Crossing Over

[Edward Barnabus]

"Please wait, Mrs. Walker," Nellie froze a moment in the shadows of the darkening street. She turned to see a young man in nice but ill fitting clothes and a handsome bowler that did not suit his suit. He was slowing from a short run to catch up to her.

"Edward Barnabus, ma'am," he removed his hat and found himself bowing in that stiff and formal way that Watson did. He hated that. "I was small the last time we saw one another. But my mum was Dierdre Barnabus and you done her a thousand kindnesses over the years. I remember how you sat with her and you made the most wonderful meat pies for me so I could eat when you weren't there.

"Do you remember me, Mrs. Walker? he worried at the brim of his hat, turning it in his fingers. "I know you and the Inspector are at cross purposes, but, please, ride with me at least until we cross the Thames. No one will see you there."

He gave her a knowing and consoling look.

"Please, Mrs. Nellie," he reminded her of his old familiarity. "It would soothe my soul a bit."

[Nellie Walker]

Nellie had walked swiftly off trying to remove the conversation she had just had from her mind.

"Please wait, Mrs. Walker," she stopped in her tracks, facing the boy that the shout had come from.

She knew his face but could not place him, that was until he mentioned where she knew him from. Dierdre Barnabus . A sadness filled her heart remembering what had happened to that poor woman. It was then the slight anger that had tensed her features dropped and instead she smiled at the young lad. “course i remember ya my love. How are ya doing? Ya poor thing.”

She took a breath, looking around. Before deciding to except the young lads request.
“Considerin’ it’s you my love, I will.” She smiled up at the lad. “ Ya work for ‘arry then?” She asked not caring for the social pleasantries now he was out of ear shot.

“Soothe ya soul?” She repeated. “Whats troublin’ ya love. It looks like ya’ve done well for yaself? “ She questioned making her way up to the young lad.

[Edward Barnabus]

“Whats troublin’ ya love. It looks like ya’ve done well for yaself? “ Nellie asked as Edward offered his arm to walk her to the carriage. He helped her up onto the driver's bench so they could talk as they drove.

"I'm all right," Edward shrugged as he moved around Butch to take the driver's seat. He stroked the beast's muzzle gently as he passed. He would never dare do that with Vanity. "It's just...I mean, it's been six months....

"After my mum was given to the ground, Watson took care of everything," Edward slapped the leather gently on Butch's haunches and the carriage moved forward. "He brought me in, sayin' the orphanages had no use for another healthy young man and the work houses were little better than prisons. He gave me a job. And responsibilities. I earn my bed and my bread. He works me hard at times, and at any hour. But, still, I think if I were just a small boy, he'd have done the same.

"But, he's kind of a hardcase," Edward seemed to be trying to come to a point. "Maybe that's how his Da was with him. Maybe it's just what happens when you got too much blood on your hands. I dunno. Or maybe it's because I'm a bo... a man... and he don't have no kid gloves for that sort of thing... because he sure does treat Mrs. Ambrose and Miss Jane especially gently... but..."

Edward seemed to lose his train of thought for a moment, but he recovered it.

"I guess I mean to say, he always tries to do the right thing, whether you like it or not," Edward was satisfied with the way he expressed himself. "But, that's just me complaining. What really breaks my heart a little is...

"I han't seen you in a little while and I never knew about no Albert. And you remind me of my mum in that you're kind and sweet," Edward looked straight ahead as he spoke. He seemed a little embarassed. "And I wasn't exactly spying on you and Jane, not like Watson, but I heard some things...

"Well, my mum used to get smudged up now and then. You remember. You helped her," Edward reminded her again as he grimaced. "Now that I'm seeing you again... I'd hate to think someone was smudging you like that and you had no one to help.

"I saw the mark on Miss Jane's face," Edward sat up straighter as he sighed. "I'll be true. I wanted to do just what Watson did, because I lo... Miss Jane is my friend.

"You're my friend, too," Edward nodded, his voice just a little deeper. "I guess I mean to say I intend to take it upon myself to look out for you the way you looked out for me. I feel like I owe that... to you, to Mum, to God.... even to Watson, I guess. I can't ever pay anyone back for what you've all done for me. I can only pay it forward.

"Does that make any sense?"

