Her high heels clicked along the tarmac, she bit her lip as her long copper hair cascaded down her back, her eyes on the sign above her. She huffed slightly in annoyance and stepped into Albie's, her eyes glanced around and she saw Sacha sitting there with a pint so she walked over to him and sat down, he immediately smiled at her albeit a bit too wide for her. Jac raised her hand warning him not to hug her, there was something different about her and he noticed that straight away. He wondered why she was back, she had practically cut contact with him, there was the odd text message every now and then but overall she was her own person so to see her back here really was something. Jac ordered herself a glass of wine, she smiled at the bartender passing it to her before she sipped it and let out a sigh, she didnt know why she wanted to meet Sacha, she didnt even know if he would show up.
"I can't believe it's you-"
"It's me alright" she mutters and taps her wine glass "How are you?"
"Good, good...everythings good, works not the same without you though"
"Hm" she doesnt commit to any answer, she didnt really want to reveal anything about her personal life "I'm sorry for leaving"
"You dont need to apologise Fletch told me everything"
"Fletch?" she raises an eyebrow at his name, Sacha smiles and nods "What did he tell you exactly?"
"That you were struggling and wanted to leave, he told me to respect your decision and give you space as he felt like you needed it" Sacha responds, Jac narrows her eyes at the words coming out of his mouth before humming thoughtfully "So how are you?"
"Good" she gives a brief answer "I'm sorry I dont really know why I asked you here"
"Well, only you can't answer that-"
"And now I'm starting to think it might be a mistake" she comments swiftly before finishing off her glass of wine "I shouldn't have wasted your time"
"Where have you been all this time?"
"Abroad" she responds swiftly, he narrows his eyes "Working"
"You've been working abroad? Here was me thinking Holby was running through your blood and you wouldnt dare wield a scalpel in another hospital or country for that matter"
"People change" Jac shrugs and offers a weak smile, she taps her foot against the seat she was on "I've changed, I have more to live for now"
"So life's changed for you?"
"Well obviously" she comments, her eyes narrowing slightly "You know something otherwise you wouldnt have agreed to meeting me, who-"
"Elliot"
"Great" she stands up and glides her fingers through her hair, she huffs "What's he said?"
"That he was worried about you, thats all" Sacha shrugs, "That you reached out to me for a reason, that you might need support"
"I'm not doing this" she comments and walks out of the room, he sighs and follows her and grabs her wrist "Please dont be annoyingly persistent"
"I'm not going to be" he sighs, she narrows her eyes "You obviously wanted to see me for a reason so if you need my help then let me help you"
"Fine" she huffs in defeat, she got the understanding that he wouldnt stop so she calls for a taxi "Come on then, on one promise though"
"What?"
"Breathe a word to Fletch and you're dead"
The car journey to her hotel was awful, it was awkward and quiet. Jac would have made more of an effort if she wasnt suffering from killer jetlag. Her eyes snuck a glance to Sacha who was on his phone, she peers over to look at the screen before rolling her eyes and swiping it off him to stop the annoying tapping on the screen. Jac apologised shortly after before hearing his complaints about her choice of hotel being on the outskirts of Holby causing her to laugh and point out that she didnt exactly want anyone seeing her. When they got out she snarled at the receptionist who gave her a questioning look when she walked into the reception with Sacha, they took the stairs as she was only on the first floor. Jac used her key card to enter the room, Sacha followed her and frowned at the scene in front of him, his jaw dropped slightly and he turned to Jac who offered a weak smile.
"Mr Levy"
"Frieda?" Sacha frowns before Jac hushes him gently as she stepped into the room a bit more, his eyes widened and Jac winced before a small child weakly launched herself into Jac's arms
"You should be sleeping and not pretending" Jac whispers carrying the child back to bed, she makes sure the duvet is firmly over her body
"Where's Emma?" Sacha asks, Jac sighs and looks at him, she turns back to look at Frieda who bites her lip "What is going on?"
"Have fun explaining that one" Frieda retorts, Jac huffs at her and offers a glare causing a smirk
"Some things happened which means...we need to be back here" Jac starts, Frieda rolls her eyes "Can you stop that?"
"Stop what?"
"Rolling your eyes at me like you're some moody teenager"
"Just tell him" Frieda sighs, Jac tries to figure out how to word it so Frieda just groans and gets off the bed, she leans against the wall "She got knocked up by Fletch and now has his kid, her other kid is with Jonny so-"
"You dont have to make it sound like I'm a slag, Petrenko" Jac mutters, she shifts her weight from one foot to another "Please dont lecture me"
"We need to talk"
"We really dont need the whole lecture, Sacha-"
"It's not about that, it's about Fletch" he starts, Jac narrows her eyes before looking at Frieda and then back to Sacha "He can't find out about this"
"Why?"
"Because...he just can't" Sacha starts "Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do but-"
"Then he can't find out about this, about...this, he can't, it would ruin his life" he starts, Jac pulls a face before laughing "Maybe it's best being kept in the past, maybe it's best you go back to wherever you came from. As much as I would like to have you home, you can't be here, not with...you just cant-"
"You're not making any sense"
"Please just" Sacha sighs, he was visibly stressed and both her and Frieda saw that "Go, it's best you go and no one finds out you've been here, I have to go"
"Sacha wait" it was her turn to grab his wrist before he removed it from her grip "Why are you being like this?"
"If you kept in touch you would know" he whispers before opening the door to her hotel room "I need to go, just...this will stay between us, I promise but...yeah, my advice, don't come home"
"Sacha-" she starts but it was too late, he was gone causing her to look at Frieda confused "What was that about?"
"Your guess is as good as mine" Frieda hums thoughtfully "By the way she was as good as gold, I gave her the medication you laid out for her"
"Thank you" Jac hums thoughtfully, her eyes glancing to the small child who was practically being swallowed up by the huge hotel duvet "I can just..."
"You'll figure something out" Frieda takes her bag "I'll be in my hotel room if you need me"
"Thanks"
Jac was left to think, or possible overthink Sacha's words. She had a text from him, she laughed slightly at how apologetic he was for running out on her, she brushed him off and asked what the hell had happened when she had been away. Sacha wouldnt reveal anything leaving her somewhat annoyed but she was sure whatever it was wouldnt be that bad. Her eyes glanced to her child, her and Fletch's child, snoozing away under the duvet, she sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her fingers through her hair before closing her eyes. Jac decided to call Emma, she was planning on seeing her daughter at some point but she knew she had bigger fish to fry right now, Emma knew that was the reason she had to stay with her dad. Jac's fingers brushed through her child's hair, she sighed and kissed her daughter on the head before deciding to text Petrenko to see if they could talk.
"You really do choose your moments"
"Quiet voices" Jac points to the bathroom so she didnt wake her child up, Frieda just rolls her eyes mainly at the fact they'd be drinking wine in the bathroom "I'm going to go back home"
"Well you obviously have a death wish, Sacha will not be impressed-"
"And Sacha will know deep down how determined I am and how I will stick to my choices and see them through"
"There is no way Fletch is going to let you near any of his kids by the way" Frieda chuckles, Jac clenches her jaw and sighs "When I was working there...overprotective can't even describe it"
"Once he realises...the good it will do-"
"I think you're deluded myself but if you have a death wish then so be it" Frieda shrugs "Who am I to stop you?"
"What Eloise needs...she's going to get and once Fletch sees that then...he'll understand"
"Still think you're deluded myself Jac" Frieda rolls her eyes knowing Jac's view of the situation was very black and white "He doesnt even know he has a kid with you, you kept her a secret for almost five years now, but if you think thats the way to go, like you said...who am I to stop you"