Julia awoke confused, naked and very aroused. Unfortunately she also woke up alone. It took her a few minutes to remember where she was and how she got here.

"I made tea," Murdoch said as he settled a cup of steaming tea on the bedside table. He'd taken the time to put his trousers on but not his shirt. His suspenders dangled loosely, pulling the trousers down a little so that they settled low on his hips, and there was something so quintessentially erotic in that half dressed state that affected her far more than if he'd been completely naked. Julia clenched her thighs together, hedonistically savoring the heavy ache that settled between them while she sipped her tea, surreptitiously peaking at him beneath her lashes. She promised herself that she would paint him like that one day.

"Bless you Detective. You would make someone a very good wife one day." She laughed then winced at the determined look on his face.

"Strange that you should say that," William said, shoving his hands into his pockets looking very uncomfortable. Julia knew instantly where this conversation was heading and her heart stuttered in fear.

"I was going to wait for a better time, but since you brought it up…" He stopped suddenly as Julia's face turn as white as the sheet she was wrapping around herself as she rose from the bed. She moved to the double doors that lead out onto a small balcony overlooking the garden and clutched the railing as if she her life depended on it. Murdoch's heart sank even before her next words.

"I'm never going to marry William, ever." She stated firmly. For just a moment he was sure he had misheard her, but then she turned to look at him with those sad wise eyes and he knew he'd heard correctly.

"Why?" The pain tearing up inside him was already almost unbearable, the thought of going back to living life without her at his side, in his bed, in his life, and belonging to him was ...

"You thought I left you that night to go to Darcy because I cared more for him than I did you." She turned to face him putting a small hand just over his heart.

"It was in fact quite the opposite. I owed Darcy a lot more than just my time. I treated him very poorly, I agreed to marry him knowing full well my heart belonged wholly and completely to another."

Murdoch scowled at her but covered her hand with his, "just enlighten me, is it usual to express your undying love by marrying someone else?"

Julia sighed and leaning into him rested her head against his chest. "It is if you want the person you love to have everything you can not give them yourself." She said softly.

William put her from him holding her by the shoulders, "I'll thank you for my part in your martyrdom but decline, I just want you," there was such sorrow mixed with the anger in his eyes it broke her heart a little bit more.

"You have me, undeniably in every way," Julia said, carefully taking a step back out of his grasp, she knew he would not react well to what she was about to say.

"Just not as a wife. I will be your friend, your colleague and I will be your mistress." She looked him square in the eye when she said the last, refusing to be shamed or cowed by her choice.

William snarled, turned and walked back into the house. She watched him pace up and down for five minutes, every line in his body shouting fury, then she followed him inside and settled on the bed waiting.

"Tell me if I understood you correctly," he snapped, still pacing up and down. He was making her dizzy with it, "everything stays the way it is but for the fact that you will share my bed as my mistress?" He looked over to her in question and she nodded, "that is until I find someone I wish to marry and start a family with?" He stopped again waiting for her nod, which she gave, though slightly slower and more reluctantly given.

He stopped his pacing and stood directly in front of her, glaring.

"And then?" it was asked softly as he leant over her, his face inches from hers, he crowding her back until she was sprawled on her elbows with him nearly on top of her. Then he lowered himself slowly until his body pressed into hers and she had to fight to remember to breath never mind think.

"What happens then Julia, do you…" he pushed a knee between her thighs gently urging her legs wider apart until he was nestled against her, "… leave quietly to go your merry way?" he pushed up against her, Julia's hips tilted up almost on their own accord and she whimpered.

Murdoch's upper body was still braced above her and she tried desperately to pull him down to her, the sheet she'd wrapped around herself was already half unravelled and her breasts ached for his touch. He reached down between them and released himself from his trousers, pushing the remaining sheet out of the way.

"Or do you continue to warm my bed whenever my wife is indisposed to fulfil her wifely duties?" he said that on a snarled hiss as he drove into her in one powerful thrust.

