Of Gallantry, Guilt and Grace

Chapter 8

The evening was spent with Actor reading a book in his favorite chair in the downstairs common room and Terry in Craig's office working on intel. It was late when Actor finished his book and set it down on the side table beside his pipe. He levered himself out of the chair and headed for the stairs stopping at the open office door.

"I am going to turn in now," he informed Terry.

She glanced up and nodded. "I have a little bit left and I'll be up too. You want me to walk with you?"

"I don't believe that's necessary," said the Italian. "I feel better tonight."

Terry nodded. She watched as he walked away, wondering if they were back to the independent stage. Twenty minutes later, she finished, put the papers in the safe and went upstairs to her room. She got out her nightgown and stood looking at it, not knowing how things were between her and Actor now.

Actor had not gone to sleep. He lay on his left side wondering if Teresa would come to him tonight. If she didn't, he couldn't blame anyone but himself. Maybe it was for the best if she decided to back away from him.

The door knob turned slowly, and the door eased open silently. Actor looked at the dark figure that moved cautiously into his bedroom.

"I'm awake," he said.

"Um, Craig and the guys won't be back until tomorrow night," said the young woman. "I wasn't sure if you . . ."

He lifted the covers in invitation. With quicker movements, Teresa moved next to the bed, removed her robe and draped it over the desk chair and then carefully got in the bed, back to him and eased back until she was tucked up against him. This way she couldn't accidently lay her arm over his injured side. The long male arm draped over her and held her close. With a smile on both faces, they fell asleep.

GGG

The next day proved interesting, after a fashion, for Actor. He and Teresa had taken a turn around the running path, at a slow walk. As it was, he still could not complete the circuit without resting halfway through. He detested the length of time it was taking him to recover. But the company on these walks was bright and cheerful; probably forced because she must still be experiencing some element of grief for the loss of the man who had once been a lover.

Lunch was a fried egg sandwich and a salad made with lettuce and vegetables from the garden. They ate upstairs, over a chess game. Actor was happy, and not surprised, at how well the girl was picking up strategies. He should probably allow her to win a game, but that wasn't in his make-up. It wouldn't be long though before she would be able to win one. The reason he and Garrison did not play very often, was because they were too evenly matched.

It was one o'clock when the phone downstairs rang. Terry got up and trotted downstairs to answer it. Ten minutes later, she returned and sat back down to see where he had moved his chess piece.

"Kit's coming out."

"Why?"

Terry looked at him, "To discuss the latest fashions in parachute silk."

Perhaps his preoccupation with Teresa's new, to him, business caused his concentration to lapse, or she really was getting that good, but she called checkmate and it was true. They repositioned the pieces for their next game and went downstairs.

Terry retrieved a long, rolled up map from the library and took it Craig's office, spreading it on the conference table. Actor leaned against the door jamb and watched her get paper and pencils ready.

"I believe I will take some of that intel upstairs to work on," he said, straightening.

"You don't have to go upstairs," said Terry.

"Does she have clearance?" he asked pointedly.

"Only to get on Archbury base," said Terry. "Don't worry. She won't get anywhere near you. Trust me. Besides, you don't have clearance either."

Actor opened the wall safe and removed the stack of papers from Allied Command that had come to them from Bletchley. He had closed the safe and twirled the dial when the front door opened, without a knock, and the Gallagher woman trotted in.

"Hey Terry, how can you do this without the maps and stuff from . . ." asked the red-head, stopping with mouth open and eyes wide as Actor stepped up beside Terry and skirted around her with an armful of papers and a couple pencils. "What are you doing here?"

He lifted an eyebrow in consideration of the asininity of that question.

"He lives here," said Terry with a touch of sarcasm. "He's been down for three weeks, remember? Come on. We're in here and he's out there. Don't worry. The office isn't bugged."

Kit gave the confidence man a wide berth and scooted into the office. Terry rolled her eyes at Actor who silently mouthed 'punto' at her in agreement with her reason for taking over the group.

An hour later, the office door opened, and Kit came out ahead of Terry. She still looked at Actor with trepidation. Terry shook her head behind the girl. Actor smiled, rather like a crocodile.

"Tell me, Miss Gallagher?" he asked conversationally. "Do you play chess?"

Terry shot him a look of exasperation from behind the other girl's back.

"Heck no," replied Kit. "It's long and boring."

