Fletch bumped into Sacha on the way back from Pulses
"Hi Fletch, How is she?" Sacha asked in his usual gentle tone
"Jac ?" Fletch asked not knowing whether Sacha had heard about the two of them
"Of course Jac. Really bad luck losing a patient on the first day back in theatre"
"What!" Fletch said alarmed "poor Jac. Sorry Sacha I need to go and see if she's ok"
Sacha smiled after him - maybe the rumours were true. He hoped they were. Even Jactus was recovering from being overwatered by Ms Tate. Definitely a sign thought Sacha
Fletch burst onto the ward "where is she?" He practically yelled at Petrenko "where's Jac?"
"I don't know Fletch. She left. You heard what happened?"
"No details but yeah"
"She couldn't have stopped it. It wasn't her fault. No body would have done anything any differently. Honestly Fletch"
"First day back operating though Frieda, it's gonna hit her hard." He paused "are you ok?"
"I'll be fine. You need to find her"
Fletch pulled out his phone
"It's in her office Fletch, I've already tried"
Fletch looked at his watch,dialling his phone again he called Sacha
"Fletch?"
"Sacha, i haven't found her yet and it's nearly time for us to collect the kids from Crèche. Is there any chance you could get Theo and Emma and take them to Macdonalds or somewhere?"
"No problem. I'll take them back to mine if you need extra time"
"Thank you so much. I'll let the crèche know"
"Fletch have you tried the roof?"
"No. You think she'll be up there?"
"I don't know but we've had numerous heart to hearts up there in the past. Look after her Fletch, she's very special "
"I know and I will look after her"
Fletch hung up and headed to the roof, taking the stairs two at a time - since the shooting and Raf's death, he did not do lifts. Breathless he opened the door to the roof carefully. If she was there he didn't want to startle her
Stepping out onto the hospital roof gingerly Fletch immediately spotted her leaning on the railing looking out over the city. She just had her scrubs on and still had her scrub cap on. As he approached he took off his hoodie and placed it gently around her shoulders as he said "hi" quietly. She was freezing
Fletch positioned himself at her side and laid his hand on hers that was gripping the rail so hard that her knuckles were white
"She fell from here" Jac said without emotion. It took Fletch a couple of minutes to realise she was talking about Fran.
"I put her back together only for her to kill Jasmine. I couldn't save her either"
She wordlessly turned into his arms, allowing herself to be held, to be comforted. Fletch wrapped his arms around her, gently removed her scrub cap and stroked her hair. He kissed the top of her head. No words were needed. He'd never felt so close to anyone before. It was as if he had been put on this earth just for this moment. It was surreal, all the noise of the city faded and all he was aware of were Jac's gentle sobs.
Jac had headed straight to the roof after speaking to the dead man's family. She had always found calm up here and over the years there were plenty of times she'd needed it's sanctuary, sometimes with Sacha but usually alone. Jac Naylor against the world, dealing on her own with life's trials and heartaches.
She knew he would come. She hadn't told anyone where she'd gone but she knew he would find her. It wasn't a test it was just a fact of her life now that Fletch would always be there to catch her when she fell. She struggled to accept his unerring support after the shootings, allowing him in gradually over the months and falling in love with him.
"Jac" he said softly "do you want to talk about it?"
She shook her head "not yet. Just hold me for a little while longer"
His arms grew tighter around her as he carried on gently stroking her hair.
Eventually, as the sky darkened he suggested that they go inside. It was as if Jac had just realised how late it was and how long she'd been up there
"Where are the kids?" she suddenly asked, horrified that she had been so caught up in her distress that she had forgotten about Emma
"Relax , it's fine Emma and Theo are with uncle Sacha and Evie's in charge at my house with my mum on call in case of emergencies"
"Thank you" she murmured.
Who was this quiet woman. Not the great Jac Naylor, ice queen she pondered silently. No she was still Jac Naylor but he had made her a better version of herself, and she him if truth be told.
They were now sat on the stairs just inside the roof door
"The bleed, the arrest came out of nowhere. I had no chance. I went over and over it in my head when I came up here. I honestly don't think I could have done anymore or done anything any differently"
"Frieda agrees with that" he offered
Jac nodded "I wondered had I missed something with it being so long since I'd operated. I stepped into that theatre this afternoon and felt completely at ease, as if I'd never been away. It was my domain and then I lost him. I know it happens all the time, we look after very sick people and some of them aren't going to make it but today I just wanted to be back in control "
"Jac you're only human" he soothed " come on let's get you home. You and Emma are at staying at mine tonight no argument. I'll take the couch"
"I really don't want to be alone tonight so would it be alright if you didn't?"
"If I didn't what" Fletch said confused
"If you didn't sleep on the couch" she looked up at him her eyes asking for even more comfort than her had already given her
"Whatever you're comfortable with babe. Whatever you're comfortable with"
