"And you promise that you will bite your tongue and not interfere with any of the decisions that I make in regards to Ms Wolfe's care?"
Serena felt like she was a little child again, being scolded by her mother, but she knew that it was a necessity to her being able to accompany Bernie to her physical therapy appointment and learn how to adequately take care of her in the coming weeks and months. "Yes, I promise. I know that I haven't been the best at not interfering, but I just…"
"You just want her to get the best of care. I understand, believe me. Most loved ones are just as concerned. You've just been able to use your education and experience as a battering ram to get your way in that regards, and I'm here to tell you that you cannot do that with physical therapy. There will be times when it seems like Ms Wolfe is in pain, that what we're doing for her is worse that what you'd like to see, and I can't have you trying to tell Mr Hanssen that I'm not looking out for her best interest. We both want her healthy and well again, yes?"
"Yes," Serena whispered, feeling mollified by the speech the man had just given, and tried not to allow a mulish look to spread across her face at being so thoroughly put in her place.
The man reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder, and she looked up into his eyes, seeing the faint look of amusement on his face. "I know that you want to protest what I just said to you, that you believe I'm being harder on you than necessary. However, your reputation proceeds you, and given just how close you are to Mr Hanssen, I need to make certain that you fully understand that on my ward, my word is law, and there will be no dissenters. If we work together, though, I'm certain that Ms. Wolfe's recovery will go exceedingly well and quick."
"All right, I will try my hardest to allow you to boss me around. But I make no promises that I won't get snappy at times. There's only so much of being a follower I can take." She gave the physical therapist a winning smile, which he returned before shaking his head a little. "What?"
"Now I can see how you come about your reputation as a terrible flirt. Though you don't have to try so hard with me, I already like you."
Serena relaxed a little as she nodded. "I just feel like I don't have any control, so I have to do something."
The man nodded as he reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder. "That also does not surprise me, given what I know about you. Now, before I let you go and see Ms Wolfe once more, I have to ask something that might upset you, so I do apologise in advance. Have you considered speaking with a therapist?"
She blanched at his words, immediately feeling defensive and wanting to lash out at the impertinence. A part of her knew that she had to remain calm, though, since flying off the handle would just make her look bad, and might have him rethinking allowing her to be with Bernie, so she took a deep breath and tilted her head as she continued to look at him. "Why would I need to do that? Bernie was the one in mortal peril, until I rescued her."
"Because you also went through a good deal of trauma in rescuing her. Just because yours has no physical manifestation, does not mean that it is not real. Just, give some thought to that, okay? You wouldn't want to hinder Ms Wolfe's recovery in any way, after all."
Serena nodded, knowing that he had a good point. She just wasn't certain that it was advice she could take at that time. She wanted to focus completely on Bernie, and if she took time away from that endeavour, then she might not be able to see if something was going poorly for her. "I will think about that, yes. Now, may I go in and see her?"
The therapist nodded, and she gave him a softer smile as she rose to her feet and then made her way out of his office. Taking a deep breath, she turned down the hall and made her way over to Bernie's room, wondering if Charlotte or Cameron would be in there with her. Peeking her head inside the door, Serena saw that Bernie was laying flat on her back, staring at the ceiling, while Charlotte was seated in a chair next to her bedside.
"Knock knock," Serena said as she took a few steps inside, watching Bernie turn her head to look at her, a small smile passing across her features before she looked up at the ceiling once more. "Am I that boring to look at?" she teased as she made her way over to the free chair next to Charlotte and took a seat, hesitating to reach out and take hold of Bernie's hand, even though she wanted to.
"No, I'm just exhausted from the PT session. It's easier to just lie here and listen than try to focus on who's talking. But I got some good news at the conclusion of the session."
"Oh?" Serena asked, relaxing a little in her chair as Bernie slipped her hand off the bed towards her. She clasped it lightly, not wanting to hurt her, and waited for Bernie to answer.
"Yes. Apparently, I'm a tad bit bomb proof, and am bouncing back towards health quite quickly. Doctor Gloss seems to think that I'll be able to recuperate at home within the next two weeks, if not sooner. It all depends on how serious I am with me sessions."
"That's wonderful news! What are you looking forward to, when you're able to be home?"
"Not having the smell of sick and hospital in my nostrils. It's all right when I'm working, but when I'm just here, it's a bit overwhelming. Charlotte told me that the plan is to take me home to the cottage?"
"Yes. We thought that that would be secluded enough so that you could recover in peace, but close enough where we could get you back to Holby, just in case something goes wrong. You'll have to discuss with Doctor Gloss if he wants to come out to the cottage for your PT sessions, or if it would be acceptable for us to hire a private physical therapist for you."
"We'll have to see, Serena. Now, I hate to kick you and Charlotte out, but I have another session with Doctor Gloss in three hours, and I want to get a short nap in before I eat and go through that. I'll be fine, I promise, I just need to rest."
Serena glanced over at Charlotte, and saw that she was saddened by those words, just like Serena was, and she gave a small nod before squeezing Bernie's hand and letting go. "That's fine, Bernie. You've been through so much lately, I can understand being exhausted. I'll be back around supper, and perhaps we could eat together?"
"I will look forward to that, Serena." Bernie took hold of her hand once more, giving it a firmer squeeze, and Serena pursed her lips to keep from crying, not wanting to be seen as weak in front of her lover, not when she was still in the recuperating phase of her recovery. "Give your mum a kiss before you head out, Charlie?"
"Of course," Charlotte replied, stepping around Serena before bending down and pressing her lips to Bernie's cheek before she stood. "Now, I'll take care of Serena so that she can take care of you, once we're in the cottage. And I'll be by to see you tomorrow before heading out to some charity shops and getting you some clothes. Dad never thought that you were alive, so he made us get rid of all your things. Cam and I made certain to keep everything sentimental, though, so I'll start bringing those to the cottage, too. I really want you to feel like you're home when you get there."
"Thanks, luv." Bernie let out a wide yawn before closing her eyes. "I think that sleep is calling my name louder than I thought. I'll see you both later."
Serena nodded as they left the room, and she closed the door quietly behind them. "So, did you get permission to sit in on her PT sessions?"
"I did, yes. Though I have to make certain that I follow his orders the moment he gives them, since his word is law."
Charlotte giggled as they approached the elevators, pressing the down button before turning to look at Serena. "That is going to be difficult, isn't it?"
"No. I will be perfectly fine listening to what he says," she answered, trying to look nonplussed as the doors slid open and she stepped inside. Charlotte followed her in, and as Serena pressed the button for the ground floor, her composure broke, and she rolled her eyes. "Fine. I am going to chafe and push against his mandates, but I'll still do what he says as long as it's to Bernie's benefit."
"That's what I thought," Charlotte said as she stepped closer together and bumped shoulders with Serena, giving her a cheeky grin. "Did you want to head out for something to eat before I head out to the shops? Or did you want to go with me? Either would be fine."
"I think that I'd like to go with you, thank you." Charlotte nodded and Serena smiled back before taking a deep breath and leaning against the elevator wall, ruminating over what Doctor Gloss had told her about getting a therapist, wondering if he had a good point or not.
