The day had gone smoother than she had anticipated, Serena thought as she pulled her lunch out of her bag and opened the sandwich box. Just as she was about to take a bite, her desk phone rang, and she let out a small groan as she set it aside and picked up the handset. "Hello?"
"I take it you felt me watching you this morning in Pulses."
It took every fibre in her being to not react, since she knew that was what her assailant wanted from her. Instead, she drew in a deep breath through her nose as she slowly stood from her desk and glanced out into the ward. Nothing immediately stood out to her, and she cleared her throat a little, still trying to get her bearings about her. "I did. Though I had already made the assumption that you worked here, based upon your knowledge of me and Bernie. Did you want something?"
"My, my, my, don't you think you're in control of this situation? This is just a reminder that I know things about you, and your lover. And if you were to make a misstep, and say something you shouldn't, well…"
The implicit threat made her shiver violently, and Serena slowly sank back down into her chair, trying to keep control of her breathing, so as not to give away her anxiety. "I did as you asked. I didn't go to the police. Leave us alone!"
"Oh, well now, I could do that, but where would the fun in that be? Enjoy the feel of Bernie's hands where I've been. I hope you recall that every single time you're close to fucking her."
Before Serena could reply, the connection was cut off, and she released the strangled sob that she had been keeping in before pressing her hand tight to her lips, trying to stifle the sound that was escaping her throat. Her phone rang again, and she let out a small squeak before swallowing thickly and picking up the receiver once more. "He-hello?"
"Ah, Serena, I was hoping to catch you in your office. Do you have a moment to come up and see me?"
She instantly relaxed at the sound of Henrik's voice, a smile of relief spreading across her lips as she nodded. "If you don't mind me eating while we talk."
"That's fine, I just feel that we have a few things to discuss regarding your illness yesterday."
"Of course. I'll be there in about ten minutes, probably less, but you know how the lifts are."
"That I do."
Henrik hung up before she could reply, and she bit her lip a little as she packed up her lunch once more, picking up the bag before heading out the door. "Where are you going, Serena?"
She turned to look at Bernie, unable to keep her feelings from showing on her face. Her partner stepped closer to her, reaching out and touching her arm gently. Serena shook her head a tiny bit as she blinked rapidly to keep her tears at bay. "I need to go speak with Henrik. I'll be fine."
"That look does not scream fine to me. I'll ride up with you, just in case."
Serena wanted to protest, to tell Bernie that she didn't need her to go up with her, but she knew that it would do no good. Instead, she just nodded and jerked her head over towards the lift before striding over to it, knowing that Bernie would follow after her. The doors slid open shortly after she had pressed the button, and this time they were not so fortunate to have an empty car. Still, Bernie stepped as close as appropriate to Serena, and she scrambled for her hand as they rode up to Henrik's office.
"Excuse me," a low voice said as he brushed past them, and Serena stiffened a little, unable to stop the visceral reaction to being touched unexpectedly. Bernie squeezed her hand tightly as she led her out of the elevator, guiding her over to Henrik's office, all the while murmuring gentle blandishments in her ear as they went.
"I can wait here for you, darling."
"That won't be necessary, Ms Wolfe." They both looked up, and Henrik gave her a gentle smile before slowly reaching out and touching her shoulder. "I need to head down to AAU afterwards, anyway, so I'll make certain she gets back to the ward in one piece."
An almost inscrutable look passed between the pair, and Serena immediately began to wonder if they had had another conversation that she hadn't been privy to, and if Bernie had told him more about what had happened to her. And then Bernie nodded and turned on her heel, heading towards the stairs and out the door. "Henrik?"
"I know that you probably want her near you, at all times, but I feel like we need to talk alone. If you don't feel comfortable with that, tell me now."
She shook her head a little as she followed him into the office, taking a seat in front of his desk and opening her sandwich once more, needing the buffer she knew it would provide. "I know you know I wasn't ill." He dipped his head, and she caught the faint flicker of sympathy that passed over his face. "I don't want your pity, Henrik. I was raped, and I'm moving on from it."
With the words said, it suddenly became a little more real to her. She hadn't used such plain language with the detective, preferring to couch it in euphemisms, since it gave her some space. She knew, though, that Henrik wasn't one for such things. "You're right, I shouldn't pity you. But I do sympathize with you. Have you taken measures to find who attacked you?"
She shook her head a little. "That was the reason Bernie requested to work shifts with me for the foreseeable future." Henrik arched one eyebrow as he steepled his fingers together over his torso. "I know, you've already figured it out, and yes, it's like having the sword of Damocles hanging over my head. But what else am I to do? He knows Bernie and me, and I cannot put her in any danger. Not even if it means that he goes unpunished."
"I know that you're smarter than that, Serena. Is this really the course of action that you wish to take?"
"Bernie asked me the same thing," she whispered as she focused on her lap, her sandwich suddenly unappealing to her. "And I did report what happened to me, I just won't be taking it any farther. Because he's here, watching us. I don't know who it is, but I do know that I will do anything in my power to keep Bernie safe. She's always been the one who protects me, it's about time that I returned the favour. Right?"
She heard the shuffle of fabric as Henrik moved in his chair and then saw his hand move into her line of sight before he moved it to rest on her shoulder. "Not in this manner, Serena. Speaking as your friend, and as CEO, you need to keep aware of what's happening around you, and report any sign of unusual activity around yourself, or Ms Wolfe, to security as soon as possible." His hand tightened around the ball of her shoulder in a comforting grip, and she looked up into his warm gaze, noting that there was a faint sheen of tears present. "Now, speaking purely as your friend, what can I do to support you? Because you do not deserve to live your life in fear, Serena."
"I know. And knowing that you support me makes everything better, I swear. I just, I need to do this my own way, Henrik. Please?"
A low sigh slipped from his lips as he regarded her carefully. "For the time being, I will allow it. However, at the first sign of anything changing, Ms Wolfe and I will be taking matters into our own hands. And even though we have not discussed that possibility, I have the feeling that she would be in complete agreement with me." Serena nodded, knowing that he was right, yet still unwilling to capitulate quite that quickly. Still, it was good to know that she had people in her life that were willing to defend her, no matter what the consequences might be.
"Thank you, Henrik." She slid her hand upwards until it was covering his, and she patted it a few times before looking away from him, knowing that if she kept eye contact for any longer, she would break down into tears. "Now, I am going to finish this and then head back down to the ward. You should probably go and make certain that Bernie isn't running roughshod over everyone."
He pulled his hand back slowly as he drew in a low breath. "I do believe that I said I would escort you back downstairs, and I do not relish what I would be put through, should I show up there without you." It was a sweet moment of humour from him, and she nodded as she quickly ate the rest of her lunch, needing to be with Bernie as soon as she could.
