Thank you all for your reactions to this story. The Ric/Serena chemistry is one of my favourite things on Holby at the moment but I find it difficult to write. I find Ric especially difficult to write, he is always on that thin line between pompous and endearing. I hope I managed it in this chapter. this was meant to be the last chapter but I'm not sure if I like the ending.

Ric lay back on the end of the bed with his mug of wine resting on his stomach and laughing. Serena sat up against the headboard also in stitches. She stopped suddenly and watched Ric.

After a moment he noticed she had gone quiet and turned his head at an angle to face her.

'You know Mr Griffin, I don't believe I've ever seen you so relaxed.' She told him.

'I suspect there may be a direct correlation between that and the fact that you have never seen me this drunk.' Ric replied.

They both laughed again.

'So Slick Ric, is it true you have six children?' she asked.

'Yep.'

'Wow.' Serena was genuinely surprised by this.

'And I have grandchildren.' Ric added proudly.

'You're a granddad?' Serena exclaimed.

Ric laughed at her surprise.

'Gosh I don't think I've ever fanc…' Serena stopped herself.

'You've never what?' Ric asked.

'Uh… never…' she tried to think something other than the words she had almost just confessed but her brain, slowed by all the alcohol couldn't come up with anything. 'Doesn't matter.'

She took another drink of her wine. Ric sat up to face her, a smirk on his face.

'Were you about to say 'fancied'?' he asked.

Serena rolled her eyes. 'Yes, alright. I was going to say I've never fancied a granddad before!'

'So you fancy me?' Ric asked, a wide grin spreading across his face.

'When I've had this much wine I fancy lots of people.' She said trying to brush it off.

'You've fancied me for longer than that.' He said confidently.

'You are so full of yourself.' She said in a bored tone.

'Am I?' he tested, moving further up the bed.

'Ric Griffin are you trying to make a move on me?' she asked noticing how much closer he was getting.

'Would it work if I was?' he asked.

Serena tilted her head slightly and smiled. Before she could answer the door opened and Digby appeared.

'Oh!' he gasped in surprise when he saw the two senior consultants on the bed. 'I was…uh I thou…um.' He gulped. 'Dr Malick… here… not. Obviously. Sorry.' He stepped back out and shut the door.

Serena and Ric looked at each other and burst into laughter again.

Malick found a jittery Digby standing by the nurses' station.

'Digby. Everything alright?' he slapped Digby on the back and the F1 jumped nervously.

'I… I was looking for you.' Digby said.

'Now you've found me. Congratulations.'

'I went into the On Call room.' Digby continued. 'I thought you might be in there but…'

'I wasn't.' Malick said, a smile beginning to develop.

'No.' Digby took a deep breath. 'Mr Griffin and Ms Campbell were in there. On the bed.'

'Whoa whoa Arthur! Let me stop you there.' Malick held up his hands. 'Mr Griffin and Ms Campbell got stranded here because of the weather. They are using the On Call room as a base for the night. That is all any of us need to know.'

'I wasn't suggesting there was anything improper.' Digby said worriedly.

'Good.'

'It's just… well they were both…'

'Diggers! What did I just say? We don't need to know. It won't help any of us to discuss the sleeping arrangements in that room tonight.' He slapped Digby on the back again. 'Now. Go check on Mr Branning.'

Digby nodded. Malick sighed.

'Something wrong?' Chantelle asked.

'Nah.' He said. 'Make sure no one goes near the On Call room though yea?'

'Why?'

'Mr Griffin and Ms Campbell are in there.' He said.

'Why?' she repeated, a confused look on her face.

'They got stranded by the weather.' He explained.

'Oh.' Chantelle said. 'They're both in there?'

Malick nodded.

'But there's only one bed.' She said. Malick said nothing. 'There's a spare bed in one of the side rooms that isn't being used. Do you think I should tell them? In case one of them wants to sleep there?'

'I don't think it's necessary.' Malick said, hoping she would get the drift and not ask any more questions.

Chantelle looked at him for a moment. 'Right.' She said, nodding in understanding. 'I'll make sure no one else goes near the On Call room.'

'Don't you think locking the door might raise more suspicions?' Ric asked, watching Serena lock the door to the room.

Serena shrugged. 'I'd lock it if I were in here alone.'

As she made her way back towards the bed she wobbled and Ric caught her, placing his hands on her hips to steady her. Serena placed her hands over his gently, stroking them with her thumbs. Although Ric was the last person she would expect to see it it from, she recognised the look in his eyes and she recognised the reaction it was provoking within herself. The question was: should she give into this unexpected desire.

