CAPTAIN OF HIS SOUL
by Marcher
gama39@austarmetro.com.au
PG13
Chapter 6
Rick sat silently in the back seat of Ross's Daimler, his injured leg stretched out across the leather upholstery, watching the community of Cairo's marketplace as his friend steered the vehicle towards Fort Brydon. One by one, the traders were closing up shops and stalls in the red glow of sundown while a few straggling shoppers were rushing about in an effort to beat closing time. It amused him to see that, as usual, most of the disgruntled customers rattling the handles of locked doors were Europeans. Even after almost a quarter of a century, the foreigners still hadn't managed to grasp the basics of this country. Most were tourists, but others were residents making a living in the city and the majority of those had found it unnecessary to learn the language, insisting instead that the locals speak either French or English. They would be forever outsiders but sadly, he knew they would prevail, and little by little Cairo would have it's identity chipped away in the name of progess.
With the onset of evening and the cooling temperature, Rick frowned uneasily over the thought of how much time had passed since he and Ross and left to take Jonathan to the hospital. In all that time no word had been sent to Evelyn and the prospect of facing her now wasn't appealing. She was going to be furious! Even more so when he presented himself in this state! Of course, that is if she was still at home. Knowing Evelyn, she could have gone anywhere on a whim, even taken it upon herself to go looking for him and Jonathan out of frustration; and that meant she was walking the hot streets with Alex in tow. The fact that Furborough's buddy was on the loose worried him even more. Rick could only hope that whoever the guy was, he didn't recognize him and make the connection to Evelyn. To compound matters, the thought of Neil Waters crossed his mind. This was the man who could fit the pieces together, thus putting his wife in very real danger. The American closed his eyes, hanging his head over a series of events that were fast turning into a disaster. His mind was racing with every possibility and he didn't hear Ross call him until the man raised his voice in a shout to gain his attention.
"What?" Rick lifted his gaze to his old friend and apologized. "Sorry. I was just thinking about..." His voice trailed off while he scanned the sidewalk for the possibility of seeing Evelyn and Alex making their way along.
"About how ya plan on explaining all this to the missus, I'd say."
Rick half smiled, "Yeah, something like that."
"Well, let's see. She sends 'er lame brother off with 'er husband 'n' his mate, then instead of getting 'er brother back mended, she gets 'er husband back as a cripple as well!" Ross thought briefly before adding in a more serious tone. "Ya know what? I wouldn't be surprised if in all likelihood, she blames ME for this."
This time O'Connell laughed, "Better you than me." Then he realized, "Where is Jonathan, anyway?"
"Still at the Infirmary. None too happy about it either, I might add! He's well enough to be out."
A stammered request began working it's way from deep within the American's throat, drawing a groan from the doctor. "Yes, yes. But he can stay there til tomorrow. I'm not making another trip today."
Rick acknowledged the favour with thanks, setting his thoughts back to his wife.
Campbell brought the car to a stop outside the Fort and looked over the seat to the ex-Legionnaire. "What are you doin' with a wife anyway? With a boy, no less...and another arrivin'?"
"It's a long story." Rick grunted with the effort of moving his leg so he could slide out of the car. "One you probably wouldn't believe no matter how I told it."
"Aye. That much I can believe!"
"What are you doing back in Egypt? Last I heard, you were on your way back to England, swearing never to return."
The Yorkshireman sighed heavily. "I did. I did." He slowly shook his head. "Funny, hey. I cursed the years here and the heat, but when it came down to brass tacks I just couldn't stand the cold back home. Hehe, old habits." Still half turned to the back of the car, his arm resting on the driver's seat, Ross persisted with his previous enquiry in the fatherly tone he was prone to using on the younger man. "Are ya good to 'er? None o'this messing around like when I knew ya in the Legion?"
After years apart, O'Connell was beginning to comfortably re-aquaint himself with his old friend and his brow furrowed slightly with a feigned look of offence. "You always did think you were more than just a doctor to me!"
"Are ya behavin' yaself!?" Campbell scolded him. "I've seen men such as yaself marry a lass with a shotgun pressed in between ya shoulder blades, then scarper first chance ya get! Now here ya are, runnin' off on cloak 'n' dagger business while the little woman's got 'er back turned." Ross pointed a stern finger at his reluctant patient and warned, "I just don't like seein' these young girls left high and dry by soldiers such as yaself."
Rick found his own temper and retorted as severely, "Just because you can't break old habits, doesn't mean the rest of can't! Now will you just give me a hand getting out!"
"Are ya in with this lass only cos ya have t'be?"
"You're just not gonna let this drop, are you?" It had been at least six years since Rick had been lectured by Dr.Campbell, but the old feeling came flooding back as if it had been only yesterday when he was being berated by the fatherly medic for rather abysmal behaviour regarding a girl in Damascus. However, the serious look in his friend's eyes left Rick with no option but to answer and get the man off his back. "I'm in it because I want to be...and believe me, she's more trouble than I ever was!"
"Good! Serves ya right!" Satisfied with the answer, Ross lifted his mood, "Now, inside with ya and put 'er mind to rest over this business with 'er brother."
