A/N From a list of kiss prompts, anon asked for "to shut them up" or "in relief" so I rolled them into one (with a bit of angst thrown in…) what if they were both still in Holby when the shooting happened? (You know when a word doesn't look right? Is proof even a word? The title looked weird when I typed it...)
[TW mentions of mass shooting, no character death mentioned]
"We've just had some important news in. If you are needing emergency hospital treatment today please go to St James Emergency Department. Holby City has been closed for security reasons, we don't have details yet but all elective operations are cancelled and ambulances diverted. There are unconfirmed reports of shots being fired….."
She doesn't hear the rest of the report, the mug in her hands drops to the floor and she feels sick. Her feet take her to the door, she somehow manages to find her bag and shoes, get to the car and drive to the hospital. Everything around her is a blur, she probably shouldn't be driving but there's only one thought in her mind. Bernie is there. Bernie is at the hospital.
Bernie would of course be putting everyone else before herself. It's what she loves about her, but if that translates into a complete lack of self-preservation…Serena doesn't want to think about that.
It doesn't occur to her that this will be the first time at the hospital since she left for sabbatical. She had been in England for a few months, but still wasn't ready to face Holby. Until now, because she had to be there, to see for herself. To help the hospital in its crisis.
There are patients and staff outside, evacuated. Some former colleagues notice her, greet her but it's all buzzing in her ears. Until she hears those three letters. AAU. Her head spins, trying to concentrate on what the nurse is saying.
"The doors to the ward are locked. They can't evacuate."
She tries to find a familiar face, hopes it's not true, that they're talking about a different ward.
Police enter the hospital. The minutes pass, dragging out slowly until it feels to Serena as if time has stopped. She tries to help, but she can't focus on anything.
All at once there is a flurry of activity from the police stationed outside. She can't hear what's being said on the radios but they seem to visibly relax and there is movement inside. Reporters stand to attention, cameramen following close to catch the moment.
It's chaos, but Serena only has one thing in mind. Messy blonde hair. She cranes to catch a glimpse.
"Serena?!"
She prays she's not imagining it, that it really is Bernie calling out to her in surprise. She pushes through towards her voice.
"What happened?" She asks the question without really wanting an answer. She doesn't realise she's asked it, is only concentrating on getting to Bernie, confirming she's real with a more reliable sense than sight and hearing.
"We had to shut down the ward, one patient wasn't stable enough to leave. Donna and I stayed hidden so we could-"
Serena doesn't let her finish. There will be time for talking later, all she feels now is relief. She pulls Bernie close, stopping her mid-sentence with a collision of lips. It's messy and desperate, she can taste the salt of her tears, isn't sure if Bernie's are mixed there as well but that doesn't matter. She doesn't care who's watching, what people might say.
She pulls back and takes a breath to calm herself. There are tears in Bernie's eyes too.
"I love you," she croaks and Bernie's face softens, but concern remains in her eyes.
"I love you, too."