Chapter 10

Fletch stayed with Tess for about 2 hours before he started to become hungry. He was laid next to her in the bed, with only his boxers on and was too warm and comfy to move.

'Mmm, I'm hungry...' Fletch said as he snuggled into Tess.

'Me too.' Tess said back.

'I don't want to move...' He moaned.

'Oh get up and don't be lazy...' She said while she smiled. He suddenly shot up and placed a kiss on her lips.

'I... Am... Not... Lazy...' He said and kissed her in between each word.

'Of course you're not...' She said and kissed him. They heard a knock on the door and Fletch looked at Tess.

'1 minute!' Tess shouted through the door.

'You'll have to get out...' Tess whispered.

'Urrgg, I don't want to move...' He said sleepily.

'Fletch...' She said. Fletch just shuffled down the bed and pulled the sheets over his head. Tess started giggling and he tickled her under the sheets. She started laughing more and then he trailed his hands down her body. Abs and Charlie popped their head around the door.

'Oh, it's only you.' Tess said and she tapped Fletch's chest. He pulled the sheets back and revealed himself even though it was obvious someone was in the bed. He shuffled himself back up the bed and smiled at them.

'Hey...' He said. Abs and Charlie looked at each other and then chuckled. They took the seats next to her bed.

'How are you feeling Tess?' Abs asked.

'Okay, much better than before, but I still feel stiff and a bit sore.' She said gently. Fletch grinned widely and she hit him underneath the sheets.

'Has the nurse came and give you any more morphine?' Charlie asked.

'No, not yet.'

'Well, she should have.' Charlie said confused.

'It's fine, it doesn't hurt that much.' Tess said.

'Come on Tess... You said you can't move.' Fletch said.

'I'll draw you up some morphine.' Abs said and Tess sighed.

'Then you'll be able to move...' Fletch whispered in her ear and she grinned widely.

'What?' Charlie asked, puzzled that Tess was smiling.

'Umm... Nothing.' She said quickly and Fletch started to grin, he gently caressed her skin with his fingers and squeezed her good thigh.

'Oi!' She said and looked at Fletch. He just grinned and kissed her cheek. Charlie and Abs looked at each other bemused.

'Right, I need to get back to work, because we only have me and Abs as senior nurses.' He said as he looked at Tess and Fletch.

'Yeh I'll come with you.' Abs said as he pushed the last of the morphine into Tess' cannula and then cleaned it away. As they were walking to the door Fletch had an idea.

'Charlie,' he said and Charlie turned around.

'Yes?' He said suspiciously.

'Could I borrow your car? Just for 5 minutes. I want to get some food for me and Tess.' He asked politely. Charlie looked at him and sighed.

'5 minutes and I want it back in good condition.' He said.

'Thank you.' Fletch said. Charlie held up his keys and Fletch pulled the sheets down a bit and went to get out of the bed when Tess pulled his arm back. He looked at her confused.

'Fletch, you're not wearing much...' She whispered in his ear. He realised he was only wearing his boxers. He moved back into the bed and covered himself up so his chest was revealed but his boxers weren't on show. Charlie quickly realised that he wasn't wearing much and walked over to him. He gave him the car keys and Fletch smiled back. Tess and Abs were trying not to laugh but after a couple of minutes started to laugh together. Fletch playfully hit Tess and Charlie just looked at Abs blankly.

Once they left Fletch got out of the bed. Tess was just watching Fletch put his jeans on and smiled at him.

'Liking what you see?' He said and winked at her

'Of course...' She said flirtatiously. He sat on her bed holding his t-shirt and kissed her slowly. He was never going to let her go now. He could love her, spoil her and protect her forever. He pulled away and stroked her face.

'You are bloody gorgeous!' He said and she blushed. He kissed her again and then got up. He put his shoes on and sat in the seat near her bed.

'Show off.' She said and smiled

'What because I'm flaunting my six-pack? Don't tell me you don't love it.' He said and winked, 'you know what they say; if you have it, flaunt it.' He said cheekily.

'Well, I can't say I don't love it..'

'Mmm I knew it.'

They heard a knock on the door and Zoe walked in. She would normally wait but she had some exciting news. She walked in and saw Fletch without a top on and Tess hiding her smile.

'Umm...' Zoe said, looking at Fletch. He quickly put his t-shirt on and grinned at Zoe.

'Sorry.' He said

'That's okay.' Zoe said, she went to pull up a chair but Fletch spoke,

'Here Zoe, you can sit there.' Fletch said as he got off the chair and sat on Tess' bed.

'Thanks. Sorry to barge in.' She said and looked at Fletch, 'but I have some exciting news... Nick is coming in 3 days because he is being transferred early.' She said excitedly

'That's great Zo.' Tess said

'I know, there's only one problem...' Zoe said

'What?'

'He'll probably want his office back.' Zoe laughed and Tess and a Fletch joined in.

'Right, while you girls gossip, I'm off to get us some food.' He said. He kissed Tess and then left. She watched him walk out and smiled.

'Everything okay?' Zoe asked

'Actually, for once everything is fine.' Tess said

'I'm glad to hear it. What about Natalie?'

'He gets to see his children once a fortnight and have them for a week-end. I think it's quite harsh and I told him that he shouldn't have told her but he insisted it was for the best.' Tess said and sighed.

'Well, at least you are together.' Zoe said and Tess nodded.

'But, the problem is trying to keep this a secret. Or, whether we are in fact going to keep this a secret.' Tess said

'Tess, calm down. The stress isn't good for you. Just talk to Fletch.' Zoe said soothingly

'Yes, I will. He's staying with me now.'

'Wow. Good for you.'

'Yeah, but it's because his wife's kicked him out. I just feel so guilty about all of this.' Tess said, confiding in Zoe.

'Tess,' Zoe said reaching over and taking her hand, 'none of this is your fault. Yes you gave in to having an affair but every woman would. Don't blame yourself.' Zoe said, comforting her friend.

'I know, but I can't help it.' Tess said. A tear rolled down her cheek and Zoe wiped it away and embraced her in a hug.

'It'll all be okay Tess.' Zoe said while rubbing her hand in small circles around Tess' back.

'I know.' Tess replied as they pulled away. They then gossiped for 15 minutes about people at work.

Once Zoe left, a Tess tried to get some sleep, which worked as she soon drifted off. Fletch entered the ED again and tried not to be noticed. Before he entered the high dependency cubicle he looked around to make sure no-one saw him. He spotted Abs and smiled at him and then entered the cubicle. He saw Tess asleep and didn't want to wake her so he exited and walked over to Abs.

'Hey.' Fletch said.

'Hi.'

'We didn't really get a proper chance to get to know each other... Do you have 10 minutes to spare?' Fletch asked nicely.

'Yeah, staff room?'

'Just what I was thinking.'

They walked into the staff room and sat down. It was a little bit awkward at first but they soon got talking and realised they had a bit in common. Tess, dancing, having children and they had the same friends. They talked for about 30 minutes before Abs got paged and had to go to resus. Fletch thought he should go and check up on Tess. He walked in and saw that she was awake. She had a magazine in front of her and she was flicking through it.

'Hey.' Fletch said and he held up a bag of food.

'Hey, thanks. The hospital food is horrible.' She said and he laughed. He put the food down at the end of her bed and took his clothes off. He laid down beside her and pulled her on top of him so she was sat between his legs. She winced and groaned in pain but once in the position she was very comfortable. He grabbed the bag of food and showed her everything he got. After they ate they lay there for hours, just enjoying each other's presence.