A/N: Here is the third of the three updates I promised you. It sets the tone for the rest of the story, I think, and answers a few questions – namely, why Daisy didn't call Beryl, and what Elsie's prognosis is. All details from this point forward regarding Elsie's condition are shamelessly stolen from my aunt, who experienced just such an accident (and was home alone at the time). Actually, now that I think of it, other (read: future) events are also based on that same aunt. I should send her a royalty check ...

I have to give a shout-out to my buddy J, who asked MANY moons ago about the title for this story – if it was referring to the fact that most of the action takes place after the autumn type of fall, or if it was referring to Elsie's past. I told her it was both, but now there's clearly a third meaning as well. When I named the fic, this entire bit wasn't even on the radar yet, and I'm rather chuffed that it melded so nicely. I should also clarify that Mistressdickens didn't suggest Elsie could suffer a fall, but rather that it could be Daisy. I switched it up for a variety of reasons, one of which was the self-preservation of my own heart.

I'll catch up on your lovely reviews as I am able, and I promise you much more to come in about a week, maybe less.

This chapter is not beta'd, so please bear with me regarding any errors (although I do have a faithful friend who texts me screenshots of those, and I love her for it).

Chelsie on!

CSotA

Isobel reached over and squeezed Charles's hand.

"He said it looked positive. You have to stay positive – if not for yourself, then at least for Daisy."

Her whispered voice didn't calm his nerves or his thoughts, but he appreciated it all the same.

Charles looked out the window into the black sky, a maelstrom of thoughts inside his mind. Elsie, my God … Daisy … "I cannot divulge that information to you." … "We have two seats in economy if you can be here in an hour, Sir." … Health care proxy … "I'm on my way, Uncle Charlie." … She's alive … She's alive …

"Charles?"

He looked down at the handkerchief Isobel was holding out to him and accepted it gratefully, wiping his face and reaching for the amber-colored drink on the tray in front of him. He couldn't even recall having ordered it, but he tossed it back neatly.

"Thank you," he mumbled. "For this," he clarified, gesturing to the cloth in his hand, "and for coming with me."

"I wouldn't have dreamed of staying behind. If you don't mind my saying so, I'm rather fond of you. I feel I really had a chance to get to know you this past week, more so than before."

"I think I'm more my true self now than I was when we had last seen one another," he whispered. "It's all because of her."

"Yes, the bond you have is truly remarkable. I'm rather fond of her, too, as is Violet." Isobel checked her watch. "We'll be there in three hours, give or take. You need some rest if you're to be any good to Elsie and Daisy when we arrive."

He nodded, and then reached up to click off his light.

"Thank you," he repeated.

Isobel nodded encouragingly, her lips pursed together as she managed to hold in all the emotion she was feeling.

He certainly doesn't need to see you lose it, Isobel told herself. She reclined her seat back gently and pulled up the blanket.

Isobel reflected on all Charles and Daisy had been through over the past year and, when she was sure he had nodded off, she allowed a few tears to escape her eyes, sending up a fervent prayer that Elsie would, indeed, be just fine.

The plane landed in Boston on time and the small, connecting flight they'd managed to secure to Portland was thankfully uneventful. Isobel arranged for a rental car while Charles retrieved their luggage, and they made it to the hospital in record time given the lack of traffic in the wee hours of the morning. Charles parked in the first available spot and they followed the signs to the main entrance.

"Papa!" Daisy yelled as Charles passed through the doors, and he crouched down to grab her up in his arms, her legs dangling as she held him tightly around the shoulders.

"Shh," he soothed her, his hand rubbing her back as her tears wet his collar. "It's alright, petal. I'm here now."

"Mary," Isobel said, approaching the younger woman. "How is she?"

"As well as can be expected," she said, understanding Isobel was referring to Daisy. "She wouldn't speak to anyone but me once I arrived, but I was prepared for that."

Isobel gave her a kind smile. "That's a credit to you, my dear. I'll admit, I was rather worried this experience would cause her to completely regress."

Mary just shook her head in wonder as she looked fondly at her Uncle Charlie and Daisy, who were now holding hands as Daisy led him toward the waiting room. "She was incredible, Isobel, truly. She called 9-1-1, spoke to the dispatcher, was able to communicate where they were and what had happened, and was able to keep talking to Elsie the entire time until they got there, in order to keep her conscious."

"Remarkable," Isobel whispered.

