"Guess who's birthday it is tomorrow?" Chantelle squealed happily to Ric and Malik she was holding up her iPad.

"Who's?" Ric asked he wasn't aware of any birthdays this month.

"Ms Campbell's," Chantelle grinned, "I was going to suggest we get her some drinks, but then I heard about her mum-"

"How?" Ric asked sounding a little annoyed he had trusted Johnny.

"Oh I heard it in passing," Chantelle answered a little wary of Ric's reaction, "But anyway I was going to suggest some drinks, but then I heard about her mum so I thought…. Maybe we could get a cake and just do something nice," she looked very happy like her idea was the best in the world, "You don't think it's a good idea do you?" Chantelle asked sounding a little disappointed.

"It's not that it's a bad idea," Ric said kindly to Chantelle, "But do you really think she will want to celebrate?"

"I just thought that it might take her mind off things," It was dawning on Chantelle how her superior could possibly react in her current situation, "But you're right… who wants a party when there's a crisis?" Chantelle walked off a little red in the face.

Malik then turned to Ric, "She has a point… it might take her mind off things."

"How did you hear?" Ric asked.

"It's Holby City the grapevine doesn't take long to reach you," Malik answered and walked off to a patient, now how long will it take for the grapevine to reach: 'Sedward'

Ric walked over to Chantelle he felt bad, he hadn't intended to embarrasses Chantelle or make her feel stupid, "It's a good idea," he said whilst tapping her shoulder.

"It's a stupid idea… I don't know why I thought of it," Chantelle said she was still a little red she had a mug full of hot chocolate.

"Because you care about people," Ric sat on the chair opposite Chantelle, "It's a good trait to have."

"It's my job," Chantelle tapped the mug.

"It's our job to care too but you really do care," Ric saw Chantelle almost as a daughter he had been there for her when Serena was going to put her on trial, "It amazes me how someone who spends their day picking up all the slack, is so happy."

"I just like to make people feel happy," Chantelle said quietly, "You know make them feel happy when it's a bad time."

"That's exactly what you're going to do with Serena," Ric stood up and Chantelle looked confused he walked over to her, "If anyone can put a smile on her face… it's you."

"But like you said-" Chantelle was cut off.

"I was wrong," Ric butted in Chantelle smiled lightly, "So are you going to make her happy or not?"

"I guess," Chantelle stood up and gave Ric a hug, "Thank you Mr Griffin."

Ric smiled touched by her thanks Chantelle then walked out happily.

Serena was still with Edward they were sat in silence it not an awkward silence but a silence the type that showed both were thinking. Edward still had her hand in his he ran his thumb up and down on her hand, "Hey you know what day it is tomorrow," it clicked to Edward but then he remembered she didn't do birthdays.

"Yes I know," Serena huffed annoyed he had mentioned it, in fact she hadn't celebrated her birthday since her dad died, he died in September a few days before her birthday Eleanor's birthday was a few days before his death, "And I don't want any fuss."

"I know," Edward nodded understanding why, "We best get to ICU."

Serena sat up and stretched a little Edward stood up and held out his hand, "I don't need a hand."

He ignored her and wrapped his hand around her wrist pulling her up, "Hey do you remember for a fund raiser one year I went as Freddie Mercury from the I Want To Break Free video?" he heard Serena laugh.

"You looked ridiculous."

"Also remember Flash?" Edward asked laughing at the memory, he had forced Serena to watch Flash with him one evening and they ended up singing the song, "He's for everyone of us."

"Stand for every one of us," Serena added automatically making Edward smile.
"He save with a mighty hand, every man, every woman, every child, with a mightyFlash" they sang together and both laughed at their stupidity, "How old are we?" Serena asked.

"Old enough," Edward answered.

"Flash Gordon I can't believe you forced me to watch it," Serena said sounding almost angry but Edward knew she wasn't angry.

"You enjoyed it really," he opened the door, "Admit it."

