We'll Always Have Holby : part 13
We'll Always Have Holby
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6
Part 7 ~ Part 8 ~ Part 9 ~ Part 10 ~ Part 11 ~ Part 12
Whatever life in Holby was like, 'normal' was never a tag that Charlie applied to it. Normal happened to other people, his life seemed to stumble from one drama to another. Work was always something new but behind it the same battle against "the establishment" continued to rage. Louis had often joked about getting his 'death of the NHS' speech printed onto cards that his father could just hand out and save them all some time.
Jade and Louis' relationship almost suffered a setback in the wake of her allergic reaction, but they soon found their feet and began to go from strength to strength. With Louis' sixteenth birthday the following week Charlie was under no illusions what would happen; the deal Maggie struck would be null and void and he suspected that the cause of Jade's allergy had been located and alternatives suggested.
Maggie had landed the job at St James' to no one's surprise and was settling in. Most days their shifts meant they could either grab breakfast or dinner together and eventually talk turned to the wedding.
~~
"So..." Charlie said, handing Maggie a takeaway coffee as they sat on the bench.
"What?" Maggie smiled, wrapping her hands around the polystyrene.
"This wedding."
"Which wedding?" she joked.
"Funny. Everyone's on at me to set a date..."
"Don't think I'm not getting it too," she replied. "Louis makes a comment every other day and Jade's started to as well. Every time I speak to Tess she tells me about something she saw in a magazine or heard on the radio..."
"Shall we just leave it to them to plan it?" he suggested. "Just turn up on the day?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Any thoughts on a date?"
"No, not really," she said. "That make me a bad person?"
"Why would it?"
"Not chomping at the bit to get married."
"Of course not," he said. "So..."
"So. Any ideas?"
"None," he laughed. "But I do have something..." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring box. "They called this morning."
They'd taken the diamond to the jewellers together and picked a design they both liked. The owner had commented that more and more couples were both having an input into the ring; after all, if the woman was to wear it for the rest of her life then she should have a say in the matter.
Charlie opened the lid and Maggie saw that the description hadn't done it justice. The diamond had been cut into three pieces, now laid across a simple gold band. It was made to measure and therefore a perfect fit as he put it onto her finger.
"And now the reason you asked me to come here is made clear," she smiled, splaying her fingers to admire it properly.
"What? To give you the ring?"
"No, so I can come inside and show it off. Think this should buy us a few days' reprieve from wedding talk?"
"Knowing Tess it'll probably spur her on."
"True."
Charlie took her hand in his, bringing it closer so he could admire the ring in situ. "Louis was right, it's perfect."
"Love has done some wonderful things to that boy."
"Love?"
"Yes, Charlie, love. You see the way he looks at her." She hooked her finger under his chin and smiled. "Exactly the same way that you look at me. And ask me she's good for him."
"Don't doubt that," Charlie said. "Least now when he says he's out with her I actually know that's where he is."
"He's a good kid."
"He's a great kid, Charlie."
"Still don't know what to get him for his birthday."
Maggie shrugged. "He's sixteen. Think a cheque will probably be sufficient."
"So he can take Jade to a hotel room?"
"Charlie..."
"He's still my little boy, Maggie."
"Tell me about it. Sometimes I can't believe that Joanne's got a daughter. Really don't feel old enough to be a grandmother."
"Hey, you're a great grandmother." He paused, realising what he just said. "I mean..."
"It's fine," she laughed. "You do realise that when we get married you'll be a granddad?"
"Step-granddad," he corrected.
"How'd you think Louis is going to feel, being an uncle?"
"I don't think he's thought about anyone other than Jade to be honest. He was pretty excited about today."
"Today?"
"When he sold the necklace there was some money left over so he's treating her. She's apparently recovered so he wants to treat her. He still feels bad about... Well, y'know."
"It wasn't his fault," Maggie said. "Neither of them could have known."
"Doesn't stop him feeling responsible."
"I guess."
"You should have seen him this morning, all dressed up."
"Bet it was very cute."
"I don't think cute was what he was going for," he laughed.
"I won't say it to his face, I promise."
Charlie glanced at his watch and sighed.
"Back to it?" she asked.
"Yeah, sorry."
"So. Do I have to come in and show off this ring?"
"Might be an idea. Tess saw the box, she dropped some not-so-subtle hints..."
"Fair enough," she said as they got to their feet.