Julia arched up and screamed his name, one long ecstatic cry that drove all thought from his mind and dragged him into insanity. He forgot to be gentle, he forgot to be tender, all he knew was an overpowering need to conquer, to brand his very essence into hers, force her to acknowledge that she belonged to him, just as he would always belong to her. Over and over he drove into her, each thrust pushed her up the bed only to be yanked back down onto him with his bruising grip on her thighs, never once letting up on the punishing rhythm. Julia's hands clawed at his chest, begging him to go deeper, faster.

"Look at me!" He growled, and when she did not open her eyes he stopped dead ignoring the nails burrowing into his chest.

"Look at me Julia!" He ordered through clenched teeth. Julia opened her eyes and focused on him. "I am not some noble fantasy in your head, or some young lad that you need to care for, and I won't be your convenient plaything."

She looked dazed and confused, but there was a frown on her face and the beginnings of comprehension. She stopped trying to get him to move, she would have moved away from him then but his hold on her thighs tightened and he ground himself inside her. She gasped and froze, but stayed focused on him. He could see her amazing mind working as she processed what had passed and knew the moment she realized what he'd said.

The legs that had been trying to urge him along snapped back and she kicked him so hard he had to let her go or risk both of them landing on the floor. By the time he'd recovered she was standing beside the bed and all he could do was stare as he tucked himself back into his pants. She was beyond spectacular, the word that kept jumping into his head was blasphemous but he could not stop thinking it. Gloriously naked, her hair cascading down her back, her breasts heaving with barely contained rage, and her eyes blazing with lethal fire, she was a Goddess.

And he was an idiot.

It dawned on him too late that he had just insured that Julia would never marry him, in fact he'd be lucky if she ever spoke to him again.

"Julia…" his voice trailed off as she threw up her hand, but it was more the tears in her eyes that made him sink into remorseful silence.

He watched tongue tied as she pulled the sheet back around her body, and swooping up what she could of her scattered clothing disappeared into the wash room.

He seldom lost his temper or his control, and now in a short space of time he'd lost both of them.

"Terrance and Trent Derby's alibi has been confirmed sir. They were both at Miss Anne's on the night Lizzy Bennet was murdered," George met him with as he walked into the precinct the next morning. He nodded his thanks, and headed into his office.

"And Serge?"

"Nothing on the phantom either Sir, no one seems to know where he comes from or where he goes, just that he appears every now and again, runs a few errands and then disappears again." George said, Murdoch did not make comment on the Phantom reference; George had been reading again, his imaginative ability to match fiction to the ugly facts of their job always lightened his mood, except this time.

"Look into Madam Tasha, I have a feeling we missed something there," Murdoch ordered.

To say his head was not in his job right then would have been an understatement. Julia had returned out of his washroom fully dressed and ready to go. Since she was still in danger, he'd forbidden her from going anywhere without either an escort or in his company. Something she chose to completely ignore until he'd threatened to lock her in a closet if she did not wait for him to dress and take her home. She'd stood by the stairs and waited for him, sat beside him in the carriage and let him escort her to her front door all without uttering one word, and as usual when it really mattered he could not find the words, or get them out.

Now he sat at his desk staring at nothing and wondering how he was going to get her to forgive him, and even harder put aside that ridiculous mistress twaddle and marry him.

"I hear your suspects alibied out?" Brackenreid's ability to state the obvious had never irritated him as much as it did at that moment.

"The Derby's have yes, but there is another possible suspect that I can't find yet," he sighed, Brackenreid studied him for a moment then propped himself up on the edge of Murdoch's desk.

"His name is Serge and I am almost positive he is one of the killers but we are having a problem tracking him down, and even less luck trying to figure out who his accomplice is."

"Now normally I would find that astounding. You not coming up with a plan, a gadget or a theory? Impossible. However considering I know what's been going on in your personal life, I am not surprised, so I will just say this…" he took a sip of his drink and placed the empty glass on Murdoch's desk.

