Author's Note: The characters belong to Maureen Jennings with an episode plot written by Mary Pederson.
Title of story was inspired by the poem 'Sure on this Shining Night' written by James Agee. Listen to Morten Lauridsen's choral treatment of the poem, it is absolutely stunning.
Please read, review and enjoy!
This Side the Ground
"Whatever shall I do without him?" Miss Mildred Ash stared straight ahead of her, the carriage rocking her this way and that. "I don't think I've ever loved someone so dearly without ever even saying a word." Dr. Julia Ogden sat beside the older woman, holding her hand.
"I certainly know the feeling. I'm so very sorry, Miss Ash."
"He was such a good man. Why did I ever wait so long to tell him how I feel? Why in God's name did I wait?" A fresh mountain of emotion overcame the woman and she held Mr. Dilton Dilbert's spectacles in her opposite hand. Julia squeezed her hand, tears silently falling down her own cheeks. "Propriety. Damned propriety. Damn it all!" While their situations were certainly different, Julia could certainly understand and feel where this woman's grief came from. Had she told William earlier that she loved him, things may have gone differently? Although she wouldn't change a thing in the world about her current life, it didn't mean that she didn't have her regrets. Having to wait almost 8 years to finally be with Detective William Murdoch was only a short amount of time compared to how long Mr. Dilbert and Miss Ash's secret longing went on. Julia vowed she'd never wait for anything as important as that again. She'd tell William she loved him every day, tell Dr. Emily Grace that she missed her, laugh with George more often and write to Dr. Rebecca James telling her that she was proud of her. Life was simply too short.
"Dearest Miss Ash, Mildred…you must know that Mr. Dilbert loved you. It was in every fiber of his being. He loved you as you loved him, you must remember that. Most indivuals go their entire lives not knowing what love is and you were able to experience that with a man that you not only loved, but respected. Take heart in that."
Mildred wiped her eyes roughly with the handkerchief that Dilton had given her, taking in his scent and cologne. "I shall try, Dr. Ogden. I shall try."
Having been telephoned before their departure, Mildred's sister Mrs. Annette Ash Lessing bounded out of her house, tears in her eyes. "Sister! Dearest Sister!"
One Julia assisted Mildred out of the carriage, she approached Mrs. Lessing. "Mrs. Lessing, I'm Dr. Julia Ogden." The two women shook hands, grim looks blanketing their faces.
"Thank you for taking care of my sister, Dr. Ogden. I'm truly grateful."
"Julia, please. I have a few things to leave with your sister so that she can rest. She's extremely fragile and may be for quite some time as I'm sure you can imagine." Mildred by then had caught up to the two and flew into her sister's waiting arms, sobs intensifying.
"My darling, hush." She cooed at her younger sister. "Come, let's go inside. You'll join us, Julia?"
"Absolutely."
Julia walked down the hallway with Annette, their voices low. "I've given her a sedative. Be sure to wake her up in a couple of hours to give her some food and water. If it's all right with you, I'll return to check on her."
Annette was beside herself with gratitude. "You're more than welcome, thank you Julia. So kind of you."
"I'm also of a doctor psychiatry, Annette. If Mildred needs help in that area as well, I'm available. You need only inquire at the city morgue or station house number 4."
"Won't you stay for tea, Julia? How rude of me."
Julia stood in front of the door, smiling warmly at the older woman. "I'm afraid I cannot, I must get back to the morgue to see to Mr. Dilbert. Please keep me abreast of how she does, Mrs. Lessing." Annette, overcome with emotion at her sister's expense enveloped Julia in a fierce hug rocking slightly.
"Thank you, Julia. Thank you so very much. You are a God send."
Back at the morgue, Julia placed her coat and hat on the rack, watching as Mr. Dilbert's body was being prepared for postmortem by Miss Hart. Taking the moment to breathe, Julia placed both hands onto her desk, hanging her head against her chest. With everything that was going on in her life: training Miss Hart, the experiments with Marilyn Clark and her talk with Dr. Osler swimming around in her mind, Julia was not only physically exhausted but mentally as well. Entering the morgue, William took a moment to watch his wife as she leaned on her desk, obviously overcome. "Julia, you're back."
Startled by his presence, Dr. Ogden wiped at her tears and turned to her husband. "William. Yes, I'm just about to start the postmortem for Mr. Dilbert." The detective walked over to his wife, holding onto both of her hands and discretely kissing them.
"Are you sure you're all right, Julia? The postmortem for Mr. Dilbert can wait. Perhaps we should go home? The Inspector is concerned for you too."
"What is there's another death, William? It's not like I can leave Miss Hart like I could Miss James." William nodded, agreeing with her. Miss Hart was nowhere near ready to conduct postmortems on her own.
"Surely she could at least take in the potential bodies for the day and do the prelimary work? I really think you should rest, Julia." Perhaps he was right. Nothing sounded better than a good meal, a soothing bath and being comforted by her husband.
"All right, William." The detective jumped at the chance since his wife rarely gave herself a break or even listened to him most of the time.
"Wonderful, I'll go tell the Inspector. I'll return shortly." Kissing her on the forehead, William retreated back to the station house.
Violet Hart traveled up the small staircase, a clipboard and pencil in her hand. "Ready, Dr. Ogden? Mr. Dilbert has been prepared for postmortem." Julia noted that she was a bit too cheery for her own low mood.
"Actually Miss Hart, I'll be leaving for the rest of the day. Do you think you could handle the intake of the remaining bodies should there be any? We'll place Mr. Dilbert into cold storage and complete his postmortem tomorrow." Violet's eyes lit with pleasure. Finally some actual responsibility!
"Absolutely, doctor! I'll be sure to hold down the fort."
Smiling wearily at the eager young woman, Julia thanked her, placing her hat back on her head. Her coat on and her purse at the ready, Julia sat in her chair and waited for her husband to return so that they could go home.
Entering their suite at the Windsor, the detective and doctor placed their various outwear items down, anxiously awaiting their early supper. Neither of them were able to take lunch since the accident that claimed Mr. Dilbert's life and the two were very hungry. Undoing her tie, Julia poured herself a glass of whiskey, needing something a bit stronger to take the edge off. Removing his jacket and laying it neatly on an armchair, William sat next to his wife taking her in his loving arms. "William?"
Kissing the top of her head, the detective inhaled the scent of her hair. Honeysuckle. "Hmm?"
"Promise me you'll never stop telling me you love me. I'll never stop telling you every chance I get." Sitting up, she looked into her husband warm, brown eyes.
"Julia, my love for you is in every step I take and every word I utter. There's never any doubt that I love you and always have." At this, he held his wife tighter, afraid she would dissolve into dust. Julia allowed herself to be comforted and smothered in her husband's embrace, taking solace in the quiet and privacy of their temporary home.
"I love you, William. Please don't ever forget that."
"And I, you. Mrs. Murdoch."