Another chapter to settle Mattie back in with Jean, Lucien and of course the lovely Charlie!

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Charlie lay in his bed listening to the muffled sobs coming from the room below. Mattie had been home nearly a week and he had listened to this every night. During the day she was quiet, helping Jean where she could, but otherwise keeping very much to herself, in her room or in the sun room. He sighed. She'd always been a bright happy soul, teasing him, giving her opinion on the latest case or discussing matters scientific with the doc. But now, now, oh god, who was this and what had she done with his friend, Mattie? His friend was hiding from him, he knew, and possibly from the rest of the world. Jean had tried to get her to go into town to help her with the shopping but she'd said she was tired. A weak excuse but Jean had accepted it. He'd spoken to Jean about it, but Jean had just said,

'Give her time, Charlie,' squeezing his arm and smiling, 'just give her time. That's all she needs, that and our support and love.'

He hadn't told Jean he listened to her cry herself to sleep every night. Tonight he was going to see if he could help.

Now some would say this was not his wisest decision, but Charlie Davies was the gentlest copper in Ballarat; unless faced with a violent criminal and then his left hook was becoming as legendary as Bill Hobart's right! She may just tell him to go away, get lost, but he was going to try anyway.

He stole down the stairs and paused outside her room. The sobs were beginning to subside, but he took a deep breath and turned the handle of the door and pushed it open.

Mattie was curled up in a foetal position, her shoulders shook with each sob, and his heart broke.

Charlie slipped into the room and coughed, discretely. Mattie just curled up tighter, so he tiptoed up to the bed and sat on the edge. He reached out to touch her She flinched.

Mattie,' Charlie whispered, 'it's only me.'

She turned her head, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

'Charlie?' Her voice was barely audible.

He squeezed her shoulder in reply.

'Why are you here?' She was puzzled. She didn't think she had made a lot of noise, she certainly hadn't called out.

'I heard you.' he said, simply.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.' She was embarrassed he had heard her crying. Night-time was the only time she allowed the tears to flow freely, not thinking she could be heard.

He reached out and stroked her hair, 'Oh, Mattie...'he didn't know what to say to comfort her.

She sat up and leant towards him and he used the movement to pull her close and hold her. He held her tight and rocked her like a child.

'I'm sorry,' she sobbed over and over again.

'You've nothing to be sorry for,' Charlie mumbled into her hair, 'you've done nothing wrong.'

'Oh, Charlie, I don't deserve you,' Mattie clung to him, burying her head in his familiar T shirt clad chest.

'Probably not,' he quipped, 'but you're stuck with us.'

Mattie looked up and in the half light he thought he saw the ghost of a smile.

'Would you like me to stay with you?' He asked gently.

Mattie nodded and Charlie moved up the bed and in spite of the chance that Jean may find them in bed together, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Charlie awoke some time later to the sound of Jean in the kitchen. He gently moved away from Mattie and, padded out of her room, hoping he could get past while Jean's back was turned.

'Don't think I don't know you're there, Charlie Davies.' Jean's voice called out, lightly.

Charlie stood up, smiling, sheepishly, 'Er...' he looked back at Mattie's room.

'It's alright, Charlie, I understand.' She smiled, sympathetically. She knew how much Mattie meant to him.

Charlie went into the kitchen, 'She was crying last night, he explained, 'in fact, she cries every night.'

'It's alright, Charlie,' she said, 'I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt Mattie's reputation. Now! Go and get washed and dressed,' as if admonishing a child.

Lucien and Charlie had had their breakfast by the time Mattie surfaced. She apologised for oversleeping but the others thought she looked all the better for it. Jean set a plate down in her place and smiled,

'Eat!' she commanded, 'Lucien has a full list this morning, would you mind helping out?'

They hadn't put the idea of a position of Practice Nurse to her. Lucien had suggested that they ask her to help out when the surgery was particularly busy, and then, if it went well, put it to her, suggest it could be a salaried position, accommodation included!

'I'd love to.' Mattie replied, smiling broadly, useful at last.

'Lovely, you can use the study as your consulting room.' Jean told her and carried on washing up.

Mattie went to get dressed. There was no way she could wear her uniform, so she opted for the plain black dress she had worn when she arrived at the Blake's. It was smart and she needed to look professional.

She headed for the study to prepare for the morning's list. As she turned into the door Jean caught her.

'Mattie, I don't want you to be the subject of tittle-tattle in Ballarat so...' and she opened her hand. Lying in her palm was a small gold band; her wedding ring from her marriage to Christopher.

Mattie gasped, 'Jean, no, I couldn't.'

'Put it on, I wear my engagement ring from Lucien, I can't wear Christopher's ring with it.' Jean insisted.

'But...' Mattie was overwhelmed by Jean's generosity.

'The town gossips will say you got yourself into trouble and we were soft enough to take you in. I've been on the receiving end for a long time and I don't want you to have to endure it, too. Now, no arguments, put it on.'