"I fear that we'll be seeing the repercussions of that for weeks, though," Mary added, "but no matter. He's here now." She smiled fondly at her uncle from where she stood in the corridor, and he caught her tired glance and returned the smile.

"I agree," Isobel said. "That little girl has expended an enormous amount of physical and emotional energy these last hours. She's going to need some time to rest and recuperate. I don't suppose they've told you anything?"

Mary shook her head. "No, but Beryl Patmore is in with her now. She's evidently Elsie's health care proxy, so the doctor is telling her what they know, I'd imagine. And Elsie is awake and responsive, so I think she's participating in as much of the conversation as she can."

"You must know a lot of people in this area, given the coverage of your newspaper," Isobel observed. "What's your take on the staff here – any good? I know it seems impertinent, but …"

"Don't worry, I know what you mean. It's quite a good facility, I think, and the staff seem quite on top of everything. I was here when the ambulance arrived. The medics said something about Elsie being a 'VIP,' whatever that means."

Isobel smiled. "It means the paramedics or doctors must know her, or at least they know that she's a nurse. Fellow medical professionals don't get special treatment, exactly, but it's something that they'd acknowledge."

"I see. Well, they whisked her into the ER and then it was all kind of a blur. She was triaged but I wasn't allowed back there, and by that point I had my hands full with Daisy. The doctor did come out and see us, though – he's local, Dr. Richard Clarkson, and knew Daisy from some field trip he chaperoned recently. I think his niece is in her class. Anyhow, he couldn't tell me much, but once Beryl showed up things started happening rather quickly. She sat with us for a bit and explained that they were running blood work and tests. The only real news she had was that it doesn't seem as though Elsie would suffer any paralysis from the fall."

Isobel heaved a deep sigh. "Thank God," she muttered as Charles approached with Daisy.

"I have to get in to see her," he said quickly. "Will they allow me?"

"Beryl is in there now," Mary said. "I asked the nurse to let her know you're here, and –"

"Charles!" Beryl's call came down the corridor, interrupting whatever Mary was about to say.

Charles rushed over to Beryl and wrapped her in a quick hug. "Oh, my God, Beryl – how …?" He was trying to maintain some kind of control, and she spoke matter-of-factly.

"No paralysis, and she's awake but really needs to sleep. I've called Anna and she'll see the animals are taken care of, and I think Mary and Daisy will bring Max to your place – they have barely slept themselves."

"Alright - good," he replied, clearly anxious.

"Come on, then – she's been staying awake because she's been waiting for you," Beryl said, tugging his hand.

He looked back at Daisy. "I'll be back soon, alright? But then you ladies need to go home and sleep."

Daisy nodded and yawned, then sat down with Mary and snuggled into her aunt's side, Mary's arm wrapped around her as she dropped a kiss to her forehead.

Go, Mary mouthed to Charles.

He nodded gratefully, trying to swallow the huge lump in his throat as he followed Beryl into Elsie's room. Mary may have her problems, he thought, but she's always had a soft spot for Daisy. Thank God.

Beryl looked sideways at the large man walking by her side, gasping slightly at his disheveled state; he looked absolutely crushed, and she wasn't sure if he was going to look better or worse once he laid his big, greyish-brown eyes on Elsie. It had been a shock to Beryl, to be sure, and she'd seen her share of accidents and illness over the course of her life. But Elsie looked so small and frail in the bed, and … well …

She sniffed quietly and wiped at her eyes before steeling herself in front of the door to Elsie's room.

"I feel I should prepare you –" she started, but Charles brushed past her gently and pushed the door open, stopping short three or four steps in as he laid eyes on his love.

Ohhh … was all he could think as his eyes took in the scene before him.

The first thing that registered in his mind, the bit that truly shocked him, was the brilliance of Elsie's flaming auburn hair spread out against the stark white of the pillow – the stark white of the room. Her face was wan and her eyes closed, but somehow he knew that she was at least partially awake. His eyes scanned the rest of the room quickly, noting a faint beeping and the flickering lights of her oxygen and heart rate monitor.

"Mr. Carson?" came a Scottish, male voice from somewhere to his right.

Charles turned to see a man approximately his own age, mustache and hair some combination of blond, red, and a bit of silver.

"Yes?"

"I'm Dr. Richard Clarkson," the man said, offering his hand.

Charles shook it, then smirked. "A Scot for the Scot?" he mumbled, and the doctor laughed.

"It would appear so – and perhaps the only two who reside in Misty Cove."

