Through Sickness And In Health - Flac

Part Eight

Fletch smirked and hatched a silent plan as they climbed into his car and drove away from Sacha's. The Nurse glanced away from the road briefly to look at his girlfriend to find her engrossed in something on her phone. He turned back to the road but when he glanced back to Jac a few minutes later he found her smiling at the screen.
"What are you smiling at Naylor?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow, now concentrating on the road.
"Nothing Fletcher." She replied with a mischievous smirk.

However when she looked up to see where they were, confusion flooded her features. They were travelling in the opposite direction to both their houses.
"Where are we going?" She enquired but received a smirk in return from Fletch.
"Somewhere." He grinned, knowing his bluntness would wind Jac up. She scowled at him as she slipped her phone back into her pocket. The rest of the drive was silent until Fletch finally pulled the car into a car park just as darkness was falling around them.
"I'm taking you..." He said as he pulled the handbrake on. "On a date, Ms Naylor. Care to join me?"
"Of course Mr Fletcher." She replied, nearly speechless. As she unbuckled her seat belt, the Nurse ran round to her side of the car and opened her door.
"Ma'am." He said in a pretend posh voice and offered her his arm as she stepped out.
"Thank you Sir." She played along and linked their arms together. He locked the car and began to lead them through the growing darkness in the direction of a high street.

Arm in arm they continued to wander past dozens of pubs and restaurants until they reached a fancy looking hotel at the very end of the row of shops. It was lined with multiple glass windows and a red carpet was laid out across the pavement from the front door. A gasp sounded from Jac.
"We will be dining here tonight if that's okay with you?" He continued with his act.
"Fletch?! Of course it's okay! It's beautiful! Thank you!" She exclaimed and turned on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.
"I'm glad you approve." He grinned. "Shall we go in?" He received an eager nod from the surgeon on his arm and led them inside.

They were swiftly seated and handed glossy menus which they glanced over and selected their meals from. It was only a short wait for their food and drinks which Fletch knew would please Jac. They chatted animatedly and enjoyed each other's company until Fletch announced that he had another surprise for her.
"Oh? What would that be Mr Fletcher?" She quirked an eyebrow at him and took a sip of her wine.
"So I took the liberty and booked us a room for the night..." He trailed off trying to gauge her reaction.
"Okay, that sounds lovely. Where is it?"  She asked and took another sip.
"Here. If that's okay with you?" He watched as her eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from spluttering out her mouthful of wine.
"This is too much Fletch!" She exclaimed.
"Jac please don't run away again, I'm sorry if I've scared you off. We don't have to stay. I'll take you home if that's-" He panicked but was interrupted by Jac's soft laughter.
"Oh Fletcher." She laughed, wiping a tear from her eye. "That's not what I meant. It's a lovely surprise albeit an expensive one. Of course I want to stay. I love you. I'm not running okay?" She reassured him and took hold of his hand which was rested on the table in front of him.
"Oh uh..." He started to say and then began to laugh at himself. "Okay, oh thank god, phew. I thought I'd lost you for a second then."

When they had finished eating, a waitress whisked their plates away and bought the bill over. In one elegant move Jac reached for her handbag and began to rummage around for her purse before she felt a hand on her arm.
"Jac what are you doing?" Fletch asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"Looking for my purse so I can pay my half?" She replied in a tone as if to say 'isn't that obvious?'. Fletch chuckled and shook his head.
"Do you not know how a date works Naylor? I asked you out so I'm paying for it." He said stubbornly.
"Do you remember who you're talking to? I don't date...normally. You're...how do I put this...an exception to that." She replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course Miss 'I don't date and definitely not Fletch'." He smirked as she blushed.
"You heard that?" She asked as she recalled the time that she had said those exact words to Frieda all those months ago. The Nurse nodded in response and proceeded to pay the bill.

"Right come on then Madam, let's go and get our room." He stood up from the table and offered her his arm once again. She accepted it with a smile and let him lead them to the reception desk. "I'm glad I finally got to take you out for that fancy meal I promised on Friday." He grinned happily.