Warning: This chapter continues the theme of abuse and may disturb some readers.

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Jean re-thought the rooms she was reserving in Melbourne and decided, with Mattie and Alice's agreement that a twin room for Charlie and Matthew and the same for them, then, who slept where was up to them. Mattie, who had been embarrassed about being booked into a hotel with Charlie was rather relieved, Alice didn't give a damn, well not about her own reputation, nobody knew her in Melbourne, but Matthew would be there as a senior police officer and his reputation was important. Lucien informed his friends that Jean had booked rooms for them and left it to them to work out the rest.

Mattie and Alice were to travel separately, having to finish work before they could take the leave they had booked and anyway it would look suspicious if they all turned up together.

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'It's like a spy novel,' Mattie grinned at Alice as they settled into a compartment on the train, not even having taken the same route to the station with Alice.

'You've been listening to Lucien too much.' Alice laughed, 'secret assignations, the handing over of state secrets, tailing agents...'

'Oh, and you haven't?'

'I've read some Helen McInnes,' Alice told her, 'if I'm going to read a novel I want something other than the stuff that's usually aimed at women. I used to hide in the library when I was a child and read all the adventure books.'

'Somehow, I'm not surprised,' Mattie admitted, 'so why did you choose medicine?'

'Because I was good at science and it was bound to annoy my mother.' Alice admitted, 'and, I believe I'm good at it.'

'Well, Lucien holds you in high regard,' Mattie watched the pathologist blush slightly, 'and if I couldn't find him I would come to you.'

'Thank you, Mattie,' Alice sat back and started to stare out of the window, she wasn't used to having a travelling companion and idle conversation still came hard for her. Mattie recognised this and pulled a book out of her bag and started to read. Alice stole a surreptitious glance and saw she was reading 'Dr Zhivago', not something she had thought about reading herself. She closed her eyes, the rhythm of the train rocking her to sleep. Mattie looked up and smiled, her lips were slightly parted and she looked almost serene.

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'Melbourne! Me. !' The guard called sometime later, waking Alice from her doze for which she apologised, considering it rude when there was only the two of them in the compartment. Mattie said it was no matter, resisting the urge to comment that Matthew must be keeping her up at night! She didn't think Alice was the type to need a nap during the day.

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Feeling vaguely like naughty school girls they registered at the hotel and went to 'their' room. It was well appointed and they could both see it would be easy enough to move the beds together should they so desire.

'Trouble is we'll have to shift them again, each morning.' Mattie mused, ruefully.

'Mm...' Alice nodded, 'so, do you want to stay in here with Charlie?'

'Dr Harvey, Alice...' Mattie looked at her, 'you don't seem at all bothered that Jean has arranged for us to sleep with our...' now how was she going to describe Matthew and Charlie.

''Other halves?' Alice suggested.

'Yes, well...'

'She hasn't.' Alice pointed out, 'she has booked twin rooms as an economical way of accommodating one married couple and two women and two men in a hotel. What we do is up to us. If we choose to room swap, it is no business of Jean's who sleeps with whom, but...'

'I know,' Mattie sat on the bed, 'I sometimes feel we are abusing her trust, even though she is well aware of that we are intimate.'

'She would prefer you to feel comfortable doing what you do at home, rather than resort to some seedy motel somewhere, sneaking about and feeling ashamed.' Alice had had this very conversation when she had found out that Mattie and Charlie were more than friends. 'There is always the chance that if you were seen and recognised as Minister O'Brien's daughter it could have serious repercussions for your father and your relationship with him. Not to mention what he might do to Charlie if he caught him.'

Mattie brightened at this, she herself had worried about somebody telling her father she was not the sweet innocent girl he hoped she was.

They left the decision for later and headed down to the lounge in search of someone they knew.

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'Dr Harvey.' Matthew smiled over the rim of his glass, 'fancy seeing you here, and Nurse O'Brien. Please, won't you join us?'

Alice bit the inside of her cheek and managed to keep her snigger to an amused smile.

