Hey, this is the sequel to Retribution. It focuses more a new couple but Alex and Eve are still very important! I'm writing another story at the same time so I might be slow updating. Hope you enjoy this, Nefertiti xxx.

THREE BLIND MICE

Alex glanced through the kitchen window as he put the pizza onto the plates. Evelyn was still pushing the swing patiently, smiling as Grace shrieked with delight. He stepped into the warm garden, putting the meal down,

'Anyone hungry?'

Grace shot off the swing and raced to the table,

'Me!'

He grinned as she flung her arms around his waist,

'You better eat up before your Mum gets to the table. You know how greedy she is!'

His daughter giggled and scrambled into her seat. Alex grinned when Eve pinched him lightly,

'Hey, I heard that.'

He turned his head to smile at her,

'I'm not complaining. You're eating for two.'

She patted the faint curve of her stomach,

'Seems this one has my appetite too.'

Alex kissed her cheek,

'I love you.'

She grinned at him,

'Where did that come from?'

'I don't know,' he smiled sheepishly, 'I guess, just sitting here with my two favourite girls.'

'No,' Grace piped up impatiently, 'Daddy I told you before. I'm your favourite girl. Mummy's your favourite lady.'

'How could I forget?' he sighed.

Eve had just taken a seat when the phone rang. He caught her eye,

'Don't move. I'll get it.'

'Thanks,' she smiled.

'Won't be a minute,' he tugged Grace's braid and hurried inside.

'Quinn speaking.'

'Hi, Alex. It's Maurier.'

'Hey,' Alex leant against the wall lazily.

'I have some news which...' Maurier broke off, 'I won't draw it out. Austin Gray is still alive.'

'What?' Alex said quietly.

'After that mission,' his boss sighed, 'we all assumed the worst. But the thing is...he was badly tortured and well, blinded.'

'Fuck,' Alex said quietly, 'he was just a kid.'

'I know,' Maurier took a deep breath, 'he's flying in tomorrow. I thought you might want to meet him. Eve too.'

'Yeah. We would.'

'I also wondered if you'd ask Eve a favour. See if she knows of anyone who'd be willing to look after the guy.'

'A nurse?'

'Kind of. Just temporarily. Until he gets used to it all again.'

Alex sighed,

'Sure. I want to know more tomorrow-about Austin's...'

'Yeah,' Maurier said heavily, 'you will. See you at noon.'

'Bye,' Alex put down the phone.

Alex didn't tell Eve until late that night. He'd played with his daughter, laughed with his wife and felt a renewed gratitude for what he had. Finally, at ten, Grace had allowed herself to be tucked in, kissed goodnight and was sleeping peacefully down the hall. Eve was standing by the wardrobe, hanging up her dress. He sat on the bed heavily,

'Evelyn...'

She frowned,

'Alex...what's wrong?'

'Nothing,' he sighed as she stepped closer, touching his hair softly.

'I love you,' he kissed her stomach.

'I know,' she bent her head, lifting his face to her, 'what's wrong?'

'Austin is alive.'

She straightened,

'What?'

'You remember Austin, my student...'

'Yes,' she interrupted, 'I remember. He died.'

'Tortured and blinded. Not killed. He's returning to England tomorrow.'

'Christ,' she touched his cheek, 'you must be happy.'

'Yes, but he was only a kid when he went. And he comes back blinded and...'

'He'll survive, my love, it's wrong. But blindness doesn't mean the end of the world.'

'I know...Maurier asked us meet him at the Unit tomorrow.'

'Of course,' she kissed his cheek, 'if that's what you think he'd want.'

'We can always leave. Also, Maurier wondered if you knew anyone who'd be willing to look after him. A temporary nurse.'

'I'm sure I know someone,' Eve said, 'I'll ask Austin about it tomorrow.'

'Thanks,' Alex kissed her.

'He'll be pleased to see...' Eve realised her error, 'or rather...meet her.'

'Grace?' Alex understood her.

'Yeah.'

Eve kissed him lightly,

'I love you too,' she said suddenly.

'How much?' he teased,

'This much,' she said, and turning off the light, proceeded to demonstrate.

~

They'd decided not to bring Grace. Austin would perhaps need time to adjust before having shrieking five year olds thrust in his face. Eve squeezed Alex's hand,

'You think he'll want to see us?'

'I don't know.'

The door opened and Maurier stepped in,

'Alex, Eve,' he said quietly, 'Austin Gray.'

