The house was silent in St Kalbi, Melbourne as they slept, the horror of a few hours before forgotten; the morning sunlight swept through the curtains and everything looked at peace. Jack laid with his hands tightly wrapped around Phryne's body as she curled into his side, both long gone, nothing could disturb their slumber.
Or so they thought.
"AHHHHHH! NO STOP IT! GO AWAY, LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Jack shot up in bed and looked around in alarm, next to him Phryne was wide awake.
"JANE?" they called in unison as they both launched of their bed and into Jane's room next door.
The sight they saw tour their hearts apart. Jane was thrashing around in bed, horror and pain etched on to her face, sheets tangled around her body tightly.
"Jack hold her still," Phryne instructed as the tossing and turning will not help her injuries especially her head trauma. Jack quickly obliged holding her legs and arms firmly but gently.
"Shh you're okay, you're okay," Phryne soothed her as she tried to wake her from her nightmare.
"AHHH" Jane carried on screaming in her sleep and was not reacting to either of them trying to wake her.
Mr. Butler ran into the room already dressed for the day, obviously alerted from the kitchen when Jane screamed. Phryne ignored him as she tried to wake Jane but Jack looked at him with a look of utter helplessness. Mr. B quickly took over holding Jane still and turned to Jack, "Talk to her Sir. Both of you talk to her."
"Jane, you're okay. Come on wake up," he said gently shaking her shoulder slightly as Phryne did on the other side. Jane's thrashing stopped but her whimpering didn't, "That's it, come on open those beautiful eyes."
Jane woke with a large scream as she launched up right in bed, she looked confused for a second before clutching her head tightly in her hands and crying out in pain. Phryne rocked her back and forth soothingly and whispered gently words into her ear.
"Mr. B could you…" Jack called out but already saw Mr. B stood in the door way with Jane's pain medication and a glass of water, "Mr. B you're a Saint."
Jack took the glass and pill from Mr. B and handed them to Jane who quickly took them, swallowed them, before laying back down on the bed. They all stood in silence for a minute before a knock was heard from downstairs and Mr. B excused himself to get it. When he returned, he had a grave look on his face and instead off re-joining them he stayed stationary in the doorway.
"Inspector, can I have a worried please," Mr. B asked quietly.
Jack looked over to Phryne and saw she was completely oblivious to Mr. B's return and he gave him a small nod before quietly joining him outside. Once the door was closed behind them Mr. B thrusted a note into the Inspectors hand and spoke in urgent whispers.
"It was under the front door, Sir."
The Inspector brow frowned as he turned the paper over and saw in paper cut out letters.
'How's dear Jane?'
"What on earth is this?" Jack spoke urgently, "Did you see anything?"
"No sir, I opened the door and walked out when I saw the note but the street was abandoned. No one was there."
"I believe you Mr. B," he assured the older man, "we must keep this away from Phryne."
"Keep what from me," a voice called from behind them.
Both men jumped at the sound of the voice and quickly spun to face Phryne; Jack stashed the note behind his back and Mr. B slowly edged away from the pair and back down the stairs to leave them alone.
"Jack!" Phryne warned.
"It's nothing Miss Fischer."
"Well if it's nothing, then what are you hiding behind your back?"
Before Jack could react, Phryne yanked the piece of paper out from his hand. He watched as the colour drained from her face, tears well in her eyes and her hands shake as she held the note. She stared up at him with so many emotions in her eyes and he had no way of comforting her as he himself struggled with what the note meant.
"Who would send this? Who would harm Jane?" Her voice trembling with every word.
"I don't know Phryne but I'll find out I promise," he held onto her for dear life as she silently cried in fear, "why don't you go downstairs for some breakfast and I'll head to the station to see what Collins has found?"
"No I'm okay, I'll come with you," she replied strongly as he smoothed her hair down.
"Phryne," Jack sighed, "Jane needs you right now. She needs her mother not a private detective."
Phryne shoulders dropped in defeat as she knew Jack was right. Right now she needed to be a mother not a detective, for a change she would have to leave it up to the Inspector to get to the end of this and she knew he will. If one thing is for sure about Detective Inspector Jack Robinson is no-one harms his family and gets away with it. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading downstairs to Mr. B.
Jack waited in the hall to make sure she actually went downstairs before composing himself and slipping back inside Jane's room. Jane was laid back down in bed and look to be fast asleep so he quietly went over and kissed her head but as he went to pull away a small bandaged hand weakly clutched his wrist.
"I don't want you to go," Jane said quietly as her eyes fluttered back open, "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Hey, what did I promise you when Phryne was away. I'll always come back no matter what."
"I'm sorry," she whimpered out, "this is all my fault."
"Hey hey this isn't your fault Jane," he said strongly as he held her in his arms, "none of this your fault and I will do anything to protect you, you know that right?"
Jane just nodded against his chest.
"I've got to go to the station but I'll be back tonight," he said gently as he lowered her back down onto the bed, "get some rest Jane."
Jack kissed her head again before slipping back out the room. As the door closed behind him Jack filled with anger and quickly changed clothes and speed off to the station before his anger got the better of him.
Short filler chapter, but don't worry a certain Miss. Sanderson is making a reappearance next chapter.
You know the deal! I got some amazing comments last chapter, you guys are the best!
Heidi x
