'Now everything's got meaning the meaning bring me down'
It was a few weeks later when Patrick turned up at Nonnatus. The X-ray van had successfully checked people but now he had the X-ray in his hand which showed one person who wasn't all clear. One person who had TB.
"Hello Doctor..." Sister Julienne said as she opened the door. "Can I help?"
"Can I speak with Sister Bernadette..."
He couldn't believe it when he first found out. He hadn't wanted to believe it. She was ill. He didn't know what to think or what he was going to say to her. As a doctor he would tell her the truth. Tell her things didn't look good but treatment was available.
He was her friend too though. Or at least he thought he was. Either way he cared for her deeply and didn't know how he was going to remain professional. How was she going to react to finding out she was ill?
"Good evening Doctor..." She smiled and he felt his heart race quicken. That smile that was his light in the darkness...it would be gone.
"Would you please sit down..."
He showed her the X-ray and her face dropped. For a moment he thought he saw tears glaze over her eyes but she blinked rapidly for a few seconds. Her words were slow but certain. He would never see her cry. He knew, should she start crying, he might not be able to refrain himself from moving to comfort her. So, all in all, he admired her strength and needed it as much as she did.
"I will need to do a proper examination..." He said not being able to look her in the eye properly.
"Of cause..." She nodded.
Sister Julienne watched as the doctor listened to her sister's breathing and prayed. She prayed everything would be fine.
"Crackles..." The doctor's hands were shaking as he spoke. "On both sides."
Sister Bernadette sighed; what now?
"You'll need a proper X-ray in the morning. I'll drive you."
"There's no need."
"I'll drive you." He repeated in a stern voice.
She closed her eyes. What was this the start of?