[Nellie Walker]

The situation with Edwards mother was a sad one, an extremely sad one. But the simple fact that the lad was earning an honest wage instead of pick pocketing and other rather illegal things to make money warmed Nellie’s heart. She listened ntently to the kind boy as he helped her up into the driver’s seat. She was happy to be speaking to someone that had such an happy view on life, even though he had seen the horrors in the world.

He gave me a job. And responsibilities. I earn my bed and my bread. He works me hard at times, and at any hour. But, still, I think if I were just a small boy, he'd have done the same.

Nellie Walker really could not get her head around this Harry Watson character, she could not see whether he was one of the good guys or one of the bad. She could not work out where he stood in this messy circle of violence. “That was good of him love, and no matter how ‘ard he works ya, it’s probably alot easier than riskin’ the gallows to earn.” She smiled a warm smile across at the young boy.

Or maybe it's because I'm a bo... a man... and he don't have no kid gloves for that sort of thing... because he sure does treat Mrs. Ambrose and Miss Jane especially gently... but..."

He was definitely a boy, he was not yet a man. That was Nellie’s first thought, but then again she still saw him as the young lad who she attempted to protect from the sordid affairs of his mothers occupation. Maybe after all he had been through, maybe Edward was a man and maybe this Watson was treating him as he saw fit. Like she had said his life was better with this inspector than it would have been without. “’e’s a proper gentleman love, and well they see ladies as special and men as men, he don’t mean nothin’ horrid it by it I’m sure.”

Nellie really didn’t want Edward to be so silly as to lose his employment simply because he was worked hard, the work was good for him.

What Edward said next made Nellie’s heart go cold, and her stomach tie into a knot. I'm seeing you again... I'd hate to think someone was smudging you like that and you had no one to help. Nellie took a deep breath, she was well aware of were this conversation was heading. It was heading to a place she never spoke about, never even thought about. And now this innocent young lad wanted to help her, her stopped with shock but it seemed to be warmed by Edwards caring nature.

"I'll be true. I wanted to do just what Watson did, because I lo... Miss Jane is my friend. Nellie took a deep breath, considering how to respond.

“Now,Now love. Violence wouldn’t become ya. And well ‘arry Watson scares the daylights outta me. I would never want you to act like he does. Ok?”

The thought of Edward trying to protect anyone worried her, he couldn’y hold his own in a fight, “I don’t want ya ever gettin’ involved with people like my Albert. Cause ya don’t ‘ave to know. Understand?” Her words were clear cut and strong, her motherly eyes on him as he drove. She tried not to think on the fact that she had used her husband as a bad example.

"Does that make any sense?"

The poor lad was simply trying to do what was right and it warmed her heart but Nellie Walker could not have such a thing.

“I understand completely ma love, but you ‘ave to understand me, ya no longer ave to deal with bullies’ and violence now ya work for Mr Watson, and neither me or yam am would want that life for ya. I understand I am ya friend, and I am your’s and ya know i’ll do anythin’ to look out for ya love. And I love the fact tha’ ya wanna look after me. But my ‘usband looks out for me. And I’m ‘appy with you lookin’ after ya self as much as ya can. Like I said ya’ave a good life for yaself, no need to mess that up with things ya think yar obligated ta do.”

Nellie truly did not want this young sweet boy to go attempting to look out for her, when that person he would have to protect her from was Albert.
“Understand?” She asked, again her eyes on his face whilst he stared at the road.

[Edward Barnabus]

"...Like I said ya’ave a good life for yaself, no need to mess that up with things ya think yar obligated ta do.” Nellie watched his face as he drove. "Understand?"

"I understand," Edward agreed, a bit crestfallen but otherwise undisturbed. He looked up and pointed to the Tower Bridge as they left the trees. It was well lit and they could already see dozens walking the span, strolling really, enjoying the warm evening.

"There are thriteen arches in the span," Edward explained, seeing the majority of the span from their vantage. Once they passed the railway tower, all they would see would be the cobbled span itself. "Mum used to tell me about when she was barely a young woman, when they were building the new bridge, that the old bridge was still up. So, for about a year, there was two bridges. But, then, they demolished the old bridge. Took it apart, piece by piece."

Then, he pointed toward the center of the span, where the drawbridge was raised to allow the passage of a schooner. In the warmer months, the bridge spent as much time up as it did down. As Nellie craned to wonder at the sight, Edward slipped a few folded pound notes into her little hand bag.