'Superintendant, what a lovely surprise, isn't it Mattie?' She walked over to him and took his outstretched hand, 'we'd love to.'

Charlie stood up and pulled up a chair for Mattie, smiling at her, 'Nurse O'Brien.' He too took her hand.

'Sergeant.' She gripped his hand nervously.

'Dr Blake and his wife are just settling the baby then they'll be down.' Matthew smiled.

'Are they leaving Amelia alone?' Alice couldn't see how they could leave the baby in the room without one of them being there.

'Yes, the hotel have a system where the room phone is left off the hook and reception can listen in for any crying.' Charlie said, catching the eye of a waiter and ordering drinks for the ladies.

'Oh.' Alice accepted the sherry from the waiter. 'I suppose that would work.'

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Jean tidied her hair and wiped the tell tale traces of lipstick off her husband's face and neck. She giggled at the wicked thoughts she had had as they settled Amelia in the cot and how they had managed to at least address one or two needs before lifting the receiver off its cradle and going down to join their friends.

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They had an enjoyable dinner not discussing the case, the food was good, well cooked and tasty. They were not disturbed by Amelia, who generally slept through anyway.

'What do you ladies plan on doing tomorrow?' Lucien asked, worried that his wife at least would find wandering round Melbourne tiring.

'I'm sure we can think of something,' Jean smiled, 'Amelia needs some new clothes...'

'I don't know the city very well,' Alice said, 'perhaps you two can show me round.'

'I'm sure we can.' Mattie smiled and smothered a yawn.

'No staying power, youngsters.' Lucien winked.

'Sorry, busy day,' she smiled, 'if you don't mind I'll head up.'

She stood up and bade everyone goodnight and headed to the stairs, carelessly leaving her cardigan behind! The others continued to talk until Charlie decided he too would call it a day.

'I'll just take Nurse O'Brien's cardigan up,' He lifted the garment off the chair and said his goodnights.

Jean was the next to go, saying she should check on her daughter, she kissed Lucien's cheek and said goodnight to the others smiling to herself as she went up the stairs.

Lucien finished his drink and, realising, for once, that his presence was not required also made his excuses and left.

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'And then there were two,' Alice sat back in the chair and twirled her glass.

'Mm...Indeed.' Matthew mused, 'are you staying long in Melbourne, doctor?'

'A few days,' she answered casually, 'I'm not really sure, it depends what it has to offer.'

'I'm sure there are many things you may wish to experience here.' He tried not to smirk. They enjoyed wordplay at home, teasing and suggestive, no reason why they couldn't continue here.

'Well, I'd better get a good night's rest,' she stood up, 'lovely to see you, Superintendant.'

Matthew stood up, 'May I escort you to your room, doctor?' He grinned and offered his arm.

'So kind.' They exited the lounge and headed up the stairs, stopping outside the room assigned to Matthew and Charlie. Alice looked across the landing and noticed the 'Do Not Disturb' sign hanging from the door knob of 'her' room. She smiled, that meant Mattie had swapped hers and Charlie's suitcases.

'It would appear my space has been taken.' She murmured.

'Well, I'm sure...' Matthew ran out of words as he opened his room door and pulled her inside, pushing the door shut, locking it and then taking her in his arms and crushing her lips with his. Their wordplay in the lounge had had him desperately trying to control his desire for Alice and as he slipped his hands between her legs he found her more than aroused.

Her hands were making short work of his tie and the buttons on his shirt, and she pushed that and his jacket off in one go. Matthew had removed his hands so they were opening the buttons on her shirtwaister dress and that fell to the floor. The rest of their clothes went the same way as they stumbled towards a bed, thoughts of pushing the two pieces of furniture together all gone.

Matthew pushed her back onto the bed and started to work his way down from her mouth with his tongue and his lips, sucking at her while using his hands to bring her almost to the edge then teasing her before entering her and thrusting until she cried out his name in her release, swiftly followed by his.

