(I found myself at a loose end and decided to just whack out a few chapters! Please review and let me know what you think :) )

Chapter 12

"Hi!" Eleanor chirped as she opened the door to Hanssen. Mum's in bed, just like you told her!" Laughing, she closed the door behind him and nodded for him to go upstairs. He smiled at her and set off up the stairs to Serena's room. He opened the door gently, poking his head in and saw she was lying on her side, facing away from him. He went over to the bed and sat on the edge, reaching his hand out to her waist, stroking her gently. She turned her head and rolled onto her back once she saw who it was.

"Hello." she smiled as she stretched and propped herself up against her pillows. Hanssen held out the packet of flu medicine to her and she laughed. "Most people bring flowers." she snorted as he looked at her in mock-disapproval.

"I doubt flowers would have the medicinal properties needed to cure you." he teased, stroking her arm.

"So, what's on the menu, chef?" she asked him as he leant in and kissed her softly.

"I have absolutely no idea." he confessed as she laughed and he kissed her again.

Hanssen was stood in the kitchen washing the dishes with Eleanor as Serena had gone back to bed. He had elected to cook them a chicken broth followed by bananas in fresh yoghurt. Whilst choosing the dishes, he had been conscious of the fact Serena was not feeling 100% and had chosen foods which should aid her in getting better.

"Do you live on your own?" Eleanor asked him as he handed her a plate.

"Yes, I do. Why do you ask?" She shrugged her shoulders and smiled to herself.

"You know how to cook and you don't mind clearing up." she pointed out as he chuckled.

"I suppose these are basic things when one lives alone." he agreed, handing her another plate.

"You like my mum." she observed and Hanssen found himself becoming uncomfortable.

"Yes, I have great respect for your mother." he stated indifferently, hoping she'd let the matter drop, however this was the daughter of Serena Campbell.

"I know that, I mean you like her...in a more than friends way. It's okay, I'm not going to say or do anything." she smiled reassuringly at him. "It's just this past week, she's been happier, less stressed. I think you have something to do with that." she stated as he cleared his throat nervously.

"Would that bother you?" he asked pointedly, looking at her for the truth. She wrinkled her nose as she thought about it then looked up at him.

"My mum has spent her life taking care of me and always putting herself last. I think it's about time someone took care of her." She said simply. "If you make her happy and she does the same to you, then it's irrelevant what anyone else thinks." she finished, wiping her hands on the towel and patting him on the arm before leaving and heading into the living room. That was one thing both mother and daughter had in common, he thought; their straight-talking and their affection towards others. He looked around at the spotless kitchen and reached for a glass, filling it with water. Leaving the room, he flicked the light off and headed upstairs to see how Serena was feeling.

"How's the patient?" he asked as he closed the bedroom door behind him and crossed to the bed, handing her the glass of water and scooping up the balled-up tissues from the bedside table, throwing them in the bin.

"I'm fine, thanks for the dinner." she smiled as she sipped her water and watched him walk around her room slowly. He noticed a photo hanging on the wall above her chest of drawers and moved closer. On inspection, he saw Serena and Eleanor hugging each other tightly, smiling broadly in the sunshine, a breeze whipping their hair. Eleanor must only have been 4 or 5, he guessed. He smiled at the happiness he saw in Serena's eyes and turned to face her.

"That's a lovely photo." he commented as he moved to the bed and sat down in the centre, putting an arm around her and pulling her close, kissing the top of her head. A gesture so simple, it tugged at her heart and she relaxed into him.

"We were at Brighton beach." She said quietly, Hanssen realising she was talking about the photograph. "It was the last holiday we had as a family before Edward left. Things were much simpler back then." she breathed, remembering all the hurt which followed. Hanssen was unsure of how to contribute to the conversation, being that he'd never had a marriage. He chose, instead, to simply hold her close and stroke her hair. "I've changed my mind." she said suddenly, Hanssen frowning in confusion.

"Changed your mind about what?" he asked as she sat up next to him, looking him in the eye.

"You. You're not cold and clinical and emotionless..."

"I'm glad to hear it!" he scoffed as she rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm not finished. I mean you're not only those things...you're also kind and warm and funny and actually quite charming, when you want to be." He stared at her, feeling his heart lift at the way she was looking at him.

"I'm glad you think so." he whispered whilst she leant up and kissed him softly. He held her close as they kissed, exploring each others' mouths. He relished the feeling of her body against his, her heartbeat matching his own and her emotions showing through. She snuggled back down onto his chest and took a breath.

"Will you stay tonight?" she asked him, already knowing the answer.

"Of course." he smiled, kissing the top of her head.

The week passed very quickly once again, Serena finding time to do nothing except work and sleep. Her electives lists were full each day and thanks to a nearby Plastics warehouse explosion, they'd had an influx of patients needing urgent treatment. Friday arrived, and as the afternoon rapidly approached, she worried she wasn't going to be able to make the meeting at St. James's. She sighed in frustration as she looked again at the list of electives still waiting, jumping when Ric appeared beside her.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Well if you could somehow stop time long enough for me to finish my electives and then head to this meeting, that would be great!" she smiled sarcastically as Ric looked at the screen.

"Well, I can do these two..." he said pointing at two names "...she hasn't been bumped at all, so bump her for now and he..." he stressed, deleting one of the names "...stormed out earlier claiming we were attempting to steal his internal organs." She shook her head in amazement as he had just completely divided up her remaining procedures.

"You really are amazing...do I tell you that often enough?" she laughed as she kissed him on the cheek excitedly and handed him the iPad. "If you need me, I'll be on my mobile." He nodded as she headed off towards their office, collecting her bag and coat and going to get Hanssen. They'd only managed to see each other on Wednesday for a couple of minutes, choosing to return to their own homes each night, beyond tired after such long shifts. As the lift doors opened, she stepped out only to go smacking into Hanssen's chest.

"Oof." he exclaimed as she knocked the wind from him.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she gasped as she reached out and rubbed his back, him bent over catching his breath.

"Ah no problem Ms. Campbell." he smiled, ushering her into the lift. As soon as the doors closed, he turned to her and kissed her hard, wrapping his arms around her and almost lifting her off the ground. She could feel his arms tight around her waist as she caressed his face, kissing him passionately. She hadn't seen him for days and she found that she ached to be with him. This was what she needed, him holding her tight and drawing her passion from her. As she heard the lift signal it's landing, she pushed him away and they stood facing the front, trying to disguise their breathlessness. They stepped from the lift and headed out the main doors towards Hanssen's car. Climbing in, she placed her bag on the floor in front of her and waited for him to climb in beside her. He started the engine and they pulled out of the car park before he looked at her. He silently reached over and took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. She smiled shyly as he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.

When they reached St. James's, they were later than usual, having been held up in traffic. They leapt from the car and flew across the car park, pausing momentarily for their ID badges before charging up the corridor and finally reaching the Boardroom. Luckily, Cunningham was running late too and Serena breathed a sigh of relief as they took their seats.

"Maybe he's ill, maybe it's serious..." she whispered to Hanssen, eyes full of hope, as Cunningham entered the room looking flushed and coughing into a tissue. Serena looked up at Hanssen and smirked.

"I think we all know who's responsible for giving him that." he commented about Cunningham's obvious illness and Serena punched him on the leg.

"Good afternoon everyone, sorry I'm late, I was held up. Now, I apologise for my health today, but we'll try and muddle through as best we can. First on the agenda...people skills." he announced as Serena turned her head slowly to Hanssen and raised an eyebrow.