The road less travelled

Chapter 2

At Jez Redfern the Huntress's request/review, I have given Julia a new back story to spice things up. But don't worry; I stayed true to the established character of Julia!

Julia was finally satisfied with her new office formation; everything was where she wanted it. Everything, that is except of a few of her medicines which had gotten lost in shipping. They were due to be delivered any day now.

Julia was rearranging some of the morgue's own medicine cache when she heard footsteps echoing down the hallway. She turned to see Detective Murdoch holding a rather large box.

"Good morning Detective. What can I do for you?" Julia asked politely. William came down the ramp and held out the box.

"I believe this is yours. It was dropped off at my office earlier this morning." Julia took the box from him and moved across the room to set it on the workbench. She noticed the sealant had been broken almost immediately and frowned slightly.

"I'm terribly sorry that I opened the box. I thought the package was something I had ordered several months ago. I didn't realize that it wasn't meant for me until after I had opened it." Julia turned the box over carefully and point to the mailing address that clearly had her name on it.

"Did you not notice the label?" She asked. Instantly the Detective blushed.

"I must admit I was rather excited to receive my package and did not bother to check the label." Julia smiled brightly.

"Well in that case Detective, you are forgiven." William smiled back at her.

"Why thank you Doctor. I promise it will never happen again." Julia chuckled.

"Never say never Detective." She replied coyly. The detective raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He simply put on his hat and tipped it, leaving the morgue. Julia's eyes followed the young detective until he was out of sight. As Julia took her medicines and arranged them at the work bench she tried to return her heart rate to normal. As much as she hated to admit it, she was smitten. She was smitten with Detective Murdoch. As a child, Julia always hated the damsels in her fairy tales that let themselves become so wrapped up in their princes or knights in shining armour that they physically could do nothing all day but think of them. But here she was becoming one of them. After she promised herself she would never do that again. At that thought Julia brought her hand up to her cheek, letting her finger ghost over the skin where the long since faded bruise used to be.

Julia walked up the front steps of her fiancé's home, excitement flowing through her. She had managed to get several days off after many months of long workdays and late nights. Julia hadn't spent any actual time with Percy in weeks and she was looking forward to being with him. Julia used the key he had given her to get into the house. She knew that Percy would be at his office and so Julia set to work, planning to surprise him. Julia was not one for cooking but she knew enough to make Percy's favourite meal, Shepard's pie. She headed to the kitchen to start preparing the food when she heard a creaking sound come from upstairs followed by a muffled noise. Julia's brow creased in confusion; Percy wasn't supposed to be home. She walked into the main foyer and waited to see if she heard the noise again. Moments later, there it was again. Julia walked up the stairs quietly and then down hall, stopping at Percy's bedroom door. The sounds continued and Julia hesitated. She wasn't stupid and judging by the sounds coming from the room Julia knew what she would find on the other side of the door. A part of her wanted to turn away and leave the house to pretend that none of this was happening. But Julia knew that she had to know and so she reached for the door handle and threw open the door.

There in his bed was Percy, but he was not alone. Sharing the bed with him was a blonde woman. It was obvious what they were doing and for a moment Julia just stared at them.

"Percy…" The word escaped her throat and came out in strangled gasp that was just loud enough to be heard by the couple in the bed. They both gasped and shot up and away from each other.

"Julia!" Percy cried. "You are meant to be at work!" He jumped out of bed and used a sheet to cover himself as he reached for his robe. He wrapped it around himself and tossed the sheet back on the bed. The woman, which Julia now recognized as Ada, Percy's neighbor, desperately reached for the thick sheet and covered herself with it, eyes scanning the room for her clothes.

"I got the afternoon off as well the next few days. I was going to surprise you." Julia said flatly. Ada got off the bed and scrambled forward until she was at Julia's feet. It was at that moment that Julia noticed the heap of clothing sitting at her feet. The woman looked up at Julia with fearful eyes.

"Doctor Ogden, I am so sor-"

"Get out. Now." Julia said quietly, her voice as cold as ice as she stared at Percy. Ada grabbed her clothes and darted out of the room. Percy took a step forward, reaching out to Julia but Julia raised a hand to stop him and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Finally, after a moment had passed, she let go of the breath.