'Alice,' he gasped, as he felt his arms start to give way. She used her legs to flip him over still joined and she started her own rhythm slowly feeling him become more aroused, if that were at all possible, and as he stroked her breasts and teased her nipples she tightened again and saw stars before falling onto him, panting, satisfied.

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Lucien closed the bedroom door quietly, not sure if Jean was already asleep. She was in the bed, her back to him, which could mean any number of things, she was asleep, she was angry with him for something, probably for not coming up with her, or she was teasing him. He still found she surprised him in so many ways. He undressed and put his suit over the chair by the window, then put on his pyjama trousers and robe before going to the bathroom to use the facilities, clean his teeth and have a quick wash.

Back in the bedroom she still hadn't moved, the covers pulled up over her shoulders. He sighed and hung his robe on the hook. He couldn't see her biting her lip to prevent the laughter breaking out, he sounded almost disappointed that she was asleep, except... He slid into the bed and leaned over to give her a gentle kiss on the cheek but as he did he touched her back...her bare back! He slowly ran one hand over her shoulder to her breasts and the other down her back and over her bum, his wife was completely naked!

She turned over,

'What kept you?' She smiled seductively, 'a girl could go off the boil waiting for you.'

'I do apologise,' he kissed her forehead, 'was there something you wanted?'

She slipped her hand down pushing his pyjamas off, he was just becoming aroused, 'Hm...' she mused, 'I hope you can rise to the task.'

'Well, if you insist.' He tried to look bored, but his body was telling another story.

Slow kisses and touches followed, shivers from her under his gentle stroking of her nipples, cupping her breasts, his hands sliding down over her slightly rounded belly, his tongue tasting her toothpaste, hers tasting the hint of whisky from earlier. They started to move against each other, he hard in her hand. Her breathing started to come in small pants as she moved to take him in, pushing him over onto his back and grinding against him until she arched and groaned in release and shuddered with aftershocks as he spilled into her and softly called her name.

She lay over him like a blanket of love. He loved her like this, sated from loving, her head nestling under his chin as she slept, blowing little breaths through the hairs on his chest. If he could bottle this feeling he would never tire of sipping the contents.

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Breakfast was a more subdued affair that dinner the previous night. Jean was glad they had Amelia with them, she lightened the mood as she pushed her hands into the scrambled egg supplied by the hotel, them licked it off with a grin.

'Amelia,' Jean sighed, 'you are such a messy girl. Now let's wipe your hands and face.' Amelia resisted the flannel her mother had brought down from the room and blew raspberries into it as it passed her mouth.

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'We'll see you back here for dinner,' Lucien kissed Jean's cheek as the others made their farewells, 'take it easy, won't you.'

'I'll be fine, Lucien.' Jean squeezed his hand and watched him join the two police officers and head off towards the court.

'Well, ladies,' she turned to her two companions, 'shall we see what Melbourne has to offer this fine day?'

They turned in the opposite direction to the one the men had gone in and, Jean and Amelia in the pram, in the middle, strolled off in the direction of the market.

The day was warm with a light breeze, perfect for strolling round the city, and with Alice not as familiar as her two companions there was plenty to distract them from any thoughts of the court case.

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It seemed an age before the jury was sworn in, Lucien paced up and down until Matthew told him to sit down or he'd handcuff him to a chair.

'Sorry, Lawson,' he apologised, 'the preliminaries take so damn long.'

'I know, but it has to be done right,' Matthew agreed, 'we need to get them, no mess no fuss. Keep your answers clear and honest. Don't get angry, no matter how hard it is.' He turned to Charlie, 'Keep your emotions in check, even though the bastard shot at us.'

'Boss.' Charlie nodded, noticing his palms were sweating.

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Lucien was called first. Prosecuting Council had warned them that he would be quite hard in his examination of the evidence, but it was only so that there was no doubt in the jury's collective minds about the seriousness of the case. His autopsy report on Brian was picked apart with a fine tooth comb. Because of the extent of the injuries there were photographs which had been shown to the judge and if the jury wanted they could also view them. Some did, and went pale as Lucien explained what each picture was and the significance of the bruising.

