We'll Always Have Holby : part 24
We'll Always Have Holby
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6 ~ Part 7 ~ Part 8 ~ Part 9 ~ Part 10 ~ Part 11 ~ Part 12
Part 13 ~ Part 14 ~ Part 15 ~ Part 16 ~ Part 17 ~ Part 18 ~ Part 19 ~ Part 20 ~ Part 21 ~ Part 22 ~ Part 23
They'd talked for a while about anything and everything. It wasn't always about Serbia though. Baz and Louis, her ex and her kids, no subject was taboo anymore. It couldn't be. The first question they had asked themselves was if they really wanted this. If the whole 'happy ever after' package was really where they were going.
With one kiss the answer was clear. A resounding yes.
When tiredness crept in they lay on the bed, on top of the covers, facing each other. Hand clasped in front of them the conversation continued with another confession.
"Can I ask you something?" she began.
"You need permission?" he smiled.
"When did you fall in love with me?"
He sighed as he contemplated the question. "I don't know when, but I remember when I realised I had," he said. "Snuck up on me..."
"You had a head start on me. I wasn't sure if we were pushing things too far, if we were going to ruin the friendship. You were my best friend... I didn't want to lose you over this. If it went wrong... But then we had dinner and..."
"I let you leave..."
"Yeah, that wasn't a good start," she laughed, "but when I came back... I was so glad you asked me to stay."
"Not half as glad I was that you came back."
"You were nervous, weren't you?"
He nodded slightly.
"You and me both. Pretty big step."
"The right one though?"
"I'd not change a thing," she assured him, running her hand down his face. "I certainly don't regret it. Falling in love with your best friend..."
As she ran her fingers across his lips he kissed them gently.
"You OK?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because I just told you that I had doubts about us..."
"And I didn't?" he asked. "Landing the girl of my dreams..."
"Girl?"
"Woman. Amazing, talented, compassionate, sophisticated woman," he corrected with a smile. "Better?"
"Much."
"You remember when you were a kid, and there was one thing you wanted for Christmas more than anything else?" When she nodded, he continued. "When you got it there was always a moment when you got it that..."
"Did I not live up to expectations?" she said, feigning hurt.
"No, no, no," he said quickly before realising that she was joking.
"Charlie..."
"I wanted you, wanted this for so long, and when it finally happened..."
"I upped and left," she said.
"Maggie..."
"I cried the entire flight."
"Really?"
"Yup. Made a complete fool of myself. When I got to Paris I found myself looking at the flights back to Bristol."
"I don't want to know if that's true or not," he said. "The idea's good enough for me."
"And you're good enough for me. More than good enough."
"I couldn't believe it when you came back..."
"Why wouldn't I? I told you I would."
"Yeah..."
"Hey," she said softly, shifting closer to him on the bed. "You're worth it, Charlie. Sooner you believe that..."
"Do you a deal," he said. "I'll believe it, if you let me in once in a while. I'm intending this to be for keeps."
"Me too."
"Good. Because this marriage is going to last."
"That's a point. We've not talked about the wedding."
"Been a bit distracted this week."
"I wanna set a date," she blurted out.
"And when we do that you know everyone's going to take over?"
"Not if we don't tell them," she said with a small glint in her eye.
~~
She'd fallen asleep on him but he didn't care, not really. He stayed with her, watching her sleep for what seemed like moments and hours.
He should have made her stay. He should have talked her out of going. Or gone with her. If he'd been there too then... Then what? One of her reasons for not saying anything was that you can't change what happened. She left. Stuff happened. She came home. That was the important bit, she came home and she was here, now, with him. With them.
He became aware that she was dreaming, but more than that, another nightmare. He'd expected this; all the memories had been stirred up for her again, of course that was going to have an effect on her.
She snapped awake, taking a few seconds to realise that he was there.
"Hey," he soothed, running his hand up and down her arm.
"Sorry."
"Don't be."
"Just..."
"Yeah. Figured."
"You get any sleep?"
He shook his head.
"Charlie..."
"I'll sleep later." He kissed her temple and smiled. "More important things going on."
"I don't need looking after," she said, then sighed. "Sorry."
"You really don't know how to let go, do you?" he asked.
"Been a long time since I've been able to."
"Let you in on a little secret," he whispered almost conspiratorially. "Same goes for me."
She turned slightly so she could look up at him.
"This is new on me too, Maggie. So how about we try and figure a way through it together?"
"Sounds good to me," she replied. "One condition."
"What?"
"Get some sleep. With everything that's gone on this last week I know you've had less than I have."
He settled down behind her, his arm still draped over and around her waist. She put her hand over his, their fingers locking together in their now-familiar fashion.
"Don't know why you put up with me," she said. "Everything I've put you through..."
"Last year, when Louis and I were having problems, why'd you stick around and help me out?"
"You asked me to," she quipped.
"Funny," he laughed. "Why'd you agree?"
"Because I cared."
"Well I more than care," he said softly.
