Another update! I thought I would spoil you a little :)
Hanssen awoke the following mornings with his arms around Serena. He wished he could see her face but she had her back to him. He moved, leaning forward, over her shoulder as gently as he could but felt her stir.
Serena had been awake for almost half an hour. She couldn't bring herself to move in case she woke him. This day last week if someone had told her she would wake up today spooning with Henrik Hanssen she'd have laughed. Even someone=ne had even told her yesterday that they would end up in bed together again she probably wouldn't have believed it.
Henrik kissed her temple. She turned and smiled at him.
'Morning.' She whispered.
'Good morning.' He reluctantly stretched and reached for his glasses, putting them on to check the time. He sighed. 'We're going to be late.'
Serena sat up and looked at the time and groaned. 'I still have to go home and change.'
'We have that consultants meeting first thing.' He reminded her.
'I'd forgotten about that. Jac and Elliot are presenting today?'
'Yes. I can make up some excuse for you being late.' Henrik offered.
'It might be better if I call Ric and ask him to make my excuses.' Serena said.
'If you wish.' He replied stiffly.
'It would be less conspicuous don't you think?' she asked, tilting her head at him.
She was right, of course. He nodded.
Hanssen pulled his chair out with a flourish and glanced around the boardroom as the others took their places.
'Good morning Mr Hanssen. Lovely day isn't it?' Elliot Hope dropped an armful of files on the table.
'Good morning. Yes, indeed it is Professor.' Hanssen smiled.
Michael Spence and Jac who were just about to sit down exchanged a pointed look at Hanssen's apparent cheerfulness.
'Feeling the joys of spring today eh Mr Hanssen?' Michael asked.
Hanssen ignored the comment and instead greeted Mo who had just arrived.
Coffee was served whilst Jac set up the presentation. Hanssen plucked a biscuit from the plate and took a bite. Ric, Elliot and Michael paused in their conversation. They had never seen Hanssen eat anything at a meeting before.
'Ms Campbell has sent her apologies. She's going to be a little late.' Ric informed them.
'I'll bet.' Michael smirked.
Ric raised an eyebrow at him.
'Her car was here overnight.' Michael explained. 'Hangover!' he added in a smug sing song voice.
'Michael it's not helpful to cast aspersions.' Ric chided him.
'My apologies Mr Griffin. I take it back!' Michael mockingly held up his hands in surrender. 'What do you think has delayed her Mr H?'
'I am sure whatever the reason it is legitimate and unavoidable.' Hanssen replied trying to maintain a tone of disinterest.
By the time Serena arrived Jac was finishing up her proposal for the patient she and Elliot were disagreeing over.
'My apologies for being late.' Serena said quietly as she took a seat. Hanssen nodded at her but held back the smile he wanted to offer.
He noticed Ric poured her a coffee which she accepted gratefully and they whispered something to each other.
'So, which is it to be?' Jac asked.
Hanssen watched Serena fumbling, looking for a pen.
'Ugh it's just one of those days!' Serena smiled sheepishly at the others. 'Ignore me, carry on!' she told Jac.
'I'd like to.' Jac said, pointedly looking at Hanssen who was ignoring her.
'Here you go Ms Campbell.' Hanssen pulled a pencil out of somewhere and handed it to her as Ric simultaneously handed her a ballpoint pen.
Serena caught sight of the pencil and smiled but reached for the pen from Ric. 'I think this might be better.' She said to Hanssen waving the pen. 'thank you.' She whispered to Ric.
'Oh don't mind me!' Jac said loudly and sarcastically. Michael and Mo were observing it all with amused looks.
'Carry on Ms Naylor!' Hanssen snapped.
'Elliot and I have done our bit!' Jac retorted. 'Time for your yay or nay. If you can be bothered to focus for that long.'
Everyone looked extremely uncomfortable.
'Yes, well you both have to recap for Ms Campbell don't you?' Hanssen said icily.
'There's no nee…' Serena began.
