After all this time...A FLAC story

Chapter 8

After 7 days straight of long, stressful shifts. Both Jac and Fletch had finished their shifts and were sat, exhausted, in Jac's kitchen with a bottle of red open. They were both so relieved to have three full days off. The last few nights of journaling her thoughts has really help Jac sleep, she hoped that this would continue. She was looking forward to three days away from the hospital, although having time off without Emma would feel very alien to her. The weather forecast looked great for their days off, Saturday to Monday. Jac envisaged nothing more than sitting and reading, enjoying the warm weather in the garden. She hadn't thought about what Fletch would want to do this weekend. Realising that they couldn't exactly leave the house, Jac had an idea to keep him occupied. She picked up her phone and was clicking away. She looked up to see Fletch raising his eyebrow quizzically at her.

'Someone's looking pleased with themselves! Emma?' he questioned.

This made Jac smile even more. She decided to just play along with it and nodded.

Soon the bottle of red was empty, dinner had been eaten and the pair were sat in the living room with the backdoors open letting the spring air fill the room.

'Another?' questioned Fletch bringing the empty bottle to Jacs attention. She could already feel the affects of the first bottle. She looked up at his grinning face, and she couldn't help but grin back.

'Why not? Think we've earnt it after this week!' she replied maintaining her grin.

Jac followed Fletch into the kitchen, as he was reaching towards the wine rack, Jac reached out and stopped his hand.

'Come off it Mr. Fletcher, not having you drinking all my good Shiraz!'

She redirected his hand towards a different bottle. As Jac moved his arm, she couldn't help but feel affected by touching him. Momentarily she shifted her gaze away from the wine to Fletchs face. Their eyes met and all of a sudden Jac could do nothing but look in to his eyes. In that split second she had flash backs of all the moments in the years before that they had had similar moments to this. Instinctively Jac stopped herself and moved away, feeling her heart racing.

'I'll get us some fresh glasses' she said her voice ever so slightly shaking.

*Fletchs POV*

What a week, thought Fletch as he joined Jac in the kitchen. He was exhausted after the last 7 days, he was relieved to see that Jac had opened a bottle red and had a glass ready and waiting for him.

Over the last 7 days he was so surprised at how well he and Jac had coped with him being in her house. Fletch had expected to annoy Jac far more than he had seemed to, he had to admit though, he was being on his best behaviour. He was so shocked when Jac had agreed to watch a series with him on Netflix and she didn't even criticize his suggestion. She must be really trying hard to put up with me he mused at the time. Fletch had barely had time to think about the weekend, it was only when he had spoken to Ange on Thursday evening, that he realised that he was essentially stuck in with Jac. After telling Ange he hadn't got a clue he decided it was time to have a think. He needed something that would occupy his time and not annoy Jac. Looking out of the bedroom window on to the garden he had an idea which he quickly put into action.

As they sat, drank and ate together Fletch couldn't help feeling how comfortable he felt. He looked over at Jac and noticed she was on her phone tapping away and smailing. He knew only one person could get that smile out of Jac. Emma. He realised how much he revelled in seeing her laugh and smile. He had known deep down that his feelings for Jac had never changed, he had been given no choice but to put them to the back of him mind and try and move on. Spending this time with her, Fletch realised those feelings weren't as buried as they should have been. He replayed in his mind the words she had said to him after they had kissed all that time ago.

My head says I don't need any one...but my heart says...

Every time he thought of that day on Darwin his heart skipped a beat. Even though he cared for Ange and would be forever grateful for how she had cared for and helped him through his recent illness. He knew his heart wasn't fully invested. He could have kept denying it to himself but this week he had realised why. Jac.

The wine went down too easily for them both and soon Fletch noticed the empty bottle, asking Jac if she fancied another, he couldn't help but beam at her as she gave him a spontaneous, very un-Naylor like grin back.

Feeling a little wobbly on his feet, he padded in to the kitchen, not paying attention to the footsteps following him. As soon as he was in touching distance of the first bottle on the wine rack he felt it, not just a hand touching his arm, but the spark of electricity that jolted through him as it did. Not hearing what she had said he turned to look at her. For a few seconds all he could focus on where those deep green eyes. Best open this next bottle he thought to himself.