She smiled, but not because of what he was saying. His mouth was so close to the back of her neck that his voice made the little hairs stand on end.
~~
Louis shifted uncomfortably with his sling, trying to balance the weight of the book in his good hand. Glancing at the clock he wondered how much longer she was going to make him wait. Punishment probably, and most likely well deserved.
"Should you be out of hospital?" Jade asked as she finally walked into the room.
"Probably not," he replied, turning to face her in relief.
"What do you want, Louis?"
"I went to the police. Ryan's been arrested."
"I heard."
"I thought..."
"What? That it'll magically make it all better?" she challenged.
"No. But maybe it's a start?" he asked.
"Louis..."
"Dad gave me this yesterday," he said, holding out the book. "Mum kept a journal when she was pregnant with me."
"Why are you...?" Jade asked, reaching out and taking it from him.
"You and I first got talking because of our parents. My Mum, your dad... I used to hate myself for what happened to her."
"It wasn't your fault."
"Dad never blamed me, you know? And I could never understand that. If I'd not... But that was Dad all over."
Jade noticed that there was a page he'd marked, and she opened the journal. She felt like she was prying on something so deeply private and personal, but he'd given it to her for a reason. As she read the tears brimmed over and ran down her cheeks until she couldn't read anymore and then all she knew was he'd put his good arm around her and held her while she cried.
~~
When Louis returned to the hospital he found his father was waiting for him, sat on the edge of the bed. Charlie was about to say something when he noticed that his son was hand in hand with Jade, who in turn held one of Baz's journals. So instead he smiled, shook his head, and left them to it.
"He's pretty cool, your dad," Jade said as she helped Louis back into bed.
"He's not bad."
"You know he knows? About what happened?"
He looked up in shock. "What?"
"He knows."
"Maggie said she'd not tell him..."
"He's a nurse, Louis. It was pretty obvious what happened to me. That and I heard him talking to Doctor Truman."
Louis sighed and rolled his head back on the pillows.
"He's not said anything to you about it?"
"Not a word."
"Like I said, he's pretty cool."
Louis realised what she was getting at and sat up. "Guess so."
"So..." she said, sitting on the edge. "You and me."
"I was stupid, and I'm sorry."
"You and the Green boys. That done?"
"Completely."
"Good. Because I don't go out with anyone who feels they have to prove something. To me, to anyone. I love you for you, Louis."
"Love?" he repeated.
"I mean..."
He took her hand in his. "I love you, Jade."
She smiled and leant forward to kiss him. "Get well soon, OK?"
tbc...
Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6 ~ Part 7 ~ Part 8 ~ Part 9 ~ Part 10 ~ Part 11 ~ Part 12
Part 13 ~ Part 14 ~ Part 15 ~ Part 16 ~ Part 17 ~ Part 18 ~ Part 19 ~ Part 20 ~ Part 21 ~ Part 22 ~ Part 23
They'd talked for a while about anything and everything. It wasn't always about Serbia though. Baz and Louis, her ex and her kids, no subject was taboo anymore. It couldn't be. The first question they had asked themselves was if they really wanted this. If the whole 'happy ever after' package was really where they were going.
With one kiss the answer was clear. A resounding yes.
When tiredness crept in they lay on the bed, on top of the covers, facing each other. Hand clasped in front of them the conversation continued with another confession.
"Can I ask you something?" she began.
"You need permission?" he smiled.
"When did you fall in love with me?"
He sighed as he contemplated the question. "I don't know when, but I remember when I realised I had," he said. "Snuck up on me..."
"You had a head start on me. I wasn't sure if we were pushing things too far, if we were going to ruin the friendship. You were my best friend... I didn't want to lose you over this. If it went wrong... But then we had dinner and..."
"I let you leave..."
"Yeah, that wasn't a good start," she laughed, "but when I came back... I was so glad you asked me to stay."
"Not half as glad I was that you came back."
"You were nervous, weren't you?"
He nodded slightly.
"You and me both. Pretty big step."
"The right one though?"
"I'd not change a thing," she assured him, running her hand down his face. "I certainly don't regret it. Falling in love with your best friend..."
As she ran her fingers across his lips he kissed them gently.
"You OK?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because I just told you that I had doubts about us..."
"And I didn't?" he asked. "Landing the girl of my dreams..."
"Girl?"
"Woman. Amazing, talented, compassionate, sophisticated woman," he corrected with a smile. "Better?"
"Much."
"You remember when you were a kid, and there was one thing you wanted for Christmas more than anything else?" When she nodded, he continued. "When you got it there was always a moment when you got it that..."
"Did I not live up to expectations?" she said, feigning hurt.
"No, no, no," he said quickly before realising that she was joking.
"Charlie..."
"I wanted you, wanted this for so long, and when it finally happened..."
"I upped and left," she said.
"Maggie..."
"I cried the entire flight."
"Really?"
"Yup. Made a complete fool of myself. When I got to Paris I found myself looking at the flights back to Bristol."