'Yes. There is. Are you or are you not Executive Director of Surgery? Do you or do you not have a roll in the making of this decision?' Hanssen trotted out the questions without waiting for any responses. 'How are you to make an informed decision without the facts? Start again Ms Naylor. With a little less attitude this time please, all we need are the facts.'
Elliot and Jac had run through their arguments again; Elliot's proposal of a more conservative approach and Jac's for the use of some the skills she had recently acquired on her training in Japan. Jac stood with her arms folded.
'Would you like us to go through it a third time just for luck?' she asked sarcastically.
Hanssen glared at her.
'Well, in my view Professor Hope's approach seems to be the best option. A longer recovery time perhaps, but that alone isn't necessarily a bad thing. There is less scope for anything to go wrong this way.' Hanssen said.
Jac rolled her eyes.
'I'm not so sure.' Serena mused. 'What was the point of sending Ms Naylor to Japan for this training if we aren't going to let her use it? This case is the perfect opportunity.'
'Yes, well, unfortunately we are not here simply to find people for Ms Naylor to practice her skills on. The question is which procedure will be best for the patient's welfare.' Hanssen said condescendingly.
'And I think Ms Naylor's approach is the best option all around.' Serena replied unwaveringly.
'We have a tie!' Michael muttered. He was interested to see how this would resolve itself. If Hanssen openly dismissed Serena's opinion it would send a clear message about her role as Executive DOS.
'Anyone else have any input?' Hanssen asked, looking around the table.
Michael checked his watch. This was really dragging.
'Are we boring you Mr Spence?' Hanssen asked.
'I don't know about the rest of you, maybe you can go back to your wards and have a snooze but we're run of our feet on AAU so I'd kinda like to get back there some time this morning.' Michael said.
'We've all got things to do Michael but this is important and also part of your job.' Serena told him.
Jac sighed impatiently.
'Uh, I really need to get back, I'm due in theatre.' Mo said tentatively.
'We all know the facts.' Michael said. 'Especially those of us who have had to listen to it all twice.' He added with a pointed look at Serena. 'Can we put it to a vote?'
'A vote?' Hanssen asked.
'I have no problem with that.' Jac spoke up.
'Well, perhaps we should discuss it some more.' Elliot said sounding unsure.
'Not everything has to take forever in order to be done properly!' Jac said rolling her eyes.
'I think a vote is a good idea. And then Ms Effanga can get back to Darwin.' Serena agreed.
'Fine. A vote it is.' Said Hanssen. 'Those in favour of Professor Hope's approach, raise your hand.'
Hanssen raised his own hand, as did Elliot and Mo. Hanssen did not look pleased.
'Those in favour of the other approach.' He said.
Jac and Serena raised their hands immediately. Michael paused for dramatic effect before raising his. All eyes turned to Ric.
'Abstaining Mr Griffin?' Hanssen asked.
'Considering the options.' Ric replied.
Jac stood up grumpily. 'We all know you're a fan of the slow and steady game Ric, no need to keep us all waiting.'
'Let him speak.' Serena told her.
Hanssen watched as there was some kind of look exchanged between Ric and Serena.
'We need a decision Mr Griffin.' He prompted.
'Elliot…' Ric began. 'I'm sorry, I agree with Jac.'
'And we have a winner!' Michael said standing up. 'Next time maybe we could get Dermot O'Leary to come and do a countdown.'
Hanssen looked at him with irritation. Mo and Michael hurried off and Jac and Elliot began speaking over further details. Hanssen watched as Ric stood up and Serena looked up at him.
'A little birdy told me it's your birthday today.' He heard Serena saying.
'What little birdy was that?' Ric asked amusedly.
'Well… I may have read it somewhere, sometime…' Serena smiled cheekily.
Ric nodded knowingly. He wasn't surprised that she had probably read his personnel file. Serena stood up, cupped Ric's face in her hands and gave him a peck on the cheek
'Happy birthday!' she purred. 'Drink this evening?'
'Sure.' Ric nodded.
Hanssen felt a surge of annoyance at the feeling of jealousy this sparked in him.