Two days passed and Maria was still being treated by Dr. Schwartz and Dr.
Woss. What disturbed the Captain was the neither one seemed to be able to
find a medication to relieve the pain Maria was suffering and neither
doctor could agree with the other on a treatment plan for her. Both
physicians would come, examine Maria, and then would retire to the
Captain's study to discuss her like a side of meat. Today was no
different.
"What concerns me, doctors," the Captain was saying, "is Maria is in so much pain, she can't sit up by herself without crying and even if I help her, its agony, she has no appetite at all, her stomach is constantly upset by the medications, medication which do not work, I might add. She's getting weaker instead of stronger."
"Yes, Captain," Dr. Woss agreed, "I noticed that too, but broken ribs are very painful injuries and they do take their time in healing. I could prescribe morphine for her pain, but it is a very powerful and addictive opiate and I don't like to give it unless it is absolutely necessary."
"Dr. Woss, perhaps Fraulein Maris is using her."
"Come now, Dr. Schwartz, no one is capable of feigning injuries as severe as Fraulein Rainer's. We both examined her, we both came to the same conclusion," Dr. Woss countered.
"Linda, we've both had patients take falls before. She fell out of a tree and got that banged up, what did she do, bounce?" Dr. Schwartz shouted at his colleague.
"Dr. Schwartz! Dr. Woss!" the Captain interrupted the professional power struggle, "Please. Dr. Schwartz, I saw Fraulein Maria fall. I was with her the entire time, I know she's not faking and I resent the implication. Dr. Woss, you were the first physician to attend to her, you diagnosed her as having serious nerve damage in her wrist, damage you concurred with, Dr. Schwartz. How did that get there? Dr. Woss believes it's from repeated injuries to the same group of bones and nerves, no one can fake that. Any way, I digress from the actual focus of this conversation. The purpose of this conversation," the Captain motioned with his hand in a circle to bring the combatants to order and have them focus on him, "is to find a way to help Fraulein Maria. That poor girl is getting weaker by the day. I want something about it. I sat by and watched it happen once. I will not sit by and watch it happen again." To emphasize his statement, that Captain brought his hand down hard on the mahogany desk. "So, if you cannot put aside your private differences and work as a team to help Fraulein Rainer, I'm going to ask that one of you remove yourself from the case. I'll give you ten minutes, because at this point in time, no one is helping and that is what I pay you both to do." With that, he excused himself from the study.
Captain von Trapp retreated to the salon where Max and Baroness Schraeder were talking. It was easy to see from the Captain's posture and expression he was frustrated and upset.
"What's the matter, Georg?" the baroness asked, "Did the doctors give you a bad report about Fraulein Maria?"
He shook his head, "No, Elsa. The doctors once again are waging a battle over Maria. I told them to either work it out or one of them will be removed from her case," he said sitting down, his face in his hands.
Baroness Schrader knew the signs that were plainly put in front of her. Captain von Trapp's worry and frustrated over his children's governess crossed the boundary that existed between employer and employee. In fact, it rivaled the depth of worry one's husband would have from one's wife. She knew if she was not very canny and careful she could lose Georg and all the benefits that being Baroness von Trapp would bring her. The trick here was to distract Georg while appearing to validate his concern.
"Darling, surely in a few more days after the shock wears off, Fraulein Maria will be feeling more like herself," the baroness practically cooed, "but in the mean time, you must relax, you won't be any good to her if you make yourself sick."
"She has a point, Georg," agreed Max, who usually kept silent about his friends' devotion to his governess.
"I know she does," Captain von Trapp agreed, "it's just I feel there is more we can do for her. She's alone up there mostly all day, it can get very depressing."
"Maybe when this rain clear up, Franz can help her out onto the terrace," the Baroness suggested, "we could sit up with her and have tea."
Before the Captain could respond to the Baroness' suggestion, Dr. Woss appeared in the salon, "Captain," she said firmly yet calmly, "Thank you for your business the last few days. I appreciate your faith in me, however, I cannot continue to work in company with Dr. Schwartz and attempting to do so is only going to compromise my ability to helf Fraulein Rainer, and that is not fair to her or to you, so in that interest, I willingly resign from her care."
The Captain was shocked that Dr. Woss did that. In the last three days, he'd paid her more money than she'd made in three months at the clinic in Salzburg. If he had the Wisdom of Solomon, he would request that Maria's care be undertaken solely by Dr. Woss for her selfless resignation, but alas the Captain was not Solomon so he just shook her hand, directed her to Frau Schmidt for her pay, and allowed her to leave the villa.
"That was surprising, Georg," the baroness said, "you paid her quite handsomely."
