Lucien was relieved to get his car back and put it into the garage for repairs, he'd be glad to give Alice her car back and he was sure she'd be glad to get it back. Jean insisted before he did it was cleaned inside and out!

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'What the bloody hell did you think you were doing?' Patrick yelled, 'leaving the scene of an accident?'

Susan had no choice but to admit that she hadn't hit a tree, in fact she was the one who hit Jean Blake and left her there, at the side of the road. The summons had arrived for her to appear at the Law Court, it had been decided it should go higher than a Magistrate and she had been advised to engage a lawyer. Patrick was furious.

'You would have made a scene if I'd been late picking you up, you always do!' She threw back.

'So you show up on time, with a damaged front wing and lie to me, telling me you hit a tree!' He continued to shout at her, 'you stupid woman!'

'How dare you speak to me like that, I am your wife!' She screamed back at him.

'Where had you been?' He changed tack.

'With a friend.' She answered truthfully.

'I thought all your friends were here in Ballarat.' Patrick said. 'I've never noticed you go out of town to see a friend.'

'Patrick, she sighed heavily, 'you wouldn't notice if I walked around the house stark naked!'

'For god's sake!' He started to raise his voice again, 'don't be so bloody disgusting.' He grimaced.

'Well thank you, Patrick.' She snapped, 'now I really know what you think of me!'

She stormed out of the room and went to phone their lawyer.

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'Are you sure about this, Jack?' Jean asked.

They were sitting drinking tea in the living room. Jack had been asked to give evidence and had agreed.

'You do know they may bring up your history, Jack, don't you?' Lucien informed him.

'That's in the past, doc.' Jack said, stubbornly. 'If I can help I will. It's my mother that was hurt.'

'Thank you,' Jean leant over and squeezed his hand. 'I'd better get on with dinner, will you stay?'

'That's kind of you, mum.' He smiled at her, 'but I'd better get back.'

'To what,' she grinned, 'bacon and eggs or a sandwich. Stay and eat with us, please.' She added softly.

The idea of a proper home cooked meal, especially one of his mother's was too tempting to pass up.

'Go on then.' He laughed.

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Dinner was a cheerful affair. Jack told of some of his adventures since leaving them after the Dennison case. Jean had blanched when he had said he had stayed in some less than wholesome places and even under the stars. He had assured he had been fine and he had managed to save enough for the deposit on the farm by doing so.

'Well, we're glad you're here, Jack.' Said Lucien, 'I think you must be very like your mother.'

'You mean stubborn, doc?' Jack laughed.

Lucien laughed to especially as Jean rolled her eyes, knowing she was beaten.

'If you're going to be like that, you two can wash up.' She decided.

'Ok, mum,' Jack smiled, 'fair exchange for a great meal.'

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They waved Jack off after he had helped Lucien wash up and they had had an evening drink. Jean had parcelled up some leftovers and some shortbread for him and he hadn't turned it down. He was living on basics, not yet having sorted the kitchen out properly, so the meal was welcome. He felt comfortable being there, the doctor was gentle and protective towards his mother and he liked that. He didn't remember his father being so mindful of his mother's comfort. Unlike Christopher he remembered the rows. He'd sat outside the living room at night, unable to sleep because of the shouting, but it was too late now to tell her, it would only upset her and she was so very happy.

Lucien closed and locked the door and pulled her close, kissing her gently on the lips.

'Happy, sweetheart?' He whispered.

'Mm...are you?' She kissed him back.

'Yes, but...' he slid his hand down her back and over her bottom, pulling her closer. She raised an eyebrow and giggled.

'Shh.' He put his finger over her lips, 'Charlie'll hear you.'

She kissed the finger and put her hands on his chest. 'The fire's lit in the studio,' she whispered.

'Is it now?' He murmured and picked her up. She planted little kisses on his neck as he carried her there, running her fingers through the hair at the back of his head, letting the curls loose from the hair cream he used.

He smiled as he went into the room, no lights, just the fire and their robes on the couch. She's planned this, he thought.

He placed her gently on his chair and knelt before her. He took her hands in his and kissed them; first each finger then the palms.

