Title: Searching for the hero 4/7
Author: Ceindreadh
Fandom(s): Holby City
Genre: Gen, hurt/comfort
Characters: Serena Campbell, Dominic Copeland, Harry Tressler
Rating: PG-15
Summary: Dominic has an unexpected visitor. Serena finds out what's worrying him.

Disclaimer. I don't own the Holby City characters, I'm only borrowing them, and I promise to return them in minty fresh condition when I'm finished.
Notes: The problem with writing for a continuing show is that canon moves on. I've taken S16ep30 "my name is joe" – as my jumping off point (I'm also ignoring the whole Raf-Amy-Harry storyline because I really hate it)

The next afternoon, Dominic awoke from a fitful sleep to find he wasn't alone. "Oh God, I've had a relapse, died and now I'm in hell."

"And hello to you too, Dominic," said Harry Tressler, a smile on his face. "Don't let Serena hear you make comments like that, she'd be most offended to know you'd even thought of dying on her watch."

"Why are you here, Harry?" asked Dominic. He brushed absently at the bandage on his chest.

"Well yesterday, I was a little late back from lunch, and I told Raf that'd I'd been visiting our hero in residence. So I figured it would be a good idea to actually, you know drop in and say hello."

"And what will happen if I tell Mr. Di Lucca that I haven't seen you?"

Harry shrugged, "I'll just tell him that Ms. Campbell has you on so many drugs, you don't know who's been visiting you." He smiled.

"Oh great," said Dominic, shifting restlessly in the bed. A sudden spasm of pain made him gasp.

Harry was on his feet in an instant, moving over to the side of the bed. "Are you all right?" he asked with genuine concern in his voice. "Do you need something for the pain?"

Dominic shook his head, "It's...it's okay," he said as the pain eased off a bit, "It's just...it's just when I move suddenly, it catches me a bit."

"Well you know the solution to that," said Harry as he sat back down. "Don't make any sudden moves!"

"You know, maybe it's the drugs talking, but that was almost funny."

"Or maybe you're just learning to appreciate my fine wit...FiFi!" Harry watched as Dominic's face fell. "What's wrong?"

Dominic shrugged, "Nothing...it's just..." He sighed, "I think you're going to be calling me FiFi for another year." He saw the puzzled look on Harry's face. "I have exams in a few weeks, my end of year assessments are coming up. I'm already behind on my practical experience and presentations. I'm probably going to have to repeat the whole year...again." He thumped the bed in frustration.

"Surely they'll be able to make some allowances for you?" said Harry. "I mean, it's not your fault you'll be out of action for so long. For goodness sake, you saved Zosia's life. Surely Mr. Self can pull a few strings..."

"No!" said Dominic, "I mean...I need to pass this year on my own merit...I don't want special treatment." He took a breath, "I don't want people thinking I'm not good enough to do this." He sighed, "I guess I'll just have to be an F1 for another year."

"Well don't worry about it for now," said Harry, "I'm sure it'll all work out."

Dominic just nodded. He only half listened as Harry continued on about how he did have somewhat of an ulterior motive for his visit.

"It does look good for my image, visiting an injured colleague. Especially when they're a hero like you. Nurses tend to like that sort of thing. And I don't get the chance to meet the Nurses up here as often as I'd like."

"Glad to be of assistance with your love life," said Dominic, rolling his eyes. "Just please don't bore me with the sordid details."

Harry rambled on for a few more minutes, talking about anything and everything he could think of to try and cheer Dominic up. Finally he looked at his watch, "Oops, time to go. Just remember what I said, Dominic."

"You were here visiting me yesterday," said Dominic, "Don't worry, I'm not going to drop you in it."

"Actually, I meant about things working out," said Harry. "Don't worry about it for now."

"Come in," said Serena in answer to the knock at her door. She looked up from her paperwork to see Harry standing there.

"Is this a good time?" asked Harry.

"Not really, Doctor Tressler," said Serena as she searched for a chart on her desk, finally finding it under a patient numbers report. "Is this important?"

"It's about Doctor Copeland."

Serena frowned, but beckoned Harry in. "Sit down, Doctor Tressler."

"I went to see Dominic today," said Harry as he sat down. "He's stressing out a bit over his end of year review. He thinks he won't get his case work completed or be able to pass his exams. He's worried he'll have to repeat the year."

Serena nodded, "That is always a possibility if he doesn't meet the requirements."

"But that's not fair," said Harry, "It's not his fault that all this happened."

"Life isn't always fair, Harry," said Serena, gently.

"But surely there's something we can do to help?"

"You want to help Doctor Copeland? I didn't think the two of you exactly saw eye to eye the last time you worked together."

