Kindred Spirits

Rating: Teen

Standard Disclaimer: Foyle's war quite rightly belongs to Anthony Horowitz, its genius creator and the brilliant cast and crew who brought it to our screens and I'm only borrowing some of the characters for fun.

Summary: Andrew returns home from the war to heal an estrangement with his father and Sam, only to unexpectedly run into another woman from his past. Parings: Foyle/Sam, Andrew/Anne Roberts. Borrows canon characters, dialogue and plotlines from Eagle Day, Bleak Midwinter, Casualties of War, Plan of Attack and All Clear.

Authors Note: It's a pity you can't respond directly to guest reviews, as it would make things a lot easier. But to respond to Laurie Hart's point, one can never expect perfection in fanfiction as there's always bound to be a few grammatical flaws no matter how much anybody tries to iron them out. Still the show must go on, or at least my version of it as danger rears its head.

Chapter 7: April 1944: The Dance of Life and Death

Foyle gently tapped the keys of the typewriter on the desk in his study, smiling as he continued what was promising to be another good book. Sam had volunteered to be his typist early on in the course of his work on the manuscript but Christopher had soon found his wife too much of a temptation. He could tell she found him equally distracting as the pair sat across from each other during the times they'd worked on the book together and in the end he'd found it easier to give Sam the typed sections to proof read and check for errors.

'Still doesn't remove all the temptation, as it shouldn't.' Thought Foyle with a fond smile.

A gentle crying interrupted him and he hurried out to the living room to find that his eldest daughter was waking up. Gently, Foyle lifted her up and gently rocked her, hoping that her soft cry wouldn't wake her sister who still slept alongside her. Caroline and Rose had both been such a blessing, especially in the shadow of Andrew's estrangement. As he gently rocked the baby, he remembered telling Sam the story of how he had met his eldest daughter's namesake. One evening when she had noticed the scar on his shoulder not long before the wedding.

'Christopher, that scar on your shoulder how did you get that?'

'During the war, one night I was sent with a few other men on a reconnaissance sortie into no man's land prior to an offensive. Somebody must have made too much noise because the Bosche sent up a flare, and before I could drop to the ground a sniper bullet hit me. I was invalided back to a hospital in Brighton and while I was there I began a chapter of my life that was even more painful than the injury.'

Sam could see the pain in his eyes and guessed, 'a woman Christopher?'

Foyle murmured, 'her name was Lady Caroline Deveraux, she was a volunteer nurse and her husband was an MP at the time. He was away for weeks at a time and I soon learned how horribly he treated her. She was kind, beautiful, frightened, and she was terribly dissatisfied with the life she was leading. We began an affair, she was even planning to leave him. However, just before I was due to be sent back she realized she was expecting and she decided to return to him for the child's sake. Making me promise not to contact her again.'

Sam's eyes were full of surprise, 'So Andrew has a sibling?'

'Possibly an elder brother, but I have no way of knowing for certain as Sir Charles did return to their home several times while I was still convalescing. But what was worse, was that a few years later, after I'd married Rosalind I read in the papers that Caroline had died, supposedly in an accident. I never believed it, I still don't because I know what sort of man he is and I wouldn't put it past Sir Charles to have murdered her. But without proof I never could investigate and if that bastard ever found out about me then he would have destroyed me.'

Sam pulled him close and sobbed, 'oh Christopher, that's horrible. Did Rosalind know?'

'Yes, I told her before the wedding and I've been waiting for a chance to tell you, so I'm glad you asked.'

In time, Christopher sat in the chair next to his exhausted wife's bed as together they held the two little miracles they had created together.

'What shall we call them my dearest?'

Sam beamed down at the tiny baby girl in her arms, a few tears dropping onto her head before she looked at her husband and her other daughter.

'My father put me off a lot of the names like Prudence, Chastity, and Faith and so on. But there's one name I've been considering. Would you mind terribly if we name the elder Caroline?'

