9.55 AM

The ward was abuzz with the events of last night. Drinks had been angrily thrown over people, there had been a punch up between two influential figures and Bernie Wolfe had kissed Serena Campbell. A bunch of porters were busy conducting a choir to serenade anybody who cared to listen to a certain Shakira song.

Serena strode in with a bunch of folders and a coffee as usual and got started. Only the shadows under her eyes told the tale of the late to bed, early to wake up call. The one that sunglasses always covered until you got inside under the harsh hospital lights and you no longer have the excuse to wear them. She knew she was going to be yawning the whole day.

Ric and Connie approached with caution (him) and amusement (her). They hoped that neither Serena or Bernie could hear the porter choir.

'We're all going to have a rather rough day, I hear some of the nurses are a little bit delicate today.' Ric started.

She looked at them over her cup.

'More coffee.'

It was a suggestion, an order and a request at the same time.

Connie couldn't be bothered with the chitchat.

'How is Bernie? Last we heard she was headed off to bed with someone who most certainly is not her partner.' She smirked.

Serena kept her cool. She and Mrs Beauchamp were a little too alike in manner at times. She didn't rise to the bait.

'Funny how one's standards drop in a moment of drunkenness. Explains how I ended up with my husband.'

Everyone had to smile at this. It was common knowledge that Edward Campbell was a complete and utter (albeit charming) dick and how he managed to worm his way into Serena's life was a mystery.

'So you got her drunk then?'

'I got nobody drunk but myself' Serena corrected her. 'Bernie was tired so she went to sleep.'

Which was technically true.

'Wouldn't you be tired if you had to fight off wandering hands? She's too nice.'

That, Connie agreed with. No point playing nice. Being nice got you nowhere. They exchanged a look of rare complicity. Ric wondered why women didn't run the world again.

'What's your solution?' He asked with interest.

'Fork stab. Works every time.'

Connie was nodding in approval. Again, a rare jolt of collusion there. There were some situations you just couldn't flirt your way out of. Bernie was hopeless at that.

'Anyway, time to get on. We've got a full day ahead of us.'

They were still staring at her.

'What?'

'You were remarkably composed when she made a move on you.'

That wasn't strictly true, they'd all seen Serena's startled hesitation on being kissed and on breaking it, saved by the glass of wine she was holding. After that she'd played her part resoundingly well.

'You could have been each other's plus one, that would have made it more convincing' teased Connie.

'Well it was spur of the moment, wasn't it? Besides, Ric and I have been each other's plus ones for a long time. I don't see that it would make a difference with someone else.'

'But this is a bit different. Bernie was outed quite viciously. I wouldn't have thought she'd wanted to draw attention to it' Ric reasoned.

'Maybe she felt like she didn't have a choice.'

That made them stop and think. Serena may well be right in that assertion.

'Anyway, women share each other's space all the time. It's no big deal. She had one side of the bed and I had the other. Nothing happened.'

That wasn't strictly true.

'I think it's a pretty poor opinion you have of her that you think she can't be trusted being in the same room as another woman without coming onto her. No wonder people can't feel comfortable mentioning their sexuality, people back away or expect them to shag everyone in the vicinity. If I were her, I wouldn't have wanted to say anything either. Who wants to be judged on something so irrelevant to their job and personality?'

With that, she walked away.

Connie and Ric looked at each other in confusion. They had the feeling she'd given herself away but in which way they couldn't tell. Had she only been playing the part to defend Bernie or was that a hint to her being…a bit more invested in this issue? Was it about herself or was Bernie involved? So many questions they wouldn't get the answer to until much later.

Serena had realised something, though. She wasn't going to say anything just yet. She only had hand holding and cuddling to refer to. And that rogue kiss. But she was pretty sure that Bernie had shown her cards and she'd bide her time until she felt safe showing hers. Because she now suspected they wanted the same thing. It wasn't what she was expecting at her time of life but last night proved that it very much was a thing. She'd make sure of it.