Chapter 11

Hanssen woke to daylight streaming through the window, hitting his face. Blinking a few times, he turned to his left expecting to see Serena, but the sofa was empty. He looked down and noticed the blanket had been placed over him instead. Moving it aside and standing up, he stretched and tilted his neck, trying to get rid of the stiff feeling. He walked to the bottom of the stairs and looked up, as if expecting to see her. Frowning, he headed up the stairs, wondering if she'd had a bad turn in the night and he'd been too comatose to help. As he reached the landing, he could hear the sound of running water, coming from where he assumed the bathroom was. He stood waiting until the door opened and Serena exited, wrapped in a towel.

"Christ...!" she exclaimed as she saw him, taking a deep breath. "Stop doing that!" she said, breathlessly as he smiled.

"Sorry, I wanted to make sure you were alright." he explained as he averted his gaze away from her lack of covering.

"Thank you, I'm feeling better than I was." she admitted, smiling. "I thought a shower might freshen me up a bit." He turned his head back to her, allowing his eyes to wander momentarily.

"And did it?" he swallowed as she looked at him and smiled.

"In a way." She pulled her towel tighter around her and changed the subject. "Did you sleep okay? I would have woken you to offer you somewhere more comfortable, but I'm afraid I only woke up about 20 minutes ago myself." He nodded his head and took a step backwards.

"I slept sufficiently." He noticed she wasn't standing quite upright, choosing to lean against the doorframe and still looked rather pale. "Are you alright?" he asked as her head began to droop and she swayed slightly. He moved incredibly fast, catching her just before her legs gave way beneath her. Her breathing became erratic as she fought to stay conscious, Hanssen wrapping his arm around her waist. "Come on, deep breaths." he said as he led her back to her bedroom. Once inside, he lowered her onto the bed, laying her back and raising her knees to help the blood flow. "That's it, slow breaths." he soothed as she gradually slowed her breathing and her colouring returned to normal.

"I need to stop doing that." she said weakly as she smiled at him.

"It's just the infection lowering your BP. Is it too much to hope you had any form of food or drink before your shower?" She shook her head and he frowned. "Dehydration, hunger and the heat from the steam most probably contributed to your collapse. I'll get you some water." he said, ever the clinician as he took her glass downstairs and refilled it. When he returned, she was sitting up in bed. She'd changed into her pyjamas and smiled at him, embarrassed.

"Sorry about..." she didn't need to finish, as he understood what she meant. Sitting on the edge of the bed he handed her the water and shifted awkwardly.

"I didn't see anything, if that's what you're concerned about." he said, colour rising in his cheeks. He was telling the truth that he hadn't seen anything, but that didn't mean he hadn't secretly wanted to. She looked down at her lap, running her finger along the rim of the glass in her hands. After a few moments of silence, Hanssen came up with a plan of action. He reached out and felt her forehead with the back of his hand, this gesture becoming a regular occurrence to them now. "Take these..." he said, reaching for the packet of Ibuprofen and popping two out. "...I'll go and make you some breakfast...toast?" he asked and she nodded her head.

"Okay, thank you. Have you seen Eleanor?" she asked as he paused at the door and turned back to face her.

"I forgot to tell you, she went to a friends' house last night and said she would be back this morning at some point." Her face filled with worry as she put the water down on the bedside table and pushed back the covers, climbing from the bed. "I really don't think you should be up and around..." he said but she turned on him, anger in her eyes.

"DON'T tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing. YOU should have told me she'd gone out last night." she snapped as she pushed past him heading for the stairs. He followed her, slightly stunned by her sudden change.

"I'm sorry, it slipped my mind!" he said in his defence.

"Where children are concerned, their whereabouts cannot simply 'slip your mind'!" she threw back at him as she descended the stairs and grabbed her mobile, him following her.

"I came back into the room to tell you, but you fell asleep. I forgot all about it, more concerned for you! Besides, you didn't notice she'd gone all night!" Serena looked up at him sharply, her eyes filled with anger and hurt.

"How dare you. I wasn't the one she'd told she was leaving. I wasn't the one who gave her permission and then simply forgot to mention it! And I wasn't the one to think he had any right whatsoever in allowing my daughter to do as she pleased!" she shouted, moving right up in front of him so their faces were inches apart. Hanssen's anger and passion had ignited within him and at that moment, there was only one thing he wanted to do. He leant forwards and pressed his lips to hers, pulling her against him tightly. He felt her respond and wrap her arms around his neck, pulling him towards her fiercely. He pushed her across the hall and she grunted with the force of being backed into the wall. Pulling away momentarily, she nodded she was fine and he leaned in again. Their kisses became more urgent as he began to tug at her pyjama top. Running a hand up inside he reached her chest and rested his hand there, feeling her heart beating furiously. He felt her hands reach for his as she lowered them to her waist, holding them there. He understood that this wasn't going to go any further right now. He pulled back gently and she leaned back against the wall, gasping for breath. He didn't say anything, simply stepped backwards and tried to control his breathing. She glared at him and began typing a number into her phone, raising it to her ear and storming into the living room.

