I do not own any characters, plots, or anything else pertaining to "Outlander". This chapter will introduce Jamie to his new job as Roger's assistant. It will be a difficult transition for Jamie, but I hope, that you will still enjoy the chapter. As always, thanks for following/favoriting and commenting.
Chapter 14
History vs. Perspective
Breeh starts comin to a stop in the ghastly deathtrap at wee Roger's buildin. She begins turnin to him n givin him that smile of hers. "Are you ready for this, da?" Jamie goes noddin at his daughter and her smile widens. "Good, I'm happy that your embracing this. Good luck today." He starts givin her a smile n begins turnin to open the wee door. Jamie goes steppin out n makin his way up the stairs. He reaches the door n begins ringin the strange contraption beside it. Footsteps start soundin on the other side n the door goes openin. Roger begins givin him a smile. "Jamie, please come in." He goes movin inside n manuverin round his future son-in-law.
Roger starts leadin him to a wee room in the back of the buildin. Jamie goes peerin round at his surroudin's n his eyes stop on the McKenzie Family Crest hangin up. He starts makin his way across the room, feelin drawn to it. Jamie hasn't lain eyes on't in some time n it's suprisin that it's hangin on Roger's wall. "I imagine it's a bit strange to see yer family crest." Jamie starts turnin towards Roger, now standin next to him. "How dinna ye git mi family's crest?" He begins noddin his head. "My father had a bit of a fascination with yer family history. I assume it was because Frank had told him the story of Claire's journey back through the stones." Jamie goes freezin at the wee sound of his name. The man that had lain with his wife n went raisin his daughter. Though he owes quite a bit of gratitude to the man, hearin his name still paralyzes him. Roger starts clappin him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry for mentioning Frank, I'm sure it can't be easy hearing about him." Jamie starts turnin towards him n noddin. "No, bit I owe him everythin for takin care of Claire n Breeh." There's a wee bit too much silence between them fer a few minutes.
Roger goes clearin his throat. "We've got a lot to do, let's get to work." Jamie begins noddin again n Roger starts settlin in a chair behind the desk. He goes sittin in a chair across from him. "First, I need you to fact-check everything I have documented here." Roger starts handin him a stack of documents. "The first document is regarding the Battle of Culloden. As a soldier on the battlefield, I suspect you have the most accurate account of that day." Jamie begins noddin his head. "I dinna remember much, bit I'll give ye what I canna." The lad starts noddin. "I'm glad to hear it, now can you tell me when exactly yer men moved in for battle?" Jamie begins takin a big breath in, relivin that day in his mind. His men movin in against the Red Coats n battlin with Scottish pride beatin in their wee hearts. The memory of his comrades fightin gallantly for their country n losin' their lives for it is still fresh in his mind. "Jamie, are you okay?" He goes meetin his eyes across the desk. "Aye, mi men were movin in near sunset." Roger begins noddin his head n scanning the document once more.
The lad's brow furrows in a wee bit of confusion. "Sunset, ye said?" Jamie starts noddin his head, no sure what Roger is thinkin. "There's a discrepancy in the documentation on the time frame the battle occurred." His eyes continue on scannin the documentation fer a bit more time, when he begins meetin his eyes. "Fascinating, I wonder what else us Historians have wrong about that battle." Roger goes turnin to the next document n starts smilin. "Is't true that the Highland soldiers that survived Culloden were sent to their executions at the hands of the British soldiers?" He cannae begin bringin his eyes to Roger's, his mind travelin back to that ghastly day. His comrades bein slaughtered like cattle by the Red Coats one by one. The screamin is echoin thru his mind, just as it had, on the day it had happened. "Jamie." Jamie's mind is blurring between the past n the present, n he cannae seem to go about clearin it.
God kent how long he's sittin in a daze, before he goes hearin Claire's sweet voice breakin thru the fog. "Jamie, come back to me." He's rememberin seein her on the battlefield, as he lay dyin. She had been the one savin him then n he starts openin his eyes to her touchin his face now. "How dinna ye git here, Sassenach?" Claire begins givin him a sad smile. "Jamie, what can you remember?" His mind starts swimmin with images from the past n everythin round him begins spinnin. Moments start passin, til he's feelin warm lips touchin his. Jamie's eyes begin clearin again, as his wife's bonny face goes appearnin n her eyes start openin, meetin his. "Jamie, are you alright?" He begins givin' her a nod. "Aye, bit mi mind got a wee bit too jumbled." Claire starts brushin' his hair back from his eyes. "Maybe we should reconsider your position as an assistant. I apologize that I didn't consider the probable consequences of dredging up events of the past." Jamie starts shakin his head, holdin her chin up. "This is no yer fault, Sassenach. I dinna kent everythin would be hauntin me." Claire begins givin him a nod n reachin for his hand. "We should make our way home; our rather worried daughter is waiting for us." Jamie starts squeezin her hand n gettin up from the chair.
His eyes go meetin Roger, sittin nervously behind his wee desk. "I apologize for asking you about Culloden, I didn't take into account, how traumatic that battle was for you. I believe this confirms why perspective and history should be kept separate. For myself as an Historian, the Battle of Culloden occurred two hundred years ago, but for you, it happened only two decades ago. While every historian dreams of obtaining a first-hand account of events, I'd rather not make you relive them for the sake of accuracy. We can discuss this later, you should enjoy time with your family, and recover." Jamie starts noddin n they begin makin their way home. He's thankful fer bein in this time, bit he's prayin, that the past winna keep hauntin him.