AN: Hello again. Robert shows up in this chapter and I'm not really sure I have a handle on him, so he may not hold to the show's version. This may become more of an issue when he appears again later. As always, I extend my gratitude to those who review and all who continue to read. This has been an exercise in perseverance as I thought this story was complete when I started publishing it, until my muse demanded otherwise. As of today, there is still more to be written so I expect at least 3 more chapters. Enjoy!

Ch 12

Robert Crawley was walking near the outskirts of Downton, clearing his head after a disagreement with Cora. He hated fighting with her and felt it would be better to calm down rather than make things worse, which is how he found himself watching Anna come running up the road toward the side entrance looking terribly distressed. He picked up his pace meaning to see if she was ok, when he watched as she collided with Bates and her momentum pushed him into the wall. He stood transfixed by the scene unfolding in front of him, unnoticed by the couple. She was so upset that she was incoherent and the poor man looked utterly confused as he wiped the tears from her face. They moved to another area, presumably so he could sit or lean against something, which took them out of his sight but within hearing distance. Unable to leave now without being heard, he stood silently and listened to the conversation between the pair. The desperation in Anna's voice was countered by the quiet but firm reassurance of Bates. What on earth could have brought them to this point? She always fought so hard for him and with him. She was loyal and unwavering in her love and support of him. Bates had quite a lot of baggage, but the worst seemed to be behind them when he was released from prison having been exonerated.

The pair left to return to work and he turned on his heel and headed back to the Abbey, still troubled by the scene he had witnessed. He wandered up to the library, Bates and Anna still on his mind. He realized that his trip tomorrow was the catalyst of the drama that unfolded. However unintentional, the fact was he put into play a sequence of events that had caused Bates physical harm and emotional turmoil. It stirred up the feelings of guilt he had with regard to how he treated Bates after they were both home from the war.

John had taken the bullet meant for him and as such sustained permanent damage to his leg. He went to look in on him when he got back London from Africa, but Robert found a much different man than the one he fought beside on the field of battle. He was miserable, drunk and steeped in filth. His wife berated him during the visit as if they were alone. His eyes were glazed over and void of life. John muttered mostly short answers to his questions and Robert was truly at a loss. He didn't know how to help John and never went back. It shames him to this day that he never attempted to help John or let him know the extent of his gratitude. Even after agreeing to hire him, Robert let Carson goad him into firing the man for not being able to complete all the duties of a valet. Fired for an impediment that John sustained saving his life. If only he had come to his senses before Bates had to bear the humiliation of being fired and not after.

As he turned these things over in his mind, it occurred to him that there has been something amiss with Bates and Anna for many months now. She had moved out for a time and Bates, though ever stoic and silent on the matter, was not himself. He improved somewhat after she went back to the cottage, but he still was distracted more often than not. He was quieter than normal, if that were possible and he seemed to be weary all the time. Now that he thought about it, he also heard complaints about them both taking more time off than what they were allotted. When he had Carson and Mrs. Hughes look into the situation, they found that while they did take more time this year, there was plenty of time that neither of them, especially Anna, used in previous years. Because of their loyal and exemplary service to the family, he excused the matter and told Carson to quell the mutterings or he would look into everyone's service, attendance, and time off.

Robert went to his room, rang for Bates and waited for him to appear. Lost in thought, Bates efficiently took care of his needs and excused himself. Robert turned and watched his valet gingerly walk out of the room. The man was distracted again and looked to be in pain after the incident between him and Anna earlier. Even distracted, Bates carried out his duties to near perfection so he had no cause to interfere as his employer. But Bates was never just an employee. He had known John Bates for more than 20 years and has seen him in all manner of moods and personas. The dutiful batman, the fearsome killer, the loner, the hero, the brooder, the valet, and the husband. Bates was always close mouthed about his troubles, as a young man and he remains that way now. He rarely complained about his first wife, even though Robert knew the relationship must have been awful based on the few minutes he had witnessed them together. Most men were homesick and wrote home as often as they could. John wrote to his mother, but never home. In fact, before the injury Bates seemed to thrive being away from home, he enjoyed being a soldier and he was bloody fantastic at it. A perfect shot, a ruthless fighter, an efficient man in thought, movement and combat. Everything Bates did, he excelled at and gained the respect of all the men he served with. John Bates was his friend and he was determined to help, but how?