"I know, but I suppose she feels the conflict is doing more harm than good. Well, I best get to Dr. Schwartz and discuss Maria's treatment with him. Excuse me."
Captain von Trapp returned to his study where Dr. Schwartz waited for him. Before the Captain could say a word, Dr. Schwartz spoke, "Captain, allow me to apologize for my behavior earlier. I did not mean to imply Fraulein Rainer was feigning or exaggerating her injuries. She obviously is injured badly and needs medical assistance in recovering. I'll be glad to provide that for her."
"Apology accepted, Dr. Schwartz," the Captain nodded and was seated, "Please."
"Well, you mentioned that Maria's main problem is pain and not being able to eat very much," the doctor reviewed. When the Captain nodded, Dr. Schwartz continued, "My suggestion then is to prescribe a celery tonic containing a small dosage of laudanum. It will help with the pain and keep her energy and nutrition level up as well."
"What about her hand?" the Captain asked, "Dr. Woss said."
"Dr. Woss, when she's not trying to help the peasants get paid leave, is an optimist. There is no way that Fraulein Rainer will ever again use that hand. It's best she be told now rather than later."
"So there is no hope? No surgery? No therapy? Nothing?" the Captain asked, "Money is no object."
"The emphasis on physical therapy, I feel, gives false hope and unnecessary pain," Dr. Schwartz explained, "You don't want that for her? Do you, Captain?"
The Captain agreed that he did not and asked the most pressing question, "How soon do you feel we should tell her about it? Shouldn't we at least wait until she's a bit stronger?"
"Lying to her will only hurt her more in the end, Captain," Dr. Schwartz assured him, "I would advise she be told today."
At those words the Captain felt sick. What would those words do to her? How would Maria take it, especially coming from the blunt mouth of Dr. Schwartz? At that thought, the Captain made an abrupt decision, he would tell her, not Dr. Schwartz.
"Very well, Doctor," the Captain responded, "After supper this evening, I will speak with Maria about her situation. Thank you."
Dr. Schwartz knew he'd been dismissed and after leaving his prescribed tonic with Frau Schmidt he took his leave.
Usually, at least, since Baroness Schraeder arrived, the children ate their dinner with Maria and the Captain ate his with Max and the baroness much later. Tonight however, the Captain decided to eat with his children so at six pm when Frau Schmidt announced the evening meal, he was at the head of the table. Since Maria had come to the villa, the Captain had said grace each night and tonight was no different. He bowed his head and asked that their food be blessed and that their bounty be shared with those less fortunate than themselves. Then, not really as an afterthought, but more like a spoken version of a prayer he'd held in his heart, he asked God to assist and aid Maria in her recovery.
All during dinner, the Captain made light-hearted conversation with the children, the younger ones still not knowing the depth of Maria's injuries. Liesl could see something was troubling her father but she didn't mention it in front of her younger siblings. Instead, she waited until supper was concluded and her father was finishing up his wine.
"What is it, Father?" she asked, her teenage eyes, showing him she all ready knew he was worried, so he should not try to deny it.
"I have to tell Fraulein Maria about her wrist tonight, Liesl. Dr. Schwartz tells me it won't get any better."
"Oh, Father. It will break her heart," Liesl's eyes filled with tears.
"I know, Liesl. That's why I decided I must tell her, the doctor." he shook his head.
Liesl nodded, "It will be easier on her, coming from someone who cares." With that Liesl turned and left her father in the dining room.
Once the Captain finished his wine he left the dining room and turned his steps to go up and see Maria. He passed Frau Schmidt in the hallway carrying a nearly full bowl of soup and an unopened bottle of Dr. Schwartz's celery tonic.
"Helena?" Captain von Trapp asked, "She didn't eat again?"
Frau Schmidt shook her head, "No, Captain and she refused to drink the tonic too." The Captain took the tray and tonic from Frau Schmidt and with his jaw firmly set began to ascend the stairs to Maria's room.
Maria's room was dark when the Captain entered it and Maria appeared to be sleeping so the Captain cleared his throat and she opened her eyes, "Ah, good evening, Fraulein," the Captain merrily greeted her setting down the supper tray on the bedside table, "How about some soup?"
"No, thank you, Captain. I'm not hungry," Maria sighed and turned her head away from the Captain's gaze.
"I know you aren't feeling very well, Fraulein," the Captain kept his time sympathetically, "but you must eat! You'll only become sicker if you don't."
The Captain moved to assist Maria in sitting up. He gently pulled her up under her arms, careful not too touch her anyplace where he should not. Once her had her sitting up, he propped three firm pillows behind her back, before letting her rest against them. "Is that better for eating?" he asked, sitting in the chair beside her bed, placing the tray in his lap.
