Jean managed to avoid suspicious looks from Mattie and Charlie for the next week. She had thought about the conversation she had had with Lucien, about Charlie possibly having twigged, about the pregnancy, and decided she would wait until asked. She continued to dress as if nothing had changed; although when she did try on a skirt, it was a little snug; her new wardrobe suited her and Mattie said as much. Jean just brushed it off and said it was about time she updated her clothes, what was that Mattie had said when they were shopping for her wedding outfit? Wife of a successful man, dress the part. Mattie just agreed with her and thought she was taking her advice, for a change.

The story of Mrs Reynolds continued to bother all in the house, why on earth steal from her employers, if caught she would have been jailed and her son placed in an orphanage, so why take such a risk?

They decided they would have to put in a concerted effort to find Arthur Reynolds.

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Lucien bounced into the house a smile on his face. He and Alice had determined that the death they were investigating was natural causes, as natural as one can get when you trip over a rock and fall into Wendouree; a tragic accident due to too much alcohol having been consumed earlier in the day. A homeless man, who had spent all he had gained begging on cheap liquor. Alice and he had been saddened at the death even when they had looked into the circumstances. Apparently he had been dishonourably discharged from the army for theft from his fellow soldiers and drunkenness on duty.

But now Lucien was on his way home, to his wife, and he was happy, he was always happy when he knew he was moments away from holding his beautiful Jean. He patted his jacket pocket and the smile grew wider.

'Jean!' He called as he dropped his hat on the peg and closed the front door,

'Kitchen!' Came the reply, well he wouldn't expect anything else, not with the smell of rabbit stew wafting through the house.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and nibbled her earlobe.

'Lucien,' she tried to wriggle away, which only increased his ardour, 'Lucien I'm trying to make dinner.' Her annoyance was an act, she loved the feel of his lips on her ears and the slight scratch of his beard against her neck. She finished stirring the stew with his arms still around her then stopped. She needed to put it back in the oven and she couldn't very well like this.

'Right, doctor,' she said firmly, 'unless you want half cooked stew or to treat me for burns you need to let go. This has to go back in the oven.'

He reluctantly let go and allowed her to return to her task. She took off her oven gloves, straightened her apron and her shoulders and turned round to look at him. She had that serious look on her face that usually meant he had crossed a boundary. She placed both her palms flat on his chest holding his gaze as she did so. Then she pushed her hands very slowly up and over his shoulders, taking a half step closer, she tipped her face up and slightly to the side. He just stared at her, not sure if she was going to kiss him or strangle him, but when he lips parted and she ran her tongue over her teeth he knew he was safe and when Mattie charged in, in her usual cavalier fashion, she found them in front of the stove in the middle of a very passionate kiss. And as for where the doctor's hands were...

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Neither Jean nor Lucien had any idea that Mattie had seen them so both were surprised at the young nurse's silence over dinner. In fact she wouldn't even look at them, not even Charlie could get a word out of her, no matter what he said, or how he insulted her. He decided he'd tackle her over the washing up.

'What's wrong with you?' He hissed, looking over his shoulder to see if the doctor or Jean could hear him.

'Nothing.' She muttered through gritted teeth.

'You barely said a word, 'he started again, 'in fact you didn't say a word over dinner, or look anywhere but at your plate.'

'They need to put up a 'Do not disturb' sign, sometimes.' She hissed back at him. 'It was embarrassing.'

'For you or them?' Charlie had a way of alerting the doctor and his wife to his presence if he found it a little quiet or there was giggling when he crossed the threshold, he marched in, his police issue boots echoing in the hallway.

'Me.' She took off her rubber gloves, 'honestly Charlie, they were...and his hands...' She blushed at the memory.

'They are married.' He reminded her.

'So are my parents, but I never see them like that.'

'Perhaps you should.' He draped the tea towel over the chair, 'Sherry?'

'Studying.' She marched out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Charlie grinned at her receding back, he'd no idea she was such a prude.