The older man assisted the younger one as he limped his way to the door of his quarters. It was there Rick offered his thanks, bidding Ross a goodnight. "It's quiet. She's probably sleeping. Could be best if you don't come in."
"Fine by me." Campbell stepped away as Rick unlocked the door. "Let me know if she gives ya a wallop for all ya mischief today...I'll come 'n' lend a hand!"
"Yeah, yeah!" O'Connell waved a hand behind him and went inside.
~~~
The only light to welcome him was the dim glow from the bedside lamp in the next room and he ran a hand through his hair with a thoughtful sough. The fact that the sitting room had been left in darkness was a sure sign he was in trouble. No sound acknowledged his arrival and he guessed, or rather hoped, that Evelyn was asleep. It was unlikely though, at this early hour of the evening. Still, nightfall hadn't totally consumed the sky and he was able to hobble his way across the room without the need to switch on a light. She wasn't in the bedroom either, but the light lining the crack beneath the bathroom door revealed her whereabouts.
Alex slept soundly in his tiny bed pressed up against the wall, once again bringing Rick's attention to the confined area of their living arrangements and it seemed to be getting smaller by the day. Evelyn couldn't manage to shake the thrifty lifestyle she had been forced to lead while aspiring to advance her career in a foreign land. The fact that she practically supported Jonathan as well just reinforced the pattern. She viewed their sudden wealth as a type of backstop or nestegg if things got bad in the future. He smiled at her tender victory in being unmoveable on the subject no matter how hard he tried to explain that things would need to get pretty disasterous for them to lose their fortune. Perhaps it was time he tried again...but not tonight.
Making his way as quietly as possible to the bathroom door he gently turned the handle, happy to discover that it wasn't locked. The door opened onto the head of the bath and he only caught a glimpse of her toes poking through the bubbles before Evelyn curtly announced that she was, in fact, taking a bath....and a peaceful one at that! She went on to complain of Alex's ill mood during the day's heat and Rick conceded the point that he wasn't exactly welcome in the temporary sanctuary she'd made for herself. "It's okay. Take your time." He backed out and closed the door, not having seen her face. All told, that wasn't necessary to convey her mood.
Leaving her to stew in her anger, he took the opportunity to change his pants. It was a repeated ordeal of the struggle to dress himself in the hospital and his grunting and murmured cursing eventually caused Alex to stir unhappily in a half awakened state. He successfully buttoned his trousers, then limped over to his son and tried to settle him back to sleep. The boy tossed briefly and Rick crouched down, catching hold of his tiny hand and hushed him. His sons eyes slit open, then closed as quickly when his father ran a soothing hand over his hair. The child sucked in two gulps of air and became still. Rick moved to stand but stopped when his eyes fell onto his son's fingers wrapped tightly about his thumb, holding onto him for reassurance. He attempted to gently pull his hand from Alex's grip only to have the child squeeze harder, unwilling to release the security of his father's presence. The ex-Legionnaire, street-wise and shrewd, stared at the small unblemished hand and a strange ache attacked his heart as he compared Alex's hand to his own bloodied and calloused one. The undressed wound across his knuckles where he sent Furborough face first into the stone wall had obviously been considered too small for treatment in relation to his leg. Dry blood caked the gash and smeared over the back of his hand and between his fingers. It was a stark comparision of innocence and a life scarred with struggle and contention. He remembered the night the boy was born and the mixed emotions of joy and outright fear at having the responsibility of a life which was completely dependant on him and Evelyn; and how he could have so easily lost that life months earlier as a repercussion of his lifestyle. Rick smiled solemnly at his Alex before easing his hand out of his grasp, this time successfully. On relinquishing his hold on his father, the boy rolled onto his side and remained asleep. Rick swore then and there that he would kill Furborough if he ever saw the son-of-a-bitch again!
He steadied himself against the wall raising his injured hand for inspection, turning it this way and back in the dim light, clenching it into a fist and smarting from the sting. Running the same hand over the back of his neck he felt an urgent need to be clean. Looking over at the bathroom door he decided to enter no matter what sort of mood Evelyn was in. A hopeful thought crossed his mind that she might even take a little pity on his condition and even allow him to slide into the tub with her.
~~~
Evelyn lay stretched out in the tub, the anger pounding in her chest refusing to allow the rest of her body to relax in the warmth of the water. When the door creaked open again, she laid the flannel over her face and sank her shoulders beneath the bubbles, once again announcing her desire to be left alone. "I said before that I wanted some peace and quiet! Now, if you wouldn't mind!" Her husband's silence only gave rise to her fury and the sound of his footsteps signalling his decline to her request for solitude was the final straw. "Rick! Whatever half baked excuse you have to tell me can wait until I'm finished!"
Rick sustained himself against the wall and made his way to the basin without looking at her. The plumbing rattled in the walls when he turned the tap and Evelyn reacted with a shout, "Do you mind!!"
"Yeah, I do! And keep your voice down in case you wake Alex." He splashed the water over his face and neck, the gash on his hand stinging on contact with the water.
