A/N: So sorry for the wait on an update xx
Serena and Edward woke up to the sound of someone walking down the stairs, Serena only knew Eleanor to be up around this time and it was if she was home late or was feeling ill and wanted to sleep downstairs, "Eleanor's not well," Serena said to Edward who was facing her.
"How can you be sure?" Edward asked frowning.
"She only goes downstairs at this time if she's ill," Serena answered she flicked on the beside light.
"Weird habit," Edward sat up and stretched, "Ah turn the light off it's hurting my head."
"I'm going to go check on her," Serena got out of bed, "See you in a minute."
"OK," Edward pulled the duvet over his banging head, Serena turned the light off and walked downstairs.
Serena found Eleanor resting on the sofa duvet wrapped around her and one of her pillows on top of her head, "It's hit you then," Serena stood arms folded in the doorway.
"Uh-huh," Eleanor said in a quiet whining tone, "It's your fault."
"Now you're sounding like your father," Serena walked over and sat on the sofa, "Symptoms?" Serena ordered.
"You should know you're a doctor," Eleanor said from under the pillow, Serena lifted the pillow off her daughter's head and felt her forehead.
"You've got a temperature," Serena lifted her hand away, "Would you like a hug?" Serena asked Eleanor frowned.
"Why?" Eleanor asked.
"Do you want one or not?" Serena asked Eleanor sat up, "I did warn you last night that you'd become ill," she pulled her daughter into a hug, "Back to bed."
"I'd rather stay down here," Eleanor said, "It's comfier."
"You're better off in bed," Serena said knowingly, "Back up to bed… come on."
"Fine," Eleanor stood up and grabbed her pillow and duvet she felt dizzy and swayed slightly Serena caught her, "This is why I'm better off downstairs."
"Bed," Serena kept her protective hold on Eleanor, "You don't see hospitals with sofas for beds do you?" Once they reached Eleanor's room upstairs Serena tucked her in, "I'll get you some more water."
"OK," Eleanor closed her eyes as her head felt really heavy, she woke up to the sound of the glass hitting the table, "Thank you."
"Also take this," Serena dropped two ibuprofens in her hand, "And get some sleep OK."
"Yes doctor," Eleanor said cheekily and it earned her a small smile as her mum walked out the door.
…
"All sorted," Serena said whilst crawling back under the covers, "How are you feeling?"
"What do you think?" Edward asked pitifully, "It will come in the end you know… the truth always does," Serena didn't know if that was the flu talking or if he actually knew what he was saying, her second hypothesis was proved correct when Edward turned to face her, "It'll come out in the end… about us being together."
"Well let's have fun keeping them guessing until it does," Serena kissed him on the nose and they touched foreheads, "As we did with dear James."
"Do you think he's still with Jenna?" Edward asked trying to figure out if his best friend had worked out his marital issues, "Because if I remember correctly they were on the verge of a divorce," he heard snort.
"And we were the perfect couple," Serena sighed, "Well we were."
"Everyone wanted to be us," Edward put his arms behind his head, "Remember? The scary surgeon and hilarious anaesthetist."
"I wouldn't go as far as 'hilarious anaesthetist' I'd go more for 'infuriating anaesthetist'," Serena corrected her ex and she then felt his fingers tickling her sides, "Stop it… you're tickling me," Serena wiggled around trying to break free.
"What did you say about me?" Edward asked whilst he straddled over her, "What did you Serena Imogen just say?" Edward carried on tickling her, "I'll keep doing this until you tell me."
"I said… I said," Serena tried to breathe through tickles, "I said… 'infuriating anaesthetist'… stop it," Serena tried to break free she saw no option, she wrapped her hands around Edward's neck and turned him over to the left, she was now straddled over him and Edward yanked her knees so she fell on top of him, "Ouch that hurt."
"Aww I'm sorry," Edward said not sounding sorry at all he grinned, "How's Ellie?"