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Mattie sat in her room, sulking. It was true, she had never seen her parents in anything approaching passion, in fact she couldn't remember the last time her father had given her mother a peck on the cheek. She knew the two downstairs were deeply in love, and she recalled the time, not so long ago they had obviously shared a bath but to actually see them mid clinch was a shock. Jean had always been so proper and even just before they were married had been careful not to be so obvious...

'Oh dammit', she cursed to herself. She and Charlie had agreed they would ignore the goings on in the house after they had met in Melbourne so why was she so bothered about it now?

A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts.

'Mattie, it's me.' Charlie whispered, 'can I come in?'

'S'pose so.'

He stood in the doorway, arms folded looking at her. She was cross legged on the bed, a stony expression on her face,

'They're asking about you, downstairs.' He said, simply.

She didn't reply but he saw her lip tremble, or at least he thought he did. He took a couple of steps over towards the bed and squatted down so he could look in her eyes.

'Mattie?' His voice was soft, quiet. He knew something was wrong, and it wasn't just that she had caught the Blake's.

He went closer and took her chin in his hand, gently tipping her face upwards.

She didn't dare speak, if she did, she'd cry and she didn't want to cry, because then it would mean something, it would mean she was hurt. She tried to pull her head away, but Charlie's grip was not as soft as she thought and he wouldn't let her.

'Mattie?' This time it was almost a warning, 'what's wrong?'

'Why, Charlie?' She bit her lip to control the tears, 'why do I always make a mess of it?'

'Of what?' Though he had a fair idea.

'Steve.' One word, and that word said it all. A doctor, new to the hospital had set his cap at Mattie, and they had started dating. Everybody thought Steve was the sweetest, kindest doctor, barring Lucien Blake, in the hospital and that Mattie O'Brien was the luckiest nurse in Ballarat. He was also the best looking, tall, dark, with deep, chocolate brown eyes.

'What happened?' He sat on the bed and put his arms round her.

'I wish I knew.' She sniffed, 'I thought everything was good between us.' She wasn't going to go into details, 'then today, just before I came home, I saw him with another nurse, they were in the corridor by the theatre suite. He had his hands like Lucien did with Jean.'

'So it's not because you thought they were being, er, inappropriate, in the kitchen.' Charlie squeezed her shoulders.

'No.'

'I'll let them know you have a headache?' He thought this was the best idea.

Mattie nodded, she really did have a rotten choice in men.

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Charlie passed on Mattie's excuse and then excused himself, he had forgotten something down at the station.

'Does Mattie need anything?' Jean asked, she didn't like to hear that Mattie was unwell.

'No, she said she'd try and get some sleep.'

Charlie left them to whatever they would get up to, alone in the living room.

'Jean,' Lucien took his now customary spot next to his wife on the couch, 'remember that collection of enamel daisies?'

'Yes, your mother's necklace.' She turned to him and smiled.

'Well, Sam was able to do something,' he took out a jeweller's presentation box, 'hope you approve.'

'Oh, Lucien,' she opened the box, 'it's lovely.'

Sam and taken the daisies and arranged them on a silver chain, then taken green silk thread and woven it through the links making it look like a daisy chain, that children made in the fields.

Lucien took it out and put it around her neck. The daisies sat from shoulder to shoulder the rest of the chain went round to fasten at the nape of her neck. She got up and went to look in the hall mirror.

'Quite the artist, is Sam.' Lucien commented.

'Indeed he is,' She turned round, 'I love it.'

He bent and kissed her, she returned the kiss as only she could.

She broke away, 'I love you, too.' she murmured.

They went back to the living room to continue proving their love.

Lucien had his hand creeping up Jean's skirt when the door went. They flew apart and Lucien grabbed the paper. Jean patted her curls and picked up her knitting, all perfectly innocent.

