Chapter 5

"Good morning Chantelle, how is she?" Serena asked instantly as she reached the side room and peered through the glass at the young woman sleeping soundly.

"Not very good Ms. Campbell. She crashed twice during the night, it's a good thing Mr. Griffin was here." she smiled sadly, walking away towards the Nurses' Station. Serena pushed open the door gently and headed over to the bed, reaching for the woman's chart.

"Good morning." Malory croaked as Serena's head snapped up and she smiled down at her.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, kicking herself for the stupidity of the question.

"Could be better." she admitted, smiling weakly. "Listen, I have something I want you to keep for me." she said as Serena shook her head.

"No, you don't need to do that now." she stated, unwilling to accept quite how ill Malory was.

"I do. I have no family...I want you to have this." she said, pressing a small silver bracelet into her hands. "It's the only thing I have left from my mother, please look after it. I couldn't bear the thought of it ending up in the rubbish somewhere." she said, resting her hand on Serena's.

"Of course I'll look after it." Serena swallowed as she saw Malory relax back and close her eyes.

"Thank you, for everything." she whispered as she went back to sleep. Serena stood up and quickly left the room, needing air. Over the past week she had gotten to know the young girl called Malory, who had no home, no family and no friends. She was a kind, loving, gentle person who'd only needed a chance in life. Opening her hand, she looked down at the bracelet and felt her heart ache for the dying girl. Looking up, taking a breath, she marched to her office where she deposited the bracelet safely in her top drawer. As she was heading back to the ward, she heard alarm bells in the distance and saw Chantelle rushing to the side room. She stopped still, rooted to the spot as Ric went charging past her, crashing through the doors. Forcing her legs to move, she followed him and entered the room, heading straight to the bed.

"She's not breathing...Defib please Chantelle!" Ric shouted, ripping open her top and placing the two patches on either side of her chest. Serena stepped forwards, calmly and lifted her eyelids.

"Pupils fixed and dilated, Mr. Griffin. She's gone." she said quietly, standing and staring down at her face. A silence descended on the room as everyone stopped what they were doing. Chantelle, seeing that Serena and Ric needed a few moments, led the other nurses from the room, leaving them alone. They both stood still, looking down at the lifeless body in front of them.

"Serena, I'm sorry." he said as she turned to look at him, a tired look in her eyes.

"You did all you could...we all did." she said simply, touching the young woman's hand briefly before heading for the door. She headed away from Keller, descending the steps at speed until she couldn't see where she was going anymore and she had to stop. Leaning against the railings she looked out of the window, across the car park, taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself, blinking back her tears.

"Ms. Campbell...?" came a voice from behind her and she groaned inwardly, not needing his lack of emotions at the moment. Clearing her throat, she stood up straight but continued looking through the window.

"I'm fine. I'll see you at 1pm as agreed." she said emotionlessly. Hanssen frowned and reached for her hand, taking it in his own.

"Come with me." he said simply as she turned and stared at him, questioningly. He stared right back at her and she gave in, allowing herself to be led down the remaining steps and out of the hospital. He led her across the gardens until they reached a small copse of trees at the very edge of the green. She stood, looking around her as he took a deep breath in and exhaled loudly. "Now, let it out." was all he said as he stepped back, away from her, giving her room. She glared at him and looked around her again.

"Let what out exactly?" she asked angrily.

"That. Let everything out." he repeated as she folded her arms in frustration. Glaring at him, she wouldn't budge an inch, so Hanssen sighed and stepped forwards into the midst of the trees. He closed his eyes and raised his arms to the sides so he was leaning on two different trees. He suddenly groaned in frustration, punching one of the tree trunks and vocalising his anger. Opening his eyes, he looked straight at Serena, whose own eyes were wide and shocked. "Your turn." he told her as he reached for her hand and pulled her into the trees with him. She stared up at him and he nodded for her to close her eyes. Huffing loudly, she did so and instantly found she could smell the bark of the trees, she crisp wind whipping itself around her, and something else...emptiness. She felt the sadness rising in her throat like bile and felt the tears begin to escape her eyes, running down her cheeks. She made no sound, simply stood still and cried silently, feeling Hanssen's presence near her. When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her with compassion and understanding as he reached forwards and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Good." he said gently, once again holding her arm as he led them from the trees, looking around to make sure he saw nobody they knew. They walked back to the building and Hanssen steered them towards the coffee bar. Buying them each a strong coffee, they walked to the lift and rode up in silence, exiting for his office.

Serena took a seat on the sofa at the back of the room and Hanssen followed, sitting at the other end. He sat stiffly, wondering what he should say now, when Serena looked over at him.

"What was that with the trees?" she asked, a curious look on her face. He took a sip of his coffee and kept his gaze forwards.

"After my mother died, I harboured a great deal of feelings and emotions...I know you find that hard to believe..." he quipped in her direction as she feigned innocence. "...I began to buckle under the sheer pressure of them all and realised I needed an outlet. There was a large wood near our house, I found I could go there and find my solace with the trees. There was something comforting about knowing they'd been around much longer than I had and had probably seen a great deal more too. They were wise, and they helped me with my wisdom." he explained nervously, sipping his coffee. "Sometimes all we need is for something or someone to listen to us, even if we're silent." Serena found she was impressed, not only by his coping technique as a child, but by the fact at times he was so effortlessly human. She smiled gently at him and drank her coffee. "Did they help you?" he asked earnestly and she turned to face him.

"I think they did. I feel much lighter...thank you." she finished, giving him a smile and turning back to her coffee.

"What was the matter?" he asked her quietly and he noticed how she stiffened and looked down at her coffee cup.

"A patient died...Malory Rogers?" she prompted as realisation dawned on him.

"Oh Ms. Campbell I am so sorry, I didn't know." She waved him away and leant back in the sofa.

"You know, whenever I see a young patient in here, all I can think about is what if it had been Eleanor." she whispered as he listened intently. "She was so young...too young to have had to deal with what she did. She had no-one." she stressed, a sadness entering her eyes. Hanssen wasn't sure what he should do to comfort her. He recognised the clear indications she was distressed, but he wasn't sure how she would react to any sympathy from him.

"She had you." he said suddenly, surprising them both. "When it mattered, when she needed somebody, she had you." Serena stared at him and nodded, smiling lightly and finishing her coffee.

"Thank you." Reaching out and squeezing his arm, she stood up and made her way across the room, with each step returning more and more to the formidable Ms. Campbell. Hanssen smiled.