Serena found that there was still an air of sadness that lingered around her as she walked with Bernie back down to AAU. The defeated look on Dom's face had been enough to break her heart all over again, and all she wanted to do was hide away in her office and try to regroup, to find an even keel once more. That seemed to be easier said than done, since Jasmine quickly scurried over to her side the minute she and Bernie reappeared on the ward.

Bernie gave her a sweet smirk before going off to make her rounds, and Serena drew in a deep breath as she focused in on the young woman, giving her a soft smile and trying to swallow the surge of annoyance that sprang to life at the positively gleeful look on the young woman's face. "What can I do for you, Jasmine?"

She was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet and Serena found herself reaching out to place a gentle had on her upper arm in order to calm her a little. "Is it true? Is he really dead? This is the best news I've had in months, if it is!"

Serena didn't want to have this conversation on the ward, and she glanced over at Bernie, giving her a small nod before guiding the young woman over to the elevator. "Why don't we have this discussion down in Pulses? Away from patients who shouldn't hear idle chatter."

Jasmine looked mollified at the note of censure in Serena's voice, and gave her a small nod, trying to appear somewhat contrite. "I suppose that you're right. I wasn't thinking."

"We all have those moments," she replied as they stepped onto the lift. There were a few other people already on it, so Serena decided that staying quiet would be better for them, though she could tell that Jasmine was just itching to blurt out the words she wanted to say in regards to Mister Mayfield's passing.

The short walk to Pulses still found the young woman thrumming with energy at her side, and Serena drew in a few calming breaths as they joined the queue. "I don't think you need anything with caffeine in it."

"Oh, but, this is just anticipation! There's no real energy behind this." Jasmine gave her another of those winning smiles that she liked to wear, and Serena found herself returning the expression as they moved slowly forward. "So, I'll be getting this, you didn't grab your purse before we came down. I always keep an extra tenner in my pocket."

A soft giggle escaped her lips, and Jasmine gently nudged her with her elbow as she smiled widely. "As long as you leave enough to get us something sweet to split, I'll allow it."

The quiet that descended upon them as they waited their turn seemed a bit more friendly than it had before, and Serena was glad for that. It would be hard enough to discuss what she knew with the young woman if things remained awkward between them. Finally, though, they were claiming their cups, and she led her over to the most secluded booth in the coffee shop. "All right, tell me! Is he really dead?"

The frank way those words tumbled from her lips told Serena that there had been no love lost between the two, and she cocked her head to one side as she tapped her lips with her fork. "Yes, he is no longer on this earth." Jasmine clapped a hand over her mouth in an effort to hold in any sound that was trying to escape. "Why does that please you so?"

"He was a bully, through and through."

"That still doesn't mean that you should take this much pleasure in his death," she shot back, not bothering to hide any of the disappointment in her tone. Jasmine's face quickly fell, and Serena set her fork aside to reach across the table to touch her arm. "If we allow small, mean, feelings to take root in our hearts, it makes us small, mean, people. And I know that's not you, not at your core."

The young woman nodded a little, staring down into her lap, and as Serena continued to watch her, a few tears began to track down her cheeks. She fought the urge to go and sit next to Jasmine, to comfort her more, knowing that it would be a little inappropriate to do so. Still, she let out a soft sigh as she closed her hand around her bicep, letting her thumb rub back and forth a bit. "I'm sorry," Jasmine finally murmured as she looked back up at her. "I guess I'm just a rotten person."

"Jasmine, no, don't say that. We all have a few people who we thoroughly despise, who we would rather be dead and gone, even me." Jasmine quirked up an eyebrow at that, and Serena nodded. "Yes, it's true. However, I refuse to let those people take up space in my heart and mind. There are too many people I would choose to have that space to let people I dislike eat up some of that very valuable property."

"Oh. That's actually a great way to think about things." Jasmine gave her a soft smile before running her hands along her head and then shaking it lightly. "Do, do you think that Dom would like some company tonight? I could try to get Zosia to join me and him, if you think that would help things. I just don't like the idea of him being alone right now."

A low chuckle tumbled from her lips, and Jasmine gave her a wounded look, so she shook her head, feeling like she needed to explain. "He's coming over to our place tonight, actually. Though you are more than welcome to join us, since I think he'd enjoy seeing another friendly face on a night like this."

"Okay."

Serena finished off the last of the dessert and then gathered up the plates and cups. "We should probably head back to AAU, though, and help Morven and Bernie out. They shouldn't be doing all the work on a day like today."

"Actually, do you think I could float up to Keller and give them a hand? I don't think Dom is going to much be in the mood for working, though if I know him, he's not going home any time soon."

"That would be really lovely, Jasmine. Tell Sacha that I gave you my blessing, if he questions why you're there."

Jasmine gave her a grin as she nodded, getting out of the booth and scurrying over to the stairs. Serena watched her go before taking the dishes over to the waste bin, and putting them in the basin. Deciding to take the lift back up, she pressed the button and waited, watching the people mill about. IT seemed that, other than herself, everyone was just going about like normal, as if the news of Isaac's death hadn't quite spread to all wings and wards. Not that it would bother her terribly if his death went unnoticed by the public at large, he didn't really need the attention, after everything that had happened between him and Dom. Still, she knew that she had to put on a proper mourning face and to try and forget what she knew about the events of the previous evening.