The next Wednesday, 6 days had passed since Alex had arrived. For the first 2 days, Bernie had been quarantined along with Alex under suspicion of TB; luckily, both tests were negative. After that, Bernie had been very quickly recovering with Alex by her side. Many doctors at Holby were talking of Bernie's recovery; the speed at which her body regained its strength was exceptional. People knew she was a notoriously tough woman - but this was something else. Miraculous even.

As the weeks went by, Bernie went from strength to strength. She was now able to walk the distance of the Darwin corridor without the aid of her crutches; with Alex by her side, she felt empowered and like she could do anything. Alex gave her a steely determination to recover. A few more days and she would finally be discharged.

A plastic clock above the Darwin nurse station showed 11:10pm. As Bernie blissfully slept, the blonde woman watched her, in awe of the other woman's beauty. Alex loved Bernie. She loved everything about the army medic. Passionate, hazel eyes glinting with an insatiable curiosity and intelligence. The kindest, most sincere heart she had ever known. A strong, brave façade but an infinite compassion and vulnerability beneath. Elegant, long hands capable of achieving the most unbelievable surgeries. Plump, pink lips which were almost permanently curved into a small smile, even as Bernie slept. There was nothing, no part, of Bernie that Alex hadn't fallen head over heels in love with. The blonde had taken Alex's breath away, and never given it back.

Thus, a lesser love may not have survived these past weeks. But there was no chance of Bernie's injuries breaking the two women apart - if anything, it brought them together. Even when Alex lightly kissed Bernie, she had to be incredibly careful not to put too much pressure on the other woman. Although Alex sometimes yearned for intimacy once again with her other half, she would happily wait a lifetime if it meant that Bernie was well again.