Chapter 12

Murdoch had to leave after breakfast to go back to work. As much as he would have liked to spend his day with Julia and the child, it simply wasn't possible. Eva had woken up halfway during their breakfast and it had taken them a while to calm her down enough so she had eaten something as well. It also meant that they didn't have any more time for each other and he found that he missed their stolen moments somewhat.

It turned out that fingerprints could be lifted from the bracelet, but that they couldn't be matched with those in the system. He spent the rest of the day talking to potential witnesses and one turned out to be really interesting. A young woman had been assaulted in front of her own house earlier that week. The man had tried to cut her throat with a knife, but because her father had come back earlier from his office and had heard the commotion in front of the door, he had come outside and the man had run away. They had been able to describe the attacker and William was convinced that it was the man they were looking for.

Later that day he went through his desk looking for a report that he just couldn't find anymore. It was the transcript of an interview he had done earlier that week and he wanted to check on something. However the report wasn't in his drawer. Instead he found an old telegram, one he had forgotten he still had.

It was the first note Julia had sent him after he had contacted her about a case. It had been the first time he had heard from her in months and he remembered how much it had hurt to receive it. She had been so nice and helpful and he had heard her voice in his head when he had read it, but she still had been miles away and he had been sure he would never see her again. Staring off into space he remembered those months without her and then those when she had been back, but had been engaged to Dr. Garland.

It had been torture, plain and simple. He had wanted her back with him and it just hadn't been possible. He had been sick with sadness and remorse. He remembered the dreams, sometimes quite intimate dreams, about her. They had made him miss her even more and he had craved her presence so badly at times that it had brought tears to his eyes.

And now he had her back and still he held her at arm's length because of society and morals. He was sure that had she been close to him when he missed her so badly, he had ravished her right on the spot and he wouldn't have minded what people thought about them, not even his priest. Just remembering it made the pain come back.

"Murdoch, I haven't seen that look upon your face in a while… not since Dr. Ogden broke her engagement," Brackenreid interrupted his gloomy thoughts in his blunt manner.

"Inspector?" he only replied, not sure what to say to that. It seemed like he hadn't given Brackenreid enough credit for his observational skills.

"It is already nine at night. Why don't you go home Murdoch? You might want to check on how the doctor is doing with the child. She might need some help," his boss spelled it out for him, tipped his fingers to his hat and then left. He really was indiscreet at times, that inspector. And he was right. What was he still doing there, sitting in his office missing Julia, when he could very easily just be with her?

He quickly gathered his things and left the precinct. He went to Julia's place without going home in between. He was a man on a mission now. He rang the doorbell and ignored Dawson's disapproving look when he entered.

"Dr. Ogden is in the living room with the child," she told him and raised both eyebrows when he firmly closed the door behind him once he had entered the room. Eva was playing with a doll on the floor while Julia stood by the shelf and seemed to try and decide what book to read.

"Oh William, I didn't think you would…" she didn't get much farther because he had walked up to her, had taken her in his arms and kissed her soundly. She seemed surprised at first and laughed softly, but kissed him back.

"Good evening detective," she whispered when she pulled back and leaned back even further when he tried to kiss her again. "We are not alone, love," she pointed out. He nodded and pulled her in a tight hug.

"I missed you," he offered as explanation for his behavior. He felt Julia smile and could still see it in her eyes when they broke their embraced when Eva tugged on his trousers.

"Will!" she called and requested his attention.

"Good evening Miss Eva," he laughed along with Julia, but didn't let go of her.

"Doll," the toddler said and held up her doll to him.

"You want me to hold your doll for you?" he asked clueless-ly.

"I believe she wants you to play with her," Julia corrected him and pulled him down onto the floor with her.

They played with Eva until the child was so tired she could barely hold her eyes open. Still she refused to go to bed or even lie down.

"I will get her some hot milk," Julia decided and yawned. It was already past midnight and she had barely slept the night before."You want some tea or anything else?" she asked William.

"No, thank you Julia," he shook his head and sat down on the sofa. He was exhausted as well, but he didn't want to leave Julia alone with the child. Once Julia had left the room Eva climbed into his lap and snuggled into him. She put her thumb in her mouth and sucked as he held her gently and leaned further into the sofa.

When Julia came back with the hot milk a few minutes later she found them both asleep on the sofa. She smiled when she saw them and wished there was a way to make a memory of that moment. Then she grabbed a blanket and covered them, kissed them both on the forehead and took the hot milk with her to her bedroom. Maybe she would get some sleep that night.

TBC