Safe at Last!!
The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles
Should I send this to FOCS or not?
YES
100%
 100%  [ 23 ]
NO
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Total Votes : 23

#1: Safe at Last!! Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:28 am

This is a fill in to Exile, and comes after the missing chapter.
The bunny bit me in the car on the way back from visiting my grandmother on Friday, and it was written in the dark according to whether the motorway had lights or not!!!
I'm debating whether to send it in to FOCS, and would appreciate everyone's opinions!!!




The taxi pulled into the station forecourt, and drew to a stop directly outside the main entrance. Jack Maynard paid the driver and, catching a passing porter to deal with the luggage, proceeded to lift Miss Wilson into his arms, as her injured foot had still not recovered enough from the strain of their escape to support her weight, despite her protests to the contrary! Joey seized on the bundle of coats and rug, while Robin took charge of the books and magazines. The porter was striding ahead of them, bearing the two suitcases and the large hamper containing food for their journey. Jack hastened after him, bearing Miss Wilson, and the two girls hurried to keep up.
Within a few short minutes, Jack had the party settled in a private compartment on the train for Lausanne, and directed the porter in stowing the luggage onto the overhead racks.
As the train moved off, both Jack, and Nell Wilson were relieved to see some of the strain lifting from Joey. She was still edgy, and inclined to be nervous, but she had relaxed considerably with the realisation that they were finally on their way, and that she would soon be reunited with her beloved sister. (Although the tension would not lift entirely until they had reached their destination)
Jack suggested a game of cards to help pass the time, and the four companions started a lively round of Rummy, which continued until they realised with a certain amount of surprise, that the train was entering the outskirts of Lausanne. They hurried to pack up their belongings once more, and by the time the train drew to a halt, they were ready to disembark.
Jack engaged the services of a porter to carry the luggage once more, whilst he himself swung Nell into his arms once again, and proceeded across the station, to the platform where the Paris train awaited them, with Joey and Robin hurrying to keep pace with his long strides.
Reaching the train, they settled themselves in the sleeper compartment which Jack had booked. The train had been steaming towards Paris for about half an hour when Jo suddenly looked at her watch and gave vent to an exclamation.
"Good heavens! It's nearly half past seven! No wonder I'm so hungry. Shall I open the basket, so we can have a bite to eat?"
This suggestion met with full agreement from the others, and Jack pulled the basket down and, opening it up, they were soon tucking into sandwiches and cakes.
Finishing their meal, the four companions settled down to read for a short while. Jack had settled Nell along the bench seat on one side of the compartment, with her legs up, to rest the bad foot. Joey was settled on the opposite seat, with her head resting on Jack's shoulder, and his arm wrapped gently around her shoulders and Robin was curled up at her other side.
At ten o'clock, Jack suggested that it might be time to settle down for the night. Stretching up, he tugged down the two upper bunks, and helped first Robin, and then Joey, up into them, where they rolled themselves in their travelling rugs, and snuggled down to sleep. He helped Nell to settle herself, before taking his place on the remaining bunk, stretching out, once he had turned out the light.
Joey was the first to rouse the next morning, just as the train entered the suburbs of Paris, and she hurried to wake the others. By the time the train pulled into the Gare du Nord, all four were packed up and ready to go, having made use of the tiny washroom at the end of the carriage to wash their hands and faces and tidy their hair.
Jack made inquiries and discovered that they had an hour and a half before they needed to board their train for St Malo. So they entrusted their luggage to a porter and, taking a taxi, found a nearby cafe where they could have breakfast.
After a leisurely meal, the four travellers returned to the station to reclaim their luggage and board their train. The journey to St Malo passed fairly quickly, and without incident, and they reached the port at 1 o'clock, which left them with just enough time to have lunch at a small restaurant, before boarding the boat.
The knowledge that she was so close to being reunited with her beloved sister made Jo somewhat inclined to overexcitement, and Jack was more than a little concerned that she would work herself into a nervous fever before they reached their destination. Luckily, however, Robin proved to be a calming influence on her adopted sister, persuading Jo to sit down with her and talk quietly, whenever she became slightly agitated.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime to all of them, the boat drew into the harbour at St Peterport. As they docked, Joey raced to the railing, and was hanging over it, scanning the cluster of people on the quayside, looking for her sister's face. She was destined for disappointment in her quest however, as the only familiar face was that of her brother-in-law, Jem Russell.
