Holding hands, holding hearts

Meanwhile..

"The others have gone to Albies" Fletch said drawing up a chair and taking Jac's hand. It was such a familiar and now natural action, neither commented
"You should have gone" she gave him a weak smile
"Nah. Rather stay here and annoy you" he squeezed her hand " Jac I need to tell you what's been happening with Gaskell"
"I need to tell you some things too"
Fletch told Jac everything that had happened, slowly and carefully, maintaining the gentle pressure squeezing her hand which she returned.
"So he tried to kill me. Neurotoxin?"
Fletch nodded "Just like Roxanna"
Jac sighed "because we both found out what he was doing and how many more there are and now he's dead?"
"I think so"
"Coward. Now he can't answer for what he's done"
"I really thought you were going to ....." Fletch couldn't finish the sentence
"But you didn't give up. You and Sacha fought for me?"
""Yeah we did. I'm not gonna lie, I didn't want Guy Self anywhere near you but we were desperately clutching at straws by then" he choked back a sob
"Fletch" she said quietly and slipped back into sleep
He kissed each of her knuckles and spoke softly
"I couldn't bear to lose you Jac. I wish I could persuade you to take a chance on us. We could be so good together but I respect your decision, even though some days it kills me not to take you in my arms and kiss you and tell you I love you"
A single tear fell onto her hand.
"Ok. I need to go now and sort the kids out. I'll give Emma an extra special goodnight kiss and hug from her mummy ok"
He tenderly placed a kiss on her forehead
"See you tomorrow sweetheart "
God it's a good job she can't hear me he thought exiting the room. Once outside the room he breathed a massive sigh of relief. Today had been a roller coaster of emotions. It was almost too horrible to think that at one point he and Sacha had started to consider agreeing to turn the life support machine off.
Why on earth had she included him on the power of attorney and asked him specifically to care for Emma? Of course he was happy to but it felt like the responsibilities of someone that she had accepted into her life fully, as a partner and he was painfully aware that that was not the case