"You have picked up the slack for me here on more than one occasion me old chum, so I will return the favour. Take some time, go and get Doctor Ogden and sort out whatever is needed to get both your heads back to the job."

He didn't know who was more surprised, Brackenreid or himself when he rose, took his hat and headed towards the door. The truth of it was he would never be able to think clearly until he'd convinced Julia that she was wrong and made her agree to marry him.

Murdoch had just swung his leg over his bike when the ground started shaking and a deafening roar shattered the windows above him. He dropped the bike and dove against a woman holding a small child, driving them both back against the wall and used his body to cover them from the raining glass.

It took moments that felt like an eternity. When the glass and shaking stopped he stepped back and looked around. There was a fog of dust and glass everywhere, but the precinct stood intact. The young woman cradling her son was speaking to him, but he hardly heard them. His mind was calculating and evaluating, something had shaken the city and it did not feel like an earthquake.

"Sir, thank goodness, we thought the worst." George called as he came running out the door.

"Is everyone inside alright?" Murdoch asked.

"A few bruises from things falling off the cupboards, but other wise fine."

Murdoch put a gentle hand on the young woman's arm and urged her towards Crabtree, "the constable will take you inside and see to contacting your family," he urged her nodding to George.

"Get the men into the street, people will be injured in the buildings and streets needing help, and send someone out to find out what happened." He ordered, "I have to go to Julia," he said as he turned and started running, he did not want to even take the time to unearth his bicycle.

The front of the Coroners office had suffered minor damage from a cart that had smashed through the doors, nearby residence and fire fighters were putting out the small blaze. Murdoch did not see Julia in the crowd of people being evacuated out of the building and flashing his badge he ran inside. She was not in her office and he felt his heart do a painful thump, the place was a shambles, bodies falling out of the fridges and the floor covered in broken glass and chemicals.

"Stay up there, some of the stuff mixing together on this floor is lethal." She called from the opposite end of the lab. She had a handkerchief over her lower face and was sweeping a long broom across the floor, scattering what looked like beach sand as she went.

"I wanted to see if you were alright." He shouted, and the winced at the mundaneness of that statement, obviously that was why he was there.

"Mission accomplished Detective." She said coolly, and he realized neither hell nor earthquakes would defuse Julia Ogden when she was this angry.

"Julia please," was all he could think of saying, he was about to step over to her regardless of the consequences when someone came running in behind him, he put out an arm and halted Darcy's steps.

"Chemical danger on the ground Doctor," he said by way of explanation. Darcy nodded and stopped where he was.

"There has been an accident in the subway tunnel they are building under the city, there are injured down there and we need all doctors and nurses on site," he said. Then turned to Murdoch, "I imagine they will be wanting you down there as well Detective."

Murdoch ignored him his eyes on Julia, "something big has happened Julia and I have no idea of the danger involved for the medical personnel, I think you should …"

"I would never let anything happen to her Detective, but we must hurry." Darcy snapped.

"Then by all means go. I would however prefer Doctor Ogden waited until I have the chance to assess the danger and then escort her there myself," he told him firmly. Darcy turned on him with a menacing frown, and Murdoch pulled himself up straighter, he might be a smaller man in stature, but he more than made up for it in strength.

"Detective I thank you for your concern for my safety, but I really do not have the time for it," Julia's voice came from behind them and they both spun around in surprise. While they had been engrossed in each other Julia had dressed and packed her doctor bag.

"Darcy I am going, kindly show me where."

"Julia…"

She gave Murdoch a look that would have frozen flames and walked out the door without another word, Darcy hurrying after her. Murdoch's fists clenched in helpless rage. It was one thing to love a woman with a strong will, treasure her indomitable strength and be awed by her amazing mind, but it was quite another to stand there useless as she placed herself in mortal danger. He hurried out after them, intent on hauling Julia back bodily if he had to, but they were already lost in the crowd of people out in the street, some dazed and in shock and some just curious.

