Demons from the Past
by Olivia Sutton
Part 7 of 7
Disclaimer: This fanfic is written for fun, for the enjoyment of other fans, and for reviews, but never for profit, so please don't sue! Based on the new (2000-2001) version of Randall and Hopkirk (deceased) starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, copyright to the BBC 2000-2001. (previous version copyrighted 1969 by ITC).
PLEASE PLEASE NOTE: the individuals, places, and institutions portrayed in this story are absolutely fictional, no real person or persons are meant to be implied or suggested in this fanfic. Any resemblance to real people, teachers, schools or anything or anyone else is absolutely a co-incidence and accidental.
Warnings:Again, dealing with adult topics, adult situations, and violence (including the aftermath of violence). Please do not read if easily offended or under-age. This story is reluctantly rated R, no one under 18 admitted without parent or guardian. And if you are under-age, for god's sake don't tell me. 'Nuff said.
Demons from the Past
by Olivia Sutton
Part 7
A few days later, Jeff sat in the offices of Randall and Hopkirk (deceased) Security Services, sorting paperwork and finishing reports, when Jeannie came in. Jeannie walked to his desk and stood in front of him, tapping her foot in annoyance.
"Jeff, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to stay home and rest?"
"I was bored, Jeannie. I'm only catching up on the paperwork. I should write up a report to send to Sir Worthington and..."
Jeannie interrupted, "You know what they said at the hospital, Jeff. They only discharged you on the condition that you get some rest."
Jeff set down the file he was reading with a thump, "Jeannie... I'm fine, I'm telling you, I'm fine," he said, his tone annoyed.
"With all respect, Jeff, you're not."
Jeff glared at her but was saved from answering by a knock on the door that separated the inner office from the outer office.
"Come in!" shouted Jeff. Jeannie glared at him, then moved to Marty's desk and sat down.
A plainclothes police officer came in, and sat before Jeff's desk. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, with sandy, light brown hair, and hazel eyes, "Hello, Mr. Randall, Miss Hurst, I'm D.S. Charles Cooper."
Jeff nodded in acknowledgement, then said tiredly, "And how can we help you, Detective Cooper?"
Jeannie nodded, "I remember, from the flat, right?"
Cooper smiled at her, "That's right, Miss Hurst," then he turned to Jeff, "No help needed, this is only a courtesy call, we've closed the Clive Worthington case, and the Ed Barrington case, and the George Williams one as well."
Jeff looked at him, expectantly.
"Williams rolled over. He admitted hiring Barrington to murder Clive Worthington. Apparently, the boy threatened to expose Williams' actions at Abbotts Field Comp."
Jeff looked at the officer, "Clive threatened his abuser?"
"Apparently," answered DS Cooper.
"He... that is, Mark and Brett, they told me that Clive had said he was going to stop Williams from ever... hurting... touching them ever again."
"Well, apparently he meant it. He threatened Williams."
Jeff dragged a hand over his face, "What happened?"
"From what we can tell, and from what Williams admitted, he hired Barrington. And Barrington committed suicide, so it's open and shut, really."
"And... I..." Jeff took a deep breath, "I found the body, detective, Clive's condition..."
"Barrington had a history of abusing teenaged and pre-teen boys, going back two and a half decades. He'd been imprisoned once."
Jeff looked at him shock, "He'd been imprisoned once? Why was he out?"
Cooper looked away, and didn't answer.
"What will happen to Williams? You going to let him out too?"
"No, he'll serve time for conspiracy to commit murder, and then additional time in a facility for what he did at the school to those boys."
"A facility?"
"A rehabilitation center."
Jeff glared him, then stood and walked to the window, he looked out for a moment, then turned and looked at Cooper, "He'll get out, eventually, won't he? And he'll hurt more boys!"
Cooper stood, "Probably. Sir..."
Jeff looked at him, silently.
Jeannie looked at Jeff, and then at Cooper, "We... my... Detective..."
"Cooper, ma'am."
"Cooper. Jeff and I... we..." Jeannie took a deep breath, then said, "It was personal for us, this case, especially for Jeff, a friend of his had been... well," she stopped.
Jeff nodded at her, then finished, "The thing is, officer, my best mate...he'd been..." Jeff left off.
