Another chapter in the Blake saga. This is a bit angsty, and long. I haven't given myself much room for stories between Jenny's birth and Christmas, given that she was born at the end of September.

Warning: child abduction.

Reviews welcome.

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'No, Bobby, you have enough sweets at home,' Jean firmly reminded her son as she stopped at the Newsagents to pay the bill.

It was such a lovely day she was taking Bobby to the park for a picnic. They had everything they needed stored on the shopping tray under the body of the pram. She had timed it so they could meet Lucien for lunch, Bobby could run around and play with his ball, and then get home in time for Jenny's next feed.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a strange car making its way slowly down Lydiard Street,

'Hmm... must be new in town,' and she dismissed it from her mind.

At the park, Jean shook a blanket out under a tree and lay Jenny down on it to kick and wave her arms about .

Bobby threw his ball about and chased it around, sometimes rolling it to mama and she would roll it back, simple pleasures.

'Excuse me, ma'am,' a well-dressed man tipped his hat, 'could you direct me to the Colonist's Club?'

Jean looked up and smiled, 'Of course,' and she pointed him in the right direction. He wished her good day and walked off.

Jean turned to continue playing with Bobby.

'Bobby!' she called, 'Bobby!'

She stood up, where was he?

'Bobby! Bobby!' louder, searching for sight of him. She had a sick, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Picking up Jenny she walked around the tree, was he hiding?

'Bobby!' she was screaming his name, panic had now set in.

'Jean?' Bill Hobart was walking through the park to investigate the report of some damage to the glass house, when he heard her screaming. Bugger the glass house.

'Bill, Oh Bill, I can't find Bobby!' Jean was nearly hysterical.

'Where did you last see him?' he held her gaze to try to calm her.

'Over there, he was playing with his ball, I was distracted by someone asking directions. When I turned back I couldn't see him. Oh Bill,' she was sobbing now, 'where's he gone?'

'Stay here.' He went off to the shrubbery, a favourite hiding place for children.

Suddenly, Lucien was at her side. He had been strolling through the park to meet his family for lunch, hearing the screams he had looked across to see his wife in distress.

'What's wrong?' he put his arms round her.

'Lucien, I can't find Bobby?' she buried her head in his chest.

Bill came out of the shrubbery and shook his head at Lucien,

'I'm going to put the call out on the radio,' he said, sprinting off.

'Ask Dr Harvey to come down to take Jean home,' Lucien called after him. Bill raised his hand in acknowledgement.

Lucien turned his wife to face him,

'Jean, I want you to go home with Alice, you stay there and take care of Jenny.' The pram could be put in the police van, it wasn't as important as his family.

She looked at him, tears streamed down her face.

'We'll find him.' He kissed her gently and held her close until Alice arrived. He gave Alice Jean's handbag and walked with them, supporting Jean to the car.

'I'll call as soon as there's any news.' He helped her into the rear seat.

Frank, Bill, Charlie and the rest of the Ballarat police force had been called out, even those off duty had been called out, and were now searching everywhere in Ballarat for Bobby. Outbuildings, back alleys, residents were questioned; most of Ballarat knew Bobby Blake; shops, offices, no stone was left unturned. No sign.

Alice unlocked the Blake's front door and helped Jean in. Suddenly Jean thrust the baby at her and dashed through to the kitchen where she vomited into the sink. Alice helped her to a chair, rinsed the sink and gave her a glass of water.

'Oh Alice,' she whispered, 'what did I do wrong?'

'Nothing,' Alice put her hand on her friend's shoulder, 'you were distracted.' She was sure it was on purpose, Bobby didn't usually run off, she was sure he'd been kidnapped but by whom and why she couldn't begin to fathom.

Jenny had started to grizzle and was now gearing up to give vent to her feelings. She needed changing and feeding. Alice went to the bedroom and changed her, her pretence of not being able to change nappies had to be given up. Jean was sitting in the kitchen, still, her head in her hands. Alice handed her the baby,

'Come on Jean, I can't do this part,' Alice helped h out of her coat and guided her over to the couch. Settling her friend to feeding the baby she went to make some tea. Jean probably wouldn't want any, but she would try and get her to at least try a sip.

She was just about to pour the boiling water into the pot when the phone rang, making her spill it over the table. Jean raised her head but Alice motioned her to stay where she was.

'Blake residence, Dr Harvey speaking,' she announced.

'Ah the redoubtable Alice Harvey,' a sneering voice came down the phone.

'William Munro, what do you want?' She had no time for this corrupt copper, he had made her life hell and relentlessly pursued Lucien, which was the cause of his downfall.

'Put Blake's floozy on,' he demanded.

