Terry had gone into Brandonshire and signed on officially to tend bar at the Fox. It helped give her a feeling of independence. She loved her brother, but she hated being dependent on him. Returning to the Mansion, Terry got out of the car and started for the steps. A whistle caught her up short. She looked up to see Goniff standing on the edge of the parapet on the roof.
"What on earth are you doing?" she called to him.
"Practicing," he replied. "Come on up."
Terry went in the house and made her way up to the roof. Goniff jumped down and walked up to her. "Where you been, Love?" he asked.
"I went to the Fox and got a job tending bar."
"Nice to know the bartender."
Terry laughed. "So what are you up to?"
"Just walking the edge." Goniff cocked a look at her. "You afraid of 'eights?"
"No," replied Terry. "Why?"
"Want to try it? I'll 'ang on to you."
Terry shrugged. "I guess."
She took the pickpocket's hand and stepped up on the parapet. It was a long way down to the brick drive. It didn't bother her. They started around the perimeter of the roof. Goniff was still impressed with her sense of balance.
The crash outside the common room window brought the men to their feet and Garrison from his office.
"What was that?" asked Garrison.
"Craig!"
Terry's scream sent the men running out the door and down the steps. There was broken rock scattered on the drive. Garrison looked up and his heart froze at the sight of his sister dangling by one hand from Goniff's hand over the edge of the roof.
"Dios!" exclaimed Actor. He hit Chief on the arm and the two men dashed back in the house to get to the roof.
"Terry, don't swing," said Craig with as calm a voice as he could muster.
Casino looked up and studied the face of the building. "Terry! Babe, slowly bring your left foot up about six inches. There's a little edge there might give you a toehold."
The two men watched anxiously as the girl raised her foot and felt for the edge. She got the edge of her boot on it and tried to stand. Her foot slipped off and she jerked hard on Goniff's arm.
"Goniff, you drop her I swear I'll kill you!" shouted Garrison in fear.
"You won't 'ave to, Warden," came Goniff's shaky voice. "I'll kill meself first."
Terry, in the meantime, brought her foot up again and tried to get a better purchase on the edge. This time she didn't try to stand.
Actor reached the edge of the parapet and looked down. He leaned one hand on the wall and started to reach down with the other. The edge of the wall gave way, sending bits of rock to just miss Terry's head and almost sending Actor over. He swore again in Italian. He moved over a bit and tested the wall before leaning over with an outstretched arm.
"Teresa, give me your other hand," he instructed in a calm voice that in no way reflected the fear he was feeling for her safety.
Terry hazarded a look up. She reached her left hand up and grabbed Actor's wrist. He caught hers in a strong grip.
Below, Garrison let out the breath he was holding. He realized Casino had a hand gripping his shoulder.
Chief moved alongside of Goniff. He tested the wall, found it solid and reached over the top of Goniff's arm. Chief got a hand on Terry's right wrist.
"Terr, let go of Goniff and grab my arm."
Terry took a breath and let go, grabbing desperately for Chief's wrist and caught it. Goniff scooted back away from the edge and the two men to curl up against a chimney pot. Working together, Actor and Chief pulled Terry up and onto the roof.
Actor stepped back from the edge, wrapping his arms tightly around the girl as she flung herself against the solid strong comfort of his chest. She was trembling badly. Actor's head was bent and he was whispering soothingly in her ear in Italian.
Chief waved down at the men below. "She's all right!"
Craig slumped in relief. Casino uncharacteristically rubbed Garrison's shoulder. "You okay, Warden?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"Yeah," replied Garrison, just as shaky. "Thanks."
Chief moved up to Actor's side. Terry finally opened her eyes and reached a hand out to Chief's shoulder. He rubbed her arm.
"Thank you. Both of you," she said.
She gathered herself and moved a little back from Actor, remaining in his arms for just a bit longer. She looked up and saw the fire flow into his eyes.
"I am going to kill Goniff," said the Italian with cold anger.
Terry gripped his shirt. "No you're not. It wasn't his fault. He didn't know the rock was rotten and neither did I. If he hadn't been holding my hand I'd've gone all the way down." She looked around. "Where is he?"
