Serena Campbell had no sooner stepped onto AAU when she heard Antoine Malik complaining to Ric Griffin about having to come down to find her.
"Perhaps you can explain to him that she's no longer able to assist him on Keller," Ric was saying.
"Who am I no longer able to assist?" Serena asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
"Mr Adams," Malik answered, looking highly annoyed. "He refuses to have either me or Mr Spence perform his laparoscopy procedure."
"Mr Adams?" Serena tried to run through the list of patient names in her head. "John Adams?"
"The one and only."
"Why is he having a laparoscopy?"
"We need to remove stones in his gallbladder," Malik answered.
"One of your favourite patients?" Ric asked with a hint of amusement.
"We've come a long way," Serena answered. "You're performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?"
"I would like to, but according to Mr Adams, you're the only one he'll allow near him."
"It seems I'm his favourite surgeon," Serena smirked at Ric.
"He can't exactly dictate who he wants operating on him. This is the NHS for God sake," Ric grumbled.
Serena had to laugh at his indignant tone. "I'm sure you'll be able to keep control of AAU for an hour or so," she said. "My urgent attention is required elsewhere."
Ric sighed, waving his hand in the air in resignation.
Serena smiled back at Malik, motioning for them to head toward Keller.
"So remind me how you know this guy," Malik said as soon as they stepped into the lift.
"He was one of the first patients I treated up on Keller when I started at Holby. He had an ulcer which needed repairing and then a few months later, he had a scare with his appendix."
"His medical notes didn't mention an appendectomy," Malik said in surprise.
"He didn't need one. The pain seemed to vanish on its own. There was no inflammation and his white blood cell count showed no sign of infection. He had a temperature when he came in but after we ran the tests, it remained normal."
"A phantom appendicitis, huh?" Malik seemed to find the idea quite interesting.
"It wouldn't be the first time."
"He came in again after that?"
"We needed to keep an eye on him after that. He's been in and out on numerous occasions."
They both stepped onto Keller and Serena was immediately greeted by a familiar voice calling to her from across the ward. "Ms Campbell," John greeted warmly.
"Ah, Mr Adams," Serena smiled back. "I'd like to say long time no see, but . . ."
"I know," the man chuckled. "I'm starting to feel like I live here."
"I hear I'm going to be performing a laparoscopy on you."
"I felt much more comfortable with you doing it," he whispered, glancing over her shoulder at Michael Spence.
"Well, laparoscopies are my forte, you know," Serena winked at him as she read through his medical notes. "Has a theatre spot been booked for him?"
"It has indeed," Malik nodded. "He's booked in right now. Would you like me to scrub in?"
"No, no, it's fine. I think I can handle this," she smiled at John as she placed his notes back into the holder by the foot of his bed. "Nurse Lane? Can you get Mr Adams prepped and ready to go to theatre, please?"
"Yes, Ms Campbell," Chantelle said cheerfully, giving John a happy smile.
"I didn't know you had moved to AAU," John said as Serena accompanied them off of the ward.
"Yes, it seems my talents were needed more there than here," she lied. There was no way she was telling him that Henrik Hanssen had forced her to move as punishment for her non-referrals policy.
"You're happy there?"
Serena was slightly taken back by the sudden question. "Of course."
"How's your daughter doing? She must be a young lady already."
Serena gave him a surprised look. She didn't remember mentioning her daughter, but it was possible she had done so in passing. "She's well, thank you. It's her first weekend away at University. I'm sure she'll love every second of it."
"Hopefully you're not too lonely," the man said, giving her a worried look.
"No, not at all. It's good to have some peace and quiet. Or at least, I keep telling myself that," she looked up to see Chantelle watching her closely. She had never even mentioned her daughter to any of her patients before. The man was just being polite in asking after her. "Right," Serena paused in front of the theatre room. "Let's get you fixed up."
Henrik Hanssen was leading the discussion in the conference room on the course of action to be taken with a young boy who had potentially fractured his spine when the door flew open.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," John Adams held his hands up apologetically as everyone turned in their seats to look at him.
"Mr Adams?" Serena raised her eyebrows, surprised by the man's presence.
"They told me you were in here," he explained sheepishly.
It was only then that Serena noticed the bouquet of flowers he was holding. She groaned inwardly. Now was really not the time to be grateful.
"I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent work you did a couple of weeks ago," he held the flowers out to her.
Serena quickly got up to take them, not wanting to keep the man hanging. "You really shouldn't have. I was only doing my job."
"You go far above and beyond your job," he smiled as he handed the roses to her, keeping his gaze directly on her.
Serena felt a little uncomfortable being under the man's scrutiny.
"You actually care."
