A Stroll Through History

Thank you to the wonderful Kerry Greenwood for her marvellous creations and for inspiring the ABC's establishment of Jack and Phryne as a romantic couple.

For those of you who have read this chapter before, it might seem a bit different from what you remember. It is. I've done a serious re-write. I trust that you will feel it's an improvement.

As for those of you who new to the story; it is my first ever fanfic. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I'm enjoying writing it.

This story began as a rewrite and expansion of the ending of Season 2 Episode 12. It's turned into a whole lot more than that.

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Looking over Fletcher's box of treasures, his leverage over many of the most influential men in Melbourne , Detective Inspector Jack Robinson's heart was heavy to the point of breaking. George Sanderson may not have had an item of his in that box, he may not have been vulnerable to blackmail, but he could be bribed. He'd been willing to sell his soul to a man like Sidney Fletcher; a white slaver, a procurer of young and innocent girls. The price? Clear the way for Sanderson's promotion. Sanderson might not have know that Fletcher was anything more than a crooked businessman at the beginning but when he'd stood by on the docks, waiting for the Pandarus to sail with its cargo of girls, he had become fully complicit in Fletcher's evil crime.

Listening to his ex-father-in-law try to justify his choices and sneeringly refer to one of his innocent victims as a worthless guttersnipe, bought Jack closer to tears than his dignity could bear.

"I looked up to you George." Jack rasped. "I respected you."

His disappointed gaze met and held the eyes of the fallen Chief Commissioner of Police.

Remembering...

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Probationary Constable Jack Robinson had been young, keen, and very ambitious when he'd first joined the Victorian Constabulary. There was nothing unusual about that, most young recruits could be described in the exact same way. But Jack had stood out as something different from his fellows, he was well educated and had an natural instinct for police work that could never be taught.

J had been raised in a middle class family by parents who were determined to see him distinguished in marriage and career. Their son had received every advantage in education and; having inherited a healthy annuity from his Grandmother, was of independent means.

But Jack, who had often been mortified by his parent's efforts to push him forward, hadn't wanted the sort of future they had planned. No, the young man had pictured himself doing something different, something that would make a difference to people's lives. Something, in truth, with shiny brass buttons; because he was a young man after all.

Of course, when he'd announced his intention to become a policeman, he parents had been horrified. It was not the done, thing. Policing was known to be a mucky business and no young woman of worth would consider an underpaid constable as a prospective bridegroom. The arguments had raged on for weeks, but Jack was firm in his resolution. Policing was what he wanted and it was what he was going to do. His inheritance was secure and sufficient to supplement a policeman's income, there was nothing to stop him. In the end his father had presented him with an ultimatum.

"Do this son, and you turn your back on us. You will never be welcome in this house again."

And so, Jack Robinson had got his shiny brass buttons and before long, was standing to attention in front of Detective Inspector George Sanderson at City South Police Station. In those days there had been many pitfalls waiting to drag down even the brightest young constable, but Jack Robinson had been fortunate to be taken under the Great Man's wing. The Inspector, who was well known for his incorruptibility, had seen something special in the young recruit and his excellent example had cemented the young man's good character. With Sanderson's guidance, Jack's natural instinct had been developed into real skills and he'd rapidly proved himself to be a valuable addition to the force.

Jack's gratitude for the guidance had quickly developed into an almost worshipful respect for the senior officer and he'd worked hard to be worthy of Sanderson's interest. In years to come, the standards of his mentor would never be forgotten, and Jack often found himself weighing up his choices with the question; 'What would the Inspector do?'

When Jack met George's pretty daughter Rosie, his heart had nearly burst his chest. Lovely Rosie Sanderson; she of the laughing brown eyes and glossy chestnut curls, beautiful and so desirable. She was the girl of his dreams and it soon became apparent that she saw the eager young man in much the same light.

George had secretly been delighted when Jack and Rosie had started stepping out together; later admitting that he had introduced them with that very design. But he had played the stern father to the hilt, very much enjoying Jack's terror as he'd worked up the courage to ask for his daughter's hand.

The young lovers had been blissfully content as they'd begun their life together. Jack imagined himself rising quickly through the ranks of the police, covered in honours and well able to provide for his pretty wife and their future family. Rosie too adored her handsome husband and dreamt of Jack following in the footsteps of her father. The joy as they set up their home together knew no bounds and Rosie eagerly anticipated entertaining in support of Jack's ambitions.

But of course, even the prettiest of dreams often don't survive. The year was 1914 and on the 4th of August, Britain declared hostilities against Germany... Australia was at war and the time for happy dreams was over.

Like so many other young men, Jack was eager to do his bit for his country. He decided to volunteer for the AIF and was ready to be one of the first in the enlistment line at the Melbourne Town Hall. Much to his surprise however, when he'd proudly announced his intentions to Rosie and her Father, neither had been supportive of his plan.

"You'll be needed here Jack. With so many volunteering we're going to be hard pressed to keep the peace."

