A/N: OK as far as my knowledge from personal experience of seeing someone with Pneumonia I've got as much knowledge as I can remember though it was two years ago but the images have never left my mind and it was horrible in ICU.
"I'm not working down on AAU!" Johnny shouted, "Why me?"
"Because you need to work on your emergency medicine skills, Jac and Mo have done their course it's your turn," Elliot answered whilst holding a doughnut Johnny looked very angry, "Jonathon it's not a punishment."
"Fine," Johnny went to his locker, "Guess what Elliot's making me do?" he asked Mo.
"Going down to AAU?" Mo took a guess Johnny nodded and groaned, "It's not that bad Johnny Mac."
Johnny took some shortbread out of his locker, "Want one?" he offered the packet to Mo.
"Save it for AAU," she winked and left the locker room Johnny tilted two short bread circles out of the packet and put the rest in his hoddie pocket.
Down on AA U it was unusually quiet, "Hope you weren't in the store room for too long," Harry winked at Gemma whilst Serena walked in, "We just wished we could've got you out sooner."
"We're going to have Nurse Maconie joining us," Serena announced, "He needs to update his emergency medicine so like with Ms Naylor and Ms Effanga make them feel welcome, as welcome as you can."
Edward walked over with two coffees, "What's this I hear about Scotland The Brave joining us?" Edward handed her the cup.
"Oh thanks," Serena took the drink and tapped the cardboard cup, "Nurse Maconie joining us for the day update on emergency medicine," she took off the lid and sipped the drink.
"Scotland The Brave like that," Harry laughed behind a folder Gemma hit his arm, "What it's a good nickname?" He said to Gemma.
"Ms Campbell said to make him feel welcome," Gemma span on the chair Edward placed his hands on the desk, "So wouldn't that just make him feel awkward?"
"Stereotyping," Mary-Claire joined in, "It's like assuming all us Irish drink and have bad tempers."
"Oh look at that two Celts together," Harry winked Mary-Claire shot him a glare, "And there's the bad temper," Johnny walked into AAU everyone looked at him funny, "Oh I know cry of the Celts," Harry laughed.
"That's Irish you idiot," Gemma corrected him, "What's it going to be next Auld Lang Syne and Haggis being shared round?"
"Welcome Nurse Maconie," Serena directed the conversation away, "Come and join us."
"Hi," Johnny walked over awkwardly.
"Seriously Cry of the Celts is Irish?" Harry asked, "I thought it was both."
"Who would've thought you were well educated?" Mary-Claire asked, "Look up Lord of the Dance, you're looking for Highland Heartbeat for Johnny."
"Oh Flower of Scotland when will we see your like again," Edward walked away singing he had done it on purpose.
"I've got a song for you," Johnny stood up straight everyone waited, "They came from Fort William Wi' murder in mind the Campbell had orders King William had signed."
"Yes we all know many songs now if we could do some work," Serena turned her head to Edward, "Especially you," she pointed.
Mary-Claire, Gemma, Harry and Johnny all exchanged looks, "Wasn't my fault he locked us in…." Edward trailed off and rubbed his neck realising he had just stitched up Harry.
"Knew it," Serena eyed Harry her dark eyes suddenly looked darker, "Wasting valuable time do you value your job Dr Tressler?"
"Yes Ms Campbell," Harry looked down his superior frightening him, "It was my idea I'm sorry."
"It wasn't all him," Gemma stepped up Harry looked at her, "I was with him."
Serena folded her arms, "What if there had been an emergency? What if we were needed? Didn't think about that did you?" she eyed the two Juniors.
"Oh dear," Michael said to Ric both men walked forward.
"I suppose you two were in on this too?" Serena asked angrily, "Well Mr Spence? Mr Griffin?"
"Mr Griffin warned us not to," Harry defended the older man, "It was just me I convinced Gemma to help me."
"Well I don't know what your plan was," Serena kept a straight face, "But whatever it was you'll be disappointed to know nothing happened, now since you're not the first person to do that I'm letting you off… wouldn't be fair."