Cooper nodded, sympathetically, "He was a victim, sir? You knew someone, personally, that had been abused, didn't you?"
Jeff nodded, "Yeah, I did. My partner, Marty."
Cooper sighed, "I'm sorry, sir. I am. It is difficult."
Jeff nodded again, "Yah, it is... When I... That is, I mean, I talked to Mark Daley, and his mates at Abbotts Field, I know what Williams did to them," Jeff looked off in the distance, thinking, then continued harshly, "And he's not even going to be punished? He'll be free to do it again? Are you really telling me that?" Jeff's voice rose in anger.
Cooper raised his hand and ran it through his own hair in frustration, "I have a young son of my own, sir, I understand, I do. But it's the most we could do, with him admitting to the conspiracy charges, the facility is the best we could do for punishment. I am sorry."
Jeff nodded and turned away. Jeannie stood, and walked towards the detective. On her way over, she patted Jeff's shoulder. When she reached Detective Cooper, she touched his arm, "Maybe you should leave now. Thank you for telling us." She looked at Jeff, who was staring out the window again, "He knows it wasn't your fault, detective, you're only the messenger."
Cooper nodded at her, "I am sorry, miss, I am. I wish I could tell you something different, but..."
Jeannie took his arm, and started to lead him towards the door to the outer office, "I know."
Once the detective had left, Jeannie walked over to Jeff.
Jeff stood there, tears running down his face, "It was all for nowt, Jeannie..."
"Don't say that, Jeff!"
"But... it's true. Nothing I did... it won't help, not really," Jeff knuckled his eyes, then added, "God, why!"
"I don't know, I don't know. Shush, Jeff... and you did help. The boys at the school, you did help them, you did."
Jeff shook his head, crying.
Jeannie touched his face, "This may seem like a strange suggestion, Jeff, but I think we should consider going someplace, a holiday, away from here."
Jeff sniffed, controlling his tears, then said, "We can't afford it, Jeannie. We need to start making some money, for the baby, for your and Marty's baby..."
Jeannie touched her stomach, automatically, "Jeff, this baby will need somebody, someone to tell him about Marty. Someone to be like a father to him."
Jeff looked at her.
"Jeff, you can do that, but not if you aren't here."
Jeff glared at her, "Jeannie, I'm angry, but I'm not that desperate! For god's sake, Jeannie!"
"All I'm suggesting is a holiday, Jeff, that's all."
Jeff just looked at her, "The business."
"No, Jeff," Jeannie insisted, "Right now, what you need is to get away, away from London, away from all of this," She indicated the office with her hand, then returned her hand to her stomach, "You are in no condition to take on a new case, not yet. We need a few days off, a holiday, come on, Jeff."
Jeff pulled away from her and pulled himself together, "I don't know, Jeannie, I..."
"Just a few days, a week, maybe even a fortnight?"
"A fortnight? Jeannie..."
Marty appeared and looked at Jeff, whose eyes were red, "Jeff, what's happening?"
Jeannie looked at Jeff, who was a mess, "Jeff you are in no condition to be working. You can not take on a new case, not right now, not until you come to terms with all this. My sister has a cottage in Cornwall, on the coast. She's always telling me I can borrow it. I'll call her, but I'm sure it will be all right. Jeff, you need a holiday! I've been so worried about you." Jeannie moved closer to him and touched his face, comforting him, "The police have closed the case, well, the cases," she corrected, emphasising the plural, before rushing on, "Come on, Jeff, let's close up the office and go on holiday!" Jeannie said, tears in her eyes.
"Thanks, Jeannie," said Marty, smiling at her as she finished her speech, "Jeff, she's right. I'm worried as well. The business will be all right if you take a few days off. A holiday in Cornwall will be perfect for you."
Jeff nodded, pulling himself together, "Cornwall? Won't it be a bit chilly this time of year?"
Jeannie looked out the window, then said, "Well, it will be quiet, no tourists for a few months."
Jeff nodded, first at Marty, and then at Jeannie, "All right. I'll finish up the paperwork, get the report and everything in the post, and then I'll pack and leave, all right?"
Marty looked at Jeff, then said, "Take Jeannie with you, Jeff, you shouldn't be alone."
"I'm coming, as well, Jeff," Jeannie said at the same time.
Jeff looked between the two of them, "All right, Jeannie, you can come along."
