Fallen Angel

"Get on!" Norrington cried as he urged Darby forward.  The horse responded with a slight grunt as his stride opened and lengthened more, his eyes whitened and his lungs drawing desperate breaths with each step.  The grey's feet seemed to hardly touch the ground as he flew down the road.  Hundreds of yards behind was Marine Sergeant Wilkins, who had brought the unexpected news of Miss Norrington's accident, and was now trying desperately to keep up with the Commodore's hurried flight to the Fort. 

Several people were still out on the road that day despite the weather, and quickly stepped aside as they saw none other than Commodore Norrington charging headlong toward Fort Charles, followed by a Marine.  Soon afterward Governor Swann's unmistakable carriage drove by in the same direction.  The curiosity of the onlookers was seized.  They half expected cannon fire or another sort of disruption, but none was to come.

The Commodore finally reached the Fort and reined Darby to a sliding halt as he jumped down from the saddle and practically threw the reins at the first Marine he saw.  He quickly made his way to the Medical ward, not bothering to wait for Governor Swann, Elizabeth, or Will as they arrived.  Norrington gathered his composure as he walked down the corridor, but once he turned the corner into the main wing of the ward he stopped at the sight of Lievtenant Gillette leaning against the wall.  The younger officer hardly seemed to take notice of his commander's presence as he closed his eyes and let his head fall against the wall.

"Matthieu," Norrington called out after a moment.  He took an apprehensive step toward his subordinate and allowed his left hand to loosen its grip on the sword at his side.  Gillette opened his eyes and glanced over to the Commodore, unsure of what to say. 

"James…" Gillette started.  His words trailed off as he absently waived his hand toward the door across the hall.  Matthieu closed his eyes once more and shook his head as the Governor approached hastily down the corridor, flanked by Elizabeth and Will.  What in the Hell are they doing here, he seethed.

Norrington drew a breath and moved in front of Gillette and toward the door, hardly taking notice of the Governor's company.  He had not made more than five steps before Quinlan appeared and blocked the Commodore's path.  The stout Irishman studied the younger man before him.  Norrington's breaths were short and anxious; his hand once more gripped the sword's hilt; his jaw clenched as he stood in front of the surgeon waiting for answers.  Quinlan moved forward and took hold of the Commodore's left arm and began walking him slowly toward the door.  "James me lad," Aiden started as he gazed down at the floor.  "I need ye to understand somethin' before ye go chargin' in there."

James stiffened slightly and looked down at the surgeon with his usual cold stare as his concentration returned.  "What is it Quinlan?" he demanded.

Aiden drew a breath as he stopped in front of the door and turned back to face Norrington.  "She had quite the fall not too long ago.  By the looks of it she stepped on some bad masonry and it collapsed right out from underneath her, then came crashin' down on top.  The stone did her a great deal of damage, lad.  Several broken ribs from what I can tell, abrasions, and a laceration wound to her abdomen."

James placed his hand on the wall and hung his head.  He was silent for what seemed like minutes before he mustered the composure to say anything.  "What is the prognosis?" he asked quietly.

"Katherine was a mess, James, I'll give ye that, but I'll tell ye another thing," Quinlan said.  "She's got one fightin' spirit in her.  Much like ye do.  She's been in and out of consciousness, but has not seemed to be deteriorating.  I don't know, lad, I just don't know.  She's sailin' rough seas right now, but with a little help I think she may just tough it out."

James nodded.  He continued to lean against the wall as he glanced over his left shoulder back at Gillette, Weatherby, Elizabeth, and Will.  He studied the group for a moment before Elizabeth turned her head away from her husband and met with the Commodore's stare.  James drew a breath before turning back to Quinlan.  "May I see her then?"

Aiden softened his expression some and moved to open the door.  "Of course.  Be careful not to get her excited though; she needs her rest now."

James moved slowly through the door and closed it behind him as he removed his uniform hat and approached the bed.  The room was lit with the grey hue of the sky, and there was an awkward silence.  The white linen on the bed stood out in the dreary atmosphere and drew Norrington's attention to the figure lying beneath it.  His heart sank a bit at the sight of the pale form on the pillow, but he gathered himself up and strode over to the bedside and gracefully sat in the wooden chair at the head of the bed.  The surgeon's assistants worked deftly around him, gathering used bandages and bloodied water bowls.  By the looks of it they had just finished cleaning her up and had only recently moved her into the secluded recovery room.  The medics left soon after and James turned his attention to Katherine.  Her hair was knotted and out of sorts and her face was shockingly pale.  He had never seen her with anything but a healthy, bright expression.  His gaze traveled down the bed to where her hands lay, limp by her sides.  James paused for a moment before gently taking her left hand in hers and cradling it softly in his grasp.  He leaned forward in his chair and hung his head as he let out a weary sigh.

"Mother will not be happy," declared a weak voice.  James looked up quickly and found Katherine staring at him.  He managed a small smile.

