Holby city A+E was glowing like a light bulb as Patrick walked through the doors. He was grumpy, even more than usual. The amount of tinsel and fairy lights that were hung up around every wall, door and window Patrick was surprised that the whole place didn’t glow in the dark. As he walked through the doors he wondered how on earth Lara had managed to talk him into doing this, working Christmas day again. And this was the first Christmas where he’d actually wanted to spend it with someone since… If he was honest then since that night in the barn with Holly all those years ago, if he was lying (which he was) then since he was ten and his mum had died.
The glitter and all the Santa hats that seemed to be everywhere were really starting to get to him after about five minutes of standing in reception with ‘away in a manger’ blasting out from some stereo somewhere and he was just thinking about taking a long lie down in the on call room when a sight caught his eye. There was a woman, he presumed it was a patient, leaning over the counter. She was a short black skirt and had long tanned legs and high-heeled black shoes.
“Nice arse,” He whispered to himself, suddenly much more in the Christmas spirit. He was just about to go over and introduce himself, because obviously she was looking for a doctor when Charlie noticed him.
“Put your tongue back in Patrick.” He announced as he walked past.
“No harm in looking.” He insisted, still staring at this woman. He could see Jack laughing and joking with this woman, probably trying to chat her up, Patrick thought angrily. He didn’t know why but there was something about her that made him feel like he didn’t want anyone else to go out with her and he felt a huge surge of envy as he watched the two of them.
“You want me to tell Lara that?” Charlie asked.
“Huh?” Patrick replied, fixated with the woman.
“Lara, your fiancé, remember? You want me to tell her that you were looking at other women.”
“Oh no, of course I don’t.” Patrick said as he snapped out of his trance. “But I better go over and see her, she probably needs a doctor.” Patrick went to move towards her but Charlie put out his arm to stop him.
“I don’t think she does.” Charlie insisted.
“Then why would she be in a hospital?” Patrick looked at Charlie with some confusion. Charlie sighed loudly.
“Follow me.” He said as he walked over to where Jack and the mysterious woman were stood. “Patrick, meet our newly appointed Registrar.” The woman stood up right and turned around to face Patrick and Charlie. Her light brown hair was cut into a practical bob, her eyes were shining and her smile was only too familiar.
“Hol?” Patrick stuttered, open-mouthed. She laughed at the expression on his face. He never changed.
“Is that all the welcome back I get?” He smiled and pulled her into a long awaited hug. After a moment they pulled apart, aware of the many eyes that were on them. He couldn’t stop staring at her.
“What Patrick, have I got spinach in my teeth or something?” She asked.
“Sorry, it’s just such a shock to see you back again.”
“I know.” She said: it was a shock to her to be back as well.
“And you look…” He faltered. She was wearing a tight white shirt and a matching jacket and skirt, she had no tights on even though it was the middle of winter and she looked so much healthier than he remembered. The sun had got to her skin and she positively glowed, even brighter than the lights that surrounded her.
“I know.” She said. “It’s horrid but I’ve only just received the news about this job and somehow I didn’t think that I could turn up to accept the news, good or bad wearing anything other than this old thing, especially not when I saw the blonde beauty that I was up against. I honestly didn’t think I stood a chance.” Patrick realised that she was talking about Lara but decided to leave it, for now.
“I wasn’t going to say that. You look amazing.” Holly blushed and glanced away.
“Anyway, I better go and change out of these clothes and into my normal un-amazing ones seeing as my shift starts… five minutes ago.” Holly laughed again as she skipped off towards the staff room. Patrick let his eyes follow her until she was out of sight when he turned back to Jack and Charlie who were eying him suspiciously.
“I take it you still have the hots for her.” Jack said as he sat back down at the computer.
“Do not.” Patrick said grumpily as he walked off towards his next patient and tried to push all thoughts of Holly out of his head.
It was a relatively quiet day for Christmas day, only one major accident so far and it was nearly two in the afternoon. Mainly it was just a load of drunks looking for shelter and a few people who had cut themselves cooking Christmas dinner. No one would miss him if he just slipped out for a few minutes, Patrick decided.
