Chapter Text
They had worked together for almost a year. Their busy schedule often meant they didn’t see each other much during a shift. Yet they both seemed to make time for a quick chat; in the lift, in the cafeteria, when rushing through the corridors between assessments of patients, surgery or administration. Sometimes they worked closely together for an entire shift. When a complicated surgery required both their expertise they stood shoulder to shoulder for hours. The trust between grew stronger and stronger. Difficult decisions made them seek out for the other’s opinion on the matter and they often helped each other out on the burden of the ever-growing pile of paperwork. It was like they had developed a non-verbal language between them which made them somehow able to know what the other needed. Professionally. When it came to the more personal side, things were slightly more clouded and complicated. Ever since that day she got introduced to her new colleague Bernie had known. Known that there was something very special about the woman in front of her. Something that made Bernie immediately wanting to know more about her. Something that soon developed into an urge to be close to her as often as possible and a rare and unfamiliar wish to open up a part inside of her she had kept shut for years. A part she had thought was never going to be opened again.
“Serena Campbell, I’m delighted to meet you!”
The low pitched voice of the beautiful, dark haired woman with glittering brown eyes had resonated deep within Bernie the first time they met and the woman’s hand holding hers as they greeted felt so soft, firm and right in hers. Serena’s gaze had dwelled softly on her face and their handshake lasted slightly longer than what Bernie would consider as ‘normal’. When they finally broke contact and went separate ways she missed it immediately. Missed Serena. Her warmth and her smile. Missed the presence of a woman whom she had met for about 5 minutes.
She quickly learned that Serena was married. To a man. It wasn’t exactly surprising. What was surprising was the day they were both in the cafeteria for some much needed coffee between two demanding operations when Serena suddenly announced:
“I’m getting divorced.” Her voice sounded tired but her eyes seemed to have a new shine.
Bernie swallowed and looked away. A warm feeling in her stomach started to spread throughout the body and she tried her best to shake it off.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” The last thing she wanted was to see Serena being hurt but she wasn’t sure she sounded convincing because a part of her also immediately felt an egoistic jolt of joy. But Serena had put a hand on hers, looked straight into her eyes and replied:
“Don’t be. It’s ok. It was inevitable.”
This new information didn’t really make much of a difference though. Bernie was fully aware that a straight woman divorcing her husband wouldn’t automatically make her gay. So Bernie kept on having her guard up, didn’t reveal much of her own personal life. Not that there was much to tell. Her life outside the hospital was a rather sad and empty chapter at the moment. Had been for a quite some time if she was to be totally honest with herself. When she got home from work she normally passed out on front of the TV after eating some leftover dinner or a take-away and went to bed early, drifting into what seemed like a dreamless sleep. Then got up early the next day, ready to perform at her best at the hospital. Sometimes when she had trouble sleeping because her body burned with longing to be touched by Serena, she would get herself off at the image of Serena’s curvy body, delicious breasts and the captivating gaze in those dark brown eyes when she looked at Bernie a certain way. It would normally only take a few strokes on her swollen clit to make her cry out and gasp for breath as the orgasm rode through her like a boundless wave of much needed release. Sometimes it made her fall asleep immediately after. But sometimes it made her cry hard and long, her whole body shaking uncontrollably because the need to be close, to feel Serena’s arms around her, feel the warmth and the connection she had secretly yearned for for so long was too strong and desperate.
Bernie tried to keep a certain amount of professionalism in her interaction with Serena as best she could. It wasn’t easy. Despite their growing friendship and mutual confidence about things important to them, outside of work as well as the slightly heated debates about hospital politics, Bernie hadn’t told her that she was gay. Sometimes she thought Serena must have figured it out, must have noticed her interest, but then again Bernie knew she could be a pretty good actor when she needed to so hopefully she had been able to hide her affection. Sometimes she wondered if Serena felt the same… The way Serena looked at her at times. The frequent touching of her arm, on her back, the blinding smile. Serena even stroked her hair sometimes… The feeling of Serena’s fingers sliding through her messy curls sent shivers down her spine. But Bernie soon shook those thoughts off with a solid reality check. It was in Serena’s nature to be flirtatious, she was like that with a lot of people. There was no need to read more into that! Serena cared about her as a good colleague and friend. It was most important to Bernie not to ruin the great work-relationship they had developed and the rare and tender friendship that had come to mean so much to her.
And so the days went on. Weeks and months. They never met outside of work. Not even for coffee. Serena had once vaguely suggested going for a bite at an Italian restaurant apparently known for its extensive wine list after a rather challenging evening shift. They were both off the next day. The thought of getting tipsy and possibly lose her guard with Serena had frightened Bernie too much. She had politely declined, murmured something stupid about having to get up early the next morning for exercising. For a brief moment Serena had looked disappointed but then she had squeezed Bernie’s arm and replied with a grin:
“Ah well, I guess it’s important to keep fit.”
Bernie laughed but cursed inwardly. What she wouldn’t give for spending time with Serena outside of the hospital. But she didn’t trust herself enough not to reveal the secret: That she had become so utterly infatuated with Serena all she wanted was to hold her close forever and never let her go.
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When the invitation to a 3-day medical conference appeared in their mail inbox they both agreed to attend. Normally Bernie wasn’t the biggest fan of these conferences. They were pompous and expensive, she would rather have seen that money spent elsewhere in the system where they could have been more useful. There was of course the occasional interesting breakthrough of effective new methods that would benefit the treatment of particular diseases, but too often the focus and emphasis were related to profit and politics. But it was a welcome break from the daily hospital routine. And staying in a hotel, which included delicious meals, was a nice change to the dull take-away in front of the TV.
The thought of spending 3 whole days with Serena made Bernie’s pulse rise and her heart beat faster. She was nervous and excited. Knew all too well it was a work trip and not a romantic getaway with a lover. Luckily she would be able to retreat to her room now and then should she struggle to keep her balance.