'That you, Charlie?' Jean called, as if it would be anyone else. She looked up and dropped a stitch. He had been in the wars again. 'Charlie!' She leapt up to him. Another black eye and his knuckles were cut and grazed. Lucien looked up,

'Bloody hell, Charlie!' He went over to him, 'what happened this time?'

'Nobody two times Mattie, not while I'm around.' He grunted, 'you should see the other feller.' He held his side.

'What do you mean?' Jean asked as they took him through to the surgery to be tended to. Then realised, 'that's why Mattie wouldn't come down, isn't it? Not a headache.'

Charlie just nodded.

'Boyfriend trouble again.' Jean sat down, she couldn't understand why men seemed to leave her in tears.

'That new doctor, the one all the nurses go gooey eyed over, she's been dating him,' Charlie winced as Lucien bathed his knuckles, 'Mattie saw him with another nurse when she left work. Then,' he took a deep breath, 'when she came home you and the doc...' He looked at Jean who blushed.

'Oh, I see.' Was all she could say.

'So you've been to set him straight.' Lucien grinned.

Jean saw the grin and scowled, 'Not funny, Lucien.'

'I know, but it's good to know she has a champion.' He smiled.

'Give it a rest doc,' Charlie reddened, 'she's a mate.'

'Charlie?' Mattie had heard the door go and the shouts, and come down to see what was going on. Jean went to her and took her out into the living room.

'I think we owe you an apology,' She whispered, 'we should perhaps be a little more discreet.'

'No, it's me.' Mattie sat down on the couch, heavily. 'I was being over sensitive. I never expected Charlie to do anything about it, though.'

'That's why you were so quiet at dinner?' Jean took her hands.

'I told Charlie it was because I was offended,' It was Mattie's turn to look embarrassed, 'but I'm not.' She added quickly. 'It was only when he came up to me, to try and get me to come down, that I told him. Will he get into trouble?'

'I doubt it,' Lucien came through, 'he apparently told Steve that you had too many friends in Ballarat who would be glad to come to your aid.'

She stood up and went to Charlie, standing behind the doctor, 'But nobody who would put his job on the line for me.' She stood on tiptoe and kissed his emerging black eye, just as she had done in Melbourne. 'Thank you.' She whispered.

'No worries,' Charlie smiled.

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Mattie's spirits started to lift over the next couple of days and by the end of the week she was back to her usual cheerful self, teasing Charlie and Lucien and helping Jean. She made enough noise coming into the house to alert the couple if they were in an embrace. She also reported that Steve left her alone and had moved on to another nurse.

She was standing talking to Charlie one morning, discussing a patient she had found on her rounds. She had had concerns that the woman had been assaulted in her own home. The young woman was suffering from the baby blues and Mattie was keeping an eye on her. She wouldn't say what happened truthfully. She had bruises on her upper arms, as if she had been held tightly. Her husband was at work, in fact Mattie wondered if she was married, she had never seen her husband.

'I'll let the Boss know, maybe we can include her on our rounds.' He suggested.

'Thanks Charlie.' She touched his arm and as she turned to continue with her work she noticed Steve hurriedly walk away. She smiled, every time he saw her with Charlie he hastened off.

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'Does she have anyone else, Mattie?' Jean asked at dinner that night when Mattie told her concerns.

'Not as far as I know.' Mattie took a drink of water, 'she arrived here about a month before the baby came. She brought herself in to maternity, saying her husband was working away. There was no one pacing the floor when she gave birth and, as far as I know the nurses were the only ones to see her during her stay in hospital.'

'How awful,' Jean gasped, 'would it help, do you think, if I go and see her.'

'I'm sure it would but at this rate we won't get a look in.' Lucien reached over and squeezed her hand, 'with your daily visits to Mrs Huston as well.'

'I'm sure I could squeeze in one visit.' Jean said.

'I don't think that's a good idea, Jean.' Mattie joined in the opposition, 'you need to take care of yourself.'

'I'm perfectly well,' Jean scoffed.

'I know you are,' Mattie grinned, 'and we'd like to keep it that way, given your condition.'