“Jack, I’m just popping to the shops, I’ll be ten minutes max. Cover me would you?” Patrick said and then quickly walked out without waiting for an answer. He walked to his car and quickly got in, he knew exactly where he was going. He’d been there so many times before and he knew exactly what he was going to get when he got there. The perfect present for her, he’d been thinking about giving it to Lara for weeks but somehow it didn’t seem right for her, it didn’t fit. He’d bought her a big box of chocolates and some underwear instead. But it fitted Holly perfectly.
Patrick stopped his car in the usual place outside his house, locked the car and quickly ran up the steps. He opened the door as fast as physically possible and ran up into his bedroom, aware that at any moment Charlie could decide that he needed a doctor and realise that he wasn’t there, but it was a risk he was willing to take. As he reached his bed he gently lifted his pillow and pulled out a small black box from under it. He lifted the lid and inside glittered a delicate necklace. The chain itself was thin sliver and balanced at the bottom was a beautifully shaped oval locket with the letter H engraved on the front. All around the letter were drawings of flowers drawn into the silver. It was the most wonderful piece of jewellery he’d ever seen and it had once belonged to his grandmother, Helen. He had no doubts in his mind as he placed it in his pocket as he walked back to the car that this would make the perfect gift for Holly.
“I’m back, anyone miss me?” Patrick asked Jack as he sauntered back into A+E.
“Nah, they never even noticed that you’d gone.” Jack informed him.
“That’s great.”
“So: you going to tell me what was so urgent that you had to disappear for ten minutes in the middle of your shift?” Jack asked nosily.
“Nope.” Patrick said as he smiled secretively and walked off.
“Well folks, thank you all for coming in and giving up your Christmas day to help all the drunk people of Holby,” Charlie announced to his staff. “And as I’m sure you’ve all realised that you have still got an hour and a half to go” there was a collective groan from the staff. “But! But, there are no patients!” Everyone cheered. “God, it’s like being at panto here. So, Lara here has had a brilliant idea.”
“First for everything.” Patrick said, causing Lara to give him a sharp dig in the ribs.
“For how to waist away the last hour or so,” Charlie continued. “And of course it’s all for charity. Lara, would you like to explain?”
“Umm… Okay, yeh. Right, this is what we used to do in my old hospital on special occasions like Christmas etc. We played a game of truth or dare and if ever anyone forfeits the dare or wont answer a question then they have to give ten pounds to charity. Anyone up for it?” She looked around at the staff, nearly all of them were nodding but no one spoke. Holly was the brave one who went first.
“I’ll do it. Wouldn’t want to seem uncharitable on my first day, would I?” She laughed.
“I’m in man.” Anna added and soon it seemed that Charlie, Dillon, Colette and Roxy also wanted to join in. The only person left was Patrick.
“Come on Patrick, it’s Christmas!” Lara begged him.
“Patrick, come on. Just this once.” Holly joined in. After a second of thought he grudgingly agreed to join in. Much to everyone else’s delight.
“Great!” Lara shouted. “Right, who wants to go first?” Everyone looked around uncomfortably. “Fine, we’ll go in alphabetical order then.”
“That’s all right for you,” moaned Anna. “Your name doesn’t start with A!”
“Sorry Anna but: truth or dare.”
“Fine. Umm… dare I suppose.” Anna said in the end.
“You’re a braver woman than me.” Colette joked.
“Right, lets pick out a dare.” Lara reached into the box of dares that she’d written down earlier. “It says ‘Go out to reception and pretend to Jack that you want to go on a date with him.’” Anna groaned.
“You have got to be kidding. He doesn’t know that we’re even playing this game. Plus, Nikki would kill me if she found out.”
“Pay up then.” Lara opened her hand.
“I don’t have ten quid to spare. I barely have ten quid!”
“Looks like your doing it then.” Anna groaned again but eventually got up and started to make her way towards reception, all the others followed at a safe distance, giggling like little children
“So, Umm… Jack. How are you?” Anna said woodenly.
“I’m fine… why?” Jack replied suspiciously.
