Chapter Eight

Maria slept all the way home in the Captain's arms and through most of the night, awakening only once in a fit of coughing. Before bed that night, the children had gone into Maria's room and under their father's direction sang a verse of "Favorite Things." Even though Maria did not rouse from her sleep during the song, the Captain and Liesl swore they heard her breathing become slightly easier.

Liesl could see her father was struggling with whether or not he'd made the right decision in taking Maria out of the safety of the hospital and before she was sent off to bed for the night she came to his study where he was having if not enjoying a glass of schnapps.

"Father?"

"Yes, Liesl," the Captain acknowledged, "Is something wrong?"

Liesl shook her head, "I just wanted you to know, I think you did the right thing, bring Fraulein Maria home. She wouldn't have wanted to be in the hospital. It's so dark and sterile. I'm sure she's happier here."

Captain von Trapp studied his oldest daughter. She was only sixteen, sixteen going on seventeen, but she had the wisdom of someone thrice her age. She had detected his apprehension over whether or not his decision was the right one and had come to him to assure him he had done the best possible thing.

The Captain had no words for his oldest child, so he simply rose from his seat and took her into his arms, "I hope she is, Liesl."

"I know she is, Father. Wake me if you need anything," she told him, returning his fierce hug with one of her own before leaving to go to bed.

Due to Maria's condition, someone would need to be in constant attendance and he would have to have a doctor to look at her. He's been foolish and rash to dismiss Dr. Schwartz. Perhaps though, he was not the right doctor for Maria.

Captain von Trapp lifted his phone receiver and spoke to the operator, "Dr. Linda Woss, please."

"One moment," the voice told him and he waited until the operator connected him with Dr. Woss.

"Hello, Dr. Woss," he said authoritatively when she answered, "It's Georg von Trapp. Would it be possible for you to stop by the villa tomorrow, I've dismissed Dr. Schwartz and would like it if you would take a look at Maria. She's developed pneumonia since you've been."

"I'll come out directly, Captain," Dr. Woss told him, ending the call before the Captain had a chance to protest.

Less than an hour later, Captain von Trapp sat with Maria while Dr. Woss examined her. The look on the doctor's face was dark when she finished listening to Maria's chest.

"Her lungs are filled with fluid. Her heart beat is steady but weak. She's going to need constant attention, Captain. I suggest we work in shifts, four six hour shifts. I'll take the first shift. It is important to talk to her, let her know we are all here for her and want to help her get well," Dr. Woss advised. "I fear a large factor in her illness Captain, is that Fraulein Rainer is not fighting to stay alive. She's not battling this illness; we have to help her want to battle it." "I'm not sure I buy into this will to live business. After all, my wife died and left behind seven children..." "I know, Captain, but Maria's case of pneumonia is not that serious. It's the depression killing her. Did you tell her about her wrist problems, Captain?" Dr. Woss asked, as her eyebrows rose. The Captain studied his floor for a moment then nodded, "Dr. Schwartz told me to, he said lying would only hurt her," the Captain responded. "But Captain, Hans Schwartz has had it in for Maria..." Linda caught herself. It was not her place to tell Captain von Trapp about Maria's history with Dr. Schwartz, no, that had to be up to Maria herself. The Captain let it go. He couldn't pursue that little slip of Dr. Woss'; he had to concentrate on Maria's getting well again. "Now, Captain," Dr. Woss studied him, "I suggest you go lie down and get some sleep. You don't look so fantastic yourself and you'll do her no good exhausted and sick. I'll take the first shift. Then your housekeeper perhaps can take over. Who else do you recommend to sit with her? Baroness Schraeder?" Dr. Woss suggested. "Elsa..." the Captain sighed, unsure of that idea, "I don't know, she's not...but the only other choice is Liesl so...yes, Elsa may do it. You know I want to..." "Yes," Dr. Woss interrupted, "I know very well that you and Fraulein Rainer are close and perhaps, you being with her may be what she needs." The Captain opened his mouth to agree, but is cut off by Dr. Woss once again. The woman was a troublesome as Maria could be, "But she does not need you exhausted and falling asleep on your feet. Be gone, Captain, to bed and that's an order." "You can't order a Captain around in his own house," Captain von Trapp countered. "Yes, I can, because right now Captain, I'm Lord Admiral. To bed with you."

The Captain wanted to argue the point further, but he could tell that Dr. Woss was too much like Fraulein Maria to even bother trying, he would not win. He pitied the poor man that married her, almost as much as he envied him.

