Past, present and future

Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the film 'The Village', nor own the creations of characters written by M. Night Shyamalan in association with Blinding Edge and Touch Stone pictures, except the character of Jessica Summers… so don't sue. Names have been given to other village characters that have not been divulged in order to give them a sense community in the story.

Thoughts are in Italics,

Please read and review,

R for later chapters (scenes of a sexual nature and possible violence),

Apoligies for the non break up of scenes, the computer is being funny, grrrr...

Chapter two – A time to heal

"Uhmm?"

"Shhh, shhh"

"Mmm…."

"It's ok Lucius, you'll feel really, really drowsy, don't panic.

Lucius Hunt tried to open his eyes but they felt too heavy to move. His senses alerted his mind to his predicament, his ears picking up sounds of footsteps and a female voice. The odd harsh smell he could breathe in and the darkness of light.

He was aware of just how stiff and cold he felt as his whole body shuddered under the commandment to move. It became painfully hard to move, a warning that some thing was wrong.

Jess who sat on the side of the bed placed her arms on his forearms and held them to stop him struggling.

"Ivy?" The dark man asked questioningly.

Jess recalled the name belonging to the blind girl.

"No, it's err, my name is Jessica, Jess."

"Huh?" The mumbles felt like nettles in his throat.

"Stay still Lucius…" Jess noticed the man wince as he tried to swallow. "…Would you like a little bit of water." She spoke kindly knowing that she ought to keep tabs on the intake.

Another mumble came and Jess took the breaker from the bedside table and lifted it to his lips, scooting closer to him to hold his head up.

He'll talk better and hopefully will be calm.

The fluid ran down his neck completely missing his lips.

"Shit."

Lucius moaned in his throat and Jess frustrated, nipped to her bag and delved into it deeply. Taking a look to make sure all the shutters were indeed shut she pulled out what would be a foreign object to Lucius' eyes if he could really see it.

"Put your lips over this and suck carefully." She spoke resting it on his mouth.

Geez it sounds like I'm talking to a child.

She saw the relief pass over his face as his throat muscles moved and thirstily took down the water.

"I can't move you Lucius and you shouldn't try to move yourself so if you need anything you must let me know if I can help you by voice commandments, okay?" Jess said taking a small flannel and wiping up the visible water that lay on his neck and chin, finally and carefully dabbing the edge of his mouth.

Lucius' eyes starred straight back at her and for the first time she noticed under his heavy brow just how green they were. She actually blinked away feeling his gaze a little too strongly on her, removing her fingers that stayed in contact through the flannel on his skin.

"I can't… feel much, of my body, I?" Sorrow over came Lucius' voice.

"It's okay Lucius, you have a dru- err, medicine in you, it's blocking out the pain you had before."

"I feel so weak." His eyes closed and then fluttered open.

"You will be feeling that, yes." Jess smiled at him.

"Now I think I know how Ivy feels."

Jess frowned.

"You have a light; it's a bright light about your face, like the sun I have a colour too she says." He spoke slightly bemused to himself.

"It's just peroxide." Jess mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"Oh nothing."

Jess still had a firm grip on the beaker and watched as Lucius took more thirsty gulps. He coughed and winced trying to get his hand to cover his chest. Jess covered his fore arm before she found Lucius take her hand.

"Stay with me." He asked slightly in pain and worry.

"I'm not going anywhere, just rest now, I'm watching you."

"It's improper for her to be in there Edward."

Edward Walker sat in bed with his wife. The candles had been long snubbed before, but both Tabitha and Edward found sleep disappear from their agenda.

"I trust her. Beside, someone has to be watching him and now that he has medicine that we don't not know about or have forgotten about…"

"Oh for God sake, she's just given him some other kind of antibiotics hasn't she? We know about that kind of medicine."

"Tabitha, my love. Jess is of the modern world and knows more that we can remember….and please don't swear in my house."

"Jesus Edward, you really don't think this little charade of yours is going to last do you? That the village and all its purity will be sustained? You cursed us!"

"No, no I haven't I've simply saved an honest boys life, for our daughter, for the village."

"Have you thought how Alice is taking all this?"

Tabitha didn't catch the look that swamped Edwards face as she mentioned Alice.

