Three days passed before Gabe Miller would let anyone but his own staff see Shawna.  Three days, during which he held Paul Anderson at bay with his medical authority.  It was during this time that Gabe thanked the founders of the Compound for their foresight in granting the community doctors this authority.  If it hadn't been agreed upon that in all things medical the doctor had the final say, then Shawna may well have spent the worst of her withdrawal time in full view of the community.

But Gabe was able to keep her out of the spotlight, and with the help of medicine, both modern and mountain, he saw her through the worst of it.

It would have been harder had his sister not helped, but she DID understand how addictions can drive people to do things they would not otherwise have done, so she did not blame Shawna in the least for hitting her.  In fact, when she wasn't on duty in the clinic, she was campaigning strongly for leniency for Shawna.  She also let slip the reasons for Shawna's behavior, and after three days, community sentiment went from hostility to sympathy.  On the morning of the fourth day, Gabe allowed Paul in to see Shawna.  Gabe gave Paul a run down of the woman's condition.

"She's still weak, but a lot more lucid than she was yesterday," he said.  "I'd prefer another day but I know you're anxious to do your duty, Paul."

Paul shook his head.  "No, not anxious.  But it is a duty I have to follow."

"I know," Gabe replied.  Gabe knew how the responsibilities of keeping the Compound running weighed heavily on Paul's shoulders, but there was no one more dedicated to doing it right than Paul Anderson.  Not only was Paul a man you could count on to do the right thing, but he was also a man you could count on to know what the right thing WAS!

Still, there were times when his commitment to duty could have had better timing.

"So, can I see her now?" Paul asked the doctor.

Gabe nodded and directed Paul to one of the patient rooms.

In her bed, well covered up, was Shawna.  She didn't look well to Paul; her eyes had bags under them and her face was very pale.  She looked like she had been through some grueling physical labor.  But she was sitting up in her bed, and looked to be alert, although she looked very worried.

"Ma'am," said Paul, gently.

"Hi," Shawna said, her voice quite soft.

Paul stepped further into the room and sat down in a nearby chair.  "How are you feeling?" he asked.

Shawna took a deep breath and let it out.  "It's hard to say.  I could still use a drink, that will never change, but the cravings I had are not nearly as strong.  I don't know what stuff the doctor was giving me at one point, but I don't even feel the need for...the other stuff, either."  She smiled at him, but it was a weary smile.

"That's good.  I hope you stay strong enough to kick those awful habits," Paul said.

"I intend to try.  I don't want to let Dr. Miller's efforts go to waste!"

The couple shared a brief smile, and then Paul spoke again.  "Doc tells me that you're fit enough to leave now."

Shawna's eyes widened a moment, then she relaxed.  "I...don't want to go!"

"Well, you don't belong here, you're not one of us.  You need to get back to your own life off the mountain.  We've done all we can for you here."

"I'm told that the women here aren't allowed to drink alcohol," Shawna said after a moment.

"That's right, they can't.  And not too many of the men do either, to be honest."

"It sounds like a good environment to be in at the moment."

"Look...Shawna...You can't stay here, not after what you've done.  While some excuse can be made for your drug and alcohol problems, you still assaulted one of our people and risked the lives of many others who went out looking for you.  Normally we'd deal with that here, but because you're an outsider, all we can do is get you out of here as quickly as we can.  We waited until the Doc said you could travel, but travel you will!"

Shawna began shaking her head while Paul spoke.  "No, please.  I can't leave, not yet.  Isn't there any way I can stay?"

"Why can't you leave?"  Paul asked her.  Over the past three days, he had thought a lot about Shawna's story about being beaten by a boyfriend, and liked it less and less.  There was something more going on with this woman than she was telling.

"I...he might still be out there," lied Shawna.

"Who, your boyfriend?  I can take you straight to Sheriff Kinkade in town and he could see you safely to where ever you need to go!"

"No!  I mean...Look.  I can't leave.  If I do, I know I'm going to just slip back into my bad habits; I'm not ready to handle them on my own yet.  And yes, I am frightened that Dirk may still be waiting for me, and despite your reassurances, I'd rather not get the police involved.  Please, I'd like to stay."

Paul sat back and looked at Shawna for a moment.  He could see the woman was frightened about something, but it wasn't a phantom boyfriend or her inability to curb her drug habit.

She had a stronger reason for avoiding civilization, but he had no idea what.  He decided to push her a little harder, just to see what she would give up to stay here.

"You have to go, I'm sorry," he said.

"Please," said Shawna, a desperate whine slipping into her voice now.  "You can't send me back, not yet.  Look, I'll take whatever punishments you'd normally give out to one of your people.  I'll take my licks without any protests if that will satisfy you.  But I NEED to stay here!"

