Some information about this story:
The idea of this story was cooking in my head ever since "The Death of Dr. Ogden" aired (some scenes even before that), but I had no time to write it earlier. Now I'm posting chapter 1, before the 1st episode of S8 airs, but later chapters will come in a few weeks. Then, I'm going to publish them regulary (for instance every second day).
I added some scenes from the real "Murdoch Mysteries" series. There are scenes from the last episode of season 7 and from season 8 teaser which I saw on youtube, so yes, there's a lot of spoilers here. Yet, scenes from season 8 are slightly changed. Of course all the dialogues which were not written by my are in italics.
Huge thanks to Ethelfreda, who not only corrected this chapter, but she's also teaching me a proper English - she's really amazing!
Sure I'd like to own Murdoch Mysteries, but sadly I'm not that lucky...
Detective William Murdoch was talking with Julia's father's sweetheart. Now that he discovered all of the circumstances connected with Dr. Ogden's death, there was just one more thing he wanted to know.
"Mrs. Hill if I may... would you do it again?"
"He was suffering" answered the old lady.
"Em, that's not exactly what I mean... If you had your life to live over again... would you make the same choice?" he looked directly into Mrs. Hill's eyes waiting for her to answer and reflecting about all the bumps in the road and decisions which both Julia and he had to make during all those years of their acquaintance.
"I married my husband, because it was the wise decision, the sensible decision... If I could do it over again... I would take a chance on love."
Having confirmed what he had already suspected, Murdoch smiled to himself. Sometimes he would find his investigations somehow related to his private life. This time Mrs. Hill's words, were just the ones he needed to hear. Not that he had ever doubted that love was the most important thing in the world, no. But sometimes he just needed an impulse, something to make him certain that what he was doing and feeling was right. He got up from his chair.
"Detective?" asked the old lady.
"My investigation is finished Mrs. Hill. I'm very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you" Mrs. Hill's voice was cracking with emotion and her eyes were full of tears.
Detective Murdoch walked away. His heart was finally at peace. He was not able to determine why this conversation had had such a good effect on him. All he knew was that he needed to talk with Julia; he needed to be close to her. He couldn't let her become distant, like she did after Darcy's passing, not again.
Julia was standing on the shore of the lake, looking at the horizon. She saw William coming, but scarcely looked at him, lost in her thoughts.
"He was in love with another woman I never knew" she said eventually still not looking at him.
"We don't contemplate our parents keeping secrets."
"How could he hide that passion all those years? It's extraordinary, don't you think?"
'No, I don't. Just think about it, Julia. Haven't we been hiding our passions for a long time?' those were the words which came to William's mind, but instead he said:
"They waited Julia... They waited to be together until it was almost too late." Knowing that those words had double meaning Murdoch was afraid to look directly at Julia. He wanted to finally propose to her. He wanted to marry her and be sure that nothing would separate them ever again. But how could he propose to her now? She has just lost her father and learned a difficult thing about his past. It was just not the right moment, let alone the fact, that he didn't bring the engagement ring with him.
Julia suddenly looked at him. The real message incorporated in William's words struck her. He was not talking about her father any more, at least not only.
Feeling Julia's eyes on him, Murdoch couldn't resist expressing his feelings.
"I, I don't want just a few months or happiness... I want a lifetime."
All the thoughts about her father were gone. The only person occupying Julia's mind was William. She turned towards him and without thinking twice about it she said in a firm voice:
"Ask me again William."
He was shocked and a bit disoriented, but very, very happy. He turned to her and took his hat off. Looking into her eyes and smiling brightly, he said.
"Julia Ogden, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he asked taking her hands in his. His voice was shaky and his eyes welled with tears.
Julia stepped a bit closer to him.
"William Murdoch, will you do me the honour of becoming my husband?" her voice was shaky too and the tears were almost running down her cheeks.
"I will."
"And I will. Very much I will!" she added just before hugging her fiancé tightly.
Both William and Julia were smiling broadly enjoying the happiness they were experiencing making them forget about the world around them. A moment later they pulled away a bit, just to make their lips meet for a long, breathtaking series of passionate kisses. When they stopped to catch their breath, they looked into each other's eyes.
"I feel like I'm in a dream William!"
"So do I, but this time it's not a dream, it's reality, Julia."
"Yes it is!" she said, and then they got lost in another series of kisses.
Just before pulling away William moved his hand from her back to her neck, and then gently caressed her cheek.
