"Didn't think you like to cook." Hearing the voice of Jac made Fletch almost jumped in the air and dropped the wooden spoon he was holding. He placed his free hand on his chest as he turned around.

"Blimey, Jac you scared me!" He groaned, his voice in a higher pitch than usual. He could've sworn he saw a tiny smile dance on Jac's lips.

"Evie's calling her grandad. He's going to pick her up." Was her answer as she stepped from the corridor into the kitchen.

"Really?" Fletch's eyes flared open? "Well, thanks. That means I owe you a dinner. How about chicken parm and some wine?"

"Please."

Fletch opened one of the wall cabinets and pulled out two glasses, a bottle opener and a bottle of white wine. With a swift hand move, he opened the bottle of wine and started to pour it into one of the glasses.

"So what was the matter?" He asked and gave Jac a quick glance. She was leaning relaxed against the wall one foot slightly in front of the other and arms in her pockets.

"Girl things." Jac answered bluntly, shrugging her shoulders while speaking.

"Girl things?" Fletch asked as poured the wine into the other glass. But as soon as his lips had stopped moving, the realisation hit Fletch. He had to put the bottle down so that he wouldn't spill the wine all over the table. "You mean?"

Jac just rolled her eyes and let out an amused sneer.

"Oh, right. Um… did you?"

"Give her the birds and the bees talk? Nah, you're on your own with that. I don't know if you have noticed this, but she has access to the internet." There was a short pause. "You should talk with her. She could use a few encouraging words from you."

"I'll ask Serena." Fletch thought but didn't say it aloud. He just walked up to her, handed the glass of wine to her and gestured her to sit down. Fletch himself waltzed to get the plates and his own glass of wine.

At some point of the evening, Fletch found himself sitting on the couch talking anything that wasn't work-related with Jac. About things like life, children, dreams and memories. Evie had been picked up a while ago, so it was just the two of them now. Their conversation had started as the usual light chat about work stuff. But as the time had gone by and the wine had started to get into their heads, their conversation had taken a turn to more personal topics. Fletch was now sharing a story of how he had ended up having an affair with Tess behind Natalie's back. He felt unusually comfortable talking about that time of his life with Jac. He knew she had been there too and trusted she wouldn't judge him. Maybe it was the wine or maybe it was something else – her presence perhaps – but Fletch felt bubbly and light and at ease. He couldn't quite believe he was getting tipsy on Monday evening with Jac Naylor. Not the getting tipsy on Monday evening part nor the getting tipsy with Jac Naylor part. If anyone had told him a few months back that he'd be doing this, he would have peed his pants from laughing.

Fletch could tell the glass of wine had helped Jac unwind. She had positioned herself on the other end of the sofa. She was laying her legs on Fletch's lap. He watched her speak and was amazed by the way her hand waved in the air in sync with her lips' movements. He couldn't hear a word of what she was saying though. He just smiled while he stared at her face. Her deep-set eyes, cheekbones that could take a man down and her lips. He could see every single line on her face and couldn't hide his smile. She looked genuinely happy, more relaxed than he had ever seen her. Seeing her like that for a chance made him feel content.

"Earth to Fletch." He felt Jac kick his side lightly. She was clearly trying to keep a straight face but failing as the corner of her lips were curling upwards.

"Sorry, I got carried away. More wine or maybe a cuppa?" Fletch asked gently lifting her legs from his lap as he stood up.

She hesitated first but gave her glass to him with a nod.

"Just one. We both have work tomorrow."

When Fletch came back to the living room, he found Jac going through his record collection. Her eyes were fixed on the collection, and she didn't seem to notice Fletch watch her from the door. He took a deep breath, walked up to her and handed the glass back to her.

"So Raf's collection?"

"Haven't managed to find the missing record yet."

"Have you looked online?"

"Yup."

He saw Jac's eyes light up suddenly.

"Paul Simon's Graceland 25th anniversary edition!"

"What?"

"That has my favourite in it. 'You can call me Al'. Where's your player?"

