Keep them safe

We'll help her get through it

Fletch had to go into work briefly the next day to double check all the shifts over Christmas were covered.
"I'll check in on Jenny's gran, I'm bound to know someone on shift to ask"
"Is there anybody in that hospital that you don't know Fletch?"
He bent to kiss her as she was making coffee, still in her dressing gown "well I think everyone in the hospital has heard of you but few have been allowed to know you Ms Naylor"
He nuzzled her neck
"Shut up Fletcher. Mmm, stop, you know I love that"
"I do know you love that - even from grandpa Fletcher. Anyway I'm off now bye"
Jac practically whimpered "Oh this is your revenge"
"Just the start of it sweetheart" and with that he left whistling down the path. His revenge was a double edged sword because Jac wasn't the only one left wanting more from that little interlude.
It being the day before Christmas Eve everyone was in the festive spirit on the wards. After completing his admin he headed up to the stroke ward. Spotting a familiar face he went over to Lofty
"Hello Fletch, What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same- this is not your ward"
"Well you must have authorised overtime" Lofty laughed "Dom's stuck on Keller so I thought I might as well work"
"So how is Elaine Walters doing?"
"Do you know her?"
"Well not strictly speaking but Jac and I are fostering her grand and great grand daughters"
Lofty looked a bit blank before clicking on
"Fletch you know I can't discuss her care with you - patient confidentiality and everything" Fletch smiled "of course"
"Do you think she will make a full recovery?"
Lofty shook his head sadly
"It's not looking good"
Lofty shook his head again. "Look Fletch I've told you too much already. You'll get me into trouble with the director of nursing" he chuckled
Fletch slapped him on the back "merry Christmas mate"
Fletch returned home with a slightly heavy heart. The family were busy making a ginger bread house. Jenny was joining in as one of the kids not one of the parents. Tilly was having a nap. Evie was supervising gingerbread
"Hi everybody. Where's Jac?"
"Hi" everyone chorused "I think she went for a bath" Evie stated
"You better hide that when you're done or else you might find the house missing a wall" he chuckled as the kids simultaneously rolled their eyes and groaned
"You say that every single year dad" Ella pointed out
Fletch went upstairs to talk to Jac. She was still in the bath, he persuaded her to unlock the door and he entered as she dived back under the bubbles.
"Hi" he said "want me to do your back?" He said suggestively. Jac, naked in a fragrant bubble bath in a hot steamy bathroom. Fletch could not hide his arousal.
"That would be nice"
Jac handed him the sponge and he knelt next to the bath and gently washed her whilst kissing her damp neck.
"This needs to wait till later Mt Fletcher" Jac managed to say, knowing what this very activity had led to in the past, in this very bathroom.
"You're right -as usual Naylor" Fletch sighed
"I did come up to talk to you but you're too distracting"
"Pass me my towel, I'm getting out now"
"Well that doesn't really help me" Fletch grinned whilst holding the towel slightly out of her reach
"Fletcher"
"Naylor"
"Adrian"
"Jacqueline "
"For fuck sake give me the towel Fletch"
He knew when he was beaten
Watching Jac towel dry her hair had always been one of his favourite activities right from the beginning. He lay on the bed, arms behind his head admiring his wife and after all these years still being unable to believe his luck. Jac eventually pulled on some jeans and a jumper and sat cross legged facing him on the bed
"What did you have to tell me"
"Well I couldn't find out any details about Jenny's gran but Lofty indicated it's not looking good, they don't think she's going to recover "
"Oh that poor girl"  Jac felt a single tear roll down her cheek
Fletch gently wiped it away and pulled her in for a hug
"Come here.We'll help her through it babe"
"I know" said Jac sniffing