"Ooooh! You're a fine one to talk about not wanting him to wake!" Evelyn threw the flannel at him, leaving a sodden patch of shirt on the back of his shoulder. "He's been grizzling all day! Not completely tolerable in this heat, let me tell you! Not to mention the fact that you've been gone the entire day! You can't tell me it's taken all this time for someone to decide on what's wrong with Jonathan." Rick picked up the dripping piece of cloth and wrung it over the basin, not completely listening to her rampage. He got the basics of what she was saying. He was more concerned with trying to think of something to tell her that would carry some weight. "You just can't drag me from my place of employment, plonk me in the bedroom and tell me to sit and then run off all over town without the common decency to tell me where you are!"
Still leaning against the basin, Rick wiped a hand over his face then allowed the remaining moisture to drip from his skin. For sure, she had a right to be angry and he was well aware that giving her the full story wasn't going to lessen his sentence any. "I'm sorry, Honey." His calm response only seemed to aggrivate her more. "Jonathan's fine. Ross is gonna drive him home tomorrow."
"Ross! Ha!"
Ignoring her indignant huff, Rick persevered. "Some things came up that I had to see to."
"Things like what, may I ask?"
"Just things." Rick turned around and leaned himself against the basin. At first he scowled at the sight of her, then smiled knowingly. "You haven't been sitting around here all day. Just look at you!"
Remembering the condition of her face, Evelyn pressed her fingers to her cheeks and stammered slightly before answering. "It's nothing. The water must be too hot."
"Too hot, my ass! You're sunburned. Your arms as well."
"Yes, well. Be that as it may, it still doesn't tell me what took you so long."
"Why didn't you get a Taxi to come looking for me?' He was grinning broadly now, which only served to madden her even more.
"Infuriating man!" Evelyn splashed her fists into the water. "I decided it was too much of an effort anyway and turned around and came home!" Using her elbows as leverage, she heaved herself out of the tub. Rick leaned forward to assist but she slapped his hand away. "I can manage perfectly well, thank you." He pulled back, giving in to her obstinate trait. Her belly, now swollen with seven months of pregnancy, made it obviously difficult for her to move as quickly as she wished under the circumstances and Rick winced at being forced to watch her struggle.
Too suddenly, she fell sideways gasping with fright and Rick lurched forward, catching her before she fell! The quick, instinctive response to reach out and break her fall combined with her sudden weight sent a bolt of pain through his leg. It was all he could do to keep the both of them from crashing to the tiled floor! His face twisted in pain as he steadied her, pressing her head into his chest while catching his breath. Keeping one hand about her back he cupped her face with other bringing her to look at him and whispered uneasily, "You alright?"
Evelyn looked at him and considered lying, however she felt positively awful and knew it was useless in trying to hide the fact. "No." she breathed, "No, I'm not."
She found her feet and supported herself, awkwardly at first but soon found her balance. Rick reached over her shoulder grabbing the robe which hung from the back of door and held it open above her shoulders allowing her to slide her arms into the sleeves. Wrapping an arm around her waist he guided her through the bathroom door and onto the bed.
~~~
Furborough grunted as his eyes flickered open. His head pounded as if a marching band was keeping time within his skull and when he coughed to rid himself of the repulsive sensation of blood that had collected at the back of his throat, he clasped his hands to either side of his head in the vain hope of lessening the thud of his brain. It was hopeless! The agony continued as he shifted himself with consternation. He groaned loudly at the effort, wrapping his arms about his bruised ribs, all the while seriously believing his head would explode! Once upright, the Legionnaire gingerly touched a hand to his face pulling it away directly as he made contact with the tip of his nose. He sat with his legs hanging over the side of the bed spitting blood into a towel while struggling to breathe through his mouth.
He remembered everything!
His anger seethed as he replayed the events in his mind over and over. He would not back down over this! He laughed hatefully at the attempt to punish him, then cursed violently at the immediate pain that assulted his senses over the sudden movement.
He studying the blood spattered towel before him and considered O'Connell's fate. Finding him would prove no trouble and time was on his side. The Regiment was on extended leave and wouldn't be moving out for another eight weeks. This fact satisfied him well. "Let that bastard O'Connell believe he's won!" Furborough choked and spat into the towel once more. "I've got all the time I need!"
~~~
Evelyn laid on the bed propped up against the pillows attempting to stave off the ill feeling by breathing slow and deeply, just as she'd be ordered by Rick. She kept her eyes closed in a bid to conceal the fear she felt ever increasingly since these mysterious spells began over a month ago. She could hear Rick fussing in the bathroom. After securing her position on the bed, he had mentioned something about needing to cool her down. No doubt he was bound to return with a cold compress of sorts. It seemed he was taking ages and it sounded as though he was stumbling.
She heard him re-enter the bedroom and opened one eye to watch him. She opened both on seeing him grab hold of the bedpost to aid himself along. "You're limping!"
"Yeah, sshh! And you're yelling"
With difficulty, Rick steered himself onto the bed beside her and placed a cold damp cloth to her head. "Walking around in the heat in your condition isn't something most people would recommend, you know."
She struggled against the compress intent on rebuking that remark but wasn't able to withstand the gentle pressure he placed on her shoulder to keep her still.
"What were you doing? And how come Alex isn't burned like you?"
"He was in the pram." She muttered under her breath.