"Father doesn't think you should go darling. You know how much he relies on you."

"The war won't last long Robinson. By the time you get through basic training and ship all the way to Germany, the Kaiser will have turned tail and run."

"You wouldn't want to let Father down, would you Jack? After everything he's done to get you ready for promotion. You're so close. You can't disappoint him now."

They were determined to see him stay and under that heavy pressure and a rain of Rosie's tears, he allowed himself to be convinced and had promised to stay. It was the first time in his adult life that Jack had turned his back on what he considered to be his duty. He'd never forgiven himself for that betrayal of his principles and the humiliation of his decision still haunted him over 15 years later.

So he'd stayed. But Jack was deeply regretting his decision not to enlist and though determined to stick by his word, his sense of shame would no longer allow them to be happy. Instead the pair spent the next months of their marriage quarrelling or in cold silence.

By May 1915, as the newspapers were starting to fill with endless lists of men killed or wounded on the Gallipoli peninsula, Jack's shame grew into a bitter self disgust. He had betrayed his principles and had allowed himself to be persuaded to stay. He felt himself to be no better than a coward. He didn't blame Rosie or her father, they had honestly believed their own arguments and had acted in good faith. No, the decision had been his and the failure was all his own to bear.

On the day that his friend Muir Smith had died of his wounds on the Turkish shore, Jack picked up a bottle of grog and drank himself into a stupor. He was still rolling drunk when he enlisted the next day and it was first time in his life that breaking a promise had felt like the right thing to do.

Private Jack Robinson was finally going to war and he was never going to be the same again.

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Jack's view of himself did not improve under a foreign sun. The Diggers stories of the nightmare at Gallipoli had only served to increase his sense of disgrace. He had sat home in safety and comfort whilst men braver than him had given their lives and limbs. Jack was determined to make amends for his failure and threw himself into the fray with a single minded intensity, fighting bravely but not recklessly, his intelligence did not desert him.

When his level of education had become known, he'd been granted a commission to 2nd Lieutenant (both a blessing and a curse) and though many of the men he led, had died amidst the mud and guts and blood, his talents kept many more alive and ensured successful action. With each success had came medals and rapid promotion but Jack had taken no pleasure in such things. The deaths and failures haunted him and any pleasure simply refreshed his pain. Rosie's gushingly delighted letter, congratulating him on his rise to Captain only served to sicken him further and forever killed off any former wish for advancement.

The man that Jack had been died slowly in the fields of Belgium, though his body returned home, miraculously without serious injury. But, like so many others he was but an echo of his former self hollowed out, wracked with guilt and haunted by the terrible memories.

Rosie, eager to bask in the glory of a dashing young war hero and Captain, had been sadly disappointed in the worn out, empty old man that had returned. She had not understood, would never understand, how could she? Her dreams of social triumphs and the resurrection of former ambitious plans were dashed. Though she loved him dearly still, she loved nothing more than the memory of the man and not so much the man that he had become.

Jack knew his lack of ambition was a disappointment to his wife and his father-in-law; but for him, there was only emptiness and apathy. Though Policing was now simply a job and nothing more he continued work hard and use his natural gifts to great effect. His abilities and the scarcity of rivals for promotion had seen him continue to climb the ranks in spite of his lack of ambition. But, the thrill of the chase was gone; and though there was satisfaction to be found in the challenge there was no longer any joy in the job. Nor indeed, was there much joy in his life. Jack and Rosie's marriage had never managed to recover from their awkward reunion. He was withdrawn and distant, she was terribly hurt by his apparent indifference; and as the years passed they only grew further apart. Finally, when Rosie's disenchantment had reached its peak, she had packed her bags and gone to live with her sister, leaving Jack Robinson facing a long grey life alone in their empty home.

And so he would have remained, if not for a certain feisty and utterly delectable Private Detective. The Hon. Phryne Fisher had exploded into his dreary life. She'd interfered and teased and poked and flirted; she was a hurricane, scattering everything in her path. But when Jack had met the challenge that she unconsciously presented head on he'd slowly come to discover that life might just be worth living after all.

And now, just as the future was looking like something to be happy about, Jack found himself standing in his office, over his now ruined ex-father-in-law and the world felt like it was crashing down around his ears.

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Note:

On the matter of Jack's rank – I know that it's been said Jack was a Lance-Corporal in the AIF but quite frankly, I find it very hard to believe that Jack (a man of intelligence, courage and obvious education) would have never risen higher so I've chosen to ignore that point. My Jack enlisted, was as private, quickly elevated to Lance-Corporal and then when his level of education was discovered, received a commission to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

Lieutenant – In Australia, we pronounce this as Leff-te-nant.

White Slavery - was the bogey man of 1920's Australian society. Sadly, the same wasn't said about the terrible way young Indigenous children were being treated. If Jack had ever thought about the situation, I'm sure he would have agreed but at the time the plight of indigenous people was nothing more than background noise.

Stepping Out – Courting or Dating

AIF - Australian Imperial Force. The Australian Armed Infantry