"I haven't told you often, but I love you Julia. You mean the world to me and there is nothing more important to me than being with you and seeing you happy."
"Oh William, I love you so much! Much more than I will ever be able to express. I don't care about anything as long as I have you by my side."
They shared one more tender kiss and then Murdoch said:
"Let's get back to the city. In the Station House, I have something that has been waiting for you way too long."
"William! Do you mean..."
"Just go with me and you'll see" cut William
After quickly collecting their things William and Julia sat in their carriage, as it bumped along the roads to the Station House. Sitting very close to each other, the couple was talking all the way to their destination and the smiles on their faces didn't fade even for a second.
"I cannot tell you how happy I am to know we will soon be officially engaged, Julia."
"Me too William. But we've wasted too much time to spend too much time enjoying our engagement. I am aware, that my father has just died, but now I know he wouldn't want it to be the reason to delay our wedding. I want to marry you as soon as possible."
"I understand and I agree. I don't want to wait any longer." he answered teasingly."Do you want to start planning the party already, Doctor Ogden?"
"Do not joke like that detective. And actually, I would very much like to discuss who we are going to invite."
"That will be my pleasure. I take it you want to invite all your family and your friends from the university."
"To be honest William, I want to marry you in front of our friends. People who are close to us, who have always wished us well."
"No family then?"
"Well, I'd like to invite Ruby of course."
"Of course. I can't imagine not inviting her."
"Can't you detective, really" now it was Julia's turn to tease her sweetheart "I thought she annoyed you."
"Yes, but no more than she was annoying you. All in all, she always wanted us to be together and annoying or not, she is now close to both of us, isn't she?"
"Yes she is... What about you? Who do you want to see on our wedding?"
"The Inspector, George, Dr. Grace of course, and maybe a few constables from the Station, if you don't mind, Julia."
"Wouldn't you like to invite all the men from the Station? They all witnessed both our happiness and distress. I must say, I consider them my friends too."
"I'm glad to hear you say that Julia. I will be very happy to invite them."
"Shall we do that now, William?"
"Do what?"
"Announce our engagement and invite them to the wedding?"
"There's nothing that would make me happier. I want the whole world to know that you're my fiancée now."
"Indeed I am!" having said that Julia laughed softly and leaned toward him for a kiss.
"We are almost there" protested William yet, without much conviction.
"I know. I just want one more kiss from my handsome fiancé..."
William and Julia passed a few constables who were surprised to see the couple on the Station at such a late hour.
"George, could you please call and check if Dr. Grace is still in the morgue? If she is, tell her to come here directly" said Murdoch just before entering his office.
"Right away, sir."
William closed the door and pulled the blinds down.
"Now, Julia" he said reaching into his drawer and bringing out a silver box "It has been waiting for you ever since you left to Buffalo. Even hidden in my drawer it was always yours and only yours." Murdoch opened the box and took the ring in his hands "And now let me put this ring where it always meant to be."
For a few seconds Julia was too touched to say anything, but after a while she managed.
"Oh William! It's so beautiful, thank you!"
"Don't thank me Julia. You have no idea how happy it makes me to finally see it on your hand."
"I believe I do" she whispered before hugging and kissing her fiancé once more.
"I think Dr. Grace has arrived. Are you ready to share our news with everybody?"
"Of course I am."
"Let's go then."
"Everyone, everyone, listen up!" called Murdoch climbing a chair "Quiet please, I've got an announcement to make!" Emily who was standing next to Julia immediately gave her an inquiring look, full of surprise.
"Pay raises all around, lads!" joked constable Higgins
"Very good!" chuckled William "Um... Dr. Julia Ogden and I intend to marry!"
There was a loud cheering from the constables and Dr. Grace hurried to see the engagement ring on Julia's hand.
"That's right, that's right. It will be very soon and you are all invited!"
"Certainly took long enough" said one of the constables under his breath
"Sir, congratulations!" exclaimed George hugging his superior and friend.
"Thank you George."
"It's wonderful!" constable Crabtree was very happy for his mentor
"Well done, sir" now it was Henry Higgins' turn to give his congratulations
"Thank you, Henry."
"Detective!" constable Jackson who has just run into the Station House; looking terrified.
"Ah, Jackson, you missed the big announcement!" Murdoch was so happy he didn't notice panic in his co-worker's voice
"Detective, you're needed."
Now William understood that something really serious must have happened. Jackson didn't say anything more, just took Detective's arm and run out the Station. The two men were followed by Dr. Grace, Dr. Ogden, constable Crabtree and a few other men. What they saw in the alley made their blood run cold. Inspector Brackenreid's body was lying still on the ground. His face was massacred and covered with blood.
