Chapter 2
It is during a thunderstorm that she crashes to earth in the desert. The sand beneath her explodes upward as the lightning that carried her dissipates with an audible crack.
At the same time, an explosion overturns a nearby convoy of Humvees and her vision goes black.
Even in human form, she is the embodiment of war. Of course she is. Her broken body draped in tattered and blood smeared fatigues, the very essence of war's consequences. The gods do have a sense of humor after all.
And though she is shipped closer to Serena, her first fight does not involve the woman herself and she curses Aphrodite. It is just like her sister to tease her heart, make her work for it. But learning to walk again and hold her head high on reconstructed bones will not deter her from her mission.
She will help Serena, or she will die as a mortal for her efforts.
"Bernie Wolfe, Trauma Surgeon," she says with a smile, shaking the brunette's hand. Such ease to her words she could have been saying them for eons.
Serena's gaze is warm and welcoming, despite the turmoil she knows bubbles inside, and her touch seems to light Bernie's hand on fire.
"Glad to have you with us, Major."
And with that, she's part of the team, the newest member of the AAU family, as she herself wished it to be; Serena's worldly protector. Not full mortal, but close enough to hide among them.
What she doesn't anticipate is the peace ending almost immediately, stunned to find Serena fights her at every turn.
They squabble about NHS bureaucracy, disagree about patient care, and argue about paperwork. It's a wonder they actually manage to secure some desperately needed ward funding that, due to repeated threats of budget cuts, had put Serena's stress levels through the roof.
They battle against death in that most sterile of arenas, saving life after life in theatre as they war with each other, dark gazes burning above their matching facemasks.
"But I – I would class it as a trauma injury."
"It's a vascular injury and I'm a vascular surgeon. Now, step aside please."
And that's apart from Serena's personal problems. The lying ex-husband who almost ruined her career; the rebellious daughter with hidden debts so deep Serena almost lost her home; the former CEO who betrayed her trust and used poor Serena as a scapegoat.
Bernie soon learns to pick her battles wisely there, but even her limited interference isn't helping and she doesn't know why.
It's as if the closer she gets, the closer they get to each other, the more battles arise with Serena.
When Robbie reappears, Bernie takes a step back to observe. But it's not long before Serena's fighting with him, too, over the sister she never knew existed, and then breaking up with him over the nephew she's just discovered.
"You did the right thing," she murmurs, trying to offer some solace, handing Serena a coffee.
But the woman just snips, "Mind your own business," and keeps her eyes turned away.
When Elinor shows up and announces she's ditched her degree course, again, and - as if one emotional bombshell isn't enough – that Edward is suddenly remarrying, she doesn't say a word to Serena. Just buries herself in doing as much work as possible, lightening the burden, while everyone, no matter their rank, gets treated to a dose of Serena's venom.
"You could go a little easier on them," she tries gently.
"And you'd do well to remember who you're talking to," Serena bites back before storming away.
The fleeting mental image of Serena as Medusa causes a fist-hidden snicker. Oh, Bernie does so love the fight in this woman. But, she sobers quickly, dark eyes lingering in the brunette's wake long after she's gone, because she does so hate to fight with this woman.
Bernie plants a seed – a mortal suggestion rather than a godly manipulation - and Serena resigns as Deputy CEO not long after. It's not much, but it prevents the total burn out she can see coming from a mile away. For as much as Serena wants to run the entire hospital and save every soul in it, she seems instantly brighter for having picked just one cause to focus on.
It's the first thing that's worked, as far as Bernie can tell, and she's a little stunned. She tries not to blink when Serena holds her gaze and says thank you. Tries to ignore the thrum of golden energy that lights up the inside of her chest. Wonders if she hasn't had her strategy wrong this entire time. That maybe what Serena needs isn't someone to stand in front of her and take the flak, but someone to stand behind her and hold her steady when she falters.
The delicate truce is short-lived, however, because Bernie soon forgets herself and offers advice about Jason.
"I think - Maybe you don't know his limitations."
"I think you don't have a bloody clue!"
She feels like even waving a white flag at this point would be futile. Every attempt to be a friend spectacularly backfires.
With her gut screaming at her to cut her losses and leave, she spends her break on the bench outside and sighs with every exhale as she stares up at the sky.
The cloud formations shift to reveal the smirking face of Aphrodite. Just a trick of the light to mortal eyes, just wisps and shadows, but she sees all. Hears the message loud and clear.
"I never said it would be easy, sister."
With a groan, Bernie buries her fists in the pockets of her hoodie and trudges back inside.
"Oh, do shut up, sister."