We first saw Holly in the first episode of Series 14 (Calm Before The Storm – Part 1) having previously worked in paediatrics. She organised a parachute jump to raise money to turn the old resus into a paediatric resus, then decorated it herself.
When Patrick arrived in Holby A&E (S14 E15 - Free Fall) it was obvious from the moment that he first bumped into Holly that they knew each other. It turned out that they had been an item many years ago when Holly had been a med student and Patrick was an SHO. It was clear that the spark between them had never quite died over the six years they had been apart. Later on in that episode Patrick asks Holly out for a drink after their shift, but she turns him down saying that she is decorating the new resus and that she already has a boyfriend anyway.
In the next episode (S14 E16 – Just A Kiss) Patrick criticises Holly infront of a patient about the way she is treating the patient. Holly has a go at Patrick and tells him never to put her down infront of a patient again. As Holly storms off Patrick says ‘I love it when she’s angry!’ Sean witnessed the whole thing and quickly cottons on to the fact that Holly and Patrick already knew each other. He asks Holly about it and she tells him that they were once an item. In the next episode it’s Christmas day, and also Holly’s birthday (S14 E17 – Peace On Earth). Patrick again asks Holly out for a drink but she tells him she’s going out with her boyfriend. Later Patrick overhears her telling Amy that she’s going out with some of her old girl friends from med school. He realises that she was lying to him about having a boyfriend.
In the episode after that (S14 E18 – The Morning After) Holly is joking around with Sean, while Patrick watches them jealously, looking like he could murder Sean! He has a go at Sean telling her to lay off Holly. Later Patrick tells Holly that he’s jealous. He says he was trying to have more heart and more compassion, as Holly had suggested. Holly says she didn't mean towards her.
On Valentine’s day (S14 E24 – Tough Love) Holly and Patrick clash over the treatment of a little girl and they argue. To try and make it up to Holly, Patrick buys her a huge bunch of roses. She soon enough realises that it was Patrick who sent them and tells him that flowers can’t make up for the way he behaved. Later on they are listening to Amy perform and Patrick looks at Holly with tears his eyes. She looks over at him, but then turns away again.
Later on in the series Holly becomes worried about some children that were brought in – Gemma and Jake. When they first arrive (S14 E27 – Life Support) Holly suspects that they are being abused but Patrick says there isn’t enough evidence to go by and she should leave it. However, it turns out that they are Holly’s neighbours and Patrick later tells her that perhaps she should keep an eye on them. In the next episode (S14 E18 – Blood Brothers) Holly has more reason to worry when Gemma brings in her baby sister Zoe. She only has an ear infection, but Gemma tells Holly in confidence that their mum often leaves her to look after Jake and Zoe.
In the last double episode of the series (S14 EP29+30 – Being There) Gemma is worried about Zoe and asks Holly to come and help her, despite Gemma’s mum, Joanne, saying that they weren’t to go near Holly. It all ends in disaster when Joanne comes home to find Holly there, which results in an argument where Gemma and Holly are accidentally pushed infront of an oncoming car. Joanne runs away and takes Jake and Zoe with her. In the end the police find Joanne and the kids when they came to visit Gemma in hospital. Joanne is arrested and we see Jake and Gemma crying as Joanne is dragged away, screaming that she loves them. Holly blames herself for all this, and Patrick comforts her and tries to persuade her that she did what she thought was right at the time. The last thing we see of them in Series 14 is Patrick with his arm round Holly as everyone goes for a drink in the pub.
In series 15 we get to see more of Patrick’s softer side. The series starts with Holly becoming agitated with the bed shortages within the NHS. Dan is asked to do an interview about the face of the NHS, but he isn’t in the mood and passes the task to Max who asks Holly to do it (S15 E2 – Accidents Happen). Holly agrees to the interview much to Patrick’s displeasure. It is very obvious he is jealous of other men giving Holly attention. She meets the journalist at a restaurant (S15 E3 – Getting To Know You) and says how brave one nurse is for carrying on working even though he is HIV positive. The reporter is very interested and Holly tries to reassure him by explaining the patients are at no risk but it is only have he leaves she realises that it wouldn’t be the end of it.
Later on Holly manages to reason with the reporter and he agrees to not write about Adam. Unfortunately a patient has overheard their conversation and soon everyone knows. Holly has to admit to Adam that it was her. Eventually he leaves Holby and Holly blames herself.
