AN: - Written for the Proboards June writing prompt. Thank you again for all the reviews, I really do appreciate them.

Disclaimer: - Written for pleasure not profit… I own nothing!

Rating: - T

Chapter 4

As the weeks rolled on, Maria became stronger. Georg and the children continued to visit her and slowly her wounds began to heal. The bruises that covered her body had gone through an array of colour changes, from raw, angry red, to a deeply uncomfortable purple hue. Finally, they began to turn yellow showing that Maria was almost healed. More than the pain and disfigurement, her biggest frustration was being a prisoner on the upper floor of the villa. She longed to be out in the garden, to feel the sun on her face and to breathe in the crisp fresh mountain air by the lake.

Due to the extent of her injuries, Maria was still unable to walk on her own and so Georg had arranged for a wheelchair to be brought to the von Trapp villa. Maria couldn't say she was all that happy about it but at least it gave her some freedom on the upper floor and she was able to visit the children's rooms and read them a bedtime story, something she had missed terribly since the accident.

Summer was in full swing and the garden with its vibrantly coloured blooms, looked so appealing as she stared out of the open bedroom window. Outside, the children were all running around playing hide and seek and she smiled at the sound of their excited squeals. She tried to edge nearer to the window. Positioning herself as close as possible with her hands on the window sill, she attempted to raise herself from the chair and lean over so that she could see more of the garden. As she did so, the wheelchair suddenly slid backwards and Maria screamed as she ended up desperately trying to cling onto the wooden sill to stop herself from falling in a painful, crumpled heap onto her bedroom floor.

Georg had been retrieving something from his suite and as he walked towards the stairs he heard Maria's cries of panic. Without knocking on the door he rushed into the Governess' room only to see her slowly slide to the floor in obvious pain.

"What on earth…" he quickly reached her and lifting her from the floor, placed her gently back in the chair.

"I'm so sorry, Captain… I'm so stupid. I just wanted to see the children in the garden. I forgot to put on the break as I looked out of the window. I'm very grateful to you for this chair but what I really want is to be able to go out into the garden and not just look at it from up here," was her frustrated plea.

Crouching down on his haunches so that he was at her eye level, Georg placed his hands protectively on either arm of the chair, ostensibly pinning her in. He was tantalisingly close to her and had she not been so embarrassed about the position he had found her in, she may well have felt quite aroused by his proximity.

"No… you are not stupid but you should have told me that you wanted to go outside. I'm sure that's something that we can easily arrange," he smiled warmly and then wheeled Maria over to the bed, "Now, let's get you out of this chair and I'll take it down to the terrace."

As the Captain looked on, Maria manoeuvred herself out of the chair and on to the edge of the bed with some skill. He smiled and raised his eyebrows, partly out of surprise and partly due to the surge of pride that he felt at how fiercely independent and capable she was.

xXx

After making sure that the wheelchair was in the best place for Maria to be able to get around the garden he returned to the house for her. The children were all busy hiding and didn't see that their father had been outside.

Maria sat apprehensively on the bed, her fingers fidgeted with the bed covers as she contemplated how the Captain was going to be able to get her downstairs. He breezed back into the bedroom and stood with his hands on his hips.

"Well, Fraulein. How are we to get you down those stairs?" he grinned wickedly, knowing full well how he was going to do it.

"Erm… well, I'm not really sure," she spluttered, no end of awkward scenarios flying through her mind.

All of a sudden it was as if her worst nightmare or possibly her most inappropriate dream were about to come true. The Captain stepped forward and leaned towards Maria. He put one arm around her back and the other under her legs.

"Put your arms around my neck and just relax, I'll carry you downstairs, it's the easiest way," he grinned, knowing by Maria's silence that she was mortified by the idea.

"Hold on tight, Fraulein. You're about to have the ride of your lifetime!" he laughed, as he scooped her into his arms and twirled her around several times.

"Oh please, Captain. I'm dizzy enough as it is," Maria groaned, as the colour quickly drained from her face. Georg immediately stopped, knowing that he had gone too far.

He held her safely and steadily, waiting until her uneasiness had subsided. Flashes of her lifeless body lying limp and pathetic in his arms invaded his mind. Blood oozing over his jacket and the sight of her broken, distorted limbs reminded him of how close he came to losing her.

"I'm sorry, Fraulein. I suppose I'm just happy that you're feeling well enough to venture outside."

Maria just smiled and wrapped her arms around him a little tighter. She could tell by the hurt look in his eyes that he was annoyed with himself for his behaviour and it was the last thing that she wanted. She was happy with the comfortable friendship that seemed to be developing between them and she didn't want anything to spoil it.

Feeling so safe and comfortable in the Captain's arms, the temptation to rest her head against his shoulder was very strong. Her head began to swim as she felt intoxicated by his smell. Sandalwood and leather, mixed with a clean pine, like the woods after an April downpour. Maria didn't think that she had ever smelled anything quite as attractive. She could feel the skin on her arms tingle where it came into contact with his neck and she wondered if she was having the same effect on him. If she wasn't careful she would do something impetuous that she would likely regret later, so she pulled herself together by imagining that Sister Berthe was standing in front of them with a disgusted look on her face. It didn't take long for her to regain her composure!