She put her hands on each side of his face and slid off the chair, his hands moved up her legs, under her skirt and as she knelt over him her hands moved to his chest and she began to undo his shirt buttons. As they slowly undid buttons, clips and zips and lifted garments off each other, they kissed, tasting the whisky and sherry that lingered from their evening drinks. Tonight it would be no frantic coupling, but slow, leisurely, almost meditational loving. Rising and falling in rhythm and arching in release, until they lay, exhausted, wrapped in each other in front of the glowing embers of the fire.

He traced his finger down the length of her, from her shoulder down her side over her hips but no further.

'You are so beautiful, Jean.' He murmured, 'I don't know what I've done to deserve you.'

She didn't answer, just smiled and snuggled closer and felt his arms close round her. She felt she was the lucky one, to find a love and a lover at this time in her life, when her friends were settling to knitting and quiet evenings with a book. When she had told them she was marrying Dr Blake one or two had said how nice to have a companion. Another had remarked that at her age why bother, after all... intimating they would not be 'having relations'. There were many times she smiled at these thoughts, that the sort of behaviour she and Lucien indulged in stopped after you were forty, apparently. The rest of Ballarat, the gossips, had said it was about time they regularised their relationship. You couldn't please everyone she decided, so, she just pleased herself.

Jack's reappearance in her life had made her think again how lucky she was. Jack was genuinely happy for her, said she had a glow about her. He was much more accepting than Christopher who was grudgingly coming to understand that she wasn't at his beck and call, that she had a life she was going to live to the full.

'Come on, love,' Lucien interrupted her thoughts, 'think we'd better head to the bedroom.'

'Mm,' she hummed, 'perhaps you're right.' She extracted herself from him arms and threw his robe at him, then put on hers, and headed to the bathroom.

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Jean became a little agitated as the date for Susan's appearance at the Court drew near.

'Don't worry,' Lucien kept assuring her, 'it's an easy case. She admits she did wrong, Matthew has all the evidence from the site. When you're called all you have to say is exactly what you remember, what you told Matthew.'

'I know,' she smiled and leant against him, 'I think I'm more worried for Jack, if he gets called.'

'Well. even though he's not my son,' Lucien kissed her head, 'I'm proud of the way he's prepared to stand up for you even if his past might be raised.'

'Oh, Lucien,' her eyes brightened, 'what a lovely thing to say. I'm proud of him too, but for more than that, for accepting you as my husband, and for having the strength to come back.'

'Mm...' Lucien mused. He'd noticed something in Jack's face whenever he caught them kiss, even lightly. It was more than acceptance, it was almost a delight in his mother's smiles. Christopher never looked so happy, in fact they seemed to avoid touching in her elder son's presence.

'What?' She broke through his thoughts.

'Hm? Oh nothing. I was just thinking how different the boys are, about us.' He said. 'Well enough thinking, I have surgery to prepare for, and don't you have a couple of babies to weigh, today?'

'Everything is ready, for both of us.' She grinned, 'your patient notes are on your desk and my things are ready.' She kissed him lightly on the cheek and went to check her makeup was alright and her hair was neat and tidy.

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They stood outside the Court, Jean gripped her men's hands. Jack looked down and smiled at her.

'It's ok, mum.' He grinned, 'you're not the one on trial.'

Lucien just squeezed her hand gently in agreement.

Inside they saw Susan and Patrick. Patrick looked like he was sucking a lemon, according to Jack, which made Jean smile; but Susan looked pale and drawn and she felt a pang of pity for her. Perhaps if Patrick treated his wife half as well as Lucien treated her she wouldn't have the need to find comfort in another man's arms.

Jack was called first. He told them exactly what he had heard and seen. Susan's lawyer was the one who saw fit to introduce Jack's past involvement with the law and question his fitness to give an honest view, given the victim was his mother.

'It's true, I have had problems in the past,' he admitted, 'and yes it was a firearms charge. But I paid the penalty for that and that is in the past and has nothing to do with this.' The lawyer interrupted.

