What Should Have Been

Part 8

It had been a few weeks since Sam turned up at the ED and every day since Connie had wandered why he was really here. She sat cross legged on her bed with the number laying before her.

Grace was settled in bed as she sat there just staring. Closing her eyes she picked up her phone typing in the numbers. Pausing briefly, she waited before calling it. Resting the phone gently to her ear she waited and waited, hoping he would answer but why she wasn't really sure.

Sam lay about the new flat glancing at the empty walls. He'd wanted to go back, go to the hospital and see her. Tell her everything but it wasn't something she should be dumped with. Yes he had come back to tell her, hope that she would support him through it but now he was here. Now he'd seen her daughter, it stopped him from telling her.

He walked around the flat into the kitchen taking a few tablets to try and help the thrumming in his head. Standing before the mirror in the bathroom he ran a hand back through his hair staring down at his hand after seeing the few strands of hair. A small sign of everything he would have waiting for him.

A shrill ringing stopped him in his tracks as he traipsed back to the other room. It was probably Holby calling after his email to see if he had in fact come back to the UK or not. "Hello?" He sounded tired, and fed up of something. "Sam?" "Connie?" He suddenly sounded more alert at hearing her voice.

"I... I figured it was just easier to call, you said you had wanted to talk after all." She closed her eyes hoping he'd believe her excuse. "Uhh, yeah I guess it was easier. I didn't think I'd hear from you again-" "You know where I work, you'd have turned up." Sam laughed slightly knowing that she was right. Sooner or later he would have gone to see her.

Connie sat at the window looking out over the city. "Sam why'd you come back?" "I wanted to see you." She froze momentarily staring into the distance. "What?" "Connie when I said I missed you, I missed you..." She was unsure whether to believe him or not, after all he wasn't the sentimental type. "You were engaged Sam, that's not missing someone-" "Were... Funny that isn't it?"

Was he seriously trying to say he hadn't got married because of her? She couldn't wrap her thoughts around the idea as she sighed rubbing a hand to her forehead. "Answer me this. Did you ever wish we had kept talking?" "Sam of course I did-" "And was there any point that you wished I hadn't have left Holby?" Connie considered lying but she was already hiding enough from him. "Yes... I guess-" "Snap."

Everything was quiet for a while as they waited for the other to say something. When Sam realised she wasn't going to he sighed again. "Connie I didn't come back to make your life hard, believe me. I wanted anything but that, especially when I saw you had a daughter. Which by the way, is the biggest shock in my life."

Connie scoffed leaning back against the wall as she smiled. "I can't say that finding you in my office wasn't a surprise either." "That was the plan Con..." She smiled gently listening to his voice, he sounded so tired. "You should get some rest-" "I'd rather talk to you."

Not even a month after him being back and she found herself being drawn back in by his 'charm'. Connie had missed him, more than she cared to admit. Sam had been one of the only people to ever affect her in a way she couldn't shake. She'd always wanted to know he was alright but was too afraid to show an interest.

"Then come and talk." She had no idea where the invitation came from and wasn't too impressed she'd said it. "I think you're the one who needs to sleep Mrs Beauchamp. You're sounding slightly deranged-" "Shut up Sam." They were both smiling down the phone, oblivious to the effect they were having on the other. "What are you doing at the weekend?"

She was taken aback by his forwardness, but then she had just invited him over. "I'm working-" "Course you are... You're Connie Beauchamp." He smirked laying down on the bed. "I'll text you when I have a free day. I assume you've not got a job lined up yet?" "No, it's still being arranged."

Connie got up from where she'd been sat climbing into bed. "I'll call you soon Sam." "Good night Connie." "Night." She ended the call leaving Sam listening to the dull droning of his mobile. He lay with a smile on his face before quickly falling asleep. Connie on the other hand spent the night tossing and turning thinking about him. She wanted to tell him about Grace, next time she saw him she would. He needed to know.