Just a little idea I had about Bernie's return to Holby. Next chapter features Jason and his lovable ways if you stick around that long! I'll try post it tomorrow after work :) -Sophie x
The doors to AAU swung open, announcing the disgruntled arrival of Serena Campbell. It was a busy Thursday morning and the consultant wasn't in the best mood; traffic was so horrendous she was 2 hours later than originally planned, the coffee she was given at Pulses tasted like washing up water and the lift had broken so she had to take the stairs.
"Oh Raf, at least give me 5 minutes to get sorted." The woman groaned as her colleague approached, arms full of patient files.
"That's not what I need to talk to you about Serena-" he started before being cut off.
"Seriously Raf I've had the morning from hell, let me drop my stuff in my office first will you."
"No, really hang on-" But she took no notice of him, stalking off and opening the door to her office. She dumped her bag and coat on her desk then froze, eyes widening. There, sat opposite her in a seat that had remained empty for the past month, sat Berenice Wolfe, a smile lighting up her face.
"Hello Serena." The army medic whispered, her big brown eyes searching her colleague's for any sign of emotion. She looked exactly the same as the day she left, with the exception of her hair which she'd dyed lighter. There was the same bounce in her curls, same beautiful figure, same air of comfort and same clothes...in fact, the same clothes she was wearing when she pushed away the woman who loved her, and left without contact for an entire month.
Bernie's findings were inconclusive as the brunette snapped out of her state of shock and left the office, slamming the door with a bang behind her.
"I did try to tell you Serena." Said Raf awkwardly, but this earned him a glare that even Connie Beauchamp would have been proud of.
"Give me a patient Raf. Preferably one that will keep me busy." She said through gritted teeth. He scanned through the pile of folders in his arms before cautiously pulling one out and offering it to her.
"Side bay- Lillian Ferrars, 46. She was brought in as a trauma patient in the early hours, car crash. Severe damage to the sternum with bruising around the heart." As he spoke Raf painted the picture of her situation, finally coming to the last bit of information which made Serena's face pale.
"She's also Bernie's sister."
"No Raf please- I can't take her, I'm sorry." Serena immediately protested, putting up her hands before trying to reach for a different file. Raf was too quick for her and sidestepped.
"There's no-one else free and she's been waiting over an hour now to have more bloods done and be spoken to about next steps." He looked pleadingly to his colleague who was silent for a moment.
"...I'm guessing this is the reason she's back?"
Slowly the male doctor nodded. "Lillian called Bernie just after the accident. They came in together." He replied quietly. Serena rolled her eyes.
"And there was me thinking for a minute she might have come back for...us."
"Don't let it get to you. Go on, treat Lillian- even if only to spite the Major. Show her she won't mess with your brain. Or heart, for that matter." He smiled broadly at the consultant, who thought for a moment before nodding.
"Okay, fine. But only until someone else becomes free."
"Thanks Ms Campbell." Handing her the file, Serena looked up the side room. She took a deep breath before walking over and entering.
The woman in the bed didn't really look like Bernie until closer inspection. She had thick brown hair, shoulder length and curly, with bright blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean. However her cheeks were rosy like Bernie's, and she had a smile that was identical. Oh how she'd missed that beautiful smile.
"I've not seen you around yet." Lillian spoke quietly, her voice barely audible.
"No, no you won't have. I've just got in, sorry let me introduce myself. Serena Campbell, consultant and head of AAU. I'll be seeing to you for a while." She forced herself to smile. Lillian visibly raised her eyebrows, a look of surprise washing over her.
"So you're Serena." She mused, talking to herself as she watched the consultant check the chart at the end of her bed.
"Well your obs seem good all things considering, and I'll have a nurse come take some bloods in a bit so we can check your cell counts. Once we have the result for those we can talk about what comes next. Do you have any questions?"
"Oh, yes actually- have you seen my sister anywhere?"
Pursing her lips, Serena looked to the floor.
"She was in our- in the office, when I got in."
"Would you mind awfully getting her for me? She's not answering her phone."
"I'll have someone fetch her for you. If that's all I really need to be getting on."
Lillian looked slightly dismayed, but nodded all the same. With a small smile Serena left the room, eyes scanning the ward to make sure her blonde-haired counterpart was nowhere to be seen, before going straight to her office.
"For gods sakes Bernie." Serena muttered to herself, sitting at her desk and running her hands through her hair. "I wish you'd stop turning my world upside down like this."