Home Front 1942: The Second Act

[Moneytalks]

Maisy...

"Mai, honey! You okay???"... Frankie asks.

Maisy cries out in distress when she hears Frankie's voice.

He can't see her like this.

She burrows deeper into her brother's arms totally humiliated, unable to speak.

He can't see her like this.

"Nooooo..." She sobs softly into Deacon’s shoulder. "Please, nooooo..." Trying to indicate her need to get away.

She couldn't see anyone. Not like this.

"Mai!" Frankie insisted urgently, "MAI!"

Maisy manages to look around at Frankie. Her blue eyes dark with fear. Her face already swelling from the numerous punches she received. Frankie looked so concerned.

He shouldn't look so concerned for a whore like me... Her mind flashed at her horribly.

"Oh God... " She turned away again.

"Take me away Deak... please... please..." She begged him nearly hysterical now.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

Toni's heart skipped a beat when she spotted Jack walking toward them, but before she could say a word the Roberts kid had practically barrelled into Frankie blurting out something about a fight and Maisy. Frankie was off and running before Brad could even get all the words out.

It all happened in a blink of an eye and Toni just stood there, unsure of what she should do. Chase after Frankie or... Jack took the decision out of her hands by wrapping her in his arms and kissing her. He smelled like Scotch and kept murmuring things that made absolutely no sense at all, but for that moment in time, Toni didn't care. She was where she belonged and so was he.

"What are you doing here? Mmm... Why aren't you in Boston? Ohhm... What's going on?" Jack Becker punctuated each of her questions with another kiss until she finally broke away with a grin. "What's going on, Jack? What happened to Maisy?"

"Come on, Doll. I'll tell you what I know while we walk. Talbrut the Super Cop has it all under control, I'm sure."

Toni grimaced, but Jack's animosity toward Fair Harbor's Chief of Police was understandable. Earl had made Jack's life miserable after he had saved Davy Jones from those Germans.

Linking her arm through his, they walked and talked their way back toward the Tradewinds. She tried to make sense of the bits and pieces he told her of what happened. Well, they'd know more soon enough she thought, feeling as though she could handle just about anything as long as Jack was around.

 

[Tibxo]

Frankie

"Oh God... " Maisy says, burying her face into Deak's chest. "Take me away Deak... please... please..."

The words cut straight into Frank.

Why doesn't she want to see him? Talk to him?

"Mai...?" He says again.

Deak stops and turns slightly.

"Leave it, Junior. Can't you see she is upset enough already? Just go home to your mommy and sister and leave me to look after my own sister!"

"B-but.." Frank stammers, trying to get the words out but Deak ignores him. Leaving him behind as he and Maisy make their way home.

Frank is still standing when his sister and Jack arrive at the bar...

 

[Tibxo]

Deak

With his back towards Frank, and his sobbing sister's face still buried into his chest, he allows his face to break into a broad grin.

This has worked out better than he had hoped.

And he loved the look on that stupid kid's face...

 

[Tibxo]

Slim

From the shadows, Slim watches Maisy slowly walk home with her brother...

 

[captainb]

Earl

The squad car motored away from Earl, taking the two punks to the hospital in handcuffs. He sagged as it left, weariness replacing the adrenaline which had sustained him for the past fifteen minutes. Earl had lost track of Deak and Maisy; he assumed the boy was taking his step-sister to the hospital, too. The strange look in Deak's eyes came to him again, and he chewed on that as he walked back to the Tradewinds, absently tucking in his shirt. His knuckles had somehow gotten skinned, and he felt grimy. He looked up to see Grace in the doorway watching him approach.

"I'm gonna get cleaned up," he said as he stepped past her into the diner. He saw concern in her eyes, and part of him suddenly wanted to just hold her hand, to feel something good again. But the night's events made him feel unclean, as if touching her would soil her. He pushed through the people gathered inside, nodding to those who congratulated him for the captures.