Rick groaned and caught his temper before speaking. "You were pushing the pram around! Who got it up and down the stairs? Or don't I need to ask?"
Evelyn shoved his hand away from her forehead and glared at her husband. "I'm too tired to be drawn into that arguement tonight other than to say that you should have let me know what was going on."
Rick narrowed his eyes, then considered that she had a point. "Yeah, okay." He replaced the compress on her head and warned, "But you're only getting away with that one until later."
"Why are you limping?" At any other time this question would carry a definate tone of concern, but right now it smacked of intolerance. "And don't tell me it's nothing." Her eyes met his, imparting a serious mien. "Something happened today that I insist on knowing. I want none of that embellished story telling that you gave me before you went away to Syria."
He remained silent, his brow furrowed slightly and considered his answer. A mistake as it turned out for Evelyn was in no mood for patience. She squeezed his leg, pressing just below the wound causing him to grab hold of her arm preventing any further attack. "Dammit, Evie!" He rolled onto his back, gritting his teeth against the pain and several colourful exclamations!
Alex woke with a cry and his mother shuffled herself off the bed to tend to him.
Rick gasped through clenched teeth. "Careful how you walk!"
"At least I'm able to walk."
~~~
Furborough picked up his uniform jacket, slung it over his shoulder and made his way to the door. As an after thought, he turned back and grabbed the towel he had been using to press to his mouth then resumed his departure.
Half way along the corridor he stopped outside the door of a particular patient who had been irritating him since he woke up. Banging heavily on the door of the man who had been continually complaining aloud for the benefit of the entire floor, Furborough shouted through the pain in his head to the patient beyond the door. "Shut up before I come in and shoot ya! Ya noisy bastard!" Immediate silence ensued and Furborough continued on his way.
~~~
In the time since Alex had returned to sleep, the O'Connell's had laid in uneasy silence. The Legionnaires he had confronted today still weighed heavily on Rick's mind. At least one of them was back on the street already and as for Furborough, well he only suffered a broken nose and concussion from what he knew. If he'd been armed, Rick was certain he would have shot the unprincipled scumbag. As it stood now, he'd made matters worse!
As Evelyn shifted uncomfortably against her pillows, he rolled his head to look at her and spoke in a calm whisper. "You know, coming to get you from the Museum and what happened today are pretty much the same thing."
"Well, Dear!" Her tone was hushed but less peaceful. "That's difficult for me to discern. You see, I have no idea what happened today other than to see the results on you!"
Ignoring her manner, Rick persisted. "Bringing you home...angry as you were...was keeping you safe." He wasn't sure if her complete silence was a good thing or not, but at least he knew he had her attention. "It's not like it was when you were having Alex. It just seems harder for you this time." He placed a hand on the baby, gently moving his hand in a circular motion. Evelyn relaxed a little against the pillows and her small smile encouraged him "I wanted you here where I'd knew you'd be okay if anything went wrong, that's all."
"I suppose I can understand your reasoning...oafish as your actions appeared at the time."
Rick was forced to concede her point and that barging into the Museum in a temper that fell just short of firing his guns at the ceiling probably wasn't the best way to handle the matter. At any rate, Evelyn was giggling quietly beside him now. Even in the half light he could see her faintness had passed, lifting the burden of one problem for the time being.
She raised a hand over his leg, placing it lightly on the spot where she had pinched him earlier. "Tell me what happened to you today."
Removing her hand from his leg, he brought it up to his chest and squeezed her fingers.
"I'm sorry. Is it too sore to touch?"
"No. Well, yes...but it's more to stop you from hitting me again."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "What have you done?!"
He inhaled and sighed heavily. "I met up with Furborough today."
"Who?"
"Furborough. The man who broke in here. The one you saw across the street yesterday."
Her face opened up when she grasped his meaning. It was hard to read her expression or guess what she would say. To compound the situation, her voice remained neutral when she finally did speak. "You met him, or you hunted him out?" Rick's uncomfortable silence prompted her to try and jerk her hand out of his but he held tighter, refusing to let go as her anger began to rise, all the while holding his eyes to hers.
"You didn't really believe that I'd just let him go after you pointed him out, did you? After what he did?"
She relaxed her hand and it appeared she was forcing back tears. "No, I suppose not."
Letting go of her hand, he slipped his fingers around the knape of her neck, pulling her into his kiss. "You're my wife, Evie. I'll kill anyone who hurts you."
Alarmed, she moved her face back far enough to see him. "You didn't kill him?!"
"No." He laughed, secretly wishing that he had. "But he got the message."
"And just how injured are you?" She asked refering to his leg.
"He pulled a knife."
"Stabbed!!"
"Yeah. But I'm walking and breathing."
"But I squeezed the wound!" Her hand covered her mouth then darted down towards his injured leg and back again. "Oh God, Rick! I'm sorry!"
Catching hold of her flailing hand, he pulled her back into his chest. "It's alright, Evie! I'm fine. I've faced tougher than you. Not by much, though."
end chapter.
