Frida jogged upstairs to find Anna sat bolt upright in bed. "What's the matter little one? It's ok." she soothed calmly. "Sorry" Anna apologised shakily. "A nightmare" was all she needed to say. "You need some more painkillers?" "I do" whispered Anna. "I hurt Frida. Everywhere. It burns so badly. I feel like there's flames in my skin, I feel like it's melting off me" she shuddered. "I can't lie down, I can't sit, I can't stand." Frida thought back to Russo and what worked for him. "How about a cool shower? If I get a stool for you to sit on? It sometimes worked for Russo" Anna would have tried anything at that point, it wasn't something she had thought of before."I'll try it" she agreed. "But I want the t shirt dry, I need it, I'll put some something else on." Anna swung her legs out of bed hissing as her skin rubbed against the sheets. "Jesus, it gets worse every time" she muttered to no one in particular. Frida held out a hand in case she needed steadying, Anna took it gratefully but winced as even the skin on her hand hurt."I need the bathroom Frida. I'm sorry" Anna had tears in her eyes. "Perfect timing I'd say" commented Frida encouragingly. "You're going that way anyway, I'll just make sure you get there then I'll leave you to it while I go and find a stool" "there's an old wooden one in the study I think" volunteered Anna. She made her way to the toilet while Frida was hunting for the stool, used it and sat exhausted for a while. Her legs were red she noticed absently. Same as usual. She was determined to do some things alone and managed to get her t shirt off and put it safely out of the way. She heard Frida bustling back in. "Found it", she sang out "Wait!!" she called to Frida hoarsely. She cleared her throat impatiently. "Frida, I haven't got a top on can you handle it? I know I look hideous but I can't stand wet material on me. I'm just warning you. I understand how you must feel" "You know nothing of the sort"retorted Frida kindly. "I've seen it all before, I think you're beautiful" she came into the bathroom brandishing the stool triumphantly. "Oh darling that looks so sore. God you've got guts Anna. I'd be a gibbering wreck by now" she had caught sight of Anna's red legs and torso. She had blisters forming across her chest and her back was equally hot and red. Frida considered how best to do this and then decided. She started to strip off in front of Anna. Anna's eyes went wide and she gasped "What are you doing??" "Why should you have all the fun?" asked Frida, making a joke out of it. Anna looked confused. "Anna, I think you won't be able to stand the water just in one spot and I think you might be too tired to hold the shower head so I'll do it for you, then I can move it around slowly and gently for as long as it takes." Frida explained gently. She was standing there looking magnificent in just her bra and pants. Anna said "Bloody hell Frida, Benny's gonna have a stroke. You look amazing!"she laughed gently and winced. "Anna, you look just as good, if you'd let him Bjorn would be in here like a shot, doing this for you and you know it." Frida replied "He wouldn't, he'd be disgusted. He loved me when I was young and beautiful. Now I'm old and scarred. I can't even look at myself in the mirror, let alone expect him to like what I've become" Anna whispered sadly. "I know what you're doing" she told Frida. "and I thank you but he doesn't deserve this, he's been here before with her and I love him too much to make him suffer again. It wouldn't be fair" "yes and I heard you the first time but let me ask you if he was the one ill would you love him any less? Would you be disgusted if he had let's say testicular cancer and had to have them removed? Or he had a stroke and couldn't walk? Would that make you love him any the less??" "No, of COURSE not" Anna was indignant. "Well then, explain to me the difference because I'm damn sure Bjorn loves you as much as he ever did, this.." she waved her hand in Anna's general direction "wouldn't change his mind in the slightest" Anna didn't know what to say.