Foyle's eyes widened, 'are you sure Sam?'

Sam smiled, 'She made you into what you are today and she did so much for you when you were alone and frightened. Also, her story, so tragic. I think she'd rest so much easier and happier if we quietly honoured her in such a way.'

'Oh Sam, thank you. I love you so much.'

Foyle bent down to kiss her before he asked, 'and our youngest daughter? I don't know about you but I've always liked flower names for girls.'

Sam beamed, 'Oh Christopher, me too. It's quite common in my mother's family actually. My grandmother on my mum's side, her name was Rose. She always was my favourite, spoiled me rotten whenever I went to stay with her when I was little.'

Foyle grinned, 'Rose is a lovely name dear, but do you think it might be too close to Rosalind?'

Sam shook her head, 'no, and even so Rosalind made you what you are today. Rose will simply be all the more loved for being named for two members of our family Christopher.'

That evening, Foyle met Milner, his former DS lamenting the state of the Hasting's constabulary to Foyle over a friendly pint. Both men finally turning onto the one pleasant subject they had between them.

'How are Sam and the girl's sir?'

'Thriving,' smiled Foyle, 'Helen and Elaine have been a godsend as the two of them were quite demanding, I certainly didn't expect twins even when Sam warned me her family had a history for them, but they're getting easier to manage now. You and Edith should pay a visit sometime, I'm sure Sam would love to see you both.

'I'd love to sir, I'll check with Edith, see what she says. But I'd better get back now, she won't like it if I'm too late.'

Foyle arched his brow, 'the price we pay for giving up bachelorhood eh Milner? Still, the benefits far outweigh it so it was a price I definitely was prepared to pay.'

Foyle bade Milner goodnight and headed for home, distantly hearing the sound of a car engine being driven at speed.

'Odd, who'd drive so fast at this time of night in the middle of Hastings?'

The next morning's post brought Sam a surprise in the form of a telegram and once she'd read the contents with a sigh she called him over to her and asked.

'Christopher, the telegram, it's from Aubrey. I know it's not exactly much notice but he's just had word that his hotel has let him down and he needs accommodation for a few days while he attends the church conference. Do you think we could put him up? I mean, he did let us stay when we were investigating that Hill House lot and he did preside over our wedding.'

Foyle smiled, 'I don't mind, He's quite welcome. He is family after all and a family takes care of its own. More to the point, I rather like him when he isn't trying to poison us with that witches concoction of his.'

Sam kissed him and murmured, 'jolly good,' before she dashed into the hall and began a phone call to her uncle. Christopher soon venturing out to fetch the jolly cleric from the bus stop.

'Christopher? Good to see you again, how are Samantha and the girls?'

'They're perfectly well, you'll see them later.'

Over a cup of tea Aubrey outlined his position and that of some of the clergy on the present course of the war. Foyle could understand his position but doubted that the priests would make much headway on public opinion. Sam soon voicing what Foyle was thinking.

'Forgive and forget is all well and good uncle, but you'll be having a difficult time to convince the public and the government, especially after Coventry and London. Not to mention the newsreels from Europe.'

Aubrey could only nod solemnly as he conceded the point.

Foyle left the house the next morning with a large shopping list while Aubrey had gone off to the conference, but when he got home his brow furrowed as he heard the sound of a young women crying and he began to worry. But he could also hear Sam's voice trying to comfort whoever it was, which seemed odd.

Stepping inside he listened to the woman sobbing.

'…..This is all my fault Sam, if only I hadn't gone near that cad Everett this would never have happened.'

'I don't think there was much you could have done Jane, Adam is certainly persuasive and Henry hated his job, hated what it was responsible for. If anything drove him to it, I don't think it was you.'

'Oh Sam, Adam was so horrible about it, sounded almost glad he's dead. I honestly wouldn't put it past him to have killed Henry. He's never left me alone, not since I was stupid enough to….'