"Just…tell me why." She asked, opening her eyes to look at Percy. Percy huffed.

"You do not get to be angry with me." He warned. In that moment, Julia lost all sense of calm.

"I do not get the right to be angry with you?! Percy, I just caught you in bed with another woman! You and I are promised to each other and you tell me I have no right to be angry with you?!" She cried, anger pouring out of her.

"You are never here! You are my fiancée and I should be able to court you whenever I please, not when it's convenient to your work schedule!" Percy roared. Julia took a sharp intake of breath; now all the cards were on the table.

"I save lives, Percy. I'm sorry that it does not follow a nine to five work schedule but I am a doctor and you know this!" Julia paused before speaking quietly, "You used to say that was what you loved about me; that I was doctor." Percy sighed deeply.

"I did love that about you. But now that we are engaged…"

"What?!" She asked hotly.

"I expected you to give up your work when we got engaged."

"What?" Julia whispered in disbelief. "Why would you expect such a thing?" Percy shrugged.

"Because that is what most women do!" He sighed and rubbed his temple. "I should have listened to Charles…" He whispered.

"Oh really? And what did Charles have to say?"

"He told me that this would happen! That there was no way to tame you! Markus bet that once I got you engaged you would settle down and I listened to him! I believed him when I should believed Charles!" Julia felt her mouth drop open.

"Tame? Tame?! I am no wild animal!" Julia screamed. Then it hit her. "Bet?" She exclaimed in disbelief. "Your friends bet on our relationship?" Percy looked down at his feet. "Did you ever bet on our relationship?" When he refused to look at her Julia knew she had her answer. "You bet on our relationship. For how long?" Percy looked up but aimed his gaze at the wall.

"Since the beginning. At first it was betting that you wouldn't look twice at me. I even bet against myself, you had such a higher standing in the community…then the bets got more adventurous." Julia put a hand to her mouth and shook her head.

"I can't believe this…" She looked at him and locked him in her gaze. "You are not the person I thought you were…" Percy rushed forward and placed his hands on Julia's shoulders.

"And I am so sorry about that; about all of this. But Julia, I promise you, it will never happen again. Any of it; the betting, the sleeping around, none of it will ever happen again." Julia nodded slowly.

"You're right, it won't." She paused. "It won't because…because we're done." Percy took in her words and released her, shaking his head over and over.

"No, no, no, it's not. I have too much riding on this Julia, to let this end now." Julia let out a strained laugh.

"Oh really?"

"Yes!" Cried Percy. "My father has cut me off and I stand to lose my place in our societal circles if we don't get married!"

"If you do not let me out of this engagement, I will tell everyone about your adulterous ways and then you shall truly be ruined!" Julia challenged.

"You witch!" Percy moved forward so quickly that Julia didn't have time to move. By the time she registered what was happening, Percy's fist had connected with her face. Julia was sent reeling backward and towards the dresser. Pain exploded across her cheek and Julia grasped at her face. Her body crashed into the dresser and Julia let out an anguished cry. Instantly Percy was at her side, helping her up.

"Julia, I am so sorry…I lost my temper…" Julia pushed herself away from Percy, holding her cheek, eyes wide with fear as she took in ragged breaths.

"You should be sorry, Percy; you have just condemned this relationship. I never want to see you again." She pulled off her engagement ring and threw it at Percy. It bounced off his chest and landed on the floor with a ping.

"Julia…" Percy reached for her and Julia stepped away from him.

"If you come anywhere near me ever again, I will call the police." With that Julia left the room, rushing down the stairs and out of the house.

At the memory of that day, Julia felt her heart ache. She had promised herself that day that she would never let her heart be capture by another ever again. But here she was falling for Detective Murdoch. Julia sighed and looked over at the spot where William had stood. The Detective was so nice and sweet. Surely he couldn't hurt her? Surely he wouldn't hurt her like Percy did? Perhaps, Julia decided, she would open her heart up to Detective Murdoch, just this once.