Katherine woke early the next morning to the sun breaking through her window. The warm light on her face slowly coaxed her out of the sleep that came so slowly just hours before. The events of the previous evening kept her up for sometime and deeply troubled her to say the least. Not only was James injured, but Gillette was as well, and much more seriously. She had sat up in bed, worrying, for what seemed like an eternity until she finally gave in and got a few hours rest. Katherine rolled over onto her back as she remembered what had happened, and then sprung out of bed and stuck her head out in the hall, looking for Margaret. The maid happened to be walking by and saw Katherine's silent request.
"Would you like help getting dressed, miss?" Margaret asked politely.
"If you would be so kind, Margaret, yes I would," said Katherine with a small smile. Moments later, she was dressed and headed down the hall toward her brother's room.
"Breakfast will be ready soon, Miss Katherine," called the butler, Mr. Decker, from the bottom of the stairs. Katherine quickly nodded and kept moving down the hall. She knocked softly on James's door before easing it open. She peered in, not knowing if he was decent or not.
"James," Katherine said quietly. She found James sprawled out on the bed, still in the fresh uniform he had changed into the night before. She frowned slightly at the thought, but quickly dismissed it, as she knew how he was probably feeling. Katherine walked softly to the bed and sat down beside James as she studied him. His breaths seemed normal and some color had returned to his face, though he was still quite pale. She deftly brushed aside the hair from his face and looked at the bullet wound on the left side of his head. It was interesting how a wound of that size could bleed so heavily. Katherine shook her head slowly as she thought through the situation. If that sharpshooter had only aimed an inch to the right…she thought. Katherine shut her eyes before she finished the idea. As strong as she had made herself over the years, she could not stand to even think of losing her dear brother.
Katherine rose slowly and left the room without disturbing James. She took breakfast by herself before finding Mr. Decker. "I am off to the Fort to visit someone. Now, you make sure the Commodore has something to eat as soon has he wakes," established Katherine. "I don't care if you have to force it down his throat, either, Mr. Decker. I think he may deserve it after the frightful scare he gave us all last night," she continued with a wry little smile crossing her lips.
Mr. Decker chuckled softly. Having Katherine in the house certainly made his life less dull. "I'll be sure to see to it, Miss Katherine."
The carriage ride to the fort was delightful. It was another glorious day, with the sun hanging neatly in the clear blue sky. The soft breeze caught a bit of Katherine's hair as she looked out the window. Moments later the horses came to a halt and Katherine made her way to the Fort Charles hospital to visit Lievtenant Gillette. She was eventually directed into a quiet room overlooking the bay, where she found Matthieu sleeping peacefully. She desperately wanted to talk to him, but kept quiet as she figured he needed his rest. Katherine sat in the wooden chair to Matthieu's left and simply watched him. He, too, looked awfully pale as she studied his face. Her gaze wandered up to his short, reddish hair. Katherine smiled to herself.
"Ye don't look like a soldier, that is for certain." Katherine narrowed her eyes in confusion before turning to look behind her. There stood Aiden Quinlan, the surgeon. She smiled and stood up to greet the Irishman.
"No, I am certainly no soldier," she said quietly.
"Oh, I don't know about that, lassie," stared Quinlan as he took a step toward her. His kind, weathered face returned Katherine's smile. "From what I hear, yer quite the spirit. Katherine Norrington, is it not?" he inquired as he took her hand and kissed it.
Katherine looked at him in quiet amazement. "How did you know my name?"
"Oh, I know lots a things, Miss Katherine. Mostly because yer brother could not keep quiet about ye. My name is Aiden Quinlan, and I'm the surgeon aboard the HMS Dauntless, and have been working with the Commodore for about 10 years, now. Fine lad, he is," stated Quinlan as he put his hands behind his back. Katherine smiled. She studied his stout features. His graying hair shone like silver against his tan face. His uniform was tidy, but by no means brilliant as the Commodore's always seemed to be. His kind expression did not seem to hide anything. Katherine paused before glancing back at Gillette.
"He'll be up and about in no time, Miss," started Quinlan. "Don't let his quiet demeanor fool ye, either. He's quite the lively character on ship, ye know. His red hair really does suit 'em, too. Wears everything on his sleeve, that one does."
Katherine smirked at the thought. "You would never know with all the stammering he does around me," she teased without taking her eyes off Matthieu.
Quinlan laughed. "Aye, our dear Lievtenant isn't usually one with the ladies! But ye must not have gotten him riled up then, either. He can be quite quick with his tongue when he wants to. That wonderful blend of Irish and French blood does his vocabulary a lot of good," the surgeon chuckled.
Katherine glanced back at Quinlan and smiled. "I did not know he was Irish as well."
"Aye! His mother is a fine Irish lady from outside of Londonderry. That be where he gets the red hair from. I had red hair once, too. A lot of good it's done me. It comes with a sharp tongue and quick wit, ye know. Got me into a great deal of trouble. Still does," noted Quinlan.
Katherine chuckled as he turned back to look at the surgeon. "You must know Matthieu and my brother quite well," she said.
Quinlan nodded. "Aye, I do. Fine gentlemen, the both of 'em. I was just headed off to check up on young James before I spotted ye here. I suspect dear Matthieu will be more likely to talk tomorrow, so yer more than welcome to come then and see him."
