There on the floor of this fairly big office amongst scattered paper on the floor. Simon Bricker is on top of Cora, pinning her down and is on the process of tying her hands.
Signs of struggles are clear in the room with many things scattered around. Cora delicate night gown that she has been wearing since last night is visibly torn up to her upper right leg showing apparent cuts and purplish marks. Her usually neat and pretty knotted hair is now in a complete mess.
Cora looked up to Robert wide eyed and tried to say something to him but only mumbled sounds coming out. There is a piece of cloth in her mouth gagging her. Her pretty face is sweaty and dirty; there are cuts and blood on it as well. Tears are streaming down her face; she looks at him and shakes her head violently. There are no words coming with the gag on, but her wide eyes screamed, 'I tried to get away Robert! I tried!'
The painful sight made Robert feels as if someone just shot him on the heart and shattered it to million pieces.
With the door being kicked down and slammed so hard on the floor and a fuming Robert standing just 10 steps away from him, Simon Bricker does not appear to even look alarmed, just as he was not alarmed a year ago when Robert found him trying to get to Cora in their bedroom.
Cora tries to buckle and struggle to get herself away to no avail.
"Steady Cora. You are making me too excited with all this moving." Bricker says. He looks up to Robert, his eyebrows rise arrogantly and he flashes a sadistic smile at Robert.
"Hello Lord Grantham, so very nice of you to pay us a visit. I am just about to play house with Cora here, a chance we did not get to proceed last year."
Robert who hardly can control himself starts to advance towards him.
"No, no, no, Stand back or I will hurt her." He warns Robert and takes out a knife pointing it at Cora's neck.
Robert stops himself immediately. He cannot risk his wife getting hurt further by this maniac.
Looking at Robert with wounds on his face and blood dripping from his arm Cora starts to sobs silently.
"What is wrong Cora? Smile! If I remember correctly, you were so happy in my company!" Bricker says loudly with mocking tone. It makes Cora broke into another muffled sobs. Bricker smiles again, his eyes are sparkling sickly as if he is enjoying the whole ordeal.
The sight of his wife and the words Bricker said makes Robert fuming red. His fist is clenched tightly to his side. He narrowed his eyes but does not dare to make another move, he cannot see any opening. If a look can kill Simon Bricker must have died a thousand times by now.
"GET OFF HER!" Robert practically roars at him. He can feel his veins throbbing painfully in his neck. "I WILL KILL YOU, YOU ANIMAL! YOU GET OFF HER THIS INSTANT!"
Bricker throws his head back and laughs sinisterly at this threat.
"You will what Lord Grantham?" He pushes the knife on Cora's neck a little harder and blood trickles out dripping slowly. Cora closes her eyes tight and her body is trembling greatly.
"STOP IT! PLEASE! Please stop it!" Robert yells frantically.
"WHY SHOULD I?!" Bricker yells back questioning him. He smiles, his eyes glints manically.
"I'll do ANYTHING! Please don't hurt her Bricker.. Mr Bricker please." Robert pleads. Tears start to fall down his face. There is really no opening; there is no way to safe his wife. It is clear to see that Bricker recent mental state is past reasoning and he is possibly half mad. One wrong move from Robert might cost him Cora's life.
"Beg for it then. Go down on your knees and beg for it.. If you do it nice enough Crawley.. I might just let her go." Bricker looks at Robert, his eyebrows are raised waiting for Robert's response.
Robert does not even hesitate; he immediately kneels down fulfilling his wish.
"I'll do anything.. Please Mr. Bricker. Let my wife go. Hurt me instead! Anything! But don't hurt her, please.."
Cora sobs again witnessing the scene in front of her. Her husband has always been a proud man, the world knows that. The sight of him kneeling and begging is just unbearable for her.
Bricker stands up and pulls Cora harshly with him; he pulls her up on her tied hands and throws her on the office's sofa. He takes off his jacket and is just going to say something when the man Robert beat up walks limply into the room. His face all bloodied over Robert's punches.
"Oh Avery, you look terrible!" Bricker says with fake concern in his tone.
"I see you are getting things under control here." Avery walks towards Bricker and Cora, just as he is passing by Robert who is kneeling on the floor Avery turn around and give Robert a strong kick on the stomach.
Roberts falls back and coughs several times. The kick makes him dizzy, the room seems to spin so fast. He struggles hard before he manage to get himself up.
"P-p-please.. Let my wife go.." He coughs again.
Avery punches Robert and he falls down to the floor again. Robert finds himself unable to get himself up; he shakes his head trying to get the dizziness off.
Bricker laughs. "You beg well Grantham, but not well enough."
Avery pulls on Robert's hair and forces him up. He punches Robert on the stomach again. Robert loses his footing but Avery grabs him by the hands and turns him to where Bricker is standing.
"If I were you both I will find in myself to forgive him, Avery has quite immeasurable hatred against people like you lot who is living a luxurious aristocrat life." Bricker states to the room as if his explanation justify the action of his accomplice.
"Now if you will Cora." Bricker approaches Cora on the sofa. "I was waiting all night for you Lord Grantham. So you can see me… give pleasure.. to your wife."
Robert eyes are bloodshot red; his face is fuming from all the pain and anger. He struggles to break free from Avery, his tears fall over the helplessness of the situation, he tries to find his footing and get himself out of Avery's grab but his head is still spinning so fast he feels like he is about to puke.
Bricker moves sneakily he positions himself on top of Cora on the sofa. He put his knife aside and torn Cora's night gown off forcefully. She is just in her thin under layers now, her breasts and figure is apparent. Cora starts to sobs, and her body trembles violently. Bricker leaned in to kiss her and she quickly turns her head for several times and with her tied hand she frantically tries to punch and pushes him away.