She spotted him at the base of the chimney pot, curled into a tight ball, arms wrapped around his legs and head buried in his knees. Terry gave Actor and Chief a simultaneous one armed hug and stepped away to slowly approach the Englishman. She cocked her head sideways and dropped down to sit on her heels in front of him.
"Hey, Mate, it's okay," she said softly to him.
Goniff shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Terry." His voice was muffled and trembly.
Terry reached a hand out to stroke the blond head. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know that rock was bad. For heaven's sake, you were just running along that parapet. If it hadn't been me it would have been you at some point. At least I had you to grab my hand."
"Warden's gonna kill me. An' 'e should."
Terry leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his blond hair. Chief looked down at his feet and started to rub his knife sheath. Actor had been watching the two and felt the anger go out of him.
Terry spoke softly into Goniff's ear. "Warden's not going to kill you. I won't let him. If I did, who would I have to take me to the market on Wednesdays and buy me flowers?"
Goniff shrugged. "Sure an' there's plenty of blokes would love to."
Terry laughed quietly. "Oh Goniff, what would I do without you, Mate?"
"You wouldn't be fallin' off bloody roofs."
He finally looked up at her with a small smile. Terry grinned and shook her head. "Goniff, you're a mess."
"I know. Me mum always told me that."
Terry laughed and sat back. She rose to her feet and held an arm down to him. Goniff took it and she helped pull him up.
"Will you guys get down from there!" called Craig impatiently.
"Right now, Lieutenant," answered Actor. "We are just getting everyone's nerves settled." Terry nodded thanks to him.
The four met the other two men at the base of the stairs in the house. Terry was ready for Craig's anger, but it didn't come. Garrison looked at his sister and the Englishman, pretending to not notice the man's guilty expression. He held his arms out and Terry moved in for a hug.
Actor was stopped partway down the stairs. "Warden, we really should do something. That roof is bad. If it isn't fixed soon it will probably start leaking."
"I'll call G-2 and see if we can't get some workmen on it right away."
Late that night, Terry was working behind the bar at the Fox with Kit. She was doing fine until she tried to reach for a bottle of scotch on the top shelf. Kit noticed that she couldn't quite make it and was grimacing. The redhead came over and retrieved the bottle.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
"I had a little accident," said Terry, pouring the drink and serving it.
"What kind of little accident?"
"I fell off the roof of the mansion," said Terry nonchalantly.
Kit stared at her. "Come again?"
"I fell off the roof. Goniff had me by one hand and then Actor and Chief pulled me up. So my shoulders are a little sore."
"What were you doing on the roof, you idiot?" Kit thought she did some dangerous things, but Terry took the cake on this one.
"Goniff was teaching me to walk the parapet. It gave out from under me."
"Oh, I bet that made Craig's day."
"I was surprised. He didn't get mad."
"Probably because you scared him half to death."
They got busy and the conversation was interrupted until they were closed. Kit watched her friend in curiosity.
"So is Actor giving you anymore problems?" she asked.
"No," replied Terry. "He's been nice to me. We just don't work at all well together." She grew quiet thinking about the midnight snack in the kitchen and the strong arms and soft words on the roof. It wasn't the same man who yelled at her on missions. But then again, it was. "Craig trusts him."
"I still don't like him," said Kit. "He's such an arrogant sod."
"Sod?" laughed Terry. "You've been in England too long."
"You've been around Goniff too much," shot back Kit in amusement. "I heard you say 'bloody 'ell' a while ago."
They both laughed. Kit finished up washing the glasses while Terry cleaned the bar and the tables. As the girls were locking up, Kit asked, "Are you going back to the Mansion?"
Terry shook her head. "Craig's doing better. Actor can manage him. Craig seems to listen to him."
"Ah yes," said Kit knowingly, "the old 'you're just my sister' routine."
"More like the 'I want you out of the mansion' routine."
The two girls started walking slowly down the sidewalk. Kit waved at the constable walking down the opposite sidewalk. He waved back, knowing they were just getting off work after curfew.
Kit shrugged, "Maybe Craig is just trying to preserve your reputation."
"I doubt it. Besides everybody in this town knows I stay out there with the guys. I guess they think it's just a Yank thing. The shop keepers are all friendly. Nobody's given me grief about it." Terry looked at her friend with a grin. "Besides, you should talk. You're living with Shiv and you're not married."
"They all know I'm crazy," replied Kit.