Chapter Text
Somehow, after Robbie had come into the hospital, aiming to steal her heart away again, she'd wound up at Albie's with him. She'd agreed to one drink so they could 'properly talk' as he put it. However, one drink turned into two, which was rapidly becoming three and now the prospect of Robbie the Bobbie isn't looking so terrible. She catches a glimpse of blonde curls out of the corner of her eye and her heart soars for a moment, before realizing that it's not the trauma surgeon she's been pining over the last month.
"There was someone else." She confesses, unable to look at him. She stares down at the table instead, her heart thudding in her ears. "It, it didn't work out, and, they're gone now. But, I just... I thought you should know." She says, nervously taking a drink of Shiraz. She doesn't know why she feels the need to tell him. It's not a lie, it is over between her and Bernie. But, she makes very sure to leave out the pronouns to avoid questions. "Sorry." She says, and she's not sure why she's apologizing, but it feels like the right thing to do.
"Serena, I'm the one who should be sorry." He says softly, taking her hand in his own, and she looks up at his face, surprised. "I never should have walked away. I knew you were what I wanted. You and Jason both, I... I should've stayed." He sighs and moves closer. "I love you." He says, and her heart physically aches in her chest. She has longed for weeks to hear those same exact words, from a different set of lips.
He leans in and cups her cheek, and she closes her eyes so she doesn't have to look at him any longer, afraid that she will burst into tears. She tries desperately to be in this moment with him, to think only of him instead of the last kiss she'd had. His lips are too rough, and the scratch of his beard feels like sandpaper on her skin. She pulls away after a moment and forces a smile, because she knows it's what she's supposed to do. He smiles back brightly, and offers to see her home. She declines, knowing what will happen if she does; she'll hate herself in the morning and nothing will be gained, just more loss.
Instead, she tosses and turns alone in what feels like a huge bed, and dreams of having her hands inside of a body, blood all the way up to her elbows. She takes the heart and massages it, but it's no use. The patient is bleeding from practically everywhere. When she looks up to tell them it's alright, to give whoever this is some semblance of hope in their last moments, she realizes it's her.
She wakes up with a jolt 20 minutes before her alarm is set to go off, and places her hands over her chest, making sure that she's not bleeding out. Tears fill her eyes and she sits up, quickly brushing them away as they fall down her cheeks. Jason is already up and as she focuses on his soft footsteps in the hallway, trying to slow her heartbeat to a steadier pace. The tears begin falling in earnest and she gives up on trying to wipe them away, instead pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, letting herself sob hard.
"Auntie Serena?" She hears from right outside the door, accompanied by three sharp taps. "Yes, just one moment." She says, trying to pull herself together. She takes in a shaky breath and gets to her feet, using her sleeve to dry her face. Knowing that Jason won't take kindly to waiting, she walks over and answers the door, pulling it open just a bit. "Are you alright? I heard you crying, and you're not supposed to be awake for 17 more minutes." Jason says rapidly, concern in his eyes. "I'm fine. Just had a bad dream." She says, sniffling. She does her best to smile, and, Jason seems satisfied. "Alright." He says, watching her for another moment before turning and walking away.
She leans her head against the door frame and closes her eyes for a moment, trying to shake the dream. Her phone buzzes on the nightstand and she practically lunges for it. It's Robbie, and she hasn't even realized how far her hopes had risen until they come crashing down around her. She briefly wonders if the gaping hole that Bernie left in her heart will ever be filled.
Good morning beautiful. I enjoyed our chat last night. Hope to have another soon.
She sighs and puts the phone down, unable to form a reply in her current state. She walks into the bathroom and turns on the shower, stripping and stepping under the hot stream of water. 30 minutes later she's ready to face the day, and she grabs her phone, texting Robbie back.
~
Two days later, she's agreed to a date with Robbie. He really is trying, and, she tries to remember how good it had been between them. Robbie loves her. She is doing her best to forget Bernie Wolfe. Her hands and her mouth and her voice and the way she made Serena's entire body tingle from a single gaze. Robbie orders for her and she tries to find it endearing like she once had, but, all she can think of is Bernie at the Italian restaurant, fumbling over her order and gazing longingly at her when she thought Serena wasn't looking.
No. Robbie is here now. Robbie. Robbie. Robbie. Bernie.
"I need to use the bathroom." She says, feeling like she's about to suffocate under the weight of everything that her mind is throwing at her. Once inside, she looks up into the mirror, and stares into her own eyes. "Come on Campbell, pull yourself together." She says, standing straight. She's going to go out there and be happy. The memory of Bernie Wolfe isn't going to control her anymore.
~
Six weeks later, she's made good on her promise to herself and fallen into some semblance of happiness with him. They'd agreed to take things slow, needing to rebuild trust. Serena also needed time to heal, time to forget the destruction that Bernie had left in her wake.
Robbie is in her office, the flowers he'd brought a few minutes before sitting on her desk. "I know you were stressed this morning, I wanted to brighten your day, just a bit." He says, leaning down and kissing her gently. She smiles against the kiss, and hears a knock at the door. "Come in." She calls, still looking up at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll come back later." She immediately recognizes the husky voice, and her chest constricts painfully, her head snapping up. "Bernie." She breathes, and Robbie steps away from her, immediately extending his hand. "Hello, I'm Robbie." He says, giving her a large bright smile. "Bernie Wolfe." She says, and Serena can tell her smile is forced.
"You should go." Serena says, her voice a lot cooler than it had been a few moments ago. "Alright." He says, turning and kissing her on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight." He says, beaming at her. She forces a tight smile and nods. "It was nice to meet you." He says, and Bernie nods at him. "You as well." She says, looking up to meet Serena's eyes. "Welcome back." Serena mutters, before following Robbie out of the office, ready to kill Hanssen.