The defence asked if the bruises around the genital area could have been caused by a fall, or from a bicycle injury.

'Absolutely not.' Lucien argued back and explained the difference between such bruises.

There were times during his cross-examination that Lucien dug his fingernails into his palms in order to keep himself calm. When asked if he had seem such injuries before he was forced to admit that during his time in the Japanese POW camp it was usual to be presented, as one of the few medics imprisoned, with captives with similar injuries. A woman in the gallery fainted and proceedings were interrupted for a few minutes while she was helped out of the court. Lucien wondered why they thought it necessary to let the public into such a session.

He was dismissed after what seemed like an eternity and Matthew took his place on the witness stand. He was questioned about the first visit to the seminary, the reasons for going out there and what he had found.

He told, clearly and concisely, how he and Senior Sergeant Davies had gone to see if anyone knew of the little boy Dr Blake had performed his autopsy on. The first farm had yielded nothing of note, save that they had been to introduce themselves to their new neighbours and been seen off because they were not of the Catholic faith.

His account of the first meeting with Gerald Simkins, who it transpired styled himself 'Prophet' had been rather shocking.

Simkins had never given his name, not even in the interviews or under Bill Hobart's 'expert' interrogation, they had to get that information from another suspect.

There were gasps of surprise when he said that Simkins had fired his shotgun at the Superintendant's feet when he had tried to talk to him.

'You made another visit, Superintendant,' the Prosecutor noted, 'could you tell us what happened this time.'

Taking a deep breath, Matthew told them about the number of officers he had taken, how many were armed, how they were greeted, how he had managed to subdue Simkins and ultimately what they had found. He swallowed several times and was offered water, which he refused, water wouldn't help.

Defending Council asked about the warrant he had to search the seminary. Matthew again told what had happened and Prosecution showed the crumpled paper that Charlie had thoughtfully collected from the scene as they were putting everyone in the cars. He also called into question Lucien's apparent rescue of the boy known as Sid.

'I didn't see what happened behind the curtain,' he answered, honestly, 'I saw Dr Blake with the boy in his arms and the priest on the floor. The boy was sobbing and clinging to the doctor.' He knew they would have to call Blake back to answer these questions.

'And the priest?'

'...appeared to have fallen backwards,' Matthew knew damn well what had happened, 'you would have to ask Dr Blake about it.'

Matthew was dismissed and Lucien was called back into the court. Being reminded he was still under oath he was asked the same questions about the priest.

'One of the older boys indicated that the choirmaster was behind the curtain.'

'Can you tell the court, in your own words what you saw and what you did.' Prosecution asked, rather gently, having read Lucien's statement he wouldn't blame him if he faltered. Lucien addressed the gallery but stared beyond them.

'I saw a priest holding the hand of a little boy, aged about six years. He was pulling the boy towards him, telling him he would be the best. The boy was obviously very distressed.'

'What can you tell me about the priest.'

'The priest was aroused, sexually.' There was a cry from the gallery and whispers and gasped from around the court.

'What was he wearing?'

'A full collar shirt and cassock.'

'You could tell he was...'

'Oh yes.' Lucien stated quite firmly.

'So what did you do?'

'I stepped forward, thumped the priest, causing him to fall backwards, and took the little boy into my arms and told him he was safe.' Lucien wasn't proud of hitting the priest, but under the circumstances... Looking around the court there were nods of approval and even some grim smiles.

Defence asked one simple question,

'You saw fit to hit a man of the cloth?'

'...and under those circumstances I would do the same again.' Lucien said standing straight and upright, 'he was about to do something to a little boy that is against every law, god's and man's, and against any code of civilisation.'

There was a spontaneous round of applause, which shocked the doctor but had the judge calling for order, though he too was tempted to join in.