How do you approach a man as solitary and stoic as John Bates? That's the problem he faced and turned away from years ago. He couldn't do that again. As long as this has drawn out, surely it must be a grave problem between them. He decided that he would forego the business on this trip and instead try to help Bates in his time of continued turmoil. Perhaps he should have done something earlier, but he has a feeling that Bates wouldn't have said a word about it in the midst of the worst part of the storm. No matter. It was time that he fulfilled his part of the friendship outside of the magnanimity of his title. It was time for Robert and John to have a chat.

DA – DA – DA

John was stiff from traveling to London. The rain was aggravating his knee and the bruise on his back was sore from the jostle of the train ride. All in all, John felt as if he had been in a fight and couldn't wait to get his Lordship settled for the night. All he wanted to do was take something for the pain and lay completely and utterly still. Unfortunately, his Lordship seemed to want to talk.

"Bates, one more thing before you go."

Bates schooled his features so his exasperation wouldn't show through and patiently waited for the Earl to speak.

"Bates, there's been a change of plan for tomorrow. The meeting I had has been cancelled, so I won't require you until 9 am. When I'm ready, you will join me for breakfast and a chat, if that is agreeable."

A master at penning in his emotions, John didn't allow the surprise or worry to cross his features at this unexpected turn of events. While sharing a meal with the Earl wasn't uncommon on their trips, it was usually a late dinner after business was concluded. Never at the start of the day and never when the alternative of travelling home was available. John knew that his distress over the past months after Anna's attack was evident to his Lordship. Perhaps the Earl had finally reached the end of his tolerance of the situation. He would have to be far more careful in the future, if his diminished performance is what this whole discussion is about. There was nothing else that he imagined it could be and this worried him a bit.

"Of course, my Lord. Have a good evening."

With those words, he parted from the Earl's company to crawl into bed. He had hoped for a good night's sleep, but between the pain and this turn of events, John doubted he would sleep at all.

DA – DA – DA

The night passed better than he was expecting. John woke feeling stiff, but not as pained as he felt yesterday. He was able to sleep, probably from the exhaustion from the day of travel. He took extra care in his morning routine, since he would be in close proximity to the Earl for most of the morning. John, having extra time on his hands being an early riser, sat by the window and watched the fog lift. His thoughts wandered to Anna and what she would be doing at this time. Already at the Abbey, he envisioned her at the table for breakfast sipping her tea as the grumpiness she carried in the morning lifted, not unlike the morning fog.

His insomnia and her tendency to be an evening person paved the way for many evening conversations, anecdotes and assignations in the courtyard. On rare occasions, they ventured out into the warm evening lit by a full moon and meandered about the grounds finding shadowed alcoves beneath the broad limbs of an ancient tree or a sheltered pond surrounded by a natural barrier of overgrown shrubbery. Passionate kisses heightened the tension between them and wandering hands eased the ache that throbbed like a heartbeat between them in the later part of their courtship. While they could have been dismissed for the small liberties they took, John was adamant that nothing that could result in a pregnancy would happen. He would never take her innocence and dishonor her in that manner, which resulted in the firm rule that only one of them would be exposed from the waist down at a time and that he would never expose himself to her. He smirked as he remembered how Anna circumvented that particular rule by slipping her hand inside his undergarment and tending to his needs.

~ Flashback ~

John and Anna were stretched out on a small blanket he laid out near a pond surrounded by overgrown shrubbery that afforded them privacy. The air was still and the heat was unusual for that time of night. The full moon hung in the sky above them and made the sheen of sweat on Anna's bare chest glisten as her muscles clenched and released as the waves of pleasure coursed through her nerve endings. His lips and tongue were gliding along the curves of her breasts to the shallow in her collarbone and along the toned muscles of her arms and shoulders. The taste of her skin flush with pleasure heightened his desire for her. This was only the second time in a year they were able to get away from the house for a few hours. By the way that Anna was responding to him, he was certain that she had taken his advice to learn more about her body and pleasure after bringing her to her first orgasm. He regretted that she had to learn to silence herself, but he hoped to be rid of his estranged wife in the near future. He wanted to provide Anna with a ring, a vow, and a sanctuary where she would be able to enjoy the fullness of her sexuality in the sacred bonds of marriage and in the privacy of their own home.

His focus turned back to Anna as she gasped and held her breath while the third orgasm he coaxed from her rippled through her muscles. He whispered to her as she trembled in his arms and marveled at her beauty and his good fortune to have her affection. She turned her head and gazed into his eyes.

