Serena Campbell enters the virtually quiet home she shares with her girlfriend and step-daughter. She closes her eyes slightly, hearing the familiar sound of retching coming from upstairs. She closes her eyes a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. She reaches into her large leather bag, retrieving the saline drip and necessary connects that her partner had requested she 'borrow' from the supply closet at work, as well as a filled prescription she's written for her step-daughter. Serena carefully walks up the stairs, feet heavy from a such a long day.

"Okay, Serena's bringing something home so we can get you hydrated at least." Bernie gently strokes Charlotte's back as she rests against her. "I've phoned Roxanna and moved your appointment up. I think you may just have the stomach virus we've been seeing in AAU, but I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Charlotte seems a bit more lethargic than usual, her body holding shape only just a bit more than a ragdoll. "I don't like this."

"I know, neither do I." She shakes her head, "your immunity is rather low and we need to try in introducing your body to better foods that help build that...foods that aren't only pizza." She attempts to make her smile, cheer her up if only a little bit. "When we stop at Holby tomorrow, I want you to wear a mask. It will offer a little protection, but some is better than none at all."

"What if Ms. Mac says I'm dying?" The young woman closes her eyes a bit, absently taking in her mother's soothing smell of honey and chocolate.

"Impossible." Bernie hides her fear with a reassuring closed mouth smile toward the girl, "I refuse to allow it. Not on my watch."

"Or mine." Serena playfully scowls toward the younger woman, taking in the sight of them on the tiled floor. "Still not feeling too hot, are we?" She moves closer, sitting on the edge of the clawfoot bathtub. Out of habit, she places the back of her hand against the young woman's forehead, "No fever."

"She hasn't had one." The blond sighs, moving her daughter's arm like a mannequin to offer it to her partner, completely weak, "Care to do the honors, Ms. Campbell?"

The silver haired woman hums, "I know she's only been this way for a few days, but I would have had her admitted." Serena holds the bag of saline on her lap, effortlessly gliding an intravenous line into the young woman's arm. "I've another in my bag downstairs. My gut is telling me that this is not just another postictal stage. Her issues are growing more frequent and she's becoming less and less aware of her surroundings."

"I know where I am. I am right here." Charlotte can hardly keep her eyes open, "In the kitchen."

Bernie notices her girlfriend's eyebrow raise, "Ric is in now?"

"He is, but...she should go up to Darwin. I can give them a ring and-"

"I don't want to go to hospital. I'm fine. I'm just bloody tired...and hungry. I didn't even eat all day." Charlie mumbles, rubbing her face against her mother's chest as her head rests against it. "Tell Dad to get pizza."

"As I said." Serena nods, setting the bag of saline on the ledge of the bathtub before standing, "Let me give them a call and I'll help you get her ready."

"I don't want to go anywhere. Mum...tell her." She begins to grow upset, "She wants me to go away."

"Serena wants you to be safe and healthy, neither of which you are right now. No one wants you to go anywhere...your home is here." Bernie feels as the girl falls out of consciousness. She rubs her hand over her own face, emotionally and physically exhausted. "Just phone an ambulance. I think it will be easier to transport that way."

Serena nods a little, watching her girlfriend for just a moment, "I'll get her changed, if you want to wash up a bit." This has become the new normal for them. Tending to Bernie's daughter this way, her step-daughter. Something about her reminds Serena a great deal of her Elinor and she hasn't been able to figure out what that may be. "Berenice, she'll be fine."

"You don't know that." The blonde reaches up to flush the toilet of the sick within it, tears brim her eyes that she refuses to acknowledge as she carefully slides out from under her daughter.

"I do though. She has you in her." The silver haired woman stops her partner from just walking past. "Bern-"

"There' so many calls I need to make-"

"I'll make them." Serena nods, "I'll change her clothing into those baby blue, button-up pajamas that we bought her last time and I'll get changed myself. We'll both go along with her to hospital. This is just a bump and you know that. Please, tell me you know that."

Bernie leans her forehead near her partner's shoulder, "Just...call Ric. See if he can have a bed ready. If she needs to be transferred up to Darwin, we can do that, but I'd...I'd rather he handle this if Roxanna isn't there currently."

"Whatever you wish, darling." Her voice quiet, yet honest at the same time. She carefully wraps her arms around the woman, sure not to get whatever remnants of sick are on her partner's cotton shirt. "I'll take care of it."

"You just walked in the door, Campbell. I've been with her all the day long. I can't depend on you to-"

"That's what people do for those they love. I'm not about to leave your side."

Bernie lifts her head, leaning in to press her lips against her girlfriend's. Tender and incredibly intimate between them. "I don't deserve you."

"Shut up." Serena smirks, motioning with a tilt of her head for her girlfriend to tend to what they had planned. Once the woman leaves the room, she finds herself looking over the young woman on the floor, absently taking vitals with what she can. Pulse is relatively normal, on the low side, but normal. No fever. Hopefully this isn't anything too awful, but her hope and her luck is fading quickly.