A/N: I've been given the nickname, Queen of Angst...you'll understand that after this chapter I think lol But, shrug, it's setting up some things ;-) . Thank you once again for all the wonderful reviews!

Elsie blinked in surprise when she felt a tug at her skirt. Looking down, she was even more startled to see the tiny girl staring up at her through eyes she had inherited from her mother. "Miss Sybie," she whispered then looked up and smiled when she saw Tom Branson standing off a bit and smiling. "Mr. Branson."

"Can't it be Tom, Mrs. Clarkson? You used to call me that."

"I did, but your station is above mine now, it wouldn't be proper."

Tom sighed, "Please? No one need know. And your station has changed."

"So it has." Elsie agreed, laughing when Sybie tugged at her skirt again and babbled up at her. Bending to pick up the tot, she smiled. "Is that what you wished, Miss Sybie?"

The tot nodded and patted Elsie's cheek. "Sie," she babbled.

"Mrs. Clarkson." Tom corrected as he shrugged at Elsie. "I'm sorry."

"No need. She's a babe. It's perfectly fine for her to call me Sie," she chuckled at the nickname. "She'll learn the way of things soon enough."

Tom moved closer, smiling sadly as he watched his daughter's tiny fingers reaching up to touch Elsie's hair. "I don't want her to forget how much she loves you. You've always been very kind to me, and you noticed how alone I was when I was lost in the goings on around me." He reached out and caressed Sybie's head. "You've always been her favorite, though I'm not sure why."

Elsie kissed Sybie's cheek. "Because I would go into the nursery and find her staring wide eyed up at the ceiling, crying quietly, and scoop her up and rock her to sleep. It gave Nanny a break, and me a bit of peace."

"Ah." Tom smiled. "Looking after my wee one just as you did me." He shook his head. "I never believed the dragon nonsense."

Elsie smiled at the young man as she handed Sybie over to him. "Thank you for that, Tom," she said his name, giving him what he'd asked. "I'd best not hold you up from whatever errand brought you to the village."

"You brought us to the village."

"Me?"

"Yes." Tom nodded. "I haven't had a chance to talk to you, to see how you are doing, and to apologize."

"Apologize? Whatever for?"

Tom looked down, patting Sybie's back as he got up the courage to tell the truth. "I knew about her, Mrs. Clarkson," he finally whispered.

Elsie blinked in surprise. "You knew about who?"

"Her."

"How?"

"A letter from her to Mr. Carson was mixed up in some of my own when the post was delivered." Tom finally looked back up at Elsie. "I should have brought the letter to you to give to him. At least then you would have known, but," he paused.

"But?" Elsie prompted when it didn't seem like he was going to continue.

"But I didn't want to upset you after you'd been so kind to me." He sighed as he shrugged. "I suppose not upsetting you then, hurt you far worse later."

Smiling softly at the young man, Elsie patted his arm. "I thank you for looking out for me, but you mustn't blame yourself, Tom. It wasn't your place to tell me. Take the wee one home. It seems she's had enough of a visit."

Tom smiled when he realized Sybie had fallen asleep on his shoulder. "Would it be alright if we come to see you next week?"

"If you think the family won't have a problem with it. I don't want you to upset them." She squeezed his arm. "I know you miss Mr. Crawley. Is that really what this is about?"

"I do, and maybe it is. He was always on my side. Just like you."

"I seem to recall not being on your side."

Tom smiled at the memory. "You were only looking out for the both of us, I knew that then, I still know it."

"Go on then. I'll see you next week, but only if the family doesn't get upset with you."

"I promise, they won't. Right now, Mary is their first priority as she should be."

"I know she's not been out of her room since that day. Why hasn't the family listened to Dr. Clarkson and asked his friend that he recommended to come in and help?"

"Because His Lordship refuses to believe Mary needs that kind of help."

"And the babe?"

"Mrs. Crawley spends most of her days with him and then Nanny takes over at night."

"I'm not surprised. Has she tried talking to Lady Mary? Maybe she could get through to her where others haven't been able to."

"I don't think they'll let her and right now, she's not up to the fussing it would take to get her way."

Elsie sighed and nodded. "I'll see what I can do to help. I'll talk with Dr. Clarkson. If he has to, he'll sneak her in." She winked at Tom when he chuckled slightly.

"Just let me know, Mrs. Hughes. I'll do what I can to help. Matthew wouldn't want Mary to do this to herself."

"No, he wouldn't." Elsie waved when he bid her a goodbye and turned to leave. Maybe she'd go to the hospital and talk to Richard now. The sooner they helped Lady Mary, the better it was for her and her son.