"Captain, I'm really not very." Maria's words were cut off when Captain von Trapp shoved a spoonful of soup in her mouth. Maria swallowed with effort and glared at the Captain.
"You see, Fraulein," the Captain smiled, "You are not the only one who is able to outsmart and outwit. The Captain loaded up another bite on the spoon and this time Maria simply opened her mouth and received it."
"Captain, I can feed myself," she told him after three more bites of the soup.
"Fraulein, I've had a few broken ribs in my time, believe me, this is kinder," he gave her another warm smile and they continued in a tense companionable silence until Maria finished ¾ of her soup. She noted the Captain's uneasiness; he had something on his mind, something unpleasant.
Captain von Trapp set the tray aside once turned to face Maria his face very sternly set, serious, not betraying any emotion at all. Carefully, he cleared his throat and prepared to speak. He couldn't make the words come.
"You should take your medicine now," he told her, reaching for the green tonic on the food tray.
Maria eyed the tonic with apprehension, the dreaded celery tonic that was forced upon her as a child, she remembered all too well, "I don't need that, Captain," she whispered the pain in her blue eyes betraying her.
"Fraulein, you may enjoy suffering, but I do not enjoy watching you do so," the Captain said exasperated at her stubbornness, pouring the prescribed amount of medication onto the spoon.
"Who asked you to watch it?" she bit out, "I don't recall inviting you in here."
The Captain sighed and tried to remain in control of his growing frustration, "Fraulein this is for your own good. Please, drink the medicine."
"Captain." She should have known better for as she protested she found her mouth full of the vial tasting celery tonic before she could conclude her protest.
Maria remembered the wretched taste well, almost as well as she remembered the sound of his voice, the feel of his hand as it sliced across her cheek, the pain of tumbling down what seemed to be an endless flight of concrete steps to a room so dark and cold a girl could swear she was in Hell. When she'd left home, she vowed she'd never feel that way again, never live in fear again, never be filled with the chill that his very presence brought to her. Now, it all came back.
To her chagrin and the Captain's surprise, two hot tears leaked out of Maria's eyes and fell down her cheeks. Those tears on her face were like a knife in his heart. It seemed that all she did lately was cry, tears of pain, tears of fear; she was not the Maria he knew, and he missed her.
"I'm sorry, Fraulein, but it's what's best for you," the Captain honestly apologized running his hand down her arm in a gesture of comfort, his large hand resting on her small one.
Maria nodded. The celery tonic was a quite effective medication when one was ill or injured and when it was not being used to manage behavior.
"Fraulein," the Captain continued, "there's something I need to tell you. I wanted to wait until you were feeling a bit stronger, but Dr. Schwartz felt it imperative that you know now. That will give you time to adjust." the Captain trailed off and took a deep breath, "Maria, did either Dr. Woss or Dr. Schwartz at any time explain the full extent of your injuries to you?"
Maria nodded, "Dr. Woss said I have two broken ribs, a bump on the head, and a broken wrist."
"And that broken wrist is not the first one you've had, is it?" the Captain asked gently and Maria shook her head no.
"Fraulein, Dr. Schwartz feels you should know about what he and Dr. Woss discovered. Maria, your wrist has been broken many times in the same place, and the bones and nerves are very weak and damaged." the Captain paused to study Maria's eyes. They were wide and confused so he continued, "Fraulein, Dr. Schwartz doesn't believe you'll be able to use your hand anymore at least not completely."
The Captain stopped after he lowered the boom. He watched Maria's face the way her blue eyes fell on her immobilized wrist, "I was wondering why it didn't hurt like the ribs do," she said with an eerie calmness, "What about my guitar? Will it.work?" she found it difficult to form words.
The Captain felt he best speak honestly, "Dr. Schwartz does not believe so," he answered feeling her pain as much as if it were his own. The Captain waited for Maria's reaction, anger, despair, he was not sure which one. But when Maria, strong, stable Maria began to shake, then to cry and finally to sob, he felt lost.
The only reaction he could have was to take her in his arms, rock her as if she were a child, and try to absorb some of her pain with his body. Captain von Trapp after a moment hesitation gathered his young governess in his arms, and cradled her head against his chest.
"It's not the end of the world, Fraulein," he whispered after he'd let her cry for some time. He knew the continuous sobs must be murder on her broken ribs, "Maybe Dr. Schwartz will be wrong. We can pray he is. We can pray for a miracle, Fraulein," he tried to assure her, to console her in anyway he could think of.
"I know he'd do it," she cried into the Captain's chest, "I knew he'd manage to do it somehow."
