Author's Note

Hello everyone!

This is going to be a multi-chapter, but not set in my Repentance AU - this is something new. Post 3 08 is so stressful, isn't it? One must constantly be researching shipping routes or calculating solo flight paths, so I decided just to ignore it and set this new story after 3 07 instead. Much simpler!

Speaking of the other AU, though, I wanted to point out that my last story Through this Horror was completed - for some reason wouldn't refresh the last chapter and bring it up to the top, but if anyone was wondering whatever happened - it is finished, and there!

I hope you enjoy this new story. It is pretty much all written so should be updated daily.

Gingham xx

Chapter 1

"Miss Fisher, you can't go through just now!"

"Really, Hugh, I thought we were beyond this!"

Her tone was one of cheerful exasperation, the statement delivered as she whisked through the station foyer at speed.

Hugh rolled his eyes at the not completely unexpected failure of his verbal warning and attempted a physical one instead, scrambling out from behind the desk to stop her in her tracks.

"Miss Fisher, the Inspector isn't –"

But Phryne Fisher had already flung the door to his superior's office. She stopped short, her mouth falling into an 'O' at the sight of the figure behind the desk.

"- in." Finished Hugh, lamely.

"I can see that," Phryne replied, her eyes fixed on the small blonde child in Jack's chair. "Hello," she said, kindness mingling with the surprise in her voice.

Big brown eyes surveyed her nervously.

"'Ello." Though quiet, the voice was not meek. In fact, thought Phryne, petulant might be a good way of describing it. She wasn't an expert at judging the ages of small children, but she guessed this little girl to be around three. She had a mess of blonde curls, a snub nose, and a dark, suspicious frown etched firmly on her small face. Her mouth opened, curiosity winning over shyness.

"Who's you?" she asked bluntly.

Phryne was accustomed to speaking to small children (such as she was accustomed) in the same manner she spoke to everyone else. "I might ask you the same question!"

"Margo!"

Phryne turned to see Jack standing beside her in the doorway, hands on his hips. He was looking at the child with a stern expression on his face. Hugh relaxed at his presence, and retreated back to the foyer.

"I thought I made it clear you're not allowed to sit at my desk?"

Phryne watched in confusion as Jack stalked around the desk, the picture of discipline. His stoic expression only began to waver when Margo pulled herself to standing on his chair, a sheepish smile beginning to light up her face.

"Not unless you have a warrant card!" Jack pulled her towards him, swinging her off the chair as she shrieked with delight.

"Stop!" Margo giggled. "Unc- Jack!"

"Uncle Jack?" Phryne repeated, raising an enquiring eyebrow at Jack.

"Apologies, Miss Fisher," Jack said, the little girl still sitting in his arms. "If you've come to disrupt my day, I'm afraid someone else has beaten you to it."

"So I see." Phryne walked into the office, smiling at the girl.

Jack sat her down on the table and addressed Phryne. "What can I do for you?" He was smiling, but Phryne noticed he looked a little tired; his hair slightly messed up, as if he'd been running his hands through it.

"You can enlighten me for starters," she said. "I didn't know you had a niece."

Margo held her hands out for Jack and Jack absentmindedly pulled out his warrant card and gave it to her. She became engrossed, her little fingers softly running over the maroon leather cover.

"My sister's little girl," Jack said, looking down at her fondly.

"I didn't know you had a sister!" Phryne exclaimed.

It was infuriating, she realised, how little she knew about Jack's personal life. It certainly wasn't for lack of trying. She knew that both Jack's parents had died some years previously, and she was aware, obviously, of Rosie. There had once been a mention of Uncle Ted of coin collection fame. Other than that, she was completely in the dark. There had been numerous attempts to probe further, the sharing of episodes from her childhood in the hope of gleaning a morsel in return, countless offers of a lift home just so she could see where he lived. All had been expertly rebuffed. Even their developing relationship hadn't given her any more clues. Since their tennis game a few days ago, Phryne knew they were on the verge of something new. His manner towards her had changed, his confidence grown. She'd never seen him like it before. It was like he knew what he wanted, and he was no longer afraid to ask. But still, Jack was also a private person, protective and close. It took time to pry apart his layers, even for Phryne, who by now considered herself something of an expert.

And here, after all those months of probing, was the sudden and insurmountable proof of a private life, of a family she had hitherto almost no information about. She could barely believe it.

Jack placed a hand on her elbow and moved her gently away from the desk, lowering his voice so that Margo couldn't hear. "Isabel and I have a somewhat... difficult relationship," he admitted. "Her husband..." he broke off, looking pained.