As soon as the docking procedure was completed, and the gangplank lowered, Jo raced along it and onto dry land, where she flung herself on Jem, whose response was to clasp her in a tight hug.
"Well, Joey-girl," he said, his voice trembling with emotion, "thank goodness we have you safe again!"
Jo hugged him tightly, and then drew back, intending to ask why her sister wasn't there to meet her, but she was interrupted by the sound of flying footsteps as, with a shout of "Oncle Jem!", Robin, reverting to the childhood name in her excitement, flung herself at her guardian.
Jem hugged the schoolgirl closely,
"Welcome home Robinette!" He said, casting a trained eye over the child, "Well, I can't say your adventure seems to have done you much harm, after all that, thank heavens!" He exclaimed.
Setting her back on her feet, he turned to greet Jack, who was coming down the gangway, with Nell in his arms.
"Jack, I owe you more than I can say for taking such good care of our girls for us!" He said to the younger man, with a slight break in his voice.
Jack turned a serious gaze on his friend and colleague.
"Well, they will be my girls too, as soon as I can make the arrangements for the wedding!" He said, with a smile.
"Even so, Madge and I are more grateful than words can even begin to express."
At the mention of her sister's name, Jo butted into the conversation.
"Speaking of Madge," she said urgently, "where is she? Why isn't she here? She's all right isn't she?"
"Calm down Jo," said Jem, with a chuckle, "Madge isn't here because, as yet, she has no idea you are here! As far as she knows, you are all still in Switzerland."
"What?" Gasped Jo, "But why haven't you told her?"
"I thought we'd surprise her!" Jem grinned, "Plus she'd have worked herself up into a frenzy of excitement, and that would be very bad for her in her condition!"
Jo's eyes widened, and she looked questioningly at Jem, who nodded confirmation, before turning to greet Nell Wilson.
"Welcome to Guernsey, Nell." He said with a smile, " I apologise for my rudeness in not greeting you sooner."
Nell grinned back at him,
"Well, it was more Jo's fault than yours!" She said wickedly, chuckling at Jo's gasp of indignation.
Jem's eyes strayed to Nell's foot, which was still bandaged quite heavily,
"We must see what can be done about that foot of yours once we get home." He said with a frown, "And speaking of home, that is where we should be heading, otherwise Madge will be wondering what has become of me!" With which, he hustled them towards the car and, once everyone was packed in, and the luggage safely stowed, whirled them away to the pretty farmhouse, where his wife and sister would be busy puttinbg the children to bed.
Jem stopped the car at the gate, and ushered the new arrivals through the front door, and into the Salon, where he found everyone seats, and provided drinks, grinning as he noticed Jack restraining Jo from flying off in search of her sister.
Crossing to the door, he lifted his voice and called up the stairs,
"Madge, dearest, I'm home!"
An answering call echoed from the direction of the nursery,
"Jem! At last! I was starting to worry about you, you've been so long. I'll be down in five minutes or so."
Jem grinned, and called again,
"I think you'll be down sooner than that! I have someone, several someones in fact, here to see you....."
He chuckled wickedly, as he heard a muffled exclamation from his wife, swiftly followed by her hasty descent of the stairs.
"James Francis Russell!" She hissed at him, "Whatever were you thinking of, bringing guests home without giving me any warning?"
Jem surveyed his wife, noting the grey threads in her dark brown hair, and the faint lines of worry, both of which had appeared since their experiences with Nazidom, and slipped his arm around her,
"I think you'll forgive me when you see who our guests are!" He chuckled, unappologetically, before swinging open the door to the Salon, to reveal the occupants of the room.
Madge took one step into the room, and stopped dead, staring incredulously across the room. There was a small scuffle, and then Jo flew across the room, grabbing her sister into a bear hug. The two sisters clung together, sobbing with joy, for the next five minutes, while the others looked on fondly, and waited for the pair to regain their senses.
Eventually, the two drew apart, and Madge turned her attention to Robin, who had held back her own excitement to allow the sisters to have their reunion.
"Robin! Come here mein Blumchen!" Madge cried, sweeping the girl into her arms and holding her closely. Madge then reached out an arm to draw Jo back to her, and the three clung together for several minutes.
The remainder of the evening was spent in telling the stories of their respective escapes from Tyrol, until finally, at midnight, Jem put his foot down, and sent everyone to bed.
It was left to Jo, as usual, to have the final word on the matter. As she reached the top of the stairs, she stopped to survey the others, and said in a voice choked with happy tears,
"We're safe at last!"