Frida carried on and helped Anna onto the stool. She altered the water temperature until it was just below lukewarm and started on Anna's feet gently. "How's that?" she asked quietly. "It hurts but it also feels so good Anna said breathlessly. Frida took the water up to her legs, that hurt more but once Anna got used to it, it did stop the burn, this continued over the whole of Anna's body and bizarre though it was after the initial pain, it did ease the sensation of being on fire from the inside. They talked of inconsequential nothings while they were in the shower and if Frida were cold or bored she did not show it. She just kept moving the water round. They did this for what felt like hours until finally Anna said "Frida? it doesn't burn me. My skin is sore but it doesn't burn me" Frida was ecstatic and Anna couldn't believe the miracle and cried. Even if it only lasted a few hours it would still be a miracle. "Want me to wash your hair while it's wet Anna? she asked "Oh god, yes please. I hate having that cold cap on" Frida found the shampoo and gently washed Anna's hair. She was glad the shower was on for it hid her tears as strands of Anna's blonde hair came away in her fingers, it wasn't too many but Anna knew anyway. This time she was the one comforting Frida as she reached up and took Frida's hand that was resting on her shoulder. "Frida, it's ok. I know" Frida squeezed Anna's hand back and cleared her throat . "You do realise don't you that we've just fulfilled a million teen fantasies circa 1976?" "What?"queried Anna confused. "The two of us half naked and wet, sharing a shower. Frida carried on washing her own hair and rinsing it. Anna watched her and realised that indeed she was right, she burst into uncontrollable giggles. "Oh Frida, I've missed you. I couldn't do this without you. You're right. We're in wet dream central" At that Frida burst out laughing. When they had both calmed themselves Frida said are you ready to get out?" "Yes, I feel much better" ventured Anna carefully. She stood with a helping hand from Frida and stepped out of the shower. Frida wrapped her up in a towel, careful not to rub at all then went to get a towel for herself. She wriggled out of her wet bra and wrapped the towel round her toga style. "Anna if you hold onto me can you get those wet pants off? "asked Frida, "you can't go to bed in them. I can find you some dry ones" Anna balanced carefully with Frida's help and managed to divest herself of her wet underwear under the towel. Such a simple task made her so tired that it frustrated her. "Don't get upset Anna, you've done so well. Come on. It's getting late. Bedtime for both of us I think. She shadowed Anna as she walked to the bed and sat down. Frida found Anna some dry underwear and popped them up her legs so she didn't have to bend and left Anna to it while she went to dry off and comb her hair. She put her pyjamas on then went back to see how Anna was doing. "Ok?" she asked as she went back into Anna's room. "Yes, I'm doing ok. Can I have my t shirt please?" Frida had forgotten that and went into the bathroom to get it. She popped it over Anna's head just as she did before and Anna then wriggled out of her towel and Frida helped her pull the t shirt down. Anna sorted out her tablets, took her painkillers and her vitamins and was truly exhausted but although her skin was sore to the touch, it was not burning at the moment."Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked Frida quietly. Frida never even considered saying no and climbed in the other side of the bed as Anna swivelled round. "Want to watch TV?" asked Frida. "Yes, ok. I might fall asleep though" Anna warned. "Me too" laughed Frida. They found a movie that they both liked the look of and settled. Anna was feeling a little dizzy and a little hot but compared to how she usually was, the shower and Frida had indeed wrought a miracle.
They were nearing the end of the movie when Frida's phone rang and she picked it up to see that it was Benny. It was 3am. He obviously hadn't had chance to call before now. "Answer it Frida, it's fine" Anna smiled and snuggled down a little further in the bed. Frida answered the phone and even Benny could tell that she was pleased to hear from him. "How are you" he asked carefully. "I'm good" she answered."we've had a lovely day lazing about, we've done all we needed to do and we're in bed" "Together? Like the old days?" he chuckled "Yep, like the old days only now we've got pajamas on" she teased. Benny blew out a breath."I don't want to know" he mumbled. "Of course you do!" she giggled. Anna poked her in the ribs and said "You're so bad Frida. Poor Benny" "Let me talk to her?" asked Benny. Anna's eyes went wide and Frida covered the phone with her hand. " Clear your throat darling and it'll be fine, he can't see you" she whispered. She went back to the phone while Anna did exactly that. Anna took the phone and said "Hi handsome, I'm sorry I'm cramping your style. I want her this week, I'll let you have her next week I promise" Benny choked on his coffee and burst out laughing."Agnetha Faltskog!! What are you suggesting?" "Me? I'm not suggesting anything" she replied cheekily. "I think it's already been suggested don't you?" she laughed and then asked shyly "How's Bjorn? I've not heard from him at all" Benny sighed a little "Anna his life is not so easy. He has a hard time given him. Be patient. He will call you. All of this is a lot to take in. He feels the guilt very keenly that you have been protecting him and his family. He has taken it hard" Anna was shocked. "He has no reason to feel guilty, it is my choice. His children and him must stay safe. I don't want him dragged into the mess that is my life. My greatest gift to him will always be my voice and my silence" There was indeed silence on the line while Benny puzzled over what she had said and in response said gently "Bjorn needs you as much as I need Frida Anna. He isn't immune, he never was" With that, he told her goodnight and asked to be handed back to Frida. This she did with a perplexed look on her face. She thought of what