Inside the restroom, he leaned on the sink and let the hot water flow over his hands. He slowly lathered and scrubbed, feeling like the filth would never wash away. It had been so brazen, he thought. They attacked the kids right on the street, in full view, and dragged her away into an alley to... Could someone reallly be that stupid, or that... evil?

He blinked and looked at his reflection. When he'd thought of that word, Deak's face had risen unbidden in his mind. He stared at the mirror for a few moments, then shook his head and turned the water on full cold. He splashed it on his face, letting the coolness soak into his eyes. Too many thoughts were spinning around, and he felt a weariness grip him. And all of that on an empty stomach! Well, whiskey-fueled or not, it sure felt good to nail that bastard in the alley.

He slipped out of the restroom and slid into an empty booth. Scanning the bar, he caught Grace's eye and managed a smile. She winked back and, picking up a pitcher of ice water and a glass, moved toward his table.

 

[Guest]

Maisy...

When Deak and Maisy finally reached home, Marie fussed over her daughter, clearly distraught.

"What happened Deak!" She repeated over and over.

"Oh God, my Maisy… sweetheart…" She hugged her daughter’s unresponsive body in her arms.

"What on earth happened to my daughter?" Marie demanded, finding strength in herself she never knew she had now that her daughter was hurt. "Never mind," she continued when Deak still didn’t answer. She led her daughter upstairs and ran a bath for her even as she carefully removed the dirty rag that covered her. Maisy just stared blankly ahead. Not registering anything. Her usually bright blue eyes now dull and unfocused.

Marie wasn’t sure how it was that she herself wasn’t in hysterics. She had no answers. Only her daughter, clearly beaten and in need of care. She would wash her and clothe her and then she needed the doctor.

"Deak! Call Doctor Johnson. His number is in the book by the phone. Tell him that Maisy’s been hurt and needs attention." She called down to Deacon hoping he would just this once do as she asked him.

 

[Messalina]

Grace

She stood in the doorway of the Tradewinds watching Earl walk down the street. He looked so sad and weary, it just wrenched her heart. "I'm gonna get cleaned up," he said, walking past her. Grace smiled weakly, trying to think of a way to make things better for him.

By the time he came out of the restroom, things were back to a mild uproar and she decided to take a break. Grabbing a glass and a pitcher of water, Grace walked over and poured some out for him.

"Here ya go," she said quietly. "Mind if I sit a bit?" He looked up and nodded as Grace slid in across from him. Unsure whether or not he wanted to talk, she watched him drink. When he set the glass on the table with a bang, it startled her. Ice, water and glass went skittering across the table and bounced to the floor.

"Dammit!" he swore, just as quickly apologizing and moving to clean up the mess. "Sorry."

"Leave it, Cap. Someone will clean it up. Sit. Please?" Grace placed her hand over his as he began to rise, quickly drawing it back when she noticed the cuts. "This needs taking care of," she murmured to herself as much as to him.

Grace looked around the room. It was still pretty busy, but Angie was handling her own. Yes, they'd survive if she left. Grace was certain of it. Decision made, she turned back to the Chief of Police.

"Look. It's late and you've had enough excitement for one day. I still think you could use something hot to eat and your hands need tending to. Now no ifs, ands or buts. You're coming home with me and we're leaving as soon as I grab my bag."

 

[Guest]

"Miss Moore, Becker."
Turlbut glowered as he and Grace made their way out of the Tradewinds as Toni and Jack were entering.
"Gettin' late to be out drinking isn't it..."

"Go on in honey, Angie'll take care of you."
Grace winked and gave Toni a hug.
"Earl I think they're both all grown up, don't you?"
She slipped her arm around Turlbut's ample girth and steered him away with a cheerful wave over her shoulder.

Jack watched them disappear.
"That man hates my guts Toni. He's gonna find something to cause me trouble I know it."

She leaned over and kissed him,
"His barks worse than his bite.. I've known ET since I was a little girl. Now don't you worry."
She pushed open the door.