EEE

"I didn't realize Isobel hadn't been allowed in to see Lady Mary. Did Mr. Branson say why he didn't think the family would let her see the girl? It couldn't possibly hurt her, and, it might well be what she needs. Isobel lost her husband, so she knows what that's like, and because Matthew was her son, she is hurting every bit as much as Lady Mary is. Probably more so."

Elsie nodded. "I agree. I told Mr. Branson that I would talk to you. He offered to help in any way he could, all we have to do is ask."

"Did you see him in the village today?"

"He brought Miss Sybie to see me."

Richard smiled at the softness that crossed his wife's face at the mention of the wee one. "Secretly attached to the tot, were you?" he asked gently, not wanting to upset her.

"I suppose I was. She was all that brought peace in the house for so many months after the loss of her mother."

Richard saw something flicker in Elsie's eyes and moved around to kneel in front of her. "Elsie," he said her name gently. "You wished it had been you, didn't you? You'd had your scare and been given another chance only a few months before."

Elsie stared down at Richard's hands that rested on her knees. "It wasn't fair. I'm old and I don't have children. She was so very young and had a babe that needed her."

"You aren't old, Elsie Clarkson," he whispered, smiling when she looked up at him. "With every day that goes by, I realize how very wrong they were to say you were a dragon. You've a wonderful heart, Lass."

"But they weren't wrong, Richard. I was a dragon most of the time. It was how I protected myself."

"Protected yourself from what, Elsie?" he asked quietly, his hand reaching up to tuck away a stray tendril of hair that had escaped its pins.

"My past repeating itself," she answered just as quietly, the same strange sensation from his touch washing over her again. Looking up at him, she stared into his grey-blue eyes, startled at the emotions she found there.

Standing up, Richard held out his hand to help her. "Why don't you let me," he started to ask, but was interrupted by a nurse opening the door, a young hall boy from Downton rushing in behind her.

"You have to come, Doctor," the boy nearly shouted, gasping for breath as he did.

Elsie blinked in surprise. "Calm down, John. Take some deep breaths," she coaxed.

John nodded as he looked at Elsie. "It's bad, Mrs. Hughes."

"Clarkson, John," she corrected gently as she moved to stand beside him, her hand on his arm to help him stay calm. "What is bad?"

"Lady Mary, Mrs. Clarkson. She's sick. Mr. and Mrs. Carson, Anna, Mr. Bates, Mrs. Patmore, all of them."

Elsie looked up at Richard then back to John. "Did you run here, John?"

"I rode Mr. Branson's bicycle."

"Then hurry back and tell them we'll be there as soon as we can."

John nodded. "Mrs. Crawley sent me. Told me to be sure you came with the doctor."

"I will. Go on now." Elsie patted his back and watched him run off. "Richard," she breathed. "What could it be?"

"I don't know, Elsie." Richard answered as he was pulling on his coat, and grabbing his hat. "We'll go home so you can change into something more suited to what I'm afraid is going to be a mess. Nurse Williams, call for a taxi to pick us up at the cottage."

"Yes, Sir."

"Come on, Elsie. I need to pack a few provisions on my bag before we go."

"I'll go ahead and start for home. It will give me time to get changed. No need wasting time."

"Good thinking. Be careful."

"I will."

EEE

Alfred sighed in relief when he saw Elsie with Dr. Clarkson. "Mrs. Clarkson," he breathed as he moved to let them in the house.

Squeezing his arm, Elsie smiled up at the young man. "Dr. Clarkson will see to Lady Mary first. You show him the way, hmm? I'll find my way to the attics and see what I can do there."

"It isn't just Lady Mary, Mrs. Clarkson. Lady Edith, and His Lordship are ill as well."

"Is the Dowager Countess here?"

"No, Dr. Clarkson. She's at home."

Richard looked at Elsie. "Call and tell them to stay put. And ask to speak directly to her. She'll need to be ready to keep the babes there if this is something contagious."

"I will. Go on. Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Lifting her hand to his mouth, Richard pressed a kiss to the back. "I know you will, Lass."

Alfred blinked and looked away, starting toward the grand staircase. "Mrs. Crawley is with Lady Mary. She's asked Nanny to lock herself in the nursery with Lady Sybil and young Mr. Crawley."

Richard watched Elsie disappear through the servants' door then turned and followed Alfred. "Very good thinking. How many of you are sick, Alfred?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Carson, Mrs. Patmore, Anna and Mr. Bates, Ivy, Jimmy, and little Carl. He's the youngest of the hall boys and very small."

"Ivy, Jimmy, and Carl must have taken ill after John came to fetch me."

"They were already ill, we just didn't know it." Alfred stopped outside Lady Mary's room.

