I don't know what I am doing, or where I am going with this. I don't know how many chapters it will end up being either. Inspired by the last few episodes and some songs I thought fit. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter One: Broken by Lifehouse.
Inspector Wellington stood in shock. A promotion? Right, more like an slap in the face. Glasgow is not what he had in mind when opening the envelope. There was no place left for him here at Scotland Yard if he does not take the reassignment. He has felt a lot of things but never the emotion he felt at the moment. It wasn't even fear of confronting old ghosts from his past that was making him uneasy, the breaking of a promise to his mentor Henry is what overwhelmed him. Not knowing of Eliza's wellbeing would flood his every thought, it already does an they are in the same country. Knowing that there may be a time when he opened his office door and she wasn't there waiting to pick his brain, or working a case without her input (welcome, or not) sent him spiraling. Who would bail her out, or in most cases have her locked up if he wasn't here? Pulling out the pocket watch, he asked Superintendent Munro how much time he had to make a decision.
Lying in bed awake the inspector continuously opened and clicked shut the pocket watch. He did this when he was alone, it was keeping his thoughts from racing. Looking at the watch he remembered the day Henry gave it to him, without Henry's guidance and support there was no way he would have ever become inspector. Granted the glass on the face had to be replaced after it took a bullet that would have other wise taken him while helping Eliza solve Henry's murder. The watch kept perfect time. Clicking it closed again and lying it on his chest, he laid awake listening to it tick consumed by what happens next.
"The broken clock is a comfort, it lets me sleep tonight, maybe it can stop tomorrow, from stealing all my time, and I am here still waiting, I still have my doubts, I am damaged at best, like you have already figured out."
Eliza does it again getting in over her head. Despite Inspector Wellington's plea to not get involved. He stands there looking at her and runs his finger through his hair. He can tell that she knows he is mad. Is it a lack or respect? Is it a game for her? He turns around and leaves without saying another word. He just needed her to listen once, just one time while he tries to train his replacement, Detective Fitzroy, who has no business being an inspector. Being smothered under a watchful eye of Munro, who is under pressure from Fitzroy's commissioner father who happens to be making all of their lives hell in an attempt to turn his son in to a man. A few steps away he hears Eliza ask if they are still having dinner tonight. The Inspector doesn't stop or turn around, knowing he was to angry to answer.
Ivy and Eliza are talking in the kitchen about the day. Eliza shares her frustrations, and Ivy plays the devils advocate as always. Ivy alludes to the fact that Eliza and Inspector Wellington have been having dinner regularly now and how this may look to others. Eliza knowing full well she was not ever going to be a dutiful housewife as what would be expected of an inspector's wife, or any man's wife for that matter. Eliza has come to terms that she would never marry unless she could still have her private investigator business. Eliza in turn questions Ivy about Mr. Potts coming to dinner. A knock is heard at the door, Ivy and Eliza look at the time and realize it is too early for either of their callers to be there. In the chance that William came early, Eliza runs up stairs to change.
Opening the front door, standing in front of Ivy is Inspector Wellington. Ivy shows him to the drawing room where he sits patiently and waits for Eliza. For a brief moment the Inspector feels a shred of guilt cancelling tonight's reservation, he can't bring himself to sit across from a table from her after todays events. He has put off making any mention of the reassignment as there hasn't been an opportunity to without letting his anger take over. The Inspector is pacing with an occasional look in the mirror hanging above the fireplace mantle, normally he makes himself comfortable by sitting on the couch, there is no getting comfortable tonight. 10 minutes pass and he hears footsteps coming down the stairs and the door opening. Turning around he sees Eliza in a red gown, and instantly feels regret but there is no backing down now. Eliza walks up with a quizzical look in her eye, she knows that something is wrong. Eliza apologizes for not being ready as she was expecting him later. William nods and states that he canceled the dinner reservation. Eliza knew she may have overstepped by calling him "William" in front of his officers earlier. She knew it wasn't professional. It is no secret that how William appears and how his men perceive him is important in his position. What Eliza was not expecting was what William said next.