Edward was shocked but then he realised she never really shouted at James, in fact she kissed him on the cheek he laughed to himself.
"What you smirking at?" Serena asked confused by his laughter, "Well?"
"Just a memory," he squeezed her shoulder whilst walking away, "Welcome to AAU," he said to Johnny, "She won't bite."
"Oh that reminds me," Johnny searched his pocket, "Anybody want some?"
"Is that shortbread?" Edward observed Johnny nodded, "Might take one."
Serena looked over, "Is it plain?" she asked.
"Yeah," Johnny answered and he held out the packet to her she put her hand in and took two, "Who said you could take two?"
Serena walked away then walked into her office her one weakness – shortbread.
"Don't leave that lying around," Edward warned Johnny pointing a finger down to the packet, "She loves the stuff."
"How much?" Johnny asked protective over his treat.
"She's half Scottish does that answer your question?" Edward laughed and walked away taking two pieces.
"I shall be keeping hold of this," Johnny placed them back into his pocket, "Hey you know how to suck up to her now," Johnny said to Harry who was clearly in trouble with her again, "I'd lay off the Scottish jokes," Johnny warned, "Aam a big pure techt Scottish machine."
"What?" Harry asked confused.
"I'm a big mean Scottish machine," Johnny translated, "Learn your Gaelic," he walked off to find Ric.
Edward walked in Serena and Ric's office it was empty apart from Serena sat looking at something online, "Shouldn't you be doing work?" he said over her shoulder.
"Shouldn't you be putting people to sleep?" she asked Edward laughed, "Well?" she turned her face to him, "Not just me who likes shortbread then?" she raised an eyebrow.
"That was your dad's fault," Edward answered Serena smiled sadly, "Sorry."
"No it's fine… it's nice having someone else talk about him," Serena looked down then up again Edward placed his arm around her shoulder, "What if someone walks in?" she asked panicking Edward shrugged, "What happened to not wanting to prove them right?"
"Lock the door?" Edward said.
"It's Ric's office to remember?" Serena placed her hand on Edward's playing with one of his fingers.
"And can you really see Ric telling anyone?" he looked in her eyes Serena shook her head in all fairness Ric respected her privacy, "Exactly," the door opened they weren't quick to look furious at each other.
Ric walked in shut the door and was grinning, "Hope I wasn't disturbing anything," he laughed to himself, "Knew it wouldn't take you long," he sat down at his desk and poured himself a coffee from his flask.
"We, I, urr," the pair said together unable to come up with a reasonable explanation.
"It's not my business," Ric sipped from the cup, "And I won't tell anyone," he said to Serena, "So do I need to knock now?"
"It's your office too," Edward reminded him.
"Just don't tell Mary-Claire or any other blabber mouths… we'll be the talk of the place," Serena said to Ric who made a: 'you'd think I'd do that?' look.
"Serena," Ric held his hands up, "What you do with your life is no one's business."
"Thank you," Serena nodded to him respectively, "Nurse Maconie will be looking for you."
"I've seen him I told him to tail Michael," Ric explained, "I've got paperwork to do… you two got any theatre today?"
"Nope," Serena answered, "Michael and Malik are on that today… thank you for taking over my time slots."
"You can buy me a drink to ease the back pain later," Ric joked Serena rolled her eyes, "Tonight?"
"I'll see," Serena then her phone vibrated she took the phone out of her bag unlocking it, "Eleanor's staying at Gabby's another night."
"She must be hung over," Edward laughed, "Doesn't want to face you."
"Ha-ha," Serena turned her attention back to her computer screen she used one hand to rub her shoulder, but Edward took the hand away and took over the role, "Thanks."
"Surgeons you spend too much time leaning over tables," Edward heard Ric chuckle to himself, "It's true."
"Whilst people like you spend your time sat down whilst people like myself and Ric do all the hard work," Serena felt her the knot in her shoulder loosening.
"And like I say people like me make sure your patients don't feel pain," Edward felt the knot loosening too, he carried on massaging her shoulder, "I'm not hurting you am I?"