"No," Serena walked out and they made their way to ICU walking up the three flights of stairs the familiar sounds got louder.

"I'll get the door," Dr Summers said Serena stepped back when the door opened the three doctors walked in, "Your mother is stable."

"Still not improving though," Serena said whilst twiddling with her necklace.

"Ms Campbell there's still a chance a fifty-fifty but there is still a chance," Dr Summers smiled and walked over to a patient. Serena felt a shiver go down her spine like someone had just walked over her grave.

"Come on," Edward squeezed her shoulder and they walked over.

"Hello mum," Serena sat down and took her mother's hand, seeing her mother with the tight fitting mask on her face and tubes coming out of her was frightening, "Don't move mum you need to keep still," Serena said as calm as she could seeing her mum in so much pain, was the worst feeling in the world. It was an imaginable thought of how she would cope without her mother; the only person who had the patience to take her stubborn behaviour, the only person to know how much she had been caused and the only person who gave her hope when no one else did. Right now she needed something a god or anything to help her mother fight she knew her mother did not want to die else she would've asked for any treatment possible.

Suddenly machines started to beep Serena pulled herself back into the real world, "Don't even think about it," Edward knew what she would do treat her mother, "This isn't your area."

A nurse and a doctor came running over the first thing the doctor did was check her breathing, "There's a build up of fluid on the lungs," the doctor announced.

"Chest drain," Serena said without thinking.

"Ms Campbell it will be very-"

"Do it!" Serena looked at the doctor with sharp eyes, her tone was deadly one that only Edward had heard when she told him to go. She looked ready to back chat if the doctor refused.

Without another word the doctor ordered the nurse to get a chest drain, "Mrs McKinnie you're going to feel some pressure," the doctor said he placed a needle with a white tube into the side of her rib cage, Serena had her hand she made "sss" noise and looked like she was in pain, "Local please."

The nurse measured up and handed him the needle, "Maybe it's best you two wait outside."

"If you think I'm going anywhere you have another thing coming," Serena said angrily to the nurse she looked taken aback.

"Ms Campbell if you carry on being rude to my staff I will have you removed," the doctor said and after injecting local he made an incision stuck his finger in and then inserted the tube, "You'll feel more pressure," a horrible smelling fluid came pouring out.

"Is it clear?" Serena asked worrying that blood was pouring out, judging by the doctors sudden face change it told her the answer she already knew.

"Page Darwin tell them to get a theatre ready!" the doctor ordered, "We've got an Incostal Artery bleed."

This was it there was no point in trying to operate her mother was going to die, but when the doctors rushed her out Serena felt paralyzed she leant her hand on the wall, "This is it… I shouldn't have let them do it."

"We need to get to Darwin Serena," Edward said, "They'll explain everything."

Jac was scrubbing in with Mo the news had reached Darwin. Both women were washing their hands, "What do you think her chances are?" Mo asked whilst shaking her hands.

"Given her age, medical history and current state very low," Jac answered whilst shaking her hands too.

"Come on Jac we've operated on people older," Mo said now drying her hands with a paper towel, "And they've survived."

"Says the Grim Reaper in a tutu I bet you're hoping she has healthy organs," Jac then walked into the operating room two scrub nurses put on her surgical gown and face mask then gave her the gloves, they done the same for Mo.

"I'm not like that Jac," Mo said whilst walking over to Adrienne, "Let's do a good job."

"If she makes it," Jac had very little hope in fact if she made it out of this with no more complications she would be a medical miracle, "Scalpel."

"This will leave one hell of a scar Jac," Mo said.

"Keyhole isn't appropriate right now," Jac said whilst making the first incision, "If she has any chance open procedure is best."

"You're the boss," Mo said whilst using suction, "Maybe she won't sue us if she knows we done our best."

"Yeah let's invite her in have her breathing down our necks," Jac said whilst looking for the bleed, "Got cha!" Jac said, "The tear is a bleed from the Incostal if we fix this it's done," machines started to beep, "Oh no you don't."