A favourite Holly and Patrick episode is ‘Merry Christmas Dr Spiller’ (S15 E16). It was first broadcast on the 23rd of December 2000. Holly has been invited to a Christmas party with some of her old paediatric colleagues and she asks Patrick for a lift to the venue. Patrick doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself and complains about the entire party. On the way back, Patrick’s car breaks down in the snow. After trying to prize the boot open, he hurts his thumb and then twists his ankle after falling over. Holly spots a barn and they are forced to take shelter there. Patrick suggests they sit together to share body heat and although holly is not keen and first she agrees and sits between his legs with his arms around her. Holly asks him why he is so grumpy at Christmas time and Patrick opens up to Holly saying his Mum died on Christmas day when he was 10. Holly tells him he is glad he told her and then goes onto ask what he sees in her. He says it’s her loneliness and he leans forward to kiss her, but she turns away saying she’s going to check on the weather. She comes back a few minutes later after getting a signal on her phone and calling for help. Patrick is laid down asleep and she thinks he is not breathing, she shakes him and he stirs slightly. Holly kisses Patrick’s cheek saying, “Merry Christmas Dr Spiller.”
Another memorable H&P episode is ‘Heart of Gold’ (S15 E20) where Patrick helps Holly to move house but on his way to the tip he gets held hostage in a cannel boat with Spencer. He admits to Spencer that he still has feelings for Holly. Holly rescues them after a coded phone call from Patrick.
Later on in the series Holly starts to receive gifts. Thinking it is Patrick she confronts him asking whether it is his idea of a joke. He denies all knowledge of it and she is left puzzled. She then received a bunch of flowers, which she gives to Chloe because they are making her sneeze. The gifts keep coming and Holly suspects her stalker has been in her house and car. Eventually she gets a phone call from him and she is shaken up. Patrick gives her a lift home and asks whether he wants him to come in with her. She says no, telling him he should get home. She enters the house to find all her washing had been done, the dishes had been washed and there were candles floating in the bath. The phone rings and Holly sinks to the floor, crying with her hands over her ears.
The next day (S15 E28 – Kindness Of Strangers) Patrick says he will take her home after the shift and stay with her till she has spoken to the police. When they go outside, Patrick finds the tyres on his car have been slashed. Dan suggests that Tom the anaesthetist should take her home and he agrees. As they drive off we see a picture of Holly, which Tom has stolen from the notice board. Tom offers to take Holly back to his flat for a drink because she isn’t looking forward to going home (S15 E29 – Only You). Holly admires Tom’s flat and relaxes while Tom takes the picture of her down to his office. Dan finds some of the flowers Holly was sent and traces them back to the florist and discovers it is Tom who is stalking her. He goes to Tom’s flat and after being drugged and falling down the stairs he manages to alert Holly of the danger she is in. Holly goes downstairs and finds a room, which is covered in pictures of her, some when she is sleeping. She tries to escape and ring the police and eventually ends up in a fight with Tom. She hits him across the face with an ornament. The police are called and Tom is arrested.
Another favourite episode of the Hollyites is ‘Breaking the Spell’ (S15 E34+35). This is probably one of the most memorable Holly and Patrick episodes. Ed Jameson brings in a client of his who has been stabbed. Ed is Holly’s ex-boyfriend from med school. Holly and Patrick argue about Ed splitting them up and Patrick claims he will never be good enough for Holly. They make up by Holly inviting Patrick for a drink after their shift and he agrees. But later on there are complaints that her car alarm has being going off and she goes to investigate. She finds that it has been smashed up and Tom is waiting for her. She is knocked unconscious and Tom carries her to a disused ward.
Back in A+E Patrick notices Holly is missing and goes to find her. She is not with Ed and he tries the police and finds that Tom has been released on bail. After spending all day searching for Tom and Holly with Spencer and Dan they discover Andrew, Duffy’s husband has been pushed down a flight of stairs and they rush him back to the hospital. Spencer, Dan and Patrick are all standing outside and Holly has been dressed up in a silver dress and Tom starts to play the song ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams. Holly kicks Tom and makes her escape she runs to the window and throws a chair through it. Patrick and the others see her and Spencer runs to get the police while Patrick and Dan run to the ward. Tom drugs Holly and lays her on the bed. Patrick runs to the bed and begins to resuscitate Holly who can’t move. Dan runs after Tom and down to the fire escape. Tom climbs over the railing and falls trying to come back over. Dan tries to pull him up again but he falls to his death. Patrick is trying to save Holly when she eventually blinks and sits up, clinging on to Patrick. They hug each other and Holly starts to cry. ‘Angels’ is still playing in the background and they cling to each other. They are together forever.