'I assume you are referring to Dr Blake's wife,' was her haughty response. If Lucien heard him refer to Jean like that there'd be nothing left to prosecute.

'Whatever, put her on,' he snapped.

Alice put the receiver on the table and went over to Jean.

'It's Munro,' she whispered.

'What?!' Jean looked shocked. William Munro had threatened her elder boys, did he now have something to do with Bobby's disappearance?

Alice mimed, 'another phone?' Jean pointed to the study.

Watching each other they went to the phones, Alice carefully lifted the receiver in the study and nodded to Jean to answer the call.

'Mr Munro,' Jean's voice was as steady as she could make it.

'So it's Mrs Blake now, is it?' his voice was sinister, oily.

'What do you want?' she had to appear calm.

'I've got something of yours, I think.' Jean thought she could her whimpering in the background.

'If you've harmed him...' her tone was warning.

'Oh he's alright, but perhaps you'd better toilet train him. Now to business. If you want to see the little bastard again I want a thousand pounds. I'm sure Blake can afford it.'

Jean wasn't going to argue, but if she drew that amount out if the bank it would look suspicious.

'It will take time,' she had to think.

'One hour,' Munro hissed.

'Let me talk to him,' she knew it would confuse him but she had to find a way of reassuring him, he must be terrified!

'Quickly.'

'Bobby, it's mama. Don't be frightened sweetheart, mama's coming.'

'Mama?' a small, scared voice.

'That's enough,' Munro shouted, as Bobby screamed in the background,

'Mama! Mama!' Jean's heart broke.

'Where do I bring it?'

'You know the phone box opposite the old coach depot?' he asked.

'Yes.'

'One hour. When I get it I'll phone you on that number and tell you where he is. Don't tell the police.' He warned.

'Why are you doing this?'

'Blake ruined my life!' he shouted down the phone.

'You ruined your life, you were intent on getting Lucien, you left yourself wide open!' she practically spat down the phone.

'One hour!' The line went dead.

Alice rushed through.

'I need to get to the bank,' Jean grabbed her coat, she was still holding Jenny, she'd have to take her with them.

'I'll drive you. How are you going to persuade the bank to let you have that much?'

'Some from my savings, some from our joint account.' She said.

'Won't that be suspicious?' Alice was concerned the bank would be reluctant to let her have such a sum.

'I bet they know Bobby's missing. Frank and the boys will have searched even there, asked questions.' Jean was desperate, but she knew she would have to rely on the bank knowing the Blake account well enough.

'Hopefully,' Alice agreed, 'I'm going to the station.'

'He said not to tell the police.' Jean just wanted Bobby back, she didn't want him put in any further danger.

'He told you that, not me.' Alice replied. She dropped Jean off at the bank and shot off to the station. Ned was manning the phones and radios, she asked to speak to Frank.

'Frank, listen,' this was no time for conversation, 'Munro has Bobby. Jean has to take a thousand pounds to the phone box opposite the old coach depot.

'Where is she?' Frank was thinking how they could get Bobby safely and also catch Munro.

'At the bank. She was told not to tell the police.' Alice couldn't see what they could do to keep the boy safe, but she'd rather not know their plan, then she wouldn't be able to tell Jean and worry her.

'Tell Jean to go ahead,' he said, 'I'll work something out this end. It must appear as if she's complied with his instructions. How's she holding up?' Even though he had no children of his own he could imagine she must be desperately worried.

'I don't fancy Munro's chances if she gets hold of him!' Actually, Alice had decided she'd hold Jenny while Jean did whatever she felt like!

Frank gathered his men together. Those off duty. and therefore out of uniform were dispatched to the depot in groups of two and three, posing as two-up players. They were told to take some beer with them to make it look absolutely natural. If they saw any sign of Munro or a child they were just to watch. He, Bill, Charlie and Lucien were going to drive past the spot, just a regular case for the police surgeon. They'd park up out of sight just past the box, and make their way on foot to the where they could watch unobserved. Frank called in at the station first. He, Bill and Charlie would be armed; he toyed with the idea of giving Lucien a gun but then decided better of it.

Alice collected Jean from the bank.. They'd been reluctant at first to let her have such a sum of cash, but, as she suspected, they knew about Bobby, and agreed. Jean had saved hard over the years, but she'd give it all just to have Bobby safe in her arms.

Time was running out. Alice drove until they were almost at the depot. Jean would have to do the last bit alone. Alice took Jenny from her and watched her walk, head held high, to the phone box.

Inside the booth, Jean put the money on the directory. Looking down she noticed a damp patch on the floor. Wiping her finger across it and sniffing it she knew what Munro had meant about toilet training. Urine. Bobby must have wet himself.