Jeannie nodded, "I'll phone Wendy, and pick-up the keys." She swept out of the room, quickly.
Jeff turned to Marty, "You want me to go, on holiday, with Jeannie, to Cornwall?" he said, incredulously.
Marty grimaced, "Well, it's better than the alternative, Jeff."
"And what alternative is that, Marty?" Jeff asked harshly.
Marty closed his eyes and backed off, then opened his eyes and looked down, "You taking another case right now, and... and not being careful."
Jeff looked at him, then his expression softened, "What do you mean by that?"
Marty took a deep breath then moved closer to Jeff, "Jeff, do you even remember what you said to Jeannie in the car, after you found Clive Worthington's body?"
Jeff started, and turned from Marty, then murmured, "I... I know what Jeannie told me I said. I have a vague notion of saying it."
Marty nodded, then appeared in front of Jeff, "Jeff, you are in no condition to be working. Jeff, please, you need to take some time, away from the business, and get yourself together. Don't argue with me about this..." then he disappeared, suddenly.
"Marty?" Jeff said, but his mate had disappeared from the office. Jeff shook his head in confusion, then returned his concentration to his paperwork.
Marty appeared in Limbo, and yelled angrily at Wyvern, "What do you think you're doing? I was in the middle of a very important conversation!"
"Marty!" Wyvern shouted back, then his voice dropped, "Marty, you can't go 'round the mortal plane fulfilling your personal vendettas from when you were alive! What are the rules of being a ghost, Marty?"
Marty looked at Wyvern, angrily, then said, "Only Jeff can see me, and..." He left off, then hung his head, "I know the rules, Wyvern."
"Marty, if you knew the rules, why did you break them? You are not to actually murder a mortal, Marty, especially when there's connections between you."
"Connections? Do you know what that man did to me? Do you?"
Wyvern looked away, then appeared next to Marty, "I know, Marty, I know. I was there, I saw everything that happened. And I know what you intended to do that night, Marty, I do."
Marty looked at him in shock, then moved a chair near himself and sat heavily, "How? How do you know? What do you mean you saw it?"
Wyvern knelt next to Marty and lightly touched his arm, "Marty, I was watching over you. We've had a connection since you were born, Marty. That's why I'm your guide," he stood, "How do you think Jeff knew to be there that night, Marty?"
"He knew, when... when we were kids, teenagers, he always knew. Whenever I was in trouble, he knew, he was there. And once, once I knew when he was in real trouble and he needed me, though we were older, then," Marty looked off at the shifting walls of Wyvern's room, then looked back at Wyvern, "I felt it, so strongly, that day. But we were always close, I knew what he was thinking, what he was feeling. My ability to read him is even stronger, now, Wyvern."
Wyvern nodded, "I know, Marty, I know, you have abilities, Marty, special abilities. Jeff has abilities as well, but they aren't as strong as yours are, Marty, so I needed to shout at him, I stood in his bedroom that night and I shouted at him. Screamed at him, 'Marty needs you! He's at school, he needs you!' Over and over, until he woke up and left for school."
Marty looked at Wyvern, confused. "How'd you know to send him there?"
"Because I knew where you'd go. Marty, I couldn't let you... I couldn't allow you to..." Wyvern's voice dropped, then he said, emotionally, "It wasn't your time, Marty, but if I didn't do something, I knew... I had to stop you."
Marty looked at Wyvern, "I don't understand."
Wyvern looked at the shifting walls of his room, "Marty, I was, I suppose you could say I was a facilitator. I wasn't suppose to interfere, but I became..." Wyvern sighed, "I cared for you, Marty, from watching you for so long, and with Jeff's abilities and yours, I was able to... to help you both."
"Help us both? How?"
"By passing along messages, thoughts, feelings, emotions, Marty."
"My ability to read him," stated Marty, confidently.
"Yes, and his to read you. You both have natural empathy, Marty. And you have... abilities, more than you know. I helped you both along."
Marty thought for a moment, then said, "That afternoon, that day... when I, that is, when Jeff..."
Wyvern interrupted, "I urged you to go to him, Marty. I couldn't stand by and let him... I knew what it would do to you to lose Jeff, Marty, and I couldn't allow that. Like I couldn't allow you to, to carry out your plan, Marty."
