So, back with a new story. I started this a while ago but as you know, it takes me age to write in english ! The idea came after a comment of Theyankeecountess about a blind Tom. Wonderful Repmet is already spoiling us with her beautiful story "Darkness", showing Tom's vulnerability about his handicap and how he deals with it. In this story, Blindness is more a fact in the story than the subject itself. I don't know if I make any sense...lol
Also, I want to say that I took some liberty with the show mainly about the hospital and what kinf of people it can welcome.
I hope you'll enjoy it and welcome it.
xo
June 1918
Pratt stopped the car in front of the village's hospital and Sybil almost ran out of it, cursing. Not after Pratt, but after herself. Today was her first day back after a two days leave and she had overslept. So now, she was late for her shift and she was angry after herself because Isobel told her yesterday at dinner that they were expecting several casualties from France and she knew she was needed.
Entering through the main door, she intended on finding her cousin as soon as possible to have an update on the wounded soldiers. Walking as fast as she could, she turned in the hallway and nearly ran into Dr. Clarkson. She stopped just in time to avoid bouncing off his chest.
"Dr. Clarkson, please, forgive me!"
"That's all right, Nurse Crawley. I was just coming to meet you. I phoned Downton and they told me you were on your way here. I need to talk to you about something."
Being late, she was about to ask him if it could wait then she saw the look on his face. Whatever it was, it had him worried and darkened his normally clear eyes. It didn't look like something that could wait.
"Is something wrong, Doctor? I know I'm late, I'm sorry about that. It won't hap…"
Dr. Clarkson interrupted her with a sign of his hand.
"Something like that. Please, follow me in my office."
Once again, she was about to protest, arguing there probably was a lot of work to do but what he had to say seemed rather important so she followed him in silence, hoping he wasn't about to fire her.
He opened the door of his office and gestured to the chair facing his desk. That was when she saw that Isobel was already there.
"Let's sit down", said Dr. Clarkson as Sybil was greeting her cousin.
Sybil's gut clenched into a painful knot. Something was definitely wrong. She was wondering if Isobel's presence was meaning that maybe, it was involving Matthew. But her cousin seemed worried, not completely dejected. She smiled softly at Sybil but that didn't comfort her, rather the contrary. Doctor Clarkson took place behind his desk and hesitated a moment, looking at Isobel before his eyes dropped to the floor. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit it because Dr. Clarkson wasn't a hesitant man. He finally looked up.
"As Mrs. Crawley told you", he began, "several injured men had arrived earlier this morning."
Sybil nodded, still trying to figure out where he was going with all this mystery.
"Late yesterday night, I received the list of names from the war minister. One of the names caught my eyes."
"Is it someone we know? Someone from family?"
"It is yes. But not family. It's Tom Branson, your former chauffeur."
Sybil felt the blood drain from her face but tried to get a grip on herself quickly, clasping her hands together to avoid them to shake.
"Is he…is it bad?" She finally asked, trying to sound casual.
"He survived a pretty bad explosion. He was driving a General's car when a bomb exploded near them. He was thrown out of the car. Some bits of metal hit him. Some on his abdomen where he has a pretty bad cut that required a lot of stitches then another one on his head. Let's just say he's very lucky to be alive."
"So…so he's ok?"
"He's in no danger anymore. The explosion is a week's old and there's no infection so far. The cut should heal correctly but it will take time until a full healing. He won't get up in that time to avoid the cut from opening up again. He was unconscious until this morning but he woke up just after his arrival here."
"Then, he's going to be alright?" Sybil asked quickly, feeling that Dr. Clarkson hadn't told her everything yet.
He hesitated again and Sybil felt an icy fist clench at her heart again. He glanced at Isobel then at her again.
"There are some issues regarding his vision."
"Issues? What kind of issues?"
Sybil heard Isobel took a deep breath before answering her.
"At the moment, Branson is completely blind."
The air rushed from Sybil's lungs. Blind? Tom was blind. But he was a chauffeur and wanted to be a journalist. To him, losing his sight would be worse than death! Through a haze of shock, she struggled to focus on what Dr. Clarkson was saying.
"He took a blow to the back of the head and it probably caused some swelling."
"Then, it's not permanent?" She asked.
"I'm afraid we won't know how much permanent damage was done for quite some time. The only thing we could do is wait. He has a long healing ahead of him."
"Can I see him?" She asked forcing the words past a clog of emotion.
"Yes of course. That's part of why I wanted to see you. You don't have any reserve about nursing a former employee, don't you?"
"Of course not!" She exclaimed. "I'll be glad to help as much as I can. After Lt. Courtnay, I've got some experience with this kind of injury", she added with all the confidence she could find.
Dr. Clarkson stood up and showed the door.
"Then let just go with our round. "
The two women followed him in silence. Sybil was dreading to see her friend again. They parted in good terms but she couldn't help but think that all this was her fault. Tom wanted to be a conscientious objector and she had convinced him not to. And now, he was lying in a bed, alive but with a wound that could mean more than death for a man like him. As they entered the main treatment room where several beds were lined up, Sybil took a deep breath, readying herself to face her friend's resentment.