Charles raised an eyebrow, Dr. Clarkson nodded.

"Yes, I live in town, although I'm rarely there lately as I've been covering for various staff here. But when Elsie was brought in, I refused to turn her over to anyone else."

He glanced over at the bed, where Elsie was beginning to stir at the sound of their voices. "She's a fighter, and that fire has made an enormous difference. That," he paused, and looked back at Charles, "and your Daisy. She was truly amazing, from what Rob and Jack had to say anyway. Her quick thinking made all the difference."

Charles was overcome, allowing his tears to fall freely. "Beryl said we should talk," he managed.

"Yes – she and Elsie insisted that they would share any information I have with you anyhow, so it made sense to wait for the big conversations. Suffice to say she's stable and will be going home in a day or two, barring any unforeseen test results. But I'm expecting everything to be fine."

The doctor reached a hand out and touched Charles on the arm. "Go and be with her, and see if you can get her to sleep. I think she'll be ready to rest now that you're here. We can talk in the morning." He pointed to an armchair in the corner, telling Charles it would recline if he wanted to sleep in Elsie's room that night.

Charles just nodded his thanks, and the doctor and Beryl left the room.

As Charles approached the bed, Elsie managed a faint smile as she peered at him through half-lidded eyes. He turned to the nurse, who was holding something out to him – a blanket, he saw, and a pillow.

"I'm Sybil, I'll be Elsie's nurse for the next twelve or so hours," she said softly. There was a kindness in her eyes and her voice that calmed Charles instantly, and he thanked her as he took the items from her hands.

"If I may be permitted," she said quietly, "your daughter is truly something. But she's going to need some rest herself, and soon. She's rather overwhelmed by all that's happened. I'd recommend sending her home with her aunt, and allowing her to return tomorrow once Elsie's a bit more herself."

"Thank you," he replied, smiling at her. "I appreciate that – both your noticing and your suggestion. That was my plan, and it's nice to know it was the right one."

Sybil nodded and then left the room, closing the door quietly behind her as she did so.

Charles walked over to the bed, where Elsie was now resting fully open-eyed and looking at him intently.

"Charlie," she whispered, a tear escaping the corner of her eye. She lifted her hand a bit, and he rushed over to her and grasped it, leaning over to kiss her softly on the lips.

"I'm here," he said, his voice breaking. "My God, Elsie, I was so scared." He sat in the chair by her bedside and squeezed her fingers tightly.

"Shh," she soothed him, removing her hand from his to reach up and brush her fingertips over his lips. She noted they were dry, and wondered if he'd slept at all recently – he seemed so much more disheveled than usual.

"What time is it?" she asked, and he pulled out his watch.

"About five in the morning," he said.

"Have you slept?"

He chuckled. "Are you positively insane, woman? Here you are, laid up in hospital after a rather nasty accident, and you're worried if I've slept?"

"I am," she smiled, her voice dry and thick. "It's my job … worrying about you."

"I slept a bit on the plane, thanks to Isobel," he answered.

"Isobel? She came with you?"

"She did. She thought she might be able to help, and she's got fewer responsibilities at the hospital lately so she easily moved some things around."

"Bless her," Elsie whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. "Oh, my head hurts like hell."

"Dr. Clarkson tells me you need to rest, love," he said gently. "Your test results are expected in the morning – later in the morning," he clarified. "Will you sleep?"

"That depends - will you stay?"

He smiled. "As it so happens, I had planned on it. Let me firm everything up with Mary and I'll be right back."

Elsie's brow furrowed gently in confusion. "Mary's here? Why?"

"She's watching Daisy, who didn't want to disturb Edith and Bertie since Edith's been so ill."

Elsie nodded. "Of course, because Daisy will talk to Mary. Beryl wondered why she'd not just called her and Bill. Good … that's good," she said, her voice trailing off.

"Mary will stay at my place with Daisy for as long as you're here, and they'll take Max along, too. Beryl has been in touch with Anna and everything at the barn will be taken care of. You just focus on resting and getting out of here."

"You've all taken care of everything," she said, and he nodded as he stood up.

"They have," he corrected her softly. "My job is to take care of you."

"I'm glad," Elsie murmured, drifting off. "Come back to me."

He turned in the doorway to look at her, his heart full of emotions he could never put into words.

"Always," he whispered.

There we have it, for a few days anyhow. I hope this leaves you all in a better place. A wee review would be lovely, and I promise to respond to them as soon as I can. xx