FicWad

Jack stays by Kerrigan’s side until a doctor arrives. The doctor, Captain Considine, serves under Jack in the “Fighting” Forty-Third North Side Bridgeton Cavalry. Most of the unit was born and raised in the District Twenty portion of Bridgeton or its suburbs, north of the river dividing their lower middle class neighborhoods from those of the destitute to the south, but Captain Considine was transferred in from a city called Glenworth. Glenworth is a small, walled city in District Twenty a little way up the River Tyne from Bridgeton. Its chief function is as a crossroads for travelers, and, though it is a market town for the surrounding countryside, the main source of income is in protecting, scamming, and servicing travelers. The city is in Kerrigan’s District, but the Forty-Third, along with all units from District Twenty, serves under Jack in the Southern Army. Jack knows the Brigadier in charge of the Forty-Third, among other District Twenty units, personally. He was originally in the Thirteenth with Jack, but he was transferred to the District Twenty command upon promotion from commissioned officer to command. His name is Brigadier John Murphy. He is Jack’s childhood friend, and he has one of the longest criminal records in the Vampire Army. Jack remembers Captain Considine from a very big disciplinary report soon after he was deployed to Crosspoint that resulted in his demotion by two full ranks for multiple counts of assaulting a superior officer; drunkenness on duty; operating under the influence of alcohol; attempted murder; petit theft; threatening a fellow soldier; and one count of bringing a concealed, unlicensed, loaded firearm into an operating theater without permission or due cause and with the intent to harm a superior officer. He would, and should, have gotten a dishonorable discharge, but doctors, particularly experienced surgeons, are in short supply in the Southern Army, and he is currently the only doctor assigned to the Forty-Third, an active cavalry unit. He should have been further demoted, but he needs some authority when performing surgery. He has since re-earned one rank of the two he lost. In Jack’s opinion, he is the worst possible doctor for the job, but, as time is of the essence, he will have to do.

“Considine, she’s badly injured. Do what ye must to save her. If ye do well, I’ll restore your rank and full pay with compensation for what ye’ve lost, plus, I’ll give ye a bonus under the table, in other words, the fee for a private practice civilian doctor for a house call o’ this nature, plus what ye’ve lost since ye got here.”

“Aye, sor.”

“If ye hurt her, I’ll personally tear out your eyes, cut out your tongue, break both your legs, an’ cut off your hands. Understood?”

“Aye, sor.”

“We have an accord?”

“Aye, sor.”

“Get to it, then, man.”

Captain Considine washes his hands and looks at Kerrigan. She is unconscious, but she has a steady pulse. He gently cleans her wounds, overseen by Jack so he does nothing improper. He assesses most of her injuries to be superficial bruises and lacerations, but she has several broken ribs and a shattered collarbone. Her pelvis and right forearm have also sustained fractures, and her jaw is misaligned.

“Senatorial General, what I’m about to do may cause her pain, but her jaw’s got to be reset. Come here an’ watch this.” He gently, though forcefully, repositions her jaw. “She would’ve died form blood loss had ye not given her blood when ye did. By regulation, I can’t give her blood, as she ain’t dyin’, but I can give her opium for the pain, though I’d rather see her wake first. Your hand, sor.”

“No need. Me arm’s still bleedin’. Can’t seem t’stop it.”

“Ye’ve cut the radial artery. Give her a bit of blood, then I have to save ye, as ye’ll pass out from blood loss very soon. I’m surprised ye lasted this long. ‘Tis good ye’ve kept pressure on it.” Kerrigan wakes in excruciating pain. Jack, a towel pressed firmly to his forearm, smiles. “Give her a little more after I administer the opium.”

Jack meekly does as he is told, saying only, “I thought we lost ye.”

“Sor, remove the towel over the bowl. This’ll hurt, but I’ve nothing left to give ye.” He washes out Jack’s forearm with alcohol and stitches first the artery, then the skin with tiny stitches. “I’m impressed, sor. Ye didn’t flinch a’ ‘tall.”

“’Tisn’t in me nature. Now, about that promotion, I’ll jus’ write a letter for your command. If they don’t do what it says, find me. It’ll erase that criminal record as well.” Jack hands Captain Considine a note, sealed with his sigil, and a small bag of gold, a princely sum for an army surgeon. Captain Considine sets Kerrigan’s bones before he leaves, knowing that Jack’s blood and a little time will allow them to heal.

