Well hello there my little fan-ficers!
Almost the end of the year - and now that we've all survived the Mayan apocalypse, I thought it was time to post another instalment in the Bates family life!
Thanks for all your reviews, please carry on, they're always lovely to read!
Merry Christmas - and a very happy new year!
August 1933
John took a mouthful of now cold tea, normally he palled at cold tea – but he was too distracted to care, it was something to do. He had smoked enough cigarettes to keep Mr Woodbine in business for a year, he had cleaned out the sink, washed down the kitchen table, re-filled the coal scuttle, even organised the jars in the kitchen cupboard in height order. He was at loss of what to do with his hands, turning on his heel sharply as he heard the back door open he saw Anna walk in, flopping down on the kitchen chair she raised him a small smile.
"He's going to be fine."
"Oh Jesus Christ – thank the lord! What happened, Mr Carson's message was so convoluted!"
"I don't know – I truly don't, it looks like he just ran off into the road and got hit by a car, whoever it was just rode off, no-one saw who they were … a man someone said, but that's all."
"And Patrick and Aoife? What were they doing while their brother was being mowed down!?"
"John, calm down, it's not their fault – Paddy's always careful, but he's 12 years old – he's not a grown man. It sounds like Ciaran wanted to get something from the house so Paddy was walking him back from the pub and … well, it doesn't matter, what's important is that Ciaran's fine, Dr Clarkson says that most of its superficial."
"Small blessings. But Paddy shouldn't have …."
"Just go to bed John, there's no use dwelling on should haves and ought to haves. Paddy isn't responsible for this, no-one is except the silly fool who was driving too fast and ran off once it had happened. Don't blame Paddy, Ciaran's going to be fine, just go to bed before you get all het up over nothing."
"But Anna, it's not nothing! Why are you being so calm? Our son could have died today!"
"I KNOW ... I know, and that's precisely why I'm being so calm. Because if I let myself imagine … just for a second … then I won't be able to cope. But I can cope, as long as I know that Ciaran's going to be alright!"
"I'm sorry …"
"Why? What for? For getting angry and upset? For blaming everyone else but us? Because that's whos fault it is, we're the ones who chose this life, for us and for our children, we're the ones who made a selfish choice that could have cost my son his life!"
"Our son Anna, Ciaran's our son …"
"… Yes I know, I'm going to bed."
"I'll be up now."
"Don't bother – the sofa's comfortable enough."
"Anna …?"
John woke early, although technically he hadn't slept much and so it was no great stretch to get up and walk into the kitchen. He hooked his cane over the kitchen sink and began to fill the kettle from the tap, humming quietly to himself he placed the kettle onto the hob. Picking up his cane he slowly made his way up the stairs, his knee was stiff and ached somewhat but he persevered. His bedroom door was pushed to and after a moment's consideration he gently opened it, Anna was asleep, curled up in a ball with the quilt pulled right up to her chin, her breathing was deep and even but her eyes looked a little swollen and red. She had obviously cried herself to sleep, and John's heart broke as he watched her sleep. He knew he had to wake her, but at the same time he didn't want to disturb her, he decided to dress before trying to stir her, giving her a little extra sleep.
"Anna love? Anna … you need to wake up …"
"Mmm, wha-what time is it?"
"It's just gone five, do you want some tea? I've just put the kettle on …"
"Thank you, how's your knee?"
"Oh fine."
"Good. I'll go down to the hospital later to see Ciaran."
"Do you wan't me to come."
"No, I'll be alright on my own."
"Anna … I want to come and see my son in hospital. I want to come and see him with my wife … why are you so angry with me? I haven't done anything, I was angry last night, I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"John? John are you there?"
"Yes, Anna? What is it?"
"I'm at the hospital now, Ciaran's taken a turn for the worse, please come down – I need you here."
"Right, ummm, well I'll be as quick as I can, what's happened?"
"I don't know, just please come down!"
"Alright, I'll be there now."