"Don't worry about mother," he whispered as gazed at her.  Katherine's expression was ragged and worn, undoubtedly due to her injuries.  James's face suddenly began to reflect the hurt he felt for her as his smile faded and his brow furrowed slightly.  He glanced back down at the floor, trying to avoid the pangs of disappointment he felt toward himself as he looked his sister in the eyes. 

"I've really done it this time," Katherine muttered. 

"No more so than usual," James quipped in an attempt to lighten the mood.  She laughed some, but the sharp pain that tore through her body quickly ceased her mirth.  Katherine's laughter quickly turned to wounded, choking coughs that threatened to rip her apart.  James instinctively leaned forward and placed a hand on her head as she settled back down into the pillows.  The taste of iron frightened Katherine as she quickly hid her revulsion and swallowed the offending substance back.  "I'm getting Quinlan," James declared suddenly, his tone full of worry.

Katherine grasped the sleeve of his uniform as he rose from his chair.  "No," she rasped.  "James, please…Just sit with me for a while.  Please."

Norrington paused and looked to the floor.  He could not deny such a plea.  He turned slowly back to Katherine and sat back down at her side.  "Thank you," she whispered.  They remained there in silence as she gazed into his eyes for a long while.  She saw things she had rarely seen in her brother – fear, worry, angst, dread – all hidden under his overwhelming concern.  Katherine suddenly felt pity for the predicament she had put him in.  "I'm sorry about all of this," she managed between raspy breaths.

"Katherine…don't speak," James insisted.  He took her left hand once more in his as he glanced down at the sheets.  "It is no fault of yours, so forego the apologies."

"I did not mean to interfere - "

"Katherine, honestly," James said more sternly.  "Do not concern yourself over it.  It no longer matters to me."

Katherine blinked.  She wanted desperately to say the correct thing to him, but was completely incapable of conceiving the appropriate words.  She could only stare at him as the tenderness in her abdomen increased and the pain in her chest became more biting with every breath.  Katherine managed a fleeting smile as she studied his kind features.  "I regret that I am so difficult James."

"Don't be ridiculous," Norrington insisted.  "You're here to keep me in check.  I daresay you do it quite well.  You'll come out of this with your usual panache and can go right back to being 'difficult,' as you say.  That's an order, Miss Norrington."  A smirk fluttered at one side of his mouth as he looked down at his sister.  Katherine tilted her head down on the pillow and looked at her hand that James reassuringly held.  The optimism began to fade and her disappointment grew as she drew another pained breath.

"I'm frightened," she muttered.

James moved from the chair and kneeled beside her and brushed a stray hair from her pale face.  "So am I."

Katherine allowed herself a quaint little smile before drifting off into sleep.  Norrington leaned back in his chair and remained vigilant by her side as Quinlan came in to assess her condition.  He placed experienced fingers against her throat and felt her pulse and then moved to check her forehead.  James glanced up at the surgeon from his chair and watched the grizzled man work.  Aiden finished and motioned for Norrington to follow him outside.  They exited the room and Quinlan gently closed the door behind them.  "She's in a bit of a rough way, James, as ye can see."

Norrington leaned against the wall and casually hung his head.  "She had a coughing fit, I was about to come and retrieve you, but she implored me to stay with her," he confessed. 

"Aye.  I would say there's been a bit of damage to her lungs, lad, but it's hard to say without surgery, and that is, simply put, out of the question," Quinlan declared as he looked beyond the Commodore and noticed Miss Reynolds sitting on the edge of her chair with Gillette hovering over her.  James followed the surgeon's gaze and turned to discover Melissa's presence.  He gathered himself up and approached, Quinlan right on his heels.

"Miss Reynolds," James started.  His words quickly failed him as Melissa rose and approached, a hesitant look spread across her face.  She glanced off to her right to where Governor Swann and Elizabeth still stood, looking on.  Melissa moved to speak, but was unintentionally interrupted by the Governor.

"James, how is the situation?" inquired Weatherby, genuine concern filling his tone.

"Desperate, Governor.  I fear she is badly wounded," James said quietly as the Governor approached with Elizabeth on his arm.  Norrington looked quickly to the floor and then to Melissa, who had just been briefed of Katherine's condition.  He studied her fearful expression.  After one more declaration of sympathy and offer of assistance, the Governor and Elizabeth finally departed, leaving James, Matthieu, Melissa, and Aiden to sit and converse about Katherine's situation.

"Bloody engineers," Gillette spat as he rose and paced around the room.  "How long have we known about the stone deterioration?  They have done nothing!  The masons in this establishment are implacable and incompetent, and may the Lord help them if I ever get my hands around any of their sorry excuses for throats."

"That is quite enough, Matthieu!" James declared with a stern tone.  He fixed Gillette with a firm stare.  "It has been on the agenda for sometime, yes, but ranting about it now is not going to help."  Melissa leaned forward in her chair and placed a white hand on her mouth.  She was taking the news quietly.  Her eyes were reddened around the edges, but the tears had yet to fall.  She shook her head, unsure of what to make of the situation.  Katherine was badly injured, but she was resting comfortably.  The prognosis remained guarded, but Quinlan was at least thankful she had done well this far.

