroll out and from the department. Pulling the door shut she rolled her eyes upon seeing Charlie. "What did he want?" "Ugh, something about an email he received."

Walking through the department she moved to reception with Charlie as they spoke idly. "How's things after last week?" "Oh I don't think it could get much worse, do you?" A small laugh came from him before she leant against the desk. "Anyway, how is Louis. Finally listening to the advice of professionals or still thinking he knows best?" "Got it in one... You know, sometimes I think he doesn't need me anymore."

Connie reached forwards placing a hand to his arm. "Believe me, he needs you." The only bit of compassion or emotion ever showed by Connie was towards Charlie. After all he was the reason this place was still turning, thirty years of service in this place and she had no idea how he was still standing. A year in this department and she'd been driven insane multiple times, and that was just by the staff she had to work with.

The doors crashed open as a patient was wheeled in by the paramedics. "This is Sam... Found unconscious at home. Heart rate 110/80, sats dropping and oxygen given on route." Her head had snapped up at his name to see a young teenage boy laying on the bed.

For a split second she had thought he was there, for some reason. After almost four years she couldn't help but assume it would be him whenever hearing that name. "Connie... Connie... Connie?" She shook her head looking back to Charlie who had been looking increasingly worried. "Everything okay? You disappeared on us then-" "Mmm, sorry I've just remembered something I have to do."

Connie turned away from him trying to hide the expression on her face from him. He knew she was lying but it was easier than explaining anything to him. Returning to her office she sat down carefully, swaying the chair slowly as she glanced about the room at nothing in particular. She really had hoped it would be him this time, despite the hatred she had for him.

It didn't matter how much they argued, or how little he had ever done to give her reason to miss him, she did. He was with her in everything she did... Quite literally in the form of their three year old daughter, Grace. She'd never been planned, and god only knows what would have happened if he'd stayed. Her mind drifted through various scenarios of the happy family she'd always wished her child would have.

Then he returned to her mind. The pathetic, useless excuse of a registrar that knew exactly how to piss her off. Yet the charming exterior was what stuck in her mind the most. The way he paraded himself about as though he were something to be won, when in reality it was the opposite. Connie praised herself on remaining strictly professional with her colleagues yet he'd got under her skin and they'd slept together once.

Yet that one mistake was enough to land her here. Alone with a child whose father had no idea of her existence. She'd had the chance to tell him on numerous occasions. They kept in touch for almost a year after he left but it never seemed like the right moment, but there never would be. Telling someone they have a daughter when they're on the other side of the world isn't something any parent would want to do.

Her trail of thought was interrupted by a harsh knocking at the door. When it was opened she smiled to the older man in her doorway. "Mind if I come in?" She remained as she was for a moment before letting her head fall as he wandered inside. "What's this about not being yourself I hear?"

She scoffed looking to him as she shrugged. "I'd hardly call it not being myself, a patient came in and I just became distracted." He nodded pushing the glasses up his nose. "You thought it was him didn't you?" Her eyes found the floor as she nervously bit her lip giving him everything he needed to know. "Connie, you need to stop doing this to yourself. It's not good. He's off living his life, unaware of anything here probably doing what he does best with any woman coming his way."

With another laugh she rolled her eyes leaning back in her chair. "You really think he's happy?" "Yes. Now stop feeling guilty about it all and get home to your daughter." The slightest of smiles came to her face as she thought about Grace. "You promised Grace you'd come round and read her a story tonight-" "Well if I promised."

They both stood and left the hospital making the journey home. Grace ran through the house and into her mothers arms as soon as she saw her. "Hey baby, look who I bought home with me." Grace's bright eyes followed her mothers gaze to see someone else in the hallway. "Uncle Elliot!"

Grace was soon wrapping her arms around his middle as he gave her a hug. "Let us go then so we can come inside, you best go find that perfect book for tonight's story." "Okay!" Grace ran away and upstairs to her bedroom leaving Elliot and Connie to get comfortable. Looking over at her wringing her hands together he could tell it was all still playing on her mind.

"I mean it Connie... Forget about it. The only ones who ever need to know anything is me, and you. That's how it's been for all these years, and that's how it can stay." She forced a smile as he placed a hand to her shoulder before heading up to Grace's room. As soon as he'd gone she picked up her phone looking towards the last message they'd sent.

Maybe this will be for the best, for both of us...