"Oh we bumped heads a bit," said Harry, "But he's not a bad guy when you get to know him. Besides, he shouldn't have to lose out just because he did the right thing."

"I completely agree," said Serena, "And I'll speak to Mr. Levy in the morning, see what work Dominic has to finish before the deadline. As for his exams, well I'm sure a bit of extra tuition from you could help him there." Serena caught the look on Harry's face. "Being able to work with and mentor junior colleagues is an important part of the attributes required to be a Registrar and eventually a Consultant. It shows good team leadership and would certainly add a positive slant to your skill set." Serena had to hide a smile as she watched Harry make the connections. Who needed sticks when you had carrots at your disposal?

"Well when you put it that way, Ms. Campbell," said Harry, finally. "I'd be glad to help."

"I thought you would."

The next day, Serena made her rounds as usual.

"Breathe in," she ordered Dominic as she held the stethoscope to his back. "And out...and in..."

"Well, what's the verdict?" asked Dominic as he was finally able to lie back against the bed.

"You're coming along nicely," said Serena as she updated the charts. "I should be able to remove the chest tube in another day or two."

"I can't wait," said Dominic. "Every time I move, I feel like I have to touch it, to see it hasn't fallen out."

"Excuse me, young man," said Serena, with mock anger in her voice, "My chest tubes, do *not* fall out!" She signed off on her notes and sat down on the chair beside Dominic. "Now, a little birdie tells me you're worried about your end of year exams?"

"Doctor Tressler has a mouth as big as his ego," said Dominic.

"Well I won't disagree with you there," said Serena. "But I take it he's not wrong?" She saw Dominic nod and continued, "You should have said something to me about it. I did tell you I was willing to open doors."

Dominic shifted restlessly on the bed, "I know you said that, and I do appreciate it. But I don't want people saying I'm only an F2 because somebody pulled the right strings. I'll be fine. Once I get out of here, I'll hit the books; do a few extra shifts until I can catch up on my procedures..."

"And then land yourself back here as a patient through overdoing things," interrupted Serena. "I don't think so, Dominic." She held up a hand to stave off Dominic's attempts to protest. "Now hear me out. I've spoken to Mr. Levy. We've explained the situation to the medical council and requested that you be allowed additional time to complete your required procedures and presentations."

"So I might not have to repeat the year?" Dominic could hardly believe it.

"That will depend on their decision, and of course you'll still have to get through the exams," said Serena, smiling at him. "But Doctor Tressler has kindly agreed to provide a bit of additional tuition to that end."

"Harry?" said Dominic in disbelief, "Harry volunteered for extra work?"

"Once the benefits to his career were pointed out, he was more than willing to help," said Serena, "And of course one way to improve your knowledge of a subject is to teach it to another person, so it's to his benefit as well."

"Thank you Ms. Campbell," said Dominic, "I...I don't know what to say."

"It's all part of the service," said Serena. She glanced quickly at her watch, "Now, I have other patients to check on, so if there's nothing else." She saw Dominic bite down on his lip as if he wanted to say something. "Is there something else?"

Dominic nodded slowly. "Ms. Campbell...you believe in Doctor-Patient confidentiality, don't you?"

Serena looked at him closely, "Of course I do; it's one of the cornerstones of the profession."

"So if I told you something, it wouldn't go any further?"

"In so far as it relates to your medical condition, anything you tell me is confidential." She saw Dominic look away and continued quickly, "But rest assured, that *anything* you tell me in confidence, I will not divulge lightly."

Dominic stared at his hands which were clenched around the bedclothes. Finally he spoke, "I...I lied..."

"Lied about what, Dominic?" asked Serena gently.

"To the police...when I told them that most of what happened in the staff room was a bit hazy." He took a deep breath and looked Serena in the eye, "I remember *everything*..."

"So what did happen?" asked Serena.

The room started spinning around Dominic as he collapsed to the ground. The pain was worse than anything he had ever experienced. He reached back towards the source of the pain, but all he could feel was a gaping wound. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement...a figure walking past him and he grabbed at them with a bloodstained hand, tripping them up. Dominic didn't know who it was, but all he could see was the knife in their hand as they fell to the ground.

"Dominic!" He heard a voice screaming his name, but it sounded as if it was coming from a long way away. Looking up, he could see Zosia coming towards him, coming towards him and the man with a knife in his hand. "RUN!" hissed Dominic, through teeth clenched in pain. "Get help...now!"

There was a blur of movement and Dominic could hear rapid footsteps moving away. All his attention was focused on the man with the knife.

"You're as bad as she is," growled the man with the knife.

He turned and swiped the knife at Dominic, who had to let go and push himself away to try and avoid it. Dominic scrambled backwards on the floor, trying to put as much distance between himself and the knife as possible, and found himself backed up against the wall, as the man advanced on him, knife in hand.

