"Where are you going? I thought we were getting drinks at Albie's before we went home?"

Serena gave a brief smile to Bernie as she shrugged. "You know what I like, and I'll only be a few minutes. I hope. If I'm not there in thirty, bleep me. Okay?"

Bernie frowned as she nodded, looking out onto the ward. Serena followed her gaze to see that Jasmine and Elinor were talking about something, and she felt her smile falter a little. "Okay. Just don't be too long. It's fish and chips night, after all."

She nodded absently as she left the office, skirting around her daughter and the junior doctor, praying not to be noticed. Soon, she was in the stairwell and making her way up to Darwin, hoping that Jac Naylor was still there. By the time she reached the ward, she was slightly out of breath, and she paused in front of the office door to take a moment and collect herself before knocking.

Zosia gave her a friendly smile as she left with Doctor Valentine, and Serena returned the expression as she lifted her hand and knocked firmly, waiting for a reply.

"Enter!"

Serena rolled her eyes a little at the annoyed tone as she opened the door and went in. "I'm glad to see you're still here. We need to have a chat."

Jac glanced up from the file in front of her to give Serena a bored, vaguely disgusted, look. She just arched an eyebrow in reply before taking a seat in front of her, clasping her hands on her lap as she continued to stare at Jac. "Look, I could have told you my sister was a disaster before you took her in on AAU. What has she done now? And where are you kicking her off to?"

Serena shook her head as she cleared her throat. "That's not exactly why I'm here. What can you tell me about your mother?"

Every emotion seemed to slip off Jac's face as her hand clenched tightly around her pen. It was obvious to Serena that she had hit a sore spot, but figured if she waited long enough, she'd get some sort of answer. "Why would you want to know anything about that woman?" Jac finally asked tightly, her gaze never quite meeting Serena's eyes.

"Because I have the feeling who your mother was has shaped Jasmine into the person she is."

"What? A manipulative, awful, woman who wouldn't know how to treat a patient, even if they were only here for splinter removal?"

The waspish tone took Serena aback, and she shook her head slowly as she tried to formulate her next words carefully, not wanting to set the woman off once more. "I don't think you're seeing her clearly, Jac." The woman's jaw tightened, and she hurried on, hoping to smooth things over. "She's really insecure, and desperately looking for approval. I noticed it first with Ric, and then today, with me, she kept trying to play super doctor, like that would somehow endear her to me. So, I ask again, what was your mother like?"

"She was a bitch, who only cared about herself and what she could get from you. She left me to the wolves, and I'll never forgive her for that. Even though I don't believe in it, I hope she's rotting in hell. It wouldn't surprise me if she left Jas with an inferiority complex deeper than the Marianas Trench. Don't get too attached to her, Doctor Campbell. She'll just end up being like a sick puppy you'll need to put down. It's better if you can do it without feelings getting in the way."

Serena fought to keep from clucking her tongue in disappointment with Jac, but still she frowned. "Maybe it's time someone gave her a chance to shine," she whispered as she stood. "Bernie and I are at Albie's for a little bit, if you'd like to join us."

Jac shook her head, looking back down at her desk. "I have a lot to finish before I can go home to Emma. Thank you, though."

Serena could hear the dismissal in Jac's voice, plain as day, and she nodded as she stood. "The offer's open any time you need to talk." Jac glanced up at her as she raised her eyebrow. "Have a good night," she murmured as she made her way out of the office.

Sighing, Serena went over to the lift and waited for it to arrive, needing the time to arrange her thoughts. She hadn't really gotten the answers she wanted from the surgeon, and that unsettled her all the more. Stepping onto the lift, she pressed the button for AAU, and tapped her foot as it went down, trying to put her finger on just why Jasmine's earnestness struck a chord in her soul.

As the doors opened on her ward, Serena stepped out and glanced around, trying to see what her daughter was currently up to. She couldn't find her, and Serena smiled as she stepped out onto the ward. "Oh, Ms. Campbell, you're still here! I thought that you went to Albie's with Ms. Wolfe?"