The dust and smoke was so thick it was impossible to get an overall impression of the fall out area, but the little he did see of it was enough. The tunnel had collapsed in leaving a large deep crater in the centre of the public road. A small hospital tent had been erected mere feet from the edge, something Murdoch found worrisome and what worried him even more was he could not see Julia in it.

"It's about time you got here Murdoch, Chief Stockton is looking for you. It appears no one has any idea what the protocols are in a situation like this."

Murdoch nodded and didn't say what was on his mind, namely that if the leaders of the town had no idea what to do, why did everyone think he would?

"Sir, have we discovered what caused this collapse?" He asked Brackenreid as they moved towards the hospital tent and the congestion of police gathering there.

"They think it might have been an explosion, though whether it was a blast accident or sabotage we do not yet know. The only answers to that are down there in that hole, and we are still trying to get to the survivors." Brackenreid's words were cut off as a large section of the ground close to the hospital tent broke away and slid into the crater, there was screaming and panic both from the onlookers and the police.

"I think the first thing we should do is move that tent and everyone near the edge further away," Murdoch said pointing to the crowds of people, Brackenreid nodded and turned towards the gathering crowd.

"You there, don't just stand around like ninnies, find out who's in charge of that tent and get them to move it, and for goodness sakes get some bloody builders in here to stabilize that ground. No good trying to find survivors if you end up buried alive along with them!" Brackenreid roared, shoving his way through the frightened men. They took one look at him and scurried to do as he ordered.

"Ahh Murdoch, about time you showed up." Chief Stockton' simpering voice made the hair stand up on the back of Murdoch's neck, but he pasted on a bland look as he turned to face his boss.

"Sir?"

"I need answers Murdoch, and Thomas swears you are the man to find them." the tone of his voice said clearly that he had doubts.

Murdoch turned to look down into the deep crater, the dust was starting to settle and he could see a little more, but it was mostly just rubble.

"Sir I would suggest that until we do know what caused this, we should go by the worst case possibilities," seeing Stockton's confused frown Murdoch quickly continued, "which would be sabotage, if we treat this as sabotage then we must assume who ever is responsible is not finished yet and we must act accordingly."

Stockton's eyes narrowed but he waved Murdoch on, "and what would that act be?"

"We evacuate every building that this line runs under, seal off all access to the tunnel not connected with the rescue, and start searching it for incendiary devices and anyone lurking."

Stockton nodded and puffed himself up as he headed towards the activity, Murdoch was relieved to see they were already evacuating the tent and preparing to move it.

"I thought I would find you here Detective Murdoch, it has been a while."

Murdoch fought hard not to groan out loud as Ruby Ogden moved up beside him, he turned and doffed his hat.

"Miss Ogden, this is not a safe place to be at the moment," he started, and then winced, Ruby wrote for a newspaper, safe was not what she looked for.

"I came to check on my sister. I thought she would be in the thick of it, though I did think she might be in it with you," she gave Murdoch a little smile and he tried hard not to snarl at her.

Ruby Ogden was trouble. First class trouble wrapped in a pretty little package. He truly believed that women did have the right to be treated with more equality, and certainly with more respect, but there were some things he felt were still best left to men, and putting yourself into impossibly dangerous situations for a story was most definitely one of them.

"You have that disapproving look on your face again Detective, you seem to get it often around me." Rudy said with that flirty little tilt of her face.

"If you want to be of help Miss, I suggest you go over to the hospital tent, I am sure there is plenty for you to do there…."

The world shook again, and there was another deafening roar, Ruby stumbled into Murdoch and he fought to keep them both upright. The dust rose and filled their lungs, choking them. William pulled his jacket up to their faces as they tried to stagger away. When the rumbling stopped just as suddenly as it had started, they both turned to look towards the crater.

Even through the cloud of dust they could see what had been a deep hole in the ground with firemen's ladders and lamps strung up on ropes going down, was now a shallow dip filled with rubble. The three-storied mansion that had bordered the disaster area had fallen in and filled the hole.

