Mud On The Tyres

#Berena

…

Bernie had just finished what was possibly the longest shift of her life, why she'd agreed to do a double shift, she'd never know. All she wanted to do was get home, soak in a hot bath and relax with a bottle of her favourite Shiraz for the rest of the evening. Stepping out in to the night, the rain began to fall; she pulled her coat around her to protect her from the cold as she dug around in her bag for her car keys. Her phone began to ring, dropping her keys on the ground as she swore at her phone. She quickly got her keys and got in to the car before finally answering her phone.

"Yes." She said, a little rougher than she'd intended.

"Bernie…its Serena."

"Oh hi."

The minute she heard Serena's voice on the other end, her anger quickly disappeared. She couldn't deny the feelings she'd had lately for her colleague but she was too afraid to say anything, not even knowing the woman all that well.

"What do you need?"

"Look I know this is probably a huge inconvenience but I didn't know who else to call."

"Where are you, you sound breathless?"

"I've had a little accident."

"What, are you hurt?"

Serena could hear the sudden worry in Bernie's voice, touched by her concern for her; she couldn't stop the smile that crept on to her face.

"Serena, are you still there?"

"Oh, yes…sorry. I got a little distracted for a moment."

"Where are you?"

"I'm literally ten minutes outside of Holby."

"Serena, you'll need to be more specific?"

"Alright…specifically, the big field as you come in to Holby."

"What the hell are you doing in a field?"

"I got distracted and took the turn to quickly."

"Are you okay, are you hurt?"

"No no, I'm not hurt but the car is stuck in mud and I can't shift it. I was wondering if you could come and get me."

"Don't you have breakdown cover?"

"Well that's the thing, I meant to renew it but I've been so busy with work and I clean forgot."

"Seriously? What responsible adult forgets breakdown cover?"

"Look, if it's too much trouble, just say so. I'll find another way and I…"

"No no, I'm coming. I'll be there soon okay."

"Thank you Bernie."

"You're welcome."

Bernie hung up her phone, shaking her head. There goes her relaxing evening.

…

Serena was standing by the broken fence, shivering when she saw Bernie's car pulling up at the side of the road. Serena offered a warm smile as the other woman got out of the car to join her.

"Bernie, thank you so much for coming."

"Well I couldn't leave you stranded now, could I?" She smiled.

Bernie walked in to the field, Serena following her as she inspected the car.

"That's some dent you have."

"It's entirely the fence's fault."

"Mmmm, not fully."

"Quite."

Serena stood to the side as Bernie got in to her car and attempted to reverse the car out of the field. She made sure her foot was pressed down hard on the accelerator, mud flying out from under the tyres. Bernie stopped when she heard the sudden scream from Serena, looking out to see her covered in mud. Bernie quickly got out of the car, coming over to her.

"Oh my god, Serena I'm so sorry. Your new jacket, oh god."

"No no, it's fine. Really, I suppose this is what I get for being foolish."

Bernie was looking far too serious that it caused Serena to break out in to laughter, Bernie following her.

"Oh Serena, you really pick your nights to have a breakdown."

"Tell me about it."

"I really am sorry about your jacket."

"It'll wash, so…the cars not moving."

"No, here, go in to the boot of my car, I have some planks of wood in there, go and get them."

Bernie handed her the keys before going back to Serena's car to inspect the front of the car.

"Planks of wood….okay…not sure what we're going to do with those but okay." She muttered to herself as she went to Bernie's car.

"Serena…did you get find them."

"Coming."

Serena grabbed the wood and closed the boot of the car before making her way back to Bernie and handed her the wood.

"I'm not sure what we're supposed to be doing with these?" Serena asked.

"I'm going to put them under the back wheels, it'll give the car something to grab on too."

"Oh…I see, you're very good at this stuff."

"I've had lots of practice."

"Quite."

Bernie stopped what she was doing and looked up at Serena to see the way she was smiling at her.

"Are you mocking me Dr Campbell?"

"Not at all, I know better than to even try."

Serena stood and watched Bernie at work, hearing the woman mutter to herself as she tried to lodge the wood under the wheels. She pushed down a little too hard on the second wheel, falling forward in to the mud, causing more laughter from Serena.

"Do you want to do this?" Bernie asked, getting up, wiping mud from her face and looking at the disgrace of her jacket.

"I think I'll leave it to the expert, sorry for laughing."

…

It was another hour before Bernie finally managed to get Serena's car out of the mud and reversed it back on to the main road with Serena's help. Both women were soaked through, covered in mud but were still smiling as Bernie put the wood back in her car. Serena came over to her, waiting for her to finish what she was doing.

"Bernie, thank you so much for coming to my rescue, I'm forever in your debt."

"I'll say you are."

"Well let me make it up to you, how about dinner."

Bernie's stomach began doing summersaults, happy at the thought of spending an evening with this incredible woman at her side.

"Dinner?"

"Or lunch or, whatever you wish really. My way of saying thanks."

Bernie stood watching the way Serena looked, covered in mud and still as beautiful, if she didn't take her chance now then she never would. Bernie moved forward, invading Serena's personal space.

"Or…you could just thank me now."

Serena looked at her curiously, unsure of what she meant until she felt Bernie's lips on her own. She stood frozen for a moment; the feeling of Bernie's lips a new experience for her. Bernie began to wonder if she'd made a terrible mistake, her fear quickly fading when she felt Serena's arms coming around her waist and pulling her closer. They finally pulled apart, Bernie looking in to Serena's eyes and seeing the smile on her face.

"Well, that was…different." Serena said.

"It certainly was, so what do we do now?" Bernie asked quietly, still holding on to Serena.

"How about that dinner?"

"I'd love that."

"How about now?"

"With the way we both look right now."

"Come back to mine, I'll cook and you can freshen up."

"Alone?"

Serena went a little red for a moment before locking eyes with Bernie.

"We'll see how the night goes…shall we?" She added, motioning to the cars.

"I'll follow behind you."

"Good, and Bernie, thank you…for saving me tonight."

Serena leaned in one last time, kissing her before making her way in to the car, Bernie quickly following behind.

…

-Fin