"Caught our flu," Serena answered she sat up so she was sat on Edward's groin area, "So she's going to be a bit unwell."
"If she's anything like you she'll moan for ages," Edward said cheekily making Serena glare playfully at him.
"I'll think you'll find that's you Mr Campbell," Serena corrected, "I do not moan…it's you who always milks it."
"I do not," Edward defended himself, "OK sometimes I do… but hey you've done that loads as well."
"Alright," Serena folded her arms, "Give me some examples."
"When you were pregnant you milked having morning sickness so you could stay in bed for a few more hours, when you got a tummy bug actually you didn't milk that you were really ill, OK actually the only time you milked it was during morning sickness," Edward couldn't think of anymore examples as most of them were actually when she was really ill, "OK you win I do milk it."
"Knew it," Serena said smugly, "You always did milk most things," she leant forward and ruffled his short stubbly hair, "I on the other hand apart from morning sickness never milk anything."
"Of course only I've seen the Iron Lady bend a few times," Edward and she tapped her nose as she was still up close to him, he took in her scent. Serena took in his it was a Lynx Africa scent, whilst Serena smelt of Impulse Pear & Jasmine, "Or has anyone else?"
"Nope," Serena answered Edward smiled at her, "You're looking a bit better."
"Of course I'm a fast healer," Edward grabbed her hands and put them in his, "I never told you how beautiful you are enough."
"Are you saying that I rock a sick look?" Serena questioned but she looked touched by his comment.
"Ill and well you look beautiful," Edward complimented, "I was just not smart enough to see it."
"Like I said past is past," Serena got off Edward and laid back down in bed, "It's half three," Serena looked at the clock, "We should go back to sleep."
"Unless you want to watch something on the T.V.?" Edward suggested pointing to the Samsung thirty-nine inch television resting on a set of Chester drawers, "Usually there's some rubbish on."
"Why not?" Serena grabbed the remote but made sure the television was turned down, so the noise wouldn't wake Eleanor. Serena scrolled through the channel list and put on the late night medical drama she usually watched if she couldn't sleep.
"Oh a medical drama," Edward said, "I thought you hated those?"
"They're good to observe and see where they go wrong," Serena moved into Edward and rested her head on his arm, "Unless you'd rather watch teleshopping or those gambling games?"
"No this is fine," Edward watched as the actor playing an anaesthetist made a mistake, "He hasn't measured up properly idiot."
"Yes they make stupid mistakes like that," Serena watched as there was a theatre scene, "Oh for heaven's sakes… look he hasn't done the incision right."
"Now who's getting annoyed?" Edward asked jokingly.
"It's annoying I just want to knock sense into them," Serena sighed a frustrated sigh, "I'm turning over sorry…I'll just end up getting very annoyed."
"Couldn't agree more," Edward put his arm around Serena and stroked her hair, "What you changing over too?" Edward asked whilst Serena used the remote to scan though channels, "Oh put on Come Dine With Me."
Serena looked at Edward with utter confusion written all over her face, "Really? You want to watch Come Dine With Me? How old are you?"
"Forty-Nine," Edward answered, "And yes I do… I find the commentary entertaining."
"Well you can watch it… I think I'm going to back to sleep now," Serena pulled the covers further up her and gave Edward the remote, "Just have it on low."
"Night," Edward kissed her on the head and watched Come Dine With Me.
…
Serena had to get up and go to work she couldn't take any more time off else it would make her look like a woman who can't handle being sick, "Are you sure you want to go into work?" Edward asked concerned.
"If I take any more time off I will look like a wimp," Serena put on her coat, "If they ask where you are I'll tell them I don't know," she leant over the bed and kissed Edward on the head, "See you later… unless you decide to go home."
"Not when Eleanor's ill," Edward said, "I'll see how she is."
"Warning she'll probably be a right grump," Serena went downstairs and out the door, the morning air made her feel worse, but she drove to work anyway.
…
"Ah and the great Serena returns," Michael said grinning, "How you feeling?" he asked put his around her neck and then another over Sacha's.