Shawna at this time could only think that the moment she stepped into town she'd be arrested and sent to jail.  She was also thinking about the money still hidden up the mountain.  To leave now meant leaving it all behind, and all she had been through would have been for nothing.

Her concerns about her own health were low on her list of priorities, but she was willing to say what she had to in order to stay.  She didn't like lying to these people, but what she thought she might face when she left here looked even worse.

"Please," she said.  Shawna considered the possibility of attempting to seduce Paul in order to stay.  She was naked under the bedclothes, there being no reason to dress while she was so sick, and it did cross her mind that she could simply drop the blanket she was holding over her chest.  But she noticed that Paul, like many of the men and women here, wore leather bands on his wrists, something Vicky had told her meant that they were married.  It made her pause.  Then she realized that Paul saw topless women every day and wouldn't be impressed by a show of her own, not that Shawna felt like she could put on a very good show anyway.

Paul considered her plea, and saw in her body language her intentions, both considered and rejected.  He saw a woman desperate for some reason not to go down the mountain, and he had to know why.  But it was evident she would not tell him now, and he could very easily have her escorted out without ever knowing why she was so afraid.  He wondered if sending her away might be a mistake after all; what if her fears were real?

"IF you stay," he said slowly, his deep voice quiet and reserved, "You will do as you're told.  You get no better or worse treatment than any other citizen of the Compound, and you will follow all the rules as we do.  You will also have to work; no one is idle here.  We'll find you a job and you will work hard.  I hope you aren't planning to stay here forever though, because that will not happen.  I don't have a high opinion of you now, and your stay here is very dependent on making me happy.  You toe the line and I won't push for you to leave...soon.  But when I say you go, then you go, no more arguments, no more stalling.  Understood?"

"Oh thank you..." Shawna began, but Paul held his hand up.

"One more thing.  You will pay for what you did to Vicky, and for the risks you put my men to.  I don't know how yet, but you will.  Now, I need to see a few people before I can say you can stay.  You've convinced me to put it to our council of elders, but that's all.  They will decide what to do with you.  In the meantime, you've bought another day to recuperate.  I suggest you use it wisely."

"Yes, Sir," replied Shawna, cowed by Paul's speech.

Paul stood up.  "Personally, I'd send you back to town," he said, before leaving the room.

As he passed Gabe and Vicky in the waiting room, he told them to get her cleaned up to meet the council that evening.

Gabe smiled at Vicky in triumph.

---***---

When they came for her that evening, Shawna felt like it was execution time.  All during that day, she had wondered if she had made the right decision begging Paul Anderson to let her stay.  What she held on to was the belief that her punishment for hitting Vicky over the back of the head could not be nearly as bad as going to jail for Bank Robbery.  She kept thinking about the stocks in the other building, picturing herself there.

What helped though was when Vicky visited.  Over and over, Shawna apologized for what she had done, and over and over, Vicky forgave her.  Vicky also told Shawna how she had spread as much good word about the woman as she could, but still Shawna worried.

Physically she felt better though, although there was an empty feeling inside her she didn't understand.  There was a clearness about the world that she hadn't seen for a long time, and it felt good.

Gabe told her that he had used a variety of herbal wraps on her in combination with some modern sedatives.  At one point, she had been completely mummified below the neck in blankets, her skin coated in a special cream, the process leaving her skin tinted slightly green.  Shawna thought it looked weird, but Vicky said that a good bath would clear it up.

A good bath was what she got that afternoon, as Vicky led her to the Bath House rather than the outdoor tubs.  While she was grateful for the chance to bathe, what marred the trip for her was Gabe tying her hands behind her.  He explained to Shawna that she was technically still under arrest until her punishment was decided, and Compound rules did not allow for people in her position to move around freely.  In the confines of the clinic, Gabe could leave Shawna untied, but elsewhere she had to be bound.  This meant that in the tub, Shawna couldn't wash herself, and she had to allow Vicky to scrub her down, which the girl did with clinical efficiency.  Shawna still had a hard time not thinking of the sexual aspects of her bath, two nude women in a hot tub, one being washed by another, but evidently Vicky had given her sponge baths while she was going through the worst of her withdrawals, and had also taken care of Shawna's more intimate needs.  To Vicky, this bath was just an extension of her duty as a nurse.

While they were in the tub, they were left pretty much alone, except for a few people who came to offer their sympathy for Shawna's condition and their support.  Shawna was surprised.  She expected that the entire community would rise up against her, and this show of support threw her for a loop.  It made her feel even more guilty about lying to them, and for a brief moment, Shawna almost gave in to the urge to come clean and confess all to Vicky.