"Thank you, Alfred. Go see what you can do to help Mrs. Clarkson. You're a good sturdy lad, I'm going to count on you to run messages between the floors. Can you do that?"

"Yes, Dr. Clarkson."

"Go on then." Richard smiled at the young man then knocked on the door. "It's Dr. Clarkson," he called to let them know who it was before opening the door.

Isobel looked up and sighed as she smiled gratefully at Richard. "Thank god, you've come."

"What is it?" he asked, trusting her judgment.

"I think it's influenza."

Richard nodded and sat his bag down so that he could shrug out of his coat. Taking his hat off, he placed them on the chair before opening his bag to get out his stethoscope. "How long has she been like this?"

"Anna said she seemed feverish yesterday, but when she suggested sending for you, Lady Mary refused."

"And Mr. Carson? Did he try?"

"Mr. Carson won't force Lady Mary to do anything, you know that."

Richard rolled his eyes and nodded. "I do. I also believe you're right. It is influenza. Thank God it's not the Spanish flu."

Isobel nodded. "You should go check on the others now. I'll stay with Lady Mary. She seems to be the worst of the bunch so far."

"Due to her lack of nourishment and activity."

"Yes." Isobel agreed. "What of Elsie? Did you bring her with you?"

"I did. She's seeing to the servants."

"Of course she is." Isobel rolled her eyes. "Mrs. Carson won't like that."

"Alfred said Mrs. Carson was sick."

"Oh, she is, but she's not as sick as the others. She's still got a sharp tongue in her mouth."

Richard shrugged. "Elsie can handle that."

"She can, but can she handle Charles Carson?"

"I believe she can, now."

"Just hurry with the others and join her."

"Is Lady Grantham with His Lordship?"

"She is, though she isn't sick. I've seen to it that the Carsons are together, and so are Mr. Bates and Anna. Mrs. Patmore and Ivy are in the same room."

"Very well. Thank you." Richard gathered his things. "I'm going to send the children and Nanny to the Dower House. I think we'll manage to get by without any losses, but the children are too young. I don't want to take the chance."

"I agree. I've had Nanny lock herself in the nursery with the children. Thankfully that's on another wing and she stays mostly away from everyone else. This is one time I've very happy for Lady Mary's refusing to see the baby." Isobel swallowed back her tears. "We couldn't bear another loss."

"I know." Richard nodded. "Alfred is going to be delivering messages between the floors, so ring for him if you need anything."

EEE

Elsie smiled at those around her, looking at her in tired bewilderment. "I know you hadn't expected to ever see me here again, giving you orders, but the situation called for some order to your chaos. As you all know, Mr. and Mrs. Carson, and Mr. Bates and Anna, are all ill. I know that you could do the job, Thomas, but right now you're needed to concentrate wholly on Mr. Carson's duties, so I'm going to be in charge for a little while. Daisy," she looked at the young woman. "I'll need you to look after the kitchen and do your best to have meals ready for those not taken ill. Alfred will help when he can. The rest of you, I'll need you to help in taking care of those that are ill, both upstairs and in the attics. I know you're tired, so we'll take shifts. Those of you who rose earliest this morning, go ahead and go to bed. If your roommate is one of the ones sick, move into another room for the night. The rest of you, you'll take the first shift."

Thomas smiled. "We'll do our best, Mrs. Clarkson. I think I speak for everyone when I say, we're glad you're here." Murmurs of agreement followed his words as the others did as they were told.

"Mrs. Clarkson." Daisy whispered as she stopped beside Elsie.

"Yes, Daisy?"

"Mrs. Patmore is terribly sick. I," her voice shook and she wrung her hands.

"Shh." Elsie soothed. "I'm going up now to check on all of them and then Dr. Clarkson will be up. It's going to be okay, Daisy. You'll see."

"Yes, Mrs. Clarkson." Daisy answered quietly as she wiped her nose and eyes with her handkerchief.

Elsie watched the girl make her way to the kitchen then turned to Thomas. "Who is the worst, Thomas?"

"Mr. Carson, I believe, Mrs. Clarkson. Then Mrs. Patmore."

"The two oldest," she murmured as she turned to make her way to the stairs. "Where are the Carsons? In the butler's room? Or the housekeepers?"

"Neither, Mrs. Clarkson. They're in the room at the end of the bachelor's wing. Mrs. Crawley made sure that they were together as well as Mr. Bates and Anna. They're in the room next to the Carsons."

Elsie nodded. "Thank you. Now, go rest yourself for a bit."

"Yes, Ma'am. And Mrs. Clarkson," he stopped her before she disappeared from view.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

"Oh Thomas," she sighed. "Go on now."

Thomas watched her disappear and once again cursed Charles Carson for being such a fool.