"Better," Serena answered, "Where's Ric?" she asked.
"Oh you won't believe this… he's off with the flu," Sacha answered, "Seems the flu virus is going round."
"And who's fault is that?" Michael asked looking at Serena with a stern look, "Rena's of course."
"Not long until it reaches us then," Sacha said worryingly, "What if we catch it?"
"Please," Serena said, "We spend all our times around sick people… I'm surprised none of us haven't died yet."
"Always such a morning charmer," Sacha pulled away from Michael's arm, "Anyway I'll see you later."
"So where's Edward?" Michael asked his arm still around Serena's neck, Serena didn't have the heart to release because as much as she hated to admit it; Michael reminded her of James who was one of her closest if she had to admit friends, he had been there to support when everything went wrong with Edward and despite him being best friends with Edward he gave him one hell of a lecture after he left and supported Serena through everything, and Michael reminded her of him because of his personality when he wasn't on a constant low about his kids and Annalise.
"Don't know," Serena answered, "Why don't you call him?," then she grinned, "Wait let me guess you tried that already."
"Nope," Michael took out his mobile, "You do know he got sent home yesterday?"
"What he do?" Serena asked and she approached her office, "Or do I not want to know?"
"Flu apparently seems Sacha was right everyone's getting it," Michael himself felt a bit light headed and drained, but he wasn't ill enough to stop himself from working.
"Well don't let it reach Ms Naylor," Serena ordered, "If she's anything like me… I was terrified of catching every virus known to Medical Dictionaries."
"Jac's more sensible than that… though if she doesn't leave before the virus reaches Darwin I'll have myself and Sacha up there to take her home."
"More like drag her home," Serena knew how stubborn the red headed consultant was, "You'd be surprised the amount of times I've been called up to Darwin just to stop Jac having a breakdown."
"Yeah Sacha got called up there the other day," Michael added, "Oh and they phoned me up too…so much for 'we can handle Ms Naylor'."
"Yeah well I've been there, done that, got that bloody tent sized scrub top," Serena opened her office door, "If you seen anyone looking unwell or too ill to work I want them sent home."
"Loud and clear," Michael walked away and Serena stepped into her office.
…
Back at Serena's house Eleanor walked down the stairs to find her dad in the kitchen, "Let me guess more paperwork?" Eleanor asked she had to keep her head up else it would drop down.
"Nope looking after you," Edward answered, "Drink this," he handed her the honey and lemon drink, "And back up to bed."
"I'm not a child," Eleanor took the drink her nose was bright red, she looked pale and felt physically drained, "Thank you… so has mum gone back to work?"
"Yep," Edward answered, "And I bet you any money she'll be forcing herself to keep working."
"Well you know mum she doesn't like anyone to see her weak," Eleanor sipped the hot drink, "Especially her colleagues."
…
Serena was sat at her desk she popped two ibuprofens out from the white and tin foiled packet, she washed them down with water and got on with her shift, "Morning Ms Campbell," Harry said was he really trying to suck up? He had been polite to her since the flare incident, "How are you feeling?"
Serena was catching on to Harry's plan, "Why can't I help but think you're trying to suck up to me?" she asked the young doctor.
"What no I'm just being polite," Harry went red embarrassed that she had caught on. Gemma and Sacha exchanged looks and laughed to themselves.
"So you suddenly being so polite has nothing to do with you wanting to get back into my good books?" Serena asked arms folded.
"Well I want to get back into your good books but not like that," Harry looked down he felt his cheeks burning.
"Nice try Doctor Tressler," Serena patted his shoulder patronisingly, "But you're going to have to do better than that," Serena walked away to see to her patient, "Good morning Ava," Serena had to double take, "Ava what are you doing here?"
"I'm here because I'm unwell obviously."
"Yes I know that why aren't you at St George's?" Serena asked concerned why wasn't Ava back in her home town?