'It's alright Jane, Christopher will be home soon and you can tell him what you can. He still knows a lot of people in the police and a few in Whitehall, I'm sure he can do something to help you. If Adam really did kill Henry then we won't let him get away with it. Besides, I never could stand him either. I don't think he cared about the fact I'm married the whole time I was working at the Lodge.'

Foyle stepped inside and put the shopping down to find Sam with a young blonde woman wearing the uniform of the WAAF. She started like a frightened rabbit upon seeing Foyle before Sam reassured her.

'It's alright Jane, this is my husband Christopher. Christopher this is Jane Hudson, one of my old work friends from Beverly Lodge. I'm afraid some Land Girls found her young man hanging from a tree earlier today.'

Foyle looked at the girls swollen and puffy eyes and felt helpless, but did his best anyway.

'I'm very sorry to hear that Miss Hudson, but I'm afraid there isn't much I can do as I'm sure Sam told you the circumstances of my resignation from the police. But if you feel up to explaining what you can and are allowed to. Then I can talk to some of my former colleagues, see what they can do to help.'

Jane seemed to relax and over a cup of tea began to explain her relationship with the two men and her suspicion of Adam Everett.

Foyle resolved to pass her information onto Milner and after the young woman had left, he made a phone call to the station only for Brooke to tell him that Milner was out with DCS Meredith.

As he put the phone down Sam asked,

'Who did you pass the information to?'

'I tried Milner, but he wasn't there.'

'Oh, still I'm happier now that we can pass this on. Poor Jane, she loved Henry, and if it wasn't for the war and what it did to him they would have married by now.'

Foyle was as always in admiration of Sam's compassion, 'you never cease to amaze me dearest.'

Events took a more sinister turn that night as Foyle learned when he saw A/C Parkins walk towards him and Aubrey with a very grim look on his face. Being taken into a room and informed of the fate of his successor made Foyle equally as grim,

'A sniper bullet? That doesn't sound like the act of a rake determined to seduce a pretty young WAAF. Only the military or the intelligence services would train anybody to the level of precision needed.'

Sam was horrified when he told her what had happened after he got home that afternoon.

'Oh Christopher, do be careful. Murder disguised as suicide is one thing, but a sniper?'

Foyle held her close and did his best to reassure her.

'If whoever did this as desperate enough to resort to something so very drastic to silence Milner then they are very obviously scared. When you're dealing with criminals Sam, usually it's the ones who are overconfident or scared who make the most mistakes. If we're careful then hopefully Milner and I can wrap this up quickly.'

Foyle felt Sam's tears flow onto his shoulder, 'just promise me you'll come home in one piece Christopher.'

Foyle could only nod, 'I'll do my best, but as we've just seen my dear there are no guarantees. But I promise I'll do my best to make sure I come home.'

Aubrey came home and took one look at their faces and guessed, 'I take it something bad has happened?'

Walking back into the police station was surreal to Foyle as he remembered everything that had taken place from when he'd first joined before the Great War to when he'd resigned a year ago. Brooke wore his usual Cheshire grin as he joked about the sanity of the brass before Foyle reprimanded.

'If I hear you criticise any senior officer again I'll have you demoted and transferred, better still I'll have you discharged.'

As he walked towards his office he made out.

'Well, it's good to have him back.'

Meredith's and Milner's case notes seemed thorough and it didn't take Foyle long to familiarise himself with the facts of the cases that seemed even at a glance to be woven together. Interviewing Meredith's widow and their arrested suspect gave Foyle even more of the picture and proved beyond doubt that Meredith was just an unlucky victim of chance.

Parkins soon produced official clearance to visit Beverly Lodge and Foyle was soon shown into the office of the cheerful Wing Commander. He was all ease and friendliness as he showed Foyle around the building, asking after Sam as he introduced him to one of the staff members who seemed strangely out of place in Foyle's eyes.

