A Beginning - a Patsy/Delia Call The Midwife fanfic

Chapter 3

Delia spent the next few days cycling between confusion and compassion. She'd tried talking with Patsy later that emotional day, but there had been no answer to her knock. She left a note the following day, and again the day after that. But nothing. 

She struggled to stay focused in the lecture hall and forced herself to attend meals with friends. She tried her best to seem normal. But alone in her room at night, her mind drifted; inventing stories about what she may have said or done wrong, remembering everything Patsy had shared and how vulnerable she must have felt, and processing the feelings her new friend evoked within her. Thoughts tumbling over and over, with no resolution until she was emotionally exhausted, finally falling into a troubled sleep. And then she would do it all over again the next day.

She was understandably on edge when a note slid under her door one morning later in the week. Irritated, she snatched it up and flung open the door, spotting the back of a tall blonde hurrying down the hall, away from her. 
 
"Oh no you don't," she mumbled before calling out, her voice snapping in the air like a whip. "Nurse Mount, stop right there." She was rather surprised when Patsy actually stopped; her tense shoulders sagging. 
 
Inhaling deeply through her nose and exhaling slowly through tight lips, she marched down the hall to plant herself firmly in front of Patsy. With one fist pressed against a hip and the other holding the crumpled paper in the other, Delia's dark, sculpted eyebrows raised expectantly.
 
Patsy had the good sense to look sheepish. With a tug to an earlobe, she sighed heavily before meeting Delia’s eyes. "I...uh...wasn’t sure if you had already left for the day."
 
"Nuh uh. No. You didn't even knock. You’ve been avoiding me. For days. And now you slide a note under my door? I thought…” Delia took a deep breath, rolling her shoulders to relieve some of the tension held there. She gestured dismissively. “I don’t know what I thought. It doesn’t seem to matter anyway." 
 
Patsy glanced around the hall, leading Delia back to her room with strong fingers around her wrist. 
 
Safely behind the closed door, Patsy pulled Delia into her arms. Her voice tight but soft. "I'm sorry. I was scared. Terrified actually. Of you, of myself. Of the ghosts haunting me. But I'm sorry."
 
Delia leaned easily, comfortably, into Patsy's taller body, breathing her in. "You do not get to just disappear from me. Are we clear? Not from me."
 
Patsy nodded against Delia's dark head.
 
Still wrapped in Patsy's arms, Delia raised the note. "So, what's this?"
 
"A few of us are going out...dancing tonight, and I wondered...if...you might want to come with us."
 
Delia pulled back enough to meet Patsy’s nervous blue eyes with a tender smile. "I think that sounds like fun."
 
Clearing her throat, Patsy’s eyes danced back and forth between Delia’s. "Ah...well...lovely. I will stop by around 6. Is that alright?”
 
"Definitely.”
 
"Good. I need to go, and I'm sure you do, too."
 
Delia sounded slightly pensive when she softly admitted, "I do." 
 
Pressing painted red lips to Delia's forehead, Patsy hurriedly rubbed at the lipstick mark with her thumb. "Alright, then. I’ll see you this evening. Have a good day, Deels."
 
The door closed, and Delia could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she raised two fingers to her forehead. She could still feel it there, on her skin, like a brand. 
 
She took a deep breath to clear her head for a day of lectures.

_________________________________________________

Delia was leaning into the mirror applying the finishing touches when Patsy knocked. Right on time. "Come in, Pats."
 
"Just about ready," she commented when the door opened and closed behind her. Glancing at Patsy’s reflection in the mirror, her eyes lingered a moment. "You look lovely."
 
Patsy tugged with her top, blushing slightly. "Thank you, so do you."
 
Delia turned, suddenly filled with a nervous energy. "Well, I suppose I'm ready."
 
"Alright then. I told the gals we’d meet them at the bus stop." Fingers fidgeting at her sides, Patsy spoke gently. “You really do look beautiful.” 
 
Delia gave her a bashful half-smile, hoping her ears weren't nearly as red as they felt.
 
Reaching for the door, Patsy paused when Delia stepped close, gently touching her arm. "Thank you...for inviting me. I’ve been looking forward to this all day." Her fingers slid down to Patsy's hand, before she took a small step back.
 
"Uh, yes…” Voice cracking, Patsy cleared her throat, and tried again. “Yes...me too. I'm glad you wanted to come with me...us. Come with us. We should probably go."
 
After introductions with the gals at the bus stop, Delia was quickly accepted as a new member of their pack. Her nerves fading the longer they all stood talking.
 
Selecting a window seat on the nearly-empty bus, Delia worried her lower lip wondering if Patsy would choose the seat beside her. But when it actually happened, when Patsy pressed against her as she sat, Delia’s heart rate ticked up several notches. The other gals clustered nearby, chatting merrily, oblivious as Delia tried to rein in her unruly body. 
 
In front of them, a petite redhead — Delia was fairly sure her name was Georgina — turned in her seat, peering at Delia for an uncomfortably long moment, her green eyes glowing with mischief. "So, Delia. It’s good to finally put a face to the name. You really are as lovely as Patsy said."
 
Delia cast a glance at Patsy who sat straight backed in her seat, her cheeks glowing and blue eyes staring intently at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Looking back to the woman in front of her, Delia flashed a sincere smile. "Mm, yes. I'm glad to finally meet you all."
 
"We’ve been pestering Patsy to come out with us for ages, with no luck. She just sits in her room, claiming too much studying to do. But last night she shocked us all when she actually suggested it. Was that your doing?” Georgina asked, clearly amused.
 