Jean went scarlet, she didn't think they knew.

'The ties on your apron are getting shorter,' Mattie continued, 'and I'm sure it's not just the extra biscuit in the morning that is, shall we say, extending your waistline.'

Mattie got up and went round the table. She put her arms round Jean,

'Congratulations.' She kissed her cheek.

'How long have you known?' Jean finally managed to speak.

'Long enough.' Charlie grinned. 'But we hoped you'd tell us yourself. Don't worry,' he continued, 'we haven't said anything, and we won't.'

'It's your news Jean, Lucien, not ours.' Mattie kissed her again, 'now Sergeant Charlie, washing up.'

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Jean decided that as Mattie and Charlie knew, and she had passed the point at which she was determined to keep her pregnancy a secret, there was someone she was going to tell.

She let herself into the neat bungalow up the road and put her basket down in the hall while she took off her coat.

'Only me, Mrs Huston!' She called through.

Agatha Huston had found that getting up each morning was much more enjoyable these days. Sometimes, before her fall, it had been a chore something she had made herself do, but now, Jean would call round, do the little bit of housework she couldn't do herself, mainly wielding the vacuum cleaner, make sure she had everything she needed and leave her a meal, or at least prepare one for her that she could cook at her leisure. Most of all she liked the tales from the Blake household, and the continuing search for the jewellery and Arthur Reynolds. She smiled as Jean came in, she called her, her little ray of sunshine, and though Jean considered it a nickname one would give to a child she accepted it.

Today was not the day Jean would vacuum, today was putting away the laundry which she did for the old lady, and a surprise trip into town. Agatha had bemoaned the fact that she couldn't visit the hairdresser anymore, although she was more than grateful to Jean who would wash her hair for her and, when it was dry, pile it up into the elegant topknot she always wore. Jean was not offended she could quite understand how important these little things were.

'How are you today?' Jean smiled.

'All the better for seeing you.' Agatha smiled back, 'you're looking particularly chipper this morning.'

'Well, it's a lovely day, for the time of year.' Jean almost sang back. 'Now, Mrs Huston, I know how good you are at keeping secrets so I have one for you,' Jean sat down and took her hands in hers, 'there's going to be an addition to our household.' She watched for a reaction, and smiled as Mrs Huston's eyes widened. 'I'm going to have a baby.'

Agatha reached over and touched Jean's cheek with her palm, 'Oh my dear girl,' she breathed, 'how wonderful.'

Jean grinned, 'Tea?'

'Well it's too early for anything else,' Mrs Huston quipped, 'so tea it is.'

'Right,' Jean stood up, 'and after that, I've booked you into the hairdressers. You can have your hair done while I do some shopping.'

'Jean!' Agatha called through to the kitchen, 'I didn't mean...'

'I know,' Jean poked her head through the door, and smiled.

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As Jean drove Mrs Huston into town they chatted about this and that, when was Jean's baby due, how did the doctor feel about becoming a father again?

Jean told her Lucien was delighted and the baby was due in about five months time. At that news Agatha raised one eyebrow, and Jean giggled.

Leaving her friend at the hairdresser's Jean headed to the grocer's and butcher's. There were things they needed at home and she had a list from Agatha. She waved at Mattie as she tooted the car horn on her way past to a patient, and stopped to talk to one or two people she knew. Picking up Mrs Huston from the hairdresser's she suggested they treat themselves to a bite of lunch at a cafe. It was agreed but Mrs Huston insisted it was her treat.

'I'll drop you off before surgery,' Jean said, as they ordered their sandwiches and tea. 'Lucien has also asked me to remind you that he would like to see you, for a check up.'

'Oh, tosh!' Agatha laughed, 'I'm perfectly alright.'

'That's as maybe,' Jean teased, 'Dr Blake likes to keep an eye on his ladies. Now it's a bit full today, so how about tomorrow? Or he can make a house call.'

'Tomorrow will be just fine.' Mrs Huston relented, not that she ever put up much of a fight, 'I'll be there.'

