A/N: I know, I know, it is unforgivable for me to not have updated this story in so long, considering my usual rate. I can only give one excuse: Benedict Cumberbatch. Watch the BBC's Sherlock and you won't blame me at all. Don't worry, though - the updates on this story will be a lot quicker now.

Nineteen

Late that night, Rolf and Max got into a taxi cab bound for the train station, with Rolf's luggage in the trunk and his train and ferry tickets in his jacket pockets.

During the planning, no one had been naïve enough to believe that Georg would be found in perfect physical condition, and that he would need time before reuniting with his family in England. So, it had been decided that, once the three of them were safe in Switzerland, Rolf would go on ahead to England and reunite with his sister and the Von Trapp children, while Maria would stay behind with Georg for a few weeks while his condition improved. Of course, these plans had been made before the incident on the train had happened, but Maria had insisted to Rolf and Max that the plan go ahead unchanged.

Once the taxi had taken off from the lodge that Max, Maria and Georg would spend the night in, Max finally allowed himself to ask: "What happened, Rolf? I know that hands made those bruises on her neck. What kind of trouble did you all run into getting out of Austria?"

Rolf gave a deep sigh and ran a hand over his face. "God knows that would have been easier…"

Max felt his alarm grow. "Easier? What the hell happened?"

Rolf finally looked Max in the eye with a somber expression. "It's bad, Herr Dettweiler. Very bad."

"Tell me anyway," said Max, feeling real fear now.

So Rolf took a deep breath and told Max, in a low voice, the entire story of what had happened during their escape from Austria. He was finished by the time they arrived at the train station, and Max got out of the car with a truly horrified expression on his face. He was in such a state of shock, he couldn't even help Rolf get his suitcase out of the taxi. It wasn't until they were on the platform waiting for his train that he could speak again.

"This is bad…very bad," he said, echoing Rolf's earlier words.

Rolf nodded. "I know."

Max shook his head. "No, you really don't, Rolf. You didn't know Georg when he lost his wife. For weeks he was locked in his study, drinking himself into a stupor Couldn't even face children. The funeral was barely over before he sold their house and moved the family to the villa by the lake. I'm sure you've heard from Liesl how he was after that. I will thank Maria every day for pulling him out of that state and opening his eyes and heart again…"

Max heaved a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair before continuing. "But do you see, Rolf? That was the state he was in when he lost the woman he loved and it wasn't his fault. Think of how he will be now, when he…" Max shook his head sadly. "He won't be able to bring himself to look at her again…"

Now it was Rolf's turn to sigh deeply. "Even if he is in love with her?"

Max caught Rolf's eye again. "Especially if, and I know he is. From the cradle, he had been raised to do what is honorable, no matter how he may feel."

"But Maria loves him, too," said Rolf hopefully. "And I know she doesn't blame him for what happened. She's too good to do that."

Max nodded slowly. "You're right…and considering the fact that she is the only one who can seem to get some sense thorugh his thick skull…there may be some hope yet. I only hope it will be enough. I cannot watch that man and his family fall apart a second time."

Just then, Rolf's train pulled into the station, slowly coming to a stop on the platform. The two men got up and faced each other. "You're clear about your route?" asked Max.

"Yes, I'll be fine," said Rolf. "And everything went all right at the bank this afternoon?"

Max nodded. "Everything is all settled. He and Maria will be with you all in a few weeks; I'll make sure you all are telegraphed when they are on their way." He put his hands on the young man's shoulders, knowing full well that this may very likely be the last time he would see him again. "I haven't known you long, Rolf, but no words could ever convey how grateful I and Dr. Falk are for your help in all of this."

"I did this as much for myself and my sister as for the Von Trapp family," said Rolf fairly with a shrug. "But you are welcome."

The conductor called for passengers to board, so with a final smile exchanged, Rolf picked up his suitcase and headed onto the train. Max watched as the train pulled away, mentally preparing himself for the next few weeks. Maria was going to need all the help she could get.

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't see. She couldn't hear. She could only feel the hand like an iron clamp around her throat and the fear masked as rage radiating from the attacker she loved so much. She tried to tell him to stop, that it wasn't what he thought, but how can you speak when you can't breathe?

With a terrible gasp, Maria woke from her dream. With wide eyes she sat up, trying to regain a normal breathing rate. With her hands, she wiped the cold sweat from her brow and the tears from her cheeks, silently berating herself. Why was she having nightmares of what had happened? Her Captain was no monster, and he would never had done that had he known…Why couldn't her subconscious understand that when her heart did?

No matter the circumstances, Maria, said her conscience – which had a voice very similar to the Reverend Mother – the reality is that you had a near-death experience, and a very frightening one at that. Do not be so naïve as to think it will not have an effect on you.

She sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair. Not feeling sleepy anymore, Maria got up and put her simple robe on over her nightgown. Walking to her window, she saw a taxi pull up to the lodge and Max get out. She was glad that Rolf had made it onto the train. She'd grown fond of the young man, and couldn't be more grateful for all he had done. If anybody deserved Liesl's heart, it was him.

As she watched Max enter the lodge, she heard disturbing sounds coming from the room next door – the room she knew that the Captain occupied. Without thinking twice, Maria rushed out of her room and quietly opened the door to his. He lay on his back, tossing a bit in the throes of a nightmare, his face grimaced in pain at each movement because of his still healing ribs.

Maria, silent and quick as a summer wind, went to the bed and sat down beside him. With one hand she pushed gently down on his shoulder to still him, and with her other she stroked his face and hair soothingly. Her voice, though still quiet and a bit hoarse, was usable again, and she hummed a sweet lullaby to him as she stroked him. He stilled and calmed almost immediately, and became as peaceful as a sleeping baby in only a few minutes.

Looking at him, Maria knew that, no matter how traumatic her experience may have been, what he had gone through had been at least one hundred times worse. She would have to set aside her own pain in order to help him work through his. And she knew she would do this gladly, even for the rest of her life. A wave of tenderness sweeping over her, she bent down and brushed her lips over his forehead, almost timidly. After all, she had never kissed a man in any way before.

Feeling certain that he would be all right now, Maria got up from the bed and turned to the door, only to see Max leaning against the open doorway with a small smile on his face. Silently, he beckoned for her to come out, and she did.

Once the door was shut softly, Maria turned to Max to explain. "I heard him having a nightmare…I didn't want him to hurt himself."

His smile grew warmer as he looked at her with apologetic eyes. "After knowing just what happened on the way here, seeing that could not make me happier than I could be by the sight." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "How are you, my dear? Truly?"

She took a deep breath and nodded a bit. "I'll be all right. I know I will be. After all, it was an accident. I know that, Rolf knows that, and now you know that. What's important now is that he know it."

Max nodded in agreement, and gave her a comforting hug.

She pulled away and asked, "What time is our train leaving tomorrow?"

"Half past eight," said Max. "Thankfully, the train ride isn't even an hour long, since Lake Lucerne is just to the south of here. Elsa and my sister Philomena will be waiting for us at the Schraeder Villa, and are prepared to have us as long as it takes for Georg to heal."

Maria took a relieved breath, but then asked, "You are sure that Baroness Schraeder will be all right with me there?" Her mind couldn't help but go back to the last conversation they had together, and was in no way clear about how the older woman thought of her.

Max gave a small smile. Elsa had told him what had happened the night of the ball, and squeezed Maria's shoulders again. "You have nothing to worry about, my dear. Now, go get some sleep, and we'll see you in the morning."

Maria nodded, and went back into her own room. Leaning against the door, she gingerly touched her bruised neck. She prayed a silent prayer that they – and her subconsious bruises – would heal as quickly as possible.