(a/n – why yes, yes this is the Holby City/Jam & Jerusalem crossover which I mentioned on tumblr and more people than I ever expected showed support for. I hope I do it justice. This was going to just be a oneshot but then it kinda grew and grew until basically Berena and everyone in Clatterford are interacting at some point. It is going to be absolute madness, I tell you. All because I had a headcanon that Bernie served with Caroline's son Christopher. Enjoy.)
Unofficial Guild Members
Chapter 1: Arrangements
Serena opened her eyes and smiled softly, nuzzling her head further into the chest of the woman she was draped across. Her hand caressed the breast it had been resting on, and she felt the woman beneath her stiffen. Serena tilted her chin up so that she could meet Bernie's eyes. Somehow, Serena knew that she would never get tired of waking up to a sleep-rumpled (and frankly adorable, but Serena would never tell her that) Berenice Wolfe. Even during the dark days after Elinor's death, and the months of pain which followed, Serena had thanked her lucky stars every morning when she awoke in the arms of the blonde trauma surgeon.
"Good morning, you," Bernie smiled lazily at her, whilst running her hands up Serena's naked back.
"Good morning yourself," Serena responded, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips, both humming appreciatively.
The sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains, and small particles of dust danced in the thin strip of brightness. Serena stretched, wincing a little as her bones cracked. Bernie laughed.
"I told you you were being too enthusiastic last night." Serena swatted her on the chest for that remark, and then laughed at Bernie's face when she stretched and her bones also made audible sounds of protest. "Come on, Ms Campbell. Breakfast!"
Serena ate her toast sat at the kitchen table in just her silk robe, whilst Bernie leaned against the counter, practically inhaling her scrambled eggs. Jason wandered in, his hair sticking up at odd ends.
"Good morning Auntie Serena. Good morning Auntie Bernie." Bernie beamed at him. He'd started referring to her as his auntie around a year previously, after she and Bernie had celebrated their three year anniversary together. And yet, Bernie never seemed to get over the fact that Jason now accepted her as another mother-figure in his life. A mother-figure who could teach him how to chop firewood and could actually do some of the activities seen on World's Strongest Man.
Serena stopped chewing her toast momentarily, her mind wandering to Elinor. Her sweet, problematic, independent Ellie, who had been taken from the world far too soon, all as a result of her own stupid mistakes, when it came down to it. The period of denial and grief had been long, and Serena doubted she would ever fully come out from it, but now she could acknowledge that her daughter's secret use of drugs had contributed to her ultimate end. At least now Serena could use her experiences to help others. She volunteered at the local Citizen Advice Bureau, alongside being a speaker and ambassador for some local charities and support groups for single working parents and those whose children had turned to drugs. Bernie had originally suggested the Citizen Advice Bureau, because she knew Serena liked helping others, and wanted a way to channel her loss into something positive. Serena snapped back to the present when Jason waved a hand in front of her face.
"Auntie Serena, are you listening?"
"What? Sorry, Jason, what were you saying?" Serena became aware of Bernie walking over and standing behind her, rubbing her shoulders through her robe.
"I think Auntie Serena got lost in her memories then, didn't you?" She pressed a gentle kiss to Serena's hair and Jason rolled his eyes. "Jason was just saying that today he finds out if he has been accepted onto that summer scheme." Bernie moved her hands further down Serena's arms, giving them a soothing rub, as Serena looked at her nephew.
"Right, well, good luck, Jason! Your application was great, so I have no doubt that you'll have been selected. Do let us know, won't you?"
"Of course I will Auntie Serena, you're my aunties, aren't you? Now, I am going to go to Alan's for our video games day. See you later."
"Bye, Jason!" Both women called after him. Jason stopped at the door and turned back to face them.
"Oh? And Auntie Bernie?"
"Yes, Jason?"
"You might want to give Auntie Serena her shirt back. And put some trousers on. Goodbye!" As soon as they heard the door slam, Bernie and Serena burst into giggles as Bernie came and perched on Serena's lap (something she had grown more and more comfortable with doing when they were alone over the years, much to Serena's delight) and leaned down to press their foreheads together.