AJMackey, MBooker, Ruse and Eviefan....thank you ladies. I thought the previous chapter was kind of average to tell the truth and it was a nice Christmas present to see that you all enjoyed it. Thankyou! :)
by Marcher
gama39@austarmetro.com.au
PG13
Chapter 6
Rick sat silently in the back seat of Ross's Daimler, his injured leg stretched out across the leather upholstery, watching the community of Cairo's marketplace as his friend steered the vehicle towards Fort Brydon. One by one, the traders were closing up shops and stalls in the red glow of sundown while a few straggling shoppers were rushing about in an effort to beat closing time. It amused him to see that, as usual, most of the disgruntled customers rattling the handles of locked doors were Europeans. Even after almost a quarter of a century, the foreigners still hadn't managed to grasp the basics of this country. Most were tourists, but others were residents making a living in the city and the majority of those had found it unnecessary to learn the language, insisting instead that the locals speak either French or English. They would be forever outsiders but sadly, he knew they would prevail, and little by little Cairo would have it's identity chipped away in the name of progess.
With the onset of evening and the cooling temperature, Rick frowned uneasily over the thought of how much time had passed since he and Ross and left to take Jonathan to the hospital. In all that time no word had been sent to Evelyn and the prospect of facing her now wasn't appealing. She was going to be furious! Even more so when he presented himself in this state! Of course, that is if she was still at home. Knowing Evelyn, she could have gone anywhere on a whim, even taken it upon herself to go looking for him and Jonathan out of frustration; and that meant she was walking the hot streets with Alex in tow. The fact that Furborough's buddy was on the loose worried him even more. Rick could only hope that whoever the guy was, he didn't recognize him and make the connection to Evelyn. To compound matters, the thought of Neil Waters crossed his mind. This was the man who could fit the pieces together, thus putting his wife in very real danger. The American closed his eyes, hanging his head over a series of events that were fast turning into a disaster. His mind was racing with every possibility and he didn't hear Ross call him until the man raised his voice in a shout to gain his attention.
"What?" Rick lifted his gaze to his old friend and apologized. "Sorry. I was just thinking about..." His voice trailed off while he scanned the sidewalk for the possibility of seeing Evelyn and Alex making their way along.
"About how ya plan on explaining all this to the missus, I'd say."
Rick half smiled, "Yeah, something like that."
"Well, let's see. She sends 'er lame brother off with 'er husband 'n' his mate, then instead of getting 'er brother back mended, she gets 'er husband back as a cripple as well!" Ross thought briefly before adding in a more serious tone. "Ya know what? I wouldn't be surprised if in all likelihood, she blames ME for this."
This time O'Connell laughed, "Better you than me." Then he realized, "Where is Jonathan, anyway?"
"Still at the Infirmary. None too happy about it either, I might add! He's well enough to be out."
A stammered request began working it's way from deep within the American's throat, drawing a groan from the doctor. "Yes, yes. But he can stay there til tomorrow. I'm not making another trip today."
Rick acknowledged the favour with thanks, setting his thoughts back to his wife.
Campbell brought the car to a stop outside the Fort and looked over the seat to the ex-Legionnaire. "What are you doin' with a wife anyway? With a boy, no less...and another arrivin'?"
"It's a long story." Rick grunted with the effort of moving his leg so he could slide out of the car. "One you probably wouldn't believe no matter how I told it."
"Aye. That much I can believe!"
"What are you doing back in Egypt? Last I heard, you were on your way back to England, swearing never to return."
The Yorkshireman sighed heavily. "I did. I did." He slowly shook his head. "Funny, hey. I cursed the years here and the heat, but when it came down to brass tacks I just couldn't stand the cold back home. Hehe, old habits." Still half turned to the back of the car, his arm resting on the driver's seat, Ross persisted with his previous enquiry in the fatherly tone he was prone to using on the younger man. "Are ya good to 'er? None o'this messing around like when I knew ya in the Legion?"
After years apart, O'Connell was beginning to comfortably re-aquaint himself with his old friend and his brow furrowed slightly with a feigned look of offence. "You always did think you were more than just a doctor to me!"
"Are ya behavin' yaself!?" Campbell scolded him. "I've seen men such as yaself marry a lass with a shotgun pressed in between ya shoulder blades, then scarper first chance ya get! Now here ya are, runnin' off on cloak 'n' dagger business while the little woman's got 'er back turned." Ross pointed a stern finger at his reluctant patient and warned, "I just don't like seein' these young girls left high and dry by soldiers such as yaself."
Rick found his own temper and retorted as severely, "Just because you can't break old habits, doesn't mean the rest of can't! Now will you just give me a hand getting out!"
"Are ya in with this lass only cos ya have t'be?"
"You're just not gonna let this drop, are you?" It had been at least six years since Rick had been lectured by Dr.Campbell, but the old feeling came flooding back as if it had been only yesterday when he was being berated by the fatherly medic for rather abysmal behaviour regarding a girl in Damascus. However, the serious look in his friend's eyes left Rick with no option but to answer and get the man off his back. "I'm in it because I want to be...and believe me, she's more trouble than I ever was!"
"Good! Serves ya right!" Satisfied with the answer, Ross lifted his mood, "Now, inside with ya and put 'er mind to rest over this business with 'er brother."