Kerrigan recovers as she sleeps that night, but she begs Jack to stay with her in the morning. He sits by her side. She is healed, but she still cannot walk. She smiles up at Jack. He must make breakfast. Jack, despite living alone for long periods of time and never having hired a cook, never learned how to cook, unlike Shane. Jack and the twins prefer pub food, as it requires no effort upon their part. Kerrigan sits with great difficulty and explains how to make eggs and fried bread, which requires no peeling or chopping, Jack fetches water from the pump and boils Kerrigan’s blood-stained nightshirt. Meanwhile, Kerrigan is wearing only a blanket. She is shivering, so, once he hangs up her nightshirt on the line outside to dry, Jack lays down next to Kerrigan and wraps his woolen dress uniform jacket around her shoulders. Brigadier Murphy crashes in at the worst moment possible. Kerrigan hides her nudity under blankets and Jack’s coat, and Jack stands menacingly over his friend.

“Jack, I’m sorry to interrupt. I’m here about Considine.”

“Ye didn’t interrupt anythin’. What about Considine?”

“Ye wrote to restore his rank. D‘ye realize what he did?”

“Aye, an’ I want it off his record.”

“But, Jack-”

“Ye heard me, John, ‘off his record.’”

“Why? If he weren’t a surgeon, he’d’ve been discharged dishonorably an’ gone to prison.”

“See this?” Jack says, showing John the stitches on his forearm. “Considine saved Kerrigan’s life an’ mine last night. I made a deal wi’ him. He held up his end to save her. I must hold up mine. He is to be restored to the rank of Major with full compensation of wages, an’ I want it done tonight, Murphy. Understood?”

“Aye, sor.”

“Get to it, then, man.”

“I’ll leave the two o’ ye to each other’s comp’ny, right so.”

“An’ don’t ye dare say a word ‘bout Miss Kerrigan an’ meself. There’s nothin’ goin’ on ‘twixt us. If I find out ye lied, I’ll personally flog your arse ‘till ‘tis blue.”

“Aye, sor. Oh, an’, Jack, your trousers is unbuttoned.”

John walks out, and Jack shouts after him, “Ye still owe me money! Maire had a son!”

“I know!” John shouts back.

Kerrigan is still mortified over an hour later, and she is still in too much pain to walk, else wise she might be pacing. Jack rides to the camp of the Forty-Third North Side Bridgeton Cavalry to find the restored Major Considine, whom he locates relatively easily in his tent changing into his surgical uniform.

“Considine, she’s still in pain. She can’t walk.”

“I’m not surprised. She has a fractured pelvis.”

“Shouldn’t that have healed by now? Her arm, ribs, and collarbone have.”

“The bone will have healed by now, but she’s probably still in pain. How did that happen, by the way?”

“Don’t tell no one, but her husband beat the shit out o’ her. I saw him do it.”

“An’ ye’re sure nothin’ happened ‘twixt the two o’ ye to cause it?”

“I’m sure. She’s a married woman.”

“Well, Brigadier Murphy said-”

“Brigadier Murphy an’ General McMahon are me childhood friends, but Murphy’s a liar, a cheat, an’, at the time bein’, a debtor. He’s a son of a bitch sometimes. Don’t ye believe a word he says, Considine. That’s an order. Oh, an’ if it might be important, check it out yourself ‘afore ye believe him.”

Jack runs into town to John’s room in a tavern called The Gray Bard. He knows in what inn, house, tavern, or hotel each of his commanders is staying and their locations on a map for the purpose of finding those to whom he gives orders. He hates showing up on personal business, but John Murphy disobeyed a direct order, even if it was from an old friend. Jack goes up unannounced and pounds on the door. When John answers, he hits him with a right hook, catching him by surprise and knocking him to the ground, then lifts him by the throat and holds him against the wall. When John starts to turn purple, he drops him onto the wooden floor with a crash.

Gasping for breath, John says, “I…can…explain.”

“Can ye, now? So can I. Ye’re out o’ line, Murphy. Ye put an innocent woman’s life in danger, not to mention mine. If I wanted to do this through the army, I could charge ye wi’ endangerin’ the lives o’ two superior officers, murder if either’ve us dies, accomplice to assault if we survive the attack.”

“’Twas all in jest.”

“In jest for ye, Murphy, but Morietur won’t see it that way, an’ he’ll kill her if she’s raped. No tellin’ what he’d do if he thought she agreed to it, an’ he’ll believe any rumor he hears. He’s also in our enemies’ territory servin’ an arrest warrant a’ the mo’, so if this gets to the enemy, she’s as good as dead, as am I.”

“Jaysus, Jack, I never thought…”

“Ye don’t think, Murphy. That’s the problem. Ye created this mess…fix it.”

“So what did happen last night?”

“He beat her an’ left her for dead.”