"BPs dropping," the scrub nurse said.

"We need to wash out," Jac said Mo used saline to wash out Jac then fixed the tear, "Nice one Naylor."

"All in a days work," Jac said but then the machines beeped again.

"BPs dropped," the scrub nurse announced.

"Blood pouring in the plural cavity," Mo said whilst observing the screen.

"We've got a second bleed," Jac sighed she was nearly there, "Mo quickly suction!" Jac ordered Mo jumped and sucked out unnecessary blood.

"Can you see it Jac?" Mo asked whilst observing the screens again, Jac had her eyes fixated on the screens then they lit up.

"Found it clips please," Jac ordered, "Anytime before Christmas would be nice!"

"What was it?" Mo asked.

"Tear in the Intercostal Branch," Jac answered she used the clips to stop the bleed, "And wa-la she is through."

"She's one tough lady," Mo said confused how someone in her medical state could survive such major surgery.

"BPs rising."

"Plural Cavity is clear," Jac said happily.

"She's stable," Mo looked relieved, "You just saved us a law suit."

"She's not that bad," Jac blurted everyone looked at her shocked – had Jac Naylor just been nice?

"Since when were you and Ms Campbell best buddies?" Mo asked watching whilst Jac stitched up.

"Long story," Jac answered not wanting to explain how she had fainted, cried over bacon and missing Jonny in front of Serena. Mo nodded guessing Jac was not going to explain.

Once out of theatre Jac and Mo went to find Serena, "If you're looking for Serena I said she could sit in our office," Elliot said, "I hope you don't mind."

"No it's fine," Jac said Elliot smiled and walked away Jac then walked in, "Your mother is one tough lady."

"And I've seen some pretty tough people," Mo said whilst sitting down comfortingly, "What?" she asked Jac.

"Oh no it's fine Mo just make yourself comfortable," Jac said whilst grabbing a chair, "She's made it through theatre."

"Thank you," Serena said the sudden reaction shocked Mo.

"No problem," Jac said she then observed Serena, "She's made it out alive Serena… you should be happy."

"She's made it through the first hurdle," Serena corrected the young consultant, "There's still lots for her to overcome."

"Ms Campbell just be happy she made it through surgery," Mo said carefully, "Jac done a brilliant job."

"Don't call me Jac," Jac corrected Mo.

"Fine Ms Naylor done a good job," Mo rolled her eyes, "Happy?" Jac nodded with a slight smile, "Like you said there's still hurdles but she's a fighter," Mo rubbed Serena's arm comfortingly shocking herself, there was something about Serena right now she looked cut off, eyes were glassy and full of thought Mo didn't want to guess what she was thinking, Mo actually felt sorry for her.

"She's got will power," Edward said.

"A lot of it," Mo said trying to make Serena feel better she couldn't understand why she was doing it, but she guessed that even people like Serena and Jac crash and crumble when someone they love is ill or hurt.

"We'll keep her here until she comes round and then we can get her sent back down to ICU," Jac said she was able to see right through Serena like Serena could see right through her when she gave her the kidney ultrasound, "You can sit with her."

"I know," Serena said and she sighed, "Sorry it's just."

"It's been a long morning," Edward said for her Serena looked at him, "Even you can admit Serena it's not been easy."

Serena hated how he could still see through her she was like a window to him, "I'll go sit with her now."

As Serena walked out Edward sat staring at her, "She's blocking the world out."

"It's easier that way," Jac stood up and went to the door, "Stops people prying into what isn't their business."

Serena walked over slowly her mother looked more peaceful then she had done, just to be sure Serena checked for a pulse for her own comfort the pulse was surprisingly strong. The comfort of the pulse was strong for Serena because it gave her hope that her mum would fight this. It made her realise how strong her mum actually is.

A/N: Flash song not too sure where that came from but I have it on my iPod and that came to me whilst listening haha. I hope the chapter is OK let me know what you think (: xx