Patsy had just leaned forward and opened her mouth to defend herself but snapped it closed when Delia subtly touched her arm, squeezing gently. "I’d mentioned to Patsy how I adore dancing, but haven't been since moving to London. She told me that you all go out from time to time, and I told her that sounded like fun."
 
"Well, I think I speak for everyone when I say we're glad to have you. Our dear Patsy doesn't socialize very often." Georgina reached over the seat and patted Delia's hand affectionately. “You've been good for her.”
 
From behind them, a brunette leaned her forearms on the back of their seat. This time Delia drew a complete blank on the name. “So Delia, who’s your favorite instructor? Me, I’m mad for Dr. Ian Buchanan. All that thick, dark hair. Those adorable glasses. And have you seen that scar on his eyebrow? And those eyes. I can just tell he'd be a good father. Can't you?" She feigned a swoon.
 
Squirming in her seat, Delia’s eyes shifted to see Patsy watching her with an unreadable expression. “Uh, yes. He’s very handsome. Not really the type that I go for, but I can see how you would find him attractive. He’s very...intelligent.” She added "And kind" after a moment's hesitation.
 
They were saved from further conversation by the bus arriving at their stop. Hanging back as the others filed out, Patsy lowered her head, mumbling, "Well, that was utterly embarrassing."
 
Delia chuckled and rubbed Patsy's back affectionately before giving her a gentle push to get her moving. "You're adorable."
 
Unsurprisingly, they found the dance hall crowded and there was no way for them to stay together as one large group, so they split up. Patsy quickly claimed Delia with a firm clasp on her wrist, pulling her off into the crowd.
 
With drinks in hand they circulated, getting a feel for the place. Delia was enjoying the music and lively atmosphere. But Pasty’s ramrod straight back and tight lips made it obvious that she was uncomfortable with the press of bodies and the jostling, so Delia navigated them to a spot along the wall. From there, they were able to watch the crowd; leaning into each other and laughing as they invented stories about interesting people they spotted.

__________________________________________________

Returning with fresh drinks, Patsy wove her way through the crowd back to Delia, holding the glasses up to protect them from the many elbows she pushed through. Nearing their spot, she witnessed Delia's genuinely happy smile form as their eyes met. It was a truly infectious smile. "Here we are then" she said, handing Delia her drink.
 
Delia reached out with both hands, fingers gently brushing the back of Patsy's as she took her glass. "Thank you."
 
They were sipping their drinks, swaying to the music and enjoying each other's company when Patsy stiffened at an unfamiliar hand intimately pressing against her lower back. She was then was pulled away from Delia in the midst of their conversation, turned to face a cheeky young man slightly taller than herself, with close cropped brown hair. 
 
"Hello, love! You're a stunner, aren't ya! I've been watching you, and it is far past time you dance with me." He moved to wrap an arm around her, but Patsy pushed the hand away, reaching behind herself for Delia's arm, pulling her close.
 
"This is my very dear friend, Delia. Delia, this is...I'm sorry, what's your name?"
 
"Paul"
 
"Thank you for the invitation, Paul. It's very kind. But I really don't care to leave my friend standing here alone."
 
He winked and raised a finger. "Don't move." He turned and disappeared into the crowd.
 
Delia leaned her shoulder against the taller woman, "you know, if you want to dance, you don't need to babysit me."
 
Pasty shook her head, eyes looking out over the dancefloor, at the couples. "I do want to dance, Deels. Just not with him."
 
Delia glanced up at her, brow furrowed. "Who do you..." she was cut off when Paul returned, an eager grin on his face.
 
Patsy groaned inwardly. "Paul, I..."
 
"Brought a friend for your friend, angel!" He gestured to the empty space next to him. Spinning, he looked around, then grabbed a young man by the upper arms as he tried to disappear into the crowd. Paul pushed him forward. "This is Ernest. He's shy. Say hello, Ernest."
 
"Hello."
 
Paul nodded, cocky grin firmly in place. "There's that, then." He held his hand out to Patsy. "Shall we dance?"
 
Delia’s wide blue eyes returned Patsy’s questioning look for a long moment. They both shrugged and set their drinks down.
 
Out on the dance floor, Patsy tried to keep track of Delia. But with the ebb and flow of the dancing mass, she soon lost sight of her. Craning her neck this way and that, she tried to locate Delia until Paul finally clasped her chin in his fingers, forcing her to look at him. 
 
"Your friend’s fine. She's in good hands with Ernest, he'll be a proper gentleman. Just like me." 
 
He pulled her close, moving with the music. She let herself be led, but her mind was elsewhere.
 
Paul attempted to make conversation. "You know my name, but you haven't told me yours, yet."
 
Patsy scanned the crowd over Paul's shoulder. "Patsy."
 
"Patsy, tell me. What's a rare gem, such as yourself, doing here alone?"
 
"I'm not alone. I'm with Delia." Patsy leaned her head back to look Paul directly in his brown eyes. “Remember?”
 
He laughed dismissively. "Oh, right. I meant without a chap. But she certainly makes you shine."
 
Patsy slowed her movements and stepped back. "What is that supposed to mean?"
 
He tried to pull her back in, but she put a hand to his chest. "I just mean...well...she's...you know..."
 
She shook her head, eyes tightening into a steely glare. "No, I don't know."
 
Paul waved one hand in the air by his side. "She's just a bit, well, rustic looking."
 
Patsy felt as if he had just slapped her. "Rustic...looking?"
 
Before Paul could respond she caught a commotion out of the corner of her eye, and turned in time to see Delia forcefully pushing her way through the crowd, toward the exit.

TO BE CONTINUED...