Through Sickness And In Health - Flac

Part Nine

Later that night they had decided to go to bed to relax whilst they were currently both childless and enjoying each other's company. Jac laid in her night shirt and shorts, a hand wedged between her cheek and the pillow watching Fletch beside her. They had climbed into the bed side by side and their eyes had instantly locked onto each other's. Jac silently traced the Nurse's facial features with her eyes, trying to engrave every detail in her memory. He watched as her beautiful grey eyes flickered over his face in the dim lighting and a small smile crept onto their faces as they laid together. The surgeon bought a slow nervous hand up to meet his stubbled cheek and began to stroke the pad of her thumb over his rough jaw. She loved the feeling of the short hairs as they tickled her palm and fingertips. Jac was so lost in his eyes that when he turned his head in her hand and kissed her palm, she jumped slightly in surprise at the feeling. It was in this intimate position that the couple drifted off to sleep, breathing even and soft a few minutes later.

A few hours passed and Jac woke with a start. Her body shot up from the mattress into a sitting position, her breathing heavy and laboured as sweat dripped from her forehead. The woman glanced to her left side to find Fletch still in a deep sleep, still looking as peaceful as he was before falling asleep. A small smile crept its way onto her lips as she was comforted by the sight of the man she had fallen in love with. Knowing she wasn't going to be sleeping again that night she glanced at the clock. 04:17 am. Great she thought and swung her legs out of the bed. The chill of the air hit her bare skin as she padded over to the window and wrapped her arms around her body, hugging herself to keep warm. The surgeon stared out over the city, watching cars rush along the road in the early hour quietness, headlights and streetlights banishing the outside darkness.

Suddenly a pair of arms crept around her stomach and a chest met her back. She breathed in his scent heavily and turned to kiss his cheek as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
"What you doing up at this time in the morning Naylor?" He whispered in her ear, his lips brushing her earlobe sending a shiver down her spine.
"I had a nightmare and didn't want to disturb you...that's all." She replied hoping he would leave it at that.
"Here put this on, you must be freezing." He said as he held out her cardigan and watched as she slipped her arms into it. "Why don't you come back to bed? It's cold without you." He took her hand in his and led them both back to the enormous bed. They slipped back under the duvet and snuggled into each other once again.
"Sorry if I woke you." She whispered and turned to face him to find he was already back asleep peacefully. This is going to be a long night she thought as she stared up at the ceiling, still in Fletch's arms.

After roughly another hour, Jac began to get a stiff back from not moving and decided to get back out of bed so she didn't wake the Nurse beside her again. She slid out gently and crept over to the armchair beside the window she had previously been stood in front of. The woman pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees as she watched her boyfriend. She admired his peacefulness and watched as his chest rose and fell with his soft breathing. Bored, she attempted to regulate her own breathing so that she inhaled and exhaled at the same time as Fletch, who was still obliviously asleep.

She watched for yet another hour until the light of the rising sun signified the day was breaking as it began to stream in through the curtain-less window. Jac yawned and stretched as Fletch stirred and opened his eyes. She chuckled as he rolled over intending to capture her in his arms, thinking she was still beside him.
"Good morning Sleeping Beauty." She spoke with a smile. Fletch sat up startled by her absence from the bed and the sudden sound of her voice on the other side of him.
"Christ Jac you scared me! What are you doing over there?" He exclaimed with a hand clasped to his chest.
"I couldn't sleep again so I sat over here. Also my back got stiff and I needed to move." She shrugged as if it wasn't big deal that she had been up for half the night.
"You must be exhausted." He replied, concern filling his voice as he swung himself out the warm covers.
"Meh, I'm used to it." She spoke softly and stood up from her chair. The couple met in the middle and Fletch enveloped her into his arms as she snuggled into his chest.
"Jac...can we talk about these nightmares please?" He leaned back so he could see her eyes and watched as they flooded with sadness and fear.
"I'd rather we didn't. Not yet. Please?" She replied and gripped the back of his t-shirt tighter.
"Of course. But when...when you are ready, I'm here. I'm always going to be here. I'm not going anywhere okay?" He whispered and kissed her hair.
"Thank you, Fletch. I love you."
"I love you too sweetheart, never doubt that." And with that he swooped down to capture her lips in a kiss full of love and patience.