Ichabod's Pov
It was dawn and Young Masbath had just knocked on my door to wake me just as I had instructed. I made my way down stairs and was met with both Masbath and Y/N waiting at the door for me. "Are we all ready to go?" I asked and both replied with a yes. Making our way through town so early in the morning was unsettling and there was a chill in the air making it an uncomfortable walk as well. Suddenly I felt someone brush up against my arm and when I looked to my side I saw Y/N she had her arms wrapped around herself to keep warm.
"Where is your coat?" I asked.
"I gave it to Masbath I would rather him have it more than me." She explained.
"Would you like to borrow my coat?" I asked.
"That is very kind of you Constable but I think you better keep it you have to stay healthy to investigate these murders." She said.
Even though she declined I still felt the need to help in some way. So I hesitantly put my arm around her waist and gently pulled her a little closer to me. And we walked together the rest of the way to the cemetery without saying another word. We entered the cemetery and I spotted the few men that I asked to help me. Y/N must have seen them to because she quickly pulled away leaving my arm to fall back to my side I suddenly felt the chill in the air again as she left.
"Hello, everyone I thank you for your help. I called you here because I need to examine these bodies for clues. So everyone grab a shovel and start digging." I instructed.
Y/N's Pov
Once Ichabod explained his reasoning for brining us all here at this ungodly hour in the morning it made sense why he didn't want to tell me what we were doing until now. I grabbed a spare shovel that was left at the entrance and looked around for a grave with the least amount of people. There was one on the far right of the other graves that only had two men working at it so I made my way over to that one. As I put my shovel in the dirt and started to dig farther into the ground I noticed how quiet the sounds of digging suddenly got around me. As I glanced up in front of me I noticed the other two men left with their shovels to help at another grave. I was accustomed with being alone or being left alone but it still hurt just alittle everytime people walked away. To distract myself from the tears wanting to cloud my eyes I put all my energy into digging up this grave and with each stab of my shovel into the ground the feelings were slowly pushed back down again until I felt just the freezing cold around me.
"Excuse me Y/N." Young Masbath said from behind me startling me a little bit.
"Yes, Masbath." I said.
"Would you like some help?" He asked.
"That would be wonderful. Thank you." I answered.
As Young Masbath started to dig with me I noticed some of the men had been watching our conversation as if they thought it was an extraordinary sight to see someone talk to me. But I didn't care what they thought anymore because at least I knew one person cared to help me even if I was the crazy woman of the town.
*******
"Pete Van Garrett, Dirk Van Garrett, Jonathan Masbath and the widow winship." Ichabod listed as he walked around looking at the graves of the dug up dead.
"Five victims four graves." I heard Ichabod say to himself as he walked over to the grave myself and Masbath dug up. The smell was absolutely revolting and looking at the rotting body of the woman in the coffin made me feel sick. I watched as Ichabod put a cloth up to his face to cover his mouth and nose as he bent down to examine the body. I watched as he flipped over a piece of her clothing to reveal a wound on her stomach.
" I want to move her into town so I can operate on her immediately." Ichabod said.
Everyone looked at him with confusion and disgusted looks. Seeing that I was the only one to understand the importance of Ichabod's instructions I walked over to the coffin and began to pick up one side. "Masbath come help me." I instructed. He quickly came around to the other side and we lifted the coffin off the ground and started to walk it into town.
*******
We walked into Dr. Thomas Lancaster office with the coffin and made our way over to the operating table. Where we placed the coffin on the floor beside it and two men carefully placed the widow winship's body on the table.
"We need to operate immediately." Ichabod said entering the room.
"Operate? She's dead." Dr. Thomas Lancaster said which made me laugh alittle.
"Of course when we say operate we mean we will be needing the operating table." Ichabod explained as if it was common knowledge.
"Once again the neck wound cauterized and the sword thrust to the stomach.... but what purpose? But for what purpose is the question." Ichabod said as he started to pull out odd looking tools from his bag.
"What are those?" I asked curiously pointing at the odd tools on the table.
"Some of my own design. Alright Young Masbath step outside same with you Y/N. Everyone outside I work better alone." Ichabod said pushing everyone out the door.
*********
It was nearly an hour later before Ichabod came out of that room but when he did I was surprised to see him cover from head to toe in blood.
"What did you find out?" The gathering men of the council asked.
"The widow winship was with child we are dealing with a mad man." Ichabod said looking very uncomfortable.
Slowly the crowd left talking about this new information. "Well I can see you had fun in there. Anyway let's get you back to my house and clean you up." I said starting to walk back home. As we walked back home I noticed people looking over at Ichabod and whispering probably something terrible and false. And finally I had, had enough.
"YOU KNOW IT IS VERY RUDE TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE BEHIND THEIR BACKS! YOU WOULD THINK THAT THIS TOWN WOULD BE ALITTLE BIT NICER CONSIDERING HOW HARD CONSTABLE CRANE IS WORKING TO HELP SOLVE THESE MURDERS! SO WHY DON'T YOU ALL JUST KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS TO YOURSELVES! AND SHOW ALITTLE MORE APPRECIATION!" I yelled out to the town before turning around and grabbing both Masbath's and Ichabod's hands to drag them along with me.
After what felt like forever we finally made it back to my house I sent Young Masbath to get towls for me while I instructed Ichabod to sit on the front step outside the door. I went inside and poured water in a big bowl and brought it outside to Ichabod with the towls that Masbath brought down for me. I sat on the front step next to Ichabod and dipped the towel in the water to wet it and gently used it to wipe the blood off Ichabod's face. After I had cleaned off Ichabod's face and neck I picked up his hand and started to wipe the blood off his hands and arms.
"Thank you for that." Ichabod said.
"For what?" I asked.
"For standing up for me I guess I should have known people would notice a man covered in blood wandering around." Ichabod explained.
"It was nothing I just can't stand how people make comments about things with no knowledge of the situation. I just didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea." I said.
"What idea would that be?" Ichabod asked.
"Um.... well that a stranger from the city came into town and dug people up in a cemetery and cut them open." I said.
"I guess that does sound bad." Ichabod said turning his head to look at me.
I chuckled alittle as I saw one single speck of blood still on ichabod's nose. I lifted the towel and wipped it off and as I did I noticed Ichabod was looking at me. And as we just sat there I found myself thinking that he was cute as I examined his messy hair and beautiful brown eyes that contrasted his pale skin. Suddenly the door opened and Young Masbath stood in the opening. I quickly looked away from Ichabod and up at Masbath.
"Is everything alright?" I asked.
"Yes, I hate to asked but.... when will we be having dinner?" He asked.
"I sorry I didn't realize how late it had gotten I will get started on it right now." I said collecting the towls. As I went to grab the bowl of water Ichabod's hand got in the way.
"Allow me it's the least I can do." He said.
"Thank you." I said walking back inside.
As I washed my hands to start dinner Ichabod went upstairs to change his clothes and when he came back he explained that he was going to check and make sure all the graves and bodies were back in place before it got to be to late. As I watched him walk out the door and past the window on Gunpowder I found myself wishing he hadn't left.