Chapter Text
Set immediately after the end of season 2 with Jack and Belle’s last scene at the dock’s, a day of saving lives, a conversation between Jack and Lady Jane and the Governor, and saving Fagin (again)
“I love you too much.” Jack says seriously, watching Belle’s face form a soft smile, feeling her grab his neck, pressing their lips together softly.
“I love you too, you brilliant idiot.” Belle responds, bringing Jack’s face back to hers, the force pulling Jack for a moment and he lets her. After months of being away, of fear for their touch having him killed, he embraces Belle’s hands against his neck, the way her fingers move through his hair, playing with the ends softly. They remain in their embrace, the sun beating down on them, taking in every moment they can. “She’s letting us be together.” Belle whispers after a few moments, pulling away carefully and Jack studies her face for a moment, thinking this is some cruel dream he’s going to wake up from.
“What?” Jack chokes out and Belle nods, a fear tears coming to her eyes.
“Mother. She’s letting us be together.” Belle repeats, “She had a change of heart, it must have been your skills in saving her and Fanny, I think?” Belle laughs slightly, “But father has pardoned you and she is not going to hang you.” She smiles, pulling Jack’s face down to hers once again, pressing their foreheads together. Jack feels his breath increasing, the idea of being free with Belle, free to marry her, to spend his life with her makes him want to shout it for all of Port Victory to know.
“She’s really ok with it?” Jack asks and Belle nods.
“Yes. Yes Jack. I can be your wife.” Belle says excitedly, hands gripping Jack’s face. “I shall be Mrs Dawkins.” She says proudly but Jack shakes his head and for a moment her smile falters.
“No. No Belle you are going to be so much more than that.” Jack promises and Belle lets out a wet laugh, pulling his lips back to hers once again.
“Come on, they think you’ve gone to join the navy.” She says after a few moments, taking her hand in his.
Jack nods seriously and takes Belle’s arm in his as the two start to walk back to the hospital. It’s a walk they take in silence, a comfortable one. Belle spends much of the time with her head on Jack’s shoulder, letting the two take a relaxing stroll back to the hospital, embracing their time together. Both know they now have the freedom to spend their lives together, but so much time has already past they could have been together that they need to make up for, that they need to cherish every moment for their rest of their days.
-
When they walk into the hospital, they do not expect to see blood trailing along the entrance and both glance at each other, a matched painted look of worry on their faces. They don’t hesitate a moment more before they are running along the blood trail finding Sneed and Boxer both on separate beds, blood pooling dangerously around Sneed’s abdomen while Boxer looks ghostly. Hetty and several other nurses Jack knows as Lucy, Mary, Martha, and Chloe, are running between the two, the five of them looking far to stretched between Sneed, Boxer and the rest of the ward recovering from cholera.
“Hetty, what do you need us to do?” Belle questions quickly, joining the newly appointed charge nurse next to Sneed who takes a deep breath and looks between the two men.
“Both need surgery but we don’t have the surgeons to do it, not with only one theatre and Jack gone.” Hetty shakes her head, eyes darting across the room and meeting Jack who’s standing in the door way. “Or not.” She shakes her head, telling herself to find the time to be annoyed at Jack at a later time.
“Hetty get Sneed into the operating theatre and the room where Red had her baby, get some sawdust and surgical tools in there.” Jack instructs quickly and Hetty directs Lucy and Martha to do as Jack asked with a quick click of her fingers.
“Chloe, Mary, help me get Sneed into theatre.” She then instructs sharply and turns back to Jack.
“Belle you operate on Sneed, see if there is any internal damage and then close him up to stop the bleeding.” Jack instructs, get a sharp nod from Belle who disappears to get herself ready for surgery. Jack then turns to Boxer, looking him over for a moment. He knew if the break where to snap again, Boxer could blead out from his femoral artery and takes a deep breath. He and Belle can only do one patient at a time and knows Sneed needs Belle’s expertise more than Boxer does. “Hetty go find Tim.” Jack instructs and Hetty nods and goes to find him, despite the confusion on his face. “Molly, Kathy!” Jack shouts towards the two nurses at the end of the ward who both run towards him, “Help me get Boxer into the theatre.” He instructs and both girls nod, positioning themselves to lift him into the room, “Be careful of his leg, any wrong move and he’ll bleed out.” Jack instructs, receiving serious nods.
Together, they manage to get Boxer into surgery, Molly using ether to put the man at ease, Jack getting Kathy to spray the carbolic acid when and where needed. Luckily for him, Hetty and Tim join him a minute later, Tim looking at Jack confused for a moment.