"Please...don't..." Dominic begged as he came nearer, "You don't have to do this..."

"You Doctors, you're all the same. She's dead, and you're going to pay..."

Using the wall for leverage, Dominic managed to push himself to his feet. He glanced at the door, but it had swung closed after Zosia and he knew there was no way he'd be able to reach it. "Please, don't do this..."

The man was standing in front of him now, his face eerily calm as he reached out with his free hand, grabbing Dominic by the throat, "This is for Sara," he hissed. Dominic didn't even have a chance to try and struggle before the knife was plunged into his chest. He slumped back against the wall and slid to the floor, barely aware that the man had left the room without a backward glance.
The pain of the first wound had been bad, this one was a thousand times worse; Dominic felt like he was being crushed, but he couldn't get enough breath into his lungs to scream. He could taste blood in his mouth and it didn't need medical training to know that this was bad.

There was the sound of running footsteps, this time coming closer. Dominic tried to call out, but all that came out was a low moan.

"Sir, can you hear me?" Dominic almost cried with relief as he saw a security guard approach him and crouch down beside him. "Stay calm, help is on the way." Dominic closed his eyes, only opening them again when he heard Serena's voice.
"Dominic, can you hear me?"

"And then you were there," said Dominic, his voice trembling slightly, "And I knew you wouldn't let me die."

"So why didn't you tell all this to the police?" asked Serena. "I mean, I can understand that it's not a pleasant memory, and certainly not one you want to relive."

"Because when I came round from the surgery, everybody was treating me like this big hero. And I didn't...I didn't want to have to tell them that I wasn't..."

"But you stopped Lockhart from getting to Zosia," said Serena, "You gave her the chance to get away."

Dominic shook his head, "When I grabbed him, tripped him...I didn't know who he was...I didn't even know he was the one who'd stabbed me until he was on the ground and I saw the knife. I just...I just knew I was bleeding and I needed somebody, *anybody* to help me. I don't think I even remembered Zosia was in the room until I heard her call my name."

"But you still told her to run, and held onto Lockhart so he couldn't follow her."

"Because I knew if he got to her as well, then I might bleed out before anybody found us." Dominic looked Serena straight in the eye. "I didn't tell her to run so she could save herself...I wanted her to run so she could find somebody to save *me*..." He sighed heavily, "And now Mr. Self is treating me like a long lost son, and I figured at first that it's no harm to have the Chief of staff owing me a favour, but it just seems wrong. I should be milking this for all it's worth...but I don't want to...what's wrong with me?"

Serena smiled reassuringly and patted Dominic on the hand, "Doctor Copeland, I do believe you're finally growing a conscience."

"I don't suppose you could surgically remove it for me," said Dominic, forcing a smile.

"Not a chance," said Serena. "Now, do you want my advice?"

"Please."

"The first thing you need to do is speak to the police again." She saw the look on Dominic's face. "They're on your side Dominic."

"They won't be when they find out I lied to them."

"Oh I'd hardly call it a lie as such," said Serena, "Given the seriousness of your injuries, the blood you'd lost, not to mention the amount of drugs you were on at the time you made your statement, it's hardly surprising that your memory was a bit...cloudy when you spoke to them earlier. And I will have no hesitation in confirming that to anybody who asks."

"Thank you, Ms. Campbell," said Dominic, the relief evident on his face

"As for anybody else, if you don't want to talk about what happened, that is up to you. But Dominic, sometimes it *is* a good idea to talk about these things, especially if they're bothering you."

"It's not bothering me," said Dominic quickly, "I've hardly thought about it, really."

Serena raised an eyebrow, "Oh really? So your pulse rate wasn't elevated at all during our discussion? And you didn't touch your dressing three times while you were talking, just to confirm that the knife wasn't still in your chest?"

Dominic looked at Serena with something approaching awe, "Hello Sherlock!"

"Your friends want to help you, Dominic," said Serena, with a smile, "As do I. Now if you don't want to talk to about it, I won't push you, however I would advise you to speak to a counsellor about what happened. The psychological effects of a trauma like this can sometimes be just as debilitating as the physical ones."

"But what should I tell Zosia? How do I tell her I'm not the hero she thinks I am?"

"That is I'm afraid something you'll have to figure out yourself. As for what you feel may have motivated your actions in the staff room that night," added Serena. "Whatever your intentions, you most likely *did* save Zosia's life, even if just by being in the right place at the right time. Remember that." She stood up, "Now rest. I didn't put you back together so you could wallow in self pity. Self preservation is an inbuilt instinct, not a crime. You've done nothing wrong."

To be continued