Author's Note: The characters belong to Maureen Jennings.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

Thank you very much for the condolences and words of support regarding my beloved grandfather's sudden death, it means more than you know. I've got a lot of time on my hands, so I figured I keep the saga going.

Any suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated.

Please read, review, excuse any spelling/grammar issues and enjoy!

Pistachio the Murdog: An Unlikely Love Story – Chapter 16: Turned Tables

"Leonard, I'm afraid I don't understand." Adrienne Burke trembled as she steeled herself to suture her intended's arm closed. He was weak she could sense but was beside himself mentally, an energy almost too much to contain in his lanky body.

"Adrienne, you must help me. I'm so close, so close to my end goal. I need you."

"You must calm yourself, darling. I will not be able to make sure your arm has been properly…sown…if you continue to move." The clerk downed another glass of gin, feeling the lukewarm liquid fill his empty belly.

"Yes, yes, of course. I apologize. Thank you, dearest."

The young woman went to work, her stomach lurching at the gore before her. "I don't know how I'm going to be able to do this, Leonard." With his opposite hand, he held her face gently and looked directly into her eyes and she was convinced, her very soul.

"You can do anything you put your mind to, Adrienne. You must. There is no other way. Do it, now. For me...for us." Pulling her towards him, he locked her lips with his, feeling her soften against him. "I will forever be in your debt if you help me do this." As soon as their lips parted, she smiled uncertainly at him but quickly placed her trust fully in the young man seated before her. With a douse of alcohol to further clean the wound, she went to work as Leonard placed a handkerchief into his mouth to stifle his screams.

Dr. Emery packed the tools of his trade back into his medical bag and turned to George who was absently petting Pistachio's head. "Looks like the patient is doing quite well. I'm glad to see it."

"She seems a bit low, doctor," George said as he lifted the canine's head slightly so that he could look directly into her warm brown eyes. "Not quite herself as of yet."

"It could be the pain medication, it tends to make them a little slower than normal. She's had quite an ordeal as you know. Keep an eye on her and let me know of any developments. She'll be right as rain sooner than you think constable, I assure you." The older gentleman smiled sincerely at a worried George who did his best to return the smile. "How is the detective and Dr. Ogden?"

"The last thing I heard from Dr. Ogden was that the detective was on the mend."

"Well, let's hope that things remain that way. Give them my best will you?"

George followed the veterinarian to the front door of the Murdoch/Ogden suite. "Sir, I will do."

"Pistachio?" Dr. Emery turned to her as he adjusted his coat. Raising her head toward the two men, she lightly wagged her tail. "You be sure to get better for your owners, yes? They'll be needing you more than ever." Smiling at them both once more, the man vacated the suite.

In response to the vet's exit, Pistachio slowly stood and walked over to George who kneeled in front of her. "No, no. You need to get better, dear girl. Lay down and let's see if we can find something around here to entertain ourselves."

Finding herself dizzy if she turned her signature three times, Pash decided one spin was more than enough and watched her Uncle George head over to the small library while she laid down. "Hm, let's see here…dear goodness, nothing but medical journals and religious texts. Oh wait, here's some Jane Austen! How about that, girl?" Pistachio barked in response and George nodded to her. "Sense and Sensibility has always been one of my favorites, but don't tell Higgins that, he'll never let me hear the end of it." Plopping down on a pillow next to the canine's bed, George tucked his reading partner in with her favorite plaid blanket and covered his own legs with another blanket. Instinctively, Pistachio tucked her nose deeper into her bed and brought out a men's sock which had definitely seen better days. Laying her head on George's lap, a paw right next to her head, the canine waited for the story to begin. "Looks like there are sections highlighted by Dr. Ogden…it's quite an old edition. Your Mama is quite the well-read woman. Here's one…'It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;—it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others.' Oh my goodness, what is written here in pencil? I can't quite make it out." George propped the book so that the dog could see. "Wait a minute, I think it says, yes it does! Detective William H. Murdoch." Turning to first page of the book, there was an inscription with Julia's trademark writing: Property of Dr. J. Ogden, City Morgue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 1895. "Oh boy, Pash! This year is when your Mama began working in the morgue!"

Inspector Thomas and John Brackenreid approached the large home on 7111 Dundas Street, taking in their surroundings. "Father, should I go in the back way to make sure he doesn't escape?"

"Yes, but my God if you end up hurt John you'll have to answer to me because I'll have to answer to your mother! Be careful and stay sharp! Go!"

"Yes, Father." Taking off, John expertly hopped the tall fence, landing in the yard on the other side.

"Bloody hell, where he'd learn to do that?" Shaking his head in astonishment, the Inspector approached the home and used his walking stick to place three distinct knocks on the impressive white door. "Toronto Constabulary!"

