Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JF. I just borrow it to play for a while.
Other: The second part of the 1000 words featuring Isobel and Richard having a moment of quietness.
~~o~~
2. The bench in the hospital garden
He found her outside in the green garden, sitting on the old wodden bench hidden behind a corner. Hiding her away from the rest of the nurses, patients and everybody else who wanted to see or talk to her. which lately seemed to be a lot of persons. Family and strangers alike.
They had taken to use this place to get away from the soldiers, the broken men and crying boys, inside. It had always been his place to find his calm again and the nurses did well to remember not to disturb him there if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Thirty years he had spend sitting on that bench already. Always sitting there alone.
And one day, maybe two months after she had come to Downton, he had found her sitting on his bench, in his little corner of the hospital garden, regaining her calmness and drying off some stray tears to his mortal embarrassement. It had been the moment when he had gotten to know a much softer and fragile side of her, of the woman who had taken matters into her own hand with Mr. Drake and practically forced him to use a medical procedure he had only read about. But it had also been the moment he had decided to allow another person to share this place with him, to share what was on his mind. He had allowed her in back then.
Now she was sitting there again. Leaning back against the grey wall of the hospital, staring into he wild green of this part of the hospital garden, looking like this due to lack of care. Slowly he strolled over, knowing she had noted his presence only by the faint nod of her head. Sitting down on the other end of the bench he kept the silence. They always sat in silence on the old bench. It was a place without words. Only thoughts and emotions. If they needed to talk, they walked. But here they only thought and watched.
The breeze gently moved the high grass and caressed the red and yellow flowers, twirled around the hem of her skirt and played an unknown melody in the leaves of the high trees.
He closed his eyes and lent his head back against the wall. Let the thoughts of all the pain and suffering inside the building sweep out of his mind. Quietly he listened to the singing of the birds, the faint rustle of the grass in the breeze and her calm breathing.
Sometimes he wished he could stay on this bench forever. With her by his side and the gentle breeze on his face. Leaving all the horrors of war behind in the hospital and rather simply sit with her.
Her sigh brought him back out of his mind and back to their little hidden island of calmness. Slowly turning to her he let his gaze wander over her pale but content face for a moment. Taking in her fair skin and beholding her watching the wild flowers with those beautiful eyes. He stood before he knew what he was doing and told himself that it was simply to stretch his legs. His eyes met hers and he felt himself in danger to drown in those deep brown pools. Full of fire and compassion for what they were doing and who they were caring for. Eyes he could lose himself in, drown in the passion that sometimes flared up in them. But then hadn't he told her years ago that they would sink or swim together?
Without thought he offered his hand to her and she laid her smaller one in it, without hesitating for one second, and let him help her up. Smoothing down her skirt with her other hand she smiled up at him and he felt calmness spreading through him again. He kept her hand in his, marveled about how soft her fingers felt against his rougher ones.
And then, without really thinking about what he was doing, he pulled her towards him. Carefully but determined stole he a gentle kiss. A light and quick pressing of his lips to hers, while his hand found her waist. And which she answered with her warm hand gently stroking his cheek.
But he did not go further. No deep kisses. No passionate embraces. No hands winding themselve into her hair. No fingers trying to losen his tie.
Instead he turned around and pulled her hand to rest in the crook of his arm. And then he slowly started walking. With her by his side. Walking in silence. Walking in calmness.
~~o~~
There are two other moments to come, which certainly will stand alone.
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