Dr. Woss set into nurse her patient, while the Captain headed to his private rooms to go to bed. He was tired, exhausted even, but he could not get Maria out of his mind. What if something should happen in the night and he was not there, just like - no, he could not continue to think like that.

The Captain removed his clothing, clothing it seemed he'd been wearing for days, he barely remembered retiring any other night. In fact, given the dreams that had been plaguing his slumber, he dreaded going to sleep. The only reason he even tolerated the idea of going to sleep was because he knew very well, Dr. Woss was right. If he didn't take care of himself, he'd be no help at all to Maria.

In spite of his worry and fear, the Captain managed to fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was so tired from the sleepless night preceding this to stay awake now. Oh, but as he fell asleep and dreams began to play across his mind, the Captain wished he had remained awake.

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The Captain sat by Maria's bedside, holding her pale, frail hand in his. His hand seemed like bear's paw next to hers. He could hear the crackle in her chest as it rose and fell. It seemed to be moving slower than it had just a few hours ago. He remembered thinking that he'd never have to do this again, that he'd never have to sit at the bedside of a loved one and pray to the Almighty that the person be allowed to remain alive. He wouldn't have to that again, because when Agathe died, he vowed he'd never love again. Well, he didn't keep that vow. It seemed, of late, he didn't keep any of his vows.

Slowly, the Captain rinsed out the washrag in the basin of cold water and dabbed Maria's feverish brow with it. She didn't stir under his ministrations, something that only a day ago, she's begged him to stop doing as it made her too cold. He had gently rebuked her then and told her it was "for her own good."

Captain von Trapp knew in his heart this was the end, he knew that he'd never hear her sing again, never hear her laugh again, never be told to go the devil by her again.so many things that had annoyed him the first time she had done them, and now he felt as if he could not live without them.

The Captain rewet the cloth and placed it along Maria's neck, this time she did stir a bit and made a small sound.

"Ssh, Fraulein," the Captain soothed, "It's all right."

"Georg," Maria whispered, opening her eyes and turning her head to meet his eyes, "I'm so cold."

"Georg? When he she started calling him that?" the Captain asked himself, "I know," he eased, "but this will make you more comfortable, I promise."

Maria nodded her head, and then looked up into his eyes. Her lips were tinged with blue and he quickly helped her to sit up so she could breathe a bit easier, "Captain, I need you to promise me something." She said it so simply, so peacefully as if she did not know the finality of what she had just said.

"Anything Fraulein," the Captain told her gently, "as long as you get well, I give you anything."

Maria laughed a bit at him, "No, Captain, we need to be serious and I need to know," she stopped and broke into a fit of coughing, "I need to know that you will always love your children. Don't turn yourself off from them. Not again."

Captain von Trapp felt his eyes burn with tears, partly from her words and partly from the fact that those few words had seemed to have cost her all of her remaining strength. Her grip on his hand relaxed, her eyelids dropped closed, and her breathing slowed even more than it had before.

The Captain knew this was the end, he'd been here before. He felt the coldness settle into the room, he felt the emptiness encase his heart, the protective stone walls erecting themselves so that he could never feel that pain again. But Maria had asked him something, she'd asked him to promise him not to turn himself off again, yet how could he not, when each time he let himself feel he made himself vulnerable to pain.

The Captain noticed Maria's eyes on him, sparkling with tears as she whispered, "Please, Captain, promise me."

What could he do? Captain von Trapp lifted Maria's had to his lips and gently kissed the back of it, "I promise, Fraulein," he whispered emotion forcing the words to catch in his throat, "It's going to be all right, Maria."

Maria gave a slight nod, and closed her eyes, and drawing one final breath, she died with a smile on her lips.

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"Maria!" the Captain shouted, sweat dripping from his body, tears streaming down his face. It had only been a dream, just a dream. But what an awful dream. A tiny knock on his suite door shook him back to his sense and he donned his robe and opened the door, expecting to see Dr. Woss, expecting her to tell him that it was over, that Maria was gone, that their efforts to save her were too late. So, the Captain was both surprised and relieved when he opened his door to his smallest child.

"Gretel?" the Captain asked, kneeling down in front of his crying baby daughter, "What's the matter, Darling?"

Gretel sniffed and held her arms up. The Captain took this signal and lifted her up and held her close to him, "Suppose you tell, Father all about it?" he suggested, "Did you have a bad dream?"

Gretel shook her head no and burrowed a bit closer to the Captain, hiding her wet little face in the material of his robe.