She turned her head to look at the very woman she had been thinking of, and gave her a small smile. "There was something I needed to take care of on another ward before I left for the night."

Jasmine nodded, her eyes impossibly wide as she rubbed her lips together. "Um, about the hug. I know, I totally made you uncomfortable, and that I shouldn't have been so forward with you, I mean, you had just extended your hand to me, that doesn't give me permission to invade your space like I did, but I haven't ever really been one to recognize boundaries, so many people will tell you that…"

Serena held up her hand to stop the torrent of words, and Jasmine paused, drawing in a deep breath as she looked down at the floor, unable, it seemed, to keep looking into Serena's eyes. Before she could stop herself, Serena was reaching out, resting her hand on Jasmine's shoulder and curling her fingers around the ball of the joint. "Office. Now." She hoped her words were a little more tempered than earlier, but from the forlorn way that Jasmine nodded, she knew that the young woman was still smarting.

The door closed softly behind her, and then she was guiding Jasmine over to the chairs, tugging her down as she sat herself. "I don't want to leave here, Ms. Campbell. This really might be my last shot, and I don't want that momentary lapse in professionalism to have derailed that. I am so, so, so very sorry."

It was a surprise to Serena that her motherly instinct came out in full force at the shaky tone of Jasmine's voice. Still, she pursed her lips together in an effort to keep from tearing up as she reached out and gently patted Jasmine's knee, hoping that she would look up at her. And when she did so, she never lifted her head out of her chest, and Serena felt her heart break for this lost girl. "Passion is what makes us all great doctors. You just need to learn how to temper that zeal with some restraint."

Serena gave Jasmine a warm smile, relieved to finally watch her draw in a deep breath and sit up straight in the chair, looking into her face. A shaky smile spread across her lips as she nodded, finally seeming to relax as she licked her lips. "I think I understand, Ms Campbell. Can I be honest with you?"

"Please."

"I really want you to like me? I know, that's stupid, that you're my superior, and all that. But, you're like the sun around here, and everyone orbits around you, wanting to be near you, and, and…is it so wrong for me to want to be amongst them?"

Tears were swimming in Jasmine's eyes, and Serena shook her head a little as she tilted her head to one side, giving her a sympathetic look. "You've been talking to Ellie, and she's probably told you that I don't give out gold stars." Jasmine opened her mouth to protest, which told Serena everything she needed to know. "Don't even try to deny it or defend her. I was hard on her, because my mum was hard on me. And I will expect your absolute best, Doctor Burrows."

She tempered her words with a warm smile, which Jasmine returned. "I will. For you."

"Good." Her phone bleeped at her, and she smiled to recognize Bernie's text tone. "That would be my cue to head over to Albie's. You're more than welcome to join us for a drink, I think we're going to be there for a little bit."

"We as in you and Ms Wolfe? Or will Cameron and Morven be there, too?"

"Cameron, most likely." Jasmine quickly nodded as she stood, blinking rapidly as she smoothed her blouse, her hands seeming unable to keep from moving. "Jasmine?"

"Yes?"

"There's no need to be so nervous here. I'm only going to judge you based on your merits as a doctor, not on who you are. You are a fine doctor, with the makings of a fine surgeon, and I will always encourage that. You are much more than you think you are."

The smile that lit up Jasmine's face would have been enough to light the room up, if it was electric. "Would you mind?"

Serena knew exactly what Jasmine wanted, and she shook her head a little as she stood, trying not to stiffen as the young woman wrapped her arms around her once more before bouncing out of the room. She released a long breath as she shrugged into her jacket and placed her hat on her head, going out to the lift and waiting for it. Her phone bleeped once more, and she tugged it out, taking a look at the screen. Where are you? X

She smiled as she thought about her reply. Just finishing up here, darling. Should be at Albie's in 5, might have a tagalong. Serena shoved the mobile back in her pocket as she stepped into the lift and pressed the ground floor button.