“An’ this mornin’?”

“She still couldn’t walk, an’ her nightshirt was covered in blood.”

“By God, Jack, your arm!”

“Feck! Must’ve ripped the stitches.”

Jack faints on John’s floor, and John runs for Considine, who re-stitches Jack’s arm and puts him in a plaster cast to prevent overuse. Considine tells John to put some ice on his eye, and John starts fixing the rumor starting with Considine, who then returns Jack to his cabin only to find Kerrigan in pain.

“Senatorial General, are ye alright?” asks Considine.

“No, Major, I need something for the pain,” replies Kerrigan.

“Kerrigan, ye can’t stand the pain? Ye survived Lycanthropy wi’ nothin’. Is it that bad?” asks Jack.

“It is,” replies Kerrigan.

“Have ye been walking, ma’am?” asks Considine.

“I have not.”

“Has anyone been here since Senatorial General Shepherd left?”

“Nobody has been here.”

“See, Jack, ‘tis perfectly normal she’s in pain. Yourself, on the other hand, no liftin’ people by the throat wi’ that arm, understand?”

“Aye, Doctor Considine.”

Major Considine leaves, and Kerrigan smiles up at Jack. She is very grateful that he saved her and asks him to come closer so she can hug him. She can sense his nerves and asks him what happened. He does not want to tell her, but she coaxes it out of him eventually, assures him that Morietur cannot possibly know, and writes an order that anyone caught spreading rumors about their superiors’ personal lives will be given extra duties as punishment. Jack rides out to deliver it to his generals, Mick McMahon, Ronan O’Casey, Eamon Malone, Aiden Flannigan, and Keegan Callahan. He then delivers it to Kerrigan’s generals, Avalon Kavanagh, Niall Óg Ó Seachnsaigh, Conor Vaughan, Ryan Murdock, and Patrick McNamara.

When Jack returns, Kerrigan is asleep and the post has arrived. Lynn sent Jack a loaf of soda bread, a tin of stew, a jar of strawberry jam, and a case of whiskey. Packed among the straw and bottles is a letter from Lynn and a few photographs of her in revealing garments. Jack sits at the little, wooden table reading the letter from Lynn while he reheats some of the stew and soda bread on the fire.

“Dear Jack,

“I hope you enjoy the food. I am sure it is better than roasted crow, which you have mentioned as a delicacy in Crosspoint. I must confess, for all the men I have dated who have been hunters, I have never eaten crow. I have had wolf, hare, rabbit, bighorn sheep, wild boar, reindeer, deer, moose, bear, duck, goose, quail, guinea fowl, pheasant, grouse, partridge, turtle, and every kind of fish, crustacean, and mollusk you can imagine, but I have never eaten a crow. Perhaps you could make one for me when next we meet, whether here or there.

“I must confess I miss you greatly when you are gone, as, I am sure, you miss me. I had those photographs taken because I felt it might cheer you somewhat, and anything that would cheer you would do wonders for the nation. My darling, I hope you like them. Do tell me if you like them. Shane helped me pick the outfits. He said I ought to take one in normal clothing so you could show your men if they asked. I am no stranger to photographs of this sort, but I have never had them taken for a man I love, and I do believe that these are the best photographs of me ever taken.

“As for your brother, he is very happy knowing that at least some of his friends are alive and well. He meets them for drinks at The Crane and Sparrow once a week, and it has done him a world of good to get out of the house. He has warmed quite a bit, which is not to say he has feelings for me. As you know, he has little interest in Banshee or Demon women. He seeks a Werewolfish bride. If simply seeing his friends has made him this happy, I should love to see the change in him when he finds a woman he fancies.

“In all his mirth, Shane has told me many a tale of your youth. For some reason, he will not discuss anything past when you left home, no matter how many questions I ask. All you have told me is when and how you died. I would like to know some time.

“I know you ought not to discuss the war with me, but tell me this much: are you, Kerrigan, and Liam alright? I worry about you and Liam continually, since he is of your blood and, therefore, my stepson. It sounds strange, as I have never met him personally and have never even seen a photograph of him, but just knowing that he is your son and likely your eldest, since you fathered him at seventeen, makes me worry for him as if he were my own child. What I would like to know is how he ended up a Vampire if you were turned long after his birth.

“Jack, I would wish it were different and that you could be by my side. Your life would be in no peril and your son at home with us, as I am not yet with child, and Liam is in want of both a mother and a home. I would wish that I did not have to send photographs. I wish you could have the real thing by your side, and I wish I could cook you dinner every night like a normal family and not just when the Senate is meeting. You mean everything to me. Even without you here and even after the attack on your life, I feel safer in your home in your bed than anywhere I have ever been. I would rather have my wild Irishman than all the princes money could buy.