Marty nodded in understanding, "Thank you, Wyvern. I mean it, thank you so much for helping us both, for being our facilitator, as you say. So why can I read Jeff so well, now, even more than before?"
Wyvern sighed, "Marty, I can't explain any more. But what that man did doesn't excuse what you did. You aren't to decide the fate of anyone, Marty. A ghost can only, bring someone over, under very special circumstances, and it wasn't Ed Barrington's time, not quite yet."
Marty nodded, "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"Yes, Marty, you are."
Marty looked at him, "So, What's my punishment, then? I've told Jeff, I won't leave him."
"I wish you hadn't said that, Marty."
Marty stood, "I won't! I won't leave him, down there, alone, I won't! He needs me, Wyvern! He needs me in his life, he does. Jeff would, he will, he would fall apart without me! Wyvern!"
"Marty, you are going into cold storage. You need to think about your actions, Marty, you need to think about the rules, and why the rules exist. Barrington would have suffered, Marty, believe me, and you actually prevented that."
Marty nodded, "I need to tell Jeff."
"No, Marty, you've seen him twice, now, and you need to be punished, I'm sorry."
Marty shook his head, "I can't leave it like this! I need to talk to him! To explain. I can't let him think I abandoned him! Or that I'm angry at him! No, Wyvern, please, let me see him once more."
Wyvern looked at Marty, "It against the rules to let you go down there, Marty."
Marty went to Wyvern, and touched his arm, then looked at him, begging, "Please, Wyvern, please let me see him, just once more. Please. I shall serve extra time in storage, but please."
"How much longer, Marty?"
Marty backed off, and pulled himself up, "As long as you want. But I want you to look out for him, for me. Please. Him and Jeannie. If nothing happens to them - if Jeff doesn't, get himself in any trouble, or hurt, or anything, I'll stay as long as you want."
Wyvern nodded, "As long as you need, Marty, you must learn the error of your ways."
Marty nodded, "Yah, whatever, now please, please let me see Jeff."
Wyvern smiled, tightly, "Oh, all right, go. But come back quickly, Marty, if I have to come and get you, it will reflect badly on us both!"
Marty waved his hand at Wyvern, and disappeared.
Jeff sat at his desk, working, when suddenly Marty popped in, "Hi, Jeff."
Jeff jumped, "Don't do that, Marty! You startled me!"
Marty looked at him, in shock, and asked, "Jeff, What is going on with you?'
"What do you mean, Marty?" Jeff asked, turning his desk chair away, then he put his hand to his chin.
Marty disappeared and re-appeared in front of Jeff, "Come on, Jeff, something's wrong and you won't talk to me about it. Even Jeannie's noticed, and she's not as in tune with you as I am. Now, talk."
Jeff shook his head, and turned away again.
Marty stayed behind him and said, quietly, "Come on, Jeff, I know this case was difficult, but that's not all of it, is it?"
Jeff sighed, "No, it isn't. The case was difficult enough; I'm a detective, not a copper, I'm not used to cases like this. Not that I'd think the police are used to it, either, but god, Marty, I mean..."
Marty appeared in front of him and nodded, "There's more to it, isn't there, Jeff?"
Jeff took a deep breath and slowly let it out, "Yah, there is, Marty. It's... it's to do with you. With us. With things that happened when we were, well, I was going to say kids, but we weren't kids, not for long, not after it happened."
Marty nodded, "I'm sorry about that, Jeff, I... I needed someone and I leant on you, and maybe that wasn't fair..."
Jeff interrupted, "No, Marty, don't say that. Please. I'm not blaming you, at'all, and I'm glad I was there. I'm glad you had me to lean on, I am, Marty, always. And..." Jeff left off.
Marty's eyes filled as he looked at Jeff, "I've always been very grateful, Jeff. I hope you know that."
Jeff nodded, understanding exactly what Marty was saying, "But, I, Marty, there were things I never dealt with... and this has brought up so much. I don't want to hurt you, I don't, not at'all. I can't explain but, I've... I'm glad I was there, Marty, and I'm glad we took you in, my parents, that is. You're my best mate, I..." Jeff looked up helplessly.
Marty nodded, "I know, Jeff, it was a near thing, probably nearer than you know."
Jeff nodded again, "I'm just starting to realise that, Marty."
