Wedding March Intermezzo

William and Julia's progress towards matrimony was anything but smooth or predictable with many interesting opportunities for stories to fill in the gaps. There was a long gap (Intermezzo) of several months between when Julia and William became officially engaged and when they got married. Set from S7: E18 (Death of Dr. Ogden) & S8:E3 (Glory Days) What happened in that time and what happened to persuade Julia to get married in the Catholic Church?

-The intermezzo between Midsummer Night's Dream Acts IV and V is the famousWedding March, probably the most popular single piece of music composed by Mendelssohn, and one of the most ubiquitous pieces of music ever written.

-There are sevensacramentsin the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. This story explores most of them.

Thank you "I'd Be Delighted" and "Dutch" for feedback—any errors are my own. Bold dialogue taken from "Glory Days."

-Chapter One-

The characteristic hospital smells were overpowering, with the sounds of illness and death echoing off glazed white tile. Detective William Murdoch was holding his composure, acutely aware he needed to set a proper tone for the other men under his, at least temporary, command. A knot of officers talked angrily amongst themselves while waiting in the narrow corridor for word on Inspector Brackenreid's condition, while the detective shuttled back and forth between the telephone and the nurses' desk fielding questions from his superiors and city managers. Any joy William harboured about his engagement was long dissipated, replaced by carefully suppressed dread and rage. Dr. Julia Ogden escorted a stern-faced Margaret Brackenreid and the family's Pastor to her husband's side, with the detective assigning Constable Crabtree to look after the two Brackenreid boys whilst the doctors conferred. A sharp crashing sound from the next ward sent the men to jittering; waiting was fraying everyone's nerves.

Julia finally emerged and motioned William over for a quiet word.

"Doctor? How is he?" He unconsciously braced for the news, his fingers spasming on the brim of his hat. He knew the Anglican tradition did not have Anointing the Sick, or God forbid, he thought, Last Rites, but he hoped that whatever Christian good will was available to the Inspector was being employed. He had already sent his own prayers along and was going to begin a novena asking for intercession on Brackenreid's behalf.

Julia took a breath before speaking in a well-practiced neutral, calm tone. "Detective. He was beaten badly, as I am sure you already saw. But he will live, I can tell you that much. What I cannot tell you is how long he will be out of commission. Mrs. Brackenreid says he is a 'tough old…'" She stopped and put her hands on her hips and made a face. "Well, that he is tough. You can tell your men and the Chief Constable that, and to expect several months of recovery. I'd catalogue the injuries for you but the list is really quite long…" She looked at him tenderly for a quick moment and dropped her voice further. "Not the way we expected today to end, is it William?"

It took a while for him to regain the conversation, feeling his heart rate drop a bit upon hearing Brackenreid's prognosis. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about everything that needs to be done." He exhaled then. "No, not the way I thought it would end." William spied the jewel flashing on Julia's left hand, unable to suppress a bolt of pleasure he recalled when placing it there, then reproved himself for the lapse in attention. He paused and squared his shoulders. "Can we talk about that later?" he asked, "I have to make some telephone calls and then get the men sorted out."

Julia smiled in agreement, using all her willpower not to hug him or caress the worry he briefly allowed on his face before closing himself back up. She let him turn stiffly on his heel and approach the constables to tell them the news and set them about their next tasks— presumably catching the miscreants who assaulted their police Inspector.

This is going to get personal, she predicted, before erasing that thought to go back and offer support to Mrs. Brackenreid.

# # #

It was five days later before William and Julia had an opportunity to speak on any topic at all and by the time they did so, their initial wedding plans were evaporating. Julia tried to be conciliatory as William stalked in the small space in front of his desk. "William, really, it is all right. I don't need a honeymoon. I understand that this case is important and you have been assigned extra duties…"

"But Julia that is not the point! We agreed to marry as soon as possible but now between your schedule and mine there is not even a single day available for it. I am so very sorry…" He took her hands in his, feeling the usual electric current sparking between them, setting his heart thrumming for a moment before he shook it away. "I still don't have any word on whether or not I'm to be appointed acting Inspector, but I have all the responsibility now in addition to my own work, and then there's…" He looked at her with distress.

Julia tried again to put the best face on the problem. "It will only be a couple extra weeks at the most. And perhaps there could be a benefit. My sister might be able to come and your brother possibly?"

"Yes, I suppose…" he equivocated.

Julia knew what else he was thinking and voiced it. "But you also feel badly that we might celebrate our happiness while the Inspector and his family are in such difficult circumstances and while the criminals who did this to him are still walking about unpunished…" She let him take her hand to his lips and felt the tenderest, warm kiss where his mouth met her fingers. "You will find them William, and the Inspector will get out of hospital, and we will get married," she smiled coyly, "perhaps not as quickly as either of us would like." She laughed a bit to see William colour at the innuendo about refraining until their wedding. She took a step closer to him, unable to stay away despite knowing the risk of stirring their passions. The two of them paused in mid-motion, both looking towards the door in anticipation...

Right on cue, Constable Crabtree interrupted the moment with news of a body found down by the docks. Detective and doctor tossed each other a knowing look, bid adieu, and were on about their chosen business without looking back, certain all would be smoothed out in that promised "week or two."