"Ouch" Serena spat as she looked up from under her desk.
"That sounded like quite the bump" Ric replied, "Are you ok?"
"I am absolutely fine" said Serena, as she slowly crawled out from under the desk and took a seat in her office chair. "I just need to find my bloody necklace" she whined as Ric began to move towards her desk
"Well are you sure you left it in here? I mean, I know I saw it on you before Theatre, but not since." he sighed as he bent down to sweep the floor
"Thanks for the keen observation, where would I be without you!?" Serena drawled as she looked over to where Ric was standing. "Well it has to be here", Serena snapped, "Where else would it be!?"
"Okay, I take your point...I'll help you look for it"
"I don't need your help!" shouted Serena. "It's only a necklace and I will find it in my own bloody time!" she leant back in her chair and exhaled, silently cursing herself for venting on the one person she knew was in her corner.
"Okay, well let me know if you change your mind" whispered Ric as he left their office as quickly as possible. He knew how to handle Serena in these moment, and the best approach he had found was to allow her to cool off in her own time.
Serena exhaled loudly as she glanced towards the door that Ric had just exited through. She didn't want to alienate him, but sometimes he got too close. She leant back in her chair and allowed herself a few moments of respite before there was a rather harsh knock on the door.
"Yes" called Serena without even opening her eyes. She assumed it would be Arthur Digby or Chantelle come to update her on her patient Mrs Patmore.
"Ms Campbell...Sorry to intrude on what is obviously a rare moment of peace." stated Hanssen as Serena's eyes violently flashed open and she sat up straight in her chair
"Not at all Mr Hanssen...to what do I owe the pleasure?" she purred as she sensed his discomfort with the situation
"Mr Spence told me you may need my assistance with an elective this afternoon? Mrs Clayfoot?" the CEO inquired as Serena desperately tried to gather her wits
"Umm Yes..I mean...The operation seems straightforward enough but seeing as you have treated her before, numerous times, she has obviously asked after you." Serena paused as she noticed the hint of a smirk forming on Hanssen's lips. "Therefore, I thought it correct to include you on any further surgery." she concluded as she watched the cogs tick over in his brain.
"Yes, quite right Ms Campbell. I will return by 2pm with ample time to scrub-in." Hanssen declared before turning on the spot and heading to the door. "Oh, and Ms Campbell..." Hanssen said before turning back to face the Consultant, "Perhaps in future you would check your pockets before you leave my office...this is becoming quite a habit of yours." Hanssen dug his hand into his trouser pocket before retrieving Serena's necklace. She watched grumpily as he gently placed it on the desk in front of her. "You never know," he smirked, "Next time it could be something much more important." With that, Hanssen disappeared out of the office leaving Serena to feel like a complete and utter idiot. Great.
Henrik Hanssen strolled back to his office after returning Serena's necklace. He would never understand how somebody could be so completely and utterly useless with a memory of their own movements and with regards to their possessions, but be able to recall hundreds of various medical diagnoses and thesis at any given moment. He smiled to himself as he reached his office and sat at his desk. He had sat gazing at the necklace for at least half an hour before finally deciding to return it to Serena. He didn't know whether it would be advantageous for him to return it to her on her territory or to call her to his domain. In the end, he decided it would be better for him to visit Keller as he would need to discuss the later elective anyway.
Hanssen switched on his laptop and was instantly bombarded with e-mails. There were several regarding the following morning's 7am meeting and whether or not the time could be pushed back...a definite no...everything else was about the upcoming Board Members meeting at the end of the week. Hanssen really did not want to attend this particular meeting. He had been told by Cunningham, in no uncertain terms, that there was a severe lack of faith in his leadership skills. Apparently 'a number' of sources had approached Cunningham and expressed their concerns with how the Hospital was being run. Hanssen sighed and closed the email programme, the last thing he needed at the moment was to begin to doubt the integrity of his staff members. Logically, he knew some members of staff had felt the need to speak to Cunningham about him, he simply wished it wasn't who he thought it was.
His pager began beeping furiously, snapping him out of his current thoughts. Serena Campbell. Hanssen stood up and stalked out of his office, realising it must be an emergency if she warranted calling him. As he stepped onto the ward, Hanssen spotted Serena heading towards the nurses' station. He quickly walked over to her and noticed her visibly exhale at his presence.
"Ms. Campbell. I received a page." stated Hanssen.
"Yes, unfortunately Mrs Clayfoot appears to have developed a temperature and is complaining of abdominal pain. As you know, she is here today for an elective hernia procedure, but I am not convinced that this is what's causing her pain." Serena pulled up a copy of a previous ultrasound and one done this morning and showed them to Hanssen. "This scan was done on her previous visit 8 weeks ago, this one was done this morning. Notice the changes?" she asked as she pointed out her areas of concern.
"Shading." mumbled Hanssen. "Did you do an endoscopy at the time of the ultrasound?" asked Hanssen as Serena looked up at him impatiently.
"Well obviously not as we didn't know there was going to be anything to worry about!" she snapped as she grabbed the scans back and replaced them in their folder. "I'll get one ordered immediately. I simply wanted your opinion." she stopped, clearly awaiting his reply.