“You know the cauterising tool you were working on?” Jack questions and Tim nods, “We need it now, working or not.” Jack states urgently and Tim nods before running off. Jack watches as Hetty joins his side, handing him his scalpel, smiling professionally.
“Welcome back doctor.” She nods as Jack cuts.
-
Six hours. Six hours Jack had spent trying to fix the break to Boxer’s leg and stopping him from bleeding out on the table. And he’d done it. It was long and difficult but he and Tim had gotten the cauterising tool to work just long enough to stop the bleeding and though not as good as it could be, or as precise as it could be, it did the job and Jack is 95% sure that Boxer is going to make it. With stern supervision and rest, Jack is sure he shall make it. His walking will be greatly limited, his reliance on a cane even more so, but he’ll live. Jack sighs, feeling himself sink down onto the floor of the surgical theatre, watching as Molly, Kathy, and Hetty all clean up around him.
The worst part is they don’t know who did it. Who would kill a doctor and a detective in a hospital? Jack shakes his head, that is something only Boxer and Sneed knows and for their sake Jack prays they live. Jack watches as Boxer is taken out the room to his own private one and just as Boxer is wheeled out, Belle walks in, her forearms and hands drenched in blood and Jack is quick to his feet, jogging over to her, taking her hands in his.
“Is he?” Jack questions carefully and Belle shakes her head.
“No, no. He, he should live. Hopefully.” Belle nods but Jack studies her for a moment, “He lost too much blood. I stitched everything up, he’s stopped bleeding but he lost too much.” Belle shakes her head and Jack nods, pulling her into a hug.
“What if I give him blood?” Jack offers and Belle looks at him concerned. She knows they’ve tried it before, and they had succeeded but Jack had almost passed out. “Belle if it is the way he lives, I should do it.” Jack presses and Belle sighs, she knows he’s right. Of course he’s right but that does not mean she has to like it.
“Damn you.” She sighs but nods.
-
20 minutes later, Jack is next to Sneed, blood transfusing from his arm to Sneed’s and he hopes this works. He and Sneed may not get on, but he does respect Sneed despite popular opinion, as a peer anyway. Belle wasn’t wrong when she said Sneed has lost to much blood, he’s as pale as Jack’s shirt, his breathing laboured in an unnatural way that makes Jack want to be sick.
“Jack, eat.” Belle instructs, sitting down next to him, handing him a small slice of cake. “My mother had our cook make her as many sweet things as possible,” Belle explains and Jack nods, feeling slightly lightheaded. “Jack you cannot give much more,” she then states, looking in his eyes for a minute and Jack nods, knowing better than to argue with her.
Another five minutes pass before Belle tells Jack firmly he is not allowed to give anymore and Jack nods, feeling the world around him spin for a minute. Belle checks over Sneed for a moment, checking for any improvements and she can see some more colour back in his cheeks and smiles. He should live. Belle then turns back to Jack who looks close to passing out, eyes closing slowly, head bobbing while he tries to stay awake.
“Eat.” Belle tells him, taking a small part of the cake onto the fork, feeding it to Jack, something he happily accepts. “Go lie down for a little while.” She adds once Jack has eaten most of the cake, helping him to his feet, feeling the way he collapses into her slightly. Luckily for her, Hetty sees the two and takes Jack’s left side, helping Belle guide him into the room next to Sneed’s, placing him down gently. “Oh you stupid idiot.” Belle sighs, sitting on the bed next to him, taking his hand in hers.
“Yeah but you love me,” Jack smiles sleepily and Belle nods. “I’m sorry, this probably isn’t how you wanted us to spend our first night free together.” He adds, looking at Belle sweetly and she nods.
“No, but you saved two people today.” She promises, leaning down to kiss his cheek softly and runs her hand through his hair affectionately.
“Lay down with me.” Jack whispers, using all his strength to move over for Belle to have enough space and who is Belle to deny him. She kicks her shoes off and shuffles out of her dress, settling under the blanket next to Jack, feeling him wrap his arm around her even in his weakness. “I love you Belle Fox.” Jack mumbles, voice thick with sleep.
“I love you too, Jack Dawkins.” Belle responds, feeling her own eyes grow heavy, letting herself slip into sleep.
-
Belle wakes up the next morning to Hetty knocking on the door gently, a sympathetic smile on her face. Belle smiles and turns to see Jack is still asleep and decides to let him. She slips out the bed and into her dress and follows Hetty out the room.
“So? How are they?” She questions, pulling her hair back into a neat plait.
