Wednesday, March 18, 2015

8:54 PM

Jack looked up from the body in front of him and looked around. Where was Miss Fisher? Then he spotted her.

Phryne stood, a few feet away, shivering by the water. Her wet dress blew in the brisk sea breeze. She looked so-forlorn. Phryne Fisher forlorn? Never!

Feeling a tad worried, Jack walked over to her, the buzz of the constables behind him. Phryne didn't even acknowledge his approach, looking off blankly into the distance. Her arms were wrapped around her wet body, trying to protect herself from the wind. Jack cleared his throat.

"Well, Miss Fisher," he said cheerfully, "it would seem you have gotten yourself into the midst of another mess."

Phryne smiled vaguely. "I always do," she said, her tone lacking it's usual teasing and confidence.

Jack frowned. He shrugged off his trench coat and walked over to Phryne. Gently, he slid it around her small shoulders. The coat completely swallowed her slender form. She turned at last to look at him, her eyes still blank.

He squeezed her shoulders. "Let's get you home, Miss Fisher." he said gently.

Phryne only nodded. Still shivering, and clutching the coat tightly to herself, she turned toward him. Jack slid one arm around her shoulders and led her to the car.

Phryne was silent the entire drive to her house. Jack worried. What had happened out there in the water that had her so rattled? Yes, a girl had died, but Miss Fisher had been witness to dozens of deaths and corpses. She often would mourn the loss of the life, but never had it affected her so greatly. What was it about this one that made it so different?

They arrived at the house and Jack guided her inside. He shut the door, looking about. The house was silent. No Dottie, no Mr. Butler, no one.

"Where is everyone?" he asked.

Phryne looked at him wearily. "Oh, they've all gone. Dottie is out visiting some poor people, Mr. Butler is visiting family, Jane is at school and Burt and Cec are working."

She stood in the hall looking exactly as she did on the beach: adrift, lost. Jack frowned again. He was about to ask her a question when she shivered again. First things first: dry clothes.

"Come on, Phryne," he said, gently taking her by the arm again. She nodded and followed him up the stairs. He found her room and led her in.

He led her over to the bed and helped her take off the trench coat. She was drenched through and through. Phryne stood, expectantly.

Jack cleared his throat. After a moment, he, hesitantly, reached up to undo the buttons on her dress. Why were his hands shaking?

He undid the first button. His hands moved down and he undid the second. A slip of her back began to show. Jack swallowed.

He continued to undo her buttons until the dress hung on her by the shoulders. Without a word, Phryne slide off the soaking garment. Jack turned away, clearing his throat loudly. To his surprise and concern, she said nothing, no quick remark, no teasing smirk, no cheeky quip. Nothing.

He dared to throw her a glance. She stood in her under slip, motionless. She made no move to finish undressing, she just stood, staring out the window, shivering.

"Miss Fisher?" he queried. No response.

He took a step closer. "Phryne?"

Still nothing. Jack, forgetting completely about the awkwardness of the situation, walked over and stepped in front of her.

"Phryne." he said more firmly. She looked up at him. To his surprise, Jack saw tears shimmering in her jade eyes.

"Phryne, what's wrong?" he asked, his hands coming up to grip her shoulders.

"That little girl," she said, "She was so young. She was just about Jane's age."

It began to dawn on Jack. He reached up and cupped her face so that she looked directly into Jack's face.

"Phryne, it was not Jane in that water." Jack told her firmly.

Phryne bit her lip as her eyes glistened with tears. "But it could have been. And I couldn't help her Jack. I couldn't help her."

Her last words faded out on a soft, painful sob. She crumbled, her numbness wearing off and fear and pain replacing it.

"Shh," Jack pulled her shaking, shivering form into his arms. "It's alright Phryne. It's alright."

Phryne sobbed into his jacket. Jack rubbed her bare wet back, softly whispering in her ear.

"I tried to help her, Jack." Phryne sobbed, "I tried, but I couldn't reach her! She drowned, Jack. And I couldn't help her."

"Phryne, you did everything, you could," Jack soothed her. "It's not your fault."

"But what if I didn't do everything, I could?" Phryne whispered brokenly.

"Phryne Fisher, when have you ever not given your all to something? I don't believe that for a moment."

"It could have been, Jane." Phryne whimpered.

"I know," Jack rubbed her back, his deep voice low and soothing. "But it wasn't. Jane is perfectly safe."

After a few minutes, Phryne pulled away. "I'm sorry, Jack." she looked slightly embarrassed, her head down as she played with the buttons on his jacket.

Jack slid a finger under her chin, slowly he lifted her face. Phryne looked up at him, with something akin to shyness, a look he had never seen on Miss Fisher's face before.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Phryne." he told her softly.

Phryne smiled gratefully, then looked back down.

"I've got your shirt all wet!" she said with a slight laugh.

"It doesn't matter," Jack said, glancing down at the tear stains. "I have others."

Phryne smiled. "Thank you, Jack."

Jack smiled back. "Anytime."

Suddenly, Phryne shivered and unconsciously drew closer. Jack rubbed her shoulders.

"Perhaps we had better get you dressed."

Phryne smiled. "Perhaps." She took a step closer to Jack and her eyes took on a teasing, sensual glint.

Jack's mouth curved into a warm grin. That was the Miss Fisher he knew.