Fletch's stomach churned and his heart nearly broke at the scene
He approached slowly, Jac seemingly unaware of his presence he knelt down and gently placed his hands on hers. Encouraging her to remove them from her ears. She flinched, opened her eyes and lowered her knees.
"Hey you" he said softly
"Hey" she replied
"You got dressed" he commented
"I felt a bit exposed just wearing that shirt"
"Me too" he said gesturing to his t shirt and sweat pants "can i have a hug. I know I probably don't deserve one but ..."
Jac didn't hesitate but flung her arms round his neck, his around her waist.
"You looked like you wanted to block everything out when I came up babe"
"Feel a bit silly. I didn't want to know what was happening. I'm sorry- it's just if I was faced with a situation that I wanted to block out when I was in care I would do exactly what I did just then. I haven't done it for years" she gave a small smile
"You are one incredible woman Naylor" Fletch said hugging her tighter "you didn't think anything was happening down there did you?"
"No, no I trust you. You told me you love me and I believe you but I don't know what she's like or why she was here"
"Let's go downstairs, get a drink and I'll tell you everything but you" he kissed her knuckles "have nothing to worry about OK?"
"OK. You've discovered my secret Fletch - the ice queen is a well practised disguise I am actually a pathetic wreck" she half joked getting up to follow him
Fletch spun round and grabbed her by the shoulders "don't let me ever hear you say that again. God so many people have done a number on you over the years haven't they?"
Jac shrugged "I have complete confidence in my work, just a bit shit in everything else"
He hugged her. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Plenty I hope"she said against his neck trying to lighten the mood. Fletch moaned softly. There was no need for a reply.
They went downstairs, it was early evening now.
"It's a good job I'm not at work tonight. Somebody has completely ruined my sleep today" he smiled at Jac, hoping she felt a little better. She was still somewhat subdued but reached out to stroke his forearm
"If you've finished your stint of nights, when are the kids back Fletch?"
"Don't panic" he laughed not until teatime tomorrow
"I think you do a great job. I struggle with just one little monster, you've got four"
"We get by" he said,getting a bottle of wine out of the fridge holding it up to show her. Jac nodded "yeah contrary to popular belief my kids are generally great,. Obviously they have their moments" he paused unsure whether to go on "I hope you'll find that out one day very soon"
Jac was surprised to find she didn't panic at this suggestion but simply said "I'm not going anywhere"
He poured them each a glass and they went to the living room
Settling next to each other on the sofa Fletch began
" OK" he took a breath "obviously I had no idea that Abigail would appear at my door today. As far as I knew she didn't have my address, I don't even have a phone number for her - that's how much of a nonexistent relationship it was"
"Where did you um you know" Jac asked
Fletch cringed " on call room"
Jac laughed out loud "tacky Fletch. My god , over the years if that room could talk"
"Oh yes? Anything you want to share Naylor"
"Hey this is about your indiscretions not mine. Carry on"
Fletch groaned "apparently she somehow got into the Human Resources data base and got my address"
"That's a bit bunny boiler isn't it?"
"I told her it was a bit stalkery. So she obviously wanted to know what was going on"
"I imagine she would when I answered the door looking like that" Jac pointed out "she said ' you do know Fletch and I are together?"
His eyebrows raised
"what did you say?"
"I said I knew that you'd slept together twice and it was hardly the romance of the century"
"She asked how long it had been going on -I said officially about 14 hours but 9 months in the making" he said
Jac laid her hand on his thigh and squeezed lightly "why didn't you tell me I was in love with you sooner?"
Fletch placed his hand on top of hers "do you know how hard it was, seeing you every day, hoping you might be feeling the same and then finally finding the courage to have 'the talk' with you only for you to disappear"
"I'm an idiot what can I say. I'm sorry Fletch" she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek
"So even though in my head me and Abigail were two colleagues having a hook up I did still feel like a bastard for not telling her but, in my defence - I didn't have even a phone number and I was planning on going to see her.
Nothing and no one was going to stop me from getting together with you today after all this time"
He continued "she had the cheek to ask if it was different with you - I refused to talk about you. And she asked me if I wanted to keep my options open"
Jac choked on her wine. "And you said?"
"What do you think you crazy woman?" Fletch wrapped her in his arms
"She kind of threatened me at the end saying ' I hope work doesn't get too awful for you"
"That's settled then, I'm back on Monday"
"What -you're gonna protect me?" He laughed
"I just want to keep an eye on things" Jac replied
"So we ok?"
"I feel a bit sorry for her losing you"
"I was never hers to lose Jac. Now where are we on you putting my shirt back on?"
