Title: Intimidation
Chapter: 6 - Vindication
Fandom: The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Author: Ceindreadh
Characters: Matthew Lawson, Charlie Davis, Mattie O'Brien, Lucien Blake
Rating: 15
Spoilers: Seasons 3
Summary: The fight is over, but does Lawson still have a price to pay?
Word count: ~ 1,700
Disclaimer. I don't own the characters, I'm only borrowing them, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Charlie lowered Lawson to the floor, checked that he was breathing steadily and then ran to the door, shouting at the first person he saw to fetch a doctor immediately. A few minutes later, he received another shock as Blake and Mattie were escorted in. "Would somebody please tell me what's been going on?" he asked almost plaintively as Blake quickly knelt beside Lawson and started to check him over.
"We were waiting outside," said Mattie, "We heard them calling for a doctor."
"So naturally, I offered my services," said Blake, as he loosened Lawson's collar and tie to assist his breathing.
"You mean you stuck your nose in as usual," said Lawson. He opened his eyes and groaned slightly.
"Ah Matthew, welcome back," said Blake. "You know, I'm sure I told you not to overdo things. But this time, I insist that you go to hospital for a proper examination."
It was a testament to how exhausted Lawson was feeling that he didn't argue with Blake, not too much anyway. After a few half-hearted protests about the paperwork that still had to be completed with regard to the hearing, he allowed himself to be stretchered off to the ambulance accompanied by Blake.
Mattie filled Charlie in on the events of the previous night as Lawson had told them to her earlier. By the time the paperwork was complete and she had driven them to the hospital in Blake's car, Lawson had been treated and admitted for observation.
"But he is going to be okay?" Charlie had asked.
"Oh yes," Blake reassured them both. "His injuries are mostly superficial, cuts and bruises. There's a hairline fracture in his left hand, but it should heal without a problem. It was simply sheer exhaustion that made him collapse. Once he's had a chance to rest up and gets a good night's sleep, he'll be back to his old self in no time. Now, he said he wants a quick word with you Charlie, before we head back to Ballarat. But mind you don't tire him out, otherwise we'll have the Matron to deal with, and we don't want that!"
Lawson was still looking pale and tired, thought Charlie as he stepped into the hospital room. But there was something different about him, and it took Charlie a few seconds to realise that for probably the first time since he'd met the man, Lawson was completely at ease. The lines of worry and the almost perpetual scowl he'd been wearing for the past few weeks were gone, and he smiled almost warmly at Charlie as he approached the bed.
"Ah Davis," said Lawson, "I just want to run through a few things with you."
The meeting didn't take long, and Charlie was soon dismissed with a list of things to be seen to back in Ballarat.
Charlie had some misgivings as he returned to Blake and Mattie.
"Ah Charlie," said Blake. "All set to go?"
"Yes Doc," said Charlie, almost absently, "Actually, I was thinking that maybe I should stay in the city tonight. I could make sure the Boss gets back okay in the morning."
"That's already taken care of," said Blake, "Besides, I promised Matthew I'd get you back to Ballarat this evening. I'm sure you have plenty of things to see to for him."
"I do," admitted Charlie, but he still had an uneasy feeling about leaving Lawson behind.
Back in his hospital bed, Lawson too was feeling somewhat uneasy. He couldn't fault the accommodations, or indeed his treatment, but he knew he wasn't going to have a restful night.
He slept fitfully through most of the evening, having been given enough medicine to dull the pain if not banish it completely. Each time he woke however, he'd had the same little jolt as he became aware of his surroundings. And then he woke after a longer period asleep and noticed that the lights had been dimmed around him.
A movement from beside the bed caught Lawson's eye and he sat up quickly with a sharp intake of breath as he recognized Morgan, sitting in the visitor's chair which had been occupied by Charlie only a few hours earlier.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lawson's hand instinctively reached out for the bell that was on the bedside table.
"Come now, Inspector," said Morgan, "Do you really want out little conversation to be disturbed?" He patted his jacket allowing Lawson to see a bulge that could quite easily have been a gun.
Lawson pulled his hand back and glared at Morgan. "I'm pretty sure visiting hours are over." His voice was even, but he could feel his heart pounding.
"They are," said Morgan, "But I told the night nurse that I was just passing through and needed to take this opportunity to speak with you." He paused before continuing, "Given that we have never crossed paths before," he added pointedly.