In the room above, Leonard sprang to the window, anxious to see who it was. "Oh my God, it's the police! I have to get the hell out of here or I'll never reach her!"

Adrienne chased after him looking out of the window as well. "Her? Who is it that you're trying to reach, darling?"

Shoving his half sutured arm back into the borrowed suit jacket of Adrienne's father's, the young man's heart raced savagely as he jumped into his shoes. "You have to get me out of here Adrienne! NOW!"

"I haven't finished your arm, Leonard! You must wait!" Helplessly, the young woman watched in alarm and shock as the clerk darted about the room gathering his things.

"Hide anything I've touched and don't let them know I was here!"

"Leonard, I demand to know what's going on here!"

Taking one last swig of gin, Leonard placed his hat on his head. "I won't let them take me until I see her!"

"See who?!"

"Dr. Ogden."

"Julia."

Her eyes sprung open upon hearing her husband's voice. "William? Are you alright? How do you feel?"

"Tired. My muscles, Julia, they ache."

"I'm sure they do, dearest and they'll continue to for a couple of days. You need to rest a bit more."

Releasing himself from her embrace, the detective sat up in bed. "My head, God damn it."

"William, how are you feeling besides the aching in your extremities?" It could be the pain to blame for having removed her normally reserved husband's filter for harsh language, or was it something more serious? Julia scooted her body up against the small hospital bed headboard, careful not to hit her husband's back as she threw her legs over to one side. "Dizziness? Nausea?" Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, she looked at her husband's bandages. "I'll need to change your dressings."

"Don't be stupid, Julia. I'm not feeling any of those things, if anything I'm angry." It was definitely something more serious, there was no way he would have said something like this to her. Calmly rising, she fluffed his pillows, guiding him back so that he could lay down.

"Why are you angry, William?"

"Because I'm here in this fucking hospital collie shangling* with my wife when I should be at the convent and helping Susannah!"

"Susannah?"

"I see you've awakened, detective." William glared at the doctor who locked eyes with Julia's own worried ones. "Let me see those eyes." Taking a small torch light, the man shone it into the younger man's eyes. "Hm." Angrily, Murdoch looked away from the light cursing under his breath while a nurse entered the room. "Cecelia, can you attend to the detective's bandages, looks like they're in need of a change? Dr. Ogden, can I see you outside please?"

Julia placed her hand on her husband's shoulder once again. "Will-"

Startled, the detective turned to his wife in a rage. "Goddammit, Julia we've got to get out of here! My sister is need of help!" Before she could respond, Dr. Best gently led her out of the hospital room.

"How long has he been this way?"

Surprised at her husband's behavior, tears pooled Julia's eyes. "Since he woke up not ten minutes ago. I've never heard him use such lang-"

"Ow! Where's my wife?! Julia?!"

"Dr. Ogden, we may need to sedate him once more."

"You've already given him a healthy dose of morphine, haven't you? I'm not sure how his body will react!"

"JULIA?!"

Julia...

Leonard could feel the walls closing in on him, like a rat in a corner. He had to get the hell out of the house. "Adrienne, find me a place to hide! I'll explain everything, I swear it!"

The pounding filled the normally quite home and realizing that Leonard was home without the knowledge of her parents filled the young woman with intense fear. "Come! There's a hidden door to the attic!" Running towards one of the guest bedrooms, Adrienne pointed toward a small inconspicuous door that, when opened, had a wooden ladder built in. "Hurry! I'll try to buy you time!" Climbing in with one arm proved difficult, but the fear was so great that nothing else mattered. "Go into the farthest corner and don't move! Oh my God, my mother!" Racing back toward her room, Adrienne bumped into her mother who was obviously still in the throes of a historically horrific migraine. "Why on earth hasn't anyone answered the door Adrienne?!" Another bellow from Inspector Brackenreid rang through Mrs. Katherine Burke's fragile brain with a pain she'd only wished for once in her lifetime. Finally, their elderly butler reached the door having no choice but to let the large Yorkshire man into the foyer.

"TORONTO CONSTABULARY! I need to speak to Adrienne Burke right now, please!"

Katherine Burke was beside herself with a contained fury that Adrienne had only seen twice in her life. Leaning over the banister, the middle aged woman quietly raged. "How dare you enter my home unannounced and ask after my daughter without properly addressing her! What does the constabulary want with my daughter?" Her voice was level, calm and low.

The Inspector approached the staircase in which Mrs. Burke was now descending, a bag of ice still being held against her head. Each step caused her great pain, but now she had someone to blame for it and she wasn't going to let the opportunity slip her by. "Who are you, sir?"

"Mother, I'm sure-"

"Be quiet, Adrienne! I say again, who are you?"

"Inspector Thomas Brackenreid with Station House #4. I need to speak to your daughter, alone."