"Well then, what are you waiting for? I can't hang around here all day!" she said in a serious tone of voice.

They looked at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing. Georg hitched her further into his arms.

"Your wish is my command!" he replied in a flourish and then he carefully carried her down to the garden.

xXx

Overwhelmed by the feel of the warm breeze caressing her skin, Maria became quiet, absorbing the calmness of her surroundings, as Georg finally reached her wheelchair and carefully lowered her into it.

There was no sign of the children as they had decided to take their game of hide and seek into the orchards and the hedged maze.

Whilst she loved them dearly, Maria was glad that she would spend her first few moments in the garden, on her own with the Captain. There were many questions that she wanted to ask him but finding the right time was always difficult.

"Captain… please would you take me down to the lakeside," she turned to ask him.

"Of course, and you can tell me where exactly you learned your boating skills," he teased.

They looked out over the lake for several minutes in a companionable silence before Georg decided that it was time to take her on a tour of the garden. There weren't many places accessible to the wheelchair but he managed to find a bench beneath one of the large trees by the lake and he carried Maria the short distance, placing her gently down.

"This is perfect," Maria whispered as she looked up to see the Captain hovering beside her.

"Please… won't you join me?" she asked.

Gladly, Georg sat down beside her, he crossed his legs and slid his arm along the back of the bench towards her.

For a moment there was an awkward atmosphere as they both tried to find the courage to ask the myriad of questions that still puzzled them both. Finally, Maria decided that she had to break the silence.

"Frau Schmidt told me that you were the one who found me. That you saved my life."

"Well, I think that's possibly a little dramatic, but yes, I did find you. Actually, it was Max who spotted your bag by the roadside, we searched for you as soon as I knew you'd gone."

Taking a deep breath, Maria looked out over the lake where two majestic swans were gliding effortlessly across the surface.

"I thought we had lost you. When I saw you lying there…" Georg's words caught in his throat and he couldn't finish his sentence.

With stinging eyes, Maria continued to look lake ward, not wanting the Captain to see that she was upset. She could hear the emotion in his voice and her heart felt as if it was being pierced by a thousand tiny needles.

"I'm sorry, I should never have left that night. It was foolish of me… I wasn't in my right mind," Maria apologised.

Georg shifted closer to her on the bench, "Maria…" he waited until she turned and met his gaze. "I know that you left because of the things that Elsa told you."

Maria nodded almost guiltily, her eyes full of sadness and regret.

"There was something that I've been wondering, well, two things. Either you left because you thought that I might do something dishonourable, or you left because the thought that I might have feelings for you was so distasteful that you couldn't possibly stay… which was it?"

Turning slightly, Maria reached out her hand and rested it on the seat of the bench between them. Georg looked down at it resisting the sudden urge to cover it with his own, not wanting to make things worse.

"The Baroness said many things to me the night of the ball and yes, she did imply that you might have some sort of infatuation with me, but she insisted that you would get over it. I hated how little she appeared to think of you. I know we may not always have seen eye to eye but there is one thing that I know with great certainty and that is that you are one of the most honourable men I have ever met."

"I'm not sure if that's much of a compliment, Fraulein. How many men have you actually met?" Georg laughed, trying to make light of the situation.

"Please don't make fun of me. I'm trying to explain." Georg nodded in silent recognition of her request. "I remember every moment of that night, from the very beginning when the children were so excited. When we watched all the beautiful couples dancing in your ballroom. When I tried to teach Kurt the Landler…" Maria couldn't help laughing at the memory, before the sudden recollection of what happened next subdued her "…when you and I danced."

Georg's hand rested beside Maria's on the bench. Fingertips almost touching, Maria was sure she could feel the energy like an electric spark flowing between them.

"I did run away because of Elsa's words but not because I feared you, the truth is, I feared myself. God sent me to you and your children to fulfil a task and I had allowed myself to get distracted from that task. I was failing Him just as I was failing you. Elsa also told me something that I didn't want to admit but I knew she was right."

"What did she tell you?" Georg finally covered her hand with his in an attempt to give her the courage she obviously needed and Maria looked down as the warmth of his touch began to spread deliciously up her forearm.

"She told me that I was…"

"Fraulein Maria, Fraulein Maria!" Maria's words were cut short as the children suddenly came bounding out of the nearby copse of trees towards them. They landed by her feet and settled around her as she reached forward and caressed their cheeks one by one.

"You should have told us that you were coming outside, Fraulein Maria. You could have played our game," little Marta beamed, innocently.

"Don't be silly, Marta," Friedrich scolded. "Fraulein Maria can't walk yet. She couldn't have played our game."

Louisa shoved her older brother in the back and whispered some curt remark in admonishment of his thoughtless comments.

Maria chuckled to herself as she realised how much she had missed the children, even their petty squabbles.