"You know, there's an opera tomorrow night and I get to stay in the wings as I'm a driver and they have a little place for us to wait and play at cards," Edward suggested as it occurred to him. "I could say you're Miss Jane's governess and that you're with me. We won't be able to see the performers, but we can still hear the music. And they make sandwiches for us all. Some of the drivers bring their wives. It'll be fun.

"My mum always talked about taking me to a matinee," Edward shrugged as he turned the carriage toward the span. "Wanna go with me?"

[Nellie Walker]

Nellie’s attention looked like it was on the bridge as the young lad spoke, she let the boy reminisce but her thought process was on other things. For example somehow telling Albert that she had been to see Jane, and made things worse not better. He wouldn’t be happy and it wasn’t silly for her to feel anxious at such a prospect.

She craned her neck to look at what Edward wanted her to see, it was quite interesting, she looked for a few moments. She turned and smiled at the boy to say thanks of a sort.

What Edward was describing sounded lovely, she had heard Jane say she was going. These two youngsters were really enjoying the finer things in life, and Nellie couldn’t help but be happy for the pair. They’d worked the way up from the crime and grubbiness that Nellie still found herself.

"Wanna go with me?"

Her smile broadened. “Really, you sure you’d like me to come?” Nellie asked, her features lighting up with happiness. “I ‘ave never even been near such a place, I would love ta come sit wif ya. It does sound fun.”

She’d have to make some excuse upto Albert else he’d tag along.

[Edward Barnabus]

“Really, you sure you’d like me to come?” Nellie asked, her features lighting up with happiness. “I ‘ave never even been near such a place, I would love ta come sit wif ya. It does sound fun.”

"Oh, it is!" the young boy Nellie remembered emerged at that moment, his smile all dimples. "I have to bring Miss Jane there early... oh, and Watson, too... so, you know, they can mingle... haha... so bourgeois."

He laughed with a strangely bitter grin.

"I'll come get you wherever you want," he came back to life again. "I'll pack a picnic and we can listen from the scaffolds.

"I know the 'curtain man'," Edward tried to impress her with his connections. "We'll see and hear everything. Except... y'know... from the back."

He shrugged and smiled. His expression softened to melancholy, then to thoughtfulness.

"Mrs. Ambrose, she's my... she's... my friend," Edward finally decided and confirmed it with a nod. "Well, after the wedding... sigh... Mrs. Ambrose will be retiring to Milford Havens and since no one seems to be thinking about what to do then...

"I'm only sayin', if you maybe felt like..." Edward was having a hard time expressing himself, but he kept at it. "Like maybe ya' got... nowhere else to go...

"Watson is gonna need someone to manage the place....

"Just a thought," he shrugged sheepishly. "I mean, he already knows you an' I think he likes you."

[Nellie Walker]

She sat listening to the lad attempting to impress her but her thoughts were in other places. She was worried someone she knew would see her. That could mean trouble she’d rather avoid. Although once again she tried to get rid of such
uncomfortable thoughts.

“Well Thanks for invitin’ me love, it does sound fun.”

Watson is gonna need someone to manage the place...

Nellie sighed before she could stop herself, realising it may offend the lad. She turned and smiled at him although it didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Thats a lovely idea love but your Watson aint really a fan of mine. Neither him or your Jane really understand somethings and they’ve put me in a bad light. And although that job would be a welcome change. I doubt very much ‘arry would like tha’. I doubt he’d like the fact that your chatting with me sweet.”

She shrugged her shoulders, looking back at him. “Nice thought though.” She muttered, turning to admire the view.

As they drove Nellie’s eyes caught those of someone she recognised. “Bugger.” She mumbled, tying her shawl around her head.

“Just a little further love then I rekon I’m best walkin’ the rest.”
Her eye’s kept glancing back, hoping that wasn’t who she thought it was.

[Edward Barnabus]

“Just a little further love then I rekon I’m best walkin’ the rest.”

Edward became sympathetically paranoid as Nellie made herself small and unnoticeable. He urged Butch with a light snap of the reins and after crossing over the Bridge, Edward moved across the Lower Thames Road and turned onto Maiden Lane. As the street was largely warehousing and it being night, it was a fairly unused path. It also wound it's way back to the Lower Thames Road having by-passed all the pubs, dramatically reducing Nellie's risk of discovery.

