New families

Nightshift

Later Jac was sitting at the nurse's station on Darwin. She and Nicky were watching a small television which was reporting on the worst snow storm in 30 years. Power lines were down, roads were blocked and more snow forecast tonight
"Are you able to stay Nicky?"
"Yes Ms Naylor that's fine"
"Ok, we'll set up in my office for the night. I'll sort that, could you do a quick round of the patients."
Jac pulled out her phone and called Fletch
"Hello?"
"Fletch it's me. Have you seen the news?"
"Yeah looks like we're here for the night. I've just initiated the emergency night protocol. I've got people coming round with sleeping bags , hot water bottles and food. You need to designate one area on the ward"
"Done - it's my office. Nicky is staying too. Could you spare a nurse or two?"
"Well I'll base myself up there tonight obviously and then see what I can do. Ok see you later sweetheart"
Sweetheart
Jac smiled but couldn't resist responding in a sarcastic tone
"Ok darling" she hung up laughing
There were 5 people holed up in Jac's office and they took turns responding to patient alarms, doing routine medication and generally making sure everyone was ok.
Fletch was off checking other wards when the power went down. Unfortunately he was in the lift at the time. After Raf died in a lift he'd found it impossible to use them and had only just recently begun to use them again. As the lift juddered and lost power, Fletch tried to regulate his breathing and phone for help. The emergency phone in the lift was not being answered so he phoned Jac
"Hello?"
There was a long pause
"Fletch?"
She could hear quickened breathing
"I'm stuck in the lift" he said shakily
"Oh shit are you ok?"she knew that he'd struggled with lifts since the shooting and it was one of the few things that she didn't rib him about. She'd been impressed when he'd forced himself to start going in lifts again but of course hadn't told him
"Erm well not really and the emergency phone's not working"
"0k" she said soothingly "which lift are you in?"
"I'd just left the 2nd floor on the north bank of lifts heading back to Darwin "
Her heart was breaking to hear his shaky voice, sounding totally unlike him
"I'm coming, concentrate on my voice and if the lift doesn't start moving when the emergency generator kicks in I'll find someone to get you out. Don't worry"
"Thanks" he said quietly
Jac left the ward and stood on the landing by the lifts
"Did you know it's stopped snowing"
"Oh well we might be able to go home in the morning then"
"Hopefully, although it's been quite exciting being holed up here"
"I know what you mean"
"I think this is gonna be a great year Fletch" she said trying to distract him
"I'm sorry could you go and find Jac Naylor for me. There's a person that sounds like her but she's being far too upbeat and optimistic for it to really be her"
"Oh ha ha. It's already been a good start to the year can you see any reason why it shouldn't continue to be great?"
He managed to chuckle
"As long as I get out of here alive I intend to make sure that this is the best year ever"
Just then the lift jolted and the lights came back on
"Oh my god" Fletch exclaimed "Oh it's ok I'm moving"
Moments later the lift came to a halt and he stepped out of the lift straight into Jac's arms
They hugged each other for a few minutes. Not speaking
"Thank you" he whispered against her neck "sorry for being pathetic"
"Ssshh you're not pathetic. Raf was your best friend , it's understandable"
"It's ridiculous, I mean him dying was nothing to do with the actual lift other than we couldn't get to him. That maniac took him from us and he nearly took you as well. I love you Jac" he hugged her tightly again.
She knew that none of them who'd been there would ever forget that awful day
"I know, I know but me and you got closer in the days after and if I'm honest with myself it's when I started to fall in love with you"
"You see there you go again. Where is Jac Naylor?"
He pretended to look around but then looked at her and smiled
"Sorry, it's just a bit strange hearing you say those things"
"Yeah well don't get too used to it" she sounded embarrassed "and you'll have noticed there's not a soul around"
He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips kissing her knuckles
"Come on sunshine let's go and see what's happening"
"Ok supreme leader Fletcher" she giggled
As morning broke a steady stream of staff were making it in to the hospital
Jac sent everyone home who'd stayed overnight.
"That means you too Fletcher"
"Without you? I don't think so. Jac you need to rest too"
"I'm fine" she said stifling a yawn, thereby completely ruining her argument to stay
"Anyway look - the cavalry have arrived" he said spotting Mo and Frieda enter the ward
"Ok ok . Let's go home"
That sounded so nice he thought let's go home. Let's go home together. Let's go home to our home together. Alright calm down Fletcher he said to himself