"… And John … I love you …"
"I love you too ..." John replaced the handset into the cradle and left Mr Carson's office quickly, running his hands through his hair he grabbed his coat and made for the door, ignoring the staff in the kitchen who were watching him with curiosity.
John shook Dr Clarkson's hand firmly, swallowing hard against the tears that were threatening to come, what was so bad that he had to leave the house to come and see Ciaran? The worst of thoughts flicked through his mind as he met the doctors eyes,
"What is it doctor? Mrs Bates telephoned me …"
"Yes – she's just with one of my nurses at the moment – she needed some time. The break to your son's leg, we believe that the nerve within the leg may have been damaged, Ciaran's lost some sensation in the leg, and, although it's too early to tell, but he may have some problems with walking again."
"You said that it was superficial though? I don't understand …"
"As far as we could tell the injuries were superficial, but it's only as he's begun to recover from the shock over night that we we're able to see the full extent of the damage. I'm sorry."
"He may have problems walking … doctor I …"
"Mr Bates, your … predicament, your injuries are not the same as your sons. With work we hope that Ciaran will recover – but at the moment we need to focus on assessing the actual damage to the leg. Umm … Nurse? Nurse – will you take Mr Bates over to see his son?"
"Actually – do you mind if I go to see my wife first? I want to see Anna."
"Right, Nurse Wilson, Mrs Bates is in my office with Sister, could you take Mr Bates through? Thank you."
"Thank you doctor!"
Nurse Wilson was a small girl, Anna was short and slim, but the nurse was barely 5 feet tall, and so narrow, John caught himself wondering how she didn't break a limb every time she stumbled or fell. Her dress was too big for her, and her cap, although clean was wonkily perched on her head.
In side Dr Clarkson's office Anna was sat on a seat sipping from a cup of tea, John could see that it was far paler than she liked to take it but she carried on sipping, carefully pressing a handkerchief to her nose occasionally, it took a moment before she noticed John had walked into the room. She stood slowly and raised her arms quickly so that John could hold her, resting his head on her shoulder John inhaled deeply, his wife's smell was soothing but even that was no comfort.
"Oh John, thank God. What did Dr Clarkson tell you?"
"That everything's a bit up in the air right now, but they're worried that Ciaran might be a bit more damaged than we thought …"
"He might not walk again John!"
"It's too early to say that Anna, Dr Clarkson's just worried that the leg might be more damaged than we thought – Ciaran's not confined to a wheel chair just yet love."
"Have you seen him yet?"
"No – have you? No? Let's go together …"
Landers Cottage,
Downton Estate
North Yorks
12th August 1933
Dear Mam,
I hope that you and Dad are well, John and I are doing fine, so are Patrick and Aoife. I know you want us to come up again soon, but it's just not practical at the moment I'm afraid.
Ciaran's not as well unfortunately, there was an accident in the village last week – before you start to worry, he's absolutely fine. I promise. He's just laid up at the moment, he's home now, whether there's any lasting damage remains to be seen, but at the moment it looks promising, he can't walk on the leg, which he finds maddening, but Aoife's enjoying being a nurse, and Patrick has discovered his philanthropic side by letting Ciaran play with his old toys and read his comics, once Patrick's had a good read through of course!
The Doctors are worried that he might have damaged some parts of his leg – I don't really understand much about it, but they think that when he fell he damaged the connective tissues in the knee and possibly the nerves in the leg, which is why he's having trouble walking at the moment. If you want to come and visit him, I know he'd be glad of the company, and so would John and I of course. I know you haven't always agreed with my choice of husband, but I know you like him, and I know you know what a fantastic father he has been to the children, and a wonderful husband. He's a pain and a half some times, but I love him, and I wish you would forgive him for those first few years of our marriage. Things are much more settled now – and if you could bring yourself to spend more than half an hour with him, I know you'd realise how lovely he is.
I'd best be off, give my love to Dad, and I hope I'll see you soon,
Love,
Anna