Marty nodded again, "Jeff, I... I don't want to add to your burdens, I don't, but there's something I've got to tell you, I've got to."
Jeff looked up at him.
Marty took a deep breath, "I... The thing is, Jeff, you won't... I won't..."
"Spit it out, Marty."
"You won't see me for a little while. Wyvern is sending me into cold storage. I won't be able to come down to see you, not for some time."
"What? Marty, I thought you said they wouldn't take you from me?"
"It's not permanent, Jeff."
"Why?"
"Because of what I did. I knew it... I knew it was something I shouldn't have done... it was definitely against the rules, and I knew I'd be punished. But it was something I had to do, Jeff. I needed to do it, for me, for us."
"Marty, What are you talking about? What did you do?"
Marty looked away, "I killed the Monster, Jeff. I told you that."
Jeff nodded, "But he deserved it, Marty! What he did to you, to us..." Jeff left off, then swallowed, hard and continued, "And your punishment is this cold storage? What is that? Will it hurt you?"
Marty looked back at Jeff, "It shouldn't hurt, I don't think so, anyway. It's like solitary confinement, I won't be able to mingle with the other ghosts, and I won't be able to come down to see you, not 'til Wyvern thinks I've had enough. He said I'm supposed to stay there and think about my actions."
Jeff nodded, "So when are you going to this place? I mean, I suppose it's a place, this cold storage?"
"Something like that, and now, Jeff. I told Wyvern I needed to explain to you, I wanted you to know I hadn't abandoned you, nor was I angry at you, or anything like that. But as soon as we're done talking... I'm sorry, Jeff."
Jeff looked at Marty, whose eyes were pleading with him to understand, "I'll miss you, Marty."
Marty cocked his head as if listening to something, nodded, then said, "I've got to go, I heard Wyvern calling me, if I don't go voluntarily, it will be worse. Jeff, I..." Marty looked up, "Wait a minute!" he shouted, then turned to Jeff, "Jeff, listen, please. I care about you, I always have and I always will. You've meant so much to me, and I owe you so much, I can't tell you in the time I've got, just, please Jeff, take care of yourself, and Jeannie, take care of Jeannie for me, and the baby of course," he smiled, then kicked his heels on the floor, took at deep breath, and said, "I love you, Jeff, remember that."
Jeff nodded, "Oh, Marty," he said sympathetically, "I know that. I do. I... I... god, Marty, I feel the same way, all right? I do. I..." Jeff looked at him, then took a deep breath and said, "I love you, I do."
Marty nodded, "I know," then he looked to the side and said, "I'm coming, I'm coming, Wyvern, just a minute, okay?" Marty looked at Jeff, "Be careful. And take some time, you need it. Goodbye, Jeff."
Jeff answered, "Goodbye, Marty," but his mate was gone. "Marty?" Jeff looked around the room. "Mr. Wyvern?" Jeff said tentatively, "Mr. Wyvern, I don't know if you can hear me, but look after him for me? Please? And don't keep him away too long, all right? For me?" Jeff sighed, and checked the office again, but there was no sign of Marty. Jeff returned to the work on his desk and began finishing his report, knowing that he needed to get his work in the office finished and taken care of before taking his holidays with Jeannie.
Jeff sat on a bench, looking out at the grey, stormy ocean, the wind cut through him as he sat and stared at the water. A few minutes later, Jeannie approached him and sat next to him. Both were quiet for a few minutes, then she said, "Jeff?"
"Yah, Jeannie?" Jeff answered her, without looking at her.
"Can we talk a minute? About this case, about what happened?"
"I suppose so, I don't know what there is to talk about though," Jeff replied.
"I know you keep saying you're fine, but... Jeff, you've been so erratic, throughout this case, ever since Sir Worthington brought it to us... Well, I'm concerned."
"I know, Jeannie, I know," Jeff nodded. Looking at her he said, "Ask your questions, Jeannie. I know you have some."
Jeannie took a deep breath, "Jeff, when was it?"
"When was what, Jeannie?"
"Jeff you told me...you admitted that you made a suicide attempt. God, Jeff! When?"
Jeff froze, then slowly got up and walked along the cliff near the sea, away from Jeannie, he stared into the grey water, silent.
