Lee's daunting morning ritual was even worse than usual. His lying in bed, contemplating life took twice as long, as did his shower and decision not to shave. On top of all that, he had a raging hangover. Suddenly a brain haemorrhage didn't seem so bad after all.

Thankfully he had the day off, so after lunch he went out to visit his mother. As he arrived at the care home, he checked his phone, and ignored the third text he'd received from Carly that day.

"You don't look so good" Linda said to her son as he sat at a table across from her.

"Late shift" He mumbled.

All the usual conversational topics were covered, how they were both doing, what their plans were for the near future and Lee's unusual working habits. He knew that it was coming but he still wasn't prepared for when his mom asked how Carly was.

"She's fine"

"What's that face for?" Linda asked, noticing the pained expression that he had plastered all over his face.

"It's nothing" He shrugged. "She and I are just having a bit of a disagreement, that's all"

"I don't know why you treat her the way you do Lee. She's a lovely girl" Linda shook her head, showing her disapproval.

"She keeps sticking her nose into my business!" Lee argued.

"That's what I do but you don't fall out with me, do you?" She countered. It was useless to argue with her so just gave up.

Once he got back to work, he avoided Carly like she was carrying an infectious disease. This was one disease that he was certain that he couldn't cure. She'd still arrived to pick him up for his shift but for the first time since he'd met her he did not accept the offer. She'd also cornered him in his office on a number of occasions but he'd always found a way to avoid the awkward conversation that he knew she wanted to have. She had continually told him that they needed to discuss what had happened, or at least find a way to get over it. But Lee just kept putting it off.

Thankfully, there was plenty for Lee to be getting on with. As with every day off, it meant that he was slightly behind with his paperwork. The hospital also seemed to be quite short staffed for the first time in months. He later found out that this was because Phil hadn't been in to work since he'd thrown up all over himself at the bar. According to Lou, he had booked two days off anyway, but it had been a week now and he still wasn't back. He was claiming that he was unwell but the rumour going around the hospital was that the only thing he was feeling was shame.

Lee managed to avoid Carly for a few days before he was finally backed into a corner. He was standing in reception on a particularly quiet day when Carly finally got right up in his face. She wasn't even upset anymore. Just really really mad.

"We really have to get this situation sorted" She insisted.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Replied Lee, trying not to look at her. Although it was a quiet day, there were still several patients waiting, as well as Susan being forced to watch it all. It didn't help that Phil had finally sauntered back to work, and didn't seem to be doing anything, so he kept appearing in the reception area too. Lee didn't want to see this himself, never mind anyone else.

"Are you seriously going to be like that?" Snapped Carly, surprising even herself.

"Yup" Lee replied before trying to go back to his office to hide from the angry nurse.

"What the hell is your problem?" Carly now couldn't take any more. She was willing to accept that she liked him, or at least had feelings for him. But she certainly didn't like him as a person. Not anymore.

Lee sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to get away from her. Everyone was watching, so to simply walk away would mean admitting defeat, and that was something he was not willing to do. He finally turned to face her.

"You know what my problem is, Nurse Oliver? You are. You come in here with your stupid happy place attitude and try to get me to be something I'm not. That's my problem"

"No. No, your problem is that you are a self centred asshole, who thinks that the whole world is against him. When in reality, all anyone ever does is try to help you. But instead of taking that help, you act like some sort of monster who doesn't have a heart!" Once she finished, the room was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

That pin, was Doctor Lou Johnson.

"You two!" He screamed at them before demanding they come into his office right away.

"What the hell was going on out there!?" He asked once they had both sulked in. His face was redder than usual. "You're scaring the patients", he turned to Doctor Dawson. "More than usual"

Carly was about to apologise for her outburst but was interrupted by Lee almost instantly.

"Look, if you're just going to give me another warning then can you just get it over with? I don't have time for this" He complained.

"I can if you want!" Raged Lou. "But that's not actually the real reason that I called you both in here. I have some distressing news to tell you about one of your patients".

Suddenly both Lee and Carly stopped pouting and cast their full attention to their boss.

Nervously, Carly asked "What is it?"

"Robert Alexander, one of the patients in the E wing. While you two were away he told me that he was feeling sick and suffering from headaches" Lou began. "He had a very high fever and was suffering from night sweats too so we've done some tests and I've just gotten the results back this morning"

"Oh no" Lee knew what was coming.

"What?" Carly didn't. "What did they say?"

"I'm really sorry to tell you both this. But Mr Alexander has leukaemia"

Lee slumped in his chair while Carly gasped in horror.

"He was eating a lot less lately. I should have seen this coming" Doctor Dawson said. He liked all the men who were stationed in that room but he had always thought that Robert was his favourite. He was certainly the funniest.

"You had no way of knowing Lee. We both know how vague the symptoms are. This could have been anything" Lou tried comforting him. "I can let him know if you'd like, so you don't have to"

"No no. I'm his main doctor. I'll tell him" Nodded Lee before falling silent.

"Are you ok?" Carly asked.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be? This is just part of the job" Lee replied as he stood up and headed for the door.

"Well you're about give Mr Alexander the worst news ever. This is so unfair!" She protested.

"Well then Mr. Alexander is the one you should be asking. Not me" Lee told her. She couldn't say what exactly, but something about the way Lee spoke, it sounded almost like a compliment. Perhaps he realised that Robert would be wanting to have some comfort in the near future, and Carly was definitely the best qualified out of the two of them to give him that. Before she had a chance to ask, Lee had left to arrange a private meeting with Robert.

Suddenly her earlier spat with Lee seemed very unimportant.