“Speaking of princes, father says he must perform your coronation when next you are home, whether there is time to prepare an elaborate ceremony or not. McAlpine made the crown, and it is waiting for your head. Speaking of official ceremonies, Brendan Sparrow left on the train immediately after his knighting. Has he arrived alright?

“I know why you cannot be home with me, and I understand that you would be here if, at all, you could. I wish that there could be a quick end to this madness and that you could return to me unharmed tomorrow, but I know this cannot be. I am not naïve. I just hope you intend on returning alive, though I very much doubt you would intend to do otherwise.

“I have been well, though I must sadly tell you that I am not with child. Perhaps one day we will have children of our own. I continue to hope. I continue to hope also that you will return to stay.

“All my love,

“Lynn”

Jack lays the letter on the table, and Kerrigan asks, “Do you like the photographs?:

“How did ye know she sent photographs?”

“I am in pain, not blind.”

“Ah…”

“The letter is from Lynn. Jason will not have received his birthday present yet, let alone had time to send a letter of thanks. It is not a Senate summons, for I would have received one as well if it was. It most definitely is not from Maire, as her style is not to write pages, and a terse letter from your ex-wife never leaves you smiling. John is still far too young to write, and Liam is both illiterate and nearby. The twins always send separate letters at the same time, and neither Shane nor Shannon would send photographs or a letter that long.”

“Ye’re right, as usual. Kerr…are ye alright?”

“I am getting better, if that is what you mean. Would you please come here?”

“O’ course.”

“Stand beside me. I wish to attempt to walk, but a bit of support lest I fall would be appreciated.”

“Like this?”

“Thank you, Jack. That is perfect.”

Jack helps Kerrigan to her feet and walks slowly with her holding his hips for support. After a while, he pulls out a bottle of whiskey, two cups, and some opium, which he shares with Kerrigan, as she is still in great pain. He is intent upon replying to Lynn’s letter before the morning post leaves, but he also wants to see his son. Jack walks the ten minutes to Liam’s camp and invites him to dinner. Jack tells Liam’s superiors where he will be, and they return to Jack’s cabin for diner.

“What happened to your arm?” asks Liam.

“Cut it too deep, then ripped the stitches.”

“We got an order not to gossip about our superiors’ personal lives. What was that about?”

“John Murphy nearly got me killed for somethin’ I didn’t do. I nearly killed him for it. That’s how I ripped me stitches.”

“I heard Considine’s rank was restored.”

“’Twas. How d’ye even know Considine, an’ how’d ye hear that?”

“I met him in a bar once or twice. He’s an awful bastard when he’s drunk. ‘Tis an army. There are no secrets in an army, only rumors that ain’t been proven. Like ye an’ Kerrigan. Everyone thinks there’s somethin’ ‘twixt the two o’ ye. I know there ain’t. Ye’d never get away wi’ that.”

“I should tell ye, Kerrigan’s hurt bad. Morietur left her for dead. Considine’s rank was restored because he saved her life.”

“That was while ye went for ammunition?”

“Nay, ‘twas when I returned the next night. How are Billy, an’ Jimmy, an’ Michael?”

“Jimmy’s hand’s sorely infected. He could lose it. Michael is abed for the time bein’. His shoulder’ll be alright. We’d our other captains die or fall injured, some bad enough for discharge. Nolan lost an eye, Kelly a leg; Fitzgibbons is blind. McLean, McGlinchy, an’ Maguire are all seriously injured an’ should recover. Cullen, Fahey, Moynihan, Lynch, McShane, both O’Connells, O’Hanlon, Pearse, an’ Fitzpatrick all dead, an’ the rest abed wi’ minor injuries. That’s jus’ from the Captains.”

“How did Lieutenant Boland fare? I heard ye stayed by him. Good man.”

“He’s a broken leg. He’ll be goin’ back t’Bridgeton wi’ Doctor Sparrow to recover. He’ll be back two months tops. Says he’ll finally marry Molly Mae while he’s there. We’re out o’ combat ‘till we have some officers back. A lot o’ good men died, an’ I’m the only Captain not in hospital.”

“Fitzmaurice wasn’t hurt.”

“But his glasses were. He can’t see a thing without ‘em. ‘Sides, he an’ Sparrow are old mates. They’ve lived in the same city, but they ain’t seen each other in five years. Last time they saw each other, Sparrow was marryin’ Annie O’Malley. ‘Tis easy enough to ne’er see an old friend livn’ in Bridgeton.”

