A/N: Thanks for viewing/reviewing guys :) This chapter is paving the way for events which will unfold in the next chapter. Please feel free to let me know what you think, your feedback is always welcomed!

Chapter 5

Serena sighed loudly and closed the file with a slap, stretching her arms above her head and smiling at Hanssen.

"All up to speed." she announced as he nodded and returned his focus to the document in front of him, regarding an upcoming meeting with the hospital Board members. Serena glanced across at Edward and saw he was staring aimlessly out of the window on the opposite side of the carriage, having eventually moved away from her. She watched him closely, disliking the old feelings that found their way bubbling to the surface again upon seeing him. As if sensing her gaze was on him, he turned his head and they made eye contact. He smiled sadly at her before turning away and resuming his position looking out at the passing fields. Exhaling, Serena cursed herself for what she was about to do, but she'd been unable to get her mind away from this particular area for the duration of the journey with Edward. Scooting to the outside seat, she leant across the aisle as he turned his head to look at her, having tracked her progress in the reflection of the window. He raised his eyebrow as she reached out a hand and picked up a starburst from the bag, leaning back and unwrapping the sweet before popping it in her mouth. Edward smiled as he dug around in the bag and fished out all the red and green ones, passing them across to her. As he placed them on the table in front of her, Serena stared in silence, slightly surprised he still remembered her favourites. She looked up at him and nodded stiffly before un-wrapping a second and devouring it. Looking to her left, she saw Hanssen watching her, a look of intrigue on his face as his gaze switched between the sweets and her. Edward seemed to have noticed too as he moved to the aisle seat and addressed Hanssen.

"She only eats the green and red ones..." he said by way of explanation "...The green used to be my favourite, but when we married I had to change that so she could have them all to herself." he smiled gently as his gaze found Serena's and she raised her eyebrows.

"You always told me the orange ones were your favourite!" she protested as he leant back in his seat and shrugged.

"I wanted you to have your favourites. If that meant me suffering with the flavour I am sure nobody actually likes then so be it." She found herself feeling slightly uneasy at his admission, remembering one of the reasons she'd married him...his thoughtfulness. She smiled lightly as she picked up a green and held it out to him. He raised an eyebrow but leaned forwards all the same, reaching out to take it from her.

"I don't think I've eaten one of these in, well, since we married!" he chuckled as he unwrapped it and chucked it in his mouth. Serena kept quiet, watching him closely and noticing how he savoured the taste. Looking at him now, seeing him sat by himself, made her want to reach out to him. She felt a little sorry for him, even though a large part of her also wanted him to be alone...as she had been for the past 15 years or so. Turning back to Hanssen, she cleared her throat and he looked up.

"Do you want to go over the presentation? I could do with running mine through." she explained as he clicked his pen off and nodded.

"Yes, I believe that would be beneficial, Ms. Campbell." he replied, opening a folder and searching for his speech.

Having run through their presentations a few times, Hanssen and Serena had paused momentarily for a coffee break, which Edward had offered to go and get for them, leaving them alone.

"What on earth were you playing at? Telling him we were 'together'?" she snapped, keeping an eye open for Edward. "He's going to have a right old laugh when I tell him it wasn't true!" she said, sighing heavily as she leant back in her seat.

"I'm sorry Ms. Campbell. Under the circumstances I believe I acted without prior thinking. I should not have done so and I apologise." She stared at him for a few moments, wondering what was going on in his head.

"But why did you do that?" Hanssen shrugged his shoulders. Of course he knew why, he had wanted Edward to see that his ex-wife was still desirable and that he hadn't completely ruined her. Hanssen had found himself becoming closer, more protective over Serena in recent months thanks to their timetables meaning they required on average three private meetings a week. Looking at the woman in front of him, he had not wanted her to feel embarrassed, or insignificant or unwanted. The truth was, as far as beautiful women went, Hanssen thought she was definitely one of them. However, she knew exactly how to drive him mad, and did so on a daily basis. Serena had caught him looking at her with a glint in his eye and the edges of his lips curling upwards slightly. She found herself squirming in her seat. "Well?" she pushed as he looked thoughtfully at her.

"I...I'm not..." Before Hanssen could finish, Edward had returned and placed two coffees in front of the two Surgeons.

"Thanks." muttered Serena as she took a sip and grimaced. "Not enough sugar." Edward sighed and reached into his pocket for the extra packets he had had the sense to pick up.

"Since when do you take sugar anyway?" She snapped her head towards him and glared.

"I have taken sugar for years." Emptying the packets into the coffee cup, she used a pencil to stir it, licking off the coffee before looking up and catching Hanssen's shocked look. "What?"