“I was just wondering if…” Anna glanced back at the group of people peeping out at her from behind the wall, egging her on.
“If… oh… Would you like to go out with me sometime?” She said quickly.
“I’m going out with Nikki, remember?”
"Yes I know but… I really fancy you.” She muttered, turning bright red.
“I think I better go save her.” Holly said as she walked towards Anna. “Anna, I need you to come and clean out this cubical with me.” Holly said as she grabbed Anna’s arm and pulled her away. As soon as they got round the corner they all burst out laughing, even Anna managed to see the funny side.
“Thanks for saving me back there Holly.” Anna said as soon as she could catch her breath. “Do you think we should tell Jack?”
“Nah,” Lara decided. “Lets leave him thinking that he’s a sex machine and that all the girls fancy him for a few more minutes.”
“Yeh,” Agreed Anna. “But I really think it should be me getting paid for doing this rather than me having to pay you for not.”
“Well as a reward you can be quiz master for the next person who is… Dillon!”
“Cool man. Truth or dare Dillon?”
“After that dare I think I’ll go with truth.”
“You baby!” Anna announced as she dug her hand into the ‘truth’ box. “And the question is, ohh! It’s a long one, here goes: ‘who, from A+E, would you most like to: kiss, marry, strangle and be stranded on a desert island with?’”
“That’s more than one question, no fair!” Dillon whinged.
“Well it’s your own fault for being such a baby and choosing truth, isn’t it!” Anna stuck her tongue out as she passed Dillon the piece of paper.
“Fine.” He muttered grumpily. “Kiss would probably be umm… probably you Anna,” both Anna and Dillon simultaneously went red before he continued. “Marry would probably be Duffy, strangle would be Patrick and stranded on a desert island with? Tony I think, because Jack’s great and all but there’s only so much of him I can take.” They all nodded, satisfied that he’d answered honestly. “So do I get to be quiz master now?” Dillon grinned.
“Oh, I was enjoying that!” Anna sulked. “Whose turn is it now?”
“We missed Charlie!” Someone announced. “And Colette.” They continued.
“Damn, I was hoping you’d forget.” Charlie muttered
“No such luck. Truth or dare Charlie?”
“Umm… Truth.”
“Right. When you first arrived in the hospital, who did you have a crush on?” Dillon read.
“Baz.” Charlie answered simply.
“Oh no fair! You can say your ex-wife.” Anna complained.
“Why not?” Charlie asked. No one could think of a reasonable reply as he had told the truth, boring as it may have been.
“Any way, who’s next?” Holly asked
“Truth.” Colette said quickly before anyone else could answer.
“If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?” Charlie read off the scrap of paper in his hand.
“I would have kept my daughter instead of giving her up for adoption.” Colette said sadly as tears threatened to spill over from her eyes. Everyone fell silent and Holly lent forward and hugged Colette. Colette was a bit taken a back by this expression of emotion.
“Sorry,” Holly said. “I just felt like doing that.” Everyone laughed and the mood was lightened once again.
“It’s your turn now Hol.” Patrick announced to the room, smiling at Holly.
“Truth or dare?” Colette asked.
“Well as all you babies have gone for truth I supposed I better choose dare.”
“Your funeral.” Colette said as she reached into the box, Holly’s heart was pumping so fast she thought it would explode. She wasn’t sure if it was this looming dare or the glances Patrick kept giving her but something was getting to her.
“Oh my!” Colette announced, grinning wildly. “I told you not to choose dare!”
“Oh no, what is it?” Holly panicked.
“It says ‘spin the bottle.’” Holly groaned.
“I haven’t played spin the bottle since I was at med school.” Her and Patrick locked eyes, both remembering the last time they played spin the bottle. Colette waved her hand in front of Holly’s face.
“Earth to Holly. Here, bottle. Spin.” Colette instructed, placing a bottle in front of Holly.
“I think I’ll pass.” Holly said as she reached for her purse. Everyone groaned.
“Oh no you don’t Holly, you’re the one who got me involved in this stupid thing. If I can do it you can.”