"Jeff, I don't mean to upset you, but... I never knew, I never even suspected, and knowing what I know about Marty's past, and the way you've been behaving... scares me. You can tell me, Jeff. You can talk to me about it, please!"
Jeff froze where he was stood, then took a deep breath, still looking at the sea, he said "Jeannie, I haven't talked about it to anyone since it happened. No one, not even Marty. He brought it up once, and I let him know I wasn't ready to talk about it, and he dropped it. All right? You have no idea how difficult it is to talk about, to even think about, Jeannie."
Jeannie got up from the bench and went to his side, then gently touched him and turned him towards her, "Was it to do with when... when everything happened? I mean, when Marty was hurt so badly? Were you hurt as well? Something like that?"
Jeff looked at her, "God no, Jeannie! No, is that what you think?"
"I don't know what to think, Jeff, all I know is one minute you're nearly crying, and the next..." Jeannie left off, then started again, "I had never seen you like that before, Jeff, and I was, I am truly frightened for you," Jeannie carefully touched his arm, "Jeff, please tell me, okay? Something, at least."
Jeff sighed, took a deep breath, then said softly, "It had nothing to do with what happened to Marty, Jeannie, it didn't. I was," Jeff stopped to think, "I was twenty-eight, and... and there was this girl. We were very seriously involved, Jeannie. I thought I'd marry her. We... we even got engaged. But it didn't last. She left me. I don't want to go into the details of why she left, Jeannie, because it really doesn't matter. But she did."
Jeannie nodded, letting her hand rest on his arm.
"I... You have to understand, the break-up was violent, Jeannie. She... she threw things, hit me, threw me out of her flat... I was despondent. The things she said, hit some... We'd been together long enough that she knew exactly how to hurt me, exactly what buttons to press. And she had never liked Marty either. Maybe she was jealous, I don't know, but she managed to use my friendship with Marty against me, as a way of hurting me."
Jeannie nodded, "Jeff, you and Marty, you had something special. You were... like soul mates. When Marty and I got engaged, I knew that I'd need to accept his relationship with you, and I was willing to do that. I loved you both, in a way. I would never have been jealous of your and Marty's friendship, Jeff."
"I know, Jeannie, I know that. I said to Marty once, before he proposed to you, I said, 'She's special, Marty, and she understands us, don't let her get away', I knew he'd propose to you before he did."
Jeannie nodded, "So what happened?"
Jeff took another deep, steadying breath, then moved to the bench and sat next to Jeannie, "I... the night she threw me out, I went back to the office. Marty was out of town and I didn't expect him back for a day or two. I started to drink. I drank heavily. And I become even more depressed." Jeff paused, took a deep breath, then continued, "I really can't handle alcohol, not large amounts, not when I drink like that. Anyway, I... I came to a decision. I took an overdose of tablets, Jeannie. Some pain tablets I'd been prescribed for my R.A. I took a lot, enough that I passed out."
Jeannie shuddered, "Oh god, Jeff, What happened?"
"Marty. He came back to the office early. Days early. You know, I never asked him how he knew to come back? How he knew I was in trouble? But he knew. He found me, he called an ambulance, he handled the doctors, the hospital, everything. He even contacted me mum! She was waiting to speak to me shortly after I woke up in hospital. He really did save my life, Jeannie. I could have easily died that night, if he hadn't been there!"
"Thank god he was there, Jeff," Jeannie placed her hands on his shoulders, then hugged him, "Jeff?"
Jeff hugged her back, "I'm fine. I... I had some counseling in hospital, I was there for a week, and, but... it's hard to explain, but when I woke up I knew it had been a mistake. I knew I shouldn't have done it, that Fr... that she wasn't worth it, and I knew how much a mate, a friend, Marty was. He's said to me on more than one occasion that I saved him, Jeannie, but he saved me as well. God, I wish he were still here with us!"
Jeannie held Jeff close, then said, "Thank you, Jeff. Thank you for telling me, I know it was hard on you, but I think it's helped, and, just, thanks for trusting me enough to tell me."
Jeff pulled back from her and nodded, "But it had... it has nothing to do with this case, Jeannie, well, maybe the drinking in the pub after I found Clive's body, but... what I keep remembering is Marty. Marty back when he was fourteen. Not me. Nothing to do with what happened to me, what I tried to do."
