This story is coming along only very slowly, so don't expect frequent updates. It's set in Adelaide, between S3 and S4, but is a bit different to the usual 'what happened in Adelaide', I think. As ever, I'd be grateful for your thoughts on it.

So Richard had been right, when he had told her Adelaide was hot. Certainly it was a lot warmer than Ballarat, Jean thought, as she and Lucien strolled through the park.

Neither of them wanted to hurry; they had had precious little time together in the last few days, as Jean had been busy helping with the baby. She had hoped they would have had more opportunities to see each other, away from their lodgers and patients, but it hadn't really happened yet.

By silent agreement they turned down a side path and sat on a bench in the shade. Lucien took his jacket off and laid it over the back of the seat, and then took Jean's hand in his. He rested both their hands on his leg.

She was comfortable enough with this now, but he didn't want to rush her. Sometimes when he caught her eye she still had a trace of that uncertainty, even fear, that he had seen when he got on to the bus. He knew how easy it would be to lose her by asking for more than she was willing to risk giving him just yet.

Jean meanwhile was wondering if anything would be resolved before he had to return to Ballarat. He had put his arm around her, and kissed her cheek a couple of times, but they hadn't talked about why he came with her to Adelaide, or what might happen if she went home with him again.

She had only herself to blame, she thought. She had said 'not yet', but hadn't thought that might mean 'not ever'. She sighed. Talking was not their strong point, and never had been.

The heat was becoming more oppressive still, and Jean could feel her hair damp against her neck. She rested her head on Lucien's shoulder and felt the muscles in his arm shift, as he moved slightly to find a comfortable position. She felt a pang of guilt at how much she wanted to touch his arm properly, with her fingers, and without his shirt in between them.

Lucien tried not to move. She was closer to him now than she had been for days, and he didn't want that to end.

Very faintly, Lucien thought he heard thunder. The first time he said nothing, thinking perhaps he was mistaken, but a minute or two later there was a much louder crack, and a breeze cooled them for a moment.

"We should go," he said, and as they gathered up their belongings, there came the unmistakeable sound of rain falling, and not far away.

"My hotel is closer than Christopher's house," he added. "Come on, or we'll get soaked."

They walked briskly towards the hotel, but the storm was moving much faster, and before long fat raindrops were splattering on the road, sending up their distinctive smell. As the rain became torrential, he pulled Jean closer and held his jacket curved over their heads, in an attempt to keep the worst of the rain off.

Jean had to skip along next to him to keep up, but the sound of the approaching thunder kept her from slowing down. There was no obvious shelter around, and it was far too dangerous to stand under a tree. The sky had darkened and, combined with the rain, it was hard to see through the gloom.

As the first flash of lightning shot across the sky, they broke into a run, and they arrived at the door to the hotel breathless and drenched. For a moment Jean held him back.

"I can't just come in with you,' she said. "What will the staff think?"

Lucien was exasperated. "You're soaked, and so am I. No one will think anything, except that we want to get out of the rain."

He took her hand firmly and pulled her inside, still protesting. They were both thoroughly wet, with clothes clinging to them uncomfortably.

The manager raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise. He hadn't known Dr Blake's wife was in town. The doctor had been staying alone for the last week, and there had been no sign of anyone visiting him.

But surely she must be his wife? As a hotel manager, he prided himself that he could spot the customers who were having affairs, and these two didn't have that look about them. They had arrived bickering, in that way married people tend to, to reassure themselves they might still have separate opinions. And she was wearing a wedding ring. He made up his mind.

"Doctor Blake, Mrs Blake," he nodded to them. "Can I get you anything? Some towels, perhaps, or some tea...?" He tried not to wince as they dripped on his carpet.

The doctor glared at him for a moment, and appeared to be about to contradict him, but the woman coughed sharply and he subsided again.

"That would be lovely," she said, and steered the doctor towards the stairs. Lucien closed his mouth and went with her quietly.

Yes, married, thought the manager, definitely.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx