My laptop has gone to laptop heaven but I managed to get hold of one for a few hours and threw this chapter together, I hope it's ok. I can't make any promises as to when another update for this or any other fic might be forthcoming. It's been that long no one's probably reading them anymore anyway! On the offchance anyone does - hope you enjoy :)

Hanssen stole a sly glance at Serena as the lift descended towards AAU. He should not have doubted for a second that the card was the result of a prank. Serena was horrified by the mere idea of sending him a valentine. He suppressed a sigh and returned his gaze to the doors of the lift. Catching sight of his maudlin reflection in the doors he subconsciously straightened his posture and mentally chastised himself. 'You should be relieved you fool,' he told himself., 'half an hour ago you were petrified that things might become complicated. At least now you know your professional relationship with Ms Campbell can carry on as normal'. He tried to sneak another glance at her but found that his gaze met with Serena's steady observation. She quirked an eyebrow at him and he swiftly returned his eyes to the door.

Serena's eyes narrowed as she observed Hanssen quickly pretending that he hadn't been looking at her. He really was quite the enigma, she thought. Hanssen cleared his throat and she noticed his fingers twitching by his side. Serena had not taken the time to properly study the Swede since she first arrived at Holby, surmising at the time, perhaps a little prematurely, that he was a bizarre law unto himself and unlikely to be swayed by personal persuasions. Since then she had stuck to cold hard facts when dealing with the CEO and saved her manipulations for those around them both whom she required to aid her in her arguments. She was starting to think she should re-evaluate those previous assumptions.

Hanssen's awkwardness in approaching the topic of the valentine card and the easy way in which he blushed earlier suggested flirting wasn't something the Swede was accustomed too. Given her own natural tendencies towards flirtation it was unusual that she had not made any concerted effort to do so with him. But given his standoffish nature and the fact he was her boss she had decided that even jokingly, it probably wouldn't be appreciated and might in fact be to the detriment of her career at Holby. However she felt a lot more secure in her position at the hospital these days and since his return from Sweden Hanssen appeared to have mellowed ever so slightly, even allowing himself to show a sense of humour more often. Given how much the valentine card appeared to have thrown him today, Serena surmised that Hanssen wasn't in a relationship and probably hadn't been in one for quite some time. She wondered what the last person Hanssen dated was like. She found it difficult to imagine what he might be like as boyfriend. 'He'd be hard work!', she told herself. She glanced sideways at him again with a smirk.

The lift doors opened and AAU was revealed before them. Hanssen allowed Serena to exit first and she let her arm graze his as she walked past. She didn't notice any reaction from the Swede and continued towards the nurses station.

Hanssen paused momentarily after Serena brushed against him before following her purposely towards the nurses station. He glanced around noting immediately that there was no sight of Nurse Carter and then remembered then remembered they didn't actually have a plan.

'Ms Campbell.' He said quietly. Serena didn't appear to hear him and was looking around the ward. He stepped closer and spoke over her shoulder. 'Ms Campbell…'

Serena jumped, startled at his proximity and twirled around. 'Have you been struck by inspiration yet?' he noticed her look of confusion. 'You said when we arrived on AAU you would just suddenly know how to handle this.' He smirked.

'I said once we'd observed Mary-Claire's reaction to us!' Serena corrected him. 'But clearly she's not here.' Serena spotted Gemma Wilde. 'Do you know where Nurse Carter is?'

'Uh…' Gemma glanced somewhat nervously between the two senior consultants. 'I'm not sure…'

Serena rolled her eyes. 'Well if she does turn up, tell her Mr Hanssen and I were looking for her will you please?'

Gemma nodded and scurried away.

'Now what do you suggest we do?' Hanssen asked.

Serena paused before answering with a glint in her eyes. 'I know what I'd like to do…' she tilted her head sideways with an enigmatic look. 'But I suppose what we should do… is go to the office and wait for Mary-Claire to grace the ward with her presence.' She smiled. She twirled on her heel and headed for the office.

Hanssen watched her go in mild confusion. Just as he was thinking it might be best if he went back to his office and let Serena handle this, he noticed Dr Wilde darting for the door to AAU guessed what she was probably up to.

Hanssen summoned Serena from the office and they walked down the corridor to follow Dr Wilde as she undoubtedly went to warn Mary-Claire that the CEO and his deputy were looking for her.

'Any idea yet as to how we're going to deal with this?' he asked as they walked.

'It's a cheeky nurse Mr Hanssen, not a nuclear reactor! Just… go with it!' Serena retorted, tipping his arm with her elbow. She caught him glancing down at his arm as they rounded a corner and she suddenly clocked Gemma, Mary-Claire and Harry huddled together talking animatedly. Serena came to a sudden halt and began to back up again, bumping into Hanssen in the process.

'Ms C-'

'Shush! Quick! Before they see us!' Serena pushed Hanssen back around the corner and then peeked around to see if the others were still talking. Hanssen self-consciously loomed over Serena from behind, glancing around swiftly to ensure no one was watching before leaning to also peek around the corner. They could hear the others talking.

'You're dead.' Harry said gleefully.

'Thanks a lot Harry!' Mary-Claire replied grumpily. 'Did they look mad?' she asked Gemma.

'They looked… like themselves.' Gemma shrugged.

'You're dead!' Harry repeated.

'Shut-up Harry!' Mary-Claire growled. 'How could they know it was me? If anything Chantelle is the most likely suspect.'

'Sweet, lovely, innocent Chantelle?' Gemma asked skeptically.

Mary-Claire seemed to be considering her situation for a moment.

'Well there we have it!' Hanssen whispered. He straightened up and made to move forward but Serena shushed him again.

'What on earth possessed you anyway?' Gemma was asking Mary-Claire.

Mary-Claire shrugged. 'It was just a bit of crack. Thought it might liven them up. It's probably the first valentine card Hanssen's ever had!'

Serena glanced at Hanssen but his expression was unreadable.

'Yea, I'm sure they'll love that explanation.' Gemma said.

'You. Are. Dead.' Harry broke into another fit of laughter and Mary-Claire elbowed him.

'Maybe they've seen the funny side?' she asked hopefully.

'Sure. And maybe they came to AAU to thank you for playing this prank on them because it actually made them realize their love for one another!' Gemma said sarcastically.

'Well I bet Hanssen wouldn't say no to a bit of love from Serena!' Mary-Claire said huffily. 'I saw the way he looked at her today! The man's gagging for it!'

Hanssen froze, too afraid to glance down at Serena and see her reaction. He could feel his cheeks warming again.

'Eww!' Gemma winced.

'Hey, maybe they're already at it!' Harry suggested. 'Everyone said it was odd that he gave her that promotion to deputy after she effectively tried to shaft him last year. Maaaaaybe… he found a way she could make it up to him!' Harry wriggled his eyebrows.

'The bloody ch-' Serena straightened and was about to let rip but felt Hanssen's hands on her shoulders.

'Remain calm Ms Campbell.'

'Ca-' Serena's outrage was cut short as the others began to walk and she realized they were about to be discovered. Before she could react, she felt her arm being pulled and suddenly found herself pushed against the wall in a storage cupboard.

'What are you doing?' she hissed at Hanssen.

Hanssen stood open mouthed for a moment and simply shrugged. 'I… I thought it was best they didn't see us.' He answered. Though he wasn't quite sure why, except that suddenly the position they were in huddled against each other peering around a corner, given the conversation they had overheard, seemed quite precarious and potentially humiliating.

'Because it's oh so much better for us to be discovered in a storage cupboard!' Serena sneered.

Hanssen swallowed. This was why he preferred to plan ahead.