As they did so an ambulance pulled in, lights flashing. The back doors were flung open and Jeff climbed out in advance of the trolley.
"Straight back to it then?" Maggie asked.
"Guess so."
"Charlie!" Dixie called across the yard at him. "Charlie, it's Louis."
"What?" he asked.
"It's Louis," Jeff said as the trolley was pulled out of the ambulance.
Charlie hurried across the yard, Maggie half a step behind him.
"What happened?" he asked, his heart lurching to see that it really was his son strapped to the trolley.
"Mate... he's been shot," Jeff said.
And in that moment, both Maggie and Charlie felt physically sick.
~~
One week, five days, about fifteen hours and several minutes since the last email from Maggie had appeared in his inbox. That made it about nine days longer than any other contact they'd had. He'd waited five days before he'd sent his email. Then there was the call three days ago, short and sweet. He'd not been able to get her voice out of his mind and he would have sworn he could hear it in the corridors.
It wasn't as if work was distracting him either. One of those rare shifts where you didn't dare say it. You didn't even think about it. Just got on, did all those little things you never got the chance to normally. Like the crossword puzzle.
One across. Lacking or absent. Seven letters.
"Charlie?"
He didn't look up from the paper, pencilling in the obvious answer : missing.
"Can I get a hand out here?" Tess asked.
He looked up in bemusement. "Sudden rush?"
"No, it's just I could use another opinion."
"Where's Kelsey?"
"Please, Charlie."
He sighed and dropped the paper to one side. "You're lucky I'm..."
"What? Bored?"
"Looking for a distraction," he said, getting to his feet and following her from the staff room.
"Bit of an unusual one. She says she gets a 'funny feeling' in her stomach which has only gotten worse since she walked in here."
"A 'funny feeling'?" he mocked.
"Fast heart rate, dilated pupils..."
"And you want my opinion on this?" They stopped outside a cubicle and Tess began to pull back a curtain. "Not sure what you think I could do..."
"She asked for you by name," Tess replied.
Charlie turned and saw her sitting up on the bed, swinging her legs slightly as if she were a kid.
"Don't know what it is," she said, "but ever since I walked back in here there's... butterflies in my stomach and I feel like my heart's racing."
"That right?" Charlie asked, moving over to her side. He was barely aware of Tess pulling back the curtain as he put his fingers to her neck, feeling for the pulse. "It is a bit fast."
"Any idea why that could be?"
"A few."
"And what would you suggest I do about it?"
"I have a few suggestions on that matter too," he grinned.
"Thought you might," Maggie replied as she pulled him in for a kiss.
This was the moment she'd imagined ever since she got on that plane in Belgrade. It hadn't been a comfortable flight and when she'd landed in Bristol she was exhausted, but that wasn't stopping her. One hire car and drive later, she'd walked through those doors, nearly scaring Noel half to death.
It had been Tess' idea to surprise him and as Maggie felt his arms snake around her waist, pulling her body in closer to his, she knew it had all been worth it.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?" he asked when their lips finally parted.
"Because of that look on your face," she replied, running a hand down his cheek. "Because I wanted to surprise you."
"You certainly did that." He kissed her again, just once, before taking a deep breath. "So..."
She laughed softly and his heart almost stopped. He'd missed that sound. He'd missed being able to reach out and touch her. He'd missed her; full stop.
"Am I going back?" she asked. Then she shook her head. "I promised you I'd come home."
"You're sure?"
"Never been more certain of anything in my life."
"Well, I'm certainly not going to argue," he said, moving in to kiss her again.
This was why she'd come home, she told herself. This is where her life was, where she belonged. This man who loved her, his family who needed her. This city, this place, where she felt at home, where - above all else - she felt safe.
The curtain was pulled back and Tess coughed theatrically to get their attention.
"Go home," she told Charlie. "There's just over an hour left of your shift, I'll cover for you."
They didn't stop to argue. Maggie jumped off the bed, Charlie grabbing her hand as she did so. Quickly saying thanks as they left the cubicle area, they stopped long enough for him to grab his things from the staff area. Stepping into the cool night air, their hands found each other again.
"Maggie?"
"Yeah?"
He stopped, pulling her to a halt beside him. He looked at her, smiled, then gave a small shake of his head. "Nothing."
She moved in closer to him, pressing her body in as close as she could get. Their fingers laced together for the short walk to her hire car, and once she'd reclaimed her bag from the boot they walked to his. Neither of them said anything; what was there to be said?