“Boxer has woken up, Jack did a good job. He’ll need to be off the leg for a while and we are keeping him topped up with morphia to help the pain.” Hetty explains as they walk through the hospital, “And the blood Jack gave Sneed seems to working, he has yet to wake up but he’s going in the right direction.” Hetty continues and Belle lets out a relieved nod. “And your mother wants you.” Hetty states, both stopping in their tracks. Belle nods carefully, giving Hetty a thankful touch to the arm and walks down to her mother’s room, finding her mother sat up right, her father next to her, both talking in low tones.
“Mother.” Belle makes her presence known and both her parents turn their head to her, soft smiles on their faces. “Are you feeling ok?” she asks, making her way over.
“Yes, yes dear I am well.” Lady Jane nods, “We wanted to find out how it went with Dr Dawkins.” She says and Belle feels herself smile.
“I caught up to him before he left.” Belle answers, “But he’s asleep at the moment. Sneed and Boxer were attacked last night and Jack gave Sneed some blood after operating on Boxer for six hours.” She explains, seeing her parents’ faces fall. “Boxer and Sneed are doing good. They should make a full recovery.” She adds hopefully, seeing their faces relax.
“Well, when he is feeling well, we would like to have a conversation with him.” Lady Jane states seriously and Belle nods, taking a small gulp, telling herself it will be ok. Her father has given Jack a full pardon, she doesn’t need to fear for his life. The moment is interrupted when there’s a loud crashing from the hallway and Belle finds herself out the room before thinking. Outside, she finds Aputi, Flashbang, and Rotty all looking frantic.
“Where’s Jack!” Flashbang half shouts.
“Upstairs, sleeping.” Belle answers cautiously, “Why?”
“Fagin’s dead!” Aputi yells back as they sprint up the stairs, Belle quickly following after them. Fagin was dead? When? He couldn’t’ve got cholera, he and Jack share the same water source and Jack is fine. They reach the top and Aputi is the first in the door, their noise having Jack awake instantly as he shoots up, looking around the room for a moment. “Jack, we’ve got something tell you.” Aputi starts sorrowfully and pushes Rotty in front of him. Rotty huffs and shakes her head but sits down opposite Jack.
“Jack, Fagin, Fagin died this.” Rotty says, her voice low and Belle watches a moment, waiting to see Jack’s reaction. They may not have gotten on with each other some of the time, but he was still the closet thing that Jack had to a father, losing that cannot be easy.
“He’s not dead.” Jack answers, shaking his head.
“Jack,” Belle sighs, moving next to him.
“No, no, he’s not dead. I just gave him something to slow his heart rate so that toff from East India and Darius wouldn’t chop his head off.” Jack explains and Aputi, Flashbang, and Rotty all look at each other. “You didn’t bury him, did you?” he then questions and all three give slow nods. “Christ.” Jack mumbles.
“What do you mean?” Belle asks.
“He asked me to make him something to slow his heart so he didn’t get killed. And you idiots buried him!” Jack huffs.
“So he’s not dead?” Flashbang questions.
“No.” Jack answers shortly. “But he will be if we stand around long enough.” He adds, getting up from the bed, swaying slightly as he does, causing him to fall back onto the bed.
“Ok, Jack do not move so fast.” Belle steps in, taking hold of his shoulders.
“We’ll go get him!” Flashbang answers quickly and the three are out the room as quickly as they arrived (and as noisy if Belle says so). Once alone Belle looks down to Jack, he’s still a little pale but he looks much better than when they went to sleep. She knows he’ll be ok in a couple of days, but she still worries. They’ve just got each other back and she refuses to lose that.
“I can feel you glaring at me.” Jack mumbles, eyes looking up to her.
“I am not glaring.” Belle protests, “Just, watching.” She finishes, seeing a smile form on Jack’s face.
“Are you mad? Because of Fagin?” He questions and Belle takes a moment to think. It’s not the way she would have conducted the situation that’s for certain but it’s the way Jack did and she loves him for wanting to help.
“I’m not mad at you.” Belle decides and Jack looks at her confused. “You are always putting everyone but yourself first and I love you for that. I am, however, mad at Fagin for putting you in that position.” Belle explains and Jack nods.
“You should know that I, that was the last favour I ever do for Fagin.” Jack states, “I made it clear to him that I don’t want to be a part of that world any longer.” He smiles, “Belle I want to be your husband and not have to think twice about doing something before of its legalities. I want to question it because I know you probably have a better way of doing it.” Belle feels herself blush slightly, “I’m done with that life Belle.” He promises, pulling Belle into a soft kiss.
“I love you too.” Belle whispers once she pulls away. “Oh, and my parents want to talk to you.” Belle adds, seeing Jack’s face fall, “Don’t worry, they just want to talk. But I did tell them you were sleeping, so we have a few hours.” Belle tells him and Jack nods and Belle watches as he takes a few deep breaths. “I should get you something to eat, help with the light-headedness.” Belle states and Jack nods. Belle smiles and kisses Jack’s head softly.