James escorted Melissa home after a few hours of vigil at Katherine's bedside.  She had woken momentarily and assured Melissa of her existence before once again relaxing back on the pillows.  Matthieu stayed dutifully by her bedside while James was gone, stroking Katherine's hair and cradling her hand in his.  He talked to her as she slept, telling her of the latest patrol and the new gossip around the Fort. 

Soon enough Norrington returned and replaced Gillette as the watchful eye.  Matthieu and James locked stares for a moment, communicating their worries silently.  James carefully grasped his friend by the shoulder in reassurance.  Gillette responded by taking hold of Norrington's arm.  "She'll pull through, James," Matthieu declared.  "She'll come out of this all the better."

James just nodded and patted Gillette's shoulder before taking his place in the chair at Katherine's side.  He desperately wanted to believe his friend's words, but something kept him from being optimistic.  Nightfall was upon them, and through the soft candlelit hue, James looked at his sleeping sister and smiled.  It reminded him of years past, when she was a little creature asleep in the nursery.  He had taken it upon himself as a young lad to watch over her.  Mother became tired easily; father was constantly away on business; Thomas had never taken an interest in anything but himself.  And there was James, trustworthy and devoted, standing guard.  The bond between he and Katherine quickly formed, and held true through the most difficult times – through eight years of separation.

Katherine stirred slightly and woke James from his trance.  He straightened in his chair before carefully checking her thin wrist to see how strong her pulse was.  She seemed stable and her breathing somewhat shallow, but rhythmical.  James looked around the room momentarily as a glint caught his eye.  He narrowed his eyes and rose from the chair to approach the small table across the way.  On it was a small gold necklace with a small angel figure.  James smiled to himself – this was Katherine's necklace.  Their father had given it to her when she was only eight years old.  She had gone around the rest of the day leaping and bounding across the house, flapping her arms like she was about to fly away like an angel.  James suppressed the soft laughter and returned to his chair.  He leaned back against the wooden frame and fingered the delicate jewelry.  His thoughts casually drifted back home and the events of the past.  It was not long before his eyes closed and he fell asleep.

Norrington woke with a start the following morning.  He found himself leaning miserably between the wall and his uncomfortable chair.  He grimaced as he straightened himself, stiff from the awkward position he had spend the night in.  His mind then quickly turned back to Katherine, who was looking up at him curiously.  "I was wondering when you'd wake up," she whispered.

James smirked as he placed a hand behind his sore back.  "How are you?" he asked as he studied her.

"Same," she sputtered.  Katherine looked down at her hand and the necklace she held.  "I borrowed this from you when I woke up.  I forgot I was wearing it."

"Katherine, I think it best if you do not speak.  Just rest now," James insisted.

Katherine paused and looked up at him a moment before turning her head and gazing out the window.  "It was beautiful, was it not?" she asked suddenly.

"Was what beautiful?"

"The sunset last night.  You left with Melissa, and the sky cleared just for a bit.  There were some brilliant yellows.  I should like to have painted it."

James allowed a soft smile to cross his face.  "Stay quiet and you shall be able to paint many more," he said.  She only laid there, gazing out the window.  Katherine then turned to him.

"You should go home, James," she declared quietly. 

"Positively not.  I'll stay here."

"Like you've done all my life," she noted.  The pain through her ribs never faded, but she desperately wanted to let James take some time.  "Go.  I will be fine.  You won't be disloyal if you take an hour for yourself, I assure you."

James shook his head in defiance.  Right then a soft knock landed on the door and Quinlan entered.  He looked at the two siblings and approached the bed.  "I just thought I'd let ye know that Governor Swann will be stoppin' by in little over an hour, sir," Aiden said.  "I suggest ye go home and get yerself cleaned up a bit.  Eatin' would be a good idea too, ye know," he teased. 

"My sister already tried that trick, Mr. Quinlan, and it will not work.  I'm staying here," Norrington declared.

"Ye look like hell, Commodore darlin!" Quinlan retorted.  "Matthieu will arrive soon enough to stand guard.  Go home, clean up, eat, and come on back.  Ye won't be more than an hour, and that'll be in right good time with the Governor.  Don't make me chase ye, 'cause ye know I will."

James looked back to Katherine, but her weary expression reflected Quinlan's.  He nodded and rose slowly from the chair.  "I'll be back soon, Katherine," he said as he looked back at his sister.  She smiled softly at him.

"I'll be waiting."

The two gentlemen left the room.  Katherine turned her head and looked out the open window.  Fatigue and injury had begun to take their toll on the frail figure.  She shut her eyes and her grip on her necklace loosened as she eventually slipped back into the black oblivion that embraced her warmly.  She sank against the pillows as unhurried breaths escaped her lips.  Slowly, her body melted into the sheets.  The internal bleeding had become too great.  Her breaths slowed and soon enough the rhythmic rising and falling of her chest ceased.  Her heart gradually came to a halt.  Katherine went quietly as the angel necklace slipped from her grasp.