Less than a week later Essie was bringing Josh Bloom up to Darwin
"Isn't he a trial patient?" Fletch asked
"Yes" confirmed Essie
"Should Jac be operating?" He said concerned
"There's no one else really"
Jac took the details and ordered him to be prepped for surgery
"You ok with this?" Essie asked
"I'm fine with this nurse di lucca".Jac snapped
Jac was shocked at how ill Josh was. Didn't he have the same neoconduit as her?
Essie had agonised about speaking to Jac but came to her after surgery and told her
about the concerns that Meena had raised, that Roxanna had been investigating before she died. Trial patients were dying all over the place. This could be her. Again
Gaskell was back and she went straight to his lab
"What have you put into me? I can't die, I have a little girl. You will take this out of me and when I wake you will be gone"
Jac had been denying to herself that she didn't feel right. Making it to her office she slumped on the floor and sobbed. A familiar knock on the door alerted her to the presence of the only person she wanted to see. Fletch
"Come in"
She gave him a weak smile as he entered
"Christ Jac, what is it?"
He rushed over to where she sat on the floor and enveloped her in his arms. Holding her so tight
"This this thing he put in me it's going to kill me"
"What are you talking about?"
"The neo conduit, Essie and Meena looked at Roxanna's notes. It's contaminated with human cells. It's, I've been feeling not right recently"
"Why didn't you say"
"I didn't know how and I was trying to ignore it"
He hugged her again "I'm here sweetheart "
"Sweetheart?" Jac repeated pulling away
Fletch blushed "Sorry. Forgot myself "
"Fletch I may be facing death. Again. And the only person I want with me is you. It's time I started listening to my heart Fletch. I'm not strong enough to fight it anymore. I want you, I need you "
"Jac, you don't know what you're saying you're upset about the trial deaths"
"Fletch please" she implored "I'm taking the risk, I'm willing to try. Oh my god" she sobbed "please don't reject me"
Fletch was speechless "never" he said eventually and placed a chaste kiss on her lips that were wet from her tears.
"Jac are you sure?"
"Fletch you're right, finding out about what that psychopath has done to me has made me emotional, but it's also put things into perspective. Life's too short to not take a chance on being happy" she paused "and for someone who once told Roxanna 'that's never happy' you know I hardly ever allow myself to be happy. You do though Fletch, you make me happy"
He simply stared at the broken woman in front of him. He loved her, he realised that now but decided that was too much, too soon
"Just make sure you live please"
She smiled "That's the plan"
They sat holding each other until the light began to fade
"Jac, I need to collect Theo from crèche and get home before the childminder quits"
"You're a good dad Fletch. Not sure I've always been honest with you about that"
"Well that doesn't sound like you"
"I've told you before I'll do the sarcasm, you stick to the caring soppy mush"
He laughed softly remembering that conversation. They had so many memories and shared 'moments' it was like they'd been a couple all along
"Come on, let's get you up" he stood up offering her his hand
She stood in front of him having exposed her heart "you do know I didn't mean what I said about you not being good enough for me don't you, you know it's the other way round right?"
He nodded "can't deny I wasn't gutted but deep down I knew you didn't mean it. I mean look at me, I'm irresistible"
She playfully punched him on the arm
"Oh I wouldn't go that far" she teased