"Oh, don't worry, Marta. I would have loved to have played your game. Soon I'll be well enough and then you'll have to run fast to hide from me."

It would be some time before Maria would be fit enough to walk let alone run and Georg felt the pangs of guilt tighten and constrict his chest once again. He swore to himself that he would do everything he could and employ the best Physical Therapists to ensure that her recuperation was complete.

The children began to chatter amongst themselves and Georg looked questioningly towards Maria, well aware that she had not finished her explanation. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled, amused by Georg's obvious annoyance at his children's intrusion.

Grumbling to himself he stood and cleared a space in front of Maria, then he lifted her again and placed her back in the chair. Friedrich pushed her, and both Gretl and Brigitta walked by her side holding her hands, as Marta sat carefully in her lap. Just as they reached the terrace the children exploded in uncontrolled excitement once again, as they saw Max walk nonchalantly towards them.

"Uncle Max, Uncle Max… you're back," they all yelled in unison.

"Hello, hello," Max chirped as he was surrounded by a swarm of von Trapp children.

"Max," Georg shook his friends hand. "You took your time coming back. I thought you'd be more concerned about Maria but it seems I was wrong."

"You seem to have forgotten that Elsa is also a dear friend. It has taken her some time to get over what has happened between the two of you," was Max's cool reply.

Georg leaned in towards his friend and through gritted teeth he replied, "It has taken Elsa some time to get over it? Just look at her Max," he spat as he glanced in Maria's direction, "Maria is confined to a wheelchair, unable to get around without it."

"Come, Georg, let's not fight, especially in front of Fraulein Maria and the children. I'm sure it will not do her any good to see this. Anyway, I come with news."

For Maria's sake, Georg took several deep breaths and calmed himself. Both he and Max walked across to where Maria waited for them in the wheelchair.

"Well, what is this news that you have to impart?"

"Children… would you mind going to find cook to see if she has any of her marvellous strudel for me?" Max asked, as he knew that his news was not appropriate for small ears.

"Yes, we will, Uncle Max. We'll bring you the biggest piece we can find," smirked Kurt and in a flurry of excitement they disappeared into the house.

Georg wheeled Maria up onto the terrace, then both he and Max joined her at the wrought iron table.

"No doubt you know all about this but I've heard some rumours, Georg. It seems your "friend" Herr Zeller has been taken into custody by the authorities, in relation to Fraulein Maria's accident."

Maria held her breath as she saw the Captain trying to make sense of what Max had just said. His face became stern, his fingers twitched and his cheeks flushed in fury.

"What! Why is this the first that I've heard of this?" He looked directly at Maria hoping that he would find some answers.

Just at that point, Frau Schmidt walked out of the villa holding Herr Detweiler's strudel. She could tell that the atmosphere was tense and she looked towards the Captain and then Maria, who she could tell was in some distress.

"Did you know about this," he hissed at Maria who was finding it hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from her forlorn eyes.

Frau Schmidt stepped in, sensing that the Captain was about to lose his temper and do something stupid that would neither help himself nor Maria.

"It was I who passed on the information to the Reverend Mother at the Abbey. She in turn notified the authorities. They have spoken to Fraulein Maria who told them everything that she remembered. It has indeed resulted in Herr Zeller's arrest. He will be facing a long sentence in prison for his cowardly and despicable act."

"The Nazi bastard… I should have known it would be him. He's the only person who is vile enough to just drive away and leave someone dying in the road. Dear God it really is all my fault. If I hadn't chased him away the night of the party, he would never have been on the road. "

"There's little point blaming yourself," the housekeeper was becoming tired of Georg's defeatism and she was concerned about Maria's obvious discomfort.

"If you had spent less time wallowing in self-pity when Fraulein Maria was recovering you would have been well aware of Herr Zeller's involvement," Frau Schmidt was so incensed and had blurted out the words before she could stop herself.

"How dare you," he shouted and rose from his seat with such force that the table moved several inches in Max's direction and he was forced to quickly move his chair back to avoid being struck.

"Why did you not tell me about this earlier," he looked between Maria and Frau Schmidt, "I had a right to know. Maria is in my care and I have a duty to look after her. I should have been the one meting out justice on that bastard. My God, if only I could get hold of him I'd kill him with my bare hands and take great pleasure in it." Georg was furious and strutting around the terrace with his fists clenched at his sides barely remaining in control of his actions.

"Stop it, STOP it… it's done with," Maria cried and began to struggle in her chair. "Herr Detweiler, please would you take me back to my room?"

As Max went to collect Maria, Georg realised how fragile Maria still was and how much his anger had frightened and shocked her. In his own selfish way, he had put his own feelings before hers. It was hard to imagine the courage she must have had to talk to the authorities about Zeller and he knew he should be praising her rather than chastising her for not telling him.

"Maria, please, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have got so angry but the thought of losing you to the hands of that… that… I can't bear it anymore, Maria… I love you."

xXx

Thank you again for getting this far. Please review if you can, and thank you for all the reviews so far.