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After a break for lunch Charlie was called to give evidence, the jury nodded approval of the young officer's conduct, defence asked what his reaction to being shot at was.

'I thought I'd had it.' Charlie answered simply, 'I really believed I was going to die.' He sure as hell wasn't going to say he had cried in his girlfriend's arms and was now struggling to sleep with that memory and the whole case in general.

He corroborated Matthew's evidence and, on balance thought he had probably got off lightly.

The other officers, that were only there for the day swiftly going through the questioning and coming out the other side greatly relieved that, for them it was over.

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Jean, Mattie and Alice found a small cafe for lunch that would accommodate Amelia. They had had a pleasant morning round the market, just browsing and had decided that a wander round an art gallery would see them through the afternoon.

Jean was keen to learn more about art so that when Lucien took her round such places she was not surprised at what she saw and had a little more understanding and knowledge than before. She thought she knew what she liked, some of the more modernistic work Picasso and Braque she found difficult to understand, but enjoyed the Australian artist Tom Roberts' work. There was some surrealism which, although she could appreciate the use of colour and line, was really odd to her. All in all, she decided, she perhaps had conservative taste.

Alice passed some comments about one or two sculptures not being anatomically correct in their proportions to which Mattie teased her and suggested she stop being so scientific in her analysis and just enjoy the forms for what they were.

'Oh I do,' she smiled, 'it's just that...' and she went a little pink.

Jean laughed and said that if they didn't mind she was going to head back to the hotel, she was feeling a little tired.

'Do you want me to have Amelia?' Mattie asked, putting her hand on the pram handle.

'No, it's alright,' Jean smiled, 'we can nap together.'

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Lucien opened the bedroom door slowly. He'd found Mattie and Alice in the lounge and they had told him Jean had left them to come back to the hotel before they had because she was tired. He smiled to see her on her side asleep with Amelia on her back, fingers entangled in her mother's hair, sleeping beside her. She seemed to sense his presence and her eyes opened slowly. He sat on the bed and leant over to kiss them both, Amelia softly on the cheek and Jean a little more purposefully on the lips.

'Hello.' she smiled. 'What time is it?'

'Just after five.' He looked at his watch. 'Shall I order some tea, maybe some milk for madam.'

'Mm...yes please.' She sat up and made to get off the bed, 'I'm just going to the bathroom.'

She stroked his cheek as she passed him.

Lucien lifted the sleeping baby off the bed and placed her gently in the cot. Perhaps she'd sleep for a while longer, he'd like some intimacy with his wife, not full intimacy, just being together with a few kisses and cuddles.

Jean came back to the room just as the tea arrived. She watched Lucien pour, add the milk and sugar and hand her a cup. She wanted to wrap her arms round him and hold him and make it all go away, but the last part was impossible. She felt a trip to the cabin coming on. She touched his hand as he passed her the cup and smiled at him, softly.

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The girls managed to lighten the mood at dinner. They talked about the market, how Amelia had behaved herself at lunch, apart from putting her hands in her fruit dessert.

'...but she always feels her food,' Lucien commented.

'I know.' Jean smiled, 'the boys did too, but then fingers were made before knives and forks.'

'Indeed,' and Lucien picked up the slices of carrot on his plate with his fingers. Jean tapped his hand with her knife, 'you're an adult, Lucien, behave.'

Alice laughed and nearly choked on her chicken, so Matthew had to pat her back, but his pats were light and she shivered.

They talked about the gallery and Jean admitted her reservations about certain works.

'You like my mother's work though.' Lucien finished his food, his manners restored.

'Yes, but I can see what she painted, Agnes looked like Agnes in the portrait.' Jean agreed, 'some of the other work just looks like he missed his life drawing class.'

'Well art appreciation is subjective and very personal.' Lucien smiled, 'personally I'm not too keen on Kandinsky.'

She smiled at him and decided she'd better have a look at this artist before she made any judgement.

They repaired to their rooms as they saw fit, no longer pretending to be just friends, but not being openly involved.

