"You know what she needs?" Fletch commented to Morven as Serena's office door had just been slammed so thoroughly that the blinds shook, "a new flame to get over Robbie the Bobby."

Serena had been in a foul mood for the past two weeks after she had split up with Robbie and the staff sometimes felt like they had to walk on eggshells around her.

"She swore off men remember, she wants to focus on Jason and anyway, it's only been a couple of weeks," Morven wasn't sure if it really was what Serena needed, but she would welcome a break from the quickfire questions and the sarcastic putdowns she'd been receiving recently.

"Yeah well, find her a woman then!" Fletch grinned.

"A woman? She's not…. You know…." Morven blushed and looked at her shoes as she caught Raf looking over at them.

"Sure, she is! Well bi anyway. I was convinced she was gay when I first met her, how else could she resist the Di Lucca charm?" The Scot winked then added "Seriously though, we need to do something. She nearly bit Mrs Cook's head off when she forgot that she was taking statins."

Serena rubbed her temples while trying to focus on the notes in front of her. She felt like she hadn't had any time to herself in the past two weeks, whenever she wasn't at work she was at home trying to get the balance right with Jason. She knew he couldn't live in that awful place, but hadn't quite thought through how her busy and unplannable her life was and the effects this might have on him. Still, they were muddling through and it was getting easier. A light tap on her door brought her back to the present.

"Ms Campbell, sorry to disturb you, um, could we have a word" Morven looked uncomfortable but Fletch was wearing his signature cheeky grin.

"Make it quick,"

"Um, well we were….um…see the thing is…would you…umm…"

"For goodness sake Morven! Serena, we have found you the perfect blind date. Trauma surgeon at St James, used to be in the Army, one of Morven's friends from med school works with them…." Fletch trailed off as he was given a hard Ms Campbell 'I am not impressed' stare.

"I do not need you two meddling in my love life thank you, and I certainly don't have time to be dating,"

"Just think about it Ms Campbell, surely you deserve a night out anyway and not just a quick glass of Shiraz at Albie's," Morven smiled, usually it was more like a quick bottle but she didn't dare say anything.

"Don't you two have patients to be looking after, that's what you are payed to do isn't it, rather than matchmaking?" Serena smirked slightly and relieved they weren't in too much trouble they hurried out onto the ward.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to start dating. Something light, take her mind of medicine and her home life. At least if anyone couldn't handle Jason she could end it before things got too serious, she didn't want to end up in the same situation. Ah sod it, I'm the wrong side of fifty but like I said to the team it doesn't mean I'm dead from the waist down! A bit of fun and maybe it could become something more, someone to while away retirement with. She had been thinking about life after medicine a lot recently and didn't like the idea of becoming some crazy cat lady rattling around in that big house.

"Ah, Morven have you got a minute?" Serena gestured towards the office and the junior doctor followed her in, standing awkwardly in the corner wondering what this could be about. "That blind date you mentioned last week, do you reckon you could talk to your friend?"

"Oh yeah, I've got a mobile number! Jon gave it to me the other day on the off chance," Morven handed her a slip of paper she'd tucked into her phone case.

"Bernie Wolfe," Serena mused, "interesting name…thanks Morven!"

Hi, it's Serena Campbell from AAU at Holby, think one of your F2s gave your number to one of mine! Hope this is okay, I'd be interested in meeting if you are?

Serena stared at the screen for what felt like hours, this had been the tenth draft and she had butterflies. Pull yourself together Campbell, it's just a text. Dating was so much easier when you just bumped into people and got chatting but she didn't have many opportunities for that now. Send. There, done.

Hi Serena, glad you got in touch! Yes, I'm not really one for long texts, real life conversations are so much better, don't you think? I finish at 6 today, we could grab a drink?

She was glad it was someone with sense and was quite excited, however Jason would not appreciate the last minute change of plan. Saying she already had plans tonight, she suggested going after work later in the week which gave her more time to prepare herself. They agreed on a pub on the outskirts of Holby, just for a drink but they did rather good bar meals so if things went well they could stay and eat as well.

Serena was nervous, although she had no idea why, only a few weeks ago she'd come to terms with the fact that she would be very much off the dating scene, at least until Jason had settled a bit more. Now, here she was chucking clothes on the floor as she tried to decide what to wear. Nothing felt right, work clothes made her feel too much like 'Ms Campbell, vascular surgeon', and her other things were either too casual or far, far too dressy for a quiet drink in a pub.

