Chapter 2

She awoke a few hours later, feeling incredibly hot and bothered. Opening her eyes, she saw her daughter was still cuddled up to her, snoring softly. Trying carefully to extract her arm from Eleanor's grasp, she raised it up, looking at her watch. Her eyes widened at the time and she looked down at the sleeping teen in her arms...they'd been embracing for more than four hours. She dropped her arm back to rest on her daughter as she swallowed and looked towards the window, the light attempting to break in from behind the curtains. Serena simply lay in silence, relishing the feeling of holding her child so close, of not having to rush to be anywhere and of having the rest of the day to spend together. After a few minutes she felt Eleanor begin to stir, so she kissed her on the top of her head gently and stroked her arm, allowing her to drift to consciousness in her own time.

"Mum?" Eleanor asked sleepily as she tilted her head up to see her mother's face smiling lovingly down at her.

"Good morning sleepy-head." she said gently, stroking her hair. "Sleep well?" she asked as Eleanor yawned and smiled contentedly.

"Actually, yeah. Your heartbeat is relaxing." she commented as she left her ear on her mother's chest. "Did you?"

"Yes I did. For the first time all week." she smiled as she squeezed her daughter to her.

"I just felt like I hadn't seen you in ages, I missed you." Eleanor explained and Serena felt her heart break for her daughter.

"I missed you too. I'm sorry I've been so busy, but it seems everybody decided to get sick at the same time!" she grumbled as Eleanor began fiddling with a button on her blouse.

"You didn't even change." she observed, Serena laughed.

"You know, when I saw you looking at me with those big, beautiful eyes, actually wanting me to cuddle you...I had to grab the chance with both hands!" she joked, stroking her face.

"I always want you to cuddle me, you give the best cuddles." she breathed as she squeezed her mother tight. Serena smiled, filled with joy as they held each other, not wanting to let go.

"Well..." Serena sighed "...I suppose we'd better get up." She noticed the look of disappointment cross her daughter's face as she held up her finger. "However...I have the day off today...fancy a mushy mummy-daughter day?" she asked as Eleanor's face lit up and she nodded.

"Mushy mummy-daughter days are the best." She stated as Serena kissed her and made to climb from the bed. Eleanor sat up and watched as her mother stretched her back and headed to the door, glancing over her shoulder.

"I'll have a quick shower and then I'll make us some breakfast." she announced, leaving the room. Eleanor flopped back down in her bed and smiled to herself...she had her mother all to herself for a whole day!

"Mr. Hanssen!" Michael shouted across AAU as the CEO turned and looked towards the source of the voice. "A little help!?" he shouted again as his patient doubled over in pain and vomited all over the bed. Hanssen had made his way over to them and pushed the man gently back down.

"What do we have here?" he asked, reaching for the man's abdomen and feeling it thoroughly.

"54 year old male, collapsed during an altercation with a passenger on his bus."

"Right, FBC's, LFT's and U&E's please Mr. Spence. Now, Mr...Harvey, any history of Kidney failure? Liver disease?" Mr. Harvey shook his head as he took deep breaths, trying to help the pain subside.

"I haven't been ill a day in my life." he said proudly. "This is the first day I have ever missed work." Hanssen raised his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Congratulations. I'm only sorry you're having to spend it here with us." he stated as he headed away from the bed towards the main desk.

"Mr. Hanssen!" Michael approached him from the side and he turned, bracing himself for whatever was about to be asked of him. "I'd like to send him for a CT scan too...whatever's going on in there, it ain't pretty." he commented as Hanssen thought about it momentarily.