Yet a part of her, the part thinking of all that money waiting for her, wouldn't let her do it.  Instead, Shawna thought about how she would bide her time, get fit, and put together enough supplies to make a proper trip up the mountain.  No more impulsive actions, to get away clean she needed to have a plan.

It was after she had eaten in the privacy of the clinic that two men showed up to escort her to the elders.  They were polite, and allowed her to dress for the meeting, but they insisted on binding her wrists behind her, which Shawna submitted to quietly.  Along with Gabe and Vicky, Shawna was led to her fate.

Shawna, now dressed in a leather skirt and blouse, was taken to the school, to one of the classrooms where the young of the Compound were educated.  Not needing the space the Great Hall provided, and thinking that a room dedicated to judicial matters was wasteful in this community, the elders preferred to do business in the smaller classrooms.

When Shawna entered, she expected to see a long table with a row of older folk sitting along one side, and a single chair out in the open for her.  Instead, she was surprised to see people, fully dressed for a change, sitting around several smaller round tables, one of which was occupied by who could only be the elders she had been told about.  Three men and two women, all looking to be in their sixties, yet all looking fitter than the average sixty-year-old Shawna had ever known.  There was an empty space at that table, and as Shawna was led over to it, she looked at the people sitting at the other tables.  At one table was Paul, with her two initial rescuers, Matthew and Rhianna, Rhianna kneeling on a pillow at Matthew's side.  Gabe and Vicky joined them, with Vicky grabbing another floor pillow so she could sit with Rhianna.  The two women whispered a greeting to each other.  On the other side of the room at a table by himself sat Grady.  Other people she didn't know sat or knelt elsewhere, and a large dog trotted from group to group, looking for food or a scratch behind his ears.  There was a floor pillow waiting for Shawna at the table where the elders sat, and as she dropped to her knees and settled, she glanced over at Grady, who avoided looking at her.

"Welcome, Shawna," said one of the men, smiling.  "I'm sorry we didn't get to meet earlier, but your doctor was quite insistent that you be undisturbed during your recovery.  We hope you're feeling much better?"

"Yes, I am.  Thank you," Shawna replied, a little confused by the man's friendly tone.

"Good.  Well, I'll do the introductions," he said.  "My name is Robert Klink, to my left is Gabe Miller, then Ann Redfest, Leann Miller, and Bill Anderson."

Shawna nodded to each person in turn, but showed confusion as she was introduced to yet another Gabe Miller.

"I'm the young lad's grandfather," joked the old man, pointing at the doctor, who grinned.  "And Leann here is my wife, and his grandmother.  That should explain the Miller contribution to the community!"

"A contribution that keeps getting bigger!" Bill Anderson chuckled and the rest of the elders laughed.

The older Gabe frowned.  "Not so you'd notice lately, considering the boy still hasn't found a wife!"

Young Gabe blushed and looked away.  His "Duty" to continue the line was the subject of gentle joking among his family, with a hard core of seriousness that few outside the family was aware of.  He was the fourth Gabe Miller, his great grandfather being one of the original founders of the Compound seventy years ago.  All had been doctors, and it was expected that he would marry, have a son, and continue the family business.

It was not that he was without prospects, but he felt that many of the women around here were missing a certain something he couldn't put his finger on.  But then you never knew when someone could come into your life and change all that.  Gabe looked over at Shawna kneeling on her pillow, and ignored the jesting at his expense.

All of this was over Shawna's head, but she was happy to hear all the jokes and good humor.  She doubted that such a happy group of people was capable of doing anything really nasty to her.  It gave her hope.  Eventually the group settled down, and Robert Klink, who was the spokesperson for the elders at these meetings, got down to business.

"Shawna," he said, "I know how courts work in your world; judges, lawyers, the jury system.  It's a good system and works well when it's allowed to work at all, but we prefer to operate with a little less formality here.  But before we go on, I must impress upon you the fact that despite outward appearances, we are ALL very serious about our laws.  They may seem strange to you, and we understand that.  Our laws are based on the community we wanted to create here, a community different from what was happening in this country at the time it was founded.  The Compound was founded in the middle of the depression, when Industrial Man had gone too far too soon.  Politicians were corrupt, the nation's wealth lost, and people were without hope.  Our founders believed that a return to a simpler life, a life without a reliance on industry, or on a far off government, would be a much better way to live.  They set up this place, where people could live with respect for each other, where you could thrive doing simple things.

