Out of the Ruins
A/N Hello all. Still have like 3 other stories going but this just jumped into my head and I can't let it go. Will be sad, (major character death,no not either of our favorite ladies), but also, I think uplifting, in the end.
Chapter 1
"Yes, Jac, I can be in within a 1/2 hour,"Bernie said into her mobile as she was getting her clothes ready in the bedroom of her flat.
"Thank you Bernie," the CT consultant replied from her desk in her office. "Ms. Maynard is stable for now however,I think your trauma expertise is required for this type of thoracic pain."
"Right, I'll be there in a bit," she says and disconnects the call.
And just as she was finishing getting ready, the mobile rang again.
"Jesus, I said I'd be there Jac,"Bernie mumbles to herself as she goes to grab the phone.
But she is stunned at the number on the screen.
"S,,, Serena?" she all but whispers as she connects the call.
"Hello, Bernie," the voice she missed so much these past 4 months greets her, even though they had spoken on a few occasions.
"H,,, How are you? Where are you?" Bernie asks expectantly.
"Actually,,, I'm home," she replies.
"Really? Which airport," Bernie asks.
"No, I'm in my home now," she replies.
"Oh,, why didn't you call? I would've gotten you," Bernie says.
"I figured you were busy with work," Serena replies.
"Actually, I'm sorry, Jac is expecting me for a consult very shortly," Bernie states as she grabs her bag and keys.
"Okay, then go, can't keep her waiting," Serena replies. "I,,, I'll see you there later."
"You're coming in today?" Bernie asks as she gets to her car.
"Yes, I feel ready," she replies. "I need to start making amends for my atrocious behavior some time ago."
"I don't think people would use that word," Bernie says. "But I think you should take things slow there."
"I will, I promise," she replies.
"Can I make a suggestion?" Bernie asks.
"Go ahead," she replies.
"Admin only today," she replies. "Paperwork."
And Serena actually chuckles a bit.
"Can I get in our office? Or is it ruined," she asks.
"Ummm, kinda sorta," Bernie quips in reply." but you'll come out of the ruins I'm sure."
"Sounds perfect," Serena says, with just a little sarcasm.
"I'll see you soon?" she continues.
"Count on it," Bernie replies.
And before Serena can utter the words she's wanted to say since she left, but couldn't, Bernie disconnects.
"I love you."
_
After examining Ms. Maynard and determining that it was her gall bladder giving her trouble and not her heart, Bernie stood at the nurses' station with Jasmine, Jac and Zosia.
"She's responding to pain medication, and the CT scan shows stones," Zosia reads from the chart.
"Good, I'll do the laparascopic cholesystectomy later on," Bernie replies. "Can we get her transferred to Keller?"
"Yep, paperwork will be done shortly," Jasmine replies.
"Thank you," Bernie replies. And as she turns to leave, Zosia calls to her.
"Any word from Ms. Campbell?" she asks.
"Um,, yes actually," she replies glancing at Jas and Jac. "She's back today."
And none of them reply right away.
"Good," Jac suddenly says.
And before Bernie can react with the surprise that she feels, they hear alarms go off in the private side room where Ms Maynard is.
As they enter the room, they find Ms. Maynard in full cardiac arrest, an empty syringe on the bed.
As Jasmine immediately moves to the crash cart, and Jac starts compressions, they are unaware of something else in the room.
Under the trolley.
A device.
With a clock.
That's counting down.
_
Serena pulled into her parking space, surprised to see it still marked for her.
"Glad to see they expected me back," she says to herself.
Before getting out, she just sat there, staring at the building.
"Well, back to my life," she says softly. "And everyone in it."
And she closes her eyes.
"Except you, my baby," she whispers, a single tear falling.
She then wipes the tear away, determined to get herself back to some kind of normalcy.
With work.
And Bernie.
As she's about to exit the car, she looks up.
And sees a familiar face leaving the building.
In a big hurry.
"Dr. Mayfield?" she says to herself. "Where's he going in such a hurry?"
"Oh, probably home to Dr. Copeland," she answers her own question with an eye roll.
And as she puts her foot to the ground:
An earth-shattering noise comes from above her, from in the hospital.
As she instinctively ducks down behind her open car door, she manages to look up.
And is horrified by what she sees.
Smoke, debris, flames.
And through all that,,,,
A gaping hole.
In the 6th floor of the building.
Darwin ward.
Where Bernie was going to be.
TBC
A/N I promise, Bernie will be okay. A little hurt, but okay. Others, not so lucky. Hope you like the start. More soon if you think I should continue. Reviews are much welcomed.