"Come now, darling," the Captain urged, "Tell me what the matter is and maybe I can help, hmm?"

"It's my fault," she cried into her father's robe.

"Ah, no, Baby, no," the Captain assured her, frankly surprised that his littlest child had not has this particular attack of conscience earlier on seeing as it was her kite that caused Maria to climb the tree in the first place.

Gretel nodded her head, "That's what Louisa said," she sobbed, "that it was me and Marta's fault."

"Well, I'm your father and I'm telling you it was nobody's fault. It was just one of those things that happen sometimes. I'm no one's fault, there is nothing anyone could do to change it, and there was no way to stop it. No way to stop it." When he spoke those words he was not sure if they were meant to comfort his daughter or himself.

"But we were flying the kite.."Gretel protested.

"Yes, and little children fly kites, and sometimes those kites get stuck in really big trees. It was an accident, sweetheart, and accidents do happen. No one is to blame," the Captain assured her.

Gretel snuggled closer to her father, "Now, do you think you can go back to sleep now or do you want me to sing you a song first?" The Captain asked.

"A song please," she sniffed and the Captain carried her over to the big easy chair he had in his room. Settling Gretel gently on his lap, he rocked her back and forth and began to sing in a soft baritone voice, "Edelweiss, Edelweiss, every morning you greet me."

Two verses later, Gretel was sound asleep and so was the Captain, daughter having been comforted by father and father having been comforted by daughter, they slept like that through the night.

When dawn broke, Dr. Woss once again examined her patient. She didn't seem to be any better, but she was not, thankfully any worse. Dr. Woss stood up and stretched her aching back. She was surprised she had not seen Captain von Trapp during the night. She ordered him to bed, true, but she was certain that he would at least have come to check on Fraulein Maria during the night, given the fact that a blind man could see he was in love with her. Never before had she see an employer show so much tender concern to an employee, it was nice to see that the class barriers of Austria were finally being broken down.

"Good morning, Dr. Woss," Frau Schmidt greeted, "I've brought up your breakfast. Fraulein Maria's as well, but I should tell you, Captain von Trapp is the only one who can get her to eat."

"I'm not really worried about the eating part right now, Frau Schmidt. Sleep and rest is what she needs. That and some willow bark tea."

"Willow bark tea?" the housekeeper asked.

"It's an American home remedy, but it works well on fevers and pain and so on. I've left some leave with Johanna so she might brew some. Could you ask her to do that please?" Dr. Woss asked.

"Certainly, Doctor," Frau Schmidt answered before turning on her heel and leaving, "I'll be back directly to take my turn with the poor child."

"Thank you, ma'am."

When Frau Schmidt came to relieve her, Dr. Woss went downstairs to brief Captain von Trapp on Maria's condition. She was surprised he had not been in to check on her.

When Dr. Woss got downstairs it was to hear the loud and heated voice of the Captain apparently reprimanding one of his children, "You upset your sister beyond words. You upset me. How would Fraulein Maria feel knowing that all of this blame was being placed on the children when I'm the one." the Captain stopped there, and took a deep breath, "You owe Marta and Gretel apologies. You owe me and apology, but mostly you owe Fraulein Maria one for going against everything she taught you. Now, go to your room and think about that."

Dr. Woss sighed and was nearly knocked over by the Captain's third young own running out of his study in tears. Dr. Woss hesitantly knocked on the study door.

"Come," was the harsh command. "Captain," Dr. Woss smiled, "how are you this morning?"

"I'm not as tired," he confessed, "but I do have a bit of a headache. Enough about me; how is Maria? I haven't been able to get to see her this morning."

"She's no better, but no worse," Dr. Woss told him, "which is good news at this point. Frau Schmidt is with her now."

The Captain nodded, "I'll go up and sit with her after lunch. Elsa will be with her tonight. Your husband called a short while ago, there is a Frau Everstein giving birth to a child in town. He said as soon as you could."

Dr. Woss nodded, "Yes, she's a bit old to be having another baby. I'll head their directly and return as soon as the baby is delivered. If you need anything for her, send someone into town and I'll be back directly. Keep her sitting up like she is now, and give her plenty of the Willow bark tea I asked your cook to brew. If her cough gets dry, add a bit of whiskey to the tea and a teaspoon full of ginger. That will loosen it up for her."

The Captain listened carefully to the doctor's instructions and escorted her out. On his way up to Maria's room he encountered the baroness.

"Good morning, Darling," the baroness greeted sweetly, "I must say you look as if you slept better last night."

"I have, thank you, Elsa," the Captain returned her smile.