'I'll pick you up.'

On the way back from lunch Jean noticed Mattie's car at a small house with an untidy garden and a broken window. Must be a patient, she thought and put it out of her mind, although she thought she knew all of Mattie's patients.

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Jean put the dinner on the table and called the household together.

Charlie and Lucien wandered through from the living room, where they were discussing the old case files that may or may not be linked to Mrs Reynolds.

'Where's Mattie?' Charlie asked looking round the room where, to be truthful, there was nowhere for her to hide.

Lucien went to the bottom of the stairs and called up, nothing. He went up and knocked on her bedroom door. On receiving no reply he put his head round the door, empty. He ran downstairs and out of the front door; Mattie's car was not on the drive.

'Did she come home?' Charlie was asking Jean.

'I didn't hear her,' Jean admitted, 'but then I was with Mrs Huston and then surgery. It's not unusual for me not to see her until dinner, on days like this.'

Charlie looked at the rota, 'She should have been home two ish,' he noted, 'she finished at one thirty.'

'I saw her car outside that house on the corner of Bath Lane and Armstrong Street, you know the one, with the untidy garden.' Jean told them of her sighting earlier that afternoon.

'Right,' Charlie turned to Jean, 'sorry,' then called to Blake, 'doc! Come on.'

Jean watched them head off to find the young girl and sat down, now worried and guilty.

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Mattie knocked on the door and pushed it open, calling as she did so, 'Cath! It's Nurse O'Brien!' She headed to where the young mother usually sat, the untidy living room. She saw Cath in the chair, holding her baby and rocking, tears down her face. The girl looked up at her, her eyes now wide with fear and opened her mouth. Mattie saw the direction she was looking in and turned just in time to see the fist and duck.

'Steve!' She cried, 'what are you doing?!'

'This would never have happened if you'd stayed in Bendigo!' He yelled at Cath.

'He's your son.' Cath whimpered.

'I told you to get rid!' Steve shouted back, but Cath just pushed herself further back into the chair and held her baby tighter, it whimpered.

'Steve, no!' Mattie was horrified, 'you're a doctor!'

'And you,' he lashed out at her, knocking her to the floor, 'just the same, lead a feller on, then get cold feet!'

'Just because I wouldn't sleep with you?' Mattie wiped the blood from her nose, 'is that all you wanted?'

Steve dragged her up off the floor, and ripped her uniform dress open. Mattie refused to scream, she bit her sore lip and tried to pull the dress closed.

'No you're different, not like her,' he nodded in the direction on Cath, 'go with anyone she will. Can't even be sure that it's mine.' He was snarling in Mattie's face, 'just like my tart of a mother.'

'What are you talking about?' Mattie snapped, 'I don't even know your mother.'

'No, you won't,' He grunted back, 'or my supposed father.'

'Steve, what the hell are you talking about?' Mattie was frustrated, he was talking in riddles.

He threw her back into the couch and straddled over her. She lay there, defiant, she wasn't going to give in without a fight. He ripped her dress open again and her bra, leaving her breasts on view, and pinned her hands above her head. She squirmed as his face came down close to hers and as he pressed his lips to hers bit him, hard, going right through his bottom lip. He raised his head,

'Bitch!' He moved one leg between hers and she knew she would have to fight to her last to prevent him doing what he planned.

'Steve,' she spat the blood out of her mouth, 'what about your parents?'

'Reynolds,' he moved her hands so he could hold both together, 'heard of them?'

'Arthur Reynolds?' She knew he couldn't be talking about Mrs Reynolds he was too young to be Arthur, himself. 'But your name is Grey.'

'My mother's name,' his hands continued to work their way down her body, 'he had her, then she had anyone she could get her hands on.'

'But why?' She tried to bury the disgust she felt in her questions, 'you don't have to do the same.'

