CAMPBELL

Settled in the gallery, I waited. A bit impatiently if I was being honest, debriefing with Grace was to be the highlight of my day so far. Watching her wander up the steps into the room it wasn't hard for anyone to see why either. She looked lovely in the faded green dress. I waited, keeping composed so as not to look too eager for her report.

Her steps were confident, stopping just in front of a large ivory bust, "I've been offered a position with them. Small book keeping and observation making for now."

"I'm happy to hear of it, but it still gives me concern for you." I straighten my back, turning myself towards another sculpture.

"I told him my mind…how I expect to be treated. I believe I've set him straight." She gritted her teeth, whether out of frustration or fear I wasn't sure.

"I'm given to believe he quite enjoys your company…"The words like poison from my mouth, hoping bitterly they weren't reciprocated.

She turned on me quickly bending her head for more discretion, "I've only done as I see fit to ensure my trust by him."

Sighing, I smiled most comfortingly in her direction, "I know. You are a most vital component, I just worry for you."

ANN

The morning was cool, and the sun even managed to beat the dust cloud that normally gathered over the town. It was a relatively quiet Saturday morning. I sat at the small kitchen table upstairs, blank pages in front of me. I ought to write home, then again I ought to do lots of things. Words didn't appear, no matter how I might will the words to mind. I picked up the pen and wrote the first and most important thing to be said…I'm so very sorry.

I'm so very sorry. Time it seems slips away from me here. I know I said I'd

write when I was settled. I miss you, all of you. My greatest disappointment

is being that I was not able to be there for Matthew's funeral. My second

greatest for not feeling guiltier about choosing to remain in Europe. I enjoy

my time here, I feel called here to this town…

BANG, BANG, BANG

The suddenness of the knocking made my hand slip and my writing smudge. Cursing under my breath I sat my pen aside to answer the door. BANG, BANG, BANG

"I coming!" shouting from the stairs, I hope I'm heard.

Yanking open the clinic door, I had to immediately look down at a small boy panting and breathing heavily.

"You have to come, they said it was an emergency!" he huffed out, and grabbing my hand tried to drag me from the doorway.

It took but a second to convince him to pause long enough for me grab the leather pack from the theater. Next thing I knew we were rushing along the streets, weaving closer and closer towards the factories.

Passing around the corner I spotted Thomas standing in the street.

"Thomas?" I shouted towards him, skidding to a halt.

"Finn? Don't move, Finn." He barely spared me a look before he began talking loudly toward the garage before him, "Which door did you get in from, Finn?"

I rushed toward him, noticing the fearful look in his eyes. "I didn't use the door, I climbed in." Finn laughed out.

"Thomas?" I pleaded some kind of answer from him. His hands weren't quite steady as they were white knuckled at his sides.

"Just climb back out exactly as you got in." Thomas insisted moving round the side of his car slowly.

Unsure, I decided not to move. Finn giggled, "Hello, Ann. I was pretending I was Tommy."

"Just climb back out, eh, Finn." I started, my eyes finding Tommy's when I heard his voice hitch.

The speed at which everything moved at that point was unreal. I'd hardly believe it was just 10 seconds. To me everything felt like an eternity and a half. Finn, laughing and giggling away lurched to one side and threw open the door to the car. He leapt out towards me.

"NO…" I barely registered the click of the pin over Tommy's shout.

Once he reached into the car and screamed clear, I didn't even process my own body's movements before I grabbed Finn about the waist pulling him tight to me and down near the tire. All I knew for about a minute was the ringing in my ears and muffled shouts of men behind me. I didn't even register Finn struggling against my tight hold. All I could fathom was that I still felt his little heart pounding through my chest.

"You're alright?" I felt myself asking of poor Finn.

Tommy was around the car in mere seconds grasping at us both. His hand on my arm yanked me upright and then back down all at once as he bent us down to Finn's level. Gripping Finn's small face, I was surprised the words came out through his panting, "This is why you should NEVER pretend to be me!" The words may have been angry, but his eyes read only as fearful.

Standing tall once more together, with one of Finn's small hands in each of ours, it was his large hand on my forearm squeezing and shaking slightly, that passed the only message of thanks needed.