"Pity," said the Italian casually. "We both enjoy a good game."

Kit turned to Terry. "You're playing chess? Craig couldn't get you to."

"I've matured since then."

Now Teresa received Actor's raised eyebrow look.

She shot him a sharp look. "Stai zitti."

"I have said nothing," he responded with blatantly false innocence.

"I could see you thinking."

Kit grabbed Terry by the wrist and tugged on her, dragging her outside and shutting the door behind them.

"What?" asked Terry tiredly.

"Does he know?"

"He knows what. He doesn't know who I am or what the name of the group is," Terry said patiently.

"Will he tell Craig?" asked Kit worriedly.

"He hasn't yet," said Terry. "And he's been in the basement, remember?"

"How could I forget?"

"Go home, Kit," urged Terry.

She didn't wait to see Kit drive away before returning to the house. Actor looked up from the game table where he was working, and Teresa walked up to lean her forearms lightly on his shoulders. The con man shook his head.

"Teresa, that woman is an idiot," he said in disgust. "How can you work on something as complex as running a 'resistance' with her?"

Terry chuckled and kissed the top of his head. "First, she's still a little afraid of you. Second, she runs the bar okay. Third, she can fly anything with one or more propellers. She has flown one of Joe's Forts before to get it in the air when there was a bombing raid."

"Wonderful," Actor said with more disgust. He looked up at her. "So, Col. Gallagher did teach the Warden to fly?"

"Yes," replied Terry. "Joe and Kit taught me." She figured another little tidbit of information wouldn't hurt. "Craig wanted to go into the Army Air Force like Monty, only as a pilot. He managed to take the training, but Dad pulled him out and sent him to West Point to be an Army officer."

Actor tilted his head back and looked up with a frown. "He did not object?"

Terry's voice became wooden. "When we were younger, you didn't object to anything Dad wanted. You couldn't win. Actually, it's still like that." She smiled. "Craig squeaked into the Point at age 23 and spent the four years there. He became immersed in the West Point thing and decided it was all right. He got out for one year in the States as a second lieutenant and then got shipped out to North Africa."

"There would appear to be a couple things missing from his dossier," remarked Actor.

"There are several things missing from his dossier and no, I am not going to tell you about them," said Terry firmly. "If he wants you to know, he'll tell you." She leaned over and grinned at the Italian. "Besides, almost your entire dossier is fiction."

Actor nodded. "And it will stay that way." He looked at her. "However, you are the only one, as far as I know, of this group who knows my true identity."

"And your secret is safe with me," she said firmly. She gave him a kiss on the temple and straightened. "I need to get started on supper. The guys will be back tonight. They'll probably want food."

"Lasagna?" he suggested hopefully.

"No," she tossed over her shoulder. "And no pork chops or mushroom chicken."

GGG

Supper turned out to be a hearty stew with potatoes, fresh vegetables from the garden, some of the rarely obtainable beef meat in bite sized pieces, and a thick hunter's gravy with a splash of red wine in it. Terry had baked a loaf of bread that morning and there was lettuce for a salad if anyone was hungry enough.

The men returned a little after five o'clock. They were tired but satisfied the mission had gone fairly well. Goniff had a bullet graze on his right bicep, but otherwise was unharmed. Terry fetched an aide kit from Craig's office bathroom and Actor joined the pickpocket at the game table.

"We got time to shower, Babe?" asked Casino. He and Chief were dirtier than the others and so were their clothes. Garrison and Goniff had cleaned up at the sub base, before being transported to London for debriefing and then on to the Mansion.

"Sure," said Terry with a smile. "You have about a half hour, but I can hold it longer."

"Aw, Terry," groaned Goniff. "I'm bleedin' starvin'."

Terry laughed and went to the kitchen. Garrison had disappeared into his office.

Goniff eased his arm from the torn sleeve and took a seat beside Actor. "They cleaned it up at the base and stitched it," he told Actor.

There was dried blood on the dressing and the confidence man eyed it. "May I take a look at it?" he asked.

"O' course," said Goniff cheerfully. "I trust you more than that man wot was s'posed to be a doctor." As Actor gently untied and peeled the dressing off, Goniff spoke quietly. "How you doin', Mate? Is it getting better wif you?"

Actor glanced up, noting the real concern in the blue eyes. He nodded. "It is just so slow."

