The next morning, Jack stirred from his position on the floor, tightening his grip around Florence. Behind his eyelids, last night's events flashed through his mind. He and Florence had kissed… had fucked… on the floor of the police station. His cock twinged at the memory. Florence inhaled deeply, awakening slowly in his arms. He pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck, letting the musty smell of the two of them fill his nostrils.

"Good morning, love," he whispered in her ear.

Florence turned around in his embrace and snuggled into his chest. "Good morning."

Jack craned his neck, opening his eyes to make sure they weren't being watched. From where he was laying, he could see JP, Rosey, and Ruby were all still asleep. He laid his head back down and kissed Florence's forehead gently.

"Did last night really happen?" Florence asked, a coy smile playing on her face.

"I think it did," replied Jack, his eyes closing again. "Is it okay that it did?"

Florence arched her neck to look up at him. Jack did the same, looking down at her. Her eyes were big and round, full of hope and wonder. "Yes," she breathed, planting a sweet kiss on his chin. "I don't want to pretend it didn't or forget that it did. I want to remember."

"Me too," Jack whispered, nipping a kiss on her nose.

Just then, the rustle of the plastic fabric on the mattresses squeaked, and Florence and Jack jumped apart. Jack watched as JP rolled over and his eyelids began to flutter.

Jack and Florence looked at each other, communicating wordlessly again that they needed to put a pin in this for now.

"I'll check the electric," said Jack, getting up off the floor and pulling on his vest and shirt.

He went to the cupboard, doing up his buttons as he went, which was next to the toilet, and looked at the meter, finding the display was still blank. No morning cups of tea for the team today, Jack thought. He walked back into the station, seeing Florence sitting on their bed, buttoning up her shirt.

"Any luck?" she whispered.

Jack shook his head. Florence smiled and got up, wandering over to him. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and immediately started undoing the buttons. Jack's cock twinged again.

"What are you doing?" he whispered. "Are you undressing me again already?"

"Your buttons are wonky," she told him, undoing the one at the bottom and refastening it correctly.

"Clearly I can't think straight this morning," he smiled, putting his hands on his hips whilst she did his buttons all the way to the top. She looked over her shoulder, spotting the tie on Jack's desk next to his bag. She walked over and grabbed it, returning to him to tie it around his neck. "You're too good to me," he told her.

Florence only smiled as she wound the fabric around.

"I don't deserve you," he went on, telling her gently.

"You deserve me," she insisted, tugging down on his tie to hold it in place. "And I deserve you. We deserve each other."

Before they could say anything more, JP roused and lifted his head from the pillow. "Morning," he croaked.

"Morning, JP. No electricity yet so no tea," explained Jack. Next to JP, Rosey stretched and craned her neck. "Morning Rosey," said Jack, softly.

"Morning," she yawned.

They all looked to Ruby who still slept soundly, exchanging smiles between them.

"Now, I know it's a hard decision," said Jack, walking to the kitchenette. He picked up two cans and held them up for everyone to see. "But would you like cold mac and cheese for breakfast or cold baked beans?"

ooo

Jack lifted the lock on the doors to the station and stepped outside. The air was muggy and hung before him like a cloud. He lent on the railing, looking down at the car park below. Thankfully, not much had been affected that he could see, except for leaves that were strewn across the car park and rubbish that had been blown about from a couple of toppled-over bins. Florence stepped out beside him, gripping the wood of the railings before her, and inspected the damage as well.

"Not too bad," she mused.

"Nothing a morning of dedicated cleaning won't fix," nodded Jack.

"It will give us something to do before the power comes back on," agreed Florence.

Jack hung his head, thinking of the Shack and what state it could be in.

"It will be alright, Jack," she said softly, placing her hand on his.

"I know it's just stuff," he shrugged.

"But it's your home," smiled Florence. "I know."

"What am I going to do if the place is in bits?" he asked, turning to her.

"It won't be," she reassured him. "Besides, you can always come and stay with me."

"Oh, that would be fun," Jack replied, his eyes sparkling.

Florence laughed. "Why don't you head down there now and take a look? To put your mind at rest?"

Jack nodded. "Okay. I'll keep an eye out on my way down there. See if anyone needs help."

"You can take an hour off, Jack," smirked Florence, folding her arms.

"Maybe you can help me make sure I do later?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Florence mirrored him, cocking her eyebrow cheekily. "Maybe I will."

Jack smiled and began to descend the stairs towards the jeep.

"Jack," Florence called after him. He turned to look at her, all mischievousness from her eyes gone and only knowing left. "Go to church," she said softly. "Not today. Not to tomorrow. But sometime. And not for a service or for Mass, either. Just go and sit for a while and see how you feel," she said, walking forward, standing above him on the veranda. She reached out and gently brushed away the wisps of his hair that curled on his forehead. "I'm sure you've not been back in a church since Kathleen's funeral. Maybe that's part of it?"

"You're right," Jack nodded, looking up at her, nuzzling her had that caressed him.

"Sometimes going to church isn't about praising God. It's about taking time for yourself to be at peace. A quiet time to reflect after a storm has passed."

Jack stifled out a laugh and nodded, the irony of her words not lost on him. "Thanks," he said, sincerely, closing his eyes for a moment and melting into her palm. Then, he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. "I'll call you," he said, as he descended the stairs to the jeep.

"Good," she countered, with a knowing smile on her face, watching him go.