"I collapsed outside a bar near Holby so they sent me here," Ava answered she grabbed hold of Serena's wrist for comfort, something herself and Eleanor had done since they were children, "Please don't tell dad… he'll only worry."
"I'm sure he'd like to know," Serena said kindly to Ava, "Is everything OK?"
"You know what dad's like," Ava said she carried on tapping Serena's wrist in comfort, "He'll just freak out… he's not cool like you are," Serena hated being dubbed as 'cool' it made her feel really irresponsible.
"Right describe to me your symptoms," Serena ordered, "And can you tell me what happened before you passed out?"
"Well," Ava began she took her hand away from Serena's wrist, "I was just out and then I felt really sick like I needed to vomit kind of sick and then I passed out… and I've got bad abdominal pains and I feel sick again."
"OK," Serena then went to examine Ava's abdomen, "Do you feel any tenderness when I do this?" Serena touched Ava's abdomen in the middle then moved down to the right side, Ava grabbed her wrist in pain, "OK you've got some tenderness…FBCs, Us and Es, WBCs and let's get an ultrasound." Serena ordered Mary-Claire, "And Ava I know it hurts but could you do a urine sample for me?" Serena asked handing her the clear pot, "The bathrooms are that way."
"Don't go," Ava said to Serena, "Please."
"Ava I have other patients… if you want someone you know maybe it's best you call your mum or dad."
Ava sighed heavily, "Mum's not around anymore…she died."
Hearing news about Jenna being dead hit Serena hard, "Oh Ava I'm so sorry."
"She died of cancer last month," Ava said sadly, "Breast."
Chrissie was walking by and overheard Serena saw Chrissie and Chrissie walked off, "Ava… why didn't your dad email me or Edward?"
"He's been really depressed Serena," Ava looked close to tears, "He's just been so shut off… he's been drinking way too much and I'm worried Serena, I'm scared."
"Listen Ava," Serena took her hand, "Would you like me to call your dad?" Ava nodded two tears coming down her face, "OK I'll ring him… darling listen I know it's hard losing a parent but you've got to be strong."
"He's been drinking lots and he's turned up to work drunk a few times," Ava explained Serena frowned this wasn't the James she knew, "Please when you get hold of him… make sure he's sober or get Amelia to drive him over."
"Alright," Serena rubbed Ava's arm and walked away placing one her hand on her forehead.
"Everything OK Serena?" Sacha asked.
"Could you…Sacha could you do me a massive favour?" Serena asked Sacha saw a concerned look in Serena's eyes, "Could you keep an eye on Ava Vincent? She's a bit nervous and you're the doctor to do it. She's currently doing a urine sample."
"Of course," Sacha smiled Serena nodded a thank you and walked away to her office.
Serena got out her phone and hovered her finger over James's name, she tapped it and put the phone speaker to her ear.
…
A figure of a man underneath a bunch of covers in a hospital on call room was stirring he stank of alcohol and looked like death warmed up, his eyes widened when he saw the caller ID, "Rena?" James used the nickname as it was effort to use her full name.
"James are you OK?" Serena asked she sat down on her chair.
"I'm fine," James lied he sat up slowly groaning slightly as he did, "Not to sound rude why you ringing?"
"Don't freak out," Serena ordered, "I've got Ava here."
"What why?" James shot up his head went fuzzy as he did, "Is she OK?"
"James why didn't you tell me or Edward about Jenna? And she's got a bit of the lower right hand side of the abdomen she's in a bit of a state," Serena didn't mean to jump down his throat but she felt protective over Ava.
"I've been meaning to tell you both… but I've been busy," James put his phone on loud speaker as he jumped around replacing his scrub trousers with jeans.
"Busy drinking?" Serena approached the subject she heard James sigh heavily down the phone, "Yes Ava told me… James can you come over here and be with Ava?"
"I'll see if Amelia can drive me or George… I'm still over my units," James admitted ashamed, "Please don't be mad at me Serena."
"I'm not mad James," Serena span around slightly on her chair, "I'm upset for you and Ava."