-
“Belle, I don’t know if I can do this.” Jack sighs. They’ve put off Jack needing to talk to her parents long enough but there is so much patience Lady Jane has. Belle had gotten Jack a fresh pair of clothes and had tidied his hair for him. She has watched as his body has grown tense with each minute, felt his heart rate increase with each hour. He’d started pacing at one point, the nervous making him unable to sit still.
“Yes you can Jack.” Belle encourages, “I know you can. And my father has given you a pardon, she won’t go back on that.” Belle promises, taking Jack’s hands in hers. Jack nods, and leans down to place a soft kiss to Belle’s lips. “Now take a deep breath.” Belle guides Jack. “Ok, come on.” She nods, taking his hand and both walk into Lady Jane’s room.
Lady Jane and the Governor are in the same position that Belle had left them in. Their heads turns up to see Jack and Belle together, and Belle suddenly feels like she’s six and in trouble for knocking over the vase and makes sure to tighten her grip onto Jack’s head.
“Belle could you give us a moment alone.” Lady Jane turns to her daughter who looks between her parents and Jack. She gives Jack a comforting smile and a small peck to the cheek to leave the three alone. Once alone, the Governor invites Jack to sit in one of the spare chairs and he does so without saying a word. The three sit in silence for a moment, with Lady Jane as the first to speak, “So you intend to marry my daughter.” Jack nods.
“I know I don’t have much to offer, but I love her and intend to marry Belle.” Jack explains and the two nod.
“Well, as you do not have any financial means of supporting our daughter, there is only one thing the Governor can do.” Lady Jane says and Jack feels himself sit up straight. “Don’t we Governor.” She prompts, nudging her husband slightly.
“Ah, yes.” He nods, “Upon your exemplary work with the outbreak of cholera and work in saving the Governor’s wife, I hereby offer Dr Jack Dawkins a full pardon and the position of Head Surgeon at Port Victory Royal Hospital.” The Governor states firmly and Jack thinks for a moment he misheard.
“With a proper profession and salary, you have the financial means to support our daughter.” Lady Jane smiles and Jack nods.
“Thank you milady.” He smiles and Lady Jane nods courtly. “And thank you Governor.” He adds.
“Call me Edmund.” He smiles and Jack nods as he reaches out to shake Jack’s hand, to which Jack gladly accepts.
-
Belle paces anxiously outside her mother’s room. She knows her mother won’t go against her word but it still doesn’t make the situation any less tense. Belle looks over to the clock in the hallway, 10 minutes. They’ve only been in the room for 10 minutes and Belle feels like it’s an eternity. Belle rings her hands together, continuing to pace, her heals clicking on the floor rhythmically. Finally after what feels like forever (though is only 2 minutes) the door opens and Jack walks out.
“So?” Belle questions.
“Your father, he, he made me Head Surgeon.” Jack mumbles and Belle looks at him in disbelief for a minute.
“What?” she questions and Jack nods.
“Yeah, for, for saving your mother and the colony. I think the lack of other doctors helped.” Jack explains and Belle shakes her head.
“No Jack Dawkins, you did this because you are brilliant. You deserve Head Surgeon.” Belle promises and kisses Jack softly but notices Jack is not as happy as he should be, a hesitation in his face. She grabs his hand and pulls him into a cupboard, “What’s wrong?” she questions softly.
“Belle, I- I can’t do the administration, the books, the reports, the finances.” Jack whispers, eyes casting down and Belle nods, bringing his face up to hers.
“I can help. I will help you.” Belle promises and Jack nods, kissing her lips.
-
Hours later, Belle and Jack settle into the Head Surgeons office. They had walked into a messy, chaotic and also empty office. There was papers and documents all over the room, with no real order that Belle could make out. The walls were empty, no bookshelf in sight that Jack remembers the Professor having. Sneed’s desk was mostly empty, with only a few pens scattered in the drawers. With the help of Hetty, they order the documents and Jack brings in a few bookshelves Sneed had hidden away in the cupboard, Belle claiming to have enough books to fill the shelves and Jack believes her. It takes the rest of the day before there is order to the room and by the time they are done, the sun is just setting through the windows.
“Well Dr Dawkins, how are you liking your new office?” Belle questions, handing Jack a small glass of whiskey.
“I like it better with you in it.” Jack smiles, brining Belle down to his lap, a small giggle erupting from Belle. “See Belle, we are so much better together than apart.” He whispers, pressing their lips together.