Chapter Text
1. The Note
It had been two months since Bernie had laid eyes on Serena. Unable to cope with the amount of emotion she'd been feeling she'd run away. Bernie had always run away when the going got tough. She ran away from her marriage to Marcus, winding up in the army because she was struggling. She'd ran away from the army because of what happened with Alex and she couldn't cope with her feelings. She'd done exactly the same thing here. Done a moonlight flit if you like and left Serena behind.
She'd chosen to stay in Kiev, even after the secondment had ended, because she thought it was the easiest thing all around. She could throw herself into her work and try to forget all about Holby and her life before. Then first had come the email- The hospital needs you. The words had struck Bernie as odd. She had been trying to cut off all ties with herself and Holby/Serena, but when she received the email from Serena, she was mildly disappointed there wasn't more personal emotions in it. That was the first time she'd questioned her own decision, and wondered if she'd done the wrong thing in staying and not returning home.
Not replying to the email had been a mistake. She hasn't known what to say so she'd done what she did best and bury it. Run away from the problem and hope it would go away on its own- stay quiet. She'd stayed quiet and stayed away, thinking and hoping that if she could be away for so long she could forget Serena and forget all about Holby. But then the three little words on one text message has changed everything. I miss you.
Today was the day. She'd come back to face her demons and see what awaited her beyond those double doors. No one except Ric knew she was coming back. All the running away, all the uncertainty, the last 2 months had been in vain. The moment had come. She took a deep breath and pushed open the doors to AAU.
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8:45am. Serena groaned. Why was she clock watching? Today was going to be one of those days that would drag. Glancing out of the window, she saw Jason pushing a patient by in their wheelchair. She was so proud of him. All of the hurdles he'd overcome in the past few months. Bernie had been right- about loosening her grip on him. Thinking of Bernie bought a sudden flow of tears to her eyes. After hearing nothing from her in almost 2 months, the belief that shed simply moved on has solidified in Serenas mind.
Sweeping the tears from her eyes, she looked longingly at the desk opposite her. What she wouldn't give to see Bernie again. While Serena had realised she was in love with her she hadn't told her in any of the emails and texts she'd sent. She'd wanted to tell her face to face, but would she ever get the chance? Doing what she'd done for the past 8 weeks, she painted a smile on her face and went out to see what trials and tribulations would face her today.
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Pushing the door open, Bernie had seen Serena emerge from the office with a smile painted on her face. She hadn't been prepared for the overwhelming sense of longing she'd experienced in that moment, so she'd retreated to the corridor to compose herself.
Several minutes later, not wanting to be a coward, she slipped into AAU unnoticed. She walked into the office and suddenly it her. Everything was changed. Had she really expected it to be the same? The world at Holby had carried on without her and now Bernie felt almost out of sync with everyone else. Almost as if they were in seperate and completely different wavelengths to her. Contemplating her options, she decided the safest was to leave the note on the computer and let Serena make the decision. Doing just that, she retreated back the way she came. The ball was in Serena's court now. Bernie had to let it come from her. She'd come back but was it enough?
'Auntie Serena, I need to talk to you.' Jason appeared at the doorway. Immediately spotting the note propped up on the computer, his curiosity got the better of him. Recognising the penmanship as Bernies, he opened it. He smiled when he read it, and headed out the same way he'd come in, to see out the author of the note.