"You gonna tell Ed?" James asked.
"Not unless you don't want me too," Serena said, "OK."
"I'll be there in about two hours max," James said, "See you then… oh and Serena."
"Yes?" Serena asked.
"You sound ill are you OK?" James asked concerned he had become recently over protective of ill family, friends and colleagues.
"Recovering from the flu nothing to worry about," Serena said calmly.
"Can you… can you tell Edward for me?" James asked politely down the phone, "I really don't want to go through it again."
Serena made a sad face, "Of course I will… see you in two hours."
"Bye," James cut the call off and put two painkillers into a glass then he heard the familiar voice of Amelia outside the on call room he dashed off to grab her, "Mia," James said running out of the room and he grabbed her arm.
…
"Feeling any better?" Edward asked his daughter but he was unable to get an answer because his phone went off, "It's your mother… I was wondering how long it would take you to ring complaining of feeling ill."
Serena breathed in, "Edward… we have a problem."
"What's wrong?" Edward asked concerned.
"Ava's here and urr it's Jenna… she's… well she's passed away," Serena heard nothing down the receiving end she guessed it was shock.
Edward's mouth was hung open, "What, how when?"
"Cancer," Serena answered sadly, "I've got Ava here in a right state, James apparently has been drinking heavily even turned up to work drunk a few times… anyway I've called him he's getting either Amelia or George to drive him here…you're going to have to come in."
"Yes of course," Edward said still in shock, "Who's with Ava?" Edward asked hearing Ava's name made Eleanor concerned.
"I've got Sacha with her," Serena answered, "Get here as soon as possible OK."
"Alright I'll see you in a bit," Edward cut the call.
"What's wrong with Ava?" Eleanor asked.
"She's in Holby and… Jenna's passed away," Edward looked upset Eleanor was suddenly put off her hot drink, "Can you believe it?" Edward asked he was close to tears.
"Dad go in," Eleanor ordered she looked close to tears as well, "I'll come and be with Ava… she's like my big sister."
"Not when you're ill Eleanor," Edward said sternly, "OK I'll keep you updated, "Serena had put his clothes in the washing machine and dryer so he took them out and got ready.
…
"Is dad OK?" Ava asked Serena as she reappeared.
"Either George or Amelia are bringing him in," Serena said, "OK… thank you Mr Leevy I'll take it from here," Sacha smiled at Ava and walked away, "Is your pain getting worse?"
"Here's the ultrasound," Mary-Claire gave Serena the photo.
She observed it carefully and then went back over to Ava, "Is the pain getting worse?"
"Yes," Ava answered and screamed as Serena touched the right side, "Ouch."
Serena was certain she knew what it was and when Mary-Claire returned with the results, not trusting her judgement at the precise moment because she was thinking worse case scenarios. Serena went to find Michael.
…
"I've suspected Appendicitis but I just wanted your opinion," Serena stood in the doorway arms folded.
"Raised WBCs, pain in the right lower abdominal area I would say defiantly appendicitis… why did you want my opinion?" Michael asked handing her back the results and scan photo.
"I just wanted another opinion thank you," Serena walked out leaving Michael looking concerned. Serena walked back over to Ava who looked in serious pain, "What happened?" Serena asked Sacha.
"Vomiting and her temperature is forty-point-zero," Sacha answered, "And the pain has gotten much worse."
"Ouch," Ava said moving sideways left and right, "Serena."
"Emergency Appendectomy now," Serena ordered, "Ava I'm afraid your appendix has burst you need to go down to theatre."
"My appendix?!" Ava shouted.
"Alright Ava," Sacha said gently, "Calm down."
"Serena you do it… I trust you," Ava said she looked terrified, "Please Serena."
"OK," Serena squeezed Ava's hand, "Get her under, I'll scrub in," Serena ordered to Sacha.
A/N: Left it on a bit of a cliffhanger because I'm cruel haha so what do you think? Leave me your opinions xx