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The following day was the day the defendants would state their case. The girls again wandered round Melbourne, showing Alice the cathedral, and walking in the gardens. Again they stopped at a cafe for lunch, but nothing could stop them thinking about what their men were having to sit through.

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Matthew, Charlie and Lucien sat behind the council benches as Simkins gave his evidence, denying he did anything wrong, that he was following God's teachings. He said he was defending his property from sinful men (Matthew and Charlie) and they were teaching the boys that the ways of the flesh were sinful. He denied that the lessons were cruel, barbaric and against the churches values.

'Suffer little children,' Prosecuting Council recited, 'and forbid them not to come unto me: for such is the Kingdom of Heaven; Matthew, chapter nineteen, verse fourteen, I believe, is what is written. Instead you just made the little children suffer, didn't you?'

Lucien shifted in his seat, Matthew and Charlie, sat either side of him, grabbed his arms and held him in place.

Simkins refused to admit or even confirm what he had been doing was wrong, and eventually he was dismissed to be held in the cells.

The priest was next to be called. He looked suitably ashamed of what he had done, but Lucien didn't believe him for one minute. When asked what his feeling towards the boys had been he broke down and said he loved them, but not as God wanted him to. He was weak, he sobbed, unclean, his thoughts impure.

'He'll be in hell,' Matthew whispered, 'in prison. Nobody likes a child molester.'

The other six men who had been apprehended at the farm claimed they were only following orders but when the prosecutor asked if they worried that what they were doing was wrong, one said it seemed unusual.

'Unusual?' he was asked, 'Unusual. To beat boys for failing to learn their bible stories quickly, to subject them to such torment as the priest did, that is unusual?'

The man bent his head.

When the councils summed up their cases the defending barrister said that each was blinded by following a man of faith, or so they believed, and the man of faith, Simkins truly believed he was giving these boys a chance of a good godly life. The priest was, by his own admission, weak and would have to live with what he had done for the rest of his life, and his life within the church was forfeit. It was a weak defence, but it was all he had.

Prosecuting council, however, was having none of it. Simkins had set up the seminary when he heard of these children being transported from England for 'a better life'. He specifically chose boys, because he had desires of the flesh that were unnatural and against all laws. His idea that god knew him and loved him and would overlook his needs was grossly misplaced. As far as he, prosecuting council, was aware he stood by his quote from the book of Matthew and that if he still believed in god then he would answer to him in another life. But the questions would be long and hard to answer. He had preyed on the vulnerable and who knew what the long term effects his treatment would have on the children. Even now, one of the younger ones was suffering nightmares, and fears beyond his comprehension.

Lucien knew he was referring to Sid, who was withdrawn, had regressed to some infant behaviours and couldn't bear to be touched by anyone other than one of the boys he had been with at the farm, Dr Blake or Dr Harvey.

The jury were sent to another room to consider their verdict and Matthew and Charlie almost hauled Lucien out of his seat and back to the hotel. He was shaking with anger, dry eyed with fury. Matthew worried that he might lash out at Jean, who would only try to calm him.

'Boss.' Charlie pointed across the street. A gym. They dragged him over and asked if he could be let loose on a punch bag, to release some pent up anger. The man at the desk took one look at the smartly dressed but incredibly angry man and showed them to the changing room, where he could also borrow a pair of shorts so his trousers would be safe from his exertions. Matthew positioned him in front of the punch bag and stood back.

He must have lasted a full hour, if not more, before he slumped to the floor, sweat soaked and breathless.

They pushed him towards the shower and turned it on full waiting until he reappeared, handing him a towel they had 'borrowed' from a peg then waited for him to dress and smooth down his hair, which, when wet, was curly and uncontrolled. Jean loved it like this, but, as she said, it wasn't very professional.

'Thanks,' he clapped his friends on the shoulder, 'I needed that.'

'No worries,' Matthew grinned at him, 'didn't think Jean would want you back like that.'

