This is a story idea that has been in my head for a while now. I've done quite a bit of research on it and I shall continue to do the research but at long last, I'm posting it. Enjoy the first chapter x

Chapter One

It was seven o'clock on a Monday morning. Lily woke up to the sound of rain hammering against her bedroom window loudly. She groaned and rolled onto her back, yawning as she tried to find the energy to get out of bed. It was like lying in a nest of warmth, and she really didn't want to get out into the cold and uncomfortable world.

She was usually fine in the morning. Sometimes she'd even wake up two hours before she needed to, just to get some extra studying in, so she wasn't sure if she was coming down with something or if the weather just had a bad effect on her. She lay in bed for a few minutes and thought about Connie's reaction if she phoned in sick. Picturing the day she could have if she stayed at home, though, the disappointment from Connie might be worth it. All day she could simply laze around in bed with a good paperback and some hot drink, not having to get dressed or enter work to deal with vomiting patients and whiny complainers. The idea of staying at home and not needing to work seemed like a small slice of heaven right now.

No.

Lily berated herself for even considering the possibility of having a day off. She couldn't do that. She had never had a single day off sick and she wasn't going to start now.

She took a deep breath and groaned as a sudden pain shot through her abdomen. She held a hand to her aching stomach and waited until the pain had subsided. She was starting to worry about what the pain was, but checking the time on her phone, she had no time to worry, not if she wanted to get in early.

Lily began making her way into the bathroom to take her usual morning shower. After her shower, she wrapped a towel around her clean body and made her way back into her bedroom to get dressed. She kept on yawning as she rummaged through her drawers for a pair of clean jeans, wishing that she could just go straight back to bed. The rain outside was getting heavier and louder and she really did not want to go out into it.

She coughed and slipped on the pair of jeans along with one of her favourite jumpers. Something to keep her warm at least. She stood up from the floor and grabbed the report that she'd written for Connie along with her backpack. Lily always tried to make sure that she ate breakfast after that time she fainted in the ED, but she really did not feel hungry that morning. Instead, she just grabbed a glass of water to keep hydrated.

The pain was still there, lingering and occasionally getting stronger, but she tried her best to ignore it. She must have slept funny in the night, or maybe she was coming down with a bug. She was sure that her period wasn't due yet, so it couldn't be that, could it? Whatever it was, she didn't fancy dealing with it.

She put her empty glass in the sink, grabbed her coat and keys and left the house, determined to get to work early. She locked her flat, checking it was closed three times, and stepped into the cold air. It was still dark outside and rain poured down onto the flats and houses in the street. She slipped the hood of her coat up and climbed onto her bike, ignoring the rain sliding down her back which was causing goosebumps, before pulling out of her space and driving off to Holby.

The ED was busy as usual. Lily was one of the first ones to arrive so she treated herself to a coffee, before going to find Connie in her office so that she could give her the report. Connie was more than impressed; she had worked hard on a report that Connie didn't actually ask her to write. Lily felt a glow of pride at Connie's face and was very glad that she had dragged herself out of bed for this.

"Has this been published before?" Connie asked her, skim reading the report.

"It hasn't been done here," Lily told her. "But yes, there are other papers out there."

"Thank you." Connie smiled at her and gave her a gentle nod. "I look forward to reading this. Good work." Lily nodded back and went to exit the office, the pain was coming back again, but Connie called her back. "Are you feeling okay?" She questioned the junior doctor.

"Yes, Mrs Beauchamp," Lily answered politely. "Why do you ask?"

"You look very pale," Connie stated. "You're not overworking yourself again, are you?"

"No, Mrs Beauchamp." Lily shook her head. "I just didn't sleep very well last night. The rain was keeping me awake."

"Right." Connie nodded. "You better get on with your shift, then. I would like you to work in cubicles today with Doctor Hardy, I have no doubt that you'll do an excellent job. You always do."

Lily appreciated the compliment from Connie. It really meant something to her.

She left the office at once and headed over to the reception desk to grab some patients' notes from Noel and Louise. She glanced at them through the lenses in her glasses and walked into the cubicle in which her patient was lying in. Ethan was already making a head start on her.

"Doctor Hardy," she spoke and gave him a small smile. "It's good to see that I am not the only one who likes to start work early."

"Well, to be fair I...I was on an early shift anyway," Ethan said as he nervously adjusted his glasses. Typical Ethan, avoiding to accept her attempt at a compliment. "Are you okay? You look rather pale."

"I wish tat everyone would stop asking me that," Lily replied wearily. "I am fine so just let me do my job."

"I'm just concerned," Ethan said and gave a small shrug. With a sigh, he got back to discussing the patient. "Anyway, this is Jade. She got caught in a very serious house fire and has some pretty severe burns on her hands."

"Okay, those burns will need dressing," Lily said professionally. "How did the fire start?"

"I...I was making some toast," Jade stammered, tears forming in her shiny blue eyes.

"Really?" Lily asked bluntly. "Are you sure this wasn't just some insurance scam?"

"Lily!" Ethan's voice raised, his eyes widening at her shocking accusation. "We can't just jump down people's throat and accuse them of starting fires on purpose."

"Is it not our job, Doctor Hardy?" Lily said smartly and shrugged her shoulders at him.

"It wasn't on purpose!" Jade sobbed and turned to talk to Ethan, clearly trusting him more. "I swear."

"O...Okay..." Ethan nodded at her, his kind eyes looking into Jade's in attempt to calm her. "Have you got anyone that you can stay with for the time being?"

"Yes," Jade replied tearfully. "Yes, I...I have a few friends that I can stay with."

"Okay well as soon as we dress those burns, you should be able to go home this afternoon," Ethan told her softly.

"Thank you," Jade sniffled. "Thank you so much."

"Doctor Chao," Ethan sighed lightly and turned to his friend. "Could you please get her discharge papers?"

Lily sensed that Ethan was trying to get rid of her after the way she had spoken in front of the patient. She walked out and went to head upstairs but stopped in her tracks when she reached the lift and saw a sign on it that said it was out of service.

Typical. Lily swore that the lift was broken more times than it was working efficiently. Why they didn't just fork out for a new one, Lily couldn't fathom it.

Lily sighed and breathed heavily, wincing as a sudden pain hit her abdomen again. She had no choice but to take the stairs. She winced, as even the thought hurt.

"Are you okay, Chuckles?" Iain asked, strolling over with his hands in his pockets. "You look like a lost, little lamb."

"I'm fine," Lily whispered and gestured to the sign on the wall. "The lift's out of order."

"Ahh, yes." Iain nodded his head and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. "Is that a problem then? Did you lose the use of your legs overnight or something?"

"Don't be stupid," Lily hissed. "My stomach just hurts, that's all."

"Well," Iain chuckled to himself. "Why don't I carry you? Bridal style?"

Lily shook her head and scoffed, as she walked past Iain and slowly began to walk up the stairs.

It wasn't easy and by the time she reached the top, she felt out of breath. She leant against the wall at the top of the stairs with a hand to her stomach and coughed, trying to catch her breath. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so bad.

Lily glanced at her watch and shut her eyes for a few seconds. Only nine more hours to go, she sighed.

I'll update as soon as I can. Thanks for reading x