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Mary came back to her work at hospital, though Mason tried to talk her into staying home, "You are Mason Capwell's wife!"
"And I will work," Mary insisted. "I like my work. People need me!"
"What about me," Mason pouted. "I need you, too."
"And I am with you," said Mary with a smile and kissed him passionately.
Mason laughed. "You do know how to persuade people. Okay — but no night shifts!"
"I promise!" Mary agreed.
When Mary was away, Mason would spend time at the stables. He looked after horses, he ordered two more Arabian colts. Just like a usual groom he cleaned the stables and the horses and gave them food.
Mason was quite satisfied with his life, but once when he was looking through papers in his desk he found a draft of the latest speech he'd delivered in court, his latest case he'd completed before the accident. It was a magnificent speech, Mason easily convinced the judge and the jury — it was a ravishing feeling he would never experience, never again.
Mason crushed the papers in his hand. Only now he started realizing how much he missed his work. He'd always loved those complicated matters, when you have only a couple of hands and need to build a logical chain and get to the heart of it. It was a magic feeling when suddenly you had a clear picture of the events. And the speeches in court — there was no one like Mason to use his eloquence — and win! The intoxicating feeling of victory. How well he loved it. And he was never ever to feel it again.
A spasm blocked Mason's throat, tears came upon his eyes.
CC peeped into the room, "Mason, good you're here, I wanted to discuss — Mason, what's wrong?" he said with alarm, seeing the state his son was in.
"I am sorry," said Mason huskily not even trying to understand what his father wanted. He got up abruptly and ran out.
CC took the crumpled papers, and one look at them was enough to tell him what was wrong. He had been afraid Mason would feel this way as he knew how much Mason's work meant for him.
CC rushed out after his son, but Mason was not to be found.
Mary was coming back home from work, and CC met her at the threshold.
"Mary, thank God you're here."
"Is anything wrong with Mason?" Mary asked.
"Yes," and CC told her everything.
"We need to find him," Mary explained.
"But where?"
"I think I know…"
Mary hurried to the beach. Almost at once she found the lonely figure sitting on the sand. Mary approached Mason and, kneeling beside him, touched his shoulder. He turned to look at her, "Mary — I am sorry. I'm just…" He stopped short, and there was such anguish in his eyes that Mary's own eyes got filled with tears.
"Honey — I understand everything. You feel so down — I just wish I could help you," she patted his cheek tenderly.
"You are helping — you're with me." Mason hugged her and hid his face in her hair. "You love me."
They spent a while in silence sitting on the beach till it was quite dark and cold.
When they came back home Mason said he wanted no dinner and complained of a headache. He went straight to bed and fell asleep immediately.
And at night the nightmare came back upon Mason again, the dream he'd almost forgotten. This time it seemed so much more intense. Mason was tossing in bed, sobbing, and Mary could not wake him up.
CC came, "You need help?"
"Yes! CC, please try to wake him, and I'll call Dr Roberts!"
CC shook his son by the shoulders but it was useless. Then CC slapped Mason's cheek, hard, and then the other cheek. Mason opened his eyes and, with some difficulty, focused on CC. Then he looked around and groaned hoarsely, "Mary — Where's Mary?"
Mary ran up to him, "I'm here — it's okay."
She threw her arms round Mason's neck and exclaimed, "But you're all hot!"
"Have you called the doctor?" CC asked anxiously.
"Yes, he's coming."
"I'll let him in!"
CC rushed downstairs, just in time to open the door to Dr Roberts.
Dr Roberts examined Mason, made an injection and Mason fell asleep again. Having talked to Mary about the previous day's events, Roberts said reassuringly, "Never mind, it's just a little cold. Just combined with a nervous reaction, I guess, that's where the fever comes from. He needs a depressant rather than a febrifuge… So, Mary, you have a patient here, so we won't need you at the hospital for a few days. I will be visiting."
He gave Mary some medicines for Mason and instructed her how to use them, and then Dr Roberts left.
CC suggested that Mary have a rest but she shook her head, "I couldn't sleep."
CC looked at his sleeping son and sighed, "It must be very hard — he's a born attorney."
"He is," Mary agreed thoughtfully. "We must come up with something. After all, working with papers you don't need hearing."
CC shook his head.
"I asked him to work with the documents of the Capwell Enterprises; he refused."
Mary rubbed her forehead wearily. "That's not it… we still need to figure it out."
In the morning Mason felt much better. There was no fever, just a weakness. Mary talked him into having breakfast and gave him the medicine, which made him fall asleep again. Mary asked Sophia to look after him and went away.
When she went to the office Mason used to work at, Julia was already there.
"Mary?" she said in surprise. "How do you do? How's Mason?"
"Not too good; that's what I've come. Julia, I need help," said Mary with determination. "He misses his work badly. I do understand he cannot perform in court where he needs to hear what is going on, but his knowledge is with him. He can help in solving some cases, where the brain is needed not the ears. Julia please help him! You know better than I do that he's a brilliant attorney!"
"I do," said Julia with a sigh, "and I understand how bad he must feel without work. I will think it over, Mary…" She looked through some files at her desk. "You know what? I really have a very complicated case on my hands now and I have really been thinking of Mason in concern with it. Do you think he will agree if I ask him to help with it?"
Mary smiled, "I certainly do hope so. Thank you!"
"Then I'll drop by tonight," said Julia.
"Please do not mention that I was here," Mary asked her. "If he learns it he will never agree."
In the evening Mason felt quite okay. He decided to let his past stay in his past; there was no use getting all broken over what could not be fixed. He had to close the door on it and live on.
Dr Roberts examined the patient and said he was all right, but he told Mary to give Mason some depressants and — to pamper him somehow. After the doctor left Mary went to the kitchen to learn to make Mason's favorite cookies as Rosa promised to teach her. Also, she wanted to be out when Julia came; she was not too sure she could control her looks when Julia started talking, and she knew Mason would look at her very closely if he suspected anything.
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