Serena was a little lost for words and tried to politely ask him to leave, motioning towards the people in the conference room. "I'm afraid I'm a little busy at the moment."
"Of course, I'm so sorry," John nodded, waving an apology to everyone seated. He smiled back at Serena as he closed the door.
Serena stood still for a split second, not entirely knowing what to do. She turned around with the bouquet still in her arms, trying to find a place to leave them. Everyone was staring at her, including Hanssen who had a peculiar look on his face.
"Some patients are dreamboats," she mumbled, dropping the flowers on the floor in the corner of the room.
Hanssen waited for her to be seated before he continued. She hated interrupting business with trivial matters and Mr Adam's presence had truly thrown her.
As soon as they had decided how to proceed with the child's surgery, Hanssen declared the meeting over. He sat for a moment, watching as Serena collected her things.
"Is Mr Adams a patient on AAU?" He finally spoke.
Serena froze, not expecting him to speak to her. "Uh, no, he was on Keller. I led his laparoscopy procedure."
"You did?" Hanssen raised an eyebrow. "Why could Mr Spence or Mr Malik not do it?"
"They were busy," Serena lied. After Mr Adams bringing her a bouquet of flowers, she couldn't exactly tell him that the man had refused treatment from anyone other than herself.
Hanssen wasn't buying it and he proceeded to observe her, waiting for her to elaborate.
"Are you staying here? I need to get to AAU," She wasn't about to explain herself to him.
"I'll join you," Hanssen stood up, collecting his phone and a couple of folders before heading to the door and holding it open for her.
She gave him a thankful smile and stepped out into the corridor, pausing as she noticed John leaning against the wall in the corridor. "Actually, I might just pop in to see Malik about something," she quickly said and spun around, heading to the lift. The doors were just opening and she very happily stepped in, glancing down the corridor as Hanssen watched her.
Hanssen waited for the doors to the lift to close before he turned and headed down the corridor, passing the middle aged man who had intruded on their meeting. He gave the man a polite nod in greeting before continuing to AAU.
John had seen Serena get into the lift. He moved towards the conference room and stepped inside. Sighing heavily, he moved to the far corner and picked up the bouquet of roses he had given her. She was such a busy woman; she had clearly forgotten them to go and save another life. He smiled at the thought as he sat down in the same chair she had been seated in. It was still warm from her body. He ran his hands down the arm rest, imagining her hand resting on it.
It had been an incredibly long day and Serena was elated when she realized it was time to go home. Stepping into her office, she moved around her desk to sit down and froze. The bouquet of flowers had been placed neatly on her desk.
"Ric?" She called, waiting as she heard him making his way over to her. He peered in around the door.
"You summoned me?"
"Did you put these flowers in here?" She picked the bouquet up.
"No," Ric shook his head. "I'm not your secret admirer," he smiled.
"Ric," she said, trying to hide the unease in her voice.
"Is there a problem with them? Too many roses perhaps?"
"Mary-Claire," she stepped out of her office and onto the ward. "Did you see anyone come into my office today?"
"No. Why?" She asked curiously. This had drawn the attention of Harry, Gemma and Sacha.
"Someone put . . ." Serena paused, not wanting to accuse an innocent man. "Nothing. It's nothing."
Sasha and Gemma exchanged a look and got back to work.
"Everything alright?" Ric asked, eyeing the flowers in her arms.
"Yes," she smiled, grabbing her things and heading for the exit. "It is now, anyway."
She stepped out into the night air and headed straight for her car, tossing her handbag and coat into the front seat.
"Ms Campbell," Harry Tressler called from the entrance.
"What can I do for you, Harry?"
"Are you coming out for a drink with us?" He asked as he joined her at her car. "Mary-Claire, Gemma, Sacha, Mr Griffin, Malik and Michael Spence are all coming."
"I don't know . . ." Serena glanced at her handbag. She was rather looking forward to a quiet night.
"Oh come on," Harry smiled. "It's not like you to give up a glass of wine."
Serena had to laugh at his impression of her. "On any other day I would jump at the opportunity to mingle with the likes of a drunken Michael Spence," she said sarcastically. "But tonight I all I want is to curl up on the sofa and relax."
"Suit yourself," Harry shrugged.
"Goodnight, Harry," she waved a greeting as she got into the driver's seat. She couldn't say she was particularly looking forward to going home to an empty house, but the truth was that Eleanor's departure to Uni had not even hit her yet. She still imagined she was just visiting at a friend's house.
