Home is where the heart is (Berena)

Chapter Fifteen

The blonde was stable but was connected to the life support machine, as at this current stage the blonde couldn't breath on her own as she wasn't responding to one of the medications, Serena didn't move from her partners side, she was always there by Bernie's side even if Serena was on shift. The first couple of weeks Bernie made no progress which worried Serena as she began to think that Bernie wasn't going to pull through but she didn't want to give up anyone hope.

Serena sighed and looked over at Bernie's phone, maybe it was time to tell Charlotte and Cameron about the state Bernie was in, she copied the two phone numbers across to her own phone, she hesitated for a few moments as she wasn't sure to call or text. Serena decided it was best to call.

Serena typed in Charlotte's number and rang it , she thought ringing charlotte would be what Bernie would do, the Brunette waited for Bernie's daughter to answer

Charlotte finally came to the phone as she didn't recognise the number

"Hello? Can I ask who's calling?"

"Hi, urm, I'm a close friend of you're mothers.. I thought I would give you a call to say that she's in hospital.."

Charlotte didn't know how to reply "ho..How bad is she?"

"She urm...She has tore her gastrointestinal... she sorta went on a binge drink so she had alcohol poisoning to..."

"Okay..." Charlotte paused "I urm I don't want to see her, not after everything she put me and dad through.."

"She's changed since then..."

"Has she? I wouldn't know as she's not had the guts to come see me to apologise, so no I won't see her, she can die for all I care..."

"You don't mean that.. I know that deep down you miss her.."

"I don't know who you are but you need to understand that mum never wanted me.. she was never there for me, so why should I be there for her?"

"She does love you.." Serena paused and sighed

"No"  Charlotte snapped and put the phone down.

Charlotte was sat in the house, she had a few photos of her and Bernie on show but the rest was her and Marcus, she sighed and got up from the kitchen table and went upstairs to the main bedroom where she pulled an old cardboard box out and lifted it onto the bed where she sat on the bed.

Charlotte was sat in the middle of the bed when she lifted the lift of the old cardboard box, in the box was a few of Bernie's keepsakes from the army, like letters she would write but would never send, and the ones she did send along with more pictures of her and Charlotte and her family, As the younger blonde read through all the letters she began to realise that Serena was right, Charlotte did in fact miss her mother deep down, and also realised it was time to forgive her for all the hurt she had put her through. A few tears ran down her cheeks she quickly wiped them as they landed on a photograph of Bernie holding her when she was premature.

Once Charlotte was finished looking through the box she put it back  under the bed and went back down the stairs and grabbed her jacket and keys. She got into her car and drove off to the hospital.

Serena decided that she was going to go home for a few hours to get some sleep and freshen up, she soon left the ward knowing that Donna or Fletch would page/ ring her if Bernie made any improvements.the brunette left the ward and drove home, she was worried about leaving Bernie on her own knowing that Charlotte didn't want to bother with her mum but what Serena didn't know that Charlotte had changed her mind.

Charlotte walked into the hospital and went to the AAU where she walked on the ward a little nervous, she looked around trying to find her mum but couldn't so she went over to the nurses station,Dom looked up at her

"I'm sorry can I help you?" He asked

"I was wondering if you could help me find my mum.. her name is Bernie Wolfe" the young blonde responded nervously

Dom nodded and took her to where Bernie was, Charlotte soon sat down by her mother and took her hand gently seeing the state Bernie was in, she had machines beeping that keeping her alive , this was worst than her getting blown up by the IED about three years ago now.

Charlotte sighed knowing that if Bernie didn't wake she would have to be the one who would have to turn the life support off, which she didn't want to do ever unless she really had to.

"I know you can't hear me right now , but I'm here mum... your favourite child..." the younger blonde spoke but then stopped and looked down, "I know you've been wanting to see me and I know this isn't how you wanted it , but I'm here by your side just like you were at mine all those years ago... please mum just wake up... I forgive you for what you did okay but please just wake up I don't wanna lose you... I miss you mum.." the younger blonde spoke as her voice cracked and tears started to fall from her cheek onto Bernie's hand.

Dom was watching from the nurses station he sent a text to Serena

"There's a mysterious young blonde at Bernie's side, do you want me to get rid of her?" He sent

A few seconds later Serena replied

"No let her stay, the mysterious young blonde is Bernie's daughter, I rang her earlier to let her know about Bernie"

Charlotte was now cuddled into her mother,she was still holding her hand, Charlotte soon fell asleep as she felt safer in her mother's arms then she did before she came to see her.

As Charlotte slept Bernie slowly started to come round, luckily for her fletch was checking her orbs and saw her come round so he took the tubs out that was connecting her to the life support.

When she finally opened her eyes she looked over seeing her daughter sleep then gave a little half smile at fletch to say don't wake her, as she wanted to surprise her , also at this stage of coming back round Bernie was tired so she closed eyes going back to sleep but this time she cuddled back into her daughter.