Rita ran through the ED car park narrowly avoiding two ambulances driving off. Dixie rounded the corner.

She smirked and waved as Rita ran past.

"LATE!" Rita managed to shout.

Reaching the locker room, she made straight for her locker and ripped off her jacket. Robyn popped her head round the door.

"Late?" she giggled.

"Do you even need to ask?" Rita rolled her eyes. "Let me know if you spot Beauchamp."

Robyn nodded and left quickly getting back to cubicles.

Rita kicked off her trainers and shimmied out of her jeans quickly putting on her scrubs trousers. Stuffing her bag and clothes in her locker, she grabbed her scrubs top and tried to shove it on quickly getting her arms caught.

The door opened sharply and Rita froze top above her head. She snapped out of it and struggled to pull the top over her head catching sight of a pair of Laboutins disappearing behind the door.

Already 15 minutes late for her shift, she shrugged it off and rushed out to the reception.

"Late one last night then?" Tess bustled up to Rita who was frantically attempting to smooth down her hair.

"Shhhhh! Is she here? Do you think she noticed?" She blushed.

"Yeah was a pretty late one.."

"You might be lucky this time"

Rita exhaled

"Thank god"

Busying herself with work, Rita tried to blend in and make herself scarce whenever Connie appeared making her presence known with the telltale clicking of her expensive heels. That noise struck fear into even the most hardened consultants Rita mused to herself. Having finished tending to a patient, Rita collected up her syringe and bandages simultaneously pulling back the cubicle curtain. She backed right into none other than Mrs Beauchamp herself standing with her hands on her hips eyebrows raised.

Damn nearly got away with it this time! Rita hung her head.

"My office Nurse Freeman. Now"

Spinning on her heel, Connie stalked off towards her office and slammed the door.

Great. Just great. Rita binned the old bandages and approached the office door. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for the onslaught.

She knocked for good measure and slowly opened the door. Connie sat behind her desk tapping her long nails on the desk impatiently.

"What time does your shift start Nurse Freeman?"

Rita gritted her teeth. "9:00am"

"And what time did you decide to grace us with your presence this morning"

"More like 9:15" sarcasm laced her voice.

"If I am to run an efficient ED I rely on my staff to arrive on time. Especially the Staff Nurse Manager. You should be setting an example"

Rita blinked slowly. "Sorry Mrs Beauchamp. Had a pretty late one last night. Won't happen again"

Connie pursed her lips. "Yes I could tell by the extensive array of hiccys you have across your chest" Her eyes flashed and she smirked gently.

Rita opened her mouth and closed it again. Her cheeks coloured a deep red.

"Back to work" Connie shooed Rita away.

She turned and left shutting the door behind her.

"You alright Rita you look a little flushed" Cal ruffled her hair as he walked past.

"Don't you have a canula in cubicle 3 waiting for you?" she shot back running a hand through her hair.

He just winked and sauntered off.