Bernie Wolfe had fallen into a light sleep. She'd just got out of her third consecutive surgery in two days; to be frank, she was completely exhausted. She was beginning to feel sick of the sight of the hospital food. Even though the bed was uncomfortable and she hated sleeping in somewhere she hadn't been before, she resigned herself to the tiredness and allowed her heavy eyelids to fall. But as soon as she started to relax, a shadow fell across her face.

Wearily opening her hazel eyes, Bernie Wolfe began to grin like she'd just won the lottery.

"Alex!" The army medic exclaimed upon seeing her visitor, unable to hide the glee on her face. Her eyebrows shot up in delighted sunrise. "I wasn't expecting to see you!"

Despite Bernie's happiness at her arrival, Alex's face fell. She sadly took in all the tubes hanging out of the other woman's pale body. Her limp hands weakly grasping the bed. Cheekbones that seemed more pronounced than before on her much thinner face. The neck brace wound so tight that it was seemingly holding Bernie together. In fact, the more Alex registered the woman opposite her, the sadder she became.

A salty tear rolled down Alex's cheek and she was overcome with emotion. Suddenly, the woman ran to Bernie and hugged her delicately, careful not to disrupt the blonde's damaged spine. Weakly, she collapsed into the sterile chair next to Bernie's bed, refusing to let go of her frail hand. She would never, ever let go of this woman again.

"Babe what's wrong? Please don't cry." The army medic whispered, making sure nobody could hear her. Bernie frowned up at Alex, bewildered at the other woman's very sudden sadness.

"N-nothing. I can't believe what a state you're in! I don't care what Marcus thinks; I'm staying right here until you're fit to return to Afghanistan." Alex promised through her sobs. Very gently, she laid her head on Bernie's chest, and turned her body so she was fully facing the medic. Bernie smiled blissfully; there was nothing in the world that felt as perfect as when she was with Alex. They fit each other like two puzzle pieces - perfectly. Slowly, Bernie unraveled the brunette's tight bun, and wound her shiny hair round her fingers. Bernie didn't stop steadily raking her free hand through Alex's thick locks; she knew the other woman loved the sensation, and it was particularly pleasurable for her too. Meanwhile, Alex held Bernie's hand to her chest for dear life. The army medic was like a lifeline to Alex; she couldn't remember how she had survived without the older woman by her side. Soon enough, the two woman's pulses had synchronised; two heartbeats beating as one.

The two women eventually drifted off to sleep. For the previous three nights, even in Marcus's company, Bernie had found it next to impossible to get a good sleep, but with Alex by her side she felt infinitely safe and at home. That night, both women slept soundlessly, their hands permanently intertwined.

Throughout the night, Zosia and Ollie both came in to check on Bernie and change the IV drip, but they were careful not to wake either woman. Zosia couldn't help but notice the serene smiles upon both faces; if this mystery woman made Bernie this happy, then surely she had to stay. The junior doctor hoped that one day, she would feel such an overwhelming love for someone that these two women clearly felt for each other. To be honest, she hadn't ever seen such happiness on Bernie's face - even when she was in Marcus's company. As the army medic had told her earlier on, 'you must do what makes you happy'. Therefore, as long as Bernie was happy (which she clearly was), then Zosia was happy too.