THOMAS

She sat in front of Scudboat, smiling and being charming while she stitched him back together. None of the chaos that had occurred a mere twenty minutes ago even evident in her mannerisms. If I hadn't of been there with her I'd have never have known myself. Poll sat by the fireplace, one room over, snuggling on Finn. Arthur and John looked sorely out of place in their own office. Everything still strewn as it was.

All three of us had lit cigarettes, but she didn't say a word about it. Either way I felt myself exhaling my smoke out away from her general direction.

No words had needed to pass between any of us when I'd come back in the door with Finn and her. The questions had been in everyone's mouth, swallowed up by their fear and shock. Mumbling the events at Arthur and John who then relayed it to Polly had been enough.

My anger swam in front of my eyes. It took serious concentration to not crush the lit cigarette in my fist.

"Alrighty, all patched back up. Leave the bandage on for the next day or so. Then in one week I can take those out and you'll be good as new. Minus a small scar of course." She smiled at Scudboat while she packed up her supplies.

Closing the leather kit and sitting it on the floor she scooted her chair back and turned to be unexpectedly, "You're going to want to shut those doors."

Arthur and John looked up at where Polly sat with Finn. The double doors spread wide.

"What are you getting at?" Arthur asked, it was obviously he was getting wound up.

Silencing him with a look she turned back to me, "Thomas, you're going to need to shut those doors."

I took a heavy drag on my cigarette before doing as she said slowly. Polly didn't even look up. When I turned back to the room she stood right behind me, hand out to take the cigarette. I couldn't find it in me to question her. But when she took it from my hand and held it herself I finally felt myself snap.

ANN

I wasn't sure if Tommy even noticed the white knuckled grip on his hat in his left hand or the cigarette in his right. They were all smoking like chimneys, but at this point I couldn't find the heart to say anything against it. Thomas paced the right wall in front of a trashed office and another set of doors. When he paused to glance around it was hard to tell if he even noticed the rest of us.

Making quick work of some stitches wasn't going to be the issue here. I could triage injuries worse than this in my sleep. Scudboat was pleasant, smiling and answering all my questions about his injuries.

I felt the adrenaline in my body cycle out long ago, but I watched it just keep pumping on Thomas. Finally I couldn't restrain myself, I told him he needed to shut the door and block off his aunt and little brother. His brothers didn't understand what I was trying to do, not until those double doors clicked shut. When I took the warm cigarette and stood back it was like another bomb went off, this bomb was Tommy. He dropped his hat and stormed to the table Scudboat and I had vacated, he lifted the table and flipped it to the side. His anguished shout probably should have alarmed me, but the only ones who looked surprised were his brothers.

Shoulders heaving and his hands shaking I pulled a chair up and nudged his legs with it before he just flopped into it, "Get out."

His brothers were only too happy to comply, quickly taking Scudboat with them. I started past him for my kit when my wrist was caught in his. He stared at me, unseeing in a way.

"I almost got Finn killed." The words were a whisper and a pant all at once.

Turning to face him I leaned forward, his hand still held my wrist, "I want to ask what's going on…but we both know you don't trust anyone with the truth."

He snorted, "That's not true. I just haven't trusted it with you."

There were no words I could give to him before he continued, "I figured you were going to come to a conclusion all your own, and I know you wouldn't be very far from the truth."

I straighten up and he released my wrist. I reached out the cigarette to him which he took without looking at me. Next I wandered over to his fallen hat and picked it up, dusting it off careful to avoid the razor blade. My kit sat undisturbed on the ground nearby.

I made my way back in front of Tommy. Crouching down in front of him I settled myself between his slightly spread knees, and settled the hat in his lap. With my right hand I smoothed his bangs as they hung across his forehead, "You're right, I don't need you to tell me."

The intimacy of this moment would dwell in my head for the rest of the day. Leaning forward on between us I pressed my lips to his temple, "Aren't you tired of war, Thomas? Because the bags under your eyes are giving you away."

Straightening myself and grabbing my kit, I left, fighting the urge to brush my tingling lips with much steadier fingers as I went.