It didn't take long to get over to Albie's, and she smiled to see that Bernie had once more commandeered the chairs nearest the fireplace, a glass of red wine sitting on the table, obviously waiting for her. Their eyes met, and she grinned as she pranced over to her lover and took her seat, curling up on the chair and reaching out for the glass.

Bernie handed it to her, letting her fingers caress the back of her hand as she withdrew it. "Where's Cameron?" she asked before taking a small sip of Shiraz.

"He and Morven decided to call it an early night."

"Aw, really?" They both looked up to see Jasmine standing by their table, a small frown on her lips. "I guess I'll just finish this and head home, then."

"No, sit! We don't bite," Bernie murmured, gesturing towards the free chair with her wine glass.

Jasmine nodded a little as she sank down, copying Serena's pose. When she noticed the scrutiny, she blushed and went to move, but Serena shook her head before taking another sip of wine. "These chairs are made for curling up in. I love mine at home."

"Ah." A slightly awkward silence descended on them, and yet Serena couldn't help but gaze at the young woman fondly. "Did you have a good Christmas?"

Bernie swallowed her loud laugh, sputtering a little as she coughed and nodded. "It was great," she finally choked out, and Serena rolled her eyes. Jasmine frowned a little, looking between the two of them, trying to figure out what was going on.

"We had our whole family together, and it was a beautiful disaster. Too much Doctor Who, a little bit of fighting and cold shoulder, and the most delicious gift…"

"Serena!"

She turned her head to look at Bernie, giving her a look as she shrugged. The first giggle slipped from Jasmine's lips, and she relaxed even more as she snuggled back in her chair and sipped at her wine. "I never said what your gift to me was. I'll leave that up to our dear Doctor Burrows. I'm certain that she has quite the active imagination."

Both Bernie and Jasmine sputtered on their drink, and she laughed richly as she twirled her glass around, watching the liquid swirl and splash. "You are going to be the death of me yet," Bernie murmured in her ear as she shifted in her seat, leaning in closer to Serena. Jasmine gave them a knowing smile as she gulped down a large swallow of her drink.

"Well, this was certainly enlightening," the young woman said as she polished off the rest of the wine in her glass. "I should probably head home though, and see what's going on there. Again, thank you, Ms. Campbell, I'll try to do you proud."

Jasmine stood and gave them a small wave before leaving their presence, and Serena shook her head a little. "I do think that you embarrassed the girl, Serena!"

"She'll get used to it, Bernie, especially if she's going to be around us for any length of time. I want to keep her as part of our family. She needs that in her life."

"Are we taking in another misfit, then?" Serena turned her head to look at Bernie, arching her eyebrow as she nodded. "I should have seen that coming, shouldn't I?"

"Yes. You should have. I'll forgive the momentary lapse, however." Glancing around to make certain that no one was really looking their way, she leaned in and kissed Bernie's cheek quickly before making herself comfortable in her chair once more. "It's amazing, really, how one mother can create two completely different daughters."

"That's why I'm often so glad that we can choose who's in our families, once we're grown. I'm glad that you're part of my family." Bernie reached out her hand, and Serena clasped it tightly, threading their fingers together. It was easy to be intimate like this, since they were in a safe place. "Now, speaking of family, I think that we should probably finish this glass and head home before Jason starts to text us, asking if we've forgotten the fish and chips."

Serena chuckled as she nodded, hurriedly swallowing the last bit of her wine before standing and holding out her elbow. Bernie set her glass aside and shrugged into her coat before standing and sliding her hand home in the crook of her arm. "You're driving, right?"

"Yes, darling." Serena let out a pleased purr as they walked to Bernie's car, using the cold as an excuse to walk as close to her as possible, thinking about how there really was no way of escaping the people who molded and shaped your early life, even if you so desperately didn't want to be like them. After all, it looked like she was her mother's daughter, and Jas was her mother's daughter, and knowing that might just help them to work together all the better.