The Queen of Hearts

"I want you out. I give you my solemn promise that in six months you will be."

After a moments pause Rita followed Connie back into the ED, struggling to catch up with the other woman, her breath caught in her throat and she clenched her firsts at her side, her body prickling with rage.

"Connie..."

She called, but Connie merely kept on walking.

"Connie!"

Rita shouted louder this time and, though still moving, Connie glanced over her shoulder at her.

"I've said all that needs to be said, Nurse Freeman."

Connie said, her voice low, and they moved through reception onto the ward.

"Well I haven't!"

Rita called, jogging a couple of steps to catch up, finally reaching her and moving in sync with her as they approached the office.

"In your office."

She whispered, catching her breath. Connie arced an eyebrow and stopped outside the door to the small office.

"I'm sorry?"

She asked, her lips pinched, her jaw visibly tensing.

"Your office."

Rita hissed and opened the door without warning, moving inside and stopping by the desk, turning, folding her arms across her chest.

"Excuse me?! I won't be summoned to my own office."

Connie closed the door firmly behind her, aware of the silence on the ward beyond.

"Well someone's got to put you in your place!"

Rita felt the anger begin to bubble within the pit of her stomach, and she felt her cheeks flush.

"You're a bully, Connie. You're selfish, you're manipulative, and you're a bully..."

"Oh, please! Don't be so ridiculous."

Connie rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.

"And you can lose the voice, you sound like an hysterical child that's just swallowed a conker."

She added and Rita stared at her, open mouthed, her brown eyes wide.

"What is your problem, Connie? What is it about me that you hate so much?"

She whispered and Connie shook her head, sighing.

"You repeatedly and systematically put patients' lives in danger because of you're inane inability to separate your personal life with your private life. I blame you for the failures in this ED because you choose not to do your job when a patient needs you."

Connie reeled off her downfalls as though she had been rehearsing while Rita's face grew redder and her eyes glistened.

"My inability to separate my personal life from my professional life?! What about you?!"

She whispered, her voice thick and choked.

"I've worked in this ED a lot longer than you have and..."

But Connie shook her head and cut her off mid-speech.

"Well then you should know better. How dare you bring your husband here..."

"I didn't bring him here!"

"How dare you leave your nursing staff exposed while you drink yourself into a stupor. You're petty, you're childish, not to mention irresponsible! You don't deserve this job and I'm going to make sure that you don't remain in the position."

Connie spoke so low that her voice trembled and she placed her hands upon her hips, her eyes glittering with violent amusement.

"Are you threatening me?"

Rita asked quietly and Connie drew in a long breath and exhaled through her teeth.

"I don't make threats, Nurse Freeman, I make strongly worded statements. Now, would you mind?"

She stepped to one side and gestured to the door. Rita glanced at it, her jaw firmly set, and she looked back to Connie.

"Maybe you're right."

She whispered.

"Maybe I shouldn't be a nurse. No-one seems to want to let me do my job anyway."

"Are you blaming other people?"

Connie asked, arcing an eyebrow and regarding Rita with obvious contempt.

"Well that's what we do round here, isn't it? It's not like after three decades of hard work I'd have the thanks, respect and loyalty of my colleagues and employers, is it? Certainly not from you anyway..."

"That is not fair."

Murmured Connie and she glanced away, shaking her head.

"Maybe not, but it's true.How did it get to the point where half of what we do is not on our job description and yet unless we do it people start accusing us of letting the side down? Cost cutting. Not taking breaks. Overtime. Working uninsured. This is supposed to be the best health service in the world. So why is it being run like a dodgy car dealership? All of that gets in the way of me doing my job. Maybe I should give up. But I won't. Because I *want* to be a nurse - if you'll let me."

She watched as Connie looked back at her again, her hazel eyes narrowed, thoughtful...

"I don't believe you are up to the job. I don't believe that, in the future, if a situation were to arise with your husband, with your drinking...I don't believe that you know how you will react, and I can't risk that. I can't."

Connie let her hands drop from her sides for the first time since they had entered the room, letting her hands curl against her thighs.

"But you can't know that about any of us?! We can't know how we are going to react until the situation arises, surely?"

Rita whispered, narrowing her eyes, feeling as though she were flailing before Connie like a limp, suffocating fish that had some how found itself on land.

"On the contrary, I know how I'm going to react to everything. I am prepared for everything. This department cannot run unless it can rely on me, and that's why I want you out, because I can't trust you, because I can't rely on you."

Connie spoke slowly as though she were speaking to a child and Rita almost laughed.

"You know how you'll react to everything!"

She smiled a humourless smile and unfolded her arms, mirroring Connie's stance and moving towards her.

"Yes."

Connie said, watching as Rita approached her, unsure whether she was going to hit her, or just walk passed her to the door.

Instead, Rita stopped just inches from her, looking up at her, her eyes glinting, a soft twitch at the corner of her mouth hinting at a smile, and then she stood up on tip toes, and without touching her at all she placed a soft kiss against Connie's lips, pulling away before she had time to react.

"React to that."

She whispered.

I hope you enjoyed it. It's just a little idea that's been rolling about in my mind for a few days. Please do Review! xxx