"Once the endoscopy is done we will know a great deal more." he stated "But in my professional opinion, this should now become the priority...not the elective." Hanssen watched Serena's lips twitch in obvious, if unwanted, agreement. She simply nodded and marched away, barking orders at Digby as she passed him. Hanssen turned and headed towards the lifts. If there wasn't to be an elective procedure for him to assist with then he might as well get some paperwork done. He had just stepped into the lift when he heard footsteps running towards the now rapidly-closing lift doors. He stuck out his hand to stop them from fully closing and was greeted by the sight of a very out of breath Ric Griffin.
"Thank you Mr. Hanssen." panted Ric as he tried to regain his composure. Hanssen nodded at him and simply continued facing front. Hanssen had never been any good at small talk even if he found himself in situations that required it fairly often. The lift reached his destination and he stalked to his office. As he closed the door he suddenly thought back to how Serena had reacted to his comment about the endoscopy needing to take precedence over an elective surgery. He could have sworn that she had become very angry very quickly at him, but he wasn't sure why. He walked towards his chair and sat down as he pulled the top folder off the mountain of paperwork that was once his desk. "So much red tape..." he sighed as he set about making a dent in his workload.
There was suddenly a very loud, harsh banging on the door that gave him pause as to whether he should answer. It could be important, he reasoned, and so he shouted out "Yes". A positively fuming Ms. Campbell stormed into the room, slamming the door behind her in the process. She simply stood in front of the desk, visibly livid.
"Ms. Campbell. How can I help?" asked Hanssen. He was all too aware of the famous Serena Campbell temper and silently hoped that he wasn't to blame for the outburst that was to come.
"What did you mean up there?" she demanded as she clenched and unclenched her fists.
"I'm not sure I know what you mean, Ms. Campbell."
"On Keller. Why did you feel it necessary to tell me to put the endoscopy procedure before the elective!? Do you really think I couldn't have understood that for myself?" she asked as she angrily stared at Hanssen.
"I merely sought to give you my opinion Ms. Campbell. I was not insinuating anything about your talent or prowess as a Medical Professional." Hanssen tried to diffuse the situation before it got any further. Serena appeared to calm slightly at his comments, but soon bit back with a snappy retort.
"So you didn't say that because you think that I am completely blinkered when it comes to Keller? That I am completely obsessed and driven by my electives? That I don't have the time to change my Theatre schedules for additional procedures? None of that factored into your oh-so-wise opinion?"
Serena continued to stare into Hanssen's eyes and he noticed a flicker of hurt pass through them. Of course these thoughts had occurred to him, several times over the past few months, but they hadn't today.
"No Ms. Campbell. Those concerns didn't enter my mind. It was an observation on my part, not meant to upset you. I am sorry if you feel I was in any way questioning you or your professionalism." Hanssen tried to look sorry, but he wasn't sure he'd pulled it off until Serena's shoulders appeared to lower and her breathing evened out. She slumped into the chair in front of the desk and looked over at Hanssen...she seemed to be processing something before she smiled. Hanssen returned the smile and stood up before walking around to the other side of the desk, perching on the end almost in front of Serena.
"I'm sorry if I was a bit...rash just now." Serena muttered as she lowered her gaze to her shoes. Hanssen could sense the wanted to say more, but felt unable to. He studied her silently and noticed that she didn't quite look herself today...there was something bothering her.
"Ms. Campbell, there is no reason to apologise. Upon reflection I can see how my comment could have led you to the conclusion it did. But rest assured it was not intentional." he paused "The last thing I want is to upset you." he stated before realising that again, this could be interpreted in various ways. A look of surprise passed over Serena's face before her eyes once again came to rest on Hanssen's face. He didn't know what it was, but at that moment, he really meant what he'd said. He didn't want to hurt her and he wanted her to know that. When neither of them said anything for a few moments, Hanssen decided to attempt to probe further.
"Ms. Campbell, are you quite alright? You seem different today." he spoke, as he studied her face for any hidden reaction.
"I'm fine." sighed Serena, which actually, she wasn't. Hanssen sensed this almost immediately and spoke again.
"I don't believe you are. What's happened?" he asked as Serena's eyes locked with his and he could see the insecurity lurking there, fighting to get to the surface. She shook her head and chuckled softly.
"Really, I'm fine. It's a small domestic issue which I am sure will sort itself out." she snorted as her eyes welled up with tears.
"Ms. Campbell I am sorry. I didn't mean to..." Hanssen, uncharacteristically, reached out his hand and placed it on Serena's. She was surprised by the contact from Hanssen and stood up abruptly, wiping her eyes.
"I'm needed back on Keller." she blurted as she headed towards the door.
"Ms. Campbell..." Hanssen shouted after her, as she paused at the door. "If you should need to talk..." he trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence. Serena turned around and smiled at him before nodding her head and leaving the room quickly. Once in the corridor she let out the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, and headed for the lift. She suddenly felt very confused indeed. When Hanssen's hand had touched hers momentarily, she had felt something...a jolt deep inside her. She laughed at the absurdity of her thoughts...it was probably just the shock of him being sympathetic, she decided, as she exited the lift and returned to whatever mayhem lay ahead on Keller.
Hanssen sat still leaning against the table, where he had been for the past 10 minutes since Serena had left his office. He had touched her. He had reached out and touched another person, not only another person, but a co-worker and Serena Campbell at that! The thing that worried Hanssen was that was not all...he had felt something. When their hands had touched, he had felt a longing, an attraction. He had to be misreading the situation. There was no way he could feel anything for a co-worker, especially Serena Campbell...could he!?