"Alice confided in me that this was the sensible thing to do."

"Ah-ha but not the right thing to do."

"Tabitha…"

"No Edward. Talk to me in the morning."

Edward watched his wife get comfy a little too aggressively into her pillow. He took a deep breath and sighed, slouching down into the bed and shutting his eyes.

"Ivy you must sleep." Rose muttered amongst her children.

"She can't and if I'm honest neither would I if the one I loved were with another woman, an 'outsider'."

"She is a doctor, a professional."

"How do we know hmm? Honestly, this all is a bit weird and strange to me?"

"What do you think Ivy?" Rose asked.

"I don't know?" Came a meek mumble.

"Well of course Ivy isn't going to know anything." Kitty piped up. "She only said she talked to a gentleman stranger when she found the town. But a female doctor? I never knew a female could be a doctor?"

"Maybe they have different principles in the town, they must."

"Well whatever, the point is there's a woman in there with…"

"That's enough Kitty. Ivy doesn't need to hear this. Miss Jessica is slightly odd looking and improper but father says she professional and that's enough. Goodnight, all of you."

A slight knock came from the door and Jessica lifted her eyes from what she was reading.

"Hello Miss Jessica?"

"Oh hello Victor."

"I've come for a progress report."

Jessica stood up placed the book down and looked over to Lucius with a slight smile.

"He's improved dramatically. I didn't believe you when you said he has a strong sense to live, not from when I saw him yesterday. He's a new man."

"How can we thank you?" Victor smiled taking a good look at Lucius, crouching down to do his own visible checks."

"If you have a pen and paper, err ink or something I'll write down all you need to know to get him on the mend, it hopefully shouldn't be long, but his bandages really need to be sanitised a little better. I took a look at your stitching a couple of times while he slept and it's looking better, I think it was just a case of the infection."

"Really, thank you Miss Jessica."

"Please, Jess. Erm I've put him on a saline drip, I have a few bags of solution that I'll need you to change for him to keep him well, no food for a while and he has a catheter, okay? He shouldn't need anything else like that, the wounds I don't think were that deep, were they?"

"Err no, they weren't as bad as we thought they'd be."

"Apart from that all looks good."

"Can I get you something to eat and drink this morn? You must be tired?"

"Well I was thinking of heading back if you don't need me. I really don't think your village is too keen on me, I've had some strange looks." Jess bemused.

"Hmm indeed." Victor smiled. "I will have to just talk to the elders, you see, well? I don't know if Edward talked to you but we have, err, rules about going out into the forest, you understand."

"Mmm, yeah, err, he mentioned it. Well just let me know when it's okay to leave will you and if a hot drinks going or something I'll take that."

"No problem, I won't be long." Victor smiled.

Minutes passed and Jess opened a few shutters slightly to let the light and a little air in.

"Water, please?"

Jess turned to Lucius who had woken and headed to the beaker and the lime green plastic straw.

"Here you go." Jess spoke as she sat on the bed close to Lucius and held his head up right and held the beaker to him.

"Do you want cooler water?"

"No, this is fine thanks."

Jess put the beaker back down and Lucius took a good look at the woman before him.

'Odd' was the first word that popped into his mind before he spoke.

"Err, Miss Jessica?"

They're all so polite?

"Could you erm, get Doctor Victor, only I…"

Huh?

"What's the problem?"

"I just need to speak to him is all?" Lucius spoke completely bashful and not looking in her direction.

Jess saw the quick glance he took below his stomach and clicked on.

"Don't panic Lucius, it a medical device we use from my town, it err, it lets you go without worry you understand? Your village hadn't moved you since they didn't know what pain you were in and they just left you on wet sheets they didn't want to move you, not that you would have known. It was best I do that and clean everything up."

Jess looked at Lucius who still looked very confused and embarrassed.

"Listen, don't worry about it and don't get embarrassed about it either. I'm professional. It's something I've seen before you known.

"You have no ring on your finger. What right do you have to see…a man."

Jess sighed, looked at him and said nothing choosing to point to the drip his hand was attached to.

"You're on a drip and you need to keep it okay. No matter if it feels funny."

"What is it?"

"It's a mixture of salt, water and glucose, err sugar. It'll keep your energy up and keep you going."