Serena happily pulled into her driveway, pleased at the unusual lack of traffic. She grabbed her coat and handbag and made her way up the stairs to her doorway, struggling to get her keys out of her pocket. An odd rustling sound caused her to turn sharply. It was dark and the council were yet to trim the tree that covered the streetlight outside her house. She took a few steps down the stairs, trying to adjust her eyes to the dark. She imagined she saw something crouching under the shrubs and took another tentative step down until she was on the grass. "Hello?" She called, dreading her response if someone were to actually answer her. A cat shot out from underneath the shrub and across the lawn, making Serena gasp with fright. She watched it disappear down the street and let out a nervous chuckle. Turning back to ascend the stairs, she caught her blue blouse on the banister and paused as she heard the familiar ripping sound. She sighed heavily, pulling herself free of the banister's death like grip. Her blouse was ruined.
After changing into her night clothes, she sloughed outside in her slippers and dumped the blouse along with an empty bottle of her favourite shiraz in the bin before heading back to sip her wine and call her daughter.
Jac Naylor was listening to the mindless banter between Jonny Maconie and Mo Effanga when she noticed Serena heading towards the lift. She jogged after her, pleased to find the lift only just arriving. "I need to talk to you," she said.
"And good morning to you too, Ms Naylor," Serena smirked. She had always appreciated Jac's direct manner.
"I just heard you and Hanssen were thinking of sending Elliot to Japan for the next cardiothoracic conference."
"That's right," Serena nodded, pressing the button for the third floor.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to send someone a little more capable of walking long distances without having a coronary?"
"And who do you have in mind?" Serena inadvertently glanced down at Jac's small emerging bump.
"At least I can handle sushi instead of hamburgers without fainting at the thought," Jac folded her arms.
Serena had to suppress her smile. "Professor Hope has been specifically requested. The Japanese Medical Council have invited him especially. And unfortunately, Darwin needs at least a few cardiothoracic surgeons on site to, you know, save lives."
"Surely they can do without me and Elliot for a few days," Jac threw her arms in the air.
Serena's jaw tightened as she stepped onto AAU, heading for her office with an irate Jac Naylor following her all the way. "I'll discuss it with Mr Hanssen, but I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you."
"You'll discuss what with me?" Hanssen asked as he joined them.
Serena had become accustomed to him showing up like a ghost and wasn't even surprised by his presence. She pushed her door open, smiling as she heard Jac inform him of her discovery and annoyance.
"Unfortunately, Ms Naylor, even I can't twist the Japanese's arm. They've made their decision and I see no reason why you should join Professor Hope when you could be saving lives right here."
"Fine," Jac snapped, storming off to the lift.
"Good morning, Mr Hanssen?" Serena chuckled as she hung her coat up, turning to her desk.
Hanssen have her a knowing look. "As always."
"You know, we could probably nick a CT surgeon from St James for a week," she pulled her drawer open to lock her handbag away. "Jac might even benefit from . . ." she paused as she noticed it lying in her drawer.
"Ms Campbell?" Hanssen took a step towards her, trying to see what had seemingly surprised her into silence.
She pulled a blue blouse out of her drawer. It had been very neatly folded into a square.
Serena took a deep breath as she unfolded it. The material had been neatly sewed up from where it had been ripped the night before.
"Is there a problem?"
"I threw this away last night," she breathed.
"I beg your pardon?" He raised an eyebrow. The woman was usually quite articulate.
"I tore it at home as I was going in and I threw it away in the bin outside. Someone's fixed it," her fingers ran over the neat stitches. "And brought it into my office."
"Perhaps it's a different blouse?"
Serena gave him an incredulous look. "It's the same blouse."
"Ms Campbell," Gemma Wilde stepped into the office with a bouquet of flowers. "Looks like you're the flavour of the month."
Serena watched as the younger woman placed it down on her desk, next to the bouquet that had been brought in the day before. Serena glanced at the wine. "Someone brought this in?"
"It was delivered by a courier," Gemma answered, noticing the pale look on Serena's face. "Everything okay?"
"It's fine," Serena quickly said. "Everything's fine."
Hanssen waited for the F1 to leave the room before speaking. "Do you want me to notify security?"
"No, no," she waved the notion away. "It's fine. Just an overzealous patient."
"Mr Adams?"
Serena was surprised that he remembered the man's name. "I'll deal with it."
"And your blouse?" Hanssen's eyes moved to the blue fabric on her desk.
"'I'm not entirely sure how to explain that. It's fine."
Hanssen nodded slowly. "If you feel it's becoming uncomfortable, let me know and we will notify the correct authorities."
"It's fine. I think he might just have gotten the wrong idea."
Hanssen observed her for a moment before nodding again and leaving her to her own devices.
Serena noticed the note attached to the bouquet and quickly opened it: I'm thinking of you. J