She was home.
tbc...
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6
Part 7 ~ Part 8 ~ Part 9 ~ Part 10 ~ Part 11 ~ Part 12
Whatever life in Holby was like, 'normal' was never a tag that Charlie applied to it. Normal happened to other people, his life seemed to stumble from one drama to another. Work was always something new but behind it the same battle against "the establishment" continued to rage. Louis had often joked about getting his 'death of the NHS' speech printed onto cards that his father could just hand out and save them all some time.
Jade and Louis' relationship almost suffered a setback in the wake of her allergic reaction, but they soon found their feet and began to go from strength to strength. With Louis' sixteenth birthday the following week Charlie was under no illusions what would happen; the deal Maggie struck would be null and void and he suspected that the cause of Jade's allergy had been located and alternatives suggested.
Maggie had landed the job at St James' to no one's surprise and was settling in. Most days their shifts meant they could either grab breakfast or dinner together and eventually talk turned to the wedding.
~~
"So..." Charlie said, handing Maggie a takeaway coffee as they sat on the bench.
"What?" Maggie smiled, wrapping her hands around the polystyrene.
"This wedding."
"Which wedding?" she joked.
"Funny. Everyone's on at me to set a date..."
"Don't think I'm not getting it too," she replied. "Louis makes a comment every other day and Jade's started to as well. Every time I speak to Tess she tells me about something she saw in a magazine or heard on the radio..."
"Shall we just leave it to them to plan it?" he suggested. "Just turn up on the day?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Any thoughts on a date?"
"No, not really," she said. "That make me a bad person?"
"Why would it?"
"Not chomping at the bit to get married."
"Of course not," he said. "So..."
"So. Any ideas?"
"None," he laughed. "But I do have something..." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring box. "They called this morning."
They'd taken the diamond to the jewellers together and picked a design they both liked. The owner had commented that more and more couples were both having an input into the ring; after all, if the woman was to wear it for the rest of her life then she should have a say in the matter.
Charlie opened the lid and Maggie saw that the description hadn't done it justice. The diamond had been cut into three pieces, now laid across a simple gold band. It was made to measure and therefore a perfect fit as he put it onto her finger.
"And now the reason you asked me to come here is made clear," she smiled, splaying her fingers to admire it properly.
"What? To give you the ring?"
"No, so I can come inside and show it off. Think this should buy us a few days' reprieve from wedding talk?"
"Knowing Tess it'll probably spur her on."
"True."
Charlie took her hand in his, bringing it closer so he could admire the ring in situ. "Louis was right, it's perfect."
"Love has done some wonderful things to that boy."
"Love?"
"Yes, Charlie, love. You see the way he looks at her." She hooked her finger under his chin and smiled. "Exactly the same way that you look at me. And ask me she's good for him."
"Don't doubt that," Charlie said. "Least now when he says he's out with her I actually know that's where he is."
"He's a good kid."
"He's a great kid, Charlie."
"Still don't know what to get him for his birthday."
Maggie shrugged. "He's sixteen. Think a cheque will probably be sufficient."
"So he can take Jade to a hotel room?"
"Charlie..."
"He's still my little boy, Maggie."
"Tell me about it. Sometimes I can't believe that Joanne's got a daughter. Really don't feel old enough to be a grandmother."
"Hey, you're a great grandmother." He paused, realising what he just said. "I mean..."
"It's fine," she laughed. "You do realise that when we get married you'll be a granddad?"
"Step-granddad," he corrected.
"How'd you think Louis is going to feel, being an uncle?"
"I don't think he's thought about anyone other than Jade to be honest. He was pretty excited about today."
"Today?"
"When he sold the necklace there was some money left over so he's treating her. She's apparently recovered so he wants to treat her. He still feels bad about... Well, y'know."
"It wasn't his fault," Maggie said. "Neither of them could have known."
"Doesn't stop him feeling responsible."
"I guess."
"You should have seen him this morning, all dressed up."
"Bet it was very cute."
"I don't think cute was what he was going for," he laughed.
"I won't say it to his face, I promise."
Charlie glanced at his watch and sighed.
"Back to it?" she asked.
"Yeah, sorry."
"So. Do I have to come in and show off this ring?"
"Might be an idea. Tess saw the box, she dropped some not-so-subtle hints..."
"Fair enough," she said as they got to their feet.
As they did so an ambulance pulled in, lights flashing. The back doors were flung open and Jeff climbed out in advance of the trolley.