"Jeff, you and Marty went through something traumatic. Both of you. Yes, it was Marty who was hurt, but... you had no way of coping with it, you were the strong one. Marty got counseling straight away the next morning, and when did you?"
"The next morning? Is that what he told you? No, Jeannie, no, it was a few weeks later, that we finally got Marty to talk to a counselor."
Jeannie looked at Jeff, "He said the next day... I mean, why would he lie about something like that?"
Jeff moved out of Jeannie's arms, "I... I doubt he lied, Jeannie, not consciously. Marty was... he was mixed-up. One day slid into another. He probably didn't realise how much time passed, that's all. I mean, he was so... he had a very rough time of it. There were times when I thought... I was so afraid that I'd lose him."
"Jeff, What did you mean by 'we finally got Marty to see a counselor'?"
Jeff took a deep breath, then explained, "When it happened, right when it happened, Marty... Marty refused to see any doctors, Jeannie. Absolutely refused, he even told me, told us, my parents and me, he'd... he threatened..." Jeff left off, upset.
Jeannie looked at Jeff in shock, "Oh my god, he threatened to kill himself, didn't he?"
Jeff nodded, tears in his eyes. "Yah, Jeannie, he did. Later he claimed he didn't, but... yah, he did."
"So what happened?"
Jeff ran a hand through his hair, "He collapsed at school. I saw him collapse, Jeannie. My first thought, god, my first thought was that he'd taken something, an overdose or sommat. I was terrified. But it was exhaustion, simple exhaustion that made him collapse like that. He was staying up all night, trying to avoid nightmares, and he stopped eating, as well. But when everything came to a head, he... he finally accepted the idea of counseling. And things got better, they did. For both of us."
"Jeff, I am so sorry, Jeff. And I never knew. I mean, he explained to me before we got engaged, but I never really knew," Jeannie nodded, "And you Jeff?"
"I saw a counselor as well. At first, the only way to get Marty to open up was to have me in the office with him and our counselor. Eventually he learned to trust her, and we did each have our own sessions. Over time, everything got much better, Jeannie, for us both. And we didn't talk about it. Not really. Not outside those sessions."
Jeannie nodded, "You two went through so much. It's so sad, Jeff, really."
"It was our lives, Jeannie, for both of us, we never... we didn't talk about it, we didn't think about it, until this case, I had never even thought of myself as being traumatised by what happened to Marty. He was me mate, mates help each other. When I... when I needed him, he was there for me as well, Jeannie. He was always there for me."
Jeannie nodded, "I know, Jeff, I know." Then Jeannie went to him, and gently touched his arm, "Jeff, this case with Clive. It's over now, are you really all right? Jeff? I mean..." Jeannie left off, looking at him.
"Jeannie, I... I think I finally laid some things to rest. I don't know, Jeannie, I don't think I had ever dealt with how what happened to Marty affected me, not really. It was always Marty who was hurt, not me. I didn't think of it as traumatic. I mean, it was traumatic for him, yah, but I didn't think of it as traumatic for me."
"It was though, Jeff."
"I know. I know that now. I think that might be why this case threw me so much. From the moment, Sir Worthington contacted us, I never saw it as a ordinary kidnapping, Jeannie. I didn't. Something about the situation immediately clicked something in me. Maybe it was Clive's resemblance to Marty, or his age, I don't know. But I knew that something was going on, I simply knew."
Jeannie nodded, "Go on, Jeff."
"It was the same bloke, Jeannie. The same one that hurt Marty! I mean, he had partnered with Williams, but..."
"And he's dead now."
"And I'm happy about it! I am. I shouldn't be, and it's terrible of me to say it, but I am. He never stopped, Jeannie. He hurt Marty, and who knows how many others, and... killed Clive. God. Nothing else would have stopped him." Jeff turned away from her and looked into the churning ocean waters. Then he continued, quietly, "And if I could have, I would have killed Williams."
Jeannie froze, "Jeff, are you saying...? Are you saying, it was you? That you did kill Ed Barrington?"
Jeff turned around, "No. I wish it was though."
Jeannie turned away, her hand on her stomach.
Jeff touched her shoulder. Jeannie shook his hand away.
"I'm sorry, Jeannie, I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry."