"Come on let's have a nightcap. It's been a LONG day."
Toni couldn't wait to ask Jack why he happened to be walking the streets of Fair Harbor tonight and not checking into a rooming house in Quincy.

 

[ariosto]

OOC...That twas me.

 

[Tibxo]

Deak

After calling Doc Johnson, Deak then leaves the house, leaving his "mother" and "sister" to get on with it.

I'll play the concerned brother later!

He walks off towards the sea front...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

The crowd had thinned by the time Toni and Frank reached the Tradewinds, and she was more than a little surprised to see her brother standing all alone staring off into the distance. She looked up at Jack, concern flooding her face, before slipping her hand free from his and running over to Frankie. He might think he was a grown man, but to Toni Moore, Frank Jr. would always be her baby brother.

"Frankie, where's Maisy? Is she all right?" When he didn't answer, she put a hand on his arm. The look on his face told her that Maisy was far from being all right and maybe something more. "Okay, Bubba. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

 

[Moneytalks]

By the time Marie had washed and dressed Maisy in a clean set of pyjamas, and put her to bed, Doc Johnson arrived at the front door.

He was a stout man well into his sixties with a shock of white hair and a kindly expression. He'd been the family doctor since Marie had been a little girl.

As soon as she opened the door to him he was immediately full of fatherly concern. He could tell from her face that something was wrong.

"It's Maisy, she's been hurt so badly." Marie's voice quivered as she tried to stay calm enough to explain everything she knew. Which was damn little.

"Show me to her then." Doc Johnson insisted firmly. She led him upstairs to Maisy's room. Maisy lay exactly as she'd left her. Her face turned towards the window, the same blank look on her face.

"Maisy, its Doc Johnson honey." Maisy's expression didn't even flicker.

"Maybe, you should wait outside while I check on her Marie. I could use a hot cup of tea." He said kindly, knowing that having something to do would keep her steady. Marie nodded quickly before glancing once more at her daughter, and leaving the room.

"Maisy," Doc Johnson whispered, "love I know you can hear me. I need you to tell me if you hurt anywhere. Try and tell me what happened." He was already inspecting the swelling and cuts to her face. The professional side of him realising it looked worse that it was while the paternal side of him was shocked to the core that anyone could do this to such a sweet girl.

"Maisy." He said more insistently now.

Maisy slowly turned to face the doctor. The kindly eyes encouraged her to speak. Slowly he watched as her face crumpled and tears started to flow freely down her face. He reached over to hug her and just let her cry. This was healthy. She'd get better quicker if she just let herself vent her fears and anger.

 

[Tibxo]

Frank Junior

"Okay, Bubba. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

He suddenly realises that his sister is holding him.

"I-I dunno." He starts. "They told me that someone had taken Maisy and then she is back with Deak b-but she won't talk to me. But I don't know why! What has happened to her???"

He turns and stares straight at his sister, looking completely lost...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Toni Moore

Holding her brother, Toni looked over his shoulder at Jack and raised her eyebrows. Joining them, he put his arm around her shoulders and patted Frankie on the back.

"S'okay, man. We'll find out what happened," he added to Toni's concern at her brother's distress.

"C'mon, Frankie. Let's go into the 'Winds and I'll call the Taylor's. Maisy's mom should be able to tell us something... Or at least how Maisy is." Toni tried to sound more encouraging than she felt. "Remember, we still don't really know what happened."

The threesome walked arm-in-arm into the bar and quickly found a booth. "I think I'd like a drink, Jack. Order for me will ya while I phone the Taylors." She kissed him lightly and ruffled Frankie's hair before walking over to the wooden enclosure that housed one of the few coin-operated telephones in Fair Harbor.

Picking up the receiver, she flicked the arm and waited for Henny to come on and connect her. "I'm putting a dime in, Henny" Toni said. "Don't know how long this call's gonna take."

