The Neverending Blake Fanfic Chapter 2 - A Long Night
Charlie sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. The last forty-eight hours had seen his world turned upside down. He can’t remember the last time he slept let alone changed out of his uniform. After getting over the initial panic they decided this might just be a misunderstanding. Any number of things could have happened, few of them dire. Lucien checked the club and called friends and neighbors. At the police station Charlie called the local hospital and talked with those at the station who knew her. However, as the night wore on it became clear that Jean was well and truly missing.
Before dawn the police came to the Blake house to conduct a thorough search of the grounds. They found an earring in the driveway. Lucien identified it as the one Jean had been wearing that day, a gift from him the Christmas before they were married. Inside the envelope addressed to Jean they found part of the page had been torn. Only the words “don’t tell...”
And “the church” were legible. Several hours into the search, Matthew called Lucien up to Jean’s old room. It had not changed much since they were married. The bed was still there, and the drawer to her nightstand lay open.
“That’s unlike Jean. Lucien is this drawer usually empty?”
Lucien’s tone was ominous.
“No. That’s where she keeps Christopher’s service pistol. From the war.”
It wasn’t soon after that Lucien started to fall apart. In the beginning he was keen to help, but he seemed to quickly lose hope. Charlie couldn’t help but wonder if Lucien was expecting something like this to happen. It seemed as if, having faced the initial horror, Lucien was resigned to his fate. After that, as a formal investigation into Jean’s disappearance was launched, Charlie had to split his time between trying to find Jean and trying to manage Lucien. He seemed to be either blind drunk or violently angry, usually both. Matthew threatened to arrest him several times. Charlie was exhausted.
He looked over at the clock on the nightstand. It was near midnight. His eyes fell to a slip of paper. It was Mattie’s telegraph. She would be here in less than four days. How on earth would he tell her? Charlie flopped down on the bed and closed his eyes just as the phone rang. Charlie groaned. Matthew was still at the station. Lucien was off drinking somewhere. This time of night it could only be important and was likely for him.
“Ah, Constable. I am sorry to disturb you at this late hour. This is Cec. It’s about Dr. Blake.”
Charlie rubbed his forehead.
“Of course it is. Do you want me to come get him?”
“I’m so sorry sir. I would usually offer him the back room but given the situation, I thought it might be best if he went home.”
“No, Cec, you’re right. I’m on my way.”
Charlie entered the Colonists Club and headed to the main bar, the only room where the lights were still on. Lucien was there alone, barely standing, staring despondently into an empty glass. He didn’t notice Charlie until he was alongside him.
“Charlie! Care for a drink?”
“No, and you’re not having one either.”
Lucien began to protest but Charlie cut him off.
“Doc, what are you doing? You’ve got to pull yourself together. We will never find Jean without your help.”
“It’s my fault, Charlie.”
“What’s your fault? Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
Cec appeared from the room behind the bar, holding a telephone.
“Excuse me, sir, there is a phone call for you.”
Charlie automatically reached for the phone.
“Beg your pardon, sir, it’s for Lucien.”
Cec placed the receiver into Lucien’s unsteady hand.
“I’m disappointed in you, Major Blake. I thought you’d at least try and find your wife. Instead you fall to pieces at the first test. Some officer you are.”
“Sergeant Robert Hannam. Army number 26052.”
Cec and Charlie exchanged surprised looks.
“I thought you were in jail.
“That doesn’t matter. Now listen up...”
You’re turn, @bisexualcharliedavis
