Chapter 2: Jack and Phryne: The Drive to GlenRowan
Jack rolled his blue eyes upon arriving at Miss Fisher's St. Kilda home the next morning and taking in the sight of the Hispano. The car, full of luggage, blankets, pillows and a large picnic basket, looks like they are planning to be gone for a month. He sighs to himself and sets about getting his and Hugh's smaller bags secured to the Hispano Suiza. "I'll drive Miss Fisher" he says blithely looking over at her in her traveling clothes. "We'll get there so much faster if I drive Jack" she says smoothly, her dark blue eyes challenging him. "Luckily, we are not in a great hurry to arrive, so a more leisurely pace is acceptable, and you don't want me to have to cuff you, do you?" he teases her. "Now that I think on it, the pictures we have of you in the file at the station probably do need updating" he continues with a wicked smirk. After a pause where Phryne glares at him Jack gives her a grin. "Alright Miss Fisher, you may drive" he says in his most courteous voice. Phryne now pretending to huff about, while in reality smiling to herself that Jack would mention those silly pictures Constable Collins took when Jack tried to arrest her for break and enter, it might be worth refusing him just to have the opportunity to create more silly photographs for his file. This trip could be very fun she thinks, and she very sweetly places the keys to the Hispano in Jack's hand, making sure she brushes her thumb along the side of his hand as she releases the keys into his very capable palm. It is an electric jolt for both of them. Jack's eyes seeking hers and his nostrils flaring slightly. He grins in his usual way at her and moves around to the driver's side of the car. Luckily Hugh and Dot miss this exchange as they are getting into the back of the car; Hugh carefully helping Dot to get settled in her seat.
On this note, the journey to GlenRowan begins. The four of them chatter merrily along the way, observing the beautiful Australian terrain. They leave Melbourne behind, both Jack and Phryne feeling their cares drifting away. After driving for some time, they came upon a grove of shade trees along a creek and decide this is the place for their lunch. The men check the area for snakes and lay out the picnic blankets while the ladies bring the picnic basket down. After they eat and clean up, they decide to take brief rest before piling back into the car. Phryne and Dot lay side by side in the middle of the blankets and Hugh and Jack take their positions beside them. Jack places his hat over his eyes, intending to get a few moments of sleep, but the small voice beside him says "Look at that cloud Jack, it looks like a giant cat, and there is one that looks like a toy soldier." Jack removes his hat to look and nods to her. He notices that she has her hands out by her sides; if he shifts his arm just a fraction of an inch, their arms will be touching from finger tips to shoulder. He looks over a Phryne so intently watching the clouds, and with a calculated, but almost unnoticeable movement did what he had wanted to do for weeks; he touches her. Phryne doesn't jump as she feels Jack's arm move against hers. She does however, smile beatifically toward the clouds, and she presses her arm lightly against his to let him know she can feel his warmth. Jack gazes at the clouds for a few moments, but he is distracted by small bits of skin that he can see along Phryne' s neck and the warm, soft feel of her fingers and arm. He knows this isn't the time or place so he applies pressure to her arm through his, and then placing his hat over his eyes, he tries to settle into a nap. Phryne is excited by Jack's actions. She shivers slightly and allows her fingers to entwine feather light with his, and she too closes her eyes.
Something is wrong, she is being chased. She is running, but can't find a safe refuge. Murdoch Foyle is going to catch her, she can't get away. Phryne moans softly in her sleep, her brow furrows in a frown, her face rigid with fear. It is dark, how can she get away she wonders? She can hear Foyle singing evilly "You are mine Miss Fisher, all mine" and the voice is growing closer. Her arm jerks violently against Jack. He wakes instantly and turns to look at her. He sees the rigid fear of the nightmare in her body language. He begins to speak softly to her. "Phryne, it's Jack. You are ok. He can't hurt you now. Wake up Phryne". He begins rubbing her hand very softly with his thumb. He continues to whisper words of safety to her. He doesn't want to wake Hugh and Dot, and he is concerned Miss Fisher would scream if he tries to shake her awake. He continues his soothing whispers and gentle rubbing on her hand, thinking what to do next. From a long dark tunnel where she is huddled with Murdoch Foley's chilling voice calling to her, she hears another voice; a warm deep voice that seems to be calling her to safety. How can she get past Foyle she wonders, fear engulfing her? The voice continues to soothingly call to her, and she begins to be aware of gentle rhythmic circles being traced on her hand. With great effort she gathers herself and darts like a cheetah past where she thinks Murdoch Foyle is hiding in the shadows and awakes with a sharp intake of breath. Jack is staring at her, his baby blue eyes wide with concern. He puts a finder to his lips and Phryne turns her head to see that Dot and Hugh are still sleeping. Jack motions for her to follow him, which she obediently does. She is shivering violently. He walks her to the Hispano, and unable to contain himself any longer, puts his strong arms around her. "It's ok. Everything is ok. He isn't here Miss Fisher, you are safe. I'm here with you. You are safe." The dream was so real that Phryne slumps against his warmth, folding her arms tightly around his waist and holding on, perilously close to tears. She hates tears! Jack's strength flowing into her chases the last of the dream's shadows away. She is safe. She is with Jack. After a few moments where the world only contains them, they hear Hugh calling for them, "Inspector, Miss Fisher, where are you?" Jack pulls himself away from Phryne very gently, "Are you ok?" She nods, brushing her fingers over her tears and putting on a brave face, "Thank you Inspector". Jack calls to Hugh, "We are here Collins." Jack still concerned about her pallor, rummages through the items in the car until he finds a small bottle of whiskey and a glass. He pours a measure for her, "Drink this". She looks at him with shadowed eyes, and accepts the glass. "It's medicinal, drink it all down now" Jack insists. She nods and drains the glass. Hugh and Dot have packed up the rest of their picnic and are happily trudging up to the car. They both notice Phryne's pallor, but wisely choose, based on the slight shake of the Inspector's head from behind Phryne not to comment.
They continue their drive to GlenRowan. Hugh, Dot and the Inspector carry the conversation. Phryne is unusually silent and her natural vivaciousness is not in evidence. Jack drives a little faster, knowing that speed might perk her up. His efforts are rewarded with a comment from Miss Fisher, "Really, Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, if you are going to drive this fast, I see no reason why I shouldn't drive the last leg of the trip." Jack responds with a "We wouldn't want to scare Dot out of her wits, Miss Fisher. I will continue to drive." Phryne says broodingly, "Very well, Inspector". The thoughts that are racing through her mind are not so much about Murdoch Foyle, as they are about Jack. She is alarmed to realize that she is becoming dependent on him. Something she has sworn never to let happen after what Rene did to her in Paris. She realizes that she is losing control, and this will not do. She can't allow it. She can't depend on the Inspector to chase away the shadows, no matter how much she longs for it. She can't forget Rene's obsession and the beatings she had to flee to Australia to escape. Phryne knows deep down that Jack, (you are the only man I know who always does the right thing, the noble thing), Robinson is not cut from the same cloth as Rene, but she is afraid and when Phryne is afraid, she needs to live life to the fullest and be as wild as possible – her way of chasing the shadows. Jack can see out of the corner of his eye the varying emotions flitting across Phryne's face. He is deeply concerned. In all the time he has known her, only during finding Janey's body and her subsequent burial in the Mrs. Stanley's family plot has he seen Phryne this quiet. He decides to get the four of them to sing a song, so he starts a round with Hugh and Dot. Phryne finally joins in, her innate love of life overcoming her emotional turmoil and fear. She does not need Jack Robinson! She wants him, but she does not need him she attempts to convince herself.