"You do know that is highly inadvisable? The amount of germs collected on the outside not to mention the fact you most probably just ingested graphite." Serena rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee, sighing contentedly. Looking at her watch, she noticed the journey only had another hour or so to go and she relaxed slightly. Glancing across at Edward, she saw he was engrossed in something on his phone and was furiously typing away. Serena's own phone ringing grabbed her attention and she put down her coffee, reaching into her pocket.

Eleanor

Answering the phone immediately, she was met with the not-so-happy voice of her daughter.

"Hi mum, have you seen my green folder?"

"Which green folder? The one that's been on the stairs for days which I repeatedly asked you to move?" Serena raised an eyebrow awaiting her daughter's reply.

"Yeah, I think so. Sorry, I mustn't have heard you asking." Eleanor replied and Serena sighed.

"I put it in the top drawer in the sideboard...got it?" she asked as she heard Eleanor rummaging around.

"Ah yes! Thanks mum. How's the journey going? Are you there yet?"

"No, the train was delayed so we're running slightly behind schedule. It should only be another hour or so though." She suddenly noticed Edwards' ears prick up as he looked over at her and mouthed the word 'Eleanor?'. She nodded stiffly and returned to the conversation but not before he had moved to sit beside her, motioning for her to give him the phone. Sighing in long sufferance, Serena glared at him. "Eleanor, your father is here...long story...but he would like a word. Okay, love you too, bye." Handing the phone to him, she bristled at the over-familiar way he greeted their daughter, not having seen her in months.

"Ellie sweetheart, how are you? Oh that's great, I'm missing you so much!" He moved away from Serena and back to the seat across the aisle. Grumbling to herself, Serena turned to see Hanssen regarding her thoughtfully.

"What now?" she asked as he leant forwards and narrowed his eyes, looking at her eye.

"I really think we should clean that now. The swelling's getting worse." She raised a hand to her eye and realised he was right, she could feel the skin was hot to the touch and it still smarted. Nodding in agreement, she watched him vacate his seat, awaiting her to do the same. She followed him to the toilet and realised they would have to be in a very small space together. Squeezing into the WC, he manoeuvred them so her back was against the sink and the overhead mirror light was shining down on her face. "Now, tilt your head back please." he asked as he produced a bottle of antiseptic gel he had retrieved from his briefcase. He had been meaning to remove it for a while, but now glad he hadn't. Dampening a tissue, he added some of the gel and gently raised it to Serena's face, carefully wiping at the cut. She inhaled sharply as she stinging sensation took hold and Hanssen smiled weakly. "Sorry." She smiled in response as he continued, dabbing away and holding her chin gently. She could feel his breath on her face as he concentrated on what he was doing and she found herself looking into his eyes. They were not as dark as she had thought...more of a light brown colour up close. His eyes flicked down and met with hers as he dropped one arm but kept the other holding her chin. "There, all done."

"Do I get a sticker? Or a lollypop?" she smirked as his face twitched and Serena assumed that was the equivalent of her rolling her eyes.

"You were so very brave Ms. Campbell. I'll make you a deal. If we survive the rest of the journey I will buy you a drink once we arrive at the conference...after we've made our speeches." he clarified as she smiled.

"A large one." Raising an eyebrow, she awaited his acceptance.

"Of course." He returned his gaze to her eye and raise his hand once again, running his finger gently over the wound and noticing how she didn't flinch. "How does it feel?" he asked her, feeling one of her hands coming to rest on his hip.

"It feels good." she replied almost breathlessly as he stepped closer to her, lowering his hand to her neck. She could feel herself burning to feel his lips against hers, feel his hands on her, but she knew they shouldn't. Hanssen felt her soft skin under his fingers and wanted nothing more than to press his lips to hers, to feel her against him, make her feel wanted, but he knew it would be unwise. Staring down at her, her staring back in total silence, he allowed her hands to find their way to his chest, as his other hand located her waist.

"We shouldn't." he said quietly, seeing her close her eyes briefly and nod.

"I completely agree. It would be stupid."

"Incredibly stupid." he agreed, inching closer.

"We can't." she reiterated as he exhaled and she felt him lean against her slightly.

"I know." She saw his face coming closer as she moved towards him, awaiting the feeling of his lips against hers when suddenly the door slid open to reveal a rather shocked-looking Edward.

"Oh, I'm sorry...I just wanted to give you your phone back. Ric Griffin has been calling." he explained as Hanssen jumped away from her and she set about smoothing her shirt down, getting her breath back under control. Reaching out for the phone and avoiding Edward's gaze, she noticed there had been 3 missed calls. Looking up at Hanssen worriedly, she pressed recall as she left the toilet and headed back to their seats.