Ric stood up, sliding his hands to her waist. He leaned in slowly and saw Serena close her eyes awaiting his lips. Once they touched it was as though they were both filled with a sudden franticness and heat. Serena began to unbutton the buttons of his shirt as he twirled her around and pushed until she lowered gently onto the bed, pulling him with her. His hands ran over her body and his kisses moved from her lips to her neck.

Ric began unbuttoning Serena's blouse. If anyone had asked him this morning how he saw his night panning out, making love to Serena Campbell in the on call room wouldn't have even remotely entered his head as a possible answer.

Her hands roamed across his chest and up over his shoulders, pushing back the opened shirt. Serena could barely believe that this was Ric Griffin whom she lay beneath. He kissed her throat, her clavicle, her breast bone… his hands slid down towards the waist of her trousers as Serena's did similarly with his. Serena made quicker progress as he had to pause and rest his weight on his elbows, he took a moment to look at Serena. She smiled at him and arched to kiss him again, his trousers undone. It appeared Serena was equally efficient in all aspects of life, he thought to himself in amusement.

'Ric.' Serena gasped.

'Yes?' he began to nuzzle her neck again.

'Have you got a condom?'

'What?' he was having difficulty focusing on anything other than the physical.

'A condom.' She repeated. 'We don't want to add a number seven!' Referring to the number of children he already had.

Ric paused. He didn't have one. He sighed in frustration.

Serena paused. 'I'll take that as a no?'

Ric raised himself above her and shook his head. Serena looked dismayed.

'I can go get one.' He suggested. Her face brightened. 'I'll be five minutes.' He said getting up and straightening out his clothing as quickly as he could.

Serena readjusted her own clothing. 'Be quick!' she told him.

'Oh believe me, I will!' he assured her before disappearing out the door.

Thirty minutes later Ric couldn't believe how difficult it was to find a condom in a hospital. None of the gents had vending machines, he couldn't be seen asking any from the pharmacy and there was no reason for any of the wards to have them. He growled in frustration.

He considered his other options. Asking someone? But who? Malick? He would die of embarrassment. Michael Spence? He'd rather risk a seventh child. He'd rather risk triplets!

That left braving the cold and running across the street to a 24 hour shop. He looked outside and the still falling snow. He sighed and made his way outside.

By the time he returned to the On Call room he was frozen but in possession of a box of Durex ribbed condoms. He opened the door gently and immediately began his apology.

'I'm so sorry, I didn't think it would take that long.'

Serena was lying on her side. He approached quietly. 'Serena?'

She was asleep. He almost laughed. After all that she was asleep. He sighed, left the box of durex on the bedside table and climbed onto the bed gingerly beside Serena. He put his arm across her and gently placed a kiss on her cheek. She didn't stir.

Serena awoke in the morning to find herself snuggled against Ric Griffin. As quickly as consciousness set in so to did the pounding pain in her head.

'Oh god.' She uttered, wincing.

'No, just me.' Ric replied smiling.

Serena peeked at him through squinted eyes. 'What have we done?' she asked in a raspy voice.

'What do you remember us doing?' he asked.

Serena thought back. She remembered the incident in Albie's, Michael being injured, the snow, the wine… Subconsciously she glanced down at herself. They were both still fully clothed and above the bed clothes.

Ric noticed the momentary look of panic and felt a sharp stab of disappointment. He didn't want to be anyone's mistake.

'Don't worry. We didn't.' he said, disentangling himself from her and sitting up.

Serena also sat up and in so doing noticed the condoms of the bedside table. She remembered him going to get them.

'Perhaps everything happens for a reason. If it hadn't taken me so ling to find those we might have ended up doing something we'd really be regretting today.'

Serena noticed a hurt look on his face before he turned away.

'A whole box? You were optimistic!' she tried to joke.

'They don't sell them in singles.'

'Where did you get them?' she asked for the sake of having something to say as she straightened out her clothes. She had done her buttons up wrong last night.

'Across the street.'

'You went out in that weather?' she asked surprised.

'I was highly motivated.' He said dryly.

Serena smiled. 'Pity not to make use of them then.'

Ric stared at her trying to figure out what she meant. 'Are you suggesting…?'

'I'm suggesting, seeing as we're not on shift today, we go back to my place for some breakfast.'

Ric smiled. Then he remembered her daughter. 'Eleanor?'

'At a friend's.'

'What are we waiting for then? I'm starving.' He grinned.