As usual, thanks for the reviews! And yay for it being Holby night!
Serena emerged from the lift onto Keller and made her way onto the ward, still incredibly curious about Hanssen and his "old flame". Whatever it was, Hanssen hadn't looked too pleased to see her.
'Hello Ms Campbell!' a cheerful Chantelle greeted her.
'Hello Chantelle.' Serena smiled.
'Did you have a good time at your conference?' Chantelle asked.
Only Chantelle would ask a question like that, Serena thought smiling. What was the answer though? 'Yes.' Serena nodded. 'I did!' she grinned.
'Oh I am glad.' Chantelle said brightly. 'I asked Malick but he said conferences aren't about having fun. Which I think is a shame. Everything should be a little fun shouldn't it? I mean, not like horrible things like accidents and stuff where people are hurt but like, things where you get to be around people you like and learn about stuff you like. That should be fun, don't you think Ms Campbell?'
'I agree Chantelle, I think you're absolutely right.' Serena said, holding back a laugh.
'Oh I better see to Mrs Granger.' Chantelle said as she saw the patient waving at her.
Chantelle tottered off and Serena shook her head, smiling. She turned and discovered Ric had appeared checking some files.
'Hello! I'm back.' She said brightly. 'Did you miss me?'
'Contrary to what you believe I am capable of running the ward without you.' Ric replied sourly, not looking up from his files.
'Oh that must be a record.' Serena said, half to herself. 'Even for me.'
'What?' Ric grumbled.
'Well I've only been here two minutes and all I've said is hello. I cannot possibly have made you cross already.' She told him.
'What makes you think I'm cross with you?' Ric asked, taking the file he wanted and putting the others back.
'Um… that scowl on your face for a start.'
Ric finally faced her properly with a resigned look and a sigh. 'I am not scowling. I am not cross. Perhaps you only think that I am because…' he shrugged, 'maybe you've done something that you think I should be cross about.' He looked at her intently for a moment before moving off towards their office.
A brief image of Hanssen flashed before Serena's eyes but she quickly quashed it and turned on her heel, following Ric to the office.
'What's that supposed to mean?' she asked.
He shrugged again as he sat at his desk. 'Sometimes a guilty conscience seeks it's own punishment.'
'Have you ever considered a sideline in writing tosh for fortune cookies?' Serena asked, her face expressionless.
Ric ignored the remark and opened his file. Serena took a seat at her desk. Today had started out so nicely, she thought to herself with a quiet sigh.
'He is your son Henrik.' Maja sat straight up and faced an expressionless Hanssen across his desk. 'He will be living in the same country as you for the first time in his life. Why won't you at least meet him?'
'All that links me to him is biology. Nils is his father.' Hanssen replied coldly.
Maja sneered slightly. 'You told me you thought of us everyday. Why would you think of him if he is nothing to you?'
For this Hanssen had no response and so he said nothing, lowering his gaze to the surface of his desk for a moment.
'He doesn't know anyone in London. It is his first time living abroad.' Maja began again gently. 'I would feel better if I knew there was someone he could turn to, someone to keep an eye on him.'
'He'll make friends.' Hanssen said curtly.
'Friends are not the same as family.' Maja told him.
'I am not family.'
He did not wish to hurt her, it was simply a fact.
'I have never once asked you for anything to do with Fredrick…'
'Then why start now?' Hanssen cut her off.
He noticed the spark of anger in her eyes and the way she gripped the armrests of the chair tightly.
'So you do not care what happens to him? You do not care if he is struggling, or alone or… if he gets into an accident!' she asked him angrily.
Hanssen watched her calmly.
'I understand as his mother you are emotional at the thought of him going abroad and beginning a new life. But really…' he tilted his head and gave what he considered a sympathetic look but what she saw as condescending. 'He is 25 years old, he is well educated, he is not without means and should he run into any grave problems I have no doubt Nils would be on the first plane to Heathrow.' He paused briefly. 'I really don't see what extra benefit meeting me would be to the boy. He'll be in London, I'll be here. We have no relationship that should encourage him to want to come to me with any personal problems. I am sure any practical issues that may arise he is clever enough to deal with himself and if he is to get hit by a bus, then knowing me won't make the slightest of differences.' Shrugging slightly he continued in a flat tone of voice. 'I cannot be his confidante and he does not need a nanny. So, how do you see me being of any use?'
He watched Maja carefully as she stared at him. The anger and gone from her face and she sat back wearily in the chair. Almost a full minute passed before she finally spoke.
'I should have known.' She said quietly. 'You have been useless his entire life. I do not know why I expected that to change now.' She stood up and picked up her bag. Turning to him she gave a sad look. 'I thought… I thought at least you cared. But perhaps the day you walked out on me was the luckiest day of my life.'
Hanssen didn't notice her leaving the office. He kept his gaze firmly on the wall opposite him. His knuckles white from how tightly he squeezed his fists.
Serena was walking past the lift on Keller when it opened to let some people out and she noticed Maja Johansson inside, her eyes watery but her expression stony-faced. What on earth is going on there, she wondered to herself.
She glanced at her watch. She wasn't booked into theatre today and the day had been dragging by so slowly so far as she tried to avoid being in the office with Ric as much as possible. Ric was definitely off with her about something and she was fairly certain had something to do with whatever reason Michael had for buying him coffee and rushing to see him. Normally she would have confronted him but today she simply wasn't in the mood. She was still a little tired after the journey and… she felt her cheeks colour and looked around to ensure no one was there to notice… last night. If Michael had gone running to Ric because of some silly rumour from some old fart then she wasn't sure who she was more angry with: Michael for fanning the flames or Ric for being cross with her about something he doesn't even know to be true, and even if it was true has nothing to do with him.
But it is true now, she realised. When she inadvertently started the rumour of a relationship with Hanssen it hadn't been but as of last night…. It could hardly be called a relationship though, could it? If she were to be pedantic, and she would be if these rumours persisted and she had to set people straight then she would not classify it as a relationship. She was NOT having a relationship with Henrik Hanssen.
She thought back to last night again. He really was a dark horse. She remembered him mumbling in Swedish whilst they'd…
'Ms Campbell?' Chantelle's voice interrupted.
'Hmm?' Serena came back to earth and realised Chantelle was standing in front of her.
'Thinking happy thoughts were you?' Chantelle asked.
'Pardon?' Serena asked feeling embarrassed.
'It's just the look on your face just then.' Chantelle explained. 'You looked well pleased with something.' Chantelle smiled and continued on her way.
Serena felt herself blushing again.
'Taking things easy today then are we?' Ric asked sarcastically as he passed by. 'That conference obviously wore you out.'
'This coming from someone who's normal pace is positively glacial!' Serena retorted. She needed to get off the ward for a while.