A/N: Hey guys and dolls, I know I know, it's been a while! Life has been getting in the way a little, but I finally got some down-time earlier to do a little update. This is a little section winding up the day really, ready for the onslaught of the next chapter!

Thank you so much to all who have been reading but especially to you reviewers! It makes me smile to read such lovely, kind words :) Please continue to let me know what you all think :) Until the next time!

Chapter 9

"That didn't really happen...did it!?" Serena giggled as Hanssen gave her a deadpan stare.

"I can assure you Ms. Campbell, the unfortunate incident did indeed occur...it's not a laughing matter!" he berated her as she continued to giggle, reaching for her fourth glass of wine.

"Well, what happened then?" she asked as he shuffled uncomfortably.

"I informed Mr. Spence that it had 'fallen off in my hand' I believe were the exact words I used." Serena burst out laughing again, picturing an awkward Hanssen holding out a certain broken anatomical part of the statue currently positioned in the gardens beside Holby City.

"You do realise I'm going to have to inspect it closely when we return!" she laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes as Hanssen smiled, enjoying seeing her laugh.

"I wouldn't really advise that Ms. Campbell...it might look a tad strange to passers-by." he joked as she cracked up again, taking a sip of wine to try and calm herself.

"Oh god, you couldn't write something like that." she chuckled as she noticed Hanssen was finishing his fourth glass of wine and seemed intent on getting another. Feeling the need to simply relax away from prying eyes, she leant towards him. "Wait...how about we get a bottle and head upstairs? I want to hear more of the Trials and Tribulations of Henrik Hanssen!" she laughed, noticing the look on his face. Swallowing, his eyes slightly wide, he saw Serena had paused and wondered if refusing would offend her. Deciding that was something he didn't really want to risk today, he grabbed his briefcase and followed her to the bar, ordering another bottle and they headed to the stairs. Earlier on, when they'd gone to book two rooms for the night, they'd been informed there were only two rooms left in the entire hotel, with a door joining the two. They didn't see what the problem was until they were informed the door had been removed for Health and Safety reasons so now there was nothing separating them anymore. Serena had looked at Hanssen, who had looked at her in return and they'd shrugged, deciding they were more than capable of sleeping in two adjoining rooms. As they reached the rooms, Serena produced the key and opened the door, stepping in ahead of Hanssen, who allowed the door to slam behind him.

Luckily, the room had a sofa and a coffee table so they didn't feel too awkward when they sat down and Hanssen poured them another glass of wine each. He was acutely aware that if he didn't stop drinking soon, he was going to slip into that drunk stage where he thought everything was a good idea. Serena leant back into the cushions beside him, taking off her shoes and stretching her legs out in front of her, resting them on the table. It was odd to see her looking so relaxed, Hanssen mused as he reached up and loosened his tie.

Serena couldn't stop thinking about Aidan, wondering if there was something more they could have done or if it was in fact something they had done which had contributed to his death. Perhaps they should have left him where he was sat and tried to stem the bleed there? Or should they have insisted the train driver continue to the next station, thereby getting him to the paramedics quicker?

"Stop it." Hanssen said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Stop what?" she asked, feigning ignorance as he turned his head towards her and eyed her knowingly.

"Stop torturing yourself. You can replay today a hundred times but the outcome will still be the same." She sighed, knowing he was right but also not quite ready to listen.

"But what if there was something more we could have done? Wouldn't you rather we realised it now in case we're ever faced with a similar situation again?" Hanssen shook his head.

"There is nothing more we could have done, you know that. He was as good as dead the moment he stepped on that train."

"Wow Henrik, don't hold back!" she muttered, sipping her drink before turning to face him. "Do you feel anything about what happened today?" she asked as he felt his heart-rate increase slightly. Why was everyone always so concerned with whether or not he felt!?

"Of course, but nothing we do now is going to alter anything. It's happened, it's in the past." he explained, sipping his drink.

"What happened to you?" she asked quietly as he froze, turning his head slowly to face her. "Who hurt you?" she rested her elbow on the back of the sofa, propping her head up, watching him closely.

"Maybe we should call it a night." he said suddenly, standing and putting his wine down on the table.

"Okay." Serena exhaled, holding her glass close, watching as he picked up his bag before heading for his room, speaking over his shoulder.

