Chapter Text
It had been three months since Serena had let Bernie walk out of her life. Since Bernie had returned to start her new job. Serena had not heard a word from Bernie, she did miss it. But she also knew that Bernie was ready to leave the nest of Holby City hospital but she herself wasn’t ready yet.
The place had been both memories of heartache and that of treasured memories that she hold with her forever.
Things at holby now though, well they had become the same. Everyday was the same, without Bernie, the fun, the mystery had gone. Serena hoped every night when she lay her head on her pillow that they would find their way back to each other.
The next morning, again it was another busy day on AAU. Couple emergencies already this morning. Serena decided to a moment peace in her office, when Donna came and knocked on the door.
“Yep” Serena said with her annoyed tone.
“ED called, they diverting a patient up here.” Donna told her.
“Can’t they just deal with it. We ain’t an extension of them.” Serena snaps.
“Serena, the patient, it’s Bernie.” Donna states.
“What? What happened?” Serena jumps up.
“She collapsed that all we know.” Donna tells her.
It takes a good ten minutes of pacing before they finally wheel the trolley with Bernie lying there with oxygen mask covering her face. Serena felt herself hold her breath.
Serena gets warned off treating Bernie herself, but she is no longer listening. She needs to know what’s happening, that she okay.
As they try to start attaching things to Bernie, she starts pulling it off as soon as they get it near her.
“Bern, hey it’s me. You’re at holby, I’m here.” Serena goes to her and try to calm her.
“I don’t want” Bernie says, before struggling to breathe again.
“Bernie, come darling you’re okay. We’re just trying to sort you out yeah. Find out what’s going on with you?” Serena encourages.
“I know” Bernie breathes.
“You know what’s wrong?” Serena asks, Bernie nods.
“Okay what it is Bern? Please” Serena pushes. Bernie shakes her head.
“Are you Serena?” A voice she didn’t know comes from the doorway.
“And you are?” Serena raises his eyebrows.
“Charlotte Dunn, her daughter.” The girl said.
“Are you Serena?” Charlotte repeats.
“Yes” Serena says shocked, before Bernie left she wasn’t even talking to Charlotte.
“Mum won’t tell you, she thinks she protecting you. Thinks she can do it all alone. Does it so well that you get yourself in this state, hey mum.” Charlotte says.
“Enough is enough mum” Charlotte says to her mum.
“Mum was diagnosed with lung cancer a month ago.” Charlotte informs them.
“Lottie No” they can hear Bernie try to say.
“She’s refusing treatment. States that she had her chance at life. To let the world of medicine save someone else rather than waste it on her.” Charlotte explains.
“Oh Bernie” Serena cries.
“Bern please, would you at least let us make you comfortable for now?” Bernie tries to say no, but the face of Serena and her daughter. She ended up agreeing.
They put Bernie on 100% oxygen. Did some tests and attached Bernie onto some fluids to rehydrate her.
It was a good couple of hours before they were able to switch her from a mask to an oxygen tube. Bernie symptoms began to calm down a bit.
She was calmer now, Charlotte could tell the difference between her mum before and now with Serena here. She was so much more settled and happy within herself. She struggled to take her eyes off Serena. Was must calm when Serena was sat beside her, holding her hand with one hand and stroking her fingers up her arm with the other.
“She’s different with you, settled, calmer, happier maybe.” Charlotte says to Serena. As Bernie finally slept peacefully.
“It’s funny cause I’m the same with her. I just, things have happened and we lost our way a bit.” Serena replied.
“I need my mum Serena, but she won’t listen to me. I don’t think she’s looking after herself, she’s given up.” Charlotte says sadly.
“I’ll see what I can get out of her okay. But I can’t promise anything.” Serena told her.
“Thank you. Can you tell mum I love her and I’ll see her tomorrow? I need to go and sort some stuff out.” Charlotte asks.
“Course I will, come in whenever you want okay. If someone questions it, use my name.” Serena says to her before they say their goodbyes and she is left alone with Bernie.