Maria's hysterical words made no sense to the Captain, "Who'd manage to do what, Fraulein?" he asked gently.
Sighing she shook her head, all her energy draining out of her, "It's no use," she murmured utterly depressed and defeated, "It's just no use." With that final despairing phrase, Maria closed her eyes and fell asleep in the Captain's arms.
Even though propriety dictated that the Captain should, the Captain could not bring himself to leave Maria's room just yet. After she'd been asleep for a while, he gently lowered her to the pillows, but remained seated in the chair next to her bed.
By that time, Liesl, Max, and Frau Schmidt had put the younger children to bed and Baroness Schraeder was looking for the Captain.
"Frau Schmidt," she asked, "have you seen Captain von Trapp?"
"The last I saw, Baroness, he was with Fraulein Maria. I have not seen him since he went to her room after supper," the housekeeper told her.
Baroness Schraeder knew full well where the Captain was and she knew where her romance with him would end up if she continued to sit idly by while he tended to his children's governess as if he were a servant himself. So, Baroness Schraeder decided to top by Maria's room on the way to her own suite.
Maria was sleeping peacefully, but her breathing was labored and ragged, a sign she was in pain. A knock on Maria's door was the last thing he expected, since he'd left strict instructions with the children that Maria was not to be disturbed without his consent until she was feeling a bit better, yet it was a knock he heard. He was shocked when he saw the Baroness on the other side of the door and not Frau Schmidt or Max.
"Elsa? What are you doing at Maria's room?" the Captain asked leaving the room as not to disturb Maria's sleep.
"Frau Schmidt said she saw you come here. I've missed you, Georg. You've been so preoccupied with Maria," Baroness Schraeder batted her eyes at the Captain. "I'm sorry, Elsa. I know I've been preoccupied but Maria has nobody else. She has no family, no one outside of Nonnberg and us and the children can't sit with her like I can and Frau Schmidt has other duties to attend about the household," he stopped wondering why he was explaining himself. This was his house and his decision.
"I know. And I feel so sorry for her, Georg," Elsa said with genuine feeling, "but is it really fair to her?" she asked.
"How do you mean?" the Captain asked. He believed he knew what she meant, but he wanted her to speak plain.
"I mean she's a young, impressionable girl, Georg. She could easily fall for you, if she hasn't all ready," the baroness pointed out.
The Captain could barely suppress a laugh at that idea. "Else, you really can be very, very funny when you try to be. Maria can't even stand me, especially not after what I've just done."
"What have you done?" the baroness asked.
"I just told her, that is, I just had to tell her she'll never be able to fully use her left hand again. It shattered her. I've never seen anyone cry like that, it was like someone did it on purpose," the Captain said more to himself than to the baroness.
"It had to have been a shock, Darling," she tried to appear sympathetic then changed her tone, "By the way, Georg, tomorrow I shall be leaving for Innsbruck for two days. I have a dear friend there whose birthday it is and I want to surprise her."
"That's a lovely idea, Elsa. Will I see you in the morning before you go?" he asked with a gentle smile
"Yes, Georg," she smiled before turning to walk down the hall, making sure she utilized her femininity as she went.
As the Captain watched her walk away, all of the sleep he'd lost in the last few days started to catch up with him. One last check on Maria and he'd go to bed, the Captain reasoned. That, however, was not to be.
When the Captain did not find Maria sleeping peacefully as she had been. Instead, she was tossing her head about on the pillow mumbling incoherently.
"Please," she mumbled, pleading with some invisible force, "I didn't mean to. I won't do it again, just please don't." she begged.
"Ssh," the Captain soothed her cheek with the back of his hand, "Fraulein, wake up. It's all right." "I can't stop singing - please don't ask me," she sobbed out, "please don't do that, not again - stop please, I'm sorry." Her frightened voice trailed off.
The Captain could not stand to watch this any longer. He had to wake her up, to let her know that whatever had happened in the past, real or imagined it couldn't hurt her anymore. He leaned over her as she slept, "Fraulein," she said loudly, his voice having the desired effect and jolting her awake.
"Captain," she gasped, trying to sit up. When she winced he hurried to help her, "What are you doing here?"
"Trying to wake you up, Fraulein," he told her honestly, "you were having one heck of a nightmare, it seems."
"Yes," she nodded, "I'm sorry. It's just today and everything-" she trailed off.
"I know," he nodded, "I understand. Can you tell me about it?" he asked gently.
"I'd rather not," Maria told him, "let's just say - let's leave it as I had a wicked childhood and I'd rather not discuss it. I'm sorry I disturbed you." Maria blushed heavily.
"It's all right," the Captain said, helping her lie back down, "It's my pleasure."