"Straight back to it then?" Maggie asked.
"Guess so."
"Charlie!" Dixie called across the yard at him. "Charlie, it's Louis."
"What?" he asked.
"It's Louis," Jeff said as the trolley was pulled out of the ambulance.
Charlie hurried across the yard, Maggie half a step behind him.
"What happened?" he asked, his heart lurching to see that it really was his son strapped to the trolley.
"Mate... he's been shot," Jeff said.
And in that moment, both Maggie and Charlie felt physically sick.
~~
One week, five days, about fifteen hours and several minutes since the last email from Maggie had appeared in his inbox. That made it about nine days longer than any other contact they'd had. He'd waited five days before he'd sent his email. Then there was the call three days ago, short and sweet. He'd not been able to get her voice out of his mind and he would have sworn he could hear it in the corridors.
It wasn't as if work was distracting him either. One of those rare shifts where you didn't dare say it. You didn't even think about it. Just got on, did all those little things you never got the chance to normally. Like the crossword puzzle.
One across. Lacking or absent. Seven letters.
"Charlie?"
He didn't look up from the paper, pencilling in the obvious answer : missing.
"Can I get a hand out here?" Tess asked.
He looked up in bemusement. "Sudden rush?"
"No, it's just I could use another opinion."
"Where's Kelsey?"
"Please, Charlie."
He sighed and dropped the paper to one side. "You're lucky I'm..."
"What? Bored?"
"Looking for a distraction," he said, getting to his feet and following her from the staff room.
"Bit of an unusual one. She says she gets a 'funny feeling' in her stomach which has only gotten worse since she walked in here."
"A 'funny feeling'?" he mocked.
"Fast heart rate, dilated pupils..."
"And you want my opinion on this?" They stopped outside a cubicle and Tess began to pull back a curtain. "Not sure what you think I could do..."
"She asked for you by name," Tess replied.
Charlie turned and saw her sitting up on the bed, swinging her legs slightly as if she were a kid.
"Don't know what it is," she said, "but ever since I walked back in here there's... butterflies in my stomach and I feel like my heart's racing."
"That right?" Charlie asked, moving over to her side. He was barely aware of Tess pulling back the curtain as he put his fingers to her neck, feeling for the pulse. "It is a bit fast."
"Any idea why that could be?"
"A few."
"And what would you suggest I do about it?"
"I have a few suggestions on that matter too," he grinned.
"Thought you might," Maggie replied as she pulled him in for a kiss.
This was the moment she'd imagined ever since she got on that plane in Belgrade. It hadn't been a comfortable flight and when she'd landed in Bristol she was exhausted, but that wasn't stopping her. One hire car and drive later, she'd walked through those doors, nearly scaring Noel half to death.
It had been Tess' idea to surprise him and as Maggie felt his arms snake around her waist, pulling her body in closer to his, she knew it had all been worth it.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?" he asked when their lips finally parted.
"Because of that look on your face," she replied, running a hand down his cheek. "Because I wanted to surprise you."
"You certainly did that." He kissed her again, just once, before taking a deep breath. "So..."
She laughed softly and his heart almost stopped. He'd missed that sound. He'd missed being able to reach out and touch her. He'd missed her; full stop.
"Am I going back?" she asked. Then she shook her head. "I promised you I'd come home."
"You're sure?"
"Never been more certain of anything in my life."
"Well, I'm certainly not going to argue," he said, moving in to kiss her again.
This was why she'd come home, she told herself. This is where her life was, where she belonged. This man who loved her, his family who needed her. This city, this place, where she felt at home, where - above all else - she felt safe.
The curtain was pulled back and Tess coughed theatrically to get their attention.
"Go home," she told Charlie. "There's just over an hour left of your shift, I'll cover for you."
They didn't stop to argue. Maggie jumped off the bed, Charlie grabbing her hand as she did so. Quickly saying thanks as they left the cubicle area, they stopped long enough for him to grab his things from the staff area. Stepping into the cool night air, their hands found each other again.
"Maggie?"
"Yeah?"
He stopped, pulling her to a halt beside him. He looked at her, smiled, then gave a small shake of his head. "Nothing."
She moved in closer to him, pressing her body in as close as she could get. Their fingers laced together for the short walk to her hire car, and once she'd reclaimed her bag from the boot they walked to his. Neither of them said anything; what was there to be said?
She was home.
tbc...