"Outsiders remark mostly on how the balance of power is carried by the men, and how women seem to be second class citizens here.  We believe however, that this is a much more balanced system, with men and women in the roles that nature intended.  Women aren't considered second class here, it's important you understand that.  Women are, in fact, put on a pedestal; protected and admired.  They are our most precious resource and are treated as such within the roles we follow.  Some..." he smiled at Rhianna, "some find it more difficult than others to accept the roles we place on ourselves, but all understand WHY it is so.

"Now, why am I telling you this?  I want you to understand that while we may be different, we are just as serious about our lifestyle as anyone you would meet in your world, and that what may seem cruel or ludicrous to you, is treated with deadly seriousness here.

"Do you understand?"

Shawna swallowed, feeling nervous again.  "Yes, Sir."

Robert smiled.  "Now, normally when a visitor breaks our laws, they are asked to leave immediately, but your...recovery...from your addictions has delayed that action.  Then there is your request to stay, to not be taken down the mountain and back to your world.  Such a request is usually not honored, but there is a movement of sorts toward making an exception in this case."

Again Robert looked about the room, this time focusing momentarily on Gabe Jr. and his sister Vicky.

"Your reason for wanting to stay, if I understand it correctly, is so you can spend time recovering completely from your addictions in a place where you will find no temptation.  Well, we agree that our community would be the best place for you to recover.  You are no doubt aware that here, you will not be allowed to drink, and that you will most certainly not be able to find any drugs of any kind.

"Am I right in thinking that this is why you wish to stay?"

"Yes, that's right.  I think I can get dry here a lot better than anywhere else," Shawna replied.

"And how long were you planning on staying?" Robert asked her.

Shawna looked lost for a moment, but Gabe came to her rescue.  "It's too early to tell yet; we still have to get a full handle on how deep her addictions went, and technically she is still in withdrawal, so we can't deal with prevention until she has recovered completely from the physical affects," he said quickly.

"Thank you, Doctor," Robert said, then he turned to Gabe Senior.  "Do you concur?"

"To a point, yes," said the elder Miller.  "We're not set up to handle addiction cases, however.  I would have recommended that Shawna be taken down to Tubel's clinic in town, but young Gabe has done an excellent job so far.  He neglected to mention that in addition to medical help, Shawna would also need a good deal of counseling, for her addictions are not only physical but mental.  Again, I would have recommended she be sent to town, but our own Father Logan feels he is qualified.  Isn't that right, Pat?"

One of the men Shawna didn't recognize stood up for a moment.  He didn't look like a priest to her, in all his leathers, but evidently he was the community spiritual leader, as well as a trained psychologist.

"I would be happy to help Shawna, Gabe, you all know that!" he said, smiling at Shawna.

"Thank you, Father," Robert said to him, and Father Pat Logan sat down.

"Shawna," continued Robert, "earlier today we heard from young Dr. Miller, and from Vicky Miller, their views on your request to stay.  We also heard from Paul, who normally has authority to make this decision himself, but is deferring to us in this instance.  After some discussion, we decided to wait until you yourself had a chance to speak, before making that decision.  Do you have anything more to say?"

Shawna felt put on the spot.  Here she was, being asked to lie to these people again, people who so obviously wanted to help her, despite how badly she treated them earlier.

Shawna wished she had come across this community under different circumstances, and again thought briefly about confessing all.

"I...just feel...that my only chance of getting my life back is to shake the drugs and drinking.  I think I can only do that here...if you'll let me," she said slowly.

Robert and the other elders looked at each other and nodded.

Robert leaned forward.  "Shawna, you do understand that, should we decide you stay, you will have to accept punishment for your actions of a few days ago.  We will make allowances for your condition and state of mind at the time, but for the good of all, there must be retribution for what happened."

"Yes, Sir.  I understand," said Shawna.

"Very well then.  In that case, we grant your request to stay, so that we can help you recover and be well once more.

"It is also hoped that, after your recovery, despite what one or two individuals might think," this time he glanced at Paul and Grady, "that you might wish to join us permanently.  We would welcome you if you choose to do so!"

Shawna was stunned, she opened her mouth, but no words could come out.

"With that settled then, let's move on to your punishment," Robert said, the smile leaving his face.  "Paul?"

Paul Anderson stood up and walked over until he stood behind Robert.

"Shawna Michaels, you are charged with Assault, ergo your attack on Vicky Miller.  Unlawful Restraint, ergo the non-consensual bondage you placed on her after attacking her.  And finally, Community Endangerment, ergo knowingly leaving the safety of the Compound during violent weather, with knowledge that others would have to place their lives at risk to look for you.  The charge of Breaking Curfew, ergo being out without an escort after dark, has been dropped because the Community Endangerment charge supersedes it.