“Fine.” Holly said as she placed her purse away and quickly turned the bottle round and round. After a moment or two it began to slow down. Slower on Lara, even slower on Dillon, Anna and it stopped on…
“Patrick!” Colette announced.
“No way!” Holly stated as she began to get up out of the circle.
“It’s just a bit of fun! He’s not that bad a kisser!” Lara laughed.
“I know.” Holly muttered to herself. “Fine.” She said again and crawled across the circle and placed a red lipstick mark on Patrick’s all ready flaming cheeks.
“Oh no. Mouth on mouth, you know the rules Holly.” Anna insisted. For the first time Holly dared to look up into Patrick’s eyes and she saw that he was as scared about what they were going to do as she was. She smiled around the circle; muttered ‘fine’ for what seemed like the thousandth time today and placed her hands behind Patrick’s head, pulling him closer towards her.
“Sorry,” she whispered to him before their mouths met. He kissed her gently at first.
“10, 9, 8, 7,” the chanted as their kissing got more and more passionate, no one but them would understand the importance of this kiss, the way it reflected their first kiss all those years ago. They closed their eyes and blocked out everyone else. “6, 5, 4” they carried on chanting, not noticing as Patrick put his tongue in Holly’s mouth. “3, 2, 1” they finished and Holly and Patrick pulled apart, gasping for breath.
“Sorry to interrupt the party people.” Jack said as he stood at the door, everyone jumped. “But there’s a stroke victim on the way, Nikki just called though. So some of you are going to have to go into resus, unless you want to stay here acting like kids.” Quickly they all got up and walked away.
“Please tell me that I dreamed that Jack just lectured us on acting like kids.” Charlie said as they walked.
“I’m afraid it was real.” Holly said.
The shift was over without any bug traumas and just as they were all walking out towards the car park Patrick grabbed Holly’s arm and held her behind after all the others. She couldn’t look him in the eye.
“What do you want?” She asked rudely.
“I’ve got you a present.” He said simply.
“Really?” Holly asked suspiciously.
“Yeh.” He said as he held out the box, Holly looked at his fragile expression and took the box in her hands. “I got you something too.” She said as she rooted around in her bag and dug out a little bag. She handed it too him and the both stood there wondering what to do next. “Open it then.” Holly suggested and Patrick pulled the ribbon from around the bag and pulled out what was inside. There was a teddy bare with a watch wrapped around it’s middle, he pulled the watch off and looked at it, it was wonderful- really smart.
“Thank you.” Patrick said sincerely. Holly smiled.
“I had it engraved. What do you think?” He turned it over; ‘Merry Christmas Dr. Spiller’ was carved on one side. Patrick laughed as he put it on.
“Open yours.” He insisted. She opened the velvet box and gasped at what she saw. The necklace sparkled like a million jewels.
“It’s beautiful.” She breathed. “Will you put it on for me?” He nodded and gently took the necklace and placed it around her delicate neck. She felt a tingle of excitement rush down her spine as the silver touched her skin and Patrick pulled her hair away from her neck.
“You like it?” Patrick asked as he turned her around to look at her face.
“Like it? I love it. Thank you so much Patrick.” She stood up and placed a light kiss on his cheek. As she came back down Patrick pulled her close to him again. “What are we going to do about us?” She asked quietly.
“If I knew I’d tell you. But look at us. Back where we started. I think no matter what we do we’ll end up back together some how.”
“But what about Lara?” Patrick sighed.
“You ask too many questions Hol. Just trust that it’ll be okay in the end.”
“If you say so.” She muttered quietly as she laid her head on his shoulder and they walked slowly, in time, towards the door.
“Coming down the pub?” He asked once they were out side.
“I cant think of a better way to spend my birthday.”
“What, than down the pub? You need to get out more!” He laughed.
“As long as I’m with you it doesn’t matter.”
“Going soppy in your old age Dr. Miles.”
“I’m allowed, it’s Christmas.” Holly said as she stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
“Christmas kiss?” He asked.
“Don’t push your luck.” She said as she tucked her arm around his waist and walked towards his car. Leaving the hospital lights blaring and ‘silent night’ playing in some distant corner, leaving Christmas for another year but not leaving each other- not again.