he had said while he was on the phone still to Frida. She had made up her mind to call Bjorn when she was feeling better, maybe Sunday. She didn't want him feeling guilty she decided firmly. Just as she had finished that thought, the system breech alarms went off in the house. She jumped a mile and Frida nearly dropped the phone. "Jesus!!" yelled Benny who had been just about to say goodnight to Frida "What the hell's going on??" "I don't know" answered Frida shakily "that's the breech alarms"said Anna. Benny was out of his mind with worry. "Don't you dare let go of this phone!" he threatened." You stay with me" Anna had activated the shutters, even though they would have come down automatically it wasn't fast enough for her. She was out of bed and putting a pair of joggers on. Amazing what adrenaline could do. Her mobile rang and it was Christian "Mama?" he said urgently. "You ok?" She shoved her feet in her clogs and said "Yes, shutters are down. What do you see? Christian, what do you SEE??" Christian was whizzing through all the cameras looking for the breach. He'd already called the police. "There is a breach Mama, I see him. It's ok. I can see him. I won't lose him." "Where IS he? she questioned urgently "Calm Mama, you know he can't get in, you're perfectly safe. The shutters are down. I can see that they are. He's up by the stables walking down towards the house. The police are coming. Mama hold on." Anna was remarkably calm but she felt sick. On the other hand it had suddenly all become horribly real for Frida. She had never been in this situation before. It was terrifying. She couldn't imagine having to live like this every day of her life. Her respect for Anna increased a hundred fold. She became aware that Benny was still on the phone. "Hi, Hi, Benny it's ok" she tried to soothe his panic while battling her own. "There is a breach Christian can see him walking down to the house from the stables. The shutters are down and Christian has called the police. We're safe" Anna suddenly made a dash for the bathroom closely followed by Frida. Anna proceeded to be violently sick. Benny heard it all "My god is she ok??" he asked concerned. "Yes, she's fine, just nerves I expect" Frida covered quickly. "Mama, he's coming up to the steps." he told her quietly. "Listen to me, you know he can't get in. Get downstairs though now" Anna wiped her mouth with the back of her hand hurriedly and grabbed Frida's hand and ran. Down the stairs and straight down the stairs to the cellar."Where are we going? gasped Frida, she was in full blown panic attack mode and Anna was suddenly the boss "panic room" Anna shouted. She stood for a second concentrating while she unlocked the door. "You can call Benny back off the panic room line in a minute I promise, no mobile signal. You've got to get in there now Frida" she told her firmly. "Hear that??" Frida asked Benny quickly. "Yes, yes I hear her. Just get in there. Call me back when you're safe" he hung up quickly so as not to distract her. He wanted her safe in that panic room. Suddenly he had empathy with why Anna wouldn't tell Bjorn, this was intolerable. The stress was horrendous made worse by not being able to be there and see for himself that Frida was ok. He knew that in some respects Anna was correct Bjorn's need to protect her would cause him agonies but he still knew that Bjorn would rather know and deal with it in his own way. He made a decision and text Bjorn in case he was sleeping. The last thing he wanted was to wake Lena and give Bjorn even more of a headache than he had already. "You awake??" he typed. Bjorn was roused by his phone beeping at him. He frowned as he stretched. He had obviously fallen asleep at his desk. His reunion with Lena had been predictably horrific and he had taken cover in his office and buried himself in work. He'd sorted out the paperwork and a laptop to take to Vallentuna, cleared a backlog of issues from the Mamma Mia restaurant and last he remembered he was dealing with a raft of e mails about the Slottsholmen project. He sighed and looked at his phone. Probably another e mail he thought but his eyebrows shot up involuntarily as he realised it wasn't an e mail it was a text from Benny "Yes I'm awake, you ok?" he typed back rapidly. "Turn your phone to silent, I need to call you and I don't want to wake Lena" was the message that came back. Bjorn was thoroughly alarmed by this point. "I'm in the office" he typed quickly. "Phone is silent"
Immediately his phone started to vibrate and he answered "What in the world is going on Benny it's 0345 in the morning!! Are you ill?" he queried concerned. "No, no no!!!" Benny dismissed impatiently. "There's been a breech at Ekero, Anna and Frida are in the panic room, I was on the phone to them when the alarms went off" Bjorn's heart went into free fall. "When was this?" Bjorn demanded urgently. "The breech alarms went off about 15 minutes ago, maybe a little less, they are deafening!" Benny added as an afterthought. "Christian has confirmed the breech and the police are on their way. He can see him and last I heard he was coming up the steps to the house, even though the shutters are down Christian told them to go to the panic room. There's no mobile signal in the panic room so Frida will call me off the main line when they are settled. Hopefully Anna's stopped being sick" This just gets worse thought Bjorn horrified. "She's sick?" he questioned faintly. "She threw up while I was on the phone to Frida" Benny confirmed. "Frida said it was nerves, don't blame her. I feel quite sick myself, I heard them running Bjorn it was awful. Your girl is brave as a lion, after she was done throwing up she was bossing Frida around" Bjorn smiled unwillingly. "She's not mine Benny" he reminded him. Benny scoffed at him "Bjorn she's been yours for 50 years and it's bloody well time you admitted it!" There was no answer to that at all so Bjorn went into damage control mode. "Benny get off your mobile so that Frida can call you. Use my office line to get in touch with me and your landline. I'll be here" Benny agreed and hung up quickly.
