C/W. Original character death.
Lucien walked into the station and was not surprised to see a blank space at Matthew's desk. He glanced at Bill who shrugged. He leaned on the desk "So, what's going on?"
Bill looked at him solemnly "We've had a call. A branch has fallen on the Fitzpatrick house. It's Terry"
Lucien paled. Terry Fitzpatrick was one of Ballarat's much-loved residents. In recent years the dementia had started affecting him and he often called Lucien 'Thomas' by mistake, But everyone loved Terry. "Oh dear me" he sighed as he took his hat off and fiddled with it. "Is he…?
"He's dead doc"
"Who's dead?" Matthew's voice entered the room before he did "Jeez I leave you alone for ten minutes" Matthew joked as his eyes crinkled, then stopped at the serious faces he saw in front of him. He paled "Oh Christ. Who?"
Lucien reached out and put a comforting hand on Matthews shoulder as he looked him in the eyes "Terry Fitzpatrick"
Matthew's eyes bulged as he took a sharp breath. "What happened?" he shuffled to his desk and collapsed heavily into his chair. His heart had dropped and his feet felt like they were made of stone.
Bill stepped forward "That big gum tree in his front yard. It ... uh" Bill paused as he cleared his throat "It dropped a branch in the storm last night."
Matthew rubbed a hand through his hair. It wasn't often Bill was sentimental, but Terry was different. There wasn't a single person in the town this wasn't going to affect. "Bloody hell" he muttered
Bill continued "We're just heading out there now Boss. You coming?"
There was silence as Matthew distractedly tapped his fingers on his desk, thinking hard.
"Boss?"
"Yeah, just give me a sec." Matthew sighed "Bring the car round will you Bill? This leg has had enough of walking today"
Bill nodded at him and glanced at Lucien as he left.
"I'm so sorry Matthew" Lucien reached a hand out and placed it on Matthews shoulder.
"He was a good guy"
"He was"
Matthew sighed and pushed himself up out of his chair and Lucien saw his grimace as his leg pained him. "Well, I guess we'd better get moving"
"We'll swing by the morgue and pick Doctor Harvey up on our way shall we?"
Matthew swung his head around wildly "Alice? Why?"
"You have managed to remember she's taking over my police surgeon duties when Jean and I are away?"
Matthews ears reddened. He had completely forgotten about that. And on top of everything he'd called her Alice. She would have to remain 'Dr Harvey' when they were at work. He needed to be more careful. He cleared his throat "Oh of course. Dr Harvey needs to learn proper police procedure."
Lucien smoothed the back of his hair down "Yes. Proper police procedure. Er Matthew, tell me again what that is, I don't seem to have ever got the hang of it." His eyes glinted mischievously as his mouth stretched into a grin.
"No. I think I gave up on you" Matthew rolled his eyes
"Actually, you might just want to call ahead to the morgue, I stopped there on my way here and the nurses said Alice had gone out to lunch"
"She should be back by now" Matthew answered without thinking
"How would you know?" Lucien's eyes narrowed. Matthew suddenly felt like he was on the wrong side of an interrogation desk
"Well, lunch time is long gone. Isn't it?" he improvised wildly. 'Get it together Lawson!' he chided himself
"True"
"So it stands to reason, she'd be back at the morgue by now, doesn't it?" he leant heavily on his stick and shuffled painfully away
"Speaking of lunches, where were you? Ned said you went out"
Matthew could feel his ears getting hot. He didn't stop walking or look at Lucien "Oh, I uhh, actually went for a walk." It wasn't a lie after all "Just think it's about time to take your exercises seriously. But I seem to have overdone it already" that part wasn't a lie either, his leg was killing him.
Lucien beamed at him proudly "Well when we get home tonight I'll do a deep tissue massage if it's still sore"
Suddenly Matthews' thoughts rushed back to an image of him half undressed in Alice's bed. Her soft hands on his mangled leg. Was that really only yesterday?
"Are you getting in the car boss?" he was yanked out of his memories by Bill who was staring at him oddly, and he realised he'd been standing next to the car, looking at the door like an idiot.
Lucien was watching him carefully. "Are you sure you're ok to come along?"
"I'm fine!" he waved away their worry, and as he slid himself into the car, he couldn't help but smile, as he thought of who he'd rather have massaging his leg tonight.
As the car pulled up to the hospital Matthew cursed sending Lucien in the other car. His leg was really paining him and the walk to the morgue whilst not long, seemed overwhelming. But he couldn't bring himself to send Bill to tell Alice why she was needed. "Back in a bit" he uttered to Bill as he swung the car door shut behind him. As he turned the corner to the path to the morgue he saw Alice coming from the other direction.
He eyes lit up as she smiled at him "Matthew"
"I'm here on official business Doctor Harvey" Matthew's tone was gruff and he didn't smile.
"Superintendent Lawson" she corrected herself with a small smile. "I was just on my way to see you. Lucien left a message, said he wanted to see me, at the station?" She frowned at him "Is everything alright?"
