Chapter Text
“Who have you got your eye on Delia?” enquired a teasing voice from the corridor behind her. Delia didn’t move from where she was leaning but tilted her head to meet the eye of her friend. She smirked over the top of the files that she was clasping to her chest, as the blonde nurse sidled up along-side her. “This is the third visit up to the 4th floor today. Something or someone has caught your attention!”
“Hmmm…maybe,” came the reply, as Delia returned her gaze to the hustle and bustle of the open ward in front of her. “I have recently come to appreciate the professionalism and dedication of one of the Consultants up here!” she smiled mischievously.
“Oh, really Delia?!” The blonde continued to tease, “That’s surprising, as the only two I can think of up here that have any dedication, and would be of any interest professionally, are either the boorish and balding Mr Williams or the beautiful and easy on the eye, Ms Mount! I’m at a loss as to which one has attracted your interest?!” she giggled.
Delia grinned at her friend Trixie, and feign flapped the files to cool her cheeks, “Mr Williams, of course, a catch for any girl!” They both laughed and returned to surveying the room and the tall red headed doctor who was examining a patient.
“I’ve heard she has a bit of a reputation,” Trixie whispered “Supposedly had quite a few flings with various nurses and doctors. Uses and discards by all accounts!”
“Well she’s missed me out on her rounds! I’d settle for a fling at the moment, especially if it involved her. She can use and discard me as much as she wants. Have you seen her legs, Trix?” Delia groaned, as she tilted her head to get a better view of the slender legs in a pencil skirt.
“Delia!” Trixie bashed her friend on the arm. “Oh sweetie, don’t settle for just a fling. You deserve the whole package. Romance, love…undivided attention. I don’t think the roguish Ms Patience Mount will offer you that.”
Delia turned, “So when did you become the knower of all things rumour, Franklin?”
“One hears all the gossip when hanging around the smoking shelter,” retorted Trixie, “Terrible habit but invaluable for knowing the inner workings of this place.” Trixie smiled, enjoying the moment.
“Oh shit, she’s looking this way. Don’t look Delia, she’s seen us watching!”
Delia’s head instantly snapped round and made direct eye contact with the red head. Trixie glanced down, grabbing her friend’s shoulder. In her haste, she knocked the files that Delia was holding, sending them crashing to the ground. All eyes of the ward suddenly switched to where the noise had come from.
“Oh cripes,” Delia exclaimed bending down to retrieve the mass of paperwork. She glanced up and could see that the doctor had narrowed her eyes, placed one hand on a hip and was surveying the scene in the corner of her ward. Worried that the formidable Ms Mount would march over and reprimand them for their carelessness and interruption, Delia shot her an apologetic smile from the floor. Surprisingly, the red head returned it with a side smile and started chuckling at the chaos unfolding. Trixie was piling up the folders unsystematically, apologising profusely to Delia. With a shake of the head and an amused expression on her face, Ms Mount picked up some notes and continued with her round.
As Trixie pulled Delia up and ushered her away to the elevators. Delia began to lament, “Well there goes my fun fling. She must think I‘m such a clumsy oaf! I’m destined to spend my life single! I should get a cat…or a dog…maybe a hamster for company!”
“Oh, hush now silly. She saw you watching, no big deal. I watch people all the time. Granted, they are not my seniors at work, mostly hot guys at the gym, but she still seemed to react…positively... considering you cascaded paperwork all over her pristine ward.”
“I looked desperate,” Delia winced, pushing the button to call the lift.
“Well you’re not. You can have your pick of any eligible woman you want Miss Busby, just you remember that. Anyway, I’ve got something to cheer you up. I managed to bag us freebie tickets to that fancy Trust Auction dinner event that people have been banging on about. Dinner, free booze and a chance to dress up. It’ll be fun!” Trixie beamed as they entered the lift.
“How have you wangled that, may I ask? What have you got us into?” Delia asked sceptically, as the doors closed and they descended.
“I may have made a few promises with the handsome Dr Collins from A and E, and agreed to go with him and his Radiology friend.”
“Trixie! Seriously! You do know I’m gay right?! Yet here you are pimping me out to all and sundry!”
“It’s ok,” Trixie tried to reassure, “I’ve explained the situation and he knows the score!”
“There better be a lot of free champagne, if I have sit next to someone from work talking shop all night, there will be trouble.” Delia shot Trixie a warning. As the doors opened Trixie looped arms with Delia as they walked out onto their floor.
“You never know Delia,” Trixie teased, “Maybe the delectable Ms Mount will be there and you can sweep her off her immaculately pedicured feet.”
Delia groaned in response. “That idea is dead. Dead before it even had a heartbeat. I’ll have more chance with the bloke from Radiology.”
With that, Trixie grinned and clapped her hands, “Super, we can decide what we are going to wear later! Meet me in the canteen later for tea? Around 5.30ish?” She turned on her heel and made off for the nurse’s station.
“Fine,” Delia huffed, already imagining what the evening would be like. Trixie would be endlessly cavorting with the hot doc from A and E and getting absolutely wasted. She hoped that the radiology friend ‘knew the score’ as she didn’t fancy batting away attention from a guy thinking he was on a promise. Booze, booze and more booze was going to get her through it and who knows, maybe there would be one of these eligible woman, just hanging around that Trixie spoke of. All single and available so that Delia could get her flirt on.