He rang Christian straight away "Morning Papa" he said without preamble "I don't know how you know and I haven't got time to ask right now but Mama and Aunty Frida are safe. They are in the panic room and the house is in lockdown" Bjorn could hear Christian clicking and tapping keys."What are you doing?" Bjorn asked curiously. " Hmm?" Christian questioned absentmindedly. "Oh! I'm controlling the cameras so I can keep track of him and what he's doing. I want records of what he does and I'm hoping to get a face shot. It's possible he doesn't know about the cameras round the houses and I'm sending a feed direct to the police. It's Mama's protocol. They'll come in on silent. When I see them I'll open the gates"Bjorn's heart settled a little from its galloping pace and he calmed a bit. "How do you know for sure that they are safe in the panic room?" he demanded. "I can see that the panic room security is engaged. Mama knows what she's doing, I can see she's locked down Papa don't worry" he paused as he watched the cameras "What's wrong? " asked Bjorn. "Nothing special Papa, I promise you don't want to know" said Christian. "Christian I DO want to know. NOW!" Christian sighed "Papa, you really don't need to know this" "Christian!!" Bjorn growled as only a Papa can do. "Oh for god's sake Papa, he's masturbating on the back porch, it happens every time. Nothing unusual"
Bjorn was enraged, enraged that he was so helpless and enraged that this was Anna's normal. "Does she know this happens?" his voice was deadly. "She knows, she copes with it admirably" Christian reassured him. "Papa, this is Mama's world, it has been for years. She's brave and stubborn and I will never let anything happen to her I promise" Bjorn sighed in frustration. "The police are here Papa, calm down" he heard Christian speaking on the other line opening the gates and directing them to where the man was. That man was so involved in what he was doing that when the policemen crept round both sides of the house in a pincer movement, having parked some distance away he never even heard them coming and had no chance of escape.
Down in the panic room Anna and Frida were panting from exertion and stress but they were in and safe. Anna had engaged the security immediately. Frida flopped on the tiny sofa."Anna, I just don't know how you can cope with this" she remarked. "Welcome to my world" Anna laughed. This is my normal darling. You've done well to have been here as long as you have without the alarms going off. She flicked on the camera feeds and the phone lines then went to get a bottle of water, her mouth tasted sour from vomiting. She swished it round her mouth and spat it down the tiny sink. She did this a few times and felt immeasurably better. She washed her hands with some antibacterial soap that didn't need water. "Want some water?" she asked. Frida was suddenly parched "yes please" Anna passed her a bottle then settled in front of the screens. She searched for the feed to Christian, found it and set up so that he could see her. " Anna? How did you learn to do all this? You hate technology!" asked Frida bemused. "This is complicated shit!" "No I do hate it Frida but if it keeps me alive then I'll learn!" Frida snorted and shook her head in admiration. "Well when you put it like that" she laughed. Frida relaxed as she realised she was safe and so was Anna. "You better call Benny, he'll be going spare" she reminded Frida. Frida jumped guiltily. "God, yes I will" she said rapidly. Anna gave her the phone and Frida hurriedly dialled Benny's number. He picked up on the first ring "Frida??" he sounded stressed. "Sorry, I had to get my breath back" she excused."I'm an old lady, not used to running like that" she laughed. "Benny we are safe, it's quite cosy in here, Anna's handling it like a pro. It's like she's in her own James Bond movie sorting phone lines and camera feeds while I'm sat here not knowing what on earth is going on" she laughed. Benny's relief knew no bounds "Jesus Christ Frida I swear you've just taken another decade off of my life, the pair of you!! You owe me!!" Benny sighed. "She'll pay you back next week" Anna interjected laughing. Frida blushed and Benny coughed to cover his amusement. They continued a gentle conversation, soothing each other. Anna got up from the sofa as she saw Christian's camera feed blinking at her. She turned the sound on. "Morning Mama" her handsome son smiled at her. "Police are here, they've got him, sit tight for a bit they are just doing a full sweep to make sure he was alone and to see where he managed to access the compound." He turned, "I'll be back in a sec Mama" he turned away and she sat on a chair in front of the cameras waiting patiently. The sound feed had clicked off, she frowned confused. Maybe he was talking to the police. He wasn't.
