Chapter 2

Hoping long chapter 1 went down well, decided to post a shortish chapter as I am really enjoying continuing the story,

The drive into work was fraught with traffic and made the car journey a little longer than it would usually be, not that either woman was annoyed by this, anything to delay the bite of reality was a welcome blessing. Serena glanced across at her girlfriend/lover/partner? Well her Bernie. She was considering what Bernie was to her now. She laughed at the thought of asking "Will you be my girlfriend?" like a 9 year old. 51 year olds did not do that… did they? Serena obviously did not realise that she had made herself laugh as Bernie said dryly "Something funny?"

"Oh, sorry Bern just had a thought, made me smile."

"So… um you going to share?"

Serena visibly blushed, this was not unnoticed by Bernie. "Oh, ah, silly really, not sure how …."

"Spit it out Campbell." Bernie said jokingly.

"Oh dear, I am going to sound so silly, but…. What are we now?"

"Sorry, not with."

"Well we are more than just friends' right."

"Well yes, I certainly don't go around kissing all of my friends… Unless you believe Holby rumours!" She said sarcastically.

"Ha" Serena threw her head back as they pulled up at traffic lights.

"No seriously, more than friends, no question, but we are whatever you want us to be."

"Well you too darling. But do I call you my girlfriend? That makes us sound 15 not 51!"

"See your point."

"Lover just sounds… horrid, don't you agree?"

"Um, yeah, kind of … blah."

They both laughed for some time knowing exactly what she meant; that lovers was too tawdry and not at all permanent.

"Oh, oh… what about "'The Mrs'" Said Serena with some relish.

"You can bugger right off!" Came the mock serious response.

Bernie gave her hearty laugh. Serena loved this laugh, it took all her strength to remain in control of the car.

Giggles continued for a few moments until Bernie, usually short for words felt she could provide an answer, "Well, partners suits me. We have um, well been great partners, in crime and surgery, for some time. So it, er feels, right."

Serena looked across at Bernie and had the utmost regard for her. She knew that words did not come easy to Bernie, conversation did not naturally flow, things were thought and considered before being spoken and even then they were delivered with a little stutter and trepidation. Serena did love how Bernie could do tours of duty as a Big Macho Army Medic, but making sentences was more of a challenge, her little dithers and stutters; she really did love this side of her.

Serena drove some more then as they pulled onto the car park she put her hand on Bernie's leg said, "Let's do it partner" in a mock cowboy accent.

The mood in the car was calm and fun. Serena opened her door to the harshness of the weather and reality. The rain was falling lightly and she put up her umbrella. On the passenger side Bernie turner her collar up and proceeded to walk. Serena came to the side of her and put the umbrella over them both. Bernie looked over with a half-smile and knew that Serena wasn't doing this to shield her from the rain, after all they didn't have 'brolly's' on the battlefield. She just needed the feeling of walking up to the Wyvern Wing in solidarity, as partners, without every tongue in Holby wagging.