'Please, if I may finish.' Jack looked at the Judge who had come from Bendigo as a local man may have been less than objective, given Patrick's standing in Ballarat. He nodded,

'I'd like to hear what Mr Beazley has to say.'

Jack continued, 'I didn't know it was my mother in the car, I didn't know the car so how could I? I had planned to see her when I had the farm up and running, to surprise her, show her I had grown up, shall we say? To me it was someone in trouble and I would have done the same if it had been Mrs Tyneman or anyone else in that position, so I don't think my past has anything to do with this.'

The Judge nodded, 'I don't think we need to go down that line, do we?' He looked at Susan's lawyer. 'You may step down, young man.' He turned to Jack.

Matthew was called to say what he had found at the scene, how the car had been pushed almost into the ditch, damage to the front door and wing. The indicator was still going, showing that Mrs Blake had done as she should. He confirmed the road was a quiet one and wide enough for the other car to have gone round her should she have pulled out prematurely.

Lucien gave evidence as to the state of his wife when he got to the farm and her recovery. He said she had been lucky to escape with minor injuries and that her son had taken such good care of her, ensuring she did not come to further harm or go into shock.

Jean's evidence was short, she told them exactly what she had told Matthew. Susan's lawyer asked how she could remember, given she had a head injury.

'It was the last thing that happened to me before I went unconscious,' she said, 'it sticks in one's mind.' She didn't like him, she felt Patrick had a hand in trying to get Susan off with a light punishment. She felt he was trying to say it was her fault. 'You have the original version I wrote down as soon as I got home from hospital and my husband and Superintendant Lawson both signed and dated it. I kept a copy.'

'Very organised of you, Mrs Blake.' He sneered.

'I have to be.' She told him, tightly.

Susan was the last to be called, which both Lucien and Matthew found odd.

She stood in the box, trying to appear proud but failing miserably. She was hesitant in her answers, which were non-committal, her voice quiet and shaky. the Judge stopped her,

'Mrs Tyneman, I'm sorry but you need to speak up and please, shall we tell the truth.' He looked at Susan's lawyer who began to look worried. 'Tell the court what happened.'

Susan looked at him, then at her lawyer who would not meet her eye. He had told her to be as brief as possible and perhaps she could get away with a small fine. She then looked up to see Jean next to Lucien, holding his hand.

'I drove too fast. I was late to pick my husband up and he would make a scene if I was. I had been to see a friend in Creswick and stayed too long. I don't remember seeing the car pull out, I felt the crash but my car was still moving and it was only when I looked in the rear view mirror I realised I had hit a car but I carried on. I told my husband I had hit a tree. It was only later I heard I had hit Mrs Blake.' She started to cry, seeing Patrick glower at her from his seat, 'I'm sorry, Jean. I'm sorry.'

'Why did you not come forward?' The Judge had decided to take charge or they would still be there the following day.

'Cowardice.' She sniffed, 'I knew Patrick would be angry, I thought if I lay low I'd not be found out. I forgot how Dr Blake and the Superintendant always find out, in the end.'

They were sent out to wait for the Judge's decree. Jean's lawyer told her not to worry, that it was a cut and dried case. He confirmed Jean's thought's that Susan's lawyer, who represented the family, had been asked by Patrick to push for a lenient sentence and try and push the blame onto Mrs Blake.

Over at the Tyneman's 'side' of the waiting area Susan was being chastised by both her lawyer and husband. They both told her she was a fool for speaking up, they could have got at least half the blame pushed onto Jean if she had stuck to the plan. The more they went on the angrier she got. Finally she had had enough, she slammed her hands on the table and stood up, leaning over to them.

'I told the truth. Jean Blake was not to blame, I was. I was careless, I drove too fast and I didn't stop to see if the driver was hurt.' A harsh whisper but it could be heard by anyone there. She moved away and headed to the ladies room. Jean made to follow her but Lucien stopped her.

'Not now, darling.' He whispered, 'she wouldn't want to see you, just yet and you should wait until her sentence is passed.'

They were called back into the Court.

The Judge looked at Susan and her lawyer. He felt she had been ill served by both him and her husband.

