Chapter Text
Phryne bangs the receiver back onto the phone as she growls and throws a vase across the hall into the parlor. She is frantically upset as she paces back in forth in the hallway tearing at a handkerchief in her hands. Mr. Butler rushes in to see what is wrong, but seeing the expression of anguish in Phryne's eyes he retreats to get something to clean up the glass in the parlor and the broken ashtray from the coffee table.
Jack returning from the station hears the crash from outside the door and rushes into the house. As soon he sees Phryne he knows that she is in turmoil, "Darling, what's wrong?"
Phryne in total anguish runs to Jack right into his arms crying hysterically. Mystified, he has never seen her like this except on two occasions, when Jane was kidnapped and when Dot was kidnapped. "What's happened, what's wrong?" He asked softly trying to sooth her with a hand gently rubbing her back and his other softly stroking her hair.
"I am so glad your home...it's Father...He's..." She suddenly burst into sobs. Jack pulls her close trying to comfort and protect her. "What did he say? Whatever it is, I'm here for you, we all are." he said in a tender tone, that eased Phryne's heart. Phryne knew Jack was confused, she knew she rarely ever gets emotional but her Father brought out the child in her, the scared little girl he locked into a closet.
Taking a deep breath, she replied in a calm voice, Jack allowed her to look up at him, her eyes were tear filled and red rimmed, she sniffled and said, "He just called. He is coming here in a fortnight to sort me out..."
"What the hell does he mean by that?" He replied in indignation, as he gently used the pad of his thumb to gently dry the tears on her face.
Phryne smiled grimly, Jack would always stand by her and his absolute protective stance just made her want to rip his clothes off and make love to him here in the hallway. Of course at the moment she just cupped his cheek and said, "He means that he wants to make me see that a mere woman has no place being a detective. According to Aunt P he is as mad as a hatter about it. So since he can't cut off my funds since he gave them to me absolute he is coming here to sort me out..."
"Why? It makes no sense that he would come here all of the sudden because you're a detective. You've been working at it for almost three years and your damn good at it!"
"Jack, you've never said that before."
"Phryne, you know you're excellent at it or I would have never called you in to consult on cases."
Phryne caressed his cheek and kissed his nose as she said softly, "But you have never said it like that before, just point blank, that I am good at my job."
Jack blushed and shrugged. Phyne started to play with his tie, undoing it and pulling him even closer to her. "I love your arms around me like this..."
"I was trying to comfort you..."
"You did an exquisite job," she pulled him to her and captured him with her arms and kissing him passionately.
When they pulled back, "Phryne, I...oh, damn it," He pulled her back and kissed her passionately which she returned with equal passion. He picked her up and carried her to the chaise noticing the wreckage on the floor but his mind was too much on his love, her soft skin and her mind freezing kiss. When they parted he asked, "What happened here?"
"An emotional reaction, come back here," she pulled him back to her kissing him deeply.
Jack knew she was trying to distract both of them from the crisis at hand so he gently pulled back. "Darling I love you, I just want to help you and protect you if I can."
"My knight in shining armor swooping in to protect me, I love you too, deeply and passionately. You don't have to tell me all that, I already know ..."
"I am aware of that but I thought I would emphasize it...Phryne about your Father..."
"Do we have to discuss it now I..."
Mr. Butler knocked. They pulled apart and looked at him, "I thought you should know, Miss Jane is expected soon and dinner will be ready in 20 minutes."
"Thank you Mr. B." Mr. Butler set about cleaning the mess she created. She looked a bit guilty about it but he said, "Never mind, Miss, we all have tempers."
"Thank you for your discreet kindness."
"My pleasure." He got up, fixed them both a drink and left to finish dinner.
"How does he always know what we need?"
Phryne shrugged and replied, "Butler telepathy."
They smiled at each other and Phryne put her head on Jack's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
"What are we going to do about your Father, Darling? " Asked Jack softly, as his free hand was tenderly holding Phryne's smaller hand, his thumb tracing her knuckles as he continued, " Can he make demands? Can he try and force you back to England?"
"Oh, he can make as many demands as he wants but I am well over the age of consent and I have my own fortune. I took what he gave me tripled it. No, all he can do is intimate me which he is very, very good at."
"So how could he sort you out, quote, unquote?" He asked pulling her even closer. Jack had a deep dislike of the man and he had not even met him yet. Just from hearing her stories about him, Jack knew he treated this precious woman like a black sheep. For that alone he earned the Inspector's wrath.
"I haven't the slightest. Even Aunt P, who warned me, by the way before he called, has no idea what his plans for me are."
"How does she feel about it?"
"She thinks he's a fool. She never liked him. Only tolerated him because Mother adored him, why I don't know. He adored Jainey, she used to protect me but once she disappeared it became intolerable."
"And as an adult?"
"I have not spoken to him since I left England. I write to my mother but she knows better then try to bridge the gap."
"What did he say just now?"
"Not a lot, just that he has heard about my life here and he is coming to sort me out. Expect him in a fortnight. And he hung up before I could utter a response. I am so upset, I am a woman and yet he is still trying to control me."
"Well you have us all with you. You have our whole family to stand beside you against one man. And I will not tolerate him treating you this way." There was an darkness beneath the sweetness that made Phryne feel safe.
"I hope so Jack, I hope so."
**** *********** ************
The day before Lord Fisher was to arrive Phryne found Jack and Mr. B packing a case for Jack in his dressing room.
"Why exactly are you packing?"
"We have enough to contend with, we don't need to have to explain to your Father that we are living together."
"Jack, I am well over the age of consent, I can sleep with whom ever I want to. I do not need his permission to live with the man I love!"
"I know that, Darling, truly." He puts his arms around her and smiled softly, "I am only thinking of you. I am just taking some stuff that I normally use in the morning so I can stay at my place till your father leaves."
She kisses Jack tenderly then pulls out of his arms. She takes the case away from him and starts to unpack it saying, "Absolutely not, I refuse to change my life for him. I don't want to be without you because of that mean old man..."
"Phryne..."
"Jack..."
Mr. Butler cleared his throat and said softly, "May I make a suggestion?"
Two sets of startled eyes turn to the older man, they were so deeply into the argument they forgot he was there. He was amused at this but he thought he should lend a helping hand to the young couple in their moment of need.
"Of course, Mr. B," answered Phryne as she continued to unpack Jack's case, and Jack kept trying to put things back into it only to get his hand slapped.
"Instead of unpacking the Inspector's case, why don't you have Dorothy pack one for yourself? You can say goodnight to your father and leave by the back stairs to the Inspector's house. Since the Inspector has to get up for work he can make sure that your up and home before his Lordship even rises."
"That's perfect Mr. B. and that ends our fight too. Well done, Sir," said Jack with a wicked twinkle in eyes.
"Discussion Jack."
"Fight Phryne."
Mr. Butler cleared his throat and they both looked at him, then each other and laughed. "Dot!" Called Phryne as she handed Jack's case back to him and then headed into her own closet.