"Not his biggest fan?" Phryne guessed sympathetically.

Jack flashed her a look that plainly showed how much of an understatement he considered that to be, even if he was too polite to say so. "He's not who I would have chosen for her, let's put it that way." He flashed a look back at Margo who was still fascinated with his warrant card, her face hidden under her mess of curls. "They're constantly fighting. Now she's threatening to leave him."

"Well, that's a good thing, surely?" Phryne said, keeping her voice low. "It can't be a pleasant environment to grow up in?"

"If I thought she meant it I'd agree. But she does this every few months or so. Swoops down on me with absolutely no warning, dumps..." he flashed another look at Margo, lowering his voice even further. "...dumps Margo with me and then takes off. Within a couple of days they've made up and she picks Margo up and swans back to him pretending everything is fine."

Phryne frowned. "Poor kid." She thought back to her own experiences, wondering just how destructive a relationship Jack's sister was in. "It can be difficult, you know," she said gently. "To leave."

"I know," Jack replied quickly. "I've tried to help..."

"I'm sure you have," Phryne interjected, not wanting him to think she was implying otherwise. She knew Jack would do everything he could to protect the people he loved.

"But it's difficult. I've had the same conversation with her a hundred times, and... she and I... well," he sighed and ran a hand over his face, sinking back against the desk. "She could always be a bit…" his brow creased. "Unreasonable."

The phone on his desk rang loudly and Jack stretched back over the desk to lift the receiver. "And she always picks the busiest days. Yes?"

While Jack took the call, Phryne walked back towards Margo, who had lost interest in the card and tried to give it back to her. Suddenly appreciating the future benefits a police warrant card could afford her, she reached out for it eagerly, only to have it snatched back by Jack.

"What?" she mouthed, her eyes wide with innocence. Jack narrowed his eyes at her as he continued the conversation, stuffing his card back into his pocket.

Phryne smiled, noting the similarities between uncle and niece. Suspicion clearly ran in the family. But there was another similarity, she realised with a start. Jack handing Margo his warrant card had reminded her vividly of him pinning his Buffalo Bill badge to her robe a few days earlier. He gives us tokens. And then, only weeks before, the blue swallow pin he claimed - although she didn't believe it for a minute - had been part of Nurse Mary's stash. Was it easier for him to express his affection that way? Giving away little bits of himself rather than say the words. And did that put her into the same category as his obviously much loved niece?

She looked down at the little girl, feeling a strange and unfamiliar camaraderie. "We're in the same club," she whispered, confident that Jack was engrossed in the call and couldn't hear. People who are important to Jack.

Margo was clearly unconvinced, regarding Phryne with a stoic stare. Not easily impressed, thought Phryne, recognising another Robinson family trait.

Jack was hanging up the telephone, an angry look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Those idiots over at Central have misidentified a suspect in one of my cases," Jack said, plainly aggrieved.

"Idiots!" repeated Margo happily, and Phryne couldn't help but laugh at Jack's open mouthed look of horror.

"Don't say that, Margo."

"Idiots!"

Phryne giggled again and Jack shot her a censorious glance.

"Am I to be plagued by women who won't be told?" He sounded annoyed, but a twitch of his lips told her his mood was improving.

"It does seem to be your lot in life," she replied. "She'll be solving your crimes before you know it."

"Heaven forfend you have any competition, Miss Fisher."

"I thought I was helping you!" Phryne's tone was innocent.

Jack made a grimace. "I may have to ask for your help again."

Phryne creased her eyebrows at him, then looked towards Margo in sudden realisation. "Oh, Jack. You can't be serious!"

"I have to go and sort this out," Jack pleaded. "I have no idea how long I'll be, and I have no-one else to ask."

Phryne folded her arms, contemplating an afternoon of childminding the way others contemplate natural disasters. "What about Hugh?"

"Collins is on duty, I can't ask him to babysit."

"You don't seem to have a problem asking me!"

Jack was already pulling on his overcoat. "On the contrary, Miss Fisher. Only dire desperation would induce me to put myself in the position of owing you a favour."

Phryne considered this. There were advantages there, certainly.

Jack walked towards her, a pleading look in his eyes. "Please?"

She felt her resolve softening, a sort of melting feeling she didn't want to analyse too deeply at present.

"Fine."

Much to her surprise, Jack grabbed her by the shoulders, whispered a heartfelt "thank you!" and was gone, leaving Phryne and Margo eyeing each other nervously.

Then he was back, a head and shoulders around the door.

"Don't drive too fast."

And he was gone again.