"Sure thing, hon" replied the older woman who had been running the switchboard in town for as long as Toni could remember. "Too bad about that Taylor girl, huh? Doc Johnson should be over there by now."

Good old Henny, Toni thought with a wry smile and a sigh. Living in the city was different than a small town like Fair Harbor where the local operator listened in on most every phone call made. "Yeah, well... Connect me anyhow will you?"

She lit a cigarette and took a long drag while she waited. Three long rings, one short and Marie Taylor was on the other end.

"Hello, Mrs. Taylor? It's Toni. Toni Moore. Frankie's sister. We were wondering how Maisy is."

As Marie began to answer, Toni looked up and scanned the crowd that was in the bar. Her heart caught in her throat when she spotted the tall, handsome sailor and she fumbled the phone, catching it before it hit the floor.

Impossible! It couldn't be! Toni looked again and he was gone. Thinking it had just been her imagination, she turned back to the conversation with Maisy's mother.

 

[Gareman]

As the crowd began to grow outside the bar, the uneasiness returned. A bunch of guys had grabbed the punk I had scuffled with and I decided that it might me a good idea to get out of there before Earl decided to make me repay for some of my past sins.

Entering the bar to grab my belongings, I notice her. My heart pounds heavily at the site...and a cold anger fills me when I realize that she's with another man. It's Toni...MY TONI !!

But was she still mine? I mean it had been pretty ugly that last night in New York. She had been very hurt and angry, vowing to never let herself get fooled by 'another creep like you'. It had hurt, but she was right. And now...to see her again...the emotions flood back.

Moving quickly, I grab my bag and head out the door. I need to clear my head before I do anything rash...after all Earl would enjoy that way too much...

 

[ariosto]

Jack had seen her expression change to one of disbelief and he followed her eyes to the swarthy sailor standing in the doorway. There he saw a mirror image of the same expression.
They knew each other...obviously.
Suddenly the tension returned. The same anxieties that brought him back to Fair Harbor tonight began to percolate inside him.

Then the man was gone.
Jack breathed easier maybe they wern't exactly friends. Maybe....

"How's Maisy?" he asked.
Toni was standing beside him and looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"Ahhh...as well as can be expected. Her Mom says she'll be okay."
Toni's voice was distracted...colorless.

Jack wasn't one to mince words.
"Who was he Toni? Was he a ghost?"

 

[Tibxo]

Frank Jnr

Once comfortably seated, Frank watches as Toni goes over to a phone booth while Jack goes and orders the drinks. Keeping his eyes on his sister, he watches her dial the number.

Will someone pick up the phone?

To his relief, he sees Toni's mouth start moving.

Phew! There is someone there.

Now he only wishes he could hear what she is saying.

Suddenly his heart lurches as he sees his sister stiffen as the colour literally draining off her face.

What has happened?

Then Jack is with her and the two of them are talking.

Something has happened to Maisy! I just know it!

Immediately he is out of the chair and rushing over, catching the two of them by surprise.

"What has happened?" He demands frantically. "Don't try and hide it! I know something has happened to Maisy. I could see it in your face." He shouts at his sister, almost hysterical...

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor (Maisy's Mother)

The phone call from Toni had been a welcome distraction. Speaking to the younger woman she felt better. She explained that Doc Johnson was with Maisy now and that she seemed to be in shock and fairly badly bruised but they were hoping it was only superficial wounds.

Doc Johnson seemed calm when he saw Maisy, and Marie thought that was a good sign. Although it was the blank look in Maisy's eyes that scared her at the moment. Anything further she couldn't tell, as Deacon hadn't told her anything and Maisy still hadn't spoken.

Marie's voice trembled slightly as she spoke this last part. She was too emotional then to notice the change in Toni's voice, her sudden vagueness. She thanked Toni for her concern and hoped she would be able to report more after Doc Johnson had finished checking on Maisy.

Could she call back again later?