"Would you like your shirt back, Serena?" She pressed a kiss to the vascular surgeon's cheek, and Serena turned her head to meet Bernie's lips, whilst slipping her hands up underneath her shirt loosely hanging off Bernie's lithe frame.
"Maybe. Now, what shall we do on this rare day off we have together?" Bernie took her hand and pulled her back up the stairs.
Jason bounded into the house later that afternoon, and greeted Bernie and Serena in the living room, where they were curled up together doing a crossword.
"Auntie Serena! Auntie Bernie! I got accepted onto the summer programme! For a whole week at the start of August!" His enthusiasm was infectious, and both Bernie and Serena grinned up at him.
"That's wonderful, Jason!" Bernie gave him a thumbs up, whilst Serena patted his shoulder.
"I told you they'd accept you, Jason. Now, please could you forward me the details so that we can make sure you're absolutely ready?"
That evening, after a hearty meal of homemade chicken pasties and peas (though the peas were in a separate bowl for Jason, who didn't like his foods being mixed), Jason went up to his room to read one of his books about the history of the Vikings. He had watched a documentary about them, and become fascinated. Bernie and Serena sank into the living room sofa and looked through all of the information regarding Jason's summer scheme. He was going to be helping children on the Autistic spectrum to learn basic skills at a summer school in Aberdeen. He was very excited about the idea, and was looking forward to helping children to have opportunities he himself had not had when growing up. As she read the summaries, Serena felt herself getting a little teary. Bernie pulled her close.
"Are you okay, Serena?" Serena nodded.
"Yes. I'm just thinking about how far he's come." She paused as another memory hit her. "Elinor went to a summer school when she was fourteen. Drama. They put on a musical version of Peter Pan, and she was one of the lost boys." She sniffed. Bernie rubbed her shoulder gently, and Serena briefly considered how far her partner had come in terms of physical affection. In the early days of their relationship, Bernie had not touched her that much at all. Even now, Bernie wasn't a very tactile person, but she was always willing to give a comforting touch to Serena.
"It's okay, Serena. I'm here. Tell me as much or as little as you want to." Serena lost herself in her memories for a while. Random thoughts swirled around her head, some linked to her daughter, and some not. Her grief was easier to manage nowadays, but it still consumed her at unexpected moments. A thought hit her, and she turned to Bernie.
"Bernie?"
"Mmm?"
"We've never been on holiday together." Of all the things Bernie had been expecting Serena to say, that had certainly not been it. She turned her head to look at her partner, and furrowed her brow, waiting for Serena to explain further. "We've been a couple for over three years, and we've never been on holiday together." That wasn't much of an explanation, so Bernie prodded further.
"Would you like to? I mean, we've had… Other things to occupy us, haven't we? And while these rare days off together are lovely, I doubt Hanssen would grant us two weeks off so we could go and sun ourselves somewhere."
"No, you're right." Serena sighed. "We might be allowed a week as long as we were within a two hour drive away. That way he could hire a locum to do the trauma surgeries but if there was a serious incident we would be back to help with the later stages." Serena rested her head on Bernie's shoulder and sighed longingly, not realising how much she just wanted to get away from Holby for a while with Bernie. She looked up and Bernie was pulling what Serena called her Action Woman face. The face she had pulled all those years ago when she made the seemingly impossible possible for Pete and Cathy Higson, all to make Serena feel better. The moment Serena had known for sure she had fallen in love with Bernie (even if the easily startled and emotionally confused army medic did then hotfoot it to Ukraine). Bernie turned to face her.
"How do you feel about Devon?"
"Devon?"
"Yes, it's about an hour and forty five minutes away if we drive, less by train. It's just that I've got a mate from that area and his mother always said she'd owe me because I saved his life out in Afghanistan. I reckon she'd be able to sort us with accommodation down there if we went. We could go in August, when Jason's on his summer scheme, that way we would all be away together, if you like. The neighbours can look after the house for a week." Bernie was staring at Serena, her eyes flickering in many directions as she worked through the plan in her head. Serena beamed.