"Julia!" Murdoch groaned running towards the crater, fear, anger, helplessness raging through him, one emotion overlapping the other. Ruby grabbed his arm, halting him a split second before another massive part of the ground in front of them slid into the crevice.

"William stop. We don't know she was down there. I am sure she's in the hospital tent." Ruby called, tugging at his arm. His head whipped around and he blinked at her, her words giving him a hope he clung to like a drowning man.

Holding onto each other like frightened children in the dark, they raced as fast as the uneven ground would allow them towards the slightly damaged and lopsided tent.

"Darcy!" Ruby shouted releasing Williams arm and running towards the tall dusty figure hunched over a stretcher.

"Darcy where is Julia?" She asked as he rose and turned to her, the look on his face was enough and Murdoch stopped in his tracks, he did not need to hear his reply.

"I'm sorry Ruby, so very sorry." Darcy said trying to offer her comfort, but Ruby pushed him away with a loud "No!"

She grabbed his shirt front in her fists and glared at him with a veracious fury that reminded him so much of Julia he felt his knee's shake.

"Don't you dare say it Darcy, Where ever Julia is, she is still very much alive. I would have felt it otherwise, now tell me where was she before the cave in?" She roared at him. Darcy looked down at her with pitying eyes, but Murdoch felt something inside him respond to her words. His mind that had been screaming in panicked circles, until that moment. She had to be alive, even thinking otherwise would give in to the darkness that threatened to drain the will out of him.

"Where did she go, she was supposed to be with you!" He demanded stepping closer. There was no threat in his stance, but Darcy still took a step back while Ruby placed herself squarely between them.

"Look around you Detective, do you really think that she would stay glued to my side when so many need her help?" Darcy asked. Murdoch shoved Ruby closer to Darcy a warning look in his eyes.

"Try not to loose her too," he snapped, then swivelled on his heels and took off at a sprint towards the crater. Brackenreid and George were already there.

"Doctor Ogden was down in the hole sir, I am so sorry." George said as Murdoch came within hearing, he was filthy and his uniform was torn and bloody.

"Where?" Murdoch shot tossing off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, he lead them a little further away from the hole. His mind screamed her name at him, but he beat it back forcing himself to focus on what he needed to do to save her.

"We think she might have been in the actual tunnel. The constable who saw her go heard the firemen say there were wounded back deeper in the tunnels that could not be moved until a doctor treated them." Brackenreid answered that as he watched Murdoch beckon to a group of shocked servants watching from what was left of the street. They came towards him hesitantly.

"Get tables and chairs, set them up here. We need refreshments, water and medical supplies for light injuries. We also need lamps," Murdoch ordered. The two footmen nodded and jumped to do as bid, but stopped when they had no idea which direction to go in.

"I don't care where you get them from just get them," Brackenreid roared seeing their confusion. At his bellow the two stable hands took off after the footmen.

"George I need you to find as many constables, firemen and rescue workers as you can and bring them here. This will be our command centre, the point where all rescue operations are coordinated from," he looked around with narrowed eyes.

"Sir I need to know exactly where she went," Murdoch faced his boss with all the pain and hope in his eyes. Brackenreid nodded and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.

"I still have the plans for the tunnels in my office from when they wanted to make me Alderman. I will have them brought here," he said as Henry hobbled towards them, he was using a broken chair as a cane and his foot was wrapped in bandages up to the knee.

"The firemen say they think that there are survivors down in the tunnels, but it we have no way of getting to them," Henry told them as got closer, by the shattered look in his eyes Murdoch new he was talking about Julia.

"We can just follow the tunnel from the beginning," Murdoch said, but Henry shook his head.

"They were on the wrong side of the tunnel, sir I am sorry, but that was the reason they lowered Doctor Ogden down into the hole. The survivors on the other side were taken out through the entrance, it was the diggers and workers on the other side that needed the most help."

Murdoch paced in circles, the same circles his mind was taking. When Henry apologized for the third time he turned and roared like a wounded beast, his cry freezing everyone as it carried over the noise of panic and pain.