The older man assisted the younger one as he limped his way to the door of his quarters. It was there Rick offered his thanks, bidding Ross a goodnight. "It's quiet. She's probably sleeping. Could be best if you don't come in."
"Fine by me." Campbell stepped away as Rick unlocked the door. "Let me know if she gives ya a wallop for all ya mischief today...I'll come 'n' lend a hand!"
"Yeah, yeah!" O'Connell waved a hand behind him and went inside.
~~~
The only light to welcome him was the dim glow from the bedside lamp in the next room and he ran a hand through his hair with a thoughtful sough. The fact that the sitting room had been left in darkness was a sure sign he was in trouble. No sound acknowledged his arrival and he guessed, or rather hoped, that Evelyn was asleep. It was unlikely though, at this early hour of the evening. Still, nightfall hadn't totally consumed the sky and he was able to hobble his way across the room without the need to switch on a light. She wasn't in the bedroom either, but the light lining the crack beneath the bathroom door revealed her whereabouts.
Alex slept soundly in his tiny bed pressed up against the wall, once again bringing Rick's attention to the confined area of their living arrangements and it seemed to be getting smaller by the day. Evelyn couldn't manage to shake the thrifty lifestyle she had been forced to lead while aspiring to advance her career in a foreign land. The fact that she practically supported Jonathan as well just reinforced the pattern. She viewed their sudden wealth as a type of backstop or nestegg if things got bad in the future. He smiled at her tender victory in being unmoveable on the subject no matter how hard he tried to explain that things would need to get pretty disasterous for them to lose their fortune. Perhaps it was time he tried again...but not tonight.
Making his way as quietly as possible to the bathroom door he gently turned the handle, happy to discover that it wasn't locked. The door opened onto the head of the bath and he only caught a glimpse of her toes poking through the bubbles before Evelyn curtly announced that she was, in fact, taking a bath....and a peaceful one at that! She went on to complain of Alex's ill mood during the day's heat and Rick conceded the point that he wasn't exactly welcome in the temporary sanctuary she'd made for herself. "It's okay. Take your time." He backed out and closed the door, not having seen her face. All told, that wasn't necessary to convey her mood.
Leaving her to stew in her anger, he took the opportunity to change his pants. It was a repeated ordeal of the struggle to dress himself in the hospital and his grunting and murmured cursing eventually caused Alex to stir unhappily in a half awakened state. He successfully buttoned his trousers, then limped over to his son and tried to settle him back to sleep. The boy tossed briefly and Rick crouched down, catching hold of his tiny hand and hushed him. His sons eyes slit open, then closed as quickly when his father ran a soothing hand over his hair. The child sucked in two gulps of air and became still. Rick moved to stand but stopped when his eyes fell onto his son's fingers wrapped tightly about his thumb, holding onto him for reassurance. He attempted to gently pull his hand from Alex's grip only to have the child squeeze harder, unwilling to release the security of his father's presence. The ex-Legionnaire, street-wise and shrewd, stared at the small unblemished hand and a strange ache attacked his heart as he compared Alex's hand to his own bloodied and calloused one. The undressed wound across his knuckles where he sent Furborough face first into the stone wall had obviously been considered too small for treatment in relation to his leg. Dry blood caked the gash and smeared over the back of his hand and between his fingers. It was a stark comparision of innocence and a life scarred with struggle and contention. He remembered the night the boy was born and the mixed emotions of joy and outright fear at having the responsibility of a life which was completely dependant on him and Evelyn; and how he could have so easily lost that life months earlier as a repercussion of his lifestyle. Rick smiled solemnly at his Alex before easing his hand out of his grasp, this time successfully. On relinquishing his hold on his father, the boy rolled onto his side and remained asleep. Rick swore then and there that he would kill Furborough if he ever saw the son-of-a-bitch again!
He steadied himself against the wall raising his injured hand for inspection, turning it this way and back in the dim light, clenching it into a fist and smarting from the sting. Running the same hand over the back of his neck he felt an urgent need to be clean. Looking over at the bathroom door he decided to enter no matter what sort of mood Evelyn was in. A hopeful thought crossed his mind that she might even take a little pity on his condition and even allow him to slide into the tub with her.
~~~
Evelyn lay stretched out in the tub, the anger pounding in her chest refusing to allow the rest of her body to relax in the warmth of the water. When the door creaked open again, she laid the flannel over her face and sank her shoulders beneath the bubbles, once again announcing her desire to be left alone. "I said before that I wanted some peace and quiet! Now, if you wouldn't mind!" Her husband's silence only gave rise to her fury and the sound of his footsteps signalling his decline to her request for solitude was the final straw. "Rick! Whatever half baked excuse you have to tell me can wait until I'm finished!"
Rick sustained himself against the wall and made his way to the basin without looking at her. The plumbing rattled in the walls when he turned the tap and Evelyn reacted with a shout, "Do you mind!!"
"Yeah, I do! And keep your voice down in case you wake Alex." He splashed the water over his face and neck, the gash on his hand stinging on contact with the water.