"Ellie, it's me. Where are you? Please call me back when you get this. Love you." she hung up as Hanssen appeared in the doorway, looking sheepish. "Don't even...!" she warned, when they heard the front door opening and closing. Serena looked up at Hanssen and rushed past him, exhaling at the sight of her daughter taking off her shoes. "Where on earth have you been!?" she cried, grabbing her daughter by the shoulders and pulling her towards her, wrapping her arms around her.

"I went out, I told Mr. Hanssen!" she pointed out as she hugged her mother awkwardly, rubbing her on the back.

"Have you been drinking?" she suddenly asked, holding her daughter in front of her. She noticed the smudged eye make-up, same clothes from last night and oily complexion. "Ellie we've talked about this!" she said exasperatedly, reaching to wipe some eyeliner from her cheek.

"I didn't get that drunk...mum don't get hysterical!" she complained as Serena sighed and dropped her arms, storming to the kitchen, muttering to herself and slamming the door. Eleanor looked towards Hanssen and raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What the hell was that?" Hanssen shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat.

"I'm afraid it's my fault. I didn't tell your mother you'd gone out...an error on my part. She was just concerned when she realised you'd been out all night...please don't be angry with her." he said, dropping his gaze and lowering his voice. Eleanor sighed dramatically and rested a hand on his arm.

"It's fine...she always worries. Thanks for looking after her though, she seems much better!" she laughed as she turned towards the kitchen. She opened the door slowly and entered, pushing it to behind her but not closing it fully. Hanssen could hear slightly raised voices as Serena scolded her daughter for not having text at all, Eleanor countering that she didn't think her mother would be aware of her surroundings enough to notice anyway. He began to feel very uneasy, being here when it was obvious he'd caused this mess. He went to retrieve his CD, popping it in his briefcase, then went upstairs to fetch his shoes. On his way back down, he noticed Eleanor was sat in the living room, the TV blaring. He went to pick up his briefcase and keys and quietly left the house, kicking himself for the trouble he'd caused. As he was nearing the end of the path he heard a shout behind him and turning, he saw Serena heading towards him in nothing but her pyjamas.

"Get back inside this instant Ms. Campbell! You are still very ill and I wouldn't want you to..." She cut him off by slapping him. She stood staring at him, full of anger as he froze in surprise. He didn't know how to react, especially as she hadn't said a word and was glaring at him. "What...?" he began, but was cut off again when she slapped him on the opposite cheek. He stepped back and looked at her in shock as her eyes blazed, but still she said nothing. He swallowed and decided to risk another attempt at communicating. "I don't know..." This time he was ready for her and as she launched herself at him, he dropped his briefcase and grabbed hold of her wrists, holding them aloft. "What do you think you're doing!?" he asked her as she struggled in his grasp, grunting in frustration.

"Let...go of me!" she shouted as he looked around, hoping there were no witnesses to this.

"Stop...Serena...STOP!" He raised his voice enough to grab her attention and she stopped struggling, staring into his eyes. "What's the matter!?" he asked her, feeling totally confused.

"You." she said, pulling her arms free and stepping back. "You can't just kiss somebody in the middle of an argument and then leave!" she fumed as he suddenly understood the root of her anger.

"I thought it would be best to allow you and your daughter to sort things out." he explained as he looked at her warily. "I'm sorry I didn't give you her message, I'm sorry we argued, I'm sorry I kissed you, I'm sorry!" he said, raising his arms in exasperation. They stood still, facing each other and he forced himself not to raise a hand to his cheek where it was still burning.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly, stepping towards him and running a hand through her hair. "I just feel so goddamn awful, I can't think straight!" She frowned as she looked at the ground, then raised her eyes to his. "Don't apologise for kissing me." she whispered. "Just don't apologise for that." He nodded stiffly, clearing his throat. She raised a hand and he found himself flinching involuntarily. Her eyes widened slightly and filled with remorse as she rested it on his cheek, stroking him and stepping closer. "I'm so sorry." His eyes met hers and he relaxed slightly, reaching his hands around her waist. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him softly. Pulling back, he saw the look of disappointment on her face but he knew he had to go.

"I think I'd better leave." he said quietly as she nodded sadly. As she let go of him and he bent to pick up his briefcase, he couldn't bear to see her looking so dejected. "How about a deal?" he asked as her head snapped up and she tilted it to the side, listening. "You go back to bed for the rest of the day, drink plenty of water, and I'll be back later to cook food for us and Eleanor, if she wants. How does that sound?" Serena was shocked for a moment, wondering if she'd misheard. Was this Henrik Hanssen, CEO and Director of Surgery, known for being aloof and cold...was he offering to come and cook a meal for her and her daughter? She simply stared at him as he shifted awkwardly and she realised she hadn't answered him.

"Umm...yes...yes." she smiled at him, shrugging her shoulders. "I suppose we have a deal." Hanssen's face lit up as he nodded and turned, heading to his car.

"Ms. Campbell..." he shouted back to her "...get back inside before I have to carry you there myself." he threatened and she turned towards the house, smiling as she saw Eleanor's wicked grin in the living room window.