"Devon sounds lovely."
"Great! Well, see if you can square it with Hanssen and I'll dig out Chris' number!" Bernie grinned back at her, and Serena leaned forwards to whisper in her ear.
"Don't you worry about Henrik. I can be very persuasive." Bernie laughed and stroked her fingers up Serena's thigh.
"Don't get too persuasive with him. I don't want to have to punch our boss because he's now competition for your affections."
"Oh, stop it you! You know as well as I do that Henrik Hanssen would be as interested in receiving a striptease as a teapot would. In fact, things would probably get steamier with the teapot!" She laughed at her own terrible joke, and pressed her lips to Bernie's. "Leave him to me. Now, time for bed I think?"
"Oh definitely." Bernie murmured, tucking the newspaper under the coffee table (and wondering just when she had become so tidy). "Now, whilst Swedish CEOs might not be interested in stripteases, I am damn certain that British troops are."
"I'll keep that in mind when we visit your friend in Devon." Serena raised an eyebrow in challenge, and Bernie's responding growl as they went up the stairs made Serena laugh heartily.
The next day, Bernie walked into their shared office, a large pile of patient files balanced precariously in her arms, to be confronted by Serena Campbell wearing the biggest smile Bernie had seen on her in a long time.
"Guess who just got us a week off in August while Jason is away? And I didn't even need to take my shirt off." Serena winked, before taking some of the files. "Come on then, while I'm in a good mood I may as well do some of these for you."
That evening, Bernie dialled the number of her friend Chris, and paced up and down the living room as it rang and rang. Serena raised her eyebrows from her position on the couch, but didn't comment. Eventually, the call connected and Bernie sighed in relief.
"Caroline Martin speaking." The voice was a very well-to-do one, which shocked Bernie slightly, given how down to Earth Chris was. Saying that, Bernie couldn't exactly claim to have anything close to what would be called a common accent.
"Hello, Ms Martin, hi! Bernie Wolfe. Major. Major Berenice Wolfe. Of the RAMC. Royal Army Medical Corps." As Bernie rambled, Serena rolled her eyes affectionately. Caroline interrupted her.
"Berenice Wolfe, hello! You saved my Christopher's life in Afghanistan didn't you? Gosh, what must it be? Six years ago now? I told the boy to tell you that I would give you anything you wanted, but you never got in touch! Why?"
"Well, erm, you see, I didn't need anything. Part of my job and all that. But now, I'm erm, wondering if I could ask a favour?"
"Ask away, Major!"
"I'd like to stay in Devon for a week or so in August. Take my partner and myself on holiday. And I remember Chris saying that your village wasn't all that popular with tourists? It seems ideal. Could you, um, point me in the direction of some suitable accommodation? It's the first week of August. Ideally we'd like to arrive on the Saturday morning then leave the following Saturday morning, but we can be flexible with times depending on where we stay."
"That'll be absolutely fine, Major Wolfe."
"It will?"
"Yes. You can stay with me. The children are down for the weekend though the Saturday you arrive for Mikey's birthday."
"Great! It'll be great to catch up with Chris again, and to meet the others! And yourself."
"Yes. Well, I must be going. I have a Guild meeting tonight and our chairwoman claims she's got Monty Don as our guest speaker, though I very much doubt it. Goodbye." She put the phone down, and Bernie turned to Serena with a smile.
"I've just sorted out our holiday!" Serena stood up and draped her arms around the army medic's neck.
"Wonderful. It'll be so nice to get away for a while. Just the two of us. Where are we staying?"
"With Caroline. And her children are back for the weekend when we arrive, I hope you don't mind."
"No. I always loved having Elinor back for the weekend…" Her voice trailed off, and Bernie pulled her into her chest. They stood for a while in the living room, just content to bask in the moment. Eventually, Bernie pulled back.
"Shall we head up to bed? I'm on the early shift tomorrow." Serena nodded, and together they made their way up the stairs to get an early night.
