I know I haven't updated recently :( I might be able to update the next chapter quite quickly now though, as my controlled assessment is being handed in tomorrow and that has taken over my life! Hope you enjoy and this is just the build-up for the next chapter…

When Serena arrived in her office the next morning her heart sank as she eyed up the work. So it hadn't magically done itself over night. Although she had to admit, seeing her daughter for a change was nice. She hadn't properly talked to her in a while, and she was surprised how much they had drifted apart. Seeing her daughter had made her feel happy, something she hadn't for a long time. Well, there was that and...
"Ah good morning Ms Campbell."
"Mr Hanssen," She greeted, turning to see Hanssen standing in the doorway of her office.
"Don't forget the report that is due in today."
"Of course not, how could I?" She smiled as he turned and swept away.

When she finally completed it, she hurried straight to Hanssen's office and burst in, not bothering to knock.

"Ms Campbell, and to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" He asked, looking up sharply when he heard his door open.
"This," She groaned, throwing the paper down on his desk.
"Thank you," He smiled, turning his attention back to his laptop. She turned around and went to leave his office.
"Are you quite alight, Serena?" He asked, dropping the professional image. She glanced over her shoulder with a nod and left his office without so much as a "yes thank you, you?"

Serena got through until lunchtime in a mixture of paperwork, pee break, paper work, pee break, paperwork. Realising she had an afternoon meeting, she sighed in annoyance. Great, cue another "You're never there for me" from Eleanor when she would have to stay to finish her work. The meeting was boring and a waste of time, putting Serena in a worse mood.
"Ms Campbell, I would like a word in my office as soon as you can please." Hanssen announced at the end of the meeting before striding off. Michael sent her a quizzical glance but when she shrugged her shoulders in response he also left. She decided to go to Hanssen's office straight away, she really didn't want to go back to her office to face the paperwork. When she arrived, knocked and received the standard "come in", she entered his office. She was surprised to see him already standing.
"Follow me," He said briskly, walking past her and stopping just outside his office.
"Look, I've got a mountain of work and-"
"Please, just follow me," He repeated with more fixed finality so she wouldn't argue. She sighed a little in protest but nevertheless followed him down the corridor. Clueless as to where they were going, she was force to follow him like a lost sheep down to the ground level, out through the main doors an through the hospital grounds. The wind was making her freeze and her hands already felt numb as he stopped when they reached a spot where they were covered by trees and out of sight from everyone.
"Can I ask why I'm here or is it a secret?" He turned to face her.
"Because you're out of sight from all the prying eyes and because of the wind," He replied.
"The wind?"
"The wind. I find it helps to blow away stresses and worries when you're under a lot of pressure."
"Blow away stress?" She scoffed. He nodded and closed his eyes, tilting his head back slightly. She studied him carefully; he did immediately look a lot more peaceful. She followed suit and closed her eyes. The wind was whipping around her but she welcomed it, allowing her mind to go blank. She really did feel as if it was cleansing her, washing away her stress. Sighing contently, she opened her eyes to find Hanssen looking at her with a faint smile. Feeling stupid, she stared at the floor.
"What's the matter, Serena?"
"Nothing," She sighed. He stepped closer and pulled her into a tight cuddle her head resting against his chest. He planted soft kisses on the top of her head in a soothing way.
After a few moments he stepped back and cupped her face in his hands. "Tell me," He demanded softly.
"I'm fine," She smiled. He gently kissed her forehead then her lips.
"Are you sure?" He asked, his dark eyes piercing her own. She felt like he could see right through her.
"Yes, although," She smiled, the usual sparkle in her eyes returning, "I might feel even better if-"
"If what?" He teased before kissing her again. She reluctantly broke it a while later and checked her watch.
"I've got to go and finish that report otherwise I might be lucky to finish my paperwork by the end of this millennium." She kissed him again before she started to walk away.
"Oh, and thank you." She called over her shoulder.
"What for?"
"For blowing away my worries." She grinned before disappearing from sight.

However, her no-stress bubble was harshly popped within half an hour of being back on the ward.
"Please, darling, help me out here." She begged into her phone. "Shut up, Ric!" She shouted over her shoulder. She carried on searching for her paper that had disappeared in the bombshell she called her desk as she listened to her daughters rant through the phone wedged between her ear and shoulder about how she was never there and Ric's persistent calls from the office door saying that she really needed to take a look at this patient. Finding her paper, she told her daughter she would call her back as soon as possible and shouted to Ric to give her five minutes to finish it off.
"I'm counting," He called as she pulled the mobile phone from her ear, pressed the end call button and chucked it on her desk.
"Yeah, you run along and do that," She glared, slamming the office door shut.

After completing her paper and seeing Ric's patient, she was slowly working her way through the mountain of paper work. Remembering the promise to her daughter, she found her phone hiding under her folders and rang her daughter.
"Hi, look it's me... I know but I can't help it can I?... Hey come on now, I do my upmost for you... No! I'm not trying to guilt trip you, just listen to me... I can't, I need to stay tonight... I came home yesterday didn't I? I have to do it one time or another... No! I'm not saying I didn't want to see you. Oh, come on Eleanor be fair. Don't go out, come on. No, don't hang-" She sighed when the line went dead. "Up," She sighed, chucking her phone down on the desk.
"Ok?" Ric asked, appearing at the door. He sat at his desk and put his glasses on before turning his attention to the paperwork in front of him.
"Yeah," She replied.
"Are you sure? You look done in."
"Mm..." She groaned. "You know just how to cheer a woman up."
"That's how I managed to turn into a serial husband along with 1001 kids."
"Children, God's gift, yeah? I must have sinned like a trooper in a past life then because he's certainly getting his revenge now."
He smiled at her sympathetically. "Problems with Eleanor?"
"That's one way to put it," She sighed before turning back to her work. "She seems to think this is all I care about and I have no time for her."
"And when was the last time you was properly with her?"
"Yesterday,"
"And that was the first time in how long?"
"Oh, I don't know," She groaned. "Don't you start as well, Ric,"
"I'm not, I'm just asking."
"Ages. I know I haven't been around much for her but this is the new position and everything and I need I show I can cope."
"Can you?" She glared at him with suspicion and a slight hint of hurt that he had suggested that.
"You don't think I can, do you?"
"No, it's not that at all. I'm saying the hardest job in the world is being a mother and that's not helped by being a consultant in a hospital and your new position. I'm sure you can cope, Serena, but you are only human." She glared again before looking down at her work so he wouldn't carry it on. She could cope, she was Serena Campbell. But could her daughter? All those nights she'd been alone and put herself to bed because Serena had stayed late to this or the other. Serena thought back to their conversation. The last thing she wanted was her daughter to resent her, to hate her. And worse of all to grow up without a mum altogether. She had put work before her daughter for a long time, but surely it comes with the territory? Consultancy didn't just happen, did it? She resolutely picked up her pen and studied the papers before her. So involved in her paperwork, she was barely aware of Ric's pager going off half an hour later and him announcing he had to go as they had an RTA coming in. She gave him a quick nod and he hurried out of the room. A few minutes later, the door banged open again and she looked up to see a pale-looking Chantelle standing there.

"Ms Campbell, the RTA, I'm so sorry, it's Eleanor."

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