"Enough Cora! Let me have my way or I will have Avery kill your husband this instant! There is nothing you nor him can do! Nothing!" Bricker's hand then travel up Cora's legs. She tosses and turns trying to get his hand away only to get a hard slap on the face from the now impatient Bricker who is starting to get increasingly madder from the rejections.
Robert who seems to get around his dizziness and footing sees red instantly at the sight in front of him. It is as if something at the back of his mind snapped. With all his strength Robert knocks Avery on the nose with the back of his head. Robert then turns around and punches the man right on the neck. Avery who did not expect such sudden movement from Robert staggers back and falls to the floor. His eyeballs rolled up, his consciousness faints to another dimension.
Bricker who is startles by the action turn around trying to find his knife, Cora who is still recovering from the slap she just received takes the opportunity to head butt Bricker on the nose. Bricker staggers back. "My Nose!" he cries.
Robert who is now finished with Avery then charges towards and jumps on Bricker with such might that the two of them soon are rolling on the floor. Robert overpowers him in the brawl just as easily as a year ago. The thin man without a knife pointing at Cora's neck stands no chance against Robert. This time Robert is not holding himself back. He can't and he won't. He pulls Bricker up and pushes him to the wall violently. He punches him many times on the face giving the man the best hooks he can musters and knees him on the stomach. Bricker falls down to the floor completely knocked over. His face is in a mess. Robert approaches him again and is just about to step on Bricker's face when he finds Cora throwing herself at him.
"Let me Cora! This man has done you wrong! I will kill him!" Robert's eyes are red but Cora knows she must not budge. She must hold him back. She cannot let Robert get hanged for murder. She uses all her strength in holding him back with her body. Her eyes full of tears silently pleading him to stop.
Still mad Robert looks at his wife's eyes, he can see her pleading look and slowly he comes back to his senses. He then weakly leans his head on to her shoulder. His breath ragged. "Oh Cora.." He cries. He pulls off the gag on Cora's mouth and unties her hands. There are bloods around her wrists from struggling against the rope.
"Oh Cora.. what has he done to you.." he sobs again.
"R-Robert.." her voice croaks.
Robert then gathers her into his arms. Both cries and sobs in each others' embrace.
"I was so scared I thought I was going to lose you," Robert says. Tears are streaming down his face.
"I am sorry darling." Cora says to him.
Robert shushes her. "I am the one who should say sorry my darling, I have failed to protect you I don't deserve your forgiveness" Robert's lips quivers and he is almost breaking into another sobs.
Cora cupped his cheeks. "You deserve every kind of forgiveness I can ever give."
He tightens his embrace and buries his face on her neck again. Cora holds his head onto her shoulder, stroking his hair.
"And you did not fail darling. You just saved me and you fought so well, so bravely. I didn't know how well you can fight. You are like a superman." Cora says making Robert chuckles.
"I am a man who had been to the war Cora; I've been in a fight or two." Cora smiles and strokes his hair again. They hold each other for what seems like forever.
After a while Robert took off his coat and wrapped it around Cora. His hands are trembling, it is purplish and swollen with blood on them but he manages to buttons the coat up for her
Cora takes his hands on hers and kisses his wounded knuckles.
"My poor husband.. All battered just to safe a fool me.." Cora's face looks solemn and sad.
"Don't say that. I am so very glad you are safe Cora.." Robert reaches out and takes her face in his palm. He leans down and kisses the cuts on Cora's face and her cheek and then captures her lips with a sweet kiss.
She reaches to his arms. "You arm is bleeding."
"It's nothing darling I will be-"
"Milord! Milord!" Bates frantic voice comes from the outer room.
"In here Bates!" Robert calls out to his valet.
Bates come into the office with several police officers and all stop on their tracks as they enter the room. Clearly they are all shock at the sight in front of them. Everything is in a mess, hardly looks like an office for a London gallery. Lord and Lady Grantham both are standing in the middle of the room, both are wounded. Two men are down on the floor, clearly beaten up.
The officers start to slowly move in and get to Bricker and Avery.
One of them however walks towards Robert and says, "Lord Grantham, Lady Grantham. I- it's just- I know the two of you are victims, but tomorrow you are both expected to come to Scotland Yard to give some more detailed statements on this incident. It is procedure Sir, Maam."
Robert releases his embrace on Cora and nods at the officer. "Of course, we will be there." The officer then nods back and walks towards his fellow officers.
"I see you have not forgotten your moves milord," Bates says candidly walking towards them with his cane. His face is covered in several bandages.
Bates eyes caught on Robert's red soaked shirt.
"Oh my God, your arm is bleeding. Oh my God. We need to get you to the hospital!"
"You are too much Bates." Robert says chuckling but obediently led Cora along with him and to follow on Bates leading them out to the Car. He is after all very much has had enough of his energy and blood drained from his body today.
On the car ride to the hospital, Robert holds Cora again tightly forgetting all his wounds and the fact that he cannot seems to feel his fingers any longer. But it is all worth it. His Cora is now safe in his arms.
"I love you Cora.." Robert says softly and kisses her on her temple.
"I love you too Robert, my love, my hero." Cora says and leans up to kisses him on the lips.
They leans onto each othe forgetting Pattinson and Bates sitting in front of them who are now looking at each other awkwardly after hearing the love their employers declare to one another. A 35 years kind of love, they both then broke into smile, and start thinking of their own significant others waiting for them at home.
Fin.
This last chapter is more to action and closure but I hope you guys still enjoy it.
I'd like to say thank you to the reviewers and of course my kind proof reader Kat-of-the-streets !
