Chapter Text
Hugh was in a foul mood when he stormed into the station. He banged the door to the front desk, banged log onto the desk signed in angrily.
Jack looked up from his desk in his office at the first bang. He walked over to his partially open door and watch Hugh as he banged around the station.
“Collins.”
Hugh stopped as he was about to slam the coffee cup onto the table when he heard his boss. He took a deep breath and said, “Sir,” he didn’t turn around knowing that Jack could read him like a book.
Jack leaned against his door, tilted his head and said, “Come into my office please.” And then walked back to his chair and sat down. Painfully slowly, Hugh followed him as he passed through the door, Jack said, “Close that, please.”
Hugh closed the door, turned to Jack and stood at attention.
“At ease, Hugh…. what is wrong?”
“Nothing, Sir.”
Jack studied the angry face in front of him and nimbly went through several things the anger could be directed at. It wasn’t the station or him. “Did you have fight with Dottie?”
“No.” Hugh replied looking down.
“Sit down then and tell me what is wrong. You are not get getting out of here till you do.”
Hugh sighed and plopped himself into a visitor’s chair. He looked at his hands and said nothing.
Jack looked at his friend and said, “Come on, tell me. Maybe I can help?”
“You can’t. No one can.”
“What happened.”
“I have been turned down for active service.”
Jack blinked. War was about to be declared by England that year Hitler had been marching into almost all of Europe, and a lot of men were applying to serve. Jack hated it, but he already applied to help on the Homefront should he be needed. Phryne was terribly active, she was starting an auxiliary unit from all the different women’s groups she was involved in and setting up teaching women how to do work usually done by men that will be at the front. Dottie was helping Phryne and Jane who was now in medical school was thinking of volunteering for a unit, but Mac told her to finish her medical training if war was declared at home, she would be sent whether she wanted to go or not. Phryne told Jack to stop worrying about something that might not happen, but he reminded her how horrible it was at the front in a medical unit. She had no answer but they both hoped that the Nazi’s were stopped before Jane was called.
He looked at the angry young man and asked, “Why did they turn you down, Hugh?”
“Do you remember when we were on a raid three years ago and someone bashed me on the head, my hearing has not been as it was since then…well…they said I had permanent damage. So they said I should apply for home front duties…. I can’t believe it! I can hear perfectly well…”
Jack’s face was blank, though he was relieved that his friend would not go to the front, especially so early in the war. That is how he lost his brother, because he was one of the first troops in that first nightmare. He knew Hugh was not of the mind to hear his worries and said quietly, “It has always been that way. My friend Tom had to stay on the Home front because his feet were damaged from being a postal worker, he is still a postal worker, his feet work perfectly well, but they would not take him. There is nothing you can do, you can't go back in time and change things…”
“I know that!!!” He roared… then he remembered who he was talking to, “sorry…”
“It’s ok, this is just two friends talking…”
“People will treat me as less then or worse a coward, if I don’t go serve, Bert and Cec will never let me hear the end of it.”
“I think they will be more compassionate then you think. It is not your fault, it is a physical problem.” And I will talk to them before you do, he thought to himself.
“My wife, my children…”
“Hugh do really think they of all people will judge you?”
There were tears now falling from Hugh’s eyes, he wiped them away roughly and shook his head. “No…but their friends?”
“Please stop projecting like this, it does no good and it could harm you and your family. First thing is to go home and talk it over with Dottie."
“But..."
“Now.”
“I’m on duty…”
“I’m your boss. Go.”
Hugh nodded glumly, “Yes Sir,” he got up and left.
Jack sighed, he picked up the phone and called home, “Tobias, it’s Jack, is Bert and Cec there by any chance?”
“Yes , they are.”
“Ask them to come to my office as soon as possible, I need to speak to them both urgently.”
“Of course, Jack, is there anything wrong.”
“Yes, but I will explain it to you and our household later.”
“Just a minute, I will tell them now…um Sir, there is a young lady who would very much like to speak to you while I'm talking to them.”
Jack smiled, “Put the young lady on.”
“Daddy?”
“Hello pumpkin, are you having a good day?”
“Yes, Daddy, will you be coming home soon?”
“After my shift, around tea time.”
“Oh? I wanted to show you my new dolly from Aunty P. she and Mummy are arguing in her office.”
“Oh? Why are they arguing?”
“I don’t know, Mummy shooed me out of the room…”
“Hmm, well Sweetheart, I think I will come home then. I just need to finish a few things here. Then I will come home by lunchtime.”
“Goody!”
“Till then, Sweetheart.”
“Bye Daddy.”
Jack carefully put the receiver down thinking, why is it always pouring with our family?
***
Ivy was sitting on the floor of the big parlor playing with her doll and her toy tea set, she was waiting for a certain noise and as soon she heard it, she was ready to pounce. She was 5 ½ years old, she was on a break from school because of the holidays coming up, so she was free to play and have fun. Her best friend was Daphne Collins, but Daphne had a cold, so she was all alone today.
Suddenly she heard the jingling noise she was waiting for and dashed out of the room.
Jack had only spent the morning at the station and he was already exhausted. He told Bert and Cec about Collin’s and how miserable the young man felt about it. He advised them especially Bert to be kind to Hugh, and not to tease him or to say anything negative. After Bert understood what it was exactly and that his inner ear was very important for balance and why the service would turn down someone suffering from that, he was full of sympathy and promised Jack he would treat Hugh well. Jack had no worries about Cec, he was the more sensitive of the two and he understood how Hugh felt at once.
