Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

The Grinch That Stole Christmas

Connie stormed through the department like a woman possessed, nobody getting in her way as she traipsed to her office slamming the door shut. "Well today is going to be fun if that's anything to go by." Lousie looked to Noel as he slowly lowered the box of Christmas decorations back underneath the desk.

She threw her things onto the desk oblivious to the eyes that peered through her window watching her. "Think I should go and see if she's okay?" Duffy looked up to where Charlie and Jacob stood with one another watching. "I'll go, she's less likely to throw something at me." Duffy smiled briefly before stepping up beside Jacob.

"You really care about her don't you?" Jacob leant back crossing his arms against his chest. "That obvious?" She smirked moving her eyes towards the office that Charlie had just stepped into seeing Connie now sitting with her head gently lulling in her hands. "Make her feel special again, every girl needs reminding sometime."

She wandered away from Jacob with a small smile as he picked up a set of notes and headed into cubicles. Charlie pressed the door to gently as he watched Connie take a seat. "What is it Charlie?" "What's wrong?" "What's wrong is that the department is under-staffed and on the edge of breaching every time possible-" "I meant before you entered the hospital."

Connie stopped speaking as she glanced around the room before picking her phone up and passing it over to him. He took it with a frown before seeing a message from a number he didn't know, but the message made it clear. "Grace?" "She doesn't want to come here at all." She released a heavy sigh telling him that this was affecting her more than she cared to admit.

Charlie walked closer to the desk taking a seat opposite her as he pushed the phone back across the table. "You know what I think?" Her head rest in her hands as she remained silent waiting for him to continue. "I think that you did what you thought best by letting her go, and it in no way means you failed her or were a bad mother. I also think that you have someone out there pretty worried for you."

Connie lifted her head arching a brow sarcastically. "Worried? Please, they all just think this is one of those moods where they should all avoid me." "Not Jacob. He saw you come in... He cares about you Connie, let him." Charlie stood up as she turned glancing through her window. People were moving about the department but she spotted him easily as he leant against the wall seemingly conflicted about something before noticing Charlie and rushing after him.

Hours passed before anyone saw or heard from Connie. Noel had taken down the few decorations that were up earlier as Cal and Alicia passed. "Where's everything gone?" "The Grinch cancelled Christmas-" "I heard that." He risked a glance seeing her back to him as she strolled into the department.

Connie stepped up to the nurses station taking a look to the board of patients, everyone being treated and discharged in good time. "Ah Connie, I was wandering if you could help me with something?" Duffy stood before her with a file which she took from her as they wandered towards cubicles. "So... Have you seen Jacob since you came in this morning? He seemed pretty concerned about you." She opened her mouth to talk but found that she couldn't think of anything to say. Nothing useful anyway.

"I haven't had the chance." She nodded with an understanding smile before pulling the curtain back on the cubicle. After treating the patient, Connie left the cubicle with instructions for Duffy before walking through the department looking around. "Outside..." She jumped as the voice from nowhere took her off guard. Charlie smiled as he continued past her while she walked towards the exit.

It was cold outside and Connie shivered instantly as she stepped into the winter air. Looking around she couldn't see him until a thought crossed her mind. Turning past the incoming ambulance she wandered along the side of the building until she saw him sitting on a bench up ahead.

Her arms folded tightly to her chest she stepped onto the wooden decking causing his head to snap up at her footsteps. Crossing the small space between them she sat the other end of the bench. Looking across the garden she sighed rubbing her arms before glancing sideways. Jacob's eyes had moved from her to the grass ahead, unsure of why he was being cold with her.

They sat in silence for a while, neither finding it comforting or comfortable. When Jacob could see her physically shivering he sat forwards with a sigh, slipping out of his jumper. "You're freezing." Placing it over her shoulders she looked to him before catching his hand. "Jacob-" "I care Connie. I can't help that okay?" She shook her head releasing a sigh. "I know, I know you care but... I'm just not used to this. Someone taking more of an interest in something other than the sex."

Jacob scoffed turning to look at her properly. "I wish you felt you could talk to me about it-" "Grace. It's Grace." He frowned before seeing the tears appear in her eyes. Without another word he moved his arm around her shoulders pulling her into his chest where she quickly broke down. "She hates me and I can't do anything to change it." "She doesn't hate you sweet cheeks, things are hard but I don't believe for a second she doesn't love you."

Connie sniffed gradually lifting her head from his chest, his hands moving to her cheeks as he wiped away the traces of the tears that had fallen. Leaning forwards he placed a kiss to her forehead before sitting up. "Call her, talk it through... Tell her how much you miss her, you have a habit of not showing people how you really feel." She nodded letting him pull her close again as she accepted the hug.

Jacob glanced over her shoulder seeing Charlie stood with a small smile. He pointed back inside with a silent apology causing Jacob to nod. Connie sat up looking around but Charlie had gone back inside. "We're needed again... You going to be alright?" She laughed painting a façade over how she really felt. "Aren't I always?" "Less Grinchy this time?"

Connie arched a brow with an unimpressed expression as Jacob held his hands up. "Don't tell me you weren't the one to steal Christmas this morning-" "I did not steal it." Jacob shrugged as they stood up wandering back towards the hospital ."Not what I heard-" "Well, I didn't." He laughed at her childlike arguing causing her to grumble and push him away.

Jacob smirked moving back to her, his arms quickly going around her and lifting her from the floor. She squealed having not expected it as he continued laughing. "Put me down Masters before I put you on a double over Christmas!" He smirked placing her back on the floor but not without turning her to face him.

Not giving her a chance to walk away, he slipped a hand beneath her hair as his lips pushed onto hers. Connie responded to him eagerly, the contact a surprise but welcome. The cold air hit as he parted from her with a grin, the smile soon stretching to her lips too. "Come on, it seems this place falls apart without you for five seconds-" "You bet it does." He rolled his eyes as they separated and re-entered the ED.