Goniff glanced around to see if anyone was within hearing distance. Even though nobody was, he spoke very quietly. "You was hurt bad, Actor. In the back of the truck, when Terry said she didn't know if you were going to make it to the pickup, we knew it had to be bad. And I never seen that much blood on two people wot weren't dead."

Actor avoided the smaller man's eyes, and gently pushed around the stitches with a forefinger. No blood came through. "That is what Teresa and the Warden have told me. I understand it, but it doesn't make it any easier. I would like to be back on the missions with you. Doing nothing does not feel right."

"Well, enjoy it," said Goniff. "You'll be back before you know it and wish you had some more time off."

"Undoubtedly," agreed the Italian.

He was re-dressing the Limey's arm when the Lieutenant emerged from his office. "That look okay?" he asked Actor nodding to the arm.

"It will be fine," assured their medical man.

"Good."

Garrison disappeared around the stairs into the dining room. He pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen. The aroma of the rich stew tickled his nostrils and he smiled.

"Smells good, Sister."

"It should be. It's been simmering for three hours," said the girl with a smile.

Craig pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and took a seat. "How's Actor doing?"

Terry continued to make up the salad in a large bowl. "He's getting better, but not fast enough for his taste."

Craig frowned. "Is he giving you any trouble?"

Terry shook her head. "No. He's just frustrated," she said. Terry looked at her brother. "Listen, tomorrow when he wants to go for his walk around the running path, why don't you go with him instead of me. He's stuck with me all the time and he might like to talk with a man for a while."

"He's not giving you trouble but is everything all right between you two?" asked Garrison.

Sure, thought Terry, I'm sleeping with him when you're not here. "I think so," said the girl. "It's just hard for him to be left behind. And face it, I'm not the kind of woman he's interested in."

I wouldn't be too sure about that anymore, thought the girl's older brother. "Yes, I'll go with him tomorrow."

"He is getting better, but he still needs to rest before coming back to the house," warned Terry.

The girl was too quiet. He knew his sister and something more was wrong, and not necessarily anything to do with Actor. "Are you all right?"

Terry paused and looked down at the tabletop. "Something happened while you were gone," she said. "It should make you and Dad happy. I'm surprised it bothers me."

"What?"

"Jake was someplace he shouldn't have been," she hedged. "He was killed."

Craig stared at her. "Jake's dead? I'm sorry, Terr," he said.

The girl looked at him, not sure she believed him.

Craig had expected that. "I don't wish for anyone to die. And like it or not, he was your – boyfriend."

Terry shook her head. "Jake Bradford, MD was my boyfriend. Shiv was somebody else. He was bitter, with reason I'd say, but he wasn't the man I was in love with. It still hurts though. I didn't think it would hurt as bad."

"If you didn't love him anymore, why did you stay with him in New York?" Craig had never been comfortable enough to ask that question.

Terry paused and looked at him wryly. "All the wrong reasons. I felt bad for him. I didn't want to go back to the ranch. And I knew if I did, it would make Dad unbearably smug and happy."

Craig nodded. "I see your point."

Terry changed the subject. "So, you go out with Actor tomorrow, just make sure he gets a rest stop somewhere along the way."

"How long before you think Kaiser will release him back to active duty?" queried Garrison.

"I'd give it at least another two weeks," guessed Terry. "He's pushing himself to get back." She smiled. "You tend to think of him as sedate. He's got to be doing something to exercise the body and the mind. And I bet he misses pulling a con." She eyed her brother. "Missing him?"

Garrison turned serious. "Yes. He has pulled us out of more impossible situations . . . I come up with an idea and before I get my mouth shut, he's off and running with the con."

Terry chuckled. "I know. I work with him too, remember?"

"I remember," replied Garrison. "And he's teaching you well. I've seen you switch a con in a heartbeat." His gaze became contemplative. "You haven't been here a year yet and you're already a seasoned con woman."

"I guess," replied the girl. "Genes and a darned good teacher."

"And a war," added Craig.

GGG

After breakfast the next morning, Garrison held a debriefing with his men in his office. Actor wandered in and took his usual seat to listen to the men talk. He sat, silently smoking his pipe, observing the interactions between the men and Garrison. On the whole, it sounded as though the mission had gone well until a soldier had stumbled across Goniff. The quicksilver man had evaded, but not fast enough, though the bullet only grazed his arm.