"You're husband and Watson aren't all that different," Edward said out of the blue, keeping his eyes forward and wary. "They make people do what they want. That's what it really all comes down to. And neither of them are beneath assault to force their way. And I say they're bullies.

"But there is a big difference that changes the color of their hats, so to speak," Edward faced Nellie and her smallness made him sad. "Watson would never... force... Jane. He would never strike her. Or Mrs. Ambrose.

"Or me," Edward decided that that was the truth. He was really only just understanding that about the man he did not like but owed everything. Watson was on his side.

"And he would strike down anyone else who did," he laughed an ironic laugh. "He's a bully, I'm still saying. But, I guess, I'm also saying, he's a bully of bullies. I've never seen or heard of him doing harm to anyone who han't earned it.

"Mr. Walker earned it," he confirmed his opinion with a nod, his eyes large and earnest in the dimness of the moonlit street. "And there's more to come if any dare threaten Miss Jane again.

"Any, Mrs. Nellie," Edward emphasized his point. "He's a man to do terrible things if he's given good reason. And never for something as real as money. But for the sake of Innocence and Justice... I'll say that he can be a cure that is worse than the sickness.

"He isn't like us, Mrs. Nellie," Edward explained, looking suddenly expectantly down the street, his eyes alert, drawing the focus of Nellie. She would discover the pound notes he had slipped into her hand bag at some point and she would know what he had done. Too late, though, Edward smiled to himself. He was on a real winning streak on the card barrel. It was nice to spread good fortune. Watson, he suddenly realised. That was exactly what Watson was doing. With Mrs. Ambrose, then Jane. Then him. And Edward was starting to understand why he did it. It just... felt good. He continued to talk the man down, though.

"He's put too many men in the ground to see things they way regular folk do," Edward shook his head. "Like Mr. Walker, he's lashed out or struck down at any who would stand in their way. They're just... bullies.

"But if you had my bully," Edward made his final point. "You wouldn't be afraid to go home right now.

"I'll get you here tomorrow about five, okay?" Edward asked, his smile more cheerful.

[Nellie Walker]

Uncertainty made Nellie nervous, it caused her stomach to clench with anxiety. At this moment Nellie was surrounded with uncertainty. She wasn’t sure what Albert was up to, why he was hassling the inspector, and what Jane’s mother truly wanted. Nor was she certain as to how much she should have said to Jane. But the issue that was really causing her anxiety was the small fact that she was almost certain they had just driven past Charlie. Plus she guessed if Albert found out that she had got a lift back, he’d question what she had said to the copper. Albert didn’t think clearly at the best of times. She shrank back into her seat, pulling her shawl tighter across her shoulders.

Edwards’s choice of conversation took her aback. She turned to face him, slightly open mouthed. She thought about arguing or contradicting, she opened her mouth several times to deny it. However there was little point, everthing they young lad said was in the most part true. And all this made Nellie feel awful, she couldn’t demy blatant truth. She placed her head in her hands for a moment, taking a deep breath, shaking her head slightly.

"And there's more to come if any dare threaten Miss Jane again. Any, Mrs. Nellie, He's a man to do terrible things if he's given good reason. And never for something as real as money. But for the sake of Innocence and Justice... I'll say that he can be a cure that is worse than the sickness.”

“The amount of times I’ve been told what Watson will do. What do you want me to do Eddie,” Her voice became clearer as she lifted her head from her hands, turning to face the young lad again, her eyes wet with tears that she refused to let fall. “I can’t do anything about Albert; he’ll do what he wants.” She sniffed, squaring her shoulders, trying to sit a little straighter. “But that’s not your problem, it aint no one’s problem but mine.” She smiled, her eyes still sad.

You wouldn't be afraid to go home right now. She shrugged, trying to act as if she indifferent. “I’m not” She stated, failing to sound genuine.

"I'll get you here tomorrow about five, okay?"

She mimicked his cheerful smile, attempting to shake off the serious conversation . “Five, I shall see ya ‘ere, thanks very much love. Lookin’ forward to it.” She smiled brightly, as the carriage stopped. She stepped down, quickly glancing round.