"Bernie, I'm so sorry. I put a file down and your bag tipped over." Fletch had been rumbled by Bernie and Serena as they entered their office to find him crouched on the floor desperately stuffing Bernie's belongings back in her brown leather satchel, including a box of condoms and a bottle of lube that Serena noticed.
"It's fine, don't worry." Bernie seemed completely unfazed by her private possessions being spilled across the floor and Fletch wasn't going to question it, getting out of there before anything else could go wrong.
"Are you seeing someone?" Serena asked trying to sound like an interested friend rather than an accusatory lover.
"No, no." was all Bernie proffered by way of response before heading out onto the ward. Serena knew it was none of her business of course yet she couldn't help but feel betrayed that her friend was keeping something from her. Checking out the window of the office to ensure no one was coming she got up and headed over to the other woman's bag. Before she knew what she was doing she'd folded back the flap and pushed it open and there, as clear as day, were the condoms and lube she was certain she'd seen earlier. She sifted through the rest of the contents finding nothing of interest. When she unzipped the side pocket she noticed a pair of lace knickers, only before she could investigate further, she was distracted by the office door slamming.
"What the hell are you doing?" Bernie roared. She wouldn't deny she was amused by the situation but the anger at the invasion of her privacy was overarching. "Ummm, I… I…" Serena sighed. "I don't know what came over me. I was sure you were keeping something from me and…"
"And? You can't trust me?"
"No Bernie… It's just…" Serena was defeated. Her face was flushed with panic and embarrassment.
Bernie reached over and grabbed her bag pulling out the offending articles. "As a doctor who works incredibly long hours and sometimes sleeps at work I always like to carry some clean underwear. The condoms are for my son. He asked me to pick some up for him from downstairs. And the lubricant is mine, also picked up from downstairs today. Happy?"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have touched your things." Serena bowed her head, her apology genuine.
Bernie reached out a hand and gave Serena's forearm a squeeze, the anger dissipating as the real reason for her colleague's actions dawned on her. "Would it bother you if I was seeing someone?" Her voice was a whisper and causes a lump to form in the brunette's throat. She quickly cleared it and willed herself to meet the blonde's gaze.
"It's not that…" Her stutter as she spoke implied otherwise. "It's just.. It's just that I hate being lied to."
A mischievous glint in Bernie's eyes when she next spoke sent Serena's heart into overdrive. "I'm certain that when I do start seeing someone you'll be the first to know."