 

#2:  Author: Rachel, Location: Plotting in my lair; sometimes in Hampshire, England, UK, Europe, Earth, Milky Way, Universe PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:25 am

Vikki! That's lovely! Now if you can produce this much in one journey, why on earth is it taking you so long to produce anything more of a certain other drabble?


Rachel the Quidditch

 

#3:  Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:34 am

That was great Vikki. Submit it for sure.

 

#4:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 1:35 am

Well, this was a 'sudden-inspiration-short-story-plot-bunny' They're an entirely different breed!!!
But thank you for the compliment!! Embarassed Embarassed

 

#5:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:26 am

Rachel wrote:
Vikki! That's lovely! Now if you can produce this much in one journey, why on earth is it taking you so long to produce anything more of a certain other drabble?


Rachel the Quidditch


*giggles* I told Vikki that would happen!

 

#6:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 8:06 am

Wonderful Vikki, of course you should submit it!

*Echoes comments about non-appearance of certain other drabble! Razz *

 

#7:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:58 am

Beautiful, Vikki - I've always wanted to see that reunion

*also echoing previous comment s about submitting and delivering more on other drabble!*

 

#8:  Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:27 am

that's great Vikki. Very much in keeping with the book. I know EBD couldn't show every little incident or the books would have been too long but that is one episode she should have shown - especially as she included lots of less important bits. go for it!

 

#9:  Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:56 am

Vikki that's lovely - definitely send it to FOCS.

 

#10:  Author: keren as guest,  PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 11:36 am

lovely story and moving too
of course you should send it in

 

#11:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:31 pm

Vikki - that is lovely, you absolutely must send it to FOCS.
And my eyes are only watery because this ****** cold keeps hanging around, honest.

 

#12:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:40 pm

Vikki, that was very moving.
*Reaches into the tissue box*

Do submitt it. I might even scrape together my subscription and rejoin so I can see it.

 

#13:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:37 pm

I think the votes say everythinh, Vikki. Go ahead and send it - it's great.

 

#14:  Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 4:12 pm

I do like that Vikki. I definitely think you should give it to FCOS.

 

#15:  Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right! PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 4:48 pm

definitely submit - at the end of the day what'd the worse they can do ? They can only say no but its a lovely story - go for it

 

#16:  Author: Chloë, Location: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:19 pm

As i told you in the email the story is great and yay to having got the first read of it Very Happy

 

#17:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:26 pm

*sits in the corner blushing scarlet at all this praise!!!*
*small voice* Thank you everyone!!!

 

#18:  Author: Chloë, Location: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:31 pm

Don't be embrassed its a good story Vikki!

 

#19:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 8:29 pm

Well done, Vikki! That was lovely. I needed a tissue too!
Definitely send it in (not that it does me much good as im not a FOCS member) but it'll do wonders for your confidence if they accept it and then maybe you can get back to THAT drabble! Laughing

 

#20:  Author: Sophie, Location: Cambridegeshire PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:22 pm

That was so atmospheric, it filled in something I've wondered about ever since I read Exile. I so enjoyed it. Do send it in, I think it will satisfy a lot of people's curiosity. reading

 

#21:  Author: Mandy, Location: Derry, N.Ireland PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 11:27 pm

pass the tissues please.

Vikki you have to send this in, you've captured it exactly right. I was able to loose myself in it right away.

I did think when Jo went for the sandwiches that they were going to be left on the other train, thank god you didn't.

 

#22:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:13 am

I really do with that Liss would start a section of her site called Fanfic Fill-ins, for stories like this that give details EBD didn't!

 

#23:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:06 am

Okay, thank you all for being so lovely, although it's really not that good!! But I think I WILL send it to FOCS! (If I can find my courage!!)

 

#24:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:50 am

*packages up courage and sends it off*

 

#25:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:48 pm

Thanks KB, but when I opened the parcel, it jumped out and ran off to hide......

 

#26:  Author: Chloë, Location: London: when away from home planet! PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:50 pm

*drags the courage out of its hiding place and takes it back to Vikki*

 

#27:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 8:04 pm

*thanks Chloë, and ties up the courage so it can't escape again!!!*

 

#28:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 2:43 am

Vikki that story is so beautiful. It really fits in with the book. PLEASE send it to FOCS.

 

#29:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 2:52 am

*huggles Sue!!*
Thank you honey!
I'm pretty sure that I am going to, of course, whether they want it is another matter!!!

 

#30:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 7:01 am

Of course they will! They're not silly!

 

#31:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:58 pm

*blushing again* Embarassed Embarassed

 

#32:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 9:13 pm

Aw! *huggles to Vikki*

 

#33:  Author: Nicole, Location: New Zealand PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 8:16 am

Vikki - this was absolutely awesome Smile Smile
If you haven't already sent it to FOCS do so now!!

 

#34:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 4:29 pm

I was wondering whether eventually we could all scrape together enough of these EBD-ish short story fill ins to send to GGB for a collection. eg, another example that comes to mind (besides this one) is Ray's? interview between Hilda and Grizel in Carola, and there are others.

 

#35:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:52 pm

Thank you Nicole!! *blushes*
I'm still getting round to sending it!!! Embarassed

Lisa, that's an idea, although I think Rachael wrote the Hilda/Grizel interview, not Ray!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong!!!

 

#36:  Author: claire, Location: SOUTH WALES PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 8:19 pm

It's lovely Vikki send it (unless you plan on expanding it and writing CS in Guernsey, covering all the missing months in exile, Jo's wedding etc, in which case save it till then)

 

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