Jean wasn't sure she was ready for this conversation and took a deep breath as she considered her response.
"Fiona, I meant to tell you, after you fully recovered from your injuries." She looked at her with some concern. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm quite sore but all the vital bits are working again." Fiona noticed Jean's apprehension. "You don't need to be uncomfortable. My parents told me about you."
Jean felt her heart pounding.
"Did they?"
"Yes. You showed up just in time to donate the blood I needed. Fancy you and I both having the same rare type."
"Yes, fancy that. Did your parents say anything else about me?"
"No, should they have? You didn't give me a kidney or anything did you?"
"No." I would if you needed one.
"Maybe, we could have a catch up ma'am, after I'm released from hospital."
"Yes, Fiona, that would be nice. You don't have to call me ma'am. You can call me…"
"Innocent? Yes, I always found that to be such a suitable name for you, what with you being such a stickler for police procedure." Fiona yawned. "Sorry, it's the pain medicine, makes me tired and apt to say odd things."
"No need to apologize. I'll go now and let you get some rest."
"Thanks Mmm…" Fiona's eyes closed before she could finish.
Laura ran her hands up and down her body. She had some minor bruises otherwise there were no physical injuries.
"Robbie, why am I still here? I want to go home."
Robbie was prepared for her questions.
"Your doctor wants you to see someone to make sure you are okay, not just physically, you know the other."
She knew what Robbie meant.
"When you say someone, you mean a psychiatrist?"
"Um, yes. You've been through an ordeal and there may be some things you need help remembering."
"What I do remember is bad enough. Why should I want to know more?"
He took her hand. "It's important, Laura. And the Dr. Hobson I know and love always wants all the facts."
"Well someone who doesn't know me isn't going to be able to help me remember."
"They found someone who does know you."
There was a knock on the door and then the massive head and grizzled face of Dr. Angus Rawbone appeared. "All right if I come in?"
"Yes, come in Angus." Laura scrunched up her face connecting the dots. "You're my psychiatrist?"
"If you have no objections, Dr. Hobson."
Robbie left them to talk and went out into the hall.
Rawbone sat down in the chair by the bed and said hello. They exchanged a few work related comments as though everything was normal. He had no intention of following Dr. Gansa's advice to strenuously question Laura. Knowing that there was no physical damage to her brain and that she had been sleeping quite a lot, he suspected that her subconscious had been active. After a few general questions about how she was feeling he acted on a hunch.
"Laura, have you had any unexpected visitors since you've been here at the hospital?"
She fixed her eyes on Rawbone deciding whether or not to confide in him.
"Angus, Morse was here to see me."
"Morse? He still owes me for some drinks." Rawbone paused. "Did he say why he came?"
She told him.
Later Rawbone went out in the hall where Robbie had been anxiously waiting. Rawbone nodded at him.
"Lewis, you need to find a copy of this manuscript for Laura." He handed Robbie a piece of paper. "Now I'm off to have some lunch."
Robbie looked at Rawbone's barely decipherable doctor's scribble on the paper.
Herodotus' History of the Persian War
What the hell is that? He called James to find out.
"It's an ancient Greek manuscript."
"Thanks James." He hung up without explaining and went back in to spend the rest of his time with Laura until Bradley Hobson arrived. Then Robbie went to visit an aging academic.
Brad settled into the chair next to Laura with his IPad. Together they looked at photographs from their childhood. Laura had no trouble remembering any of the people or events. One image seemed to trouble her. Brad had won a junior chess tournament and was presented with a basket of gifts and a trophy. Not wanting Laura to feel left out he allowed her to pick something from the basket for herself. In the photo is six year old Laura, standing on her toes, reaching up into the basket to claim her prize.
"I was happy you chose that. At the ripe old age of eleven, I felt much too mature for it."
"I loved it…" Suddenly Laura's eyes filled with tears.
"I know you did. Years later, when I came back from my first year of college, you had lost it." Brad reached over and put his arm around her. "I looked all over the shops and couldn't find another one like it."
"You felt so bad you bought me an Apex Practitioner Microscope."
"Well, you were no longer a small girl, you were an aspiring scientist."
"I loved that microscope too Brad. You've always been a great big brother." She looked at him appreciatively. "I don't like to admit that I need one."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It will be our secret Laura."
She punched him lightly in the stomach. "You better not tell anyone or the whole world will find out what happened when you tried to ride a horse."
"I'm just happy there is no video evidence you can share." He laughed.
"This was fun, going down memory lane. Thanks Brad." Now I need to remember forward.
Once again James was waiting outside Laura's room, a bag on the floor by his feet. Brad told him that following Dr. Rawbone's recommendation, he and Laura revisited their shared childhood.
"James, once Laura is better, I'd like it if we could get to know each other. Carole and I hope you will come visit and meet the rest of the family, your family if you want us."
All James could do was nod before he went into Laura's room. Brad understood. He had seen Laura do the same thing when trying not to get emotional.
"Hi Laura."
"James, I'm always happy to see you but aren't you supposed to be working?"
"I've got a few days due me."
"So does Robbie. He said Innocent is letting him use up time on the books."
James sat down and put the bag on the floor.
Laura studied his face as if she was trying to memorize each detail.
"Have I thanked you for saving me from the twins?"
"Yeah, you did, and it wasn't necessary."
She shook her head.
"The things I can't remember. You were there for them too, weren't you?"
He nodded.
"James do you mind if we don't play chess this time; I'm a bit tired."
"That's fine. I brought a book you might like. I could read to you."
"That would be nice."
James started reading Patrick O'Brian's biography of Sir Joseph Banks, the English naturalist who went on an expedition to the South Pacific aboard the HMS Endeavour with James Cook. Laura fell asleep just after James described their observations of the June 1769 transit of Venus across the sun.
Robbie was meeting with Professor Margaret Gold at her office in college.
A young woman came in and handed her a folder. "Ah, here we are; a translated copy of Herodotus' History of the Persian War. Is it for a case, Inspector Lewis?"
"Something far more important. Thanks Professor."
After Laura fell asleep James pulled out his phone and started searching for an ancient Greek manuscript.