"No, Jeff, I'm sorry, you were being honest, it's just, a shock, I suppose. I never thought you were capable of killing anyone, Jeff. Maybe to defend yourself, or me, or Marty when he was alive, or even a client, but I never thought..."
"I don't know, Jeannie, maybe I wouldn't have been able to do it when it came down to it, but... I know what it did to Marty, being hurt like that," Jeff ran a hand through his hair, "And I saw Clive's body, and it was me that talked to those boys at Abbots Field, Jeannie... when I think about it..." He groaned and turned away.
Jeannie sighed, moved to him, then put a hand on his shoulder, "It's all right, Jeff, really. I understand..." she paused, "Well, maybe I don't understand, but we're still partners, and friends I hope, Jeff."
Jeff said nothing and continued to stare at the sea, lost in thought. After a minute, he said, quietly, "Mark... Mark came and spoke with me, at hospital, and he... he seemed all right, actually."
"Mark? Clive's mate?"
Jeff nodded, "Yes. I told him a little bit about Marty, what happened to him, a little bit of what we went through. I mean, it was different for Mark, because he'd been hurt as well, but... He needed to know he wasn't alone, that others had survived after experiencing... experiencing..."
Jeannie nodded, then said quietly, "Experiencing what they went through? What Marty and you..."
Looking at the deep, grey sea, Jeff said, "Yah, Jeannie."
Jeannie took a deep breath, then moved between Jeff and the cliff, she looked at him, and put a hand on his arm, then asked, "Did it help, talking with Mark, Did it help you, Jeff?"
Jeff nodded again, "Yah, I think it did."
"And you're all right?'
"Yes, I am."
"You sure, Jeff? You still sound upset."
Jeff sighed deeply, "I will be all right, Jeannie. I mean, I... I am all right, I am."
"Jeff?"
Jeff took another deep breath, "This... this was the most difficult case I've ever worked, Jeannie. The worst since Marty... since I, we, lost Marty, and... it brought up..."
Jeannie stepped to his side, and put a hand on his hand, "It brought up memories, feeling, things you had never dealt with..."
Jeff nodded, several times, tears in his eyes, "It hurts so much, Jeannie. I mean, all I really remember about that time was fear, really. Being scared for Marty, worrying about him, thinking he might..."
Jeannie nodded.
"But he was stronger than that, he never..." Jeff left off.
Jeannie put her hands on Jeff's shoulders and shook him, lightly, "Jeff, you saved his life. From what you just told me, he saved yours. And not only that, Jeff, but... you stopped what that... that teacher," Jeannie spit out the word, "What he was doing at the school, Jeff. You stopped him from hurting Mark or any of the others ever again, and who knows how many boys that he won't even get the chance to hurt now, Jeff."
Jeff looked at her and began to smile.
"No more boys like Marty and Clive, no more best mates like you or Mark, no more families, he won't ever be able to hurt anyone ever again. You stopped him, Jeff, you."
Jeff nodded, "I did, didn't I?"
"Um-hum, you, Jeff."
Jeff looked off into the distance at the sea, "I'll survive this, Jeannie. I'm doing better, I am."
Jeannie nodded, "So, you're all right?"
Jeff nodded, "I can put everything back in to my past. It can no longer hurt me. It's over, it's done. He's dead, Williams is in prison, at least for a little while, the Worthingtons are coming to terms with their loss, and... and I'm better now, Jeannie. For the first time in twenty-four years, I can think about my teens without pain."
Jeannie went to Jeff, and touched his face, "Jeff?" Jeannie asked, tears in her eyes.
Jeff hugged her, "Jeannie, I know I've said it over and over, sometimes even when I wasn't, but I am all right, Jeannie. Believe me. I really am, finally, all right. I even think we could start back to work soon."
Jeannie hugged him back, "Oh, Jeff, I'm...I'm glad your doing better, Jeff, really."
Jeff let go of her, "You know, I'm glad we decided to take a holiday, but..." he gestured towards the stormy ocean, and the windswept cliffs, and then said, "But, next time, maybe someplace not quite so cold?"
Jeannie smiled then, "Let's get back in the warm, then, Jeff, it's freezing out here!"
Jeff nodded, "It is that, isn't it? Let's go in," he smiled.
Jeannie smiled back, and took his arm, guiding him towards the cottage, "Let's go in."
The End