"It's what?" Lucius asked still trying to fathom why she had done what she'd done to him, in a place no one had seen except him.

"Are there any pains in your stomach or lung?"

"No, not at the moment, I just feel uncomfortable, is all." He mentioned meekly.

"I'm sorry, but as long as your wounds aren't bothering you I'd say you'll be better in no time. You must just rest and relax; Victor will be around shortly I think."

"Your town really does have some strange customs."

Jess laughed in her throat. "You have no idea." She smiled.

"It is interesting, I guess." Lucius replied. "I'd like to visit the towns."

"You have ne-." Jess started to say and mentally smacked her forehead as she remembered what the letter had said. "Mm, well maybe one day aye?"

"Maybe…one day…" He smiled weakly.

"Oh Victor. Hi!" Jess spoke a little too enthusiastically when she saw the doctor.

"Erm, hi? There's coffee in Mr Walker's house, round the corner.

"Ace."

Victor frowned but then smiled at her choice of words as she walked out of the door and into the fresh air feeling once more completely out of place.

Faces greeted her with curiosity. Children swarmed her shouting a hundred questions in her direction.

"Now, now children, don't pester Miss Jessica."

Jess smiled at the kind faced woman who approached her smiling and led her away.

"Edward has told you, you say nothing to the children, hasn't he?"

"Erm?"

"And to not talk to any one in the village, it's just not right you understand?"

"Well?" Jess mumbled trying to get an answer in edgeways.

"It's just we don't want your kind around here."

"Excuse me?"

"You know what I mean Miss Jessica."

Jess looked at the woman before her and her instinct was to really batter the older plumpish woman but she thoroughly believed that if she did that an out break of heart attacks would filter though the village at her violent plan.

"Is that me or 'me'? Now listen Lady-."

"That's Mrs Walker."

"Mrs Walker, between you and I, I'm doing this as a favour for Edward-."

"That's Mr Walker to you."

Jess pursed her lips in anger. "Whatever. The point is as much as it looks like I'm having fun here, I'm not and I want to go home to my boyfriend, my dog, my gas fire and electricity and finally my rum, okay?"

"I see times really haven't changed out there."

"You're probably right, they haven't changed and it really looks like things aren't going to change here, so I'm going to mosey my little ass out of here without a fuss okay?"

"Well, you certainly have defences my dear."

"Excuse me?"

"That's right run back to your little world deary, back to the darkness of the world."

"Darkness? Gee, that's rich coming from a place lit by Stone Age methods?"

Tabitha narrowed her eyes. "Don't like our community? Too bad 'missy' as the elders are the only ones who can let you go you know?"

Jess stepped a little closer to the woman who stared at her like shit.

"Firstly, are you threatening me? And secondly you're saying I can't go home thus a prisoner in this little freak show?"

Tabitha smiled a sister smile. "Welcome to the 'freak' show deary."

Jess watched as Tabitha walked off and was left pondering if this was all some cruel joke. When no one jumped out to surprise her she frowned and felt an invisible shiver pass her back. A quick look around the area and suddenly the tranquil village didn't look so friendly.

Minutes passed by with an aimless wander and Jess made her way up to the biggest building where she presumed she'd find someone. She suddenly felt a desperation to find Edward Walker.

"Miss? Are you lost?" A young man asked.

Jess turned to the brunette and smiled. "I'm looking for Edward Walker."

"He is teaching at the moment." The young man replied and stepped closer putting out his hand. "Jonathan."

"Jessica." She replied noting the man was mesmerized with her hair.

"Classes finish for him this evening; you probably won't get to see him until then."

"What time is it now?"

"Its mid morning, I'm on a shift to paint the trees, you're welcome to join me."

"Listen it's not personal but I don't think it's a good idea. Tabitha Walker's had a little chat with me."

"I hope you don't mind me speaking out of turn but your hair is really strange, fascinating."

Jess politely smiled with her lips closed. "I better not go." She declined.

"Oh, well Mrs Walker is slightly stern but she's no bother. If she says so then I better comply. Well, see you at dinner Miss Jessica. It was a pleasure to talk to you."

"Really, it's just Jess."