“’Tis.”

They arrive at the cottage as Kerrigan, wearing the finest dress she brought to Crosspoint, sits at the table heating the stew Lynn sent. She is sitting in one of the chairs from the table drawn close enough to the fire that she can cook.

“Hello, Miss Sheehan,” says Liam.

“Hello, Liam,” replies Kerrigan.

“It smells good,” says Liam.

“Your stepmother sent it,” says Jack.

“Liam, how did you fare in battle?” asks Kerrigan.

“I’m the only Captain left in the Thirteenth not in hospital. Only Fitzmaurice besides wasn’t hurt, but, sure, he can’t see a thing a’ ‘tall without glasses. We’re out o’ combat a while. I’m the on’y one in our tent.”

“D’ye want to stay here?” asks Jack.

“That’d be nice, but I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“Liam, take my bed. I can sleep in your father’s empty trunk. I am small enough to fit inside it.”

“No, ma’am. I couldn’t let ye do that for me. Ye’re hurt.”

“Your father told you that. I will be fine, Liam. Something you will learn in time is that your father is prone to concern for those close to him, enough so that it clouds his judgment. He knew that I would be fine, and, though in pain, I am no longer injured.”

“Ye think I worry too much?” asks Jack.

“I think that you do not know when to stop worrying. This should be ready now.”

Kerrigan stands gingerly, leaning on the fireplace for support, bringing back Jack’s memories of his youth, and she removes the warmed dinner from the fireplace. Liam does not begin to eat until Jack does, and Kerrigan waits for her dinner to cool before she eats any of it. Jack ensures Liam that he need not worry about table manners, so Liam, who has not eaten a decent meal since long before the last battle, devours three bowls of stew ravenously. Kerrigan, the perpetual lady, makes no comment or gesture against his behavior other than to wipe a bit of stew from his chin when he is finished.

After dinner, Jack informs Kerrigan and Liam that he has a letter to answer. Kerrigan sits on her bed reading, and Liam goes to the stable to occupy himself by grooming Jack’s horse, Spectre, and Kerrigan’s horse, Pyro.

“Dear Lynn,

“The food was wonderful. I promise I will make crow for you the next time I see you, but please realize that crow is no delicacy. I wish you were here, and I am sure your cooking would be well-loved in Crosspoint, however I must implore you not to come here. It is not safe. I miss you as well, however I cannot risk your life in order to see you.

“I am glad to hear good news of my brother. Do not worry yourself about trying to find him a wife. My sister and I have been trying for years. He has not taken a liking to anyone.

“As for Liam, he is well. He is the only one, I’m afraid. My left arm is injured, though not badly, and Kerrigan is recovering from severe injuries sustained at the hand of her own husband on his way through to serve a royal arrest warrant in the Werewolf Territory. The Thirteenth Bridgeton Light Infantry was decimated. Liam is one of he select few who escaped unscathed. As for how he became a vampire, he probably made the same deal as I did. I have never asked him, and I probably will not.

“Shane has a good reason for not telling you what happened when I left. I am sure you know how and when the twins died. That was a month before I turned eleven. I started drinking around the time they died. Two years after that, a wolf, which I later killed, bit him, and his leg was sorely infected. He was bed-bound for quite some time. Four years later, I left home. Three years after that, my uncle, who raised me as one of his own children, died. As for his cause of death, I never knew, age, I suppose. Shane was always the favorite son and I the rogue. Shane became the head of the household at the age of seventeen. It is not unheard of for a man of seventeen to marry and start his own home, but his mother died within the year, and he became the father of a girl old enough to be his wife soon after he turned eighteen. I did not return for another nine years. Do not pressure him for details. You will likely upset him. Plague killed the six Harte children next door while I was gone. Shane watched it happen. The Hartes had a son of five, born after the plague killed their other six, when I returned. The years I was gone changed Shane, Shannon, and me forever. I became a soldier. Shane became a jaded old man long before his time. Shannon became a woman and married and then became a widow. We went from being children, brothers and sister, to nearly being strangers. Shane especially hates to talk about it, so please do not force him.

“Brendan arrived fine. He will be accompanying some of the injured soldiers back to Bridgeton, after which time he will return with more of his things to stay for a while. The money paid to him for his knighthood and for healing Kerrigan has paid off his house, so he is free to spend some time with an old friend stationed here. He is also desperately needed.

“I miss you as much as you miss me. I hate that I was pulled away from you the morning after our wedding, but, as we both knew, it was only a matter of time. I love you dearly, Lynn. I promise I will come home to you to stay one day, and I promise I will be fine.

“Love,

“Jack”