Long time no see: I've had a fair bit going on since I last updated and since the events in Holby regarding Josh and Ange, I haven't been in the headspace to write flange fic, but I'm back with hopefully more regular updates of this. For the avoidance of doubt, this is set pre-Line of Duty airing in March, hence the little inclusion of it- it has somewhat overtaken my life a bit. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated, especially after such a long absence of writing.
"Angel?" Fiona's panic could be heard as she approached her sleeping daughter's bed, greeted by Fletch when the nurse who had pointed her in the direction of Ange's room returned to the main ward. Fiona cautiously stood beside Ange's bed and sat down in the chair that Fletch had previously occupied, holding her daughter's hand in an attempt to show concern and affection for the injured woman.
"Mum?" Ange's groggy voice asked, having woken up after falling asleep once Fletch had left the room to call Ange's mum.
"I'm here Angel. I'm here," Fiona spoke quietly, placating her daughter and it worked, despite the use of her full name.
"Mum, for the last time, it's Ange," she rolled her eyes, frustrated yet glad that Fiona had made the effort to comfort her, unlike she had in the past.
"I don't understand why you insist on going by that when you have a perfectly nice name," Fiona sighed.
"Look we've been through this, it's to distance myself from him, I'm perfectly entitled to use whatever name I want to. Anyway, 'Ange' sounds more professional than 'Angel' don't you think?"
"I'm not going to be embroiled in another argument about this. I came here to be with you, because you're injured and I'm your mother," Fiona decided and began to rummage around in her bag, before producing a clear Tupperware box, filled with various Scottish food items that she had somehow smuggled onto the plane from Dundee.
"What in the world have you brought mum?" Ange began, suspicious of her mother.
"I've got some Tunnock's teacakes, some of those caramel wafer bars that you like, some shortbread and a selection of sweets. I would've brought your favourite marmalade but obviously couldn't bring that on the plane, and I picked up some IRN BRU at Tesco on the way here. I thought it might give you something better to eat than hospital food and I've brought similar for Chloe and Dom," she rifled around in the box, taking another two identical boxes from her bag, much to Ange's questioning look. "speaking of which, where are my grandchildren?"
"They're both working at the moment, Dom will be on Keller downstairs and Chloe said something about going down to the ED, I'm sure they'll pop up to see you when they're on their breaks," Ange calmed her mother.
The two sat and spoke for about half an hour before Fletch appeared to check that the pair hadn't fallen out massively, knowing full well the temperamental relationship the two had, with such similar personalities.
"Hey, Fletch, you remember my mum?" Ange questioned nervously; it was the first time since Fiona had walked into the hospital that they had addressed their relationship.
"Yeah, of course. Fiona, how've you been?" He stepped properly into the room, feeling somewhat comfortable around Fiona again.
"Alright thanks, and you?"
"I'm ok, better now I know that Ange is going to be alright, she had us worried for a while," he turned and smiled sympathetically at Ange, reaching to squeeze her hand in a sincere gesture of support, which Ange gratefully reciprocated.
"Thank you for looking after her, I don't know what I'd have done if…." Fiona trailed off
"Honestly, it was fine, she's a fighter. Anyway, look, its been really nice to see you again but I'd better get some actual work done," fletch sighed and stood up, brushing his hand on Ange's arm by means of goodbye. He smiled at Fiona and left the room, returning to the busy ward.
"So what exactly is going on between you two then?" The older woman asked as she sat down beside her daughter, curious about Ange's relationship.
"Not like you to be interested in my relationship mum," Ange joked, "Sorry. Well I told you that we'd split up and then we only really talked about work stuff. Then Dom had his accident and we grew a bit closer but that kind of vanished, mainly because we just didn't see each other much. My F1, that's a doctor who had just qualified from Med School, flirted with me and I flirted back but it never really went anywhere. Anyway after this, fletch and I have grown closer again and he's invited me to stay over until I'm recovered. To be honest I don't really know where we stand but I'd be happy to give things another go with him. I can't imagine being with anyone else," the outpouring of emotion to her mother was unusual for Ange but Fiona understood, even if she had an odd way of showing it to her daughter.
"Well you two need to talk then, and find out how you both feel."