The young man stalked off in his mustard robe and Jess watched cringing at the choice of colour.

Minutes went by at a ridiculous rate but Jess found herself in contact with some of the elders women including Tabitha Walker. Keeping her mouth shut she sat with the elders who cross stitched, knitted and sowed; penalising Jessica for having no idea how to do anything.

"If it's alright with everyone I really should just-."

"We've told you Miss Jessica we'll talk later, now is not the time."

"But I really do have to-."

"Miss Jessica you come into our world and act like your high and mighty-." Tabitha spoke.

"But I'm not."

"But you don't rule the roost here I'm afraid." Tabitha finished.

"You must respect our rules Miss Jessica and comply with them." Alice Hunt spoke up for the first time to the girl.

"How is your son Alice?" Mrs Clack asked.

"Victor says he's deeply sleeping."

All the women looked at Jessica spitefully.

"But he looks better, at least until we know that the modern medicine works."

Hello I'm right here! And it was my medicine that's made him look better thank you?

"Excuse me ladies would it be a problem if I go and get some fresh air?" Jess asked politely.

"Breaks aren't for a while." Vivian Percy spoke.

A thousand curse words echoed around Jess' mind.

"Would it be possible to head over to Victor and check up on Lucius?"

"Why would you want to do that Miss Jessica?" Tabitha asked. "We do have a real doctor in the village."

"Well I?" Jess frowned.

"You wouldn't want to be interfering with anything more would you?" Vivian Percy asked suspiciously.

"Interfering, why? I just need to-."

"You just need to hold that modern tongue of yours, if you please." Tabitha spoke sternly.

"We have our doctor thank you." Mrs Clack spoke up.

Jess looked around at the bland faces around her and felt that old chill again.

"We welcome everyone to the feast and thank God for the glorious food on our plates. We also thank Victor and Jessica for helping heal our beloved Lucius. Victor has informed me he will be better in no time."

The evening meal went by relatively smoothly with Jessica finally having spoken to Edward for a short while and complying with rules about her made up story. She was to finally tell the eager and inquisitive listeners of the village more of what they wanted. Some good humoured jokes tangled themselves into her talking and most of the crowd were in rapturous laughter.

"How long is Miss Jessica staying for mama?" A small child asked his mother.

"Who knows baby? Who knows?" she replied stroking the large bulge she was carrying.

The meal finished and the merriment still carried on, so much so by sheer out numbers with the younger generations managing to force the elders to liven up a little and so some finer refreshments were brought to the table and many sat until dark.

Jess was thankful that the elders decided to cut her stories short by reminiscing about their own tales of their history much to the amusement of Jess.

Edward Walker had a relaxed smile on his handsome features which spread like wild fire through the village.

"Where is Miss Jessica staying tonight Papa?" Kitty asked questioningly to her father as everyone were disbursing.

"Well?"

Jess looked over to the man and wondered what he was about to say.

"It's just the girls and I thought it may be nice if she share slumber with us as we're staying with you tonight. We think she's just fine and would more than happily welcome her into the home."

"Well that's a lovely idea Kitty." Edward smiled to his daughter after a look of puzzlement.

Jess could see she wasn't going to be able to talk to Edward about leaving in the night and so she went along with the idea.

"If its okay with you first though, I'd very much like to collect my things from the infirmary, if that's ok with you Edward?"

"That's fine Jessica."

"I also am afraid to say, haven't packed appropriate night wear."

"That's not a problem Jessica, we'll have some in my house, goodness knows with all my girls."

"I'm going to bed." Ivy stated promptly and felt around for her walking stick.

"I'll get the beds ready and some hot milk." Rose added tailing Ivy.

"I won't be long." Jess spoke.

"Miss Jessica?"

Jess closed the slim wooden door and headed to the small lamp beside Lucius and smiled settling herself by his drip. She took his hand and checked for deeper signs of bruising, her fingers nimbly checking the area and then checking the drip solution.

"You're cold Lucius." She spoke turning to him.

"Victor forgot to close the windows." He replied finding his hand melting into her warm one only to have it pulled away.

Jess quickly strode to the windows and shut the shutters. She turned to the old pair of drawers and took out a woollen blanket, placing it over the lower half of Lucius. She took his sheet and pulled it down taking a look at the bandages.