Maria smiled and the Captain turned to leave, before he did he turned around and said something that Maria never thought she'd ever believe when someone said it, "Fraulein," the Captain said, "You are safe here." Funny, when he said it, she believed.
"What concerns me, doctors," the Captain was saying, "is Maria is in so much pain, she can't sit up by herself without crying and even if I help her, its agony, she has no appetite at all, her stomach is constantly upset by the medications, medication which do not work, I might add. She's getting weaker instead of stronger."
"Yes, Captain," Dr. Woss agreed, "I noticed that too, but broken ribs are very painful injuries and they do take their time in healing. I could prescribe morphine for her pain, but it is a very powerful and addictive opiate and I don't like to give it unless it is absolutely necessary."
"Dr. Woss, perhaps Fraulein Maris is using her."
"Come now, Dr. Schwartz, no one is capable of feigning injuries as severe as Fraulein Rainer's. We both examined her, we both came to the same conclusion," Dr. Woss countered.
"Linda, we've both had patients take falls before. She fell out of a tree and got that banged up, what did she do, bounce?" Dr. Schwartz shouted at his colleague.
"Dr. Schwartz! Dr. Woss!" the Captain interrupted the professional power struggle, "Please. Dr. Schwartz, I saw Fraulein Maria fall. I was with her the entire time, I know she's not faking and I resent the implication. Dr. Woss, you were the first physician to attend to her, you diagnosed her as having serious nerve damage in her wrist, damage you concurred with, Dr. Schwartz. How did that get there? Dr. Woss believes it's from repeated injuries to the same group of bones and nerves, no one can fake that. Any way, I digress from the actual focus of this conversation. The purpose of this conversation," the Captain motioned with his hand in a circle to bring the combatants to order and have them focus on him, "is to find a way to help Fraulein Maria. That poor girl is getting weaker by the day. I want something about it. I sat by and watched it happen once. I will not sit by and watch it happen again." To emphasize his statement, that Captain brought his hand down hard on the mahogany desk. "So, if you cannot put aside your private differences and work as a team to help Fraulein Rainer, I'm going to ask that one of you remove yourself from the case. I'll give you ten minutes, because at this point in time, no one is helping and that is what I pay you both to do." With that, he excused himself from the study.
Captain von Trapp retreated to the salon where Max and Baroness Schraeder were talking. It was easy to see from the Captain's posture and expression he was frustrated and upset.
"What's the matter, Georg?" the baroness asked, "Did the doctors give you a bad report about Fraulein Maria?"
He shook his head, "No, Elsa. The doctors once again are waging a battle over Maria. I told them to either work it out or one of them will be removed from her case," he said sitting down, his face in his hands.
Baroness Schrader knew the signs that were plainly put in front of her. Captain von Trapp's worry and frustrated over his children's governess crossed the boundary that existed between employer and employee. In fact, it rivaled the depth of worry one's husband would have from one's wife. She knew if she was not very canny and careful she could lose Georg and all the benefits that being Baroness von Trapp would bring her. The trick here was to distract Georg while appearing to validate his concern.
"Darling, surely in a few more days after the shock wears off, Fraulein Maria will be feeling more like herself," the baroness practically cooed, "but in the mean time, you must relax, you won't be any good to her if you make yourself sick."
"She has a point, Georg," agreed Max, who usually kept silent about his friends' devotion to his governess.
"I know she does," Captain von Trapp agreed, "it's just I feel there is more we can do for her. She's alone up there mostly all day, it can get very depressing."
"Maybe when this rain clear up, Franz can help her out onto the terrace," the Baroness suggested, "we could sit up with her and have tea."
Before the Captain could respond to the Baroness' suggestion, Dr. Woss appeared in the salon, "Captain," she said firmly yet calmly, "Thank you for your business the last few days. I appreciate your faith in me, however, I cannot continue to work in company with Dr. Schwartz and attempting to do so is only going to compromise my ability to helf Fraulein Rainer, and that is not fair to her or to you, so in that interest, I willingly resign from her care."
The Captain was shocked that Dr. Woss did that. In the last three days, he'd paid her more money than she'd made in three months at the clinic in Salzburg. If he had the Wisdom of Solomon, he would request that Maria's care be undertaken solely by Dr. Woss for her selfless resignation, but alas the Captain was not Solomon so he just shook her hand, directed her to Frau Schmidt for her pay, and allowed her to leave the villa.
"That was surprising, Georg," the baroness said, "you paid her quite handsomely."
"I know, but I suppose she feels the conflict is doing more harm than good. Well, I best get to Dr. Schwartz and discuss Maria's treatment with him. Excuse me."