"I don't want to know if that's true or not," he said. "The idea's good enough for me."
"And you're good enough for me. More than good enough."
"I couldn't believe it when you came back..."
"Why wouldn't I? I told you I would."
"Yeah..."
"Hey," she said softly, shifting closer to him on the bed. "You're worth it, Charlie. Sooner you believe that..."
"Do you a deal," he said. "I'll believe it, if you let me in once in a while. I'm intending this to be for keeps."
"Me too."
"Good. Because this marriage is going to last."
"That's a point. We've not talked about the wedding."
"Been a bit distracted this week."
"I wanna set a date," she blurted out.
"And when we do that you know everyone's going to take over?"
"Not if we don't tell them," she said with a small glint in her eye.
~~
She'd fallen asleep on him but he didn't care, not really. He stayed with her, watching her sleep for what seemed like moments and hours.
He should have made her stay. He should have talked her out of going. Or gone with her. If he'd been there too then... Then what? One of her reasons for not saying anything was that you can't change what happened. She left. Stuff happened. She came home. That was the important bit, she came home and she was here, now, with him. With them.
He became aware that she was dreaming, but more than that, another nightmare. He'd expected this; all the memories had been stirred up for her again, of course that was going to have an effect on her.
She snapped awake, taking a few seconds to realise that he was there.
"Hey," he soothed, running his hand up and down her arm.
"Sorry."
"Don't be."
"Just..."
"Yeah. Figured."
"You get any sleep?"
He shook his head.
"Charlie..."
"I'll sleep later." He kissed her temple and smiled. "More important things going on."
"I don't need looking after," she said, then sighed. "Sorry."
"You really don't know how to let go, do you?" he asked.
"Been a long time since I've been able to."
"Let you in on a little secret," he whispered almost conspiratorially. "Same goes for me."
She turned slightly so she could look up at him.
"This is new on me too, Maggie. So how about we try and figure a way through it together?"
"Sounds good to me," she replied. "One condition."
"What?"
"Get some sleep. With everything that's gone on this last week I know you've had less than I have."
He settled down behind her, his arm still draped over and around her waist. She put her hand over his, their fingers locking together in their now-familiar fashion.
"Don't know why you put up with me," she said. "Everything I've put you through..."
"Last year, when Louis and I were having problems, why'd you stick around and help me out?"
"You asked me to," she quipped.
"Funny," he laughed. "Why'd you agree?"
"Because I cared."
"Well I more than care," he said softly.
She smiled, but not because of what he was saying. His mouth was so close to the back of her neck that his voice made the little hairs stand on end.
~~
Louis shifted uncomfortably with his sling, trying to balance the weight of the book in his good hand. Glancing at the clock he wondered how much longer she was going to make him wait. Punishment probably, and most likely well deserved.
"Should you be out of hospital?" Jade asked as she finally walked into the room.
"Probably not," he replied, turning to face her in relief.
"What do you want, Louis?"
"I went to the police. Ryan's been arrested."
"I heard."
"I thought..."
"What? That it'll magically make it all better?" she challenged.
"No. But maybe it's a start?" he asked.
"Louis..."
"Dad gave me this yesterday," he said, holding out the book. "Mum kept a journal when she was pregnant with me."
"Why are you...?" Jade asked, reaching out and taking it from him.
"You and I first got talking because of our parents. My Mum, your dad... I used to hate myself for what happened to her."
"It wasn't your fault."
"Dad never blamed me, you know? And I could never understand that. If I'd not... But that was Dad all over."
Jade noticed that there was a page he'd marked, and she opened the journal. She felt like she was prying on something so deeply private and personal, but he'd given it to her for a reason. As she read the tears brimmed over and ran down her cheeks until she couldn't read anymore and then all she knew was he'd put his good arm around her and held her while she cried.
~~
When Louis returned to the hospital he found his father was waiting for him, sat on the edge of the bed. Charlie was about to say something when he noticed that his son was hand in hand with Jade, who in turn held one of Baz's journals. So instead he smiled, shook his head, and left them to it.
"He's pretty cool, your dad," Jade said as she helped Louis back into bed.
"He's not bad."
"You know he knows? About what happened?"
He looked up in shock. "What?"
"He knows."
"Maggie said she'd not tell him..."
"He's a nurse, Louis. It was pretty obvious what happened to me. That and I heard him talking to Doctor Truman."
Louis sighed and rolled his head back on the pillows.
"He's not said anything to you about it?"
"Not a word."
"Like I said, he's pretty cool."
Louis realised what she was getting at and sat up. "Guess so."
"So..." she said, sitting on the edge. "You and me."
"I was stupid, and I'm sorry."
"You and the Green boys. That done?"
"Completely."
"Good. Because I don't go out with anyone who feels they have to prove something. To me, to anyone. I love you for you, Louis."
"Love?" he repeated.
"I mean..."
He took her hand in his. "I love you, Jade."
She smiled and leant forward to kiss him. "Get well soon, OK?"
tbc...