Disclaimer: This is fanfiction, I'm sure I don't have to give you the low down on what I own and what I don't. All the original characters are mine.
Honestly, I've no idea where this fic came from. I ship Sacha with happiness hard. I ship Henrik with happiness too. It's populated with original characters and starts way before the shooting. I watched a lot of Holby and then stopped for a while but I recently started again and I just love it a lot. This all for fun and games and I'm no doctor so forgive my 'tv' medical knowledge :)
Ginny was actually incredibly ready for the half marathon. Running could actually be quite fun when you got into it. She'd warmed up, put on her lucky trainers and she'd even gotten time off work for it. Admittedly she'd rather be sat under a tree with a good book than running past them but this was for a good cause.
She'd always liked the way her feet pounded on the pavement to the beat of a decent song. She liked getting out of breath and not being able to think about anything but the splinter in her side. About the fact her lungs might explode. Admittedly she had to hide away whilst she got her breath back and admittedly she didn't do this very often but occasionally it was an excellent release.
She'd decided not to really try and keep up with the others. She hadn't practised enough for that. She was just going to have fun, to jog, maybe listen to a podcast on her way round rather than music. There were too many other people around for her to properly enjoy music and she'd never really been one for audiobooks. She did however have a fondness for unusual podcasts with interesting topics. Perfect for running and there were little facts she could store away for later to surprise Henrik with. She loved the way he tried to stifle a laugh when she came out with something she'd learnt. Last time it had been about a murderer who sewed peoples eyes into their throats and had done so for some very peculiar reasons. That hadn't convinced Henrik to start listening to them though and she was dying to know what was actually on his playlist.
Ginny was determined that today would not be the day she fell. It seemed however that that was not entirely up to her as a landrover ploughed into the crowd of runners and knocked her amongst others over. She fell against some rocks, ribs crashing into them with a slightly sickening crack. She was winded but breathing and when she eventually managed to get herself up, despite the pain, she managed to set to helping people.
As soon as he heard about the Land Rover, Henrik's mind had raced with worry. There was of course worry for the doctors and nurses he cared for who were running. Friends and colleagues. Then there was Ginny. Ginny who was already clumsy enough without a landrover ploughing into her. Ginny who could be lying under the wheels of a 4x4. Ginny who could have any number of injuries. Ginny who he wanted to know whether she was okay.
He tried to clamp down on the worry. Ignore it and continue with his day, after all there were important decisions to be made. Try as he might though she kept popping back into his mind.
Ginny had, like others, helped people back to Holby, treated those she could. Advised people who needed to come into hospital and who was okay. It was going to be all hands on deck and she was going to be there in the thick of it. The pain in her side had lessened due to the adrenaline pumping around her system but it didn't mean things weren't hurting like a bitch.
Getting into scrubs was a blur, as was treating the four patients on AAU and then heading back up to Keller to help free up beds. The adrenaline had worn off and the ache in her side was getting worse. The most pain came from the deep graze that had been left on her torso. She hadn't had time to dress it properly and the scrubs kept catching at the flakes of twisted skin and making her head spin with the sudden jolt of pain. She was realising too that lifting her arm, amongst other things, was becoming more painful.
It was just broken ribs, probably, there was nothing anyone could do for them and all she didn't have time to rest. It wasn't necessary. She popped two cocodamol in the staffroom and then moved back out onto the ward.
The end of the day was far to long in coming as far as Ginny was concerned. Everyone else had gone to the pub and she'd promised to join them but she wasn't sure she was going to make it. Just lifting her arm to her locker was painful enough. She managed to get her scrubs off but there was no way she was getting into the shirt she'd brought with her. Instead she was going to have to just slide the grey Holby hoodie on that she had. After that she returned to the staffroom to pick up her handbag.
She winced opening the door, she winced picking her bag up and she winced trying to throw it over her shoulder. When she looked up Henrik was looming in the doorway giving her a look of concern.
"Guinevere, I trust you weren't caught up in the ruckus at the half marathon today?" Henrik asked seeming to appraise her as she tried not to wince.
"A little, came back here to help though and now I think it's home time." She gave him a smile, wanting nothing more than to just go home and take a nice long bath and then sleep for a while.
"Are you hurt?" Henrik asked stepping into the staffroom and closing the door behind him.
"I'm fine, honestly. It's nothing just a bit bruised." She shifted and the fabric of her vest brushed against her the graze and made her take in a sharp breath,
"Were you checked over?" Henrik watched her with deep concern. He should have known she wouldn't have come away from the incident unscathed. She barely came away from the week unscathed. She looked in a lot of pain but she was clearly trying not to show it. She needed to be checked over, he didn't want her ending up in the operating theatre because of her pride. He was about to step towards her but instead slid his hands behind his back.