Putting on a brave face that hid everything she was feeling, Eliza listened as William told her of the reassignment and how he advised Munro this afternoon of this acceptance of the new position in Glasgow. There was silence, William had lowered his head, he couldn't look at her. He didn't know what response he wanted or needed, so maybe he should be thankful for the silence. William excused himself and said goodnight, Eliza nodded in return whispering goodnight in return and opened the door to the hall allowing him to leave. Eliza quietly shut the door behind him and leaned back against the closed door and let out the breath she was holding, as she was afraid of what might come out with it had she let it out in front of him. William collecting his hat and jacket stopped and turned towards the door that Eliza just let him out of. Remembering the emptiness of the room he just left, the booming silence overwhelmed him. Eliza always has something to say, how can she say nothing about this. He took another step towards the door wanting to take back everything, he needed to get rid of this hollow feeling. Meanwhile, Eliza straightened from the door turning to open it, she had to fix this. She had so much she needed to say. Before turning the door knob she quickly tried to put her thoughts together not knowing how to change or fix what had just happened. William accepting the silence for an answer turned and walked towards the front door to leave. Eliza opened the door catching the Inspector close the front door behind him. Maybe he wanted this, who was she to stop him?
Eliza returned to her room. Ivy came up to check on her long after Mr. Potts had left and dinner had been put away. Ivy knew that something had happened, she knew Eliza like the back of her hand, though she was not her mother they were deeply connected. Peaking in the door Ivy offered to bring up something for her to eat, Eliza refused not going into any further details. Ivy gently shut the door, knowing that her strong willed girl would figure out eventually that Inspector Wellington was more than just a longtime friend, Ivy has watched them grow up together, though Inspector Wellington was a bit older they have always been important to each other. Lately though the two have become closer, and while Eliza is adamant that she would never be a wife, she was blind to see that Wellington supports her and fear is what fuels his frustrations. She just hopes Eliza will realize this before it is too late.
"And I am here still waiting, I still have my doubts, I am damaged at best, Like you've already figured out. I'm falling apart. I am barely breathing. With a broken heart, that's still beating. In the pain, there is healing. In your name, I find meaning. So I'm holding on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on. Barely holding on to you."
Inspector Wellington couldn't return home, that would be the least productive thing the could do. He had much to do before his departure, to just lay in a bed replaying the day and evening in his mind. He found himself at Scotland Yard and started to pack his belongings from his office so the soon to be Inspector Fitzroy could take over easily. It is the least Wellington could do knowing that Fitzroy would have many obstacles and challenges. As the sun started to come through the window the Inspector changed into fresh clothes. While straightening his collar in the mirror he began to rehearse what he would say should he see Eliza before his departure tomorrow. What started as goodbye speech quickly turned into convincing himself that Glasgow wasn't that far, just a train ride away. He would return to London as he needed to and would call on her then.
Eliza got up before Ivy and snuck out leaving a note saying that she had to get to her office early to work on a case. It was a lie, but she couldn't sleep. Eliza sat in what used to be her father's office, still filled with all his things she wished he to was there to talk to. He had left her his office and practice which she had grown and now has regular clients. Looking out her window she thought about William, didn't she have a say in this? Eliza knew she didn't. Eliza knew that he had other opportunities in the past, but they never came to fruition. Things were different this time, it wasn't just because she needed access to Scotland Yard for information occasionally on some of her cases, she would figure away around that. They had become closer since the counterfeit case which led to her father's murderer. They had partners. What if he didn't need to leave? She needed higher profile cases, he needed a job, having a past Scotland Yard Inspector on your payroll would attract clients. Realizing how selfish she sounded she started to convince herself that Glasgow wasn't on the other side of the world, she could get there by train. It's not like William would never come back to London they could always catch up then. Eliza lit the fireplace and sat in her fathers arm chair before getting to work. Hours pass and Eliza wakes up to Ivy tapping her shoulder. After seeing Eliza's note Ivy finished errands and her last stop was dropping food off at Eliza's office. Ivy scolded her for not eating, Eliza thanked her for the food, and asked Ivy to stay for some tea. Eliza told Ivy what happened, Ivy said she would miss the Inspectors visits as he had been having dinner with her and Eliza once a week or so it seemed lately. Soon heavy steps were heard coming up the stairs, Mrs. Parker loudly announced herself as she walks into the office. Ivy wasted no time in pleasantries and left before she is dragged into any further conversation by Mrs. Parker.
Mrs. Parker is upset with Eliza. Eliza in Mrs. Parker's eyes is responsible for her son marrying and moving away from London. She had enlisted Eliza in doing background searches to find a suitable suitor for her niece, Hattie. Eliza had failed to find a suitor that cleared the background check, Mrs. Parker knows that her list of eligible bachelors could not have been full of horrible young men as they all came from reputable families. Eliza and Hattie had become close over the last few weeks. Hattie shared that she wants to marry for love, and not to have her marriage be arranged by her aunt. Though grateful for her aunts hospitality, Hattie visited Eliza's office often to escape her aunt. Eliza stood up for Hattie and told Mrs. Parker that Hattie wishes to marry someone that she falls in love with and will love her in return. Mrs. Parker was beside herself, she explained to Eliza she was preventing her niece from growing old and lonely like she herself has. Mrs. Parker shared with Eliza that after her husband had passed she had hopes of marrying for love, though her son, Rupert, was still young. She had plenty of offers to marry again, but wanted to be in love. Mrs. Parker never found that love and now lives a lonely life as a result. Eliza advised Mrs. Parker that the two are not so different in wanting the best for Rupert and Hattie. Mrs. Parker acknowledged that Eliza was right, but also pointed out the shared trait that Eliza is getting older and has not found love herself. Mrs. Parker excused herself and left Eliza with her thoughts.
