Rating: PG
Pairing: Sarah/Harry
Beta: hhertzof
Spoilers: Invasion of the Bane
Summary: Sarah attempts to get used to the relationships she has with her children.

Sarah hovered outside Nat's room uncertainly, memories of Josh coming back to haunt her. For him, there had been no hope, but Nat was not so badly injured. However, as much as she kept telling herself that, it didn't hold back the fear that gripped her at the sight of Nat lying in a hospital bed, unconscious. Sarah had used Aunt Lavinia's money to allow Nat to go private, but all the money in the world couldn't make her magically better.

It should have been Sarah in Nat's place, and would have been had she not been pregnant and brow-beaten into staying at home. Even though if she had gone the baby might well have been harmed, it didn't make her feel any happier about letting Nat go into danger.

It wasn't guilt that stopped her from going in, though, but rather the presence of someone else in Nat's room. Given the way he held her hand, and tenderly brushed her hair from her forehead, he had to be her father. Sarah found herself thinking they looked similar before she realised how absurd that was.

Nat never intended for Sarah to meet her father and Sarah was quite happy to comply. But Nat had never predicted this situation, and although Sarah couldn't just leave not knowing Nat's fate, she didn't want to go in either. There was no way Nat's father wouldn't know who she was, and if there was ever a good time for them to meet, this certainly wasn't it.

The staff definitely had her mobile number, with instructions to ring her if there was any change. It didn't mean Sarah was going to sit at home and wait for a call, but she felt the need for a cup of tea. Maybe when she got back Nat would be alone and Sarah would be able to go in to see her.

She had only taken a couple of steps down the corridor when she felt a pain. The heartburn she had been ignoring for the last few minutes had been down to worry, she was sure. But it suddenly worsened. She pressed one hand to her chest, not that it did any good. With the other hand she leant against the wall, trying to hold herself up. She didn't cry out - she couldn't get enough breath for that.

She closed her eyes and managed to get one breath in, and then another, and the pain ebbed slightly. When she felt a hand on her arm, she jumped - she hadn't heard anyone else in her vicinity.

A voice asked, "Are you all right?"

It was a minute before she could trust herself to speak, so she shook her head before she opened her eyes. When she did, she found herself looking at Martin Redfern. The expression on his face was one of concern, not that she could really blame him.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"It's okay, it's going away." She straightened up a little and found the pain had faded to something more bearable.

"Here," he said, dragging a chair over to her and helping her sit on it with his hand on her arm.

She smiled up at him. "Thank you."

He frowned. "Do you want me to get someone?"

She took a few deep breaths as the pain receded. "No, it's fine, really."

"Well, if you're sure." He didn't leave her though.

Sarah was wondering what would be best to do next when a nurse called Martin Redfern over. He gave her a quick smile before he went, and she heard them discussing Nat. Much as she wanted to hear what was being said, there was no good place to overhear. She could ask later, though, so she took the opportunity to slip into Nat's room.

Nothing had changed in the few minutes since she last looked in. She bent over the bed and pressed a kiss to Nat's forehead.

Sarah glanced behind her, but no one had noticed she was in here. So she sat down. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I never meant to put you in any danger."

Now she hated that Nat didn't berate her for saying it was her fault.

She reached out for Nat's hand. "You have to wake up. I'm going to be a terrible mother, I really need your help." Nat was better with Luke than she was, but perhaps that was just because of the two of them had a different relationship to begin with.

Sarah sighed. She couldn't sit here forever, so she got up and turned to go. But it was too late: Martin Redfern was already standing in the doorway.

"You're Sarah Jane Smith," he said.

She bit her lip, not really wanting to have this conversation, certainly not now. "I'm sorry."

"No. I should thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have a daughter."

And it was her fault he very nearly didn't. Being pregnant with Georgia was making her feel bad enough about giving Elizabeth up in the first place, she didn't need him to give her any more conflicted feelings than she already did.

"Dad?" Nat's quiet voice made her turn round, but Nat was looking at her father, as he went to the other side of her bed.

Sarah slipped away while they were occupied with each other, breathing a sigh of relief that Nat was going to be all right. She wanted to speak to Nat some more, but now it was certain there would be plenty more time for that, Sarah left her with her father. She had to get home anyway, she told herself, because Luke was due back from school and would only worry if she wasn't there to greet him.

Share this post

• 

Fandom: Sarah Jane Adventures | Type: Character: Nat Redfern, Character: Sarah Jane Smith, Length: Long story, Pairing: Sarah/Harry, Series: Soap Opera, Type: Het | Link

Leave a Reply

If you haven't commented here before your review will be moderated and I have to approve it before it shows up. If you give your email address my reply will be emailed to you (check your spam folder if you're using hotmail or yahoo).