A/N I believe this storyline would've fit very neatly into what the wonderful Fellowes gave us. Thomas is famous for misunderstandings and assumptions, though he does sometimes end up accidentally being surprisingly accurate. I was surprised that his perceptiveness and nosiness were not a bigger part of Anna's storyline since Thomas can't stand not knowing a secret and was clearly shocked by her appearance and change in demeanor. I hope you'll enjoy. Other chapters will be much longer.

Lastly, feel free to review or PM me. I love chatting!

Thomas nearly let his tea cup slip through his fingers in shock. He'd never seen anyone at Downton enter a room in such a state as Anna Bates just had. A scabbed cut split her lower lip, and angry abrasions decorated her face.

"Blimey! What happened to you?!"

Mrs. Hughes was quick to deflect his questioning, and Anna muttered something about a fall without meeting anyone's eyes.

A fall wouldn't have marked her face like that. One bruise perhaps, but not a face-full. She looked as though she hadn't slept at all. There was something alarming about the way she sat, shoulders hunched and drawn in as though she hoped to disappear inside herself and a head ducked out of more than simple politeness. In the fifteen years they'd been working together, he'd never once seen her truly unhappy – not when she was ill, not even when Bates was sure to be imprisoned indefinitely. The fire and energy that usually radiated from Anna was gone, and that was what worried Thomas most. Where were those sparkling eyes always so ready to chastise him?

Before he had much time to get over his surprise, Anna had anxiously sprung from her seat, claiming to have work to do. Thomas balked at the sight of her scurrying away from everyone's prying eyes. What could possibly have happened to cause such a radical change in the few hours since he'd seen her?

As he took more toast, Thomas registered the undertones of Bates questioning Mrs. Hughes. Bates, such a selfish, crude bastard if ever there was one. Thomas never did understand what Anna saw in such an unsteady, temperamental man. And then he froze mid-chew as the sudden realization hit him. He knew exactly where those bruises had come from.

Thomas eyed Bates angrily as he wondered how many more bruises had been hidden under a maid's uniform over the years. How many injuries had Anna sustained in their cottage out back while the rest of the servants slept safely in the abbey? He seethed as Bates continued questioning as though he had no knowledge of the cause of Anna's injuries, as though he wouldn't have asked Anna about them himself before breakfast.

He'd never liked the stupid, lazy cripple who didn't deserve employment. Now he finally had a legitimate reason to unite everyone against him. This was unacceptable, and Thomas cursed himself for not having realized it years sooner.

A/N - To new readers - I promise Thomas won't be "mistaken" for very long. Don't worry for Bates' future!