Eventually, she was at the pub, having decided on a fairly new blouse that she hadn't actually worn to work yet, made a bit more dressy with a set of jewellery Elinor had bought her for her 50th. She ordered a large Shiraz from the bar and looked at her watch. Bernie would be here in 10 minutes. She wondered what he'd be like, a trauma surgeon that used to be a Major in the army didn't sound like her type but Morven had said he was well respected and liked by colleagues and she trusted the F2's judgement.

"Serena Campbell?" A blonde woman had just pulled out the bar stool next to her. How did she know her name? Obviously, an old patient. "Hi, Bernie Wolfe."

Serena's jaw dropped. Shit. She took a few moments to take in the woman sat next to her. Slightly taller than herself, warm brown eyes looking at her through a messy blonde fringe, the rest of her hair tucked behind her ears.

"You're a woman." Why did you say that?! You look like a bloody moron now!

"Um yes, last time I checked!" Bernie smiled slightly, just one corner of her mouth twitching upwards.

"So, you're not called Bernard?" Get yourself together woman.

"Oh, no! No! Umm, Berenice, but it doesn't really suit me…. I'm so sorry, I thought you knew you were meeting a woman, um I can go?" She started to get up from the stool.

"No, no, I should be the one apologising! Stay, I could still do with a drink and a chat after the day I've had, what can I get you?"

Bernie ordered from the barman and the pair found a small table with comfy armchairs to relax into. Serena tried to relax. Maybe it wasn't what she'd expected, but she really didn't have many friends her own age so she started chatting about work. Somehow, she still felt on edge even though Bernie was very easy to talk to and didn't seem to mind at all about the misunderstanding. She started talking about her time in Afghanistan and how different surgery was out there and Serena found herself not really listening, instead watching the woman sat across from her. She really was attractive, in a humble sort of way, one of those people that doesn't want to draw attention to themselves with loads of make-up and daring outfits but still ends up getting stares and admiring glances.

"So, what's brought you onto the dating scene?" The question brought Serena back to the present.

"Oh um, you know, I'd rather not be a life-long member of the embittered Ex-wives club, so thought I'd put myself back out there. Although that didn't go well, I thought I'd met someone lovely that I could settle down with, but he couldn't accept my nephew. He has Asperger's and can be a little difficult sometimes, he lives with me and Robbie decided it was too much like hard work," Serena had surprised herself. Despite being rather outgoing and flirty with most people, she didn't do deep and meaningful conversations, let alone with a relative stranger! Still, she kind of felt lighter for it and there was just something about Bernie that made her open up.

"Men, eh? Well, I guess you don't really have that trouble do you?"

"On the contrary, I was married for 25 years, 2 kids to show for it! It was fine when I was away a lot and could hide from the fact that it was failing, but I had to medically retire, thanks to an IED. I tried to make it work but I knew I couldn't hide my true self for the rest of my life."

They chatted for a bit longer, until Bernie's stomach started growling. "Sorry, long shift with only coffee for sustenance is catching up on me, mind if I order something?"

They both got meals and a bottle of Shiraz. Excellent taste, Serena smiled to herself. The conversation flowed with the wine, and Serena felt as if the entire world had stopped around them. The tension she'd felt in her shoulders and back from spending a 12 hour shift hunched over patients was melting and she felt like she had laughed more in the last couple of hours than she had in the last 6 months.

Suddenly her phone buzzed on the table in front of her, Jason's name on the screen.

You said you'd be back by 10, where are you?

"Blimey is that the time? Sorry, my nephew is expecting me back," She started gathering her things, "are you okay getting back?"

"You've had as much as me! Shall we share a taxi?"

The taxi ride was short and they spent it in fairly comfortable silence.

"Right, well, this is me," Serena wasn't really sure what to say, "thank you for a lovely evening, I really enjoyed it. Maybe we could meet again sometime?" Should she add 'as friends'? Would that look like Serena thought Bernie was attracted to her? That would look a bit arrogant, wouldn't it? Stop overthinking this, Campbell.

"Yes, that would be good," Bernie smiled at her "I'm sorry again for the… you know… I don't want you to feel like you have to see me again or anything though."

"No, I would like to, it's been a refreshing evening with excellent company!" Starting to sound like some sort of online review, get back to normality. "Well, uh, anyway," she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and was quite thankful it was dark, "you have my number so… goodnight." She gulped and then placed a quick kiss on Bernie's cheek, telling herself it is what she would do after an evening out with any of her friends. She wasn't really sure why she was justifying it to herself though.