Eve felt a painful tightening in her heart as she looked at the young man in front of her. She hadn't believed Alex, not really. Not until she saw him. He was taller than before, slightly leaner, even harder. His clothes were borrowed and ragged. His dark hair was tied back by a shoelace with dark stubble framing the wide, generous mouth but it was his eyes that gripped her attention. Still large and silver, but now sightless and blank. She swallowed, she had waved goodbye to a nervous new recruit on his first real mission and welcomed home a grown and haunted man. She stepped forward,

'Oh Austin...'

His head turned towards her voice though he couldn't see her. She took both his rough, scarred hands in hers and held them tightly,

'I'm glad you're back,' she said.

'You sound small,' he said with humour in his eyes.

She laughed,

'I think you'll find you've grown.'

He smiled slightly, touching her cheek lightly,

'How are you?'

'Good,' she blinked back tears, 'real good.'

'Alex here?'

'Yeah,' she glanced at her husband, 'just behind me. You want to say hi?'

'Sure.'

Alex sighed as he stepped forward. He should have been delighted, his student had grown up, they would have been able to look at one another-eye to eye. Instead the young man was sightless and scarred.

'Thought we'd lost you,' he said shortly.

Austin returned the grim expression,

'You almost did.'

'Eve's right,' Alex said suddenly, 'it's good to have you back.'

Austin smiled faintly,

'Thanks.'

Maurier excused himself and left the room. Austin frowned,

'So? Where's my god-daughter?'

'She's at home,' Eve said with a smile.

Austin frowned,

'Protecting her from the ugly sight, were you?'

Alex stiffened,

'Eve and I had no such intention. What we were doing was saving you from the stress of an excitable kid on your first day back and...selfishly, seeing you again without the constant distraction of Grace. Christ, you've returned from the dead. We wanted you to ourselves for a minute.'

'I'm sorry, Austin,' Eve said softly, 'we just didn't know if you'd want to see her.'

He sighed as he recognised the hurt apology in her voice. In only a short time, he'd become adept at reading emotions in voices.

'I'm sorry,' he said awkwardly, 'I...Eve...I should...I would like to...if you don't mind her seeing me. I should like to meet her very much.'

~

Eve drove Austin back to their house while Alex took a taxi to pick Grace up from Charles'.

'Austin?' Eve asked as she led him into the sitting room, seated him on a sofa.

'Yeah?'

'I know...I'm pregnant.'

He turned to her with a smile,

'Eve, wow! That's great...' he smiled wryly, 'I'd hug you if I saw you.'

She smiled and hugged him herself,

'Thanks.'

He held her tightly,

'How long to go?'

'Still a while, six months to go. I was...I was wondering if you'd...be godfather again.'

'You asked Alex about this?'

'No, but he'd agree.'

'Then,' Austin smiled, 'I guess I will.'

'Thank you,' she kissed his cheek, 'I need to ask you something.'

'Yeah?'

'Maurier suggested...and I agree with him. You should have someone at home for a while...to...give you a hand.'

'I don't need babying.'

'No,' she said patiently, 'I know that. But you do need a rest. And someone who can give you a hand with the chores, perhaps help you get used to getting around town...'

'Eve...'

'Please,' she said, 'otherwise I'll just sit at work worrying about you. For me. You can get rid of them in a week, just see...it might be helpful.'

'Can't have you worrying,' he smiled, 'not when you're pregnant.'

'You'll have someone then?'

'Just for a few hours a day. Not long.'

'Okay,' she hugged him, 'thank you.'

'Anything for you.'

He stiffened at the sound of the front door opening and a child's giggle,

'She's here,' he swallowed.

Eve squeezed his hand as they stood up,

'She'll love you, Austin. She's missed you.'

Grace was thrilled. Uncle Austin-who'd gone away forever-had returned. Her memories were misty, but she remember a rough, growling tender voice, sparkling silver eyes and large hands that found every ticklish spot on her toddler's body. She rushed into the room and flung herself at him,

'Austin! Uncle Austin!'

He lifted her gently, setting her on hip. Her voice, her giggle, her light weight.

'Hey Grace,' he said softly.

She frowned suddenly, her tiny hand touching the skin by his sightless eyes,

'Hurt.'

He sighed,

'Yeah...some men hurt me...now....I can't see.'

She was bewildered,

'Your eyes are open silly.'

'I know,' he said heavily, 'but I can't...honey, they don't work.'

'You need glasses!'

'No Grace. Even glasses don't work.'

She blinked back tears,

'Nasty men.'

'Yes. But, Grace, I can tell that you've become a big girl now. And I'm real proud of you for being so good for your Mum and Dad while I've been gone.'