"Do you have anything to say to these charges that has not already been covered by your defense of addiction-induced motivation?"

Shawna was a little taken back by the sudden formality of the situation, but she had nothing to add to what had been said already.  "No, Sir."

Paul nodded and went back to his chair.

"Due to mitigating circumstances," Robert said, "your punishment will be light, but visible.  You will spend eight hours in the stocks on public display.  Because your doctor feels that you as yet do not have the strength to endure such a sentence all at once, you will be placed there for no more than two hours per day for the next four days."

"Thank you, Sir!" said Shawna, breathing a sigh or relief.  She figured she could do the time okay; it would be embarrassing, but she could do it.

"We're not done yet, Shawna," Robert said.  "Leann?"

Leann Miller, who had remained silent up to now, turned to face Shawna.

Unlike the younger women in the room, she and Ann Redfest sat in chairs.  Shawna was to find out later that with age, allowances were made and some rules relaxed.

"Child," said Leann.  "We spent a lot of time talking about what punishment you should receive, but a great deal more time deciding what else to do with you.  The stocks are a good short-term punishment, an immediate solution that you will not quickly forget, but rarely is it the final solution.

"Most situations, when rules are broken, never reach us.  They are usually handled by the Head of your House, especially when it concerns women.  But you have no house, no one to take charge of you while you stay here, no one to be responsible for your conduct or to educate you in our ways.

"We had to decide where to place you so you could learn those things; and where we put you not only had to be for your benefit, but for the benefit of the house you are placed in."

She looked in turn at each of the faces of her fellow elders before looking once more at Shawna.

"Child, it was a difficult decision, and some will argue a controversial one.  But we have decided to place you in the custody of Grady O'Malley.  He will be your Head of House, and you will serve and obey him in all things except one..."

"WHAT!" yelled Grady, standing up.  He had a shocked look on his face and he wasn't the only one.  "She can't stay with me!" he said loudly.  Across the room, Gabe also looked quite stunned.

"Sit down, Grady!" Robert told him, standing up.

"She can't stay with me!" Grady repeated.

"She IS going to stay with you, Grady!"  Robert said, his voice firm.

Grady paused.  "But...I don't...  Look, it isn't even proper, we're not married!"

"We're well aware of that Grady, painfully aware.  But we feel that it's in the best interest of both of you for her to move in with you."

"And why is that?"  Grady asked sarcastically.

"You know as well as I do, Grady, that since your wife died, you haven't been the same man.  You've become antisocial, angry, and a danger to yourself.  While we are all grateful that you found and rescued Shawna from the river the night of the storm, you know full well that you should never have gone out of the Compound alone like that.  You've broken that rule several times in the past few months, and Paul has let it slide because we knew you needed room to grieve.  But it has been evident that you aren't healing.  You have always been a caring person, Grady, but since you...since WE lost Cheryl, you haven't cared about anyone, including yourself.  Well, now you can.  You're responsible for Shawna during her stay.  You see to it that she learns what she needs to know to live here, that she does what she needs to do to recover from her addiction.  She, in turn, might just get you thinking about someone other than yourself for a change.  We believe it will do you some good."

"But," said Grady, "it isn't proper, us living together."

Robert's face softened and he walked slowly toward the younger man.  "Grady, we know that.  It's one of our biggest moral tenets that a couple be joined under God before any physical intimacy takes place.  But we are not asking you to go that far.  In fact, such intimate contact is forbidden for the both of you.  But we know we can trust you Grady, you're a committed man, and your love for Cheryl would not allow you that kind of intimacy with anyone else.  If we had any doubt about that, we would not have considered this arrangement.  But this will be good for you.  Trust us, as we trust you."

Grady still looked shocked, and for a moment, he just stared at Robert before glancing briefly at Shawna.  Then, very reluctantly, he nodded.

Robert and the other elders sighed.  They were taking a risk proposing something this radical, and they knew tongues would wag throughout the community despite all their reasons and intentions.  But they were very concerned about Grady.

Robert went back to his seat yet remained standing.

"Grady, as Shawna's Head of House, any additional discipline to the punishment we set her is up to you, but it will be expected by the community."

"I understand," Grady said.

"Then, I guess we're done.  Shawna, you go with Grady now.  He's in charge of you, mind what he says."

"Yes, Sir," said Shawna uncertainly.

People started to get up and leave, and Grady moved to his new roommate.  He thought he was done with the woman, but it looked like fate had other plans.  He helped her to her feet and told her to follow him.

With her hands still bound uncomfortably behind her, Shawna did as she was told, and wondered what all this did to her plans.
 
 

End of Part 6.