"Perhaps you would like to come with me back to our house? I have a carriage waiting outside," said Katherine as she stole one more glance at the sleeping Gillette.
"It would be my pleasure, Miss Katherine," said Quinlan with his usual charm as he offered his left arm. Together they exited the Fort and began the short ride to Norrington's manor.
James had woken shortly after Katherine had departed. He lay in bed for a time as he studied the ceiling. Moving was slow and painful, partly due to his blood loss and partly due to the fact that he had fallen down a flight of stairs, whether he remembered it or not. He quickly and clumsily tied his cravat and tucked it into his waistcoat before heading unhurriedly down the stairs. As promised, food was force upon him at the request of Mr. Decker. James shook his throbbing head after he had finished. He got up and strolled out into the garden on his way to the stables. Darby greeted him with the usual nicker and demand for food. James took out a piece of bread that was so eloquently forced upon him in the kitchen and offered it to the big, grey horse. He smiled as Darby tasted it and proceeded to search his pockets for more.
"Perhaps if I knock you silly, the servants shall offer more to you as well," James said sarcastically. He reached up and stroked the horse's beautiful face before the silence was broken.
"Ye know, for a Commodore, ye don't follow orders too well," said the all too familiar voice of Surgeon Quinlan.
James sighed as he turned around and leaned on the stall door. Quinlan stood there with his arms crossed and looking quite stern with Katherine imitating his mood. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?" asked James as he narrowed eyes and looked at them from across the aisle.
"This would be where I order ye men to tie ye down to a bed and gag ye to keep ye quiet," jested Quinlan. "So, would ye mind explainin' to me, James me lad, how 'Two days rest in bed' implies that ye can go out and frolic about with the horses?" The surgeon's tone was sarcastic as always, but now undeniably firm. Katherine glanced down at the Irishman. Never before had she heard anyone under her brother take that kind of tone with him. She found it amusing that this grizzled little man could get away with ordering the Commodore around. She smiled and tried to contain her laughter.
"Quinlan, you have an annoying little habit if making my life miserable," sighed James as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
"Aye! Only 'cause I know ye like it so," teased the surgeon as a bright grin crossed his face. James merely shook his head as he looked down to the floor. Darby joined in the festivities by sniffing James's hair and playfully taking it in his soft, grey lips. "Now if ye don't mind, Commodore darlin'," started Quinlan. "I suggest we go inside and I'll have a look at ye head." Katherine stepped forward and took James by the arm to lead him inside. The three made themselves comfortable in the sitting room. Katherine pushed James down on the couch and sat next to him, as if to make sure he did not go anywhere.
"I suppose you've already met him, then," inquired James with a hint of sarcasm and impatience.
Katherine smiled widely. "Why yes I have. I find the good doctor to be quite delightful," she said as she glanced over to Quinlan.
"Delightful…" mocked Norrington as he rolled his eyes. Quinlan chuckled.
"So how long have you known each other then?" inquired Katherine curiously. James paused in thought as Quinlan approached with a bowl of water and cloths.
"It be, what? Ten years now, I'd say," started Quinlan as he placed a hand on James's head and looked at the gash. "I remember when James here first came on board the Dauntless as a midshipman. What a naïve young lad ye were! Running about like a chicken with yer head cut off," taunted Quinlan.
"Unbelievable…" muttered Norrington under his breath as he shook his head.
"Ah, well, ye turned out well enough under my tutelage, of course," stated Quinlan with pride.
"I like to think I have some talent for my occupation, thank you Quinlan," established James as he nodded quickly.
"That too. But it'd be my guidance that keeps yer head our of yer arse," Quinlan said with a smile as Katherine burst out laughing.
James glanced over to his right and shook his head at Katherine before doing the same to Quinlan. "You're incorrigible," he muttered as he rolled his eyes at the surgeon.
Katherine turned to the two characters. "James, I cannot believe you allow that kind of talk, true though it must be," she said through her smile.
James glared at her. "I don't have a choice," he said, the sarcasm never having left his tone.
"Aye!" agreed Quinlan. "He and all the other sailors on this silly little island know this is how I am, so it be best to simply accept it. James here knows to listen to me, though, he's a smart lad. So I suspect the reason why ye ignored me the past few times about resting is because ye be knocked silly, 'tis all."
James narrowed his eyes and turned to look up at Quinlan. "I am perfectly capable of thinking, thank you."
Quinlan simply looked at him and chuckled. "Ye fell down yer bloody stairs, Commodore darlin'! Blood loss only accounts for part of yer cloudiness, I think a right good blow to the head is the other part."
James merely gritted his teeth and sighed. Katherine glanced up to Quinlan, smiling, with a questioning look.
"Don't you worry, Miss Katherine, I don't normally handle him like this on ship. I'm the good subordinate in front of the others. Unless, of course, he needs to be set straight. But I do enjoy giving him a bit of grief from time," stated Quinlan with a growing smile. "Now, I expect you'll actually stay in bed now, rather than go gallivanting about with ponies. Yer not well, James. I'd beat it into yer head, but I don't think yer skull can take another blow."
"Thank you Quinlan," James said looking up. The surgeon gathered his things and Katherine saw him to the door. His presence certainly made her feel more at ease about the situation. She smiled as she watched him depart, and turned back toward the sitting room.