After hanging up the phone Marie returned to the kitchen to make the tea. It was strangely comforting to be doing something so second nature. Boiling the water. Measuring the leaves into the pot. Letting the water steep. Inhaling the scent of the brew. Pouring the tea into the cups.

She wished she could call Edward. He'd been gone so long. She didn't know how to contact him easily, it would take a call to the barracks then having to be transferred several times probably until someone knew where he was and how to reach him, and then he'd just worry. She'd better wait until Doc Johnson reported back to her. She sighed, sitting down to sip on the tea.

 

[MBS1969]

Lt. Nels Bronson, USCG

Nels had had a prolonged patrol that afternoon, a wild goose chase down the coast for what turned out to be nothing more than a group of kids in a small sailboat. He smiled as he remembered the fear of god that he'd put into them when he pretended that he thought they were enemy spies trying to land in the US. American youth these days, he decided had no guts, blubbering like little girls all because he'd shouted at them. He decided in fact that if the war continued for many more years, that we'd be in serious trouble relying on the young men of today. Now when he was a young man......

He'd drifted off into memories of his youth until now when the early evening lights of Fair Harbour came into view and he knew it was time to bark a few orders to his crew. He knew he had a good crew but also knew that their minds would already be on the dance tonight and that they'd need a good kick up the backside to concentrate their minds.


The smell of salt water filled his nostrils as the boat nosed into the harbour limits. The harbour had grown up tremendously in recent years, it had been nothing more that a stone jetty and a pile of crab pots until the arrival of the cosat guard station and the more industrial facilities which had grown up in Fair Harbour over the last ten years. The boat bumped against the new mooring specially built for his craft and a couple of his crewmen jumped ashore to moor the boat. He put on his cap and yelled to the pilot who appeared to be daydreaming before the boat was completely docked and he could step casually ashore. Leaving the night crew behind he dismissed the rest of his lads and strolled up the slope towards the centre of town.

It appeared that there had been some trouble in town that night, depensing on who you listened to it was a fight, a mugging a kidnapping or a murder. He shook his head and reminded himself that this was still basically a village, with the usual wildly inaccurate village grapevine. Unfortunately where the village had stayed in some ways, the crimw of the city appeared to be appearing here too. He hurried along with a sense of self importance which on land did not quite match his seabound authority.

Nels decided to head for the diner, that was where the most reliable information usually came from and in any case he was hungry and wanted food before the dance started tonight. He'd get the latest information, eat and then go home to change.

 

[captainb]

Earl

As they walked up the street and left the noise of downtown behind them, Earl found himself in an odd state of mind. He'd walked these streets many times before, sometimes scanning faces that he passed, sometimes checking doors and windows, or maybe not checking anything but just listening, gathering the feel of the town around him. It was deeply ingrained in him, something that training couldn't teach, only experience.

But tonight, walking along next to Grace, something was different. He wasn't completely aware of what it was; it wasn't obvious and commanding his attention. He knew the streets, knew the shops and houses that they passed. It wasn't until they turned onto Grace's block that the thought quietly crystallized. He hadn't been really paying attention where they were going, and he hadn't needed to. For the first time in a long time, Earl was being led.

He idly wondered why it didn't bother him. He was a man used to being in control of a situation. He'd mapped out his life after the Great War, and had carved out his authority in the police department and this town with his hands, heart, and sweat. This was different, though. He turned it over a few times, and slowly realized that he hadn't walked like this since... since he'd had any family to care about. That was what was so unusual, he thought, and so familiar.

Grace stepped up to her front door and jangled her keys, and he took the opportunity to glance around the front of the house. It was a good-looking house, its shape like many others on the block. He'd seen it before, of course, but had never really looked at it. The flowers in the window boxes were nicely kept, and the place looked clean. He wondered if she had someone come around to help her out.

The door opened and a light clicked on inside. Grace looked back at him. "Come on in, Cap," she said. He self-consciously wiped his hands on his shirt and followed her inside.

 

[Guest]

Maisy...