She giggled,

'Can I show you my doll?'

'I can't see her, honey, but I'll certainly hold her.'

'Thank you,' she beamed, then kissed the scarred area around his eyes suddenly, 'to take the hurt away.'

'Thanks,' he said softly, setting her down. He turned to where he believed Alex stood with Eve,

'She's beautiful,' he said quietly, 'you should be proud.'

'We are,' Alex said, 'of her-and you.'

Eve smiled and kissed his cheek,

'Welcome home, Austin.'

~

Alex loved his wife devotedly and it was rare that he questioned her, but he wasn't sure that today, she'd made the right decision.

'Florence Madison?'

'Yes. She helps around.'

'I know. And she's a nice girl. But honey, she's had such a sheltered life, how will she deal with Austin? How will Austin deal with her?'

'She'll give him the peace and care he's never had.'

'And he'll terrify her.'

'She's tougher than you think.'

'I hope so, for her sake.'

'Trust me Alex,' Eve kissed him.

'Yeah,' he said, kissing her back, already forgetting the argument, 'whatever.'

~

Florence knocked on the door for the second time. There was a long silence and she knocked again, toying nervously with her braid. Without warning, the door flew open and a voice snapped impatiently,

'What do you want?'

The man in the doorway was well-over six foot and every inch of him was solid muscle, though hollows in his cheeks and leanness to his form suggested recent starvation and hard living. He was ridiculously good-looking in a tough, pirate way. She looked up further and saw his eyes, huge, silver and opaque. The area around each eye, stretching like a blindfold across the temple, was also faintly scarred.

'My...' she said softly, then spoke up clearer, 'my name is Florence Madison. Eve asked me to lend you a hand.'

He frowned,

'How old are you?'

'Twenty-one,' she said cautiously, 'why?'

'You sound eleven,' he stepped back to let her in.

She blinked,

'Thanks.'

He frowned,

'Shut the door will you.'

'Sorry,' she blushed, closing the door behind her and bolting it.

He walked competently into the kitchen,

'Do I look that bad?'

'What?'

'I said do I look that bad?'

'No,' she shook her head desperately, 'not bad at all.'

He laughed at that,

'Oh yeah?'

She blushed, cursing herself, Well done, Madison, just go and make a fool of yourself straight away.

'Why?'

'You sound nervous.'

'I...I haven't done this before.'

'What?' he sounded horrified.

'I mean, I talk with lonely old people and buy their food. And I read to kids at the library! But...nothing like this.'

'Just my luck,' he sighed, 'an incompetent new kid.'

'I'll do my best,' she said, hurt, 'Eve trusts me.'

'Yeah,' he said quietly, 'and it's for her sake that you're here.'

'So?' she said hopefully, 'what can I do for you?'

'You can...' he frowned suddenly, 'what's your name again?'

'Florence, Florence Madison.'

'Florence Madison of the business tycoon Madisons'.'

'Yes, sir.'

He laughed,

'Christ, I could tell from your accent.'

'My accent?' she frowned.

'Yeah, drips class. So you were conceived in Florence?'

'Yes,' she smiled, 'my parent's honeymoon.'

'Nice.'

'But Austin...isn't that a city in Texas?'

He nodded,

'Yeah. Only I wasn't conceived there. My mother was a whore who couldn't remember the name of the guy, only vaguely recalled a Texan accent. That's how I got my name.'

'Oh.'

He smiled, he'd silenced the naïve kid,

'Oh exactly.'

'Well,' she said bravely, 'I think Austin is a great name.'

'If you say so. So, princess, you know how to tidy up?'

'Yes,' she said, stung.

'Then what are you waiting for?' he snapped.

'Of course,' she said softly, 'sorry...'

He sighed as he heard her leave the room, That's right, just scare her off Gray.

~

Florence was impressed by how neat he'd managed to keep the house, but was intrigued by the Spartan furnishing. In the living room there was only one couch, a table, television and bookshelf. No photographs, no pillows for lazy nights in. His bedroom was even less revealing with only a small wardrobe and bed. She went downstairs and into the kitchen, just in time to see him knock a glass to the floor where it shattered.

'Fuck,' he turned around.

'Don't move,' Florence ordered, 'I'll tidy it up.'

'I'm not stupid,' he growled, 'I can do it.'

'Don't be silly,' she said patiently, 'you're barefooted. Without shoes, I'll end up fishing glass shards out your foot for the day. Now, where's the broom?'

'Cupboard under the stairs,' he snapped.

'Thank you,' she said and went for it.

He took a step backwards as she returned and felt, quite clearly, a glass shard sink into his heel,

'Shit..'