"Good, is Maria doing better then?" she asked.

"No better no worse. I think having her back ho.here helped though and having Dr. Woss in with her," he stopped.

"Is it still that bad that someone must sit with her at all times? I noticed Frau Schmidt is with her now," the baroness stated the obvious observation.

"Yes, I'm afraid it still is that bad. Elsa, I was going to ask you, Dr. Woss left to deliver a baby and may not be back in time to.would you be able to stay with Maria for a while tonight?"

Baroness Schraeder was shocked at the request, "Why, Darling, I thought perhaps Liesl would."

"No, Elsa. I don't want Liesl there in case something.I.No, I'm not going to expose my children to that. They've all ready lost one mother figure; I don't want them to witness the loss of another one."

The baroness understood, in fact, she understood very well. She could see Georg's feelings in his eyes, he thought he hid them, but foolish man that he was he did not realize that they showed whenever he spoke of Maria. His eyes never glowed like that when he looked at her, in fact, they didn't even glow like that when he spoke of his dear Agathe. She only had one hope of swaying his heart to her side now, and that was to do all she could for Maria. Perhaps, then his gratitude would turn into the love she sought from him.

"I understand, Georg. Of course I'll stay with her tonight," the baroness told him, "Are you going to check on her now?"

"Yes, I am. Could you see if Johanna has the tea ready?" the Captain asked, grateful Elsa was there and seemed to be receptive to his requests for her help.

"Certainly, Darling. I'll check directly," she replied with saccharine in her tone, before she descended the stairs and he ascended them.

The rest of the day was uneventful. The Captain relieved Frau Schmidt when it was time for her to help serve the supper. The Captain took his meal in Maria's room, all the time talking to her, telling her tales of the children's antics and about Louisa's faux pas, Gretel's fear, and finally his own guilt. Maria lay there motionless the whole time, occasionally coughing trying to rid her lungs of the poison that was drowning her. When she'd do this, the Captain would sit beside her and support her back so that the coughing was more productive. Finally, it was bedtime for the children and Elsa arrived to relieve him. After instructing her about the tea and practically ordering her to get him if Maria should get worse.

The Baroness settled herself in the same chair the Captain had just vacated and began reading the book she's taken from the Captain's study. She found however that the book was not as interesting as it could have been and found she was studying Maria.

"You don't know how lucky you are, my dear," Baroness Schraeder told the sleeping woman, "The love of a man like the Captain is hard to come by." That was all she said, but as the words left her mouth she knew it was true and she knew that she would soon have to leave the place, she had no place in Georg's life anymore. The funny thing was, she was not that upset.

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Maria felt the cold concrete underneath her backside. It was January, but still she's once again managed to do something to upset her Uncle Hans. This time he'd not only smacked her about and locked her in the basement, but he had snapped her wrist back so far the bone cracked and he'd taken her beloved guitar away from her. Her music and singing was the only thing that got her through the horrible days in his house, and now he'd gone and stolen that too.

As she lay on the cold hard floor crying and shivering, she called out over and over again for help. Uncle Hans, who was a doctor in Salzburg, had gone to attend to a sick baron and left her alone in her misery. She knew it would do no good to cry out and call for help, but it made her feel as if she was doing something to help herself.

She must have been calling for hours, her throat burned and her voice was hoarse, but finally she heard the sound of breaking glass and felt a warm strong hand reach through the window. A tall man, who looked remarkably like the Captain, Maria's conscious mind noted, slipped through the window. He wrapped her in a warm coat and began to sing softly to her.

Raindrops on Roses And whiskers on kittens

Maria was comforted by the sound of his voice, but before she could get the chill out of her bones, the heavy oak door opened and Uncle Hans swooped down like the yellow peril and seized her from the grasp of the tall strong gentleman, "Georg!!" she reaching for the man in her dreams, "Georg, please help me!"

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Baroness Schraeder jolted out of her chair at Maria's cry. Since when did Maria call the Captain by his first name? She was certain that Georg had not told Maria to she could do that. It must be a dream.

Before the baroness could react, Maria cried out again, this time a simple scream and the baroness turned and headed for the door. On her way out she nearly collided with Dr. Woss.

"Baroness," the doctor greeted, "how is she?"

"She's having a nightmare, I think. I was about to go and get the Captain."

Dr. Woss rushed over to the bed and listened to Maria's chest. A few seconds later she looked up at the baroness who was still standing in the doorway. Dr. Woss looked at her, "Baroness get the Captain quickly."