Mattie took the ring and slipped it onto her finger. It fitted well enough, maybe slightly loose but not noticeable. Mattie hugged her friend and promised to take care of it.

The morning surgery went well. None of Mattie's patients were worried that they were seeing a nurse and not the doctor. Many remembered her from the years before she went to England and were happy to see her. The only patient she was slightly concerned about was Agnes Clasby. Agnes knew her and that she had gone to England to further her studies. However, everything went smoothly. Mattie was not unlike Lucien with her advice, and Agnes responded the same way she would with the doctor. She did not pry, which was Mattie's concern, and she talked to her the way she teased Lucien. Mattie relaxed, if Agnes could take the change then so could she. In truth, Jean had forewarned Agnes not to press Mattie on England, just telling her she was now widowed, but not how. Agnes had a talent for finding out the news but she was not a gossip, in fact she was more likely to warn the target than pass on the poison.

At lunch Mattie remarked on Agnes' lack of curiosity,

'Ah, well,' Jean admitted, 'I told her she wasn't to give you the third degree. I did tell her you'd been widowed and that you had come back here for support.'

'Thank you, Jean,' Mattie replied, 'I expect she'll get the full story in time. but when she does I know she won't gossip.'

'No, she won't, and if there is any gossip she'll tell us.' Lucien nodded squeezing Jean's hand, 'She has let us know when it had become vicious about me and Jean. It gives us the opportunity to avoid those with wagging tongues.'

'I don't know how you've put it for so long,' Mattie said.

'Because they're wrong.' Jean declared, 'and even if they weren't, it's no business of theirs what we do in our own home!'

Quite right, my dear,' agreed Lucien, amused at Jean's righteous indignation.

Mattie grinned, she could recall the many times the tongues of the ladies of Ballarat had wagged about the doctor and his housekeeper, sometimes it was downright poisonous, and Jean had done her very best to rise above it. There had been times, she was sure, that Jean had cried, hurt, wounded, but never in front of her or Lucien, and never in front of Charlie; although she knew that they knew, of that she was certain. She suspected that things had changed and that Jean allowed Lucien to see how much it hurt. Even though they were officially engaged, Mattie was sure the sniping still happened.

For the next week to ten days Mattie acted as Lucien's practice nurse. Patients started to ask to see her when they booked their appointments with Jean, and the surgeries went smoothly. Word had got round that Nurse O'Brien was back, she had been popular before she went away and her former patients remembered her.

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Jean curled up in Lucien's arms one evening towards the end of Mattie's 'trial'. 'It seems that Mattie is rather popular, Lucien,' she remarked lightly. 'Patients are actually asking for her.'

'Well, she is well thought of, or was.' he agreed, 'The folks of Ballarat seem to have long memories.'

'Don't I know it!' She smiled.

'So, do we offer her the post?' He asked.

'Well, it would help you keep up with your list. She's intelligent, thoughtful and empathetic.' Jean reasoned, 'The only thing she can't do is prescribe medication.'

'True, but she can refer.' Lucien agreed.

'Right,' Lucien nodded , 'I think it would work quite well, but it is up to Mattie in the end.'

'Lucien,' said Jean, seriously, 'it is up to you, and Mattie.' She looked at him, she loved him so much. He was , well, he was Lucien, and he wasn't always that clever when it came to reading people.

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Mattie slept well that night, it might have been the presence of a certain police officer, holding her as had become the norm, but it might have been the fact that she was beginning to feel accepted.

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'Mattie,' Lucien called, the following morning, before surgery got underway, ' I need to talk to you.'

Mattie was immediately on her guard, but she went to his consulting room, tense.

'Sit down, Mattie dear,' he said, indicating the patient's chair.

'Lucien, I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a bother,' she was certain he was going to ask her to leave.

'You're not a bother, quite the opposite,' he smiled and took her hands. 'Mattie, I have a very busy practice, much busier than when you left, and I need a Practice Nurse. The help you have given me over the last few days has been invaluable, and I would like to offer you the position. The salary would not be huge, it would include your accommodation, but would give you the independence you need.'

Mattie looked at him. He was trying so hard to get it right, and, in his own sweet way he had. How could she refuse this offer. It gave her a home, for her and her child, a small salary to provide extras. Lucien was never good with words, but he was the most genuine, loving person she knew. He and Jean were the parents any child would want.

'Lucien,' she started to answer, he looked disappointed, expecting the worst. She squeezed his hands and smiled, 'I would love to take the position. I will do my best to be worthy of your trust and we,' she indicated her growing bump, 'will try not to be a burden.'

Lucien pulled her close and hugged her, the fatherly hug she needed, but that her own father could not, or would not, give her. If Li ever came to see her father Mattie would let her know what a gem she had in him.

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There will be one more chapter to finish this story. I'm sorry if it seems to be a bit waffly, I keep getting caught up in the minutiae of how I see stories in my mind's eye.