"Goodnight, Ms. Campbell."

"Goodnight." she replied as he disappeared from view. She hadn't expected him to open up to her at all, but she hadn't expected him to be so abrupt in his departure either. Being left alone, she looked down into her wine glass and found her eyes filling with tears. Tears at the fact a young person's life was taken today, tears at the fact her ex-husband had exploded back into her life and was making her re-analyse everything and tears because she was simply exhausted. She was exhausted of fighting everything and everyone around her, of always being so strong...it was totally draining. She sniffed as she willed her tears not to fall, blinking rapidly to try and hold them back, but they fell regardless. Sniffing loudly, she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand before standing and making her way over to the window, looking out at the City below. The orange glow radiating from the City lights was beautiful and gave the place a warm, comforting feeling. She wiped her cheek again as she felt more tears spill and was forced to sniff them back again, taking a sip of her drink.

"It was my mother." said a voice from behind her. She spun around to see Hanssen stood in the doorway, his shirt half-undone and his face blank. "My mother died when I was young...maybe that's why I am the way I am. I've been called many things in my life, Ms. Campbell, one time an 'emotionless freak'. If I don't show my emotions, it's not because I don't feel them." Serena stared at him in shock, gripping her wine glass tightly.

"Sorry." she whispered as she felt more tears making their way down her cheeks. Turning back to the window, she blinked them back and felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder. Hanssen plucked the wine glass from her hand and placed it gently on the windowsill before turning her to face him. Wiping her cheeks softly he looked closely at her eye.

"That seems to be healing nicely." he said quietly, watching as she attempted to pull herself together, clearly berating herself for crying. "Crying is natural, Ms. Campbell. It may shock you to know that even I have done so on a few occasions." he smiled gently, wiping her cheek again, feeling her lean back against the windowsill before sighing.

"I find that hard to believe." she joked, smiling as he feigned seriousness.

"Indeed it's true. In fact, the last time was after being on the receiving end of your wicked tongue." She looked up and rolled her eyes when she spotted the look of light-heartedness on his face.

"Why can't you be this relaxed all the time?" she asked him as he stood up a little straighter but made no effort to increase the gap between them.

"Because that would mean I would have to drink at least a bottle of wine a day. When one is a Surgeon, that is not really recommended." Serena laughed as he smiled and turned back towards the sofa, gracefully returning to his seat. He reached out and topped his own glass up a little, watching from the corner of his eye as Serena picked up her own glass, returning to sit next to him.

"Sorry if I was harsh earlier." She said quietly.

"That's quite alright Ms. Campbell." They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Serena's phone began to ring. Groaning, she fished it out of her pocket and frowned at the number, it was one she didn't recognise. Worrying it might be to do with Eleanor she answered with a slightly concerned voice.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Serena it's me...don't hang up." Rolling her eyes, she stood and began to pace the room, glancing at Hanssen every now and again who was pretending to be very interested in the label on the bottle of wine.

"What do you want...wait, how did you get this number!?" she demanded, realising Edward didn't have her mobile number.

"I got it from Ellie. Anyway, please, listen. I can't stop thinking about you...seeing you again after all this time...it's brought back a lot of memories..." Serena raised a hand and pinched the bridge of her nose before shaking her head, even though Edward couldn't see that particular action.

"I'm sorry Edward, but I can't do this. Please, just back off. We can speak another time...preferably when we're both sober." she said before hanging up. She'd heard the slur in his voice and instantly realised he had been drinking. Throwing her phone down onto the table, she turned to look out of the window again, raising a hand tentatively to her injured eye.

"Are you alright?" Hanssen asked from behind her as he watched her carefully.

"I'm fine, it's just been a very long day." She was silent for a few minutes, prompting Hanssen to stand and move over to her. He knew that in times of personal crisis, friends and family offered support. He wasn't a friend or a family member, but he hoped she would appreciate the gesture all the same. Taking her by the shoulders, he turned her to face him and he caught the brief glimpse of surprise on her face before he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms stiffly around her. He could feel her stiffen in his hold, trying to figure out what to do and he was about to release her and apologise when he felt her arms slowly snake around his waist until she was holding him back. His hold on her relaxed slightly as they both stood close together, bodies touching, supporting each other.