"Ooooh! You're a fine one to talk about not wanting him to wake!" Evelyn threw the flannel at him, leaving a sodden patch of shirt on the back of his shoulder. "He's been grizzling all day! Not completely tolerable in this heat, let me tell you! Not to mention the fact that you've been gone the entire day! You can't tell me it's taken all this time for someone to decide on what's wrong with Jonathan." Rick picked up the dripping piece of cloth and wrung it over the basin, not completely listening to her rampage. He got the basics of what she was saying. He was more concerned with trying to think of something to tell her that would carry some weight. "You just can't drag me from my place of employment, plonk me in the bedroom and tell me to sit and then run off all over town without the common decency to tell me where you are!"
Still leaning against the basin, Rick wiped a hand over his face then allowed the remaining moisture to drip from his skin. For sure, she had a right to be angry and he was well aware that giving her the full story wasn't going to lessen his sentence any. "I'm sorry, Honey." His calm response only seemed to aggrivate her more. "Jonathan's fine. Ross is gonna drive him home tomorrow."
"Ross! Ha!"
Ignoring her indignant huff, Rick persevered. "Some things came up that I had to see to."
"Things like what, may I ask?"
"Just things." Rick turned around and leaned himself against the basin. At first he scowled at the sight of her, then smiled knowingly. "You haven't been sitting around here all day. Just look at you!"
Remembering the condition of her face, Evelyn pressed her fingers to her cheeks and stammered slightly before answering. "It's nothing. The water must be too hot."
"Too hot, my ass! You're sunburned. Your arms as well."
"Yes, well. Be that as it may, it still doesn't tell me what took you so long."
"Why didn't you get a Taxi to come looking for me?' He was grinning broadly now, which only served to madden her even more.
"Infuriating man!" Evelyn splashed her fists into the water. "I decided it was too much of an effort anyway and turned around and came home!" Using her elbows as leverage, she heaved herself out of the tub. Rick leaned forward to assist but she slapped his hand away. "I can manage perfectly well, thank you." He pulled back, giving in to her obstinate trait. Her belly, now swollen with seven months of pregnancy, made it obviously difficult for her to move as quickly as she wished under the circumstances and Rick winced at being forced to watch her struggle.
Too suddenly, she fell sideways gasping with fright and Rick lurched forward, catching her before she fell! The quick, instinctive response to reach out and break her fall combined with her sudden weight sent a bolt of pain through his leg. It was all he could do to keep the both of them from crashing to the tiled floor! His face twisted in pain as he steadied her, pressing her head into his chest while catching his breath. Keeping one hand about her back he cupped her face with other bringing her to look at him and whispered uneasily, "You alright?"
Evelyn looked at him and considered lying, however she felt positively awful and knew it was useless in trying to hide the fact. "No." she breathed, "No, I'm not."
She found her feet and supported herself, awkwardly at first but soon found her balance. Rick reached over her shoulder grabbing the robe which hung from the back of door and held it open above her shoulders allowing her to slide her arms into the sleeves. Wrapping an arm around her waist he guided her through the bathroom door and onto the bed.
~~~
Furborough grunted as his eyes flickered open. His head pounded as if a marching band was keeping time within his skull and when he coughed to rid himself of the repulsive sensation of blood that had collected at the back of his throat, he clasped his hands to either side of his head in the vain hope of lessening the thud of his brain. It was hopeless! The agony continued as he shifted himself with consternation. He groaned loudly at the effort, wrapping his arms about his bruised ribs, all the while seriously believing his head would explode! Once upright, the Legionnaire gingerly touched a hand to his face pulling it away directly as he made contact with the tip of his nose. He sat with his legs hanging over the side of the bed spitting blood into a towel while struggling to breathe through his mouth.
He remembered everything!
His anger seethed as he replayed the events in his mind over and over. He would not back down over this! He laughed hatefully at the attempt to punish him, then cursed violently at the immediate pain that assulted his senses over the sudden movement.
He studying the blood spattered towel before him and considered O'Connell's fate. Finding him would prove no trouble and time was on his side. The Regiment was on extended leave and wouldn't be moving out for another eight weeks. This fact satisfied him well. "Let that bastard O'Connell believe he's won!" Furborough choked and spat into the towel once more. "I've got all the time I need!"
~~~
Evelyn laid on the bed propped up against the pillows attempting to stave off the ill feeling by breathing slow and deeply, just as she'd be ordered by Rick. She kept her eyes closed in a bid to conceal the fear she felt ever increasingly since these mysterious spells began over a month ago. She could hear Rick fussing in the bathroom. After securing her position on the bed, he had mentioned something about needing to cool her down. No doubt he was bound to return with a cold compress of sorts. It seemed he was taking ages and it sounded as though he was stumbling.
She heard him re-enter the bedroom and opened one eye to watch him. She opened both on seeing him grab hold of the bedpost to aid himself along. "You're limping!"
"Yeah, sshh! And you're yelling"
With difficulty, Rick steered himself onto the bed beside her and placed a cold damp cloth to her head. "Walking around in the heat in your condition isn't something most people would recommend, you know."
She struggled against the compress intent on rebuking that remark but wasn't able to withstand the gentle pressure he placed on her shoulder to keep her still.
"What were you doing? And how come Alex isn't burned like you?"
"He was in the pram." She muttered under her breath.