'Mrs Tyneman,' he began a serious and almost sorrowful tone to his voice, 'you have admitted you were at fault in the accident and have displayed a high degree of remorse for your actions. You are lucky Mrs Blake was not hurt as much as she could have been, and I am assured by the doctor that she should suffer no long term ill effects bar a tendency to soreness in her neck, occasionally. Your idea that if you ignored it it would go away was ill thought out and childish. You state you were in a hurry to avoid a scene with your husband at the railway station; perhaps your husband should be more understanding that traffic does not run solely for his benefit and that heavy traffic, or perhaps animals on the road could also cause you to be late. It gives me no pleasure to see you here but I can see you are contrite. I could impose a custodial sentence on you but Dr Blake and Superintendant Lawson have indicated that I should be lenient. I hereby impose a twelve month driving ban on you and a fine of two hundred pounds.'

Patrick gave an audible gasp at the size of the fine.

'A problem, Mr Tyneman?' the Judge asked mildly.

'No, no of course not,' Patrick grunted ungraciously.

'Good, half of the money is to go to Mrs Blake to account for hers and Dr Blake's inconvenience at having to borrow a car for the duration of this case.' The Judge stood up and the usher called,

'All rise.'

A huge thundercloud had descended over Patrick, the fine, ok he could afford it, but to hand half over to the Blake's, that was almost too much. He turned and stormed out of the court not waiting for the lawyer or his wife.

Susan bowed her head and left.

Jean watched her go and found she felt very sorry for her. Patrick was a boor, a sulky child when things didn't go his way and everyone knew he didn't confine himself to his wife's bed.

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Outside in the entrance Patrick was nowhere to be found. Susan shook hands with her lawyer and walked out to see if she could find her husband. Their car was missing, all sorts of words to describe him ran through her head, and none of them were particularly polite. She set out to walk home knowing she would be stared at and talked about.

Standing on the steps of the courthouse Jean, Lucien and Jack watched her go.

'Lucien,' Jean said quietly, 'I think she's been punished enough, can we offer her a lift home, or wherever she's going?'

Lucien looked at her, how could she be so forgiving.

'Lucien?' She questioned his thoughts, 'after all, if she hadn't hit me, how long would it have been before Jack would have made himself known to us?'

'A blessing, indeed.' He agreed.

'Y'know, doc,' Jack said, 'there aren't many women like Jean Blake, and I'm glad this one happens to be my mother.'

'Let's take her home.' Lucien said, softly, 'it's quite a walk to face alone, today.'

They drew up beside her and Jean wound down the window,

'Susan, can we drop you somewhere?' She didn't want to suggest home.

'Off a cliff, perhaps?' Susan replied, bitterly, brushing away another tear.

'Stop the car, Lucien, please.' Jean said, shortly. She was a little cross with Susan, only because of the reply. She got out and stood in front of her.

'Susan, stop.' Jean was firm, 'I know Patrick is being his usual un helpful self. I, however, have reason to be almost grateful to you, even if I might blame you when I have neck ache. If you hadn't hit me I would have had to wait too long to find out that my son was back and doing a good thing, buying our old farm and turning it into a business. Don't keep punishing yourself, other people will be quite happy to do that for you, but I'm not one of them. Now where are you going? I'm guessing not home.'

'Erm, I'm going to the station.' Susan was surprised at Jean, her generosity was well known in Ballarat but had never been extended to her.

'Going to see your friend?' Jean asked, innocently.

'Yes,' Susan admitted, 'at least I know I'm wanted there, still, even after I hurt you.'

'Good, we always need our friends,' Jean smiled sympathetically, 'someone who accepts us for our failings. Come on, we'll drop you off; at the station.'

'Thank you, Jean.' Susan almost smiled.

'Pop round for a cuppa one day,' Jean offered the hand of friendship to one who had always looked down on her for being a simple housekeeper.

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Sorry if the court scene isn't quite right, it's a long time since I did jury service.

I began to feel sorry for Susan, Patrick is such a Neanderthal.

There will be one more short? chapter to this, hopefully tidying up a few loose ends; Jack's attitude to Lucien's love for Jean and his memories of his childhood.