"Absolutely not. I'll need to speak with the family solicitor."

The Inspector knew to make quick work of his inquiries. "Adrienne, where's Leonard Warwick?"

Adrienne's heart leapt into her throat. "Leonard? Why ever would you-"

"Leonard Warwick is my daughter's intended. What in the world does he have to do with the constabulary?" Katherine's patience was running dangerously thin.

"I need to know where he is. Has he come here to see you, Adrienne?" Utilizing her mother's anger, the young woman hid slightly behind her as if she was a human shield.

"No one has been in this house and certainly not without my permission! You have inquired fully enough and need to leave presently."

The Inspector began to look about the sitting room of the house, the elderly butler doing his best to restrain the obviously powerful Brackenreid. "Where's Warwick, Adrienne? Are you hiding him? He needs to come with me."

The ice bag forgotten and tossed onto a nearby side table, the Lady of the House approached the Inspector. "What in the world are you going on about? I said you need to leave."

While Leonard hadn't informed her as to why he was in such a hurry and seriously injured, the young Miss Burke was certainly curious. "Sir, what has Leonard done? He's such a harmless, dear crea-"

"Harmless? Not bloody likely young lady. Your soon-to-be bedfellow attacked my best detective and his wife yesterday at their home!"

Katherine Burke's throat constricted and feeling faint, sat herself down on the nearest chair. Adrienne's world froze in time. Could that wound she was trying to suture have been the result of this attack? "I'm afraid I don't understand, sir…"

"Silence, Adrienne. I'll not caution you again." Her mother's brain now seemed as if it would burst while Brackenreid had almost lost all self-control.

"In other words Miss Burke: if I get my hands on that little weasel, the next time you see him will be in the city morgue where my detective's wife will be handling his dead body!"

John Brackenreid could clearly hear that his father was in the house, but wondered if there was a way he could get into the house without disturbing any of the occupants. If Warwick was indeed in the house, he didn't want him to know that he was in the house. It was then that John thought he saw a face in a small window looking out onto the back yard of the Burke home. "FATHER! HE'S IN THE ATTIC! FATHER!"

"JULIA?!"

Leaving Dr. Best who trailed immediately behind her, Dr. Ogden did her best to once again calm a husband who had gone from angry to scared to worried to incensed in a matter of only an hour or two. "William, I'm right here."

"Where the hell have you been, Julia?! I've been calling for you. That whore tried to stick me with something!"

"Please, William, your language!" His head finally bandaged, he eyed his wife nervously. Suddenly overcome, the detective covered his mouth in horror.

"My goodness, please excuse me Miss. I am so very sorry for my conduct…" Embracing her husband who now wept openly, Julia placed a gentle kiss on his head.

"Hush, dearest. I'm sure Nurse Cecelia knows that you'd never say anything insult her or disrespect her." The formerly shocked nurse smiled kindly, nodding her head to Dr. Best who excused her. "Is there any way I can take William home? I think he would be so much more comfortable there. I could take on his care, I'm more than capable."

Dr. Best shook his head emphatically. "I have no doubt of your abilities, but I must insist that he stay here in case there are any further seizures or complications. That way, if something does happen, we'll be able to perform surgery should we need to."

"This place is unfamiliar to him and it's causing his confusion. I will pay to have a nurse come and stay with him if I am needed at work. Please. He needs to be home."

"Dr. Ogden, I strongly advise against this. Is your home safe? Isn't the person who attacked you still at large?"

"He's in police custody, I saw him arrested myself."

Constable Henry Higgins felt the guilt overcome his entire body. He'd let the detective and Dr. Ogden down and he had to make amends. If he had to camp outside of the detective's hospital room for weeks, he would. Doctors, nurses, orderlies and various members of the citizenry buzzed about him, helmet in hand. First, he'd apologize to Dr. Ogden and then to the detective. Recognizing Julia by her hair, Henry increased his step so that he could get the ugly business over with. "Excuse me, Dr. Ogden…"

Julia turned to him, a brave smile across her face. "Constable Higgins, Henry. How are you?"

"Listen, Dr. Ogden…"

"Julia."

"J-Julia. I want to apologize for everything."

Dr. Best tapped Julia's elbow indicating he was leaving. "Wait, Dr. Best! Please excuse me, Henry."

"No, please doctor. I want to apologize for what happened with the suspect."

Julia trailed after Dr. Best, stopping mid-stride to turn towards the constable. "What suspect, Henry?"

"Warwick."

"What happened with Warwick, constable?" Higgins grimaced at her tone, she could really sound like Murdoch sometimes.

"Why, he escaped the hospital this morning. Didn't the Inspector tell you?"

Julia's face went deathly pale. "What did you just say?"

Source: Mental Floss

*Collie Shangling – A quarrel