'Poor little man,' she thought. He was so good usually, he was probably really upset about it. A nice warm bath with bubbles when she got him home, she decided.

The phone rang.

She answered it. 'Jean Blake.'

'Leave the money.' Munro's curt instruction.

'Where's Bobby!' The phone went dead.

'NO!' she opened the booth door, 'WHERE'S MY SON!'

Munro crept up behind her, clamping his hand over her mouth. Whirling her round he back-handed her across her face. She fell to the ground, but as Munro stepped over her to get to the money she kicked her legs between his and he went sprawling into the dirt.

Standing up she pushed her foot onto his back ,

'You bastard, Munro!' Her screams were heard by the men at the depot and Frank from where he and the others were hidden. 'Where's my son!' She pushed harder on his back.

The men ran over, and dragged him up. Alice had driven down, carefully, Jenny was lying on the back seat.

'If you want to escape with your life, William,' said Lucien, mildly, 'I suggest you answer my wife or I won't be held responsible for her actions.'

'You wouldn't...' Munro actually looked apprehensive.

'Oh, I would.' Lucien leaned back, folding his arms. 'Never come between a mother and her children, it never ends well.' He smiled a little, slightly sinister smile.

All eyes were on Munro and Jean. He had to back down, if he didn't Jean would very likely emasculate him with her bare hands, and feed him the bits! Lucien had to admit he'd never seen her this angry, not even in the early days.

'Over there,' he indicated, with a nod of his head, to the depot.

Jean flew off across the road.

'Jean, wait!' Lucien sprinted after her. She ignored him, charging through the broken door.

Lucien caught her inside. Putting his arms round her he whispered, Wait, wait.

'Lucien, Bobby...'

'I know, but this building is old. Some parts are falling down, we need to be careful.'

He took her hand and led her towards the office.

'Bobby, Bobby,' he called, 'it's papa.'

A scuttling sound.

'Bobby, mama's here, sweetheart,' Jean whispered, 'where are you, darling?'

'Mama?' a tiny, panicky voice from somewhere in the room.

They scanned the room, where could he be?

'There,' Jean pointed to a cupboard; swiftly over to it, she tried to open the door. Locked!

'The ba...'

'Jean, language, Bobby's listening.' Lucien warned. He knew if she raised her voice Bobby would start to panic. He pulled his pen-knife and lock-pick from his pocket and started to work on the lock.

'Papa's just undoing the door, sweetheart, be brave.' Jean kept talking to try to keep him calm. She could hear him crying and she almost joined in.

Crack! the lock gave way and the door swung open to reveal a pair of big blue eyes staring out at Lucien. He reached in and gently lifted out the little bundle and pulled him close to his chest.

'You're safe now, son, it's all over.' He kissed the top of Bobby's head and handed him to Jean who wrapped him in her coat and held him tight, kissing his tear streaked face. Bobby stuck his thumb in his mouth, something he hadn't done since before Jenny was born. He snuggled into her shoulder, sniffling.'

'Come on, Bobby,' she whispered, 'let's go home.'

'Mama...' he whimpered, wriggling, he was very uncomfortable.

'It's alright, darling,' she comforted him, 'warm bubbly bath when we get home.'

They went out to see what was happening with Munro.

The off duty officers had been sent home, Jean made a mental note to find a way of thanking them for all they had done, Bill and Charlie had handcuffed Munro and were standing either side of him with a vice like grip on either arm. Frank and Alice were standing watching him. Alice was cradling Jenny. Munro wasn't quite sure what to make of the scene in front of him; he could see a ring on Alice's finger, but the baby?

Jean and Lucien walked over. Jean turned to Munro and looked him up and down, then, with a haughty toss of her head, she turned to Alice,

'Dr Harvey, would you mind driving us home, please?' Sweetly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

'Of course, Mrs Blake,' Alice smiled and handed the baby back to her father, which further confused Munro.

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Frank drove Bill, Charlie and their prisoner back to the station where he was charged with child abduction and attempting to obtain money with menaces. Bill threw him unceremoniously into the cells.

Alice drove the Blake's home, where Bobby got his warm bubbly bath, food and milk, lots of cuddles and Auntie Alice to read him a bedtime story.

Jean saw to the baby and while she was thinking of getting something for the rest of them to eat, Frank turned up with fish and chips.

'Didn't think you'd want to cook tonight, Jean.' He smiled as she leant up and kissed his cheek.

'Thank you, Frank, for everything.'

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The trouble with Munro was he never got all the facts before accusing someone, so I feel he probably wouldn't have found out enough about Jean and Lucien's current situation. It was just luck he saw her with the children.

I know what it's like when your toddler wanders off, mine did it, twice!