Captain von Trapp returned to his study where Dr. Schwartz waited for him. Before the Captain could say a word, Dr. Schwartz spoke, "Captain, allow me to apologize for my behavior earlier. I did not mean to imply Fraulein Rainer was feigning or exaggerating her injuries. She obviously is injured badly and needs medical assistance in recovering. I'll be glad to provide that for her."
"Apology accepted, Dr. Schwartz," the Captain nodded and was seated, "Please."
"Well, you mentioned that Maria's main problem is pain and not being able to eat very much," the doctor reviewed. When the Captain nodded, Dr. Schwartz continued, "My suggestion then is to prescribe a celery tonic containing a small dosage of laudanum. It will help with the pain and keep her energy and nutrition level up as well."
"What about her hand?" the Captain asked, "Dr. Woss said."
"Dr. Woss, when she's not trying to help the peasants get paid leave, is an optimist. There is no way that Fraulein Rainer will ever again use that hand. It's best she be told now rather than later."
"So there is no hope? No surgery? No therapy? Nothing?" the Captain asked, "Money is no object."
"The emphasis on physical therapy, I feel, gives false hope and unnecessary pain," Dr. Schwartz explained, "You don't want that for her? Do you, Captain?"
The Captain agreed that he did not and asked the most pressing question, "How soon do you feel we should tell her about it? Shouldn't we at least wait until she's a bit stronger?"
"Lying to her will only hurt her more in the end, Captain," Dr. Schwartz assured him, "I would advise she be told today."
At those words the Captain felt sick. What would those words do to her? How would Maria take it, especially coming from the blunt mouth of Dr. Schwartz? At that thought, the Captain made an abrupt decision, he would tell her, not Dr. Schwartz.
"Very well, Doctor," the Captain responded, "After supper this evening, I will speak with Maria about her situation. Thank you."
Dr. Schwartz knew he'd been dismissed and after leaving his prescribed tonic with Frau Schmidt he took his leave.
Usually, at least, since Baroness Schraeder arrived, the children ate their dinner with Maria and the Captain ate his with Max and the baroness much later. Tonight however, the Captain decided to eat with his children so at six pm when Frau Schmidt announced the evening meal, he was at the head of the table. Since Maria had come to the villa, the Captain had said grace each night and tonight was no different. He bowed his head and asked that their food be blessed and that their bounty be shared with those less fortunate than themselves. Then, not really as an afterthought, but more like a spoken version of a prayer he'd held in his heart, he asked God to assist and aid Maria in her recovery.
All during dinner, the Captain made light-hearted conversation with the children, the younger ones still not knowing the depth of Maria's injuries. Liesl could see something was troubling her father but she didn't mention it in front of her younger siblings. Instead, she waited until supper was concluded and her father was finishing up his wine.
"What is it, Father?" she asked, her teenage eyes, showing him she all ready knew he was worried, so he should not try to deny it.
"I have to tell Fraulein Maria about her wrist tonight, Liesl. Dr. Schwartz tells me it won't get any better."
"Oh, Father. It will break her heart," Liesl's eyes filled with tears.
"I know, Liesl. That's why I decided I must tell her, the doctor." he shook his head.
Liesl nodded, "It will be easier on her, coming from someone who cares." With that Liesl turned and left her father in the dining room.
Once the Captain finished his wine he left the dining room and turned his steps to go up and see Maria. He passed Frau Schmidt in the hallway carrying a nearly full bowl of soup and an unopened bottle of Dr. Schwartz's celery tonic.
"Helena?" Captain von Trapp asked, "She didn't eat again?"
Frau Schmidt shook her head, "No, Captain and she refused to drink the tonic too." The Captain took the tray and tonic from Frau Schmidt and with his jaw firmly set began to ascend the stairs to Maria's room.
Maria's room was dark when the Captain entered it and Maria appeared to be sleeping so the Captain cleared his throat and she opened her eyes, "Ah, good evening, Fraulein," the Captain merrily greeted her setting down the supper tray on the bedside table, "How about some soup?"
"No, thank you, Captain. I'm not hungry," Maria sighed and turned her head away from the Captain's gaze.
"I know you aren't feeling very well, Fraulein," the Captain kept his time sympathetically, "but you must eat! You'll only become sicker if you don't."
The Captain moved to assist Maria in sitting up. He gently pulled her up under her arms, careful not too touch her anyplace where he should not. Once her had her sitting up, he propped three firm pillows behind her back, before letting her rest against them. "Is that better for eating?" he asked, sitting in the chair beside her bed, placing the tray in his lap.
"Captain, I'm really not very." Maria's words were cut off when Captain von Trapp shoved a spoonful of soup in her mouth. Maria swallowed with effort and glared at the Captain.