"Ok, ok, I will, just not now," Ange snapped however, upon noticing Fiona's visible flinch, she backtracked. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I will talk to him, I just need to work out how. Shall I see if Dom and Chloe are free to pop up?"
"That would be lovely darling, but visiting time is almost over so I'll go and check into the hotel, then I'll pop back in a bit," she suggested, picking up her bags and making her way onto the main ward. "Love you darling," she called as she wandered out.
"Mum! Line of Duty is starting again on Sunday, have you seen the trailer?" Chloe called from across the ward, practically throwing her phone in her mother's face.
"Yes, I have, and also have it on good authority that your brother is watching it so you'll have someone else to annoy with your conspiracy theories," she smiled sarcastically.
At the mention of the TV show, Dom and Fletch appeared in the room, and a look of realisation and breakthrough dawned on Chloe's face.
"Look, how about for the next seven weeks, we all go over to Fletch's on a Sunday evening, one of us can cook for everyone, we can have dinner all eight of us and then us four and Evie can sit and watch Line of Duty together?" Chloe suggested, looking between her mum and fletch, and glancing towards Dom for approval of her idea.
"That sounds fabulous Chloe. The kids would definitely be up for that, and that way, we can all watch the show together. Your mum's going to be off for most of that time so she won't be working, I can book Sunday evenings off and somehow I'll make sure that neither of you two are working. It'll be great fun," fletch spoke, excited to be spending time with his girlfriend and basically-stepchildren. Chloe and Dom had a bond with the fletchlings, a bond that no one else could replicate. Fletch couldn't quite believe that they were all happy: him and Ange, the kids, Dom and Chloe and they all got on with one another.
"Chloe that really is a great idea, I volunteer to cook lasagne one week, I'm actually alright at cooking that now. Do you think we should all start a binge watch of the first five series?" Ange asked, visibly excited at the prospect.
"Yeah I think we should, that way we're all on the same page," Dom chipped in, "Chloe and I can start our rewatch tonight and I'll download the first two series onto your iPad when I bring it tomorrow, along with everything else on this list you've given me." The group laughed, for they all knew that Ange was very particular with what she required from home and it was up to Chloe and Dom to ensure she got the correct things.
"At least it's you two who have to bring all of madam's stuff in, I'd get it all wrong, I know I would," Fletch laughed.
"Oi watch it you lot, I'm the one lying here in a hospital bed feeling sorry for myself and you lot are laughing at all the specific things I need you to bring for me, I can't believe it," she feigned a sulk before bursting into fits of giggles, despite everything that had happened two days before.
Fiona appeared in the room not long after they had all stopped laughing and Chloe and Dom had returned to work.
"Did you find the hotel ok mum?" Ange asked, Fiona having visited her daughter the day before and left when visiting time had ended.
"Yes I did," she replied, "how are you feeling today?"
"Much better thanks mum, I feel like I might finally get out of here soon," Ange spoke, smiling at her mum and fletch, both having provided her with the support she had needed over the previous days.
"Where are you staying once you're discharged because I do need to get home as soon as I know you can get out of here, I have to meet Eileen for coffee on Monday," Fiona fretted, putting her social life before her daughters health again. Ange was immune to it but it still hurt at times and she desperately wished that her mum would be more like Ange is with Chloe, less so maybe as Ange could actually stand up for herself. Not that Chloe can't its more that Ange has always had to fight for herself whereas Chloe has always had her battles fought by her mother and selfishly, Ange wanted that for herself.
"Well look, why don't you come and stay with me and the kids, Ange? They've all missed you, and I know they'd love to have you around again. I would too."
"If you're sure. You do realise what you've got yourself in for, don't you?"
"Look, we practically lived together for a few months, I'm sure that I can last a few weeks putting up with endless mamma Mia and your dreadful cooking,"
"Oi you! For your information I have been learning, slowly, and am now able to cook lasagne. So when I'm up to it, I'll cook for us all: you, the kids, Dom and Chloe. We can have a nice family meal,"
"Family, eh?" He teased, knowing exactly how defensive she would get at the comment.
"Well.. i didn't mean.. well I did.. but..."
"I know what you meant. Let's do it,"
Ange nodded and smiled at him, the trust between the two resurfacing finally.