Hey! This was inspired by a tumblr prompt from michellesfairley and it was a lot of fun to write. Enjoy! (Any italics represent a character's thoughts btw.) :)
"Roll up, roll up! The betting pool is now open and ready to accept your money!" Fletch shouted across the busy staff room. A cheeky grin lit up his face as he surveyed the small crowd of scrubs before him. It was currently break-time for some of the AAU nurses and a few doctors, and most of them had congregated in the small, dimly lit staff room for some respite from AAU. Several people from other wards, such as Zosia, Dom and Cara, had heard of tonight's events and had made sure that their breaks coincided with the betting schedule. The night shift had so far been quite uneventful and the staff were glad for some excitement. Raf was standing behind the grinning staff nurse, lurking in the shadows and quietly observing the action all around him. Hands in his pockets, the Scottish doctor watched as Fletch began to take money off the people swarming around him.
"I'll put a fiver on them kissing in the next two weeks!" A brunette nurse called out, handing Fletch a crisp five pound note as he jotted down her bet. Her eagerness earned some loud laughs from the crowd; there was no better entertainment than some hospital gossip, especially if there was money to be made from it.
"I'll put a twenty on it!" Another nurse shouted, thrusting forward a purple note.
"I bet a tenner that they'll get married in the next year!" Hollered a particularly enthusiastic young porter.
"I bet a tenner that they'll get married in the next month!" And I'll put a twenty on them shagging in Serena's office!" Dom shouted. Beside him, Zosia and Cara were laughing together; both women knew Serena quite well and loved the idea of the kind consultant finally being happy in a relationship. Everyone in the hospital had seen the connection between Bernie and Serena, and most assumed their relationship was bound to happen; clearly both consultants had experienced little luck in the love department in the past, but hopefully that was all going to change. Raised voices continued to competitively outbid each other. The bets were becoming more and more unrealistic as time went on. Money was being shoved at Fletch from all directions - soon enough, Raf had to step in to prevent more pandemonium from erupting.
"Okay, okay!" The Scot shouted, trying to raise his baritone voice above the loud din. Amusement glinted in his hazel eyes as he collected the last round of bets.
Finally, as the clock struck 2am, staff dispersed out of the room and returned back to working the night shift.
"Oh my God, that was insane! We're gonna make so much money!" Fletch exclaimed, excitement in his tone. The cockney nurse was already picturing the new toys he could buy for his kids with the gambling earnings.
"It certainly was something." Fletch murmured, still awestruck by the chaos of the whole experience. "I really can't believe how eager people are to place bets on Bernie and Serena!"
"Mate it's because they're a sure-fire thing and people have decided to make some money by betting on the inevitable!" With that final remark, a positively bouncing Fletch ambled through the door and back out into the darkened AAU.
His brown eyebrows still raised, Raf sat alone in the staff room. Bernie and Serena? Really? He couldn't make up his mind if the rumours were really true. So what if, when they were in the operating theatre together, it was like watching the most beautiful and intense play? Sure, there was an undeniable connection between the two women and they were both alike in various ways, but the doctor still couldn't picture them together. By now, I'm sure I know Serena as well as anyone else. And I'm sure that, although Bernie seems to make her happier than anyone I've seen for a long time, she isn't gay. Right? In fact, recent events and the so called 'inevitable' coupling of the two older women had forced the doctor to call into question whether he really knew Serena Campbell at all.
Morven slowly approached the nurse's station, doing her best to remain quiet. Like a mouse, she theatrically tip-toed up to the corner of the desk, a smile on her young face. Furtively, she looked over at Bernie and Serena. They were both, as always, huddled close together and the army medic's hand was resting gently on Serena's shoulder. The two older women were standing on the other side of the station, both discussing a patient's blood test results. "Are you guys still taking bets?" She whispered to Raf, who was intensely looking at some recent x-rays; having missed the action last night, the doctor was desperate to join in on the fun and place a bet on the two women. The Scot looked up and nodded slightly.
"Yes, ask Fletch and he'll fill you in." Raf murmured, slightly hiding his mouth from the gaze of the two older women behind him. Nodding, Morven tip-toed away, sneaking one final glance at the two women huddled in the corner. Oh they are definitely in love. No doubt about it.
"Bet? What are we betting on Raf?" Serena piped up from behind the doctor. He winced slightly before spinning around on his chair to face the two women - he should've remembered Serena's bat-like hearing. Looking up at the grey ceiling, his brain whirred as he tried to make up a lie. "Um...we're setting up bets for who's going to get invited to Morven and Arthur's engagement party!" With a quick smile, Raf got up and walked on to the ward, leaving the two consultants wearing very quizzical expressions.
Amber sunlight lit up the consultant's office on AAU. It was almost 6am, and beams of early morning sunlight glinted off Serena's computer. The office was filled with golden joy and laughter.
"How c-can Morven be betting on her own guest list?" Bernie questioned between deep, loud giggles that shook her whole body.
"Oh god Bern, how Morven tried to hide from us! And did you see Raf's face?" Serena replied, laughter in her voice and glee in her hazel eyes. Both women had seen straight through the Scottish doctor's weak response as soon as he had made it up, and had been laughing about it ever since.
"I have to admit, he looked quite scared. It was wonderful! I think we definitely have to find out what they're betting on now…"
"Good grief, we have no other choice! It must be good if it's worth hiding from us!" Serena exclaimed. All this cloak and dagger nonsense had better been worth it; both consultants were expecting some very juicy gossip. The consultant knew that the weakest link in AAU (and one easiest scared) was probably Morven, therefore she'd make sure that she questioned the young doctor later on that day. Alone.
"Anyway, I've got to do the ward rounds. See you later." Bernie murmured quietly, smiling widely at Serena before she left the office. As the army medic walked out, Serena noticed how the light framed the blonde's form and made her look...angelic. The brunette's eye line slowly moved down Bernie's body, taking in the way her tightly-fitting blouse accentuated her hips. Serena's eyes hovered on the army medic's behind anatomy. Struggling to pull her gaze away from Bernie, Serena sighed emphatically. Jesus Christ woman, pull yourself together.
