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Someone knocked on his door. He internally groaned, and chose to ignore the visitor, hoping they'd go away. He had a lot of work to do, a lot of outstanding work to do and he'd asked the staff to not disturb him today.

Ethan continued filling in the report and was irritated to hear the door clicking open. Annoyed, he was about to start shouting when the person spoke.

"Ethan Hardy. Acting Clinical Lead. Suits your name." Lily smiled proudly at the sign on the door, then looked towards a perplexed Ethan.

"L...Lily!" He stuttered and immediately rushed across the room to envelope her in a huge hug. She stumbled back a step, shocked with his passion.

"Careful!" She laughed slightly and hugged him back. After a few moments, Ethan stepped back and looked at her face, as if he had to convince himself she was actually here.

"Come, come. Sit down." Ethan ushered her over to his desk and they took their seats, Ethan full of relentless questions. "When did you get back? Why are you back? What happened to Hong Kong?"

She laughed at his excitement. "Well, the research project was over. Fairly successful and amazing but I decided to come back." She looked around the office with a child like excitement. "There's no place like home."

"T...that's amazing! I'm so glad you're back! Where are you-"

Another knock on the door and Ethan sighed in frustration as Rash rushed in.

"Sorry to disturb you, Dr Hardy, but-" the junior doctor looked at Lily in confusion. "Dr Chao? I didn't know you were back."

Lily was about to respond, when Ethan interrupted. "Dr Masum, you were saying?" He spoke rather harshly, and Lily was surprised at his tone.

Rash looked back at Ethan, and then suddenly spoke, remembering why he came in. "Oh! Yes, 5 patients incoming from an RTC, with one infant. ETA 6 minutes, Dr Keogh said we'd need another pair of hands." Rash sounded apologetic, knowing he was about to receive Ethan's wrath.

"But I said I wasn't to be disturbed. Where's Dr Gardner?" Ethan almost shouted, the tension in his voice was an alien sound to Lily.

"Seizuring child in Paeds." Rash was quieter now, and his eyes flicked from meeting Ethan's to looking down at his shoes.

"Right." Ethan cleared his throat, the annoyance evident in his voice. "I'm coming."

Rash quickly exited the office and Lily watched Ethan close up his files and paperwork with a series of sighs.

"I'll do it." She suddenly said.

"You'll do what?"

"I'll go to Resus. You clearly have a lot of paperwork to do." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I'm still qualified to practice."

He cleared his throat."Sorry, Lily. I can't, you're not contracted here. I'm new to this, and I can't afford many more slip ups." He stood up and looked at her apologetically.

"Please Ethan. I'll do some work in the ED and then I'll even help you with your paperwork." She was almost pleading. Suddenly, with the chance in front of her to work in the ED again, she was desperate to jump back into the action. She wanted to feel that rush that you only get from Resus- she'd missed it.

Ethan pondered on her suggestion, his moral compass telling him that she wasn't allowed to, but he did have a lot of work to catch up on.

"Fine." He said with a huff and Lily smiled in glee. "Only for an hour, then we swap." He looked seriously at her across the desk.

Her face lit up. "Thank you!" She immediately hung her bag up and grinned at Ethan and rushed out of the office. He watched her go, standing awkwardly for a few seconds. He hoped no one authoritative came to visit, but he was glad he'd been given some leeway to catch up with his paperwork, whilst a doctor he trusted took over. He smiled to himself as he sat down, pleased that Lily was back and already making him feel happier.