"Sir!"called Murdoch
"Oh my God!" Julia was no less affected than the policemen
"Inspector!"George Crabtree voice sounded hysteric
Dr. Ogden checked Brackenreid's pulse to see if he is still alive. The ring on her left hand shone in the light of a streetlamp, but no one noticed. Everyone was just hoping that the Inspector was alive. That was the only thing that mattered at the moment.
"Sir!" shouted William
"Inspector!" repeated George
"Sir!" Murdoch was despaired now "Sir!... Julia..." the man looked at the doctor beside him imploringly "I beg you Julia, please tell me he's alive!"
"William I didn't feel the pulse.. I..." she put her hand on Inspector's neck once more
"No, no, no he can't...!"
"Wait! I can feel the heartbeat!"
"Thank you Lord" muttered Murdoch with relief.
"Quickly, fetch the carriage! We have no time to lose. He must get to the hospital immediately!" Julia commanded.
"Henry bring the carriage. George call the hospital and tell them that we're going to bring them the Inspector. Say that he's unconscious, he has been severely beaten, has broken bones and probably internal bleeding." William was himself again
"Right away, sir!"
"Now, Julia, Dr. Grace, tell me what you want me to do."
While waiting for the carriage to arrive, Detective and the two doctors tended to their friend.
"Will he live, Julia?" Murdoch was asking as if he was afraid of the answer he might get.
"I don't know, William" sighed Julia "I honestly don't know. I wish I could tell you he will be all right, but his injuries looked very serious to me. On the other hand he will not give up. He will be fighting. Now, all we can do is pray."
"I feel I could have prevented it."
"But how, William? He was on his way home, on his usual route. How possibly could you have known that someone (we don't even know who), was planning to beat him to death? You have to rest. Go home, William."
"I can't Julia. Someone has to inform Mrs. Brackenreid."
"And you want to do that?"
"It's my duty. The Inspector is my superior, and my friend. I cannot send one of the constables to do that for me, I just can't."
"Then I shall go with you."
"But Julia..."
"Don't argue with me William. I want to be there to support you. And what's more, Margaret may feel better having a woman close to her. A woman, a psychologists and a friend."
"What would have I done without you?"
"Shhhh... From now on I'll be always there for you, always."
William and Julia exchanged glances just before knocking on the door of Brackenreids' house. The task before them was difficult and unpleasant, but at least they had each other's support.
"Detective, Doctor! Please do come in, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here?" the inspector's wife opened the door herself and led her guests to the living room. "Take a seat, please, I'll order tea straight away."
"That won't be necessary Margaret" said Murdoch his voice somehow betraying his feelings. "Please, do seat down, we have to talk to you."
"It's Thomas, isn't it?" Margaret was thankful that the armchair was just behind her so she could let herself fell on it. "Is he... is he... dead?" she finally managed to whisper.
Julia immediately rushed to her side and gave the lady a handkerchief.
"No, no, Margaret, he is alive" reassured William quickly.
"Thank Goodness!"
"Although your husband had an accident... He... He was beaten and now he is in the hospital."
"Have you seen who did it?"
Murdoch just shook his head.
"But you know who he is, Thomas has told you, hasn't he?" Margaret's voice was full of panic as if she knew the answer to her question, but was still hoping to be proved wrong.
"Margaret, Thomas was beaten quite severely, he was unconscious when we found him" said Julia.
The woman just stared at her friend trying to read the answers from her face.
"I won't lie to you, because if I were you, I would like to know the truth. His injuries are of a very serious nature and even under the care of the doctors at the hospital his future is uncertain. He was alive 30 minutes ago, when we left him, but I cannot promise you, that he will survive the night."
"I must go to him!" Margaret didn't burst into tears as one could expect, but suddenly composed herself, looking very determined.
"He is unconscious, there is no way you can help him now."
"So what should I do? Sit at home and wait until they call me to say he's dead? No. I have to be near my husband. Thankfully the boys are visiting my mother at the moment, so I shall go directly."
"Let me at least escort you to the hospital, Margaret." said Murdoch.
"No thank you William. I'm grateful that you came here yourself and didn't send a constable instead, that was very good of you. Now you should go end rest, I shall be fine."
"I will take you there, if you want to go."
"Yes I do, and you can accompany me if you insist, Julia"
"Let's go then."
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