Chapter Text
Bernie mentally ticked items off the list in her head as she stepped from the shop laden down with bags. She couldn't remember the last time she’d had to go Christmas shopping, it has always been left to Marcus in the past. She’d got everything she wanted for Serena but was keeping her eyes open for anything else she thought her new partner would like. Jason was sorted, as were Charlotte and Cam, she’d briefly thought about just giving her children money but quickly decided against it, wanting them to know she’d actually put thought into their gifts.
She shivered slightly as she walked down the high street, juggling the bags in her hands to allow her to pull her beanie down over her ears as she fought her way back through the hoards of Christmas shoppers. She was going to put these bags in her car and then go in search of the last few things she needed, something for Morven, the name she’d drawn from the secret Santa, and something for Mikey Fletcher. Serena always bought the kids little gifts, she spent so much time with Evie these days that she knew exactly what the oldest Fletchling would like, Ella was easy, anything with princesses on would make her happy, and little Theo’s current obsession with dinosaurs meant he was relatively easy to buy for too. Mikey on the other hand always left Serena stumped so Bernie had offered to step in and get his present, she was sure she'd find something.
Bags safely in the car, Bernie trudged back up the main street of shops, tugging the collar of her coat higher as she walked, she hated winter. Give her an arid desert any day of the week. She frowned slightly as she heard a loud, hacking cough, a second cough a moment later drawing her attention to a homeless person, curled into a tight ball beside some bins in an alleyway, she smiled sadly, no one should have to sleep rough, especially not at this time of year.
Bernie quickly made her way into a nearby coffee shop, making her way over to the person just a few short minutes later, “hello” she said as she crouched down by the figure, unwashed blonde hair poking out from under a black beanie, their body hidden by a coat that was far too big for them and a tatty old sleeping bag that looked like it wouldn't be much use in this weather. “I erm, I got you some tea, and a sandwich.” Bernie frowned as she got no response other than another coughing fit, up close she could hear the wheeze as the figure struggled for breath, “hello, can you hear me?” Food discarded on the floor, Bernie snapped into doctor mode, “can you hear me?” Bernie repeated, reaching into the sleeping bag and pulling out a frail wrist to check for a pulse, “I'm a doctor, can you squeeze my fingers if you can hear me. She felt only slightly relieved when the fingers she was holding fluttered against her own, “I'm going to take you to hospital okay? You're going to be alright.” She carefully slipped her hands under the sleeping bag to lift the person into her arms, one under their knees, the other in the small of their back. She went to stand up but had to pause, suddenly feeling like her bones were made of jelly, when the head of the person in her arms lolled lifelessly onto her shoulder, Bernie recognising the face instantly, struggling to fight back tears as she choked out just one word “Charlotte.”
Charlotte fought against the fog in her head, “Mumma?” she mumbled, her forehead creasing as she frowned, not entirely sure what was happening.
Bernie kissed Charlotte’s forehead, noticing for the first time just how cold her daughter was, “Mumma’s got you Darling, I’m going to take you to the hospital, you’re going to be okay.”
Once Charlotte was settled in the car, Bernie dialled Serena’s mobile number as she began to drive towards the hospital, “hello you, all shopped out?” she answered after the first ring.
“I erm, I’m coming in Serena, I’m bringing in a female, 22 years old, GCS of 11, pulse approximately 90, suspected pneumonia, she’s probably hypothermic too” Bernie paused for a moment before whispering, “Serena, it’s Charlotte.”
Serena almost dropped the phone in shock, “Char… right, okay, I’ll get things prepped, bring her straight up when you get here, we’ll take good care of her.”
“Will you be her doctor Serena?” Bernie knew she couldn’t treat her daughter and Serena was possibly the only other person, with the exception of Marcus, that she’d trust to take care of her baby.
“Of course” Serena hadn’t intended to let anyone else treat Bernie’s daughter, “but I’m going to give Darwin a call, just in case we need their expertise.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s okay, you just concentrate on getting her here safely okay, and when you get here, I’ll focus on getting Charlotte back on her feet, is there anything else I need to know? Any other health conditions?”
“She’s allergic to penicillin, the last time she had it she went into anaphylactic shock and erm, she had asthma as a child, nothing too severe though, and as far as I’m aware she hasn’t had an inhaler or anything since she was about 12.”
“Noted” Serena nodded, “I’m going to go and get everything ready for you, drive safely okay and I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll see you soon” Bernie agreed before ending the call, glancing over at Charlotte when she heard her wearily mumble her name, “I’m here Charlotte” she gently squeezed her daughter’s knee through the fabric of the sleeping bag, “Mumma’s got you, you’re safe now.”