After all this time...A FLAC story

Chapter 11

Fletch walked on to Darwin, it felt strange to be working with a different team again. In the last 7 days he had become accustomed to having the same staff within the team. Walking past Jac's office he popped his head round the door to see Kian sitting at his desk. The two friends were clearly delighted to see each other. The arranged to catch up on their break in the staff room in a few hours time.

The morning passed quickly, Fletch couldn't help but wonder what Jac would be up to at home right now. He had spent the previous night laying sleeplessly in bed thinking about how easy it had felt staying at Jacs. He had recognised how quickly that had felt closer again, like they had over a year ago. As much as he cared for Ange, he really felt they had drifted apart since Essie passed away, him staying at Jacs wasn't exactly helping the distance between them. He knew what he had to do, but right now he didn't have the heart to do it.

Standing in the staffroom he heard the voice of his Canadian friend asking if Fletch had brought extra lunch. Of course he had! Knowing he was working this shift with Kian, he had picked up two meal deals at the petrol station on his way to work.

'Come on then, dish the dirt, what's it like living with Naylor them?' Kian asked. Fletch was unaware that Jac and Kian had 'a thing' going on so was happy to bend his friends ear about what had been going on this last week or so.

Fletch went on to tell Kian about all the ins and outs of living with Jac, even sharing how easy it felt, even talking about the 'moments' they had shared in the last few days.

Kian had known about Jac and Fletch having feelings for each other a few years ago. He had watched Fletch move on with Ange and of course, he had been there for Jac when she wanted to be wanted again. Knowing Jac well enough, Kian had always questioned if she was actually over her feelings for Fletch. Hearing the way Fletch talked about her now and seeing his eyes light up when he relives small events that had happened over the last week, it was clear to him that his friend still had feelings for Jac. In fact I was clear for him to see both of them still had feelings for each other. Although Jac and Kian had been involved, Kian wouldn't have said that their feelings for each other had developed into anything too deep. He did care about Jac, and after seeing her struggles these last few years, more than anything he just wanted her to be happy and to be loved, even if it wasn't with him. After everything Fletch had been through too, Kian wanted the same for him.

Not wanting to beat about the bush Kian decided he would try and play a helping hand in making them both realise this.

'So how's Ange with the new living arrangements?' Asked Kian, eyebrow raised.

Fletch went on to explain about their distance and how he had come to realise that maybe his heart wasn't in the relationship anymore.

With a sympathetic look Kian asked the burning question...

'Because it belongs to Jac still? M'I right?'

Fletch couldn't deny it.

'I don't think anything's changed for her mate. She didn't want me then, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't now. I cant force it.'

Kian spent the next few minutes trying to convince Fletch that if even after all this time the pair of them were still having theses 'moments' they both owed it to themselves to alteast talk. Like he pointed out at least with the pandemic happening, Jac couldn't run. Maybe it would make her stay and confront how she was feeling and what it was she wanted.

Leaving Kian to demolish the rest of his lunch he had left, Fletch who had lost his appetite spend the last few hours of his extra shift mulling over what Kian had said, and carefully considering what to do next.

After finishing the two lunches and still feeling hungry, Kian took out his phone and composed a message to Jac.

*Jac, look I know things have been fun for us for a while. Maybe its this pandemic but I've been thinking. I'm in this for the wrong reasons. If I'm honest I've still got a lot to deal with after Bea and its not right of me to drag this out with you. I want you to be happy Jac. You deserve to be happy more than anyone I know. Please do whatever you can to find someone that can make you happy and hang on to them. I don't want things to be weird for us, so having this pandemic keeping us on separate shifts for a while might be for the best. Be happy Jac. K x*