When the meeting was over, Garrison asked Actor to stay after the others left the office. The con man remained in his chair and watched the officer put his papers away. Craig pulled up a chair facing him.

"Going stir-crazy yet?" asked Craig.

Actor gave him a slightly disgruntled look. "That was bad, Warden."

Craig grinned. "I thought it was good."

Actor grinned back and shook his head. "As prisons go, this is the nicest one I've been in. The food is good. The company is easy to talk with. A bit stubborn, but not bad. Yes, I'm going stir crazy."

That admission almost threw Garrison off. "Not enough to do?"

"Unfortunately, not enough I can do yet."

Garrison leaned back in his seat. "I hear you go for walks around the perimeter trail a couple times a day. Have you been for your walk this morning?"

"No," Actor shook his head. "Teresa seems to be busy in the kitchen today."

Garrison shrugged. "Want to go for a walk with me? I'm up for it."

Actor frowned, "Didn't you get your run in early this morning?"

"Yes," replied the younger man. "But that was a run. I'm assuming you aren't doing that yet."

"I'm afraid I'm not," agreed Actor. "I would be happy to have you accompany me around the perimeter."

"Let's go before some idiot from G-2 calls with another mission."

The two men left the house and headed for the running trail. Garrison let Actor set the pace. It was a good idea of Terry's for him to go with the recuperating man. It gave Craig a first-hand view of just how well his second in command was doing. They ambled along at a leisurely pace, chatting as they did when they had their evening talks in Garrison's bedroom. Craig found out his sister was picking up chess. That was a new one. The girl had hated chess before.

Partway along, Garrison pointed to a tree up ahead. "Think you can jog up to there?"

Actor looked at him skeptically. "I don't know. What will you do if I don't make it?"

Craig gave him a cocky grin. "I think there's a wheelbarrow in the shed behind the garden. I can always go get it and roll you into it."

Actor stared at him. "Your sense of humor is abominable . . . Lieutenant, Sir."

Not waiting for a response, the tall man took off at a lope. Garrison could have easily passed him but stayed a couple paces behind. Actor made it to the tree, but when he stopped, he bent over, splinting his ribs. Garrison walked up and placed a hand on the near shoulder.

"Sorry, I guess that was too soon. Just rest awhile."

They stayed by the tree for several minutes before the Italian could straighten completely.

"Need the wheelbarrow?" asked Craig almost teasingly.

"No," replied Actor firmly.

After another minute, the con man started at a leisurely pace down the trail. When they reached the point they had started from, Actor's breathing was slightly labored, but now he was trying to hide it.

"Sit down and rest," said Garrison firmly. "I'm too tired to go get the wheelbarrow."

The pinched mouth look of umbrage from the Italian brought a grin the officer's face. Actor shook his head and took a seat on the tree stump he usually rested on.

"All things considered," said Garrison, leaning casually against a tree and lighting a cigarette. "You're doing pretty good for the shape you were in."

He didn't offer the Italian a cigarette and Actor did not ask for one.

The disgruntlement in Actor's voice was allowed to be heard by the Lieutenant. "I do not feel I am doing well enough."

Garrison shook his head. "It takes time. It's all right to push yourself a little, but don't overdo it. I'd rather wait a little bit longer and have you back one hundred percent than have you come back too soon and end up off longer than you would have if you had waited."

The logic of that made it through the stubborn Italian's head. When Garrison finished his cigarette, the two men walked slowly back to the house.

Terry was standing in the doorway of his office and she wasn't happy.

"What?" asked Craig, afraid he knew..

"Call Hammond."

Garrison sighed. "Did he say when we leave?"

"Not until tomorrow night." Terry sucked on a cheek. Actor was right there, and this wouldn't go over good with him. "You need to pick up Carter when you go in for briefing. I guess you'll be working with him again. Hammond wants to talk to you first though."

The confidence man's face shuttered down. He walked over to his chair and sat down, picking up his book as though nothing was of any consequence to him.

It was too good for Casino to leave alone. "Sister, why don't you come with us? Beautiful can probably take care of himself until we get back."

"Sorry," shot back Terry. "I don't look like a German colonel."

"Maybe not, but hey, Babe, you made a good corporal," teased the safecracker.

"Goniff, hit him," said Terry.

"Why me?" objected the slight man who was sitting next to the safecracker playing solitaire.

"Because if I hit him, I'll hurt him. You won't."