Carolyn comes down with a bug that the local doctor calls Virus X, but what Captain Gregg insists is the Ague. The doctor prescribes medication, but the seaman concocts his own remedy, and gives it to Carolyn instead, which sends Mrs. Muir back to the mid-1800's, where she is the ghost, and the very much alive Captain is the only one who can see her.

THE MEDICINE BALL

By Kathy

"I do forgive you Captain, and do you know why?"

"No, why?"

"Because you waltz so beautifully."

It had been a dream she doubted she'd ever forget. Dressed in an elegant gown, complete with fan, her hair in rag curls down her back. (That was one reason she knew it was a dream. Her hair lost any curl as fast as it was put in!) It had been a perfect night.

She had loved the buffet table, and the orchestra playing into the night. She had loved watching the couples twirl about the floor; the women in full skirts that made them look so elegant, the paper lanterns brightly lit.

But she knew even if she lost recollection of all that, she'd never forget the part where she had waltzed with Captain Gregg.

He'd been dressed in full uniform; his rugged looking hands incased in white gloves. The sight of him standing so confident and tall, the lord of his kingdom, was one she'd never forget.

It was a moment she'd tried to recreate in her mind many times from the stories the Captain had told her about the dances he had had here. For some reason, it had not surprised her that he could interact with his guests, but it had bothered her greatly that she had been invisible. She hadn't liked it when neither Claymore or Mrs. Coburn hadn't noticed her and she had fought back tears when Martha, Candy and Jonathan hadn't known she was there.

And then suddenly HE had come up to her and told her she looked lovely and nothing else had mattered. He was the only one who could see her, he said; the opposite of how their real life often was. And after some fun at the expense of Mrs. Coburn, he had asked her to dance.

"Are you all right my dear?" the Captain's voice broke into her thoughts, his hand reaching in her direction. For one moment she expected him to touch her.

"Still feeling a little ill?"

"Oh no, I'm fine," she assured him with a smile. "Captain, where did you learn to dance?"

"From my aunt," he answered sitting down beside her. "If I may ask, what makes you think I could dance?"

"Well you've told me about the wonderful lawn parties you used to throw here, and besides a man of your caliber… you would have been a popular partner. So I just wondered, how you learned."

"My aunt said I was a natural. It was a trait all Gregg men were born with. Which is another thing that proves Claymore is NOT a real Gregg. "

Carolyn shook her head and smiled. "How old were you?"

"Twelve. There was a dance after the Harvest festival that year and I wanted to take Charlotte Blake, but believe it or not there was a time when I was all legs. I'll never forget waltzing around the small parlor with her as she counted out the steps." His voice grew soft with the memory.

"I'm sure you must be an excellent dancer," he moved the subject to her.

"I'm not sure how excellent I am but I do love it. I could dance for hours. I was sent for lessons when I was… yes… about twelve. Boys on one side of the room and girls on the other; staring at one another; not sure what to do. We finally got the hang of it though. I went to my first dance with Sam Myers…" and she smiled.

They sat there quietly side by side lost in their memories of the past until the seaman rose up from his chair, saying something about finding Jonathan. "I do wish my dear that it were possible to dance with you."

She watched him disappear into the air around them and let out a sigh a smile.

"Oh my dear Captain, but you have."