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Alice lay in the bed she had been sharing with the superintendant. He was changing into his pyjama bottoms, the top being worn by her, and putting his uniform tidily on the chair. They had all been quiet at dinner, not wanting to discuss the case in a public place, but she felt he needed to talk.

He slid into the bed and pulled her almost on top of him, it being a single and they hadn't bothered to push the beds together, more fun in a single she had teased. He was grateful, all he needed was to feel her warmth as he told her some of the things that had come out in court, not least Lucien's frank disclosure about the priest and the profound effect it had on Sid.

'I knew that Lucien had seen something disturbing, but he never said how disturbing.' Matthew mumbled into her hair.

'But his statement...'

'Hobart was with him when he wrote it, I didn't get chance to do anything but scan down it late at night. I wasn't worried about what he put in it,' Matthew admitted his oversight, 'in spite of everything Blake is a professional, and it ate him up today. We came home via a gym and put him to work on a punch bag.'

'That bad?'

'That bad, and worse.' Matthew adjusted his hold on Alice as she snuggled down to lie on his chest, 'I'm worried about Sid. I'm worried about all of them, but particularly him.'

Alice was surprised at his admission, which reflected her own, 'I get called out when Lucien isn't available.' She said, simply. 'He has regular meltdowns, Sister Josephine can't send him to school and she can't do anything with him when he goes off.'

'...and you can?'

'Most times, yes.' Alice sighed, blowing cool air across his chest making him shiver, 'he just clings on until he's too exhausted to do anything but sleep.'

'How long do you stay?'

'As long as necessary,' she whispered, 'sometimes until he wakes, sometimes I just settle him in his bed and make sure he's ok, before I go.'

'Alice...'

'I know what you're going to suggest, and I don't know.' She had had the same thoughts, 'I'm not the maternal type, he's a sweet boy, but I would have to take leave until he settled, and I'm not sure I can cope without going out each day to see adults.'

'I could...'

'What if he doesn't take to you? Eh?' Alice lifted her head, 'you could have the same problems that everybody else has.'

'Perhaps if I come with you next time...'

'Let's get the case out of the way first.' She yawned and allowed her eyes to close.

'Right,' he hummed and kissed the top of her head, before succumbing to sleep, himself.

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Charlie and Mattie, more used to sleeping in a single bed together lay wrapped in each other's arms. He wouldn't tell her what Lucien had said about the priest, just that it was horrible and if he ever became a father he was likely to be over protective, and he wasn't going to send any son of his anywhere near a Catholic school.

'That's ok,' Mattie kissed his cheek, 'there are plenty of non faith schools around.'

He sighed, 'I love you Mattie,' he kissed her nose and closed his eyes, hoping he could get some sleep, he was exhausted, and Mattie knew it.

She smiled at his declaration, the first time he had said it, and she believed him.

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Jean woke to a cold bed. She turned over to see Lucien's side empty. Sitting up she saw the curtains were slightly open and he was sitting by the cot watching Amelia sleep.

'I didn't hear her.' She whispered, padding over to him.

'Hm..?' He hadn't noticed she had woken, 'Oh, she didn't, I just...'

She sat on his knee and put her arms round him, 'It's ok, darling,' she murmured softly, 'I didn't expect anything else.' At home he would be out in the garden.

'You know me too well.' he tightened his hold on her and heaved a heavy sigh.

'Cabin?' She asked, 'when it's over.'

'I think so, yes.' He agreed, it was their place, away from the cares.

'Good, we need some wood chopping.' She reminded him of the time he had let her loose with an axe when she was angry with Christopher.

'Thank you, Jean.' He said simply.

'Come back to bed.' She slip off his knee and held out her hand, which he obediently took and followed her back to the warmth of the bed and her arms.

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The next chapter will deal with the end of the case and what happens to Sid. Again, this story is one I wonder if I should have written this way, but having started it, I intended to finish it. Thanks to all who continue to read it and I'll try to make any further chapters lighter, after all we have a baby on the way!