"You see, Fraulein," the Captain smiled, "You are not the only one who is able to outsmart and outwit. The Captain loaded up another bite on the spoon and this time Maria simply opened her mouth and received it."
"Captain, I can feed myself," she told him after three more bites of the soup.
"Fraulein, I've had a few broken ribs in my time, believe me, this is kinder," he gave her another warm smile and they continued in a tense companionable silence until Maria finished ¾ of her soup. She noted the Captain's uneasiness; he had something on his mind, something unpleasant.
Captain von Trapp set the tray aside once turned to face Maria his face very sternly set, serious, not betraying any emotion at all. Carefully, he cleared his throat and prepared to speak. He couldn't make the words come.
"You should take your medicine now," he told her, reaching for the green tonic on the food tray.
Maria eyed the tonic with apprehension, the dreaded celery tonic that was forced upon her as a child, she remembered all too well, "I don't need that, Captain," she whispered the pain in her blue eyes betraying her.
"Fraulein, you may enjoy suffering, but I do not enjoy watching you do so," the Captain said exasperated at her stubbornness, pouring the prescribed amount of medication onto the spoon.
"Who asked you to watch it?" she bit out, "I don't recall inviting you in here."
The Captain sighed and tried to remain in control of his growing frustration, "Fraulein this is for your own good. Please, drink the medicine."
"Captain." She should have known better for as she protested she found her mouth full of the vial tasting celery tonic before she could conclude her protest.
Maria remembered the wretched taste well, almost as well as she remembered the sound of his voice, the feel of his hand as it sliced across her cheek, the pain of tumbling down what seemed to be an endless flight of concrete steps to a room so dark and cold a girl could swear she was in Hell. When she'd left home, she vowed she'd never feel that way again, never live in fear again, never be filled with the chill that his very presence brought to her. Now, it all came back.
To her chagrin and the Captain's surprise, two hot tears leaked out of Maria's eyes and fell down her cheeks. Those tears on her face were like a knife in his heart. It seemed that all she did lately was cry, tears of pain, tears of fear; she was not the Maria he knew, and he missed her.
"I'm sorry, Fraulein, but it's what's best for you," the Captain honestly apologized running his hand down her arm in a gesture of comfort, his large hand resting on her small one.
Maria nodded. The celery tonic was a quite effective medication when one was ill or injured and when it was not being used to manage behavior.
"Fraulein," the Captain continued, "there's something I need to tell you. I wanted to wait until you were feeling a bit stronger, but Dr. Schwartz felt it imperative that you know now. That will give you time to adjust." the Captain trailed off and took a deep breath, "Maria, did either Dr. Woss or Dr. Schwartz at any time explain the full extent of your injuries to you?"
Maria nodded, "Dr. Woss said I have two broken ribs, a bump on the head, and a broken wrist."
"And that broken wrist is not the first one you've had, is it?" the Captain asked gently and Maria shook her head no.
"Fraulein, Dr. Schwartz feels you should know about what he and Dr. Woss discovered. Maria, your wrist has been broken many times in the same place, and the bones and nerves are very weak and damaged." the Captain paused to study Maria's eyes. They were wide and confused so he continued, "Fraulein, Dr. Schwartz doesn't believe you'll be able to use your hand anymore at least not completely."
The Captain stopped after he lowered the boom. He watched Maria's face the way her blue eyes fell on her immobilized wrist, "I was wondering why it didn't hurt like the ribs do," she said with an eerie calmness, "What about my guitar? Will it.work?" she found it difficult to form words.
The Captain felt he best speak honestly, "Dr. Schwartz does not believe so," he answered feeling her pain as much as if it were his own. The Captain waited for Maria's reaction, anger, despair, he was not sure which one. But when Maria, strong, stable Maria began to shake, then to cry and finally to sob, he felt lost.
The only reaction he could have was to take her in his arms, rock her as if she were a child, and try to absorb some of her pain with his body. Captain von Trapp after a moment hesitation gathered his young governess in his arms, and cradled her head against his chest.
"It's not the end of the world, Fraulein," he whispered after he'd let her cry for some time. He knew the continuous sobs must be murder on her broken ribs, "Maybe Dr. Schwartz will be wrong. We can pray he is. We can pray for a miracle, Fraulein," he tried to assure her, to console her in anyway he could think of.
"I know he'd do it," she cried into the Captain's chest, "I knew he'd manage to do it somehow."
Maria's hysterical words made no sense to the Captain, "Who'd manage to do what, Fraulein?" he asked gently.
Sighing she shook her head, all her energy draining out of her, "It's no use," she murmured utterly depressed and defeated, "It's just no use." With that final despairing phrase, Maria closed her eyes and fell asleep in the Captain's arms.
