Chapter 2
'Well go on then, if you are using my name in vein, at least tell me what I wouldn't stand for?'
Bernie was standing in the doorway of her old office looking in at her two colleagues and friends.
'I think this is my cue to leave...vacate, remove myself from this situation...' Raf was stumbling over his words as he darted his gaze between them. Serena's face looked contorted, her lips puckered, like she was biting the inside of her mouth, stopping herself from yelling out, crying, shouting, Raf wasn't sure exactly which it was, but he knew he didn't want to witness it.
'Wait...' Serena, exclaimed, 'This is a professional matter and I need your opinion also. Don't move.' Raf was trapped, Serena to one side looking confused and flustered and Bernie the other looking angry and frustrated.
'I'll say it again, what wouldn't I stand for?' Bernie was still in the doorway and suddenly it was like Serena had just realised who it was standing there.
'Quick, close that bloody door! I don't want the whole ward seeing you. Hearing you...' Serena moved towards her, ushering her into the office quickly, she beckoned Bernie in towards the desks. Raf stepped out of the way of Bernie's so she could stand next to her chair. Serena closed the door forcefully and swung herself back around to the pair of them. Leaning back towards the newly closed door, she let out a sigh.
'Serena, what are you doing? What is going on?' Bernie was getting annoyed now, she wanted, no needed answers. 'Are you ok? Serena? You ok?' She went to step towards her, but rocked back on her foot instead, stopping herself getting to close to her.'I know I messed up ok...but...'
'You wouldn't stand for this mess... or the way I have dealt with the patients or Morven...hey look it's crazy Campbell at it again!' Serena barked, not wanting to give too much away, once again her tone betrayed her.
'I saw Morven down by the gardens, she was visibly very upset...I asked her what was going on, expecting her to say she was thinking about Dr Digby or something, but was horrified when she said you had thrown her out of your office. To be honest, I was trying to avoid coming up to the ward today. Building up the courage...maybe we should let Raf go, he looks extremely uncomfortable ey?' Bernie smiled at him briefly, a nod of an apology, she knew he didn't want to be there.
'Listen...I need an opinion on the Aiden situation, our love life can wait!' Both of them blushed. Bernie gulped, and shuffled on her feet, she was feeling awkward and restricted in what she could say in front of Mr Di Lucca.
'Serena, you're not thinking straight, I can deal with Morven, I'll go and speak to her now if you like, calm her down, we can sort this out? I trust we will make the right choice for our patient. I trust in you.' Raf tried to reason with Serena, he wanted to check on Morven, but he also just wanted out, he wasn't up for playing piggy in the middle.
'No, no...hang on Dr Digby was right...' Serena marched over to the paperwork that was sprawled all over her desk and picked up the file of notes she required, sighing, she played with them in her hand for a moment before thrusting them at Bernie, pushing them into her hand. 'Take them...take them...tell me what you think...another young man about to die on my watch, and Dr Digby wanted Miss Wolfe the hero to save the day...well here she is, on MY ward right when we need her...' She took a breath.'I emailed over a week ago, where were you when I said we needed you...you didn't reply! But what does that matter now, because you've come back right when we all need you to save this man, save this ward, save me from myself ey? ey?!'
Bernie threw a look of embarrassment at Raf. She couldn't look at Serena any more, she was hurting her and she felt like she deserved it, but it was also hurting Serena doing it in front of her Junior colleague.
'Don't worry about him, he's already had to deal with my hormonal mood swings and me declaring undying love for you whilst drunk on Shiraz, after deciding I couldn't kiss him! In this very office I might add...I don't think I could embarrass myself anymore in front of him, but I am doing a very good job at attempting that now...'
'What? You tried to kiss...'
'Look at the bloody notes! Look at the notes...give me a third opinion.'
Bernie slowly opened the file and started to glance over the notes and test results. Weighing up what she needed to say next, something struck her about what Serena had just said.
'Hang on...you said I didn't reply yo your email?' She looked up at Serena, setting the notes down on her old desk. 'I did reply...'
'Oh Bernie, just don't.' Serena sat down, placing her elbows on the desk, she flung her head in hands.
'But I did reply...Raf you have got to believe me, I did reply.' Bernie stepped towards the woman, now almost curled up at her desk. She bent over her, placing her hand on her shoulder. 'Serena listen, I did answer your email...'
To be continued...