When Foyle got home that night he took a moment to ask Aubrey.

'I don't suppose I could ask you a favour Aubrey, my late colleague DCS Meredith has a widow, all on her own now. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to…?'

'No, it's my duty as a clergyman Christopher, just write down the address and I'll call in on her tomorrow.'

It didn't do much good as Foyle learned when he led Aubrey to the bus stop later the next day

'I don't think I've ever met anyone quite so lost.'

He smiled at Christopher, 'take care Christopher, and look after Samantha and the girls as the two of you and your children are a beacon of hope in these troubled times. Living proof that life goes on amidst all this wickedness, and in fact, that might make for a good sermon. My parishioners would certainly appreciate it more than Francis Wood's messages. '

Foyle arched his brow, 'glad you agree, but don't worry, we'll be fine.'

It seemed that fate had decided that the case would be solved that day as Milner suddenly arrived with a file and one glance at it gave Foyle the next piece of the puzzle. Adam Everett was soon being ushered into the car by Brooke after the repentant Wing Commander had confessed to his crimes. But what came next proved the final piece was revealed when Richard Waterlo passed over the dossier of intelligence on father Kepler. Foyle's mind immediately seizing on the name of the priest's home village and recognizing that it had no church when the air force agent showed him the photographs. Much as Henry Scott had obviously done so just before his death.

Barely an hour later Foyle walked into the church leaving his men outside as he went to find Kepler. The impostor priest tried to deny his involvement but when confronted with the damning evidence and Foyle's demand to come with him, the spy drew a luger from his robe and pointed it at Foyle.

'Have you come here alone?'

'No, I came into the church alone out of respect, for the church.'

'You have men waiting outside?'

'Of course.'

'But even so, you are my enemy and I have nothing left to lose, if I am arrested I will be executed. I am a dead man.'

'I suggest you make your peace.'

Kepler noted the wedding ring on Foyle's finger.

'You are married Mr Foyle?'

'Yes, with two small children at home.'

'Then I will not deny them their father, turn around and start walking.'

Foyle began to walk out of the building but soon heard the luger fire a single shot and turning on his heel, he saw that Kepler had shot himself.

Shaking his head, Foyle left the church to where the uniformed officers were waiting.

6th May 1945

Andrew looked horrified, 'you stared right down the barrel of a luger and the reason that the Jerry holding it didn't shoot was because you were married? Oh dear god, how could you have done that dad. Sam mustn't have been pleased when you got home that night.'

'I wasn't, it was reckless and not to mention heartless.' Sam scowled at her husband as she thought back to that day, 'I'd only just lectured him on being careful, and he goes and walks into a church with a cornered spy who was known to have a gun.'

Foyle sighed, 'as a man claiming to be a priest, I thought he would at least accept his defeat with some grace if he knew he had no way out. Most German officers I met in the Great War at least knew when they had lost and tended not to give much trouble.'

Andrew's eyes widened, 'it make me think how lucky it was that you married Sam dad. Sounds like if you hadn't married her you would have been shot.'

'Wwell, can't go anywhere without her.'

Sam couldn't help but tease, 'no, and you can't keep yourself out of trouble without me either Christopher.'

Andrew laughed and he could see the raised brow on his dad's face which meant he was secretly enjoying it even as he said.

'Probably your influence on me dear.'

Andrew bent down and whispered to the cherub in his arms.

'If either of those two ever tell you off for getting in trouble Rosie, you can safely call them both hypocrites.'

'Keep my daughters out of this Andrew, you can ruin your own children when you have them.' said Sam as she came to rescue her youngest from his clutches.'

Andrew grinned at the thought of a slightly older Anne bustling around after a brood of theirs with her serious eyes detecting mischief out of their offspring quicker than spotting Jerries on a radar screen. While he did his best to help sort out what would undoubtedly be thanks to him, natural born troublemakers. He couldn't help but admit to himself that the image was a pleasant one.