Disclaimer: I own nothing except my imagination

A/N: Thank you so much for the love this story has gotten so far, you guys are amazing

Claire woke the following morning with one of her old dresses waiting for her. The reflection looking back at her was one she barely recognised, but she pushed her unruly curls back and pinned them back as much a she could. She put her dress on mechanically, but the weight of the bodice was familiar against her skin and once she was done, she felt more like herself. She joined the rest of the household as the went about their day. From all the bustle going around, she knew that time for breakfast had past, but there was a plate waiting for her at the dinner table so she sat down and ate in silence, wondering what she would do next in order to find Jamie.

Jamie's recollection of Culloden came in fragments of memories. The night was bleak, and death was all around him as he struggled to breathe under the weight of the corpse weighing him down. He was weak and his eyes were playing tricks on him, visions of Claire coming to him before Rupert pulled him upright with the help of someone else that he couldn't remember in the state he was in. What happened in the following days barely registered on his radar and the next thing he knew, he was loaded into a carriage and taken away. He fell in and out of consciousness as the carriage jumped through the highland roads, skies going from clear blue to indigo as the day went by. He didn't know where he was going or even in what direction he was, but he was certain that his fate would be determined soon.

Claire went through the motions in the following days, willing her brain to figure out a way to find out if Jamie was in fact dead or alive. She knew that being here was already dangerous for her, considering the part she played in the rebellion, but she couldn't bring herself to be anywhere else considering that Jamie would find his way here if he was in any state to and she wanted him to know that she was back if he did indeed survive. Her source of hope came a few days later when a ruckus was created in the front courtyard of the Lallybroch estate. She could hear it from the kitchen and instantly raised the hem of her dress, letting her legs take her through the house as fast as possible. Her heart was pounding in her chest and when she made it to the front porch, her heart sank at the sight in front of her.

"Murtagh." She barreled down the front steps and kneeled in front of him, pushing everyone away as he struggled to stay upright. "How did you get away?" She tried to assess his injuries as her eyes darted to and fro his frame to the archway, hoping that Jamie would be next to appear. "Is Jamie with you?" She asked frantically this time.

"I lost him on the moor, barely escaped myself."

"Was he alive?"

"He was when I saw him last, but I dinna ken if he survived or no."

"Help me get him inside Fergus."

"Yes Milady." Claire slipped an arm under his, supporting his weak body upright, Fergus doing the best he could considering his shorter stature. She could see some blood through his dirty shirt, but until she could cut it open and look with her own eyes, she wouldn't know how serious his injuries were.

Jenny joined them in the kitchen with some fresh bandages and some whiskey and Claire went to work tending to Murtagh. She was diligent in her movements, ripping the fabric of his shirt away from his torso while Jenny poured him a copious amount of whiskey in a cup.

"Drink this man, it'll help." Jenny held his hand and brought the cup to his mouth and made him drink as much as he could.

"These are deep." Claire ran her fingers against the large gash on his chest, a second one marring his right flank. "I'll need to stitch them up." She placed a hand on Murtagh's chest and looked him straight in the eye.

"Get on wi' it then." He groaned before the whiskey's effects were felt, his body going limp. It gave Claire the time she needed to stitch them up properly.

"What can I do to help you Milady?"

"I left one of my medical boxes in the kitchen before we left for Culloden, I'll need it, and a pillow." Fergus nodded and disappeared before returning minutes later. "I'll need it for later." She smiled at him in thanks.

"Out wi' you then." Jenny dismissed him and he reluctantly left Claire's side to join the others outside for their daily chores. "I'll be in the courtyard if you need me, Claire."

"Thank you, Jenny." She was left alone, and she went to work quickly, needing to clean the wounds properly before she started stitching them both. He stayed un-moving through the one on his chest but halfway through the one on his side, the whiskey's effect was slowly wearing off and he flinched a few times. She didn't stop her sewing and in a matter of minutes, she was done and was applying some poultices against them and placing clean bandages on them to prevent any germs from making their way into the wound, making it harder for Claire to get him back on his feet. Claire kept busy for the next hour or so and made sure she had some tea ready for him to help quicken the healing, not able to have penicillin on hand to stave off infection. He would have to be moved into a room once he woke, but until then, Claire was more than happy to keep an eye on him. His body seemed to be handling the strain for now, but things could get out of control quickly in this century and she couldn't in good conscience let her friend and Jamie's Godfather die now after surviving Culloden's bloodbath. She was sitting by his side when he groaned, trying to push himself upright on the table.

"Don't try moving, you'll pull on the stitches." She placed a hand on his chest to push him back down.

"Och, I'm fine." He grumbled, Claire finally helping him sit so he wouldn't put strain on his injuries.

"Will you at least take it easy, you stubborn mule?"

"Aye, easy, Christ Claire." He grumbled. "So, do ye have a plan to find Jamie?"

"Not one I can think of right now." She helped him sit down at the table and poured him a cup of tea and something light to eat. "And not one that you will help do you hear me?"

"Dinna worry, if he's alive, we'll find him."

"I hope you're right." The rest of the day went by quietly enough, Claire making sure that Murtagh was staying hydrated and resting enough. The following days found Claire sitting on the front stairs, both hands placed on her belly, her eyes trained on the archway, much the same way as she had while waiting for him to return after leaving with Ian and the Watch all those years ago.

Jenny couldn't pry Claire from those stairs except to tend to Murtagh and even that was a chore.

"Milady, you must come inside to eat." Fergus tried one evening.

"I'm not hungry Fergus."

"You must Milady, for the baby." He insisted. "Milord would never forgive me if I don't take care of you and the baby."

"I know Fergus, but I can't, not today." She could feel it in her bones. Something was changed in the air around them and she knew she just had to wait for Jamie here.

"Fine, I will get mistress Murray to make a plate for you that I will bring you here." Fergus took a few steps inside the house when they heard it both. Claire stood on her two feet as a carriage came through the archway.

"Get Jenny, quickly." Fergus ran inside as quickly as possible as Claire stood and went to meet the carriage, finding a bloodied Jamie inside. "Jamie." Her eyes were watering as he raised a bloody hand from his thigh. He was injured and clearly delirious.

"Jamie, Jamie." Jenny was next to Claire on a the side of the carriage as he slipped back to reality. "Jamie, can you hear me?" Jenny questioned him as Claire tried to get a look at his leg.

"Jamie, can you speak?" Ian questioned as Fergus and wee Jamie came outside to the return of their father and uncle.

"Am I dead?" Jamie finally managed to breathe out.

"You've come home; to Lallybroch." Jenny smiled at her brother.

"Lallybroch." He said in recognition as Ian smiled in relief.

"We need to get him inside." Claire locked eyes with Jenny.

"I can't believe you're really home brother." They took seconds to reunite, but Claire was insistent that they needed to bring him inside to tend to his injury, an injury that could cost him his life if she didn't act quickly.

A/N: dun dun...don't hate me. please leave a review before you go, I always love to read your thoughts - Sarra