'I watched her, as I grew up, she enjoyed it, you'll enjoy it too.' He moved his hands between her legs, his arousal was clear as he then moved his free hand and started to undo his belt. Mattie denied herself the luxury of tears as he wound the belt round her wrists and looped it through the wooden arm of the couch tying it off and freeing up both his hands to finish what he started.

'He threw away all my family things, grandmother's things the only things that had any value.'

'You mean Mrs Blake's things,' Mattie sneered at him, 'your grandmother was a thief, she stole from her employers, good people. You've come to collect those things haven't you, yet you can't have known her.'

Steve back handed her across her face again, splitting her lip.

'Oh I did, the house clearance was well before she died,' his trousers were now round his knees and he pulled at Mattie's underwear, she wouldn't close her eyes, although she could no longer move away she was not going to give him the satisfaction of watching her cry or close her eyes. 'I loved my grandmother. Father took everything from us.' He fell off her, Mattie screamed and screamed and screamed until warm arms and a familiar warm jacket were wrapped round her.

'Mattie, shh, Mattie, it's Lucien, shh,' he soothed, as he took the belt from her wrists, 'it's alright, you're safe.'

'Ok, you bastard,' Charlie's voice over Lucien's, 'told you Mattie had friends.' She heard the rattle of handcuffs as the sergeant immobilised Steve and dragged him up.

'Lucien,' she sobbed, 'how..?'

'Jean said she saw your car outside this house earlier,' he stroked her head, 'you weren't home for dinner.'

'I want to go home.' She buried her head in his shoulder and let the tears she had held back, flow.

'And I want to see to any injuries you have.' He tightened his grip on her.

She felt his head move as he looked at the scrap in the chair. He couldn't leave her nor did he want to land her on Jean.

'Charlie,' He looked at the sergeant about to propel Steve out of the house, 'can you get an ambo for this lass here, then come back and take me and Mattie home.'

'Ok, doc, be as quick as I can.' Charlie disappeared.

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With Charlie gone for the time being Lucien looked around, a pitiful mess, he thought. He'd get the story later, his priority was Mattie.

'What're you going to do with me?' Cath whispered from her chair.

'You're going to hospital to be looked after.' Lucien smiled kindly at her, she would have been no match for Steve, 'then we'll sort out something.'

'I'm sorry,' She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve, 'I didn't know he'd do this. I just wanted him to see his boy.'

Lucien looked at her, she couldn't be more that sixteen, and sighed. 'Do you think you could find a blanket for Nurse O'Brien, I don't think my jacket is big enough to cover her properly.'

Cath got up and went to take a blanket off the bed. It was shabby, moth eaten in places, but it would cover more of Mattie, make her decent.

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'Jean!' Lucien kicked the front door open, 'surgery!' He carried Mattie through and lay her on the examination couch.

'Mattie!' Jean's hand flew to her mouth, 'Oh god!'

'She's alright, a few cuts and bruises, ' Lucien held Jean by the arm, 'now I need to examine her and bathe her wounds. I need your help, you know the drill.' He spoke gently, Jean needed to help or she would just pace up and down outside, and there were certain things Jean did for him as a doctor, namely helping clean and dress minor wounds.

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Mattie was tended to, Jean helped her to bathe and then put her to bed with a cup of hot chocolate. She didn't feel like eating. Lucien caught Jean as she took the cocoa up and dropped something in it, stirring it well,

'Make sure she drinks it all,' he whispered, 'she'll sleep.' He kissed his wife's cheek and smiled at her.

'I'm sorry, Mattie,' Jean said as she sat on the edge of the bed, her tears clearly visible on her cheeks, 'I should have checked you were home.'

'Why?' Mattie tried a smile, which hurt, 'you don't usually.' She sighed, 'It's not your fault, Jean. I'm alright, Charlie got there in time.' She handed the cup back and yawned.

Jean tucked her in and kissed her temple.

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So who is Steve, really, what did he want? What did he think he would get out of Ballarat?

Thank you for all the lovely reviews, and sorry this chapter is so...