Chapter Twelve:
Mina…Mina had just returned to the ship when she felt someone grab her arm almost roughly and stop her. She looked around, but saw no one. "Mr. Skinner," she said, "what is the meaning of this?"
"I need to speak with you," he said softly, pulling her away from the rest of the League. She aimed an expectant look in the direction of his voice and waited. "What should someone do if the person they loved, and believed loved them in return, betrayed them?"
She was no less than shocked by his question. "Mr. Skinner," she said, regaining her composure, "you hardly strike me as a man who could fall in love. You seem to lustful to have the taste for it." She gently removed his hand from her arm and adjusted the black fabric of her sleeve. "Why do you ask?"
"I need to know, Mina," he pressed her. "Tell me… Please."
"Well, since you bothered to say please," she muttered. She thought for a moment, then thought of an idea. "Well, usually, when a woman discovers her love betrayed her love, she would give him the cold shoulder and not speak to him until he apologised. But, in the case of a man… He should either approach her and confront her with his concern, or… attempt revenge without hurting her physically."
"Thank you!" he said, kissing her quickly on the cheek. She could hear him running along the corridor, then a door shut in the distance.
"Skinner," she muttered, walking to her quarters. When she reached them, she pondered the invisible man's question. Is Skinner in love? she asked herself. It doesn't seem quite possible. And yet… He seems so attached to Kathryn. But, what could she have done to betray his love, if he does love her? It couldn't have anything to do with Mr. Holmes. It is reported that he has sworn off women entirely… A loud noise then Skinner cursing caught her attention. "Oh, dear," she said quietly, leaving her quarters to inspect the problem.
She found Skinner's quarters a mess. All furniture that wasn't nailed to the floor or too large to lift had been toppled over or thrown across the room. It seemed that whatever anger Skinner was harbouring, it had forced its way out of him via destroying his quarters. Sawyer and Dr. Jekyll joined Mina at the door to Skinner's room.
"What happened?" Sawyer asked her.
She shrugged. "It would appear that Mr. Skinner has had a very trying day," she said almost too calm to be allowed. "And it would appear that whatever anxieties or anger he had was forced out of him in a slightly destructive manner." A chair flew across the room. "Mr. Skinner, please. Calm down." Mina cautiously entered the room and picked up the chair. "Now, Mr. Skinner, let's calm down and clean up your quarters before Captain Nemo sees this." With the help of Sawyer and Jekyll, Mina and Skinner managed to clean up the wreckage Skinner created.
"Thank you," he muttered as Sawyer and Dr. Jekyll left the room. Mina closed the door and turned towards the bed, where she could see impressions of a human body in the bedclothes. "Mina, you can go. I'll be fine," he said.
"Nonsense," she said, crossing to the bed. Finding a place that wasn't pressed into itself, Mina sat on the bed. "Talk to me about it."
"No."
"Rodney, you'll never feel better unless you talk about it," she scolded lightly, using his first name for once. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't."
She raised an eyebrow. "And why not?" she asked.
"It's between me, Kathryn," he said, pausing a bit before continuing. "And Mr. Holmes."
"Mr. Holmes," Mina repeated. "What does he have to do with this?"
She felt the weight in the bed shift as Skinner sat up. She could feel the slight pressure of his arm against hers. "He's trying to take her from me," he muttered. "I saw them. Through the window. He's trying to get her to go with him instead of me."
Mina patted Skinner on the shoulder lightly. "Now, now, Mr. Skinner," she said. "I'm sure you simply misunderstood what happened. Mr. Holmes wouldn't try to take Kathryn from you."
"You would think the same thing if you saw what I saw," he said bitterly.
"And what did you see?" she asked him gently.
He sighed. "I saw them talking," he said. "He said something that upset her a little, and she started pacing the room. Then he stood and they talked a bit more. Then she got more upset and he took a pistol from his coat pocket and laid it on the table. Then she got really upset and was practically screaming at him…" His voice trailed off.
"Could you hear what was said?" she asked.
"No. But then she was crying," he said softly, calming down. "And he held her. And then… then…" He stopped for a moment. Then he whispered, "He kissed her… And she let him."
Mina gently put her arm around Skinner's bare shoulders. She felt slightly uncomfortable doing so, since she knew he was wearing no clothing whatsoever. "It's all right," she whispered, pulling him into a hug. "Everything will turn out fine. Trust me."