'Language, Mr Gray,' she stepped over the glass and took his hand, 'there's a chair right next to you. Feel it? Take a seat for a second.'

He was silent as she swept the glass away, the tick of the clock unnaturally loud. After a moment, he felt her hand on his shoulder,

'Sit still, I'm just going to take a look at your foot.'

'Whatever.'

Her hands were warm and small, but not, he noted, soft and pampered. She had slender hands, long-fingered and deft. She touched the wound tenderly,

'It's all right. The glass isn't embedded.'

He curled his lip,

'You know, I wasn't all that worried about a little scar on my foot, a ruined face is my major issue right now.'

'Mr Gray,' she said quietly, 'I don't know who told you your face was ruined because whoever it was lied.'

'I'm blind,' he said furiously.

'I know that,' she said bravely, 'and any woman who let that ruin her opinion of you, isn't worth it.'

'Why?' he taunted, 'are you worth it?'

'Mr Gray...'

'What about it, princess? Looking for a bit of rough,' his voice was cold, mocking.

There was a long silence, then she said softly,

'I didn't finish tidying upstairs. Hold this tissue here and the bleeding should stop soon.'

'Princess, don't sulk...'

'I'm not sulking, Mr Gray, as you reminded me earlier, I'm here to help you, not stand around in idle chat.'

Well Gray, he thought as her footsteps left the room, she told you off good.

Three hours later, there was a quiet knock on the living room door.

'Yeah?'

'Mr Gray,' Florence said quietly, 'it's time for me to leave.'

'Okay,' he didn't even turn his head towards her.

'Eve said that tomorrow you have an appointment. I'll go with you.'

'Whatever.'

'See you at twelve,' she said and he felt, suddenly, soft lips on his cheek, 'bye.'

And before he had time to reply, she was gone.

~

Florence sat on the rocking underground train. When Eve had asked to help out an old friend, she'd agreed instantly. Eve had said little, only that Austin Gray was an old student of Alex's. One that had become close to the family after his graduation and was Grace's godfather. He'd been injured on a mission and blinded, and would appreciate a few hours assistance a day. She hadn't know what to expect, but she hadn't gone prepared for a handsome, angry warrior with a lonely bitterness, sharp wit, and even sharper tongue.

~

Despite yesterday, when the grandfather clock struck noon, Austin found himself waiting for a knock on the door. It came almost immediately, proving that she was reliable, at least.

'Mr Gray,' she greeted him warmly, 'you ready to go?'

'Yes.'

'Have you got your keys?'

'On the hook.'

She reached in,

'They're in my handbag. Don't let me forget!'

'Do you drive?'

'No. We're taking the tube.'

'Oh.'

'That reminds me. I bought you a present.'

'Excuse me?'

'Here,' she raised his hand, closed his fist around glass.

'What?'

'Sunglasses,' she said proudly, 'bend your head so I can slide them on.'

He stepped back,

'I don't want your fucking shades,' he said icily, 'you maybe ashamed to walk beside a blind, scarred man but...'

'Mr Gray,' she interrupted quietly, 'I...I'm so sorry if that was how it sounded. I didn't mean to be rude but...' she sounded close to tears, 'I read last night that the sun can damage your eyes and cause infection. I just wanted to help, I'm sorry.'

He took a deep breath,

'I'm sorry, princess. Let's have them.'

She put them into his hand cautiously,

'Truly, Mr Gray, it never crossed my mind to try and hide your eyes.'

He glanced at her with a crooked smile,

'What are they like?'

'Cool,' she smiled, 'I chose the Armani model who looked most like you.'

'Male I hope,' he teased.

'Yeah,' she smiled back.

'You mean they're Armani shades?'

She nodded slowly,

'Yeah.'

He laughed suddenly,

'And I was about to throw them to the floor.'

'Good thing you didn't,' she slipped them onto his face.

'What do you think?'

'You look very handsome,' she admitted, and he did. She blushed, grateful that he couldn't see her.

'So, how much do I owe you?'

'Nothing.'

'Princess, I don't your charity...'

'Look,' she said, 'don't go stomping your feet and acting like a jerk. You didn't ask me to pick up those shades, I did it because I've been asked to help you and I'm going to do that in every way I can. So just wear the damn shades and bask in the knowledge that every woman who looks at you is going to drool.'

He laughed out loud and started slowly down the street,

'You know, princess, for a spoilt rich kid, you're not so bad.'

'Hey,' she grabbed his hand and walked beside him, 'if you'd only asked, I could have told you that yesterday.'