Aww – your reviews are amazing, thank you soooo much! Please leave a review!xx Oh, and by the way I don't own Holby or characters etc… I still gotta give 'em back when I'm finished. Still deciding on whether to keep our sexy Hanssen… ;) xx
"Pull over," Spence begged. "Please!"
"Mr Spence, we are almost in Holby, please-"
"I need to pee now!" Spence moaned. Sighing in annoyance, Hanssen pulled into the next service station they came across. Serena sat in silence, enjoying watching the two men sitting in front of her arguing. Spence jumped out as soon as the car stopped and practically ran into the service station's toilets. Finding just her and Hanssen in the car, Serena suddenly felt really awkward and stayed silent. She wasn't quite sure what was going to happen between them. Either they'd be in bed together by the end of the week or she'd know absolutely everything there was to know about the wildlife, seeing as though whenever they are together they end up kissing or going on walks and him tell her about nature. Serena rather hoped it would be the former as there were only so many facts so could take in on crickets. Blushing slightly at this thought, Serena glanced at
him quickly to make sure he couldn't see what she was thinking.
"So, what's first on the list when we get back?" She asked, trying to avert her thoughts.
"We have a board meeting on our immediate return," He replied. Serena groaned, she was sure a board meeting as soon as she got back would put her to sleep straight away.
"Problem?" He asked, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow through his rear view mirror.
"Not at all," She smiled. Glancing absent mindedly out the window, she caught sight of Michael who was clearly chatting up the girl behind the till.
"I need a pee indeed." She grinned. Hanssen followed her gaze and sighed.
"It seems our Mr Spence is a smooth operator." He commented.
Serena pulled her gaze back round to Hanssen trying to figure out what he was thinking.
"He thinks he's smooth." She smiled. "However, I do believe with most women it's just an initial attraction to his accent."
Hanssen visibly tensed at this, obviously regretting starting a conversation like that. However, the awkward silence only lasted a few moments as Spence suddenly appeared from nowhere and jumped back in with a huge grin.
"Jeez, you are a fast mover aren't you?" Serena said. "Don't say you've already had her behind the toilets?"
"Ah, your just jealous my darling Rena," Serena glared at the use of her nickname. "Turns out she thinks my accents cute, so she gave me her number." Serena rose an "I said so," eyebrow at Hanssen before he reversed out of the space and carried on the route to Holby.
Pulling into the car park, they all got out of Hanssen's Volvo parked in his specially reserved CEO space before heading their separate ways. Serena went straight to her office, dumped her bag by her office, and said a quick hello to Ric before heading straight down to reception to grab a much needed coffee. She headed slowly to the boardroom, dreading this meeting. She thought of the mountain of paperwork waiting for her on her desk. That was one of the disadvantages of this new position Cunningham seemed to have plucked from mid-air, Hanssen felt it his duty to unload 90% of his paperwork onto her, resulting in her not properly seeing her daughter for days. Pushing open the door, she saw everyone but Hanssen was already there. Slumping down next to Michael, she listened to see what he and Jac were talking about.
"What do you think, Serena?"
"About what?" She asked.
"We were just discussing who in this hospital would be best in bed."
"I don't know,"
"For males, Jac's bets on Hanssen, after me obviously."
"Really?" She answered neutrally, trying not to let Michaels teasing catch her out.
"I think he'd be pretty good," Jac chipped in. Everyone turned to face her in surprise.
"You don't think he'd be nervous and shy?" Ric asked.
"Nope, I think he'd be rather satisfying." Michael momentarily forgot he was trying to get Serena too speak and turned his undivided attention to Jac.
"What?"
"Well, I think the wall he builds is just a cover." Serena wasn't sure whether Jac was being sarcastic or truthful. If she was being sarcastic, she was a brilliant actress.
"Oh, yes." Serena replied, purposefully showing her sarcasm. "I'm sure he wouldn't disappoint." She glanced around at her colleagues. Michael had a knowing smirk on his face, Elliot and Ric just looked amused but only remotely interested in the conversation and Jac just looked like Jac, neutral but
she was looking at Serena with a hint of surprise.
"Are you saying you want to get him under your sheets? Or have you already?" Michael asked, wanting her to slip up and admit to everyone she had something with Hanssen.
"Well, you know I wouldn't be able to resist a tall Swedish guy. And he's the biggest enigma known to man. Totally irresistible."
"I hope I'm not interrupting," A familiar voice said from the door. Everyone turned to see the tall, slim figure of the CEO and DOS sweep into the room and take his seat. Everyone fell silent, giving each other awkward and amused glances.
"Not at all," Serena smiled sweetly. "Jac was just saying how she thought you would be great in bed." Jac turned to her and gave her an icy stare. Everyone else looked at her with distaste as well. No matter how much you didn't like someone it wasn't the done thing to snitch on fellow consultants.