Matthew exhaled. "A branch has fallen, at the Fitzpatrick house"
Alice looked at his weary face "Is he alright?"
He scuffed his foot in the dirt not wanting to elaborate. To say the words, made it somehow more real, spreading the bad news, But, the whole town would have to know soon enough
"Matthew?"
Matthew met her eyes "He's dead"
Alice brought a hand to her mouth to cover a shocked gasp and looked up to see tears forming in Matthews eyes. "Oh Matthew I'm so sorry" She reached out a hand and, unsure of where the boundaries currently lay, settled it on his shoulder.
Matthew immediately covered her hand with his own as a tear ran down his cheek
Alice reached her other hand into her pocket and took out a clean, white, pressed handkerchief, embroidered with the initials A.H, which she offered to him.
"Sorry sweetheart, I thought I could hold it together" he took the offered handkerchief and began to mop at his eyes. "apparently not"
Alice watched him carefully, hesitant to say or do anything more. This was another case of her feeling completely out of her depth, another case of Matthew showing her his feelings and emotions. Feelings and emotions which she herself was unfamiliar with, let alone any men in her life. Her father had hated it when she cried, and if he ever saw men crying, he shouted and made fun of them. Watching a fully grown man cry was a completely new experience for Alice. And as it was a man she had grown to care for so much, it was breaking her heart
"What can I do?" she finally asked, completely unable to just stand there and watch any longer.
Matthew took her hand from his shoulder in his and pressed a kiss to it "Nothing. It's just nice to know you're here."
Alice furtively glanced around for any prying eyes, but as usual the path to the morgue was deserted. She boldly stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his middle and held him close.
Matthew was surprised by her open affection but leant into the hug and snuck his free arm around her shoulder, still having to lean on his stick.
When Matthews sniffs had subsided she pulled back. "Are you alright to keep going?"
Matthew saw her pink cheeks and realised how much this had pushed her out of her comfort zone "I'm sorry Alice"
"Hey" she replied softly "You don't have to be strong around me Matthew."
Matthew took her hand and kissed it once more "Sweetheart"
"And I'm sure you'd much rather cry on my shoulder, than your other officers"
Matthew nodded
"You can be strong for them. You need to be strong for them. But never for me"
Matthew smiled softly at her, wiped his eyes one last time and stuffed the damp handkerchief into his pocket "Right, Bill's waiting for us in the car." He turned and grimaced as pain shot up his leg
"Your leg hurts again doesn't it?" Alice's sharp eyes missed nothing
"It hurts like hell" Matthew admitted
"If you come over tonight, I can give you another massage"
"Lucien has already offered"
Alice's face fell
"But I'd rather have you do it" he smiled at her "I like your hands on my leg. They're soothing. Lucien always feels like he's waging a personal war against the muscles"
Alice's cheeks coloured once again as she smiled "Maybe it's just an excuse for you to get into my bed again superintendent" her cheeky eyes danced and Matthew felt his heart jump.
They turned the corner and as one they both composed themselves. "If I wanted to get you into bed Doctor Harvey, I'm sure I'd come up with a much more romantic plan" Matthew muttered out the corner of his mouth, not taking his eyes off Bill Hobart in the drivers seat of the police car.
Alice chewed on her lips trying to hide the smile that was creeping over her face. "You do that superintendent" she nodded at him "You do that"
The car ride to the Fitzpatrick house was silent, and a sombre mood settled over them once more. When they arrived, they saw Lucien and Ned leaning against the car.
"About time" Lucien called "What kept you?"
Bill gestured his head toward Matthew and Alice as he opened the door for Matthew.
"Matthew?" Lucien quizzed.
But Alice spoke up "I was in the middle of a phone call. My apologies."
Matthew shot her a stunned glance. Alice? Openly lying to Lucien? When just this morning she was claimed she was unable to do such a thing
"And where did you go for lunch? I called past to pick you up and the nurses said you'd gone out"
Alice sniffed and blinked her eyes in surprise but didn't let it ruffle her.
"I went for a walk. After being cooped up all night I needed some fresh air. I love the smell of air after a good storm." She raised her eyebrows at him "Is that alright with you? I wasn't aware I needed your permission" she sassed. She indicated the fallen tree branch "Shall we get on with it then? I'm sure Mr Fitzpatrick doesn't like being kept waiting"
Lucien's mouth hung open as it did whenever the incredibly private doctor revealed anything personal about herself.
But he wasn't the only one. Looking at her with astonishment, tinted with a bit of pride, Matthew Lawson was also staring at her with a small smile.
A/N. Earlier this year I lost my own Terry Fitzpatrick. He was a special needs customer of mine, who would come in to my shop and buy cassette tapes for his old walkman. The previous manager in my store was called Rosie, and in the last year he would often get confused and call me Rosie. I wrote this the week he died.
Rest in Peace Terry.