"Has Victor changed them tonight?"

"No."

"Good, they need to stay put. He has this funny idea that your skin will heal if your bandages keep getting torn off your skin?"

Jess took her fingers to the edges of the bandage of his stomach and ever so lightly touched the skin.

"Does that hurt?"

"No."

"Numb?"

"Not as much as before."

"Hmm." Came a melodic noise from Jess' throat.

Lucius swallowed and watched her strangely delicate fingers. He was still trying to get comfortable with this woman touching him as she did. Every time her fingers met his bare skin he tensed. He had known it wrong but deep down inside he felt relaxed and comforted that her fingers touched his body. It was such a foreign thing that he'd not experienced with anyone, except perhaps with Victor through he'd been mainly unconscious. No, defiantly had some thing to with the woman before him. It felt…natural, his own mind wondering if this was in anyway like being in a marriage.

Ivy…

"Oh sorry… was that a tender part."

"Err, yeh."

"Drip's good for another couple of hours." Jess mentioned, eyeing again the liquid on the stand before pulling up the sheet and carefully placing the woollen blanket over Lucius' body. "Do you want me to stoke the fire for you?"

"It's okay. I think Victor is coming back before morning."

Jess turned away and headed to her bags.

"That was a large sigh?"

Jess turned back to Lucius who had a look of kindness and concern and laughed sheepishly.

"I, I think I just want to head back you know? I'm really not use to your village and your customs and it's probably I head home and see my family and stuff."

"Your customs that I've seen certainly do seem a lot different from ours."

Jess smiled and stoked the glowing embers.

"Thank you for saving my life."

Jess turned to Lucius.

"No need to say that, really."

"I don't think I can repay you."

"Hey. It's a job okay." Jess replied opening her bag and heading for a side pouch, taking out a little plastic containers. She flipped open the lid and took two little white bullets into her mouth.

"Medicine?"

"Oh ha no, just candy."

"Candy?"

"Oops." She spoke with the two sweets in her mouth eyeing the doors and windows carefully.

"What's candy?"

"I don't think I should really tell you…..arh… what the hell it won't hurt."

"You cursed?"

Jess sighed beginning to get tired of the façade she had to put on.

"Its candy from my town here….but don't tell anyone, okay?"

Jessica sat on the edge of the bed and placed the sugared sweet to his lips.

"It smells like garden mint leaves."

"It's created from the substance."

Lucius opened his mouth and Jess carefully placed the little sweet in his mouth, his tongue curled the sweet but not before it hit her fingers.

Lucius responded bashfully but suddenly melted into a wondering smile. Jess instantly smiled the stange awkwardness passing. Lucius crushed the tiny sweet with his teeth and opened his mouth to the strange tingling sensation of his tongue and on his breath.

"Feels fresh doesn't it? Comes in handy in the mornings." She laughed. Her laughter backfired on him and he found himself smiling even more at Jess, thankful that she was in the room. There came a silence between them and Lucius noticed Jess starring at his lips. He unknowingly wet them with his tongue.

"How'd you get this?"

Jess touched the scar under his nose to his top lip.

Lucius' face stayed blank still in awe of his experience but shocked that Jess hands were on him again. His lips tingled and the strangest sensation came over him, even more so than when he put his lips on Ivy's.

His child like demure of the candy made Jess smile a secret smile before she got up and stoked the fire again. She turned to him again and still saw him smiling, watching her.

"Geez Lucius what you gonna do when you get a girlfriend? She'll get a big head if you don't stop looking."

"I have female friends." He said in a coma like state.

"No, that's, never mind, listen, can you keep a secret?" Jess quickly mentioned quickly for some reason feeling a little anxious.

Lucius nodded.

"You can have these, if you keep them a secret."

"There are secrets in this town. Thank you by the way." He replied taking the plastic box from Jess and keeping it in his closed palm.

Jess didn't know if she should reply and wished suddenly she could stay in the room all night and yet bolt from it straight away.

Well? What is Lucius feeling, more imortantly is Jess feeling it? Again, the medical knowledge isn't what I have, but I felt it added a sense of depth and all. Don't think it fits? Let me know.

And now children R&R...

Ciao.