"And then Serena mentioned she wanted to jump in your bed." Michael grinned, jumping straight to Jac's defence or more to the point jumping straight at the chance to snitch on Serena. This time it was Serena's turn to face Michael and send him her trade mark glare.
"Shall we proceed with the meeting, I'm sure you have lives to save and operations to complete." The meeting commenced and Serena tried to ignore Jac, Michael and Hanssen's glances. If she was asked a question, she answered politely enough but with a hint of reservedness so they got the hint
to leave her alone. At the end of the meeting, Serena made a bolt to the door, not wanting to be caught by Michael.
"Ms Campbell, Ms Naylor. A word please if you would be so kind." Serena stopped in her tracks and she along with Jac and Hanssen waited for the room to clear. When Michael finally dawdled to the door and closed it behind him Hanssen started.
"I hope no other conversations like that will occur. I trust we can all maintain a certain level of professionalism." Serena nodded stiffly while Jac narrowed her eyes. She never did like her professionalism or skill to be questioned. Serena was going to kill Michael, whether she loved him like a brother or not.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Mr Hanssen." Jac finally managed. She turned on her heel and left. On her way past, she heard Jac mutter, "If I want to know I'll just give Sahira a ring." Serena glanced back quickly at Hanssen, but his face was emotionless so she couldn't tell whether he had heard or not. She wondered for a split second who Sahira was (and how she would know what Hanssen was like in bed) but she decided to interrogate somebody else later. Serena, too, turned to go. With one last glance at Hanssen she wrenched the door open. His eyes were doing that sexy sparkling thing again.
"Right, come on then, prep him now." Serena ordered. A quick change into her scrubs and she was just outside the theatre room, tying her scrub cap tight. She turned the tap on and a powerful jet of water spurted out.
"Should be an interesting one," She smiled to Ric who was standing next to her whilst sticking her hands under the tap and starting to scrub.
"Oh yes," Ric smiled back. Serena shook her hands and grabbing a paper towel, proceeded to dry them. Chucking the paper towel in the bin, she put on the gloves offered by the scrub nurse.
"See you on the ice," She grinned to Ric, pushing open the theatre door with her shoulder.
"Suction," Serena demanded a few minutes later. "Nope, I can't find the damn bleed."
"Serena, he's bp is dropping."
"Ok, keep pushing fluids and more suction,"
"Are you sure you can do this, we can always page Michael. This is his area of expertise."
"Oh no," She half smiled half grimaced. "That stuck up American is not getting his hands on my patient. And I found the bleed, the little bugger." Ric asked for the appropriate instruments from the scrub nurse and they proceeded to stem the bleed.
"Ms Campbell," A voice called. "Mr Hanssen wants to know if you're free?"
"Yes," She called sarcastically. "Tell him I've just put the kettle on if he wants to pop in for a cuppa." Ric chuckled at this before he decided to give the messenger an appropriate message. "Ms Campbell is really busy in theatre at the moment but she will happily go and find him after she's all done."
Serena pulled the scrub cap off of her head as she walked out of theatre. The operation had gone really well which put her in a better mood. As she changed out of her scrubs she heard her pager go off. Pulling it out of her pocket, she realised it was Hanssen. Remembering the message she got in theatre, she headed out of the changing room and up to Hanssen's office. She knocked loudly on the door and he had only just managed to get the "come in" out before she walked in. When she entered, she immediately realised he was not behind his desk but standing by his window.
"Ah, Ms Campbell," He greeted, barely glancing at her.
"Mr Hanssen, you want me?" Serena quickly tried to stop her thoughts drifting to the place they were as she realised what she said.
"Yes, I have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow and as you are the CED you will also be attending, if that's not a problem."
"No, that's fine," She replied, turning to go.
"Oh, and one last thing, Ms Campbell," she turned back to face him. "Have a good day," He said. Taken-aback she nodded at him before turning and leaving swiftly.
Back on the ward, she headed straight to the nurses' station. After answering Chantelle's persistent questions about how the conference went, she finally managed to get her to hand over some notes so she could start her ward rounds.
"Here you go Ms Campbell," Chantelle said in her sing-song voice, handing the folders over with a flourish.
"Welcome back, Ms Campbell. The Malick and Channers had Keller all under control." A smooth voice said. Serena looked over Chantelle's shoulder to see Malcik.
"Good to hear, if you'll excuse me," She went off to the patient in Bed 2.
"Hello," She smiled, rubbing in the hand gel she'd just squirted. "I'm Ms Campbell and your consultant."
"How long until I can get out of here?" The girl in the bed moaned.
"Well, we'll have to make you better first won't we?" She replied in a slightly patronising way to make sure the girl didn't start moaning. After a quick inspection, she turned to Digby who was beside her and ordered some tests.