Now he was home and he wanted to know why his wife and Great Aunt were fighting according to his highly intelligent daughter, suddenly a tiny Tasmanian Devil came whirling toward his knees. He smiled at Ivy and picked her up kissing her nose, Ivy squealed and kissed him all over his face.
“Daddy!!!”
“Hello Darling!” said Jack balancing her on his hip as he walked them into the parlor. Drawn by her daughter’s squeal, Phryne glided in from the dining room, “Jack Darling, Ivy said you were coming home early.”
Jack smiled at the beautiful woman and held out his free arm, she came to him and he hugged her one armed, she snuggled into his other side, “I missed my girls, all I need now is Jane to be complete…”
“I am afraid you will be incomplete she is out with Freddy, they will be here for tea though.”
“That’s alright, I…”
“Daddy, look at my new dolly!”
Phryne lifted her eyebrow and said, “Sweetheart, what has Daddy and I said about interrupting people?”
“Sorry Mummy, Sorry Daddy.” Ivy kissed both of her parents sweetly melting them both. Then Jack tenderly put his daughter down, so she could get her doll to show him.
As Ivy ran across the room, Jack whispered, “A little bird told me that you and Aunt P were arguing.”
Phryne whispered back, “Is the little bird wearing a pretty light blue dress?”
“Why yes, now you mention it?”
“I’ll tell you later…”
“I will accept that if you give me a clue now?”
“Hospital work as opposed to war work?”
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. He was surprised, no one was more patriotic then Prudence Stanley.
Phryne shrugged, “I will tell you later when the little blue bird is taking her nap…oh, the Commissioner wants you to call him.”
Jack signed, “Yes, I do have something to discuss with you too. I will admire our daughter’s new doll and then call him back.”
“What….?”
“Later Phryne, please…. oh, isn’t that a pretty doll, Pumpkin.”
***
Ivy was taking her nap after tea and Phryne and Jack were cuddled together on the chaise.
“Who should go first?” asked Jack quietly, kissing her neck.
Phryne moaned softly, “Do we have to, I rather just explore for a bit…”
“So, would I, but let’s get the stuff we don’t want to do out of the way first and then we can play.”
“Jack Robinson you are so damn sensible.” Jack shrugged. Phryne smirked, sat up and said, "you go first, sounds more interesting.”
“More interesting, it may be, but it is far more distressing then I need.”
“Oh?”
“While the commissioner knows that my station is quote, unquote, the best run station in Victoria, he needs to fill a position and I am the best man for the job.”
“Flattery and an order do not bode well.”
It does not…he wants to me to stay at my station and run it as always, but he also wants me to be one of his deputy commissioners while Perkins flies to England to serve King and Country.”
“What!”
“He says that though it is temporary, and that I will get all the benefits, but to remember that I will also get all the responsibilities of deputy commissioner, he says he needs someone of my organizational skills.”
Jack looked a bit ill and put he his head on her shoulder. Phryne kissed the top of his head and ran her fingers soothingly through his hair, she thought quickly, “so while you are going to help with your Home front duties for the war effort, you’re also going to be a deputy commissioner? Hmmm?”
Jack looked up and nodded, “I was already accepted to help the home front, so he could do nothing about that, but he wants me to run the stations that was under Perkins duties. Phryne, I will never be home and I will not be able to go on any investigations…”
“Not necessarily Jack, I know someone who could help you…”
“Is she a very close, a very beautiful woman, who is currently running her fingers deliciously through my hair?
“No, but she is a part of our family…”
“Dottie?”
“Yes, she can do it, I know she can. We can do it, if we work as a family?”
“Are we going to send Ivy out on an investigation too?”
“Not yet, Darling, she is far too young…”
“Phryne!”
Phryne chuckled and Jack rolled his eyes as she said, “Jack, let us not look at this as a problem but as an interesting test of our resources…”
“Phryne, may I remind you that only Hugh and I are policemen.”
“When has that ever stopped me before?”
Jack sighed deeply and said softly, “No, it never has, but may I remind you it is my job…”
“The police, but not the war front. Darling, don’t you see we can balance it all out, we can ask for help from all of our family and use our resources. Then you can still have a life with us, instead of slaving away in two offices.” Phryne could see it all and it could work.
Jack closed his eyes, he was developing a headache again, he gently put his head back on her shoulder. She smiled and kissed the top of his head, “It will work. You just have to open your mind a bit.”
Into her shoulder he said, “Whenever I have fought you in the past, I not only have been miserable, but things went terribly wrong, but I will not put anyone, especially not you, into danger.”
“You won’t Jack, only I can put myself into danger, and I…”
“Ivy...”
“What about her?”
“Do you want to leave her alone?”
“Never!”
“That is my point.”
“Accept the positions, we will figure it all out, do you want to hear about Aunt P?”
Jack sighed, lifted his head and looked into her amused eyes. He shrugged and replied, “Sure, what happened?”
“She does not want me to work on the war because I am exceptionally important to the hospital.”
“I don’t understand, why can’t you do both?”
“That is what I said. But she is of the opinion you can only work on one project at a time.”
Jack started to laugh, “She has met you, hasn’t she?”
Phryne laughed too, “Yes, she has, and she loves me, but she has never, ever understood me.”
Jack cupped her cheeks and brought her to him and kissed her passionately, when he pulled back, he said quietly, “Well I do and if I know you, you’re going to do it all.”
“Of course, I am darling,” then Phryne pulled him back for another kiss she wasn’t through with him yet.