Eliza returned home later that evening and found Ivy busy with some needle work. Eliza inquired about what she was working on and noticed the initials on the handkerchief. They were Williams. Ivy stated that she was just making a little goodbye present and asked Eliza if she would like to help, Eliza started but seeing as she was hindering the project, she left Ivy to herself. Eliza made her way back up to her room thought about the revelations that have been occurring. A possible partnership/employment with another detective firm, though it was less credible and not always correctly executed she would start needing allies for her private investigator business to be successful. Her trial run with them had been a disaster, Detective Nash, whom she was working with had been shot and is still in the hospital. Ivy knocked on her door interrupting her thoughts, Eliza opened her door to find Ivy flustered. Ivy asking her to come down stairs as Moses was there waiting for her.
Moses was in the kitchen waiting for Eliza, he had been helping Eliza as in informant for several cases now. Eliza was a friend, and Moses did not use that term loosely. Moses had been enlisted by Eliza to search for information on the man that had shot Detective Nash. Eliza had managed to keep a bullet that was taken from the detectives leg when Inspector in training Fitzroy was not paying attention, and neither was his trainer Inspector Wellington. They had briefly passed each other when she was at the hospital visiting with Detective Nash, neither Eliza or Inspector Wellington spoke to each other. The man who Moses tracked down was never after Nash, but in fact after Eliza. Joseph Simms was a jilted client after his crimes had been discovered during a ploy to steal his wife's inheritance. Moses immediately notified Inspector Wellington, and Inspector Wellington instructed Moses to take Eliza somewhere safe where she wouldn't be found. Eliza was taken to a safe location Moses knew of and was under the watch of Clementine who could hardly take care of herself. Inspector Wellington and Moses searched for Simms. Clementine left for work as most of her customers only needed her services at night. Making herself comfortable Eliza contemplated how Simms managed to escape prison, the door opened and without looking Eliza assumed it was Clementine coming for something she had forgotten. It wasn't Clementine, It was Simms.
Eliza backing up and reaching for something to defend herself with asked Simms how he found her. Eliza had a hunch and Simms confirmed that it did not take much to buy Clementine as he had seen Moses arrive at Elizas house earlier in the evening. Eliza rolled her eyes. Knowing she had sprinkled money she had on her with snake poison she offered to pay Simms off. Eliza handed the envelope to him knowing that he would open to count the bills. What she thought would keep Clementine from stealing her money is saving her life. Joseph collapsed to the floor unaware of the venoms ability to temporarily paralyze him. Eliza ran from the room, while glancing behind to make sure she wasn't followed her body came to a sudden stop. She had met Wellington at the top of the stairs, she as surprised as he. Not only did she knock the breath out of him, he let out a sigh of relief that she appeared unharmed.
After making her statement Eliza joined Inspector Wellington in his office. They conversed lightly and made conversation regarding his nearly empty office. Eliza presented him with the handkerchiefs, ensuring that all credit was owed to Ivy. Inspector Wellington tried to talk about the reassignment, stating Glasgow wasn't so far away, with Eliza chimed in that it was just a short train ride away. Inspector Wellington assured Eliza that she would be the first to know if he returned to London for anything. Neither knew who they were convincing, since they couldn't even convince themselves. Eliza asked Inspector Wellington when his train left and he ended eye contact with her and stated tomorrow at 10 pm. Not wanting to further interfere as she knew he was busy, Eliza took her leave. The Inspector stayed in his office, drank whiskey that had not yet been consumed and was alone with his thoughts. After realizing how miserable it was at the office he left to be miserable in the comfort of his home. Getting up to leave he notices the handkerchiefs and tosses them in the garbage. The Inspector turns off the lights and waits for his ride. If she was okay with this, he would have to be too.
"The broken locks were a warning. You got inside my head, I tried my best to be guarded. I'm an open book instead. And I still see your reflection, Inside my eyes, that are looking for purpose. There still looking for life, I'm falling apart. I'm barely breathing, with a broken heart that's still beating. So I'm holding on. I'm barely holdin' on to you."