"OK, FBC'S, U's and E's, LFT and an ECG," She stood by the end of the bed and watched as he tried unsuccessfully to take blood. After a while Chantelle appeared beside her.
"Why don't I try, Mr Digby?" Chantelle asked softly when the patient started to complain. Digby sighed and stepped back, allowing Chantelle access to the patient. In the first attempt, she had managed to successfully draw blood.
"A brilliant job, Nurse Lane," A soft voice said. They all turned to face Hanssen and a stupid grin crossed Chantelle's face.
"Oh, thank you Mr Hanssen! I could kiss you!" She grinned, running forward and trapping him in a tight hug.
"Sorry," She smiled sheepishly up at him, stepping back.
"Not at all," He said, letting a faint smile flicker across his face before turning and striding away. He always did have a soft spot for Chantelle.
"Aw, he's really sweet isn't he?" Serena looked at Chantelle as if she'd just come barging in brandishing a gun and threatening to blow everyone's brains out. Someone describing Hanssen as sweet was like Elliot Hope going on a diet. It just never happened and it looks weird when it does.
"Er..." She replied. "If you say so." She made sure a note was sent out saying she was off the ward so she could complete the paperwork awaiting her before hurrying to her office.
She sat at her desk and buried her head in her hands, her head was starting to throb. Hanssen's comment was playing around her head have a good day. He really was one of the most unpredictable and confusing men she'd ever known. She managed to drag her head off of her desk when she heard the door open.
"Michael," She groaned. "I sent a note out, any patient problems go to Ric."
"Well, lucky for you he's been called to an emergency operation so I've come up here to cover for a few hours but I need you to check a patient for me."
"Later," She moaned.
"Fine, whenever, my baby Rena." She stood up and slowly made her way towards him. Dangerously slowly. "Call me that again and I'll complete the fastest sex change known to man," She hissed into his ear. "Then you'll just have to let service-station girl down, won't you?"
"Ohh," He grinned. "Consider me warned. When you're ready." He smiled before backing out. Serena followed him out a few minutes later but not to see a patient.
Stopping just outside his office, she knocked loudly. With the usual 'come in' she entered and Hanssen clearly looked surprised to see her.
"What the hell does 'have a good day' mean?" She exploded. "Have a good day?" She repeated. "Look, we really need to talk." He sighed and stood up. He walked around the other side of his desk and stared at the floor for a few moments. She sighed when she realised he wasn't going to answer and turned to leave. A hand on her shoulder stopped her and she turned back around. Before she'd even had the chance to look into his dark eyes he had lent in and kissed her softly. It was so soft, she could barely feel his lips on hers but it made her lips tingle. She pulled away and raised a quizzical eyebrow at him.
"Actions speak louder than words, occasionally." He answered her unspoken question. He leant in again, his hands holding the sides of her head, tilting it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, their kisses getting more urgent.
"No more running?" She asked, pulling back again.
"No more running." He replied firmly, leaning in for a third time. He pushed her back quite forcefully and pressed her into the wall, their kisses now more urgent than ever. His hands automatically moved to her waist and hers to his top button.
"Wait," She grinned. "We are in your office."
"True," He smiled back, a faint hint of sadness showing.
"Doesn't stop us kissing though," She smiled up at him.
"That's also true," He kissed her softer this time, his hands reaching for hers and entwining fingers with her.
She sighed happily when she was back in her office, ready to deal with the paperwork waiting for her, she had already kindly seen Michael's patient for him. Her lips still slightly tingled and she was tempted to go straight back to Hanssen's office, but decided against it when she gave her paperwork another loathsome glance. She checked her watch and realised her shift was almost over, meaning she would have to stay to complete the work. Giving Eleanor a quick ring to explain, she felt her happy bubble burst when she listened to her daughter ranting at her.
"Oh come on, mum. You've been away all weekend, you promised me, tonight's for you and me."
"And I want it to be, but I can't help it can I?"
"Look, do you know what; I won't be home when you finally decided to turn up. I'm going round a friend's, don't bother asking who, I'll be home when I am. You always put work first." She hung up and Serena groaned as the door opened.
"Hey, what's up?" Michael asked.
"Daughter," She replied, sadly glaring at her phone. "I've got to stay to do this," She gestured at her paperwork "And she's not to happy."
"I'm having problems with my daughter too, but she's in the States. Serena, your daughter is at home waiting for you. You can't put this first. You'll retire from this one day but you're daughter's there for life. Night." He smiled, backing out. She glared at the pile for a moment longer before throwing her pen down and pulling her phone out of her pocket. Eleanor hadn't left and when Serena explained she was on her way home she said she wouldn't go out. She shrugged her coat on and picked up her bag and headed home to her daughter. However, not before diverting her route to Hanssen's office level and treating him to a goodbye kiss.
I know the Eleanor part at the end was a bit random but it's important for future chapters. Hope you like it and please please please leave a review! xxxx