Fletch pointed at the corner right next to the book self and watched Jac place the vinyl on the player. She moved the needle to the right place and pressed play. Soon the room was filled with music. First with just the accordion, then with the drums that were followed by other instruments and eventually Paul Simon singing. At this point, Jac had already turned around and she had stepped closer to Fletch. He felt Jac's hand take his own, but he did move.

"Err, what are you doing?" He chuckled unsure of what was going on.

"Asking you to dance with me." Her answer made his eyes blink. Twice. He hadn't seen her like this before, and although he found this new side of hers amusing, he was also surprised by her sudden urge to dance. To a Paul Simon record. And with him.

"Oh come on, Fletcher! I know you love to dance. I've seen your dance moves before, so you have no excuses to say no."

He felt her hand on his wrist pulling him lightly towards her. With a low groan, he finally gave in. That's what she did to him.

As they moved to the rhythm of the music, Fletch felt Jac's hand brush against his arm every now and then. She was in his personal space, and he was in hers. He didn't know if she was aware of that matter. It wasn't anything new, though. Nothing that they hadn't done before. No, they had been there for many times already. Heck, he had hugged her when she had had a panic attack. He had carried her to the wheelchair and helped her to get changed from the hospital gown into her own clothes. This time, it just didn't feel the same. It was like there were electricity and anticipation in the air. He could sense that in every breath he took. In every featherlight touch of her fingertips on his arms. He was a bit drunk, feeling high and happy and heavy in her presence. Every single cell in his body craved for closer proximity to her, and he blamed the alcohol for that. Yet, he didn't dare touch her. He knew there was a great chance she'd break his fingers if he placed his hands on her. Besides, they were supposed to be colleagues - no, friends would be a better word to describe their relationship. They had crossed that colleagues-to-friends-line a long ago, and Fletch wanted to keep it that way.

But as the song changed to the next one, to something slower, Fletch felt Jac's arms wrap around his torso from behind. It caught him off the guard and caused his heart to skip a beat. Her exhales against his back were warm. He realised he couldn't recall the last time he had felt someone else's breath against his skin like that. Although he had to be honest and admit that having her so close to him felt good, he knew it was too much. He was drunk, and so was she. There was no way sober Jac wouldn't do that.

"Jac..." Fletch began as he took her hands in his and pushed them softly down. He turned around to face her, never releasing her hands from his gentle grip. That brought Jac back to the reality. She took a quick step away from him like a compressed spring that was released. It wasn't until he felt her tug her hands when Fletch let go of them.

"Uh. I better call a taxi and head home now." Fletch heard Jac answer. She was back to the collected person she usually was.

"Yea."

Fletch leaned against the wall of his corridor and watched Jac getting dressed. She struggled to put her shoes back on her feet. Fletch helped her get dressed in her jacket and for once, she didn't even try to turn his help down. She must've noticed herself that she had had a glass too much and that could use some help. Fletch opened the door for her and held it open as he watched her grab her purse. The taxi was already waiting for her outside his house, and it was the time for good night wishes and separation for the night.

Fletch caught Jac's arm and it surprised him how warm she felt to his touch. Quite a contrast to the cold air that was blowing in from the outside. Her eyes darted to his. He could see her jaw clench but she didn't pull her arm away from his grip. He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Thank you, Jac. I really mean it.

Fletch felt her arms wrap round his neck and pull him into a soft hug. It took him a second to move his arms around her but eventually, he placed his hands on the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. He could feel her warm breath against his neck as she wished him good night. He instinctively stroked her back with his thumbs. She was the first to pull away. Fletch couldn't help the feeling of disappointment flush over him.

"Good night Jac." Fletch wished her.

Jac gave him a quick nod with a soft and drunken smile before she turned on her heels and stepped outside. Fletch saw her wave her hand to him as she walked to the cab. He took a deep breath in and watched her get into the cab before closing the door that separated the colder outside from the warm inside of his house. He inhaled the thick and warm air. A dumb smile drew on Fletch face when he noticed that the intoxicating perfume of hers was still lingering in the corridor. His heart was pounding and his cheeks felt warm.

"Jeez." He sighed knowing that tonight, he had been dangerously close to crossing the line between friends to something he might later regret. He needed a cold shower to sober up.