Maisy’s sobs racked her body until finally she was exhausted and drained of tears. With a final shudder she finally moved out of Doc Johnson's comforting embrace. Her face was red and puffy from both the tears and the beating she had received.

Doc Johnson spoke soothingly as he opened his satchel and took out ointments and bandages and the like. His voice calmed her as he worked. He spoke randomly of things happening in the town, Pearl Maddison's famous peach preserve was being sold at the local general store now, Timothy Jones' prize retriever had a litter of pups yesterday, Sally Smith's little girl was starting school this year... and on and on.

Finally he'd cleaned up her wounds as best he could and applied sticking plaster to the cut to her forehead and cheek. She had tenderness around her stomach but thankfully no bones broken. Maisy finally spoke.

"Thank you Doc," she murmured, her voice husky from the tears.

He smiled down at her. "You'll be right as rain love, you've had a shocking ordeal and you have to understand that. It'll take time to come to terms with it. Being with your family now and people who care about you. That's the best medicine I can offer." He nodded firmly.

Maisy smiled wanly in reply.

"You rest up now. I'll go down and talk to you mother."

She nodded and snuggled down into bed and closed her eyes. Doc Johnson closed the door quietly as he left the room. He needn't have bothered though. Maisy was far from sleep. Her mind flashed chaotic images of 'Slim' at her. His foul smell even now filling her nose. She shuddered and clutched her arms around herself, willing the images and memories to leave her.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

http://www.bibracte.dreamwater.org/ATWAS/Claire.jpg
Claire Fourrée


«WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON / HUSBAND / FATHER fiancé    Lieut. Sean Michael Sullivan    WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN ...»

It had been almost one week, since Claire had opened that envelope. From: Deceased Personnel Division. It was all she had read clearly. What followed was clouded by a veil of tears, a random, episodic, broken chain of disconnected events, haphazard. She couldn't exactly recall who was with her when it came. Se couldn't exactly recall if it had really happened at all...

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT

Even now, almost one week after, numb, Claire Fouree wasn't sure of what happened. She had always been a strong young woman. Independent. Very much in love with

   Lieut. Sean Michael Sullivan    WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN

and now her world shattered, her dreams smoke. No more long talks at Bay Beach on cool spring mornings, no more races to Portuguese Point, no more holding hands and exchanging caresses with her love of always. No more

SON / HUSBAND / FATHER

feeling his warm hands traveling through her naked body, tingling with a blend of excitement and pure animal lust, tasting his lips, his tongue exploring the inner recesses of her self, taking a hold of her thighs, forcing her to muffle screams of elation

WE REGRET

Claire Fouree wasn't sure of what happened. She hated herself for feeling this weak and vulnerable. She knew Sean had died (had he?) fighting for the best of causes, but she wanted him all for herself. She hated herself for placing her own needs above the fate of the world.

But even as she dressed up and combed her hair and walked to the diner this morning, and served her costumers and even occasionally engaged in friendly little chats with over concerned habitués, events didn't flow and were clouded by a well masked veil of tears.

 

[MBS1969]

Lt. Nels Bronson, USCG

Nels arrived at the little diner which seemed to serve almost everyone in the town at some point during each day. He knew that was not the case but it certainly seemed that you did not have to take a seat for long before the person you wanted popped in. He himself didn't frequent the diner that often, he usually prefer to end his day in the bar unless he wanted something specific. Today was that day, he wanted information, wanted to know what had happened earlier in the evening. Part of him hoped that the crime that had occured has something to do with the seafaring temporary residents of Fair Harbour. This would mean that he could legitimately stick his nose in without the chief of police complaining too much.

He entered the doors of the diner and looked for a seat, the diner was a little more boisterous than its usual quiet self with tables full of Fair Harbours locals in animated conversation. The main topic of conversation appeared to be surrounding the coming dance but he also heard about someone's missing dog and grumbles about another persons boss. He chose a booth slightly away from the main gathering of patrons and eased himself into the seat, sticking his nose into a menu as he waited for one of the waitresses to serve him.