"Mr. Bates…"

"John, Anna. Call me John when we are this close, please."

"John…you know what you said last time, about only one of us being undressed at a time?"

He nodded to her, not trusting his voice as he could sense where her thoughts were.

"Well, I want to be dressed now so that you don't have to be."

"Anna, we also agreed that I would still remained covered no matter what."

"Yes, I know. But I still want that much. Please, John."

He gave into her as she rapidly replaced the nightclothes that she wore on their current venture into the night. She pushed at his shoulder to roll him on his back and rolled up his button down shirt already discarded to pillow his head. Propped up on her arm and side, she allowed her hand to caress his undershirt and tug it free from his trousers. Already tense with desire, John hissed as the fabric gave way and her nails lightly drifted through the hair covering his torso. Her nails skimmed lightly over his stomach and up to his chest, swirling around his nipples and along his ribs. She was driving him mad already and she hadn't ventured below his navel yet. She made to remove his shirt altogether and he sat up briefly to assist in getting it off. He leaned back and watched her as she undid the plait in her hair, holding his breath as she set it to rights. It was the first time that he had seen her hair completely down and it looked like spun gold in the moonlight.

"Anna, you're beautiful."

She smiled at him and let her hair fall forward as she tasted his skin for the first time. His muscles quivered as her hair curtained them while she kissed his lips, then trailed them down his neck. The feel of her silken hair trailing across his skin was a dream come true for him. He jerked when she bit his nipple a bit harder than he had done to her and sighed as she tended to it with her tongue.

"Bloody hell, Anna. You naughty girl."

His voice was low and rough with need. She continued her exploration of him, focusing now on the very obvious sign of his arousal. His stomach muscles tensed as she moved her hand down to the button on his trousers. She managed to get the first undone and followed suit with the remainder. She pulled back both sides and looked at the outline of his desire without the hindrance of his trousers.

"May I, John?"

He smiled sheepishly at her and nodded. She didn't say anything about the already present moisture on his undershorts, instead choosing to rest her hand gently over him. He felt himself twitch under her touch and she responded by adding more pressure. Always curious, Anna tried many different touches and pressures which soon had him writhing and panting in need.

"Let me remove these and take care of you the way you took care of me."

"No, Anna. You mustn't. You are not nearly dressed enough to deter what we both want and I won't compromise you. Don't worry. I'll sort myself out…I'll be fine."

He watched her consider his words and work them out in her mind. Understanding came to her and to his relief she seemed to acquiesce to his request.

"Ok, John. I won't remove them. I understand."

He sighed in relief and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to regain control of his body.

"Good Christ, Anna. What are you doing?"

He hissed at her when he felt her hand slip below his undershorts and encircle him before he could stop her. He met her eyes and saw them gleam with mischief.

"You said I couldn't take them off, John, but you didn't say that I couldn't work around them. I want to touch you the way you touched me. I want to make you dizzy with pleasure until you can't think anymore. Show me, John."

He couldn't form a coherent thought or sentence, so he just put his hand over hers that was covered by the thin material and showed her how he liked to be touched as he told her how to adjust the pressure. Once he felt her hesitation disappear, he left her to explore on her own. Anna was a quick study and it wasn't long before he told her he was ready. She brought him to pleasure, even sensing that he would be sensitive after as she gentled her touch.

There was a bit of a mess, but he would rather deal with it than risk losing control with her. She didn't seem to mind as he sat up and she used his shirt tail to clean her hand. He stood so that he could fix his trousers and put on his undershirt. He pulled her up and embraced her tightly. He told her how much he loved her. How beautiful and sexy she was. How much pleasure she had given him, by allowing him to touch her and by her own hands on his body. Standing there, with the moonlight reflected in the water, beneath a cloudless and star filled sky, with Anna in his arms, he truly was a happy man.

~ End Flashback ~

John glanced at his pocket watch. Seeing his still had some time before he made his way to the Earl's room, John decided to tidy up. His discomfort from the trip overrode his sense of tidiness the night before, so there were clothes strewn about the small room. Opening his valise, he rearranged his clean clothes to make room and found an envelope with his name on it in Anna's hand. Smiling, he set the envelope aside and quickly organized his possessions. Satisfied that he still had enough time, he took the envelope and returned to the chair by the window. He traced his fingers over his name upon the paper, then removed a few pages to find a proper letter rather than the shorts notes he is accustomed to receiving from her. He began to read...