It was like time had stopped. Nothing else mattered at that moment, except for the two women making sure the other was still there. Serena grasped with all her might at Bernie's shoulders. Never in her life had she felt so emotional. It was like her whole body had been lit aflame. The fear she had seen in Bernie's eyes after the initial contact had been made… When Bernie had pulled away, Serena had moved forward. She needed that contact back, she needed to feel the electricity running through her veins. She was exhausted, but she was exhilarated too. She needed more contact.
Slowly she raised onto her knees, half pulling Bernie with her. Wrapping her arms around the blonde's back, she found the ties to Bernie's scrubs. Hesitating slightly, she pulled back, opening her eyes. Bernie's eyes snapped open, fearful again, until she felt the pressure on her back, and saw the questioning trepidation on Serena's face. Smiling shyly, her hands reached to do the same. Seconds later, they were de-scrubbed, centimetres apart. Serena was left in her black undershirt, Bernie was in just a thin strappy white vest.
'You know, we are breaking about ten health and safety rules right now.' Bernie mumbled, running her hands up and down Serena's upper arms. This comment elicited a chuckle from the dark haired doctor. This sound made Bernie's heart soar, and she leaned in slightly, tilting Serena's chin towards her own. Their lips connected for a second, Bernie's hand moved from Serena's chin, to stroke her neck, running her fingers through her soft hair. By this point they were flush against one another, not a pennies width between them. Serena had linked her arms under Bernie's, clutching tight, and revelling in how alive she felt.
When they had been sat up against the wall Serena had felt defeated. She was tired. This entire week had been a rollercoaster of emotion, the outpouring of which was being injected into this kiss. She hadn't noticed the tears on her cheeks, until Bernie had wiped them away. Again, the kiss was broken, but the physical contact was not. Serena rested her forehead against Bernie's, smiling slightly, breathing in the scent of coffee, cigarettes and a slight hint of alcohol cleanser. It was only as she went to speak she noticed how out of breath she was.
'You.' She whispered, as Bernie kissed her cheeks in the spots where tears had fallen. 'I feel so alive.' Bernie buried her head in Serena's shoulder.
'Thank god.' She mumbled.
'I saw the fear in your eyes Bernie.' It was Serena's turn to caress Bernie's cheeks. 'You don't need to be scared.' Serena calmed Bernie in hushed tones, brushing their noses together. 'Trust me when I say I have never, ever felt this way with another person. You found something in me I didn't know existed. A passion I never knew was there. Thank you.'
Both women were crying now, but they were tears of happiness.
'You have no idea how good it is to hear those words falling from your lips.' Bernie brushed her thumb against Serena's cupids bow, and then replaced it with her lips. She could feel the smile against her, and felt elated, knowing that she'd been the one to cause it. Serena's hands were shaking, so Bernie took them in her own, clasped against her chest. The shaking stopped as Serena felt the regular beating of Bernie's heart. It all felt so perfect, like a puzzle finally being completed. For that moment they could forget the surgeries, the injuries and the patients, and they could replace those thoughts with ones of comfort, familiarity and love.
They were both alive.