Meanwhile, in a small mid-Devon village hall, Caroline Martin was sat on a wooden chair, chatting with her close friend Susie, whilst Eileen flapped over a projector and Rosie pulled a leaflet from her bag from Crealy Great Adventure Parks, ready to read it out and class it as a talk. Caroline and Susie had grown closer since John had left her for his younger secretary, and Susie and Charles had split once the children had all moved away to university. Susie never explicitly mentioned a reason behind the split, aside from that the pair had 'differences'. Caroline didn't push. It wasn't good etiquette. She leaned towards Susie.
"I'm opening myself up this summer, trying to get a bit more militant." Susie's eyebrows shot up.
"I'm not sure I understand. Could you clarify?" Caroline sighed. Sometimes Susie really could be endearingly dim. Or just dim. Nothing endearing at all about Susie.
"Well, it's just a bit of power play really," Susie nearly choked on her tea as Caroline continued. "It isn't every day that you get the chance to accommodate a high ranking soldier."
"I'm really not sure what you're hinting at Caroline…" Susie's voice had gone strangely high pitched. "Something to do with soldiers. Is your Christopher coming back to live in with you?"
"Oh dear goodness no! One of his ex-colleagues, Major Wolfe, who saved his life, will be staying for a week in August. For a holiday." Realisation dawned on Susie's face.
"Oh, goodness! What's he like?"
"She. Major Wolfe and her partner. We've only spoken via telephone but she seems nice. And Christopher thinks very highly of her." Susie nodded in approval.
"A real action woman then. Is her partner ex-military too?"
"No idea. One would assume. Christopher said she was married when they served together, though not happily by the sounds of it. Her husband wasn't keen on her serving. I would think that if she's since divorced him, an ex-military man would be the type for her." Susie nodded, her eyes faraway (not that she would ever admit that she was picturing a female soldier in uniform – and she certainly would never admit that in this particular fantasy the soldier looked remarkably like Caroline).
Eileen clapped her hands together and lifted a clipboard up.
"Now, ladies, we need to make our itinerary for the summer! We have the Village Fete with Sporting Competitions in the first week of August, so it'll be all hands on deck! I hope none of you have made plans!" Caroline immediately realised the clash and raised her hand.
"Actually, I have guests arriving on the Saturday, so won't be available that day. However I shall be fine for the actual date – the Tuesday, isn't it?" Eileen narrowed her eyes.
"Guests?"
"Yes, one of Christopher's ex-colleagues and her partner are staying."
"Colleagues? But Christopher's last job was being a soldier wannit?" Rosie butted in. "An you said she. Can shes be soldiers, Caroline ma'am?"
"Yes. Major Wolfe was in the Royal Army Medical Corps. She saved my son's life." Caroline couldn't help but throw the official title in there. She always liked to show that she had superior classes of acquaintances. Eileen was suddenly glowing, as if she had received Guild Chairwoman of the Year award.
"Female you say? And an army major to boot? You don't reckon she'd like to give us a talk to you?" Caroline wasn't sure what to say to that.
"Well, she and her partner are here on holiday, so I am not sure."
"Country getaway for the soldier and her man, aye aye!" Tip piped up, and then the rest of the women descended into chatter as Eileen tried to regain control.
"Oh, do you reckon her partner's a military man too?" Kate sighed. "Not that I would be bothered, what with Hillary…"
"A military couple, eh?" Sal said, as Tip nudged her.
"Shame they're together, woman. You need to get back out there after you split with that disaster of a man called Jock."
"I'm happy to talk about Lidls if she doesn't want to talk," Pauline muttered.
"My Gaye's coming back that weekend too ready for the fete. I bet she'd like a military woman." Queenie pondered.
"Goodbye!" Delilah stood up and shuffled towards the door. "I need to buy a tomato!"
When Caroline arrived home that evening, she shrugged to herself. Trust the Guild to get overly excited about her guests. No matter. Caroline would ensure her guests had the best time possible. It had been a while since she had played hostess.
To Be Continued...