Rick groaned and caught his temper before speaking. "You were pushing the pram around! Who got it up and down the stairs? Or don't I need to ask?"
Evelyn shoved his hand away from her forehead and glared at her husband. "I'm too tired to be drawn into that arguement tonight other than to say that you should have let me know what was going on."
Rick narrowed his eyes, then considered that she had a point. "Yeah, okay." He replaced the compress on her head and warned, "But you're only getting away with that one until later."
"Why are you limping?" At any other time this question would carry a definate tone of concern, but right now it smacked of intolerance. "And don't tell me it's nothing." Her eyes met his, imparting a serious mien. "Something happened today that I insist on knowing. I want none of that embellished story telling that you gave me before you went away to Syria."
He remained silent, his brow furrowed slightly and considered his answer. A mistake as it turned out for Evelyn was in no mood for patience. She squeezed his leg, pressing just below the wound causing him to grab hold of her arm preventing any further attack. "Dammit, Evie!" He rolled onto his back, gritting his teeth against the pain and several colourful exclamations!
Alex woke with a cry and his mother shuffled herself off the bed to tend to him.
Rick gasped through clenched teeth. "Careful how you walk!"
"At least I'm able to walk."
~~~
Furborough picked up his uniform jacket, slung it over his shoulder and made his way to the door. As an after thought, he turned back and grabbed the towel he had been using to press to his mouth then resumed his departure.
Half way along the corridor he stopped outside the door of a particular patient who had been irritating him since he woke up. Banging heavily on the door of the man who had been continually complaining aloud for the benefit of the entire floor, Furborough shouted through the pain in his head to the patient beyond the door. "Shut up before I come in and shoot ya! Ya noisy bastard!" Immediate silence ensued and Furborough continued on his way.
~~~
In the time since Alex had returned to sleep, the O'Connell's had laid in uneasy silence. The Legionnaires he had confronted today still weighed heavily on Rick's mind. At least one of them was back on the street already and as for Furborough, well he only suffered a broken nose and concussion from what he knew. If he'd been armed, Rick was certain he would have shot the unprincipled scumbag. As it stood now, he'd made matters worse!
As Evelyn shifted uncomfortably against her pillows, he rolled his head to look at her and spoke in a calm whisper. "You know, coming to get you from the Museum and what happened today are pretty much the same thing."
"Well, Dear!" Her tone was hushed but less peaceful. "That's difficult for me to discern. You see, I have no idea what happened today other than to see the results on you!"
Ignoring her manner, Rick persisted. "Bringing you home...angry as you were...was keeping you safe." He wasn't sure if her complete silence was a good thing or not, but at least he knew he had her attention. "It's not like it was when you were having Alex. It just seems harder for you this time." He placed a hand on the baby, gently moving his hand in a circular motion. Evelyn relaxed a little against the pillows and her small smile encouraged him "I wanted you here where I'd knew you'd be okay if anything went wrong, that's all."
"I suppose I can understand your reasoning...oafish as your actions appeared at the time."
Rick was forced to concede her point and that barging into the Museum in a temper that fell just short of firing his guns at the ceiling probably wasn't the best way to handle the matter. At any rate, Evelyn was giggling quietly beside him now. Even in the half light he could see her faintness had passed, lifting the burden of one problem for the time being.
She raised a hand over his leg, placing it lightly on the spot where she had pinched him earlier. "Tell me what happened to you today."
Removing her hand from his leg, he brought it up to his chest and squeezed her fingers.
"I'm sorry. Is it too sore to touch?"
"No. Well, yes...but it's more to stop you from hitting me again."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "What have you done?!"
He inhaled and sighed heavily. "I met up with Furborough today."
"Who?"
"Furborough. The man who broke in here. The one you saw across the street yesterday."
Her face opened up when she grasped his meaning. It was hard to read her expression or guess what she would say. To compound the situation, her voice remained neutral when she finally did speak. "You met him, or you hunted him out?" Rick's uncomfortable silence prompted her to try and jerk her hand out of his but he held tighter, refusing to let go as her anger began to rise, all the while holding his eyes to hers.
"You didn't really believe that I'd just let him go after you pointed him out, did you? After what he did?"
She relaxed her hand and it appeared she was forcing back tears. "No, I suppose not."
Letting go of her hand, he slipped his fingers around the knape of her neck, pulling her into his kiss. "You're my wife, Evie. I'll kill anyone who hurts you."
Alarmed, she moved her face back far enough to see him. "You didn't kill him?!"
"No." He laughed, secretly wishing that he had. "But he got the message."
"And just how injured are you?" She asked refering to his leg.
"He pulled a knife."
"Stabbed!!"
"Yeah. But I'm walking and breathing."
"But I squeezed the wound!" Her hand covered her mouth then darted down towards his injured leg and back again. "Oh God, Rick! I'm sorry!"
Catching hold of her flailing hand, he pulled her back into his chest. "It's alright, Evie! I'm fine. I've faced tougher than you. Not by much, though."
end chapter.
AJMackey, MBooker, Ruse and Eviefan....thank you ladies. I thought the previous chapter was kind of average to tell the truth and it was a nice Christmas present to see that you all enjoyed it. Thankyou! :)