Apologies for any holes and flaws in logic and plot. I haven't written a fic in years but the characters of Sister Julienne, Shelagh/Bernadette and Dr. Turner somewhat hit too close to home so I decided to write this. Somewhat true to life. Many thanks for reading this.
It was perhaps just an hour before Lauds, her favorite prayer that blesses the dawn of each new day, when the telephone rang.
She was already awake, used to getting up earlier than usual to rouse the other sisters and prepare them for the prayers. As she hurriedly closed the door, she remembered that Nurse Miller was on first call but had left an hour earlier to attend to Mrs. Davis who had gone into premature labor.
"Nonnatus House."
She heard a gasp on the other end, quickly stifled, as if by a hand.
"Hello? This is Sister Julienne speaking. Are you our patient? Are you going into labor?"
And then she heard the soft choked sounds of unmistakable sobbing.
"Who is this? Are you alright? Please, let me help you. Tell me," she said as calmly as she could.
"S-s-sister…"
She would know that voice anywhere, even if it was drowning in a flood of tears. Her heart suddenly seemed to be gripped in a vise so tight, she couldn't breathe herself.
"Shelagh? Shelagh, is that you? What is wrong? Tell me."
She only heard more stifled sobbing on the other end, and with each strangled breath, she grew more concerned.
"What is wrong? Are you in pain?"
"I… I don't know…don't know what to do anymore."
Anguish. Pure anguish with every word, each a stab to her heart.
Already she could hear the soft steps of the other Nonnatus nuns as they filed into chapel for the morning office.
"You… you should go, Sister," Shelagh whispered brokenly. "I know it's time for Lauds and…I wish…"
"You wish what, my dear?"
Silence except the soft sobs on the end of the line.
"I wish I was there."
There was a few seconds of silence that seemed to go on for so long Sister Julienne thought Shelagh had broken off the connection.
"It was a mistake."
This was supposed to be a one-shot but it seems like this might run a few chapters. Reviews are very much welcome.