"No you're fine," Serena answered she felt the knot go so did Edward he took his hand away, "Who said you could stop?" she looked up at him.
"How dare I," Edward placed hands on her shoulders, "Better?" he asked, "What are you typing?" he looked over shoulder nosily.
"A report for Hanssen," Serena answered she carried on typing.
A thought suddenly shot over Ric, "I hope to not intrude in your personal life," Ric walked over Serena and Edward looked over to him, "But have you figured out what you're going to tell Adrienne?"
"Ah yes my mother," Serena pulled on her ear, "What she doesn't know won't hurt her."
"And if Eleanor catches us out she'll be straight on the phone to her," Edward knew his daughter too well, "Besides she'll hardly go mad at you."
"She'll call me a bloody idiot and probably a lot more," Serena moved her necklace pendent left and right across the chain, "The amount of times she gives me advice and I don't take it."
"Because you need to make your own decisions," Edward placed one of his hands flat on the desk, "And you're both as stubborn as each other," he saw a small smile form on her lips, "You cannot avoid her forever."
"I dread to think what she's going to say," Serena felt Edward's other hand leave her shoulder. Ric decided to take his paperwork into the staff room he figured out they needed to talk it through in private, "So what am I going to tell her?"
Edward pulled up a seat beside her he leaned over on the desk, "The truth… no point lying Serena."
"Why don't we think before we act?" Serena placed her head on the desk. Edward placed his hand on her back, "Answer me."
"Because… we just don't think," Edward answered the only answer we could think of, "That's our problem."
Serena looked up she leant her elbows on the table and moved her right hand to join her left hand, then she leant her left cheek on her joined hands, "Always has been."
Edward caressed Serena's right cheek, "And it will always be," he said gently whilst he used his thumb to stroke her cheek, Serena weakened at his touch one thing she had always been subjected to weakening to is Edward's touch.
"We best go back out before people start talking," Serena pulled herself out of her weakened mind.
"Does it matter if they do?" Edward asked not removing his hand from her cheek.
"Well it'll be proving them right for starters," Serena said Edward smiled, "What?"
"And you're forgetting we kept our relationship secret for a year once," Edward reminded her Serena looked at him, "Until James found us in your office… least he didn't see what that nurse did. If we can keep it secret over there we can keep it secret here," Edward stood up his hand slipped away from cheek, "Come on then."
Serena frowned then stood up Edward but then her pager went off, "It's my mother… she's on ICU." Serena rushed off to find her mother, concerned, Edward followed. Serena ran up the stairs panic sweeping through her.
When she got onto the ICU ward she bumped into a charge nurse, "Serena Campbell?" the nurse asked.
"Yes why is my mother here?" Serena twiddled with her necklace, Edward came running up behind her.
"Ms Campbell your mother has been transferred from the ED, she was being treated for a chest infection with Antibiotics but unfortunately due to her immune system being weakened she has developed Pneumococcal Pneumonia. We've got her on IV Antibiotics and to help her breathing she has got oxygen… you may be shocked when you first see her but-"
"I know I am a doctor here," Serena snapped at the Charge Nurse, "Sorry."
"Would you like your…. Friend to come in with you?" the charge nurse asked.
"It's fine," Serena watched as the charge nurse typed in the lock number and as she stepped into the ICU ward sounds of various machines were rattling, monitors were beeping and by the nurses station desk a bed caught her eye, as she looked over she saw her mother and a long tube connected to a tight fitting mask the tube was vibrating the sound of the oxygen was like the sound of suction and as she looked at her mother she saw how serious her mother's condition was.
Fear, panic and many other emotions swept over her Serena saw Ric sat beside her, "Serena," Ric looked at his colleague, "I thought it's best I wait… as I didn't want her to be alone."
Serena knew one action right now and it was she very rarely did, she turned around and walked out breathing heavily she leant against the wall and breathed out with shock, "Serena?" Edward walked quickly over and placed his arm around her shoulder.