"So that was the way Morgan was going to play it," thought Lawson. "Act like the previous night had never happened. He'll have set up an alibi, which makes it my word against his." Out loud he said, "So why are you here then? Planning on tying up loose ends…permanently?"
"Inspector Lawson, while I admit that there are times when I may be at odds with law enforcement, I would certainly draw the line at causing permanent harm to any member of the force. It would be extremely bad for my business."
Lawson snorted in disbelief, "Funny that because I was threatened with permanent harm just last night, and maybe I can't prove it but I know damn well it was at your bidding."
"Last night, such a threat may have been worthwhile in order to protect a certain Superintendent," said Morgan, "But since his career would appear to be most likely over, well, there would be no discernible reason to carry out such a threat now." He stood to leave.
"What are you saying?" asked Lawson.
"I'm merely saying that whoever ordered your abduction last night, whoever threatened your life, has by now surely realised that the whole attempt at coercion was a failure and that it would make no sense whatsoever to repeat the process. Good night Inspector Lawson, I'm sure you'll understand when I say I hope we do not meet again." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes and then he was gone.
Lawson leaned back against the headboard, breathing heavily. A noise from the door to the adjoining room made him jump, but he relaxed as he saw Danny Parks emerge. "Did you hear all that, Parks?" he asked.
"Every word, Sir," said Danny. "But he didn't say anything incriminating."
(some hours earlier)
"I don't like the idea of leaving you here on your own, Matthew," said Blake. "What if Morgan or one of his men come back to finish the job? Look, why don't you get Charlie to stand guard?" They were in the treatment room at Melbourne hospital, waiting for Lawson's x-rays to be printed.
"No!" said Lawson, vehemently. "I don't want Davis anywhere near this. You're to make sure that he and Miss O'Brien get back to Ballarat this evening. If something's going to happen, he's best out of it." He saw the confusion on Blake's face and sighed, "Look, if Morgan is going to try anything, he's not going to do it tonight if there's a bodyguard sitting outside the door. But I don't fancy the idea of looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life."
"You're not going to set yourself up as bait! Matthew, you're in condition to defend yourself if he *does* try anything."
"I know," said Lawson, "Which is why you're going to place a call to Superintendent Collins and have him send Danny Parks over to keep an eye out."
Blake hadn't been overly happy about the plan, but even in his weakened state, Lawson was too stubborn to be dissuaded. So Danny had arrived less than an hour later and had been hidden away in the room next door to Lawson's with strict instructions to not interfere unless Morgan or one of his goons appeared to be posing a threat.
"Every word, Sir," said Danny. "But he didn't say anything incriminating."
"He's too smart for that," said Lawson, "But you heard what he said. I'm no threat to him, which means there's no benefit to him harming me."
"And do you believe him?"
Lawson shrugged, "Strangely enough, I do. He may be a notorious criminal but he's no fool."
"So it's all over. Morgan's not coming after you, Munro won't be coming back to Ballarat. What about the police brass, do you think they'll leave you alone as well?"
"I don't know," said Lawson, "There'll always be another Munro, looking to further his career at the expense of others."
"And there'll always be another Lawson and Collins to stop him," said Danny, loyally. "And a Davis and Parks as well!"
Lawson smiled involuntarily and then yawned, "You might as well go home now, Parks. No point in losing a night's sleep."
"I think I'd better stay, Sir," said Danny. "I'm under strict instructions to get you to Superintendent Collins's house for breakfast."
"Well you can tell Hugh that I'm countermanding his orders."
"Actually," Danny smiled, "It was Mrs. Collins who gave the order and if I don't obey, I'll never get to taste her cooking again!"
Lawson couldn't help but smile, "Well we can't be having that, can we now? Fine, I'll see you in the morning." He watched as Danny settled himself in the visitor's chair. Lawson lay back down in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Lawson hadn't been lying when he said that he believed Morgan. As far as he was concerned, as long as their paths didn't cross again, Morgan would pose no threat to him or Ballarat. But there was always threats from other sources. Maybe the high-ups in Melbourne would stop their attempts to rein in Ballarat station, or maybe they'd send another Munro to cause trouble. There would always be police politics to deal with. "But there'll always be people like me to deal with it," said Lawson to himself. He turned over in the bed and slept.
The End