"Okay, fine." he nodded as he turned back to the desk and picked up a file. Skimming it quickly, he headed over to the young girl who had been involved in an RTC.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Hanssen and you are Katy Johns, yes?" he asked as she nodded. She was huddled up against her pillows, her knees pulled up in front of her. "Now, from your results I'd say you're perfectly fine to go home, Katy. Is there anything you'd like to ask me?" He looked up at her briefly as he continued writing his notes. When she hadn't replied, he looked up and saw a haunted look in her eyes as she held onto her legs tightly. He raised an eyebrow and regarded her carefully. "Miss. Johns...are you alright?" he asked as she looked at him and her eyes widened as she shook her head. "What seems to be the trouble?" he asked her as she slowly lowered her legs and revealed she was in fact pregnant. Hanssen's surprise showed on his face as he re-read her notes, but they said nothing of a pregnancy. He estimated she must be at least 21 weeks as her swollen stomach protruded from under her small t-shirt. "Did you inform any member of staff that you are pregnant?" he asked her, as she shook her head.

"I don't want a fuss." she said quietly. "I was bleeding...that's why I was driving faster than I should have been. It's all my fault if I've killed her." she said coldly, her eyes focusing on Hanssen's.

"You caused the RTC by speeding? You do realise I will have to inform the relevant authorities." he stated as she nodded her head slowly. "Now, you said you'd been bleeding...how much blood?" She furrowed her brow, trying to estimate. "Well a teaspoon, a cup, a bowl full?" he pushed as she sighed.

"Probably all of those." she answered. Hanssen moved to pull the curtain around the bed, turning back to her.

"Do you mind if I take a look?" he asked as she shrugged and nodded. "I'll need you to remove your leggings please, and your underwear." He backed slowly out of the cubicle, spotting Mary-Claire heading towards him. "Ah, Nurse Carter...would you join me please?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"Of course Mr. Hanssen." She stepped into the cubicle and went to stand by Katy as Hanssen examined her as best he could. Finally, he removed his gloves and stepped out onto the ward, Mary-Claire with him.

"Would you call Obs and Gynae please, tell them we need an urgent referral." She nodded and headed off to the desk as he stepped back into the cubicle and pulled the sheet up over Katy's legs. "Miss Johns, I am referring you to our Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department. Someone will be to see you shortly, in the meantime if you could remain here please." he stated emotionlessly as she nodded, dropping her head back on the pillow.

"She's dead, isn't she?" she asked, looking straight at him. Hanssen pursed his lips, thinking of the correct way to say this.

"I'm afraid this isn't my area of expertise. I was unable to feel any motion from the baby, but as I said, I am not an expert in this field. The doctor who will be along to see you shortly should be able to give you a much clearer indication." He noticed how scared she looked, although she was trying to hide it.

"Please, I just want to know if she's alive or not. Can't you give me an ultrasound or something?" He looked at her, sensing her desperation coming through and nodded, sighing.

"Alright, but all I will be able to tell you is if the heart is beating or not." She nodded her head eagerly as he left to find a machine. He returned with the ultrasound machine moments later, Mary-Claire with him. "Roll up your top, lie back." he instructed as she obeyed. He opened the gel and held it over her belly. "This may be cold." he said squirting a large dollop onto her skin. She flinched from the cold and reached for Mary-Claire's hand, squeezing it. Hanssen focused on the screen as he moved the sensor around her abdomen, locating the womb, but not the baby. He frowned and hit a few buttons on the machine as he continued to move it around, searching. Then they heard it. The heartbeat came through the monitor and Katy cried out in relief as she covered her face with her arm. Turning towards Hanssen, her eyes filled with tears.

"Is she ok? She's alive?" Hanssen turned and smiled at her.

"Yes, she's alive and she has a very strong heartbeat." He began to wipe the gel away as Dr. Walters from Obs and Gynae popped her head around the curtain. "Ah Dr. Walters! Patient for you." he nodded at Katy as he stood up and smiled at her before leaving.

"Thank you!" she called after him. As he reached the desk, he felt a presence behind him and he turned around to see Mary-Claire stood there, looking up at him sheepishly.

"That was lovely what you just did for her." Hanssen bristled and cleared his throat.

"I was simply doing my job, Nurse Carter. Perhaps you'd like to get on with yours?" She scowled at him as she moved off down the ward and he buried his nose in the next file.