Even though propriety dictated that the Captain should, the Captain could not bring himself to leave Maria's room just yet. After she'd been asleep for a while, he gently lowered her to the pillows, but remained seated in the chair next to her bed.
By that time, Liesl, Max, and Frau Schmidt had put the younger children to bed and Baroness Schraeder was looking for the Captain.
"Frau Schmidt," she asked, "have you seen Captain von Trapp?"
"The last I saw, Baroness, he was with Fraulein Maria. I have not seen him since he went to her room after supper," the housekeeper told her.
Baroness Schraeder knew full well where the Captain was and she knew where her romance with him would end up if she continued to sit idly by while he tended to his children's governess as if he were a servant himself. So, Baroness Schraeder decided to top by Maria's room on the way to her own suite.
Maria was sleeping peacefully, but her breathing was labored and ragged, a sign she was in pain. A knock on Maria's door was the last thing he expected, since he'd left strict instructions with the children that Maria was not to be disturbed without his consent until she was feeling a bit better, yet it was a knock he heard. He was shocked when he saw the Baroness on the other side of the door and not Frau Schmidt or Max.
"Elsa? What are you doing at Maria's room?" the Captain asked leaving the room as not to disturb Maria's sleep.
"Frau Schmidt said she saw you come here. I've missed you, Georg. You've been so preoccupied with Maria," Baroness Schraeder batted her eyes at the Captain. "I'm sorry, Elsa. I know I've been preoccupied but Maria has nobody else. She has no family, no one outside of Nonnberg and us and the children can't sit with her like I can and Frau Schmidt has other duties to attend about the household," he stopped wondering why he was explaining himself. This was his house and his decision.
"I know. And I feel so sorry for her, Georg," Elsa said with genuine feeling, "but is it really fair to her?" she asked.
"How do you mean?" the Captain asked. He believed he knew what she meant, but he wanted her to speak plain.
"I mean she's a young, impressionable girl, Georg. She could easily fall for you, if she hasn't all ready," the baroness pointed out.
The Captain could barely suppress a laugh at that idea. "Else, you really can be very, very funny when you try to be. Maria can't even stand me, especially not after what I've just done."
"What have you done?" the baroness asked.
"I just told her, that is, I just had to tell her she'll never be able to fully use her left hand again. It shattered her. I've never seen anyone cry like that, it was like someone did it on purpose," the Captain said more to himself than to the baroness.
"It had to have been a shock, Darling," she tried to appear sympathetic then changed her tone, "By the way, Georg, tomorrow I shall be leaving for Innsbruck for two days. I have a dear friend there whose birthday it is and I want to surprise her."
"That's a lovely idea, Elsa. Will I see you in the morning before you go?" he asked with a gentle smile
"Yes, Georg," she smiled before turning to walk down the hall, making sure she utilized her femininity as she went.
As the Captain watched her walk away, all of the sleep he'd lost in the last few days started to catch up with him. One last check on Maria and he'd go to bed, the Captain reasoned. That, however, was not to be.
When the Captain did not find Maria sleeping peacefully as she had been. Instead, she was tossing her head about on the pillow mumbling incoherently.
"Please," she mumbled, pleading with some invisible force, "I didn't mean to. I won't do it again, just please don't." she begged.
"Ssh," the Captain soothed her cheek with the back of his hand, "Fraulein, wake up. It's all right." "I can't stop singing - please don't ask me," she sobbed out, "please don't do that, not again - stop please, I'm sorry." Her frightened voice trailed off.
The Captain could not stand to watch this any longer. He had to wake her up, to let her know that whatever had happened in the past, real or imagined it couldn't hurt her anymore. He leaned over her as she slept, "Fraulein," she said loudly, his voice having the desired effect and jolting her awake.
"Captain," she gasped, trying to sit up. When she winced he hurried to help her, "What are you doing here?"
"Trying to wake you up, Fraulein," he told her honestly, "you were having one heck of a nightmare, it seems."
"Yes," she nodded, "I'm sorry. It's just today and everything-" she trailed off.
"I know," he nodded, "I understand. Can you tell me about it?" he asked gently.
"I'd rather not," Maria told him, "let's just say - let's leave it as I had a wicked childhood and I'd rather not discuss it. I'm sorry I disturbed you." Maria blushed heavily.
"It's all right," the Captain said, helping her lie back down, "It's my pleasure."
Maria smiled and the Captain turned to leave, before he did he turned around and said something that Maria never thought she'd ever believe when someone said it, "Fraulein," the Captain said, "You are safe here." Funny, when he said it, she believed.