"I think everyone had enough to do don't you? It's really nothing just a graze and some bruised ribs." Ginny replied holding up her hands to try and stay his questions.
"Well it doesn't seem too busy now. Maybe I should take a look." Henrik suggested.
"Henrik, I'm fine. Really I jus-ahh" Ginny couldn't stop the pained sigh from leaving her lips that time. The pain killers were wearing off, the adrenaline had long gone and the emotional exhaustion of the day was starting to settle in.
"I think you should let me take a look." Henrik repeated stepping towards her getting close enough that Ginny had to look up at him.
"Henrik-" Ginny started, sheer determination not to fall apart on her face.
"Guinevere." Henrik said his voice firm and commanding in a way that made Ginny think he really cared about her. She wanted to smile, but she didn't want to relent the power she was trying to hold onto. They stared at each other for a moment before Ginny relented, she needed to sit down anyway.
"You know there are easier ways of getting me out of my clothes." Ginny said dropping her bag to the floor and moving to sit on the sofa. She shrugged one arm out of the hoodie and then with some difficulty started to take the other arm out. Henrik stepped in to help her though, deft surgeons fingers moving the fabric quickly out of the way.
"Guinevere you shouldn't sell yourself short. I imagine a woman like you can prove quite the challenge." Henrik replied. Ginny started to laugh but stopped as soon as he started to lift her vest top up slightly. "Did you clean this?" Henrik asked her.
"Yes." Ginny sighed.
"I think you should have an x-ray." Henrik said to her.
"I don't need one, they're fine." Ginny was stubborn, incredibly stubborn and there was no way she was having a bloody x-ray. She didn't need it.
"Wait here." Henrik practically ordered before standing up to stride out of the room.
"I swear to god Henrik if you come back with a wheel chair I'll put you in it!" Ginny shouted after him. Henrik ignored her, disappearing to the nurses station to get some things to clean and dress the wound on her side. He couldn't believe how bloody stubborn she was being, she needed an x-ray to ensure that she had no internal injuries. She must know how important that was. Still if he was in the same situation he doubted he would be heading down to x-ray. He had after all stitched up his own wound in his office before.
"Let me drive you home." Henrik said once he'd finished dressing her wound. He was incredibly gentle and it only made the warmth Ginny felt towards him grow.
"I don't ne-" Ginny started before sighing and giving in. "Okay."
"If you wait here I'll just go and collect my things." Henrik said giving her a gentle smile.
"No, I'll meet you at your car." Ginny replied, she wasn't an invalid and she didn't want to feel like one.
"Stubborn as ever." Henrik's mouth twitched at the corner and Ginny wanted to kiss him there. Damn her ribs.
"You wouldn't have me any other way." Ginny replied.
"No, Guinevere, I would not." He replied giving her a completely dashing smile that made her stomach flutter in a way it hadn't in years.
It took Ginny longer than normal to get down to the carpark. Locating Henrik's car was easy though, considering he had his own space. It looked so clean inside, not a bit like her Nissan that looked like it was in need of a good clean out. It was clutter though, no food. It was kids toys, books, book marks amongst other things. She waited against the passenger door, dropping her bag on the floor. Eventually she saw him striding across the car park towards her and she couldn't help the smile that started to form on her face. She heard the car unlock and just remained leant against the passenger door. Henrik was genuinely surprised that she wasn't trying to open the door. He could tell she was really injured and he found her stubborness even more endearing and frustrating in a pleasant way.
Ginny stepped aside and let him open the door for her, before she got in though she turned to look at him.
"Thank you." She said pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as he held open the door.
"I couldn't very well let you try and drive yourself home. I think the wards have had enough excitement for one day." Henrik replied, holding her gaze for perhaps a moment more than he really should. The kiss crossed his mind.
"Ever the gentleman. Oh if only I could pounce right now." Ginny said, not taking her eyes from his.
"I don't think pouncing would be a good idea in your condition." Henrik replied but even as he did he completely surprised Ginny by leaning in and kissing her. God she wished she wasn't in so much pain right now.
Ethically he didn't think it was quite right that he was kissing her when she was clearly at the end of a very bad day. The moment felt right though, and she was kissing him back after all. It was better than the last kiss he'd shared with her, that was for sure, though he'd quite like to do it when she wasn't so exhausted.
"What will people think, Henrik Hanssen taking advantage of an injured woman." Ginny whispered when he pulled back.
"Get in the car Guinevere." Henrik ordered a twitch of a smile on his own face.
"Sounding a little sinister there Henrik, I'm not sure I want to now." Ginny let out a half laugh and slid into the car holding her ribs. She couldn't wait to get home and get a bath, maybe Henrik would stay and make her some cocoa if she asked him nicely.
A/N: Enjoyed? Leave a review! :)