"Papa, you won't rest will you?" Christian asked amused. "No!!" Bjorn was agitated and as far from amused as he could possibly be. "I'm sending you a secure link, one off use. Have you got your laptop on? It'll come through your secure server."said Christian. "Yes, it's on" he watched as a notification came up on the screen. Christian gave him a password. Bjorn typed it in and he was greeted with a black screen and a loading icon.
"Mama?" Anna jumped as Christian's voice filled the little room. "Can you turn camera feed two on, someone needs to see you." "Who could possibly want to see me at 4 o'clock in the morning?" she wondered exasperated but she did as he said. The screen blinked into life. "Mama" came Christian's voice "be kind, he's just had the absolute fright of his life" She looked at screen two and she saw Bjorn there. He looked dreadful, like he hadn't slept for a week but he looked wonderful to her, she smiled softly. He jumped when he saw her, obviously it was as much of a surprise to him. She could hear Frida laughing quietly behind her. She cleared her throat " Morning Bjorn. Did you need a wake up call?" Damn stubborn bloody woman, he thought. She's making a joke out of it!! He admired her spirit. His eyes locked onto hers. "Not quite like that one Anna." he admitted. "I've nearly died a thousand deaths since Benny rang me" "Well don't, I'm fine."she tried to reassure him. He ran his fingers thorough his hair agitatedly then leaned forward and studied her, she looked tired and her hair was totally stuck up in every direction. She was wearing ...what WAS that? It looked familiar. He leaned closer. "That's MY shirt!!"he exclaimed. "You gave it to me!" she replied defensively. Frida smiled gently in the background, distracted momentarily from her conversation with Benny, that explained a LOT she thought. "Anna I know baby but I never thought for a minute you'd still have it. I gave you that when you were pregnant with Christian!!" "It's comfy" she shrugged shyly. His heart melted a bit more. She looked beautiful to him. He said so. She snorted inelegantly "I hate to disbelieve you Bjorn but it's gone 4 in the morning, I haven't slept yet, I'm 67 years old, I've thrown up, I've run down two flights of stairs, my hair hasn't seen a comb for hours and I'm shut in a box. I have NO idea what I look like but I do know it surely isn't beautiful" Bjorn laughed out loud. His stress gone. "Where's Frida?" he enquired. He saw a hand rise behind Anna's head, Frida got up and Bjorn could see her. "Nice pajamas!!" he said laughing. "Get lost Bjorn" Frida laughed. "I wasn't expecting to be so rudely ripped out of my bed" "What pajamas?" "How does Bjorn see you?" she heard Benny grumble. "Aww Benny don't be sad, there's a camera feed that Christian has connected to Bjorn's laptop. He was going spare" Frida replied gently. "So am I!!" Benny commented pointedly.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys" said Christian." You all look and sound very happy in there but Mama and Aunty Frida, you have the all clear to come out. The sweep is complete and they have identified the access point, there is no evidence anyone else is here Mama, you're safe to come out now." Bjorn was so proud of his son at that moment that he was fit to burst. He watched Anna disengage the door then called her back. "Anna?" "Yes?" "You are the bravest woman I have EVER met. I miss you more than you'll ever know" he looked distraught. Anna sat back down, Frida had gone back upstairs. "Bjorn I'm fine, this is my normal life darling. I'm used to it. This is why I don't want you dragged back into a mess of my own making." Bjorn sat up straight "this isn't your fault, none of it is. You didn't do this. You can't take responsibility for the actions of others"
Anna sighed and rested her chin in her hands and looked at him. "Some of it may not be my fault but by how I deal with it I can keep you all safe" "Why do you keep saying that Anna?" he asked. " Because I've been doing it for nearly 40 years and nothing's happened to any of you yet"
