Frieda hesitated as her finger hovered over the call button on her phone
Jac it's Frieda
Petrenko, to what do I owe the pleasure
Frieda went on to explain to Jac everything that had happened and was rumoured to have happened in her absence. After she finished there was a prolonged silence
Is he still on nights?
We both are yes
Jac didn't even pretend that she wasn't bothered. I guess that's progress thought Frieda. She just hoped it was not too late. It was also a miracle that Jac had not taken her head off for getting involved.
That evening Jac slipped into her office unseen by anyone and sat at her desk in the dark, willing the tears that threatened to not fall.
Eventually, as Frieda had said he would, Fletch entered and sat on the sofa. She tried to decide if he looked any different since she'd last seen him all those weeks ago as she waved goodbye when he was in theatre. He looked tired as he leant his head back and briefly closed his eyes. Her chest felt tight, like her heart was being squeezed.
"Is it true" she said clearly shattering the silence
Fletch jumped up
"What the fuck. Jac is that you?" he hit the light switch
"Turn it off" she ordered. She didn't want him to see her tears and she didn't want to see the look of pity he would give her
He pturned the light off and sat back down
"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly
"Is it true" she repeated
"Is what true" Fletch had a fair idea what she was talking about didn't want to incriminate himself unnecessarily.
Jac sighed "Abigail Tate" Jac spat out her name
"Erm.. um" Fletch stuttered
"Frieda called me"
"Oh"
"So it is true then?"
"Why are you so interested Jac. Where the fuck were you?" Fletch was allowing his anger to show
"You know where I was"
"Do I? You left , running scared when I wanted to speak to you. You didn't come back when you said you would. No word, no text, not even a fucking postcard "
"I left to get stronger, get better"
"Oh well good for you. We were all broken waiting for you to come back" and then more quietly "I was broken wondering if you would come back"
"It sounds like you found some solace"
"If I'd known sleeping with someone would be what it would take for you come back I'd have done it weeks ago"
Jac choked back a sob