He couldn't spot any of his usual sources of good information and decided to wait for the waitress to come over. He surveyed the menu and decided against the burger and chips which he would usually have eaten. The cosatguard doctor has not been too complimentary about his physical shape the last time they had spoken and this was still weighing on his mind. Taking into account that he was nearing his late thirties and that there was no need for route marches on a small boat the doctors comment about him not getting any younger had been taken out of context be Nels. He was in fact in very good shape and would have put most of his crew to shame in a fitness test. Certainly any excess weight he had been carrying had been well and truly worked off during the month since his check up. Nels had been a regular figure jogging around the town in recent weeks and now could not have been fitter.

A pretty young waitress arrived at his table and apologised for the wait with the comment that they were having a busy spell and were short staffed. Nels looked up at her with a smile and assured her it was no problem, she was not a waitress he recognised which was no surprise given the small amount of time he had actually spent in here. He looked back at his menu and finally decided on the club sandwich and a cup of coffee.

"Sure seems to be a bit of a commotion in the town tonight", he volunteered to the waitress whose name he notice from her name tag was Claire. "What's been going on?" he asked innocently. He didn't know if she knew who he was and as his cap was now beside him instead of on his head it wasn't obvious. The waitress appeared to be a little distracted and he wondered if he had a piece of seaweed stuck to his clothes. Suddenly the waitress appeared to remember where she was and apologised and asked hime to repeat his order.

"A club sandwich and a coffee" Nels said and repeated his comment about the happenings of ealier that night.

 

[Moneytalks]

Marie Taylor...

Doc Johnson sat with Marie and sipped at his tea. Her troubled gaze peered at him over her own cup.

"Don't fret so Marie, she'll be just fine. She's had a terrible shock, so she'll be quiet for a time, but she's young, she'll bounce back you'll see."

Marie frowned a little as she took in these words. "But her face..."

"I know, it's quite a sight, but it's really just temporary swelling. It will clear up. She needs rest is all."

Marie nodded in agreement to the doctor's words. Still the blank look in her daughter's eyes haunted her. "Did... did she say anything?" She finally asked.

"No, but she had herself a good ol' cry, I'm sure it did her a world of good. I wouldn't be surprised if she came down tomorrow for a good heart to heart with her mother." He smiled reassuringly.

Marie managed a wane smile. She wished for the umpteenth time that day that Edward was there with her. He'd have done something by now. He wouldn't be sitting here drinking tea. Doc Johnson finally got up and handed Marie a small bottle, "A few drops in her tea should she get restless, it will help to calm her nerves and sleep." He advised before taking his leave.

Marie made a fresh pot of tea and poured a cup for her daughter. She added a few drops of the medicine Doc Johnson had provided and carried it up to Maisy's room. She thought she heard sobbing, but as she opened the door Maisy was lying very still.

"Maisy? Love?" She whispered, but only silence remained. "I have some tea for you darling, it will help."

Maisy finally sniffled and sat up in bed to accept the tea. She sipped it silently as Marie watched. Maisy's face was swollen even under the bandages. Her lip was cut and must have hurt but she continued to sip the tea as if she felt nothing. Marie longed to ask what had happened but remained silent until Maisy handed back the empty cup.

Maisy sighed and lay back down, her eyes soon closing. Her even breathing revealing that she slept for now. Marie silently blessed Doc Johnson for the medicine. She decided she needed to go into town. She had to get something special for Maisy's dinner and perhaps she could find someone from the police department who knew what had happened. She had to report this.

She called her neighbour Sally Crane who agreed to stay at the house to keep an eye on Maisy with blessedly few questions after Marie explained that Maisy had taken ill. Then when Sally was ensconced in the living room with her knitting. Marie took herself into town. She walked briskly, not wanting to stay out too long. Very soon she found herself on the main street.