Richard Clarkson snarled as he put on his finery, he hadn't felt this annoyed since he before he had met Isobel. It wasn't the Physician's Ball but it was bad enough. Dinner at the Abbey, more like a demand. There had been whispers in the Village about the death of the future heir of Grantham. Beyond all odds another had been found and it happened to be Matthew.

Tonight would be an inspection. Isobel had never been inside the Abbey, she attended a few garden parties with Richard but never a formal dinner. As Richard was securing his cufflinks he noticed that Isobel was having trouble securing her necklace. He came up behind her and took the clasp from her hands. She regarded him in the mirror as he made quick work of the clasp.

"Will it be as bad as you think?" She asked.

Richard sighed and remembered that this would be the first time in a long time that they had attended something so grand and he didn't want to spoil it for her, "Probably not, but you have to admit it's strange."

At this Isobel matched his sigh. They heard the door rattle down stairs, "Mother, Richard a car is here."

They descended the stairs and the three of them exited the Cottage to travel to the Abbey.

As they walked through Carson announced them, "Doctor Clarkson, Mrs. Clarkson and Mr. Crawley."

They passed a row of servants then saw a line of "family" Isobel knew who they were since she had seen them in village and in her mind this gave her an edge. She knew about them, she had even been present to treat some of their injuries in the hospital. However, they probably didn't remember her.

They were directed to the table and sat down, as the footman neared it was obvious that Cora's words in the servant's hall had fallen on deaf ears. Thomas had all but insinuated that Matthew had no clue as to feed himself.

"So you're a nurse?" Cora asked trying to diffuse the situation.

"Yes, I've been a nurse for about twenty years." Isobel answered before reaching for her wine.

"Didn't go into the family business, Matthew?" Robert joked slightly.

"No, I prefer the Law to medicine." He answered.

"Where did you study?" Mary asked in a bored tone.

"Oxford" Matthew copied in a equally bored tone, two could play at that game.

Richard fiddled with his knife, his hands automatically adopted the grip he had with a scalpel, perhaps it was his subconscious trying to excise a way out of this dinner.

Cora could see the tension brewing between her eldest daughter and Matthew. "I've been doing a lot of thinking since this whole incident started. Of when we first met Dr. Clarkson.'

Matthew's head shot up in genuine interest and Cora continued, "He delivered Sybil. Came here on his bicycle in the middle of the night."

Both Robert and Cora smiled at the memory. Robert's face contorted, "Yes, Dr. Miller was supposed to come."

Richard and Isobel became quiet, Dr. Daniel Miller had died five years ago.

"Good dart player." Matthew mumbled and Richard shot his stepson a grateful look. Those around the table could see the affection the three of them had for one another along with a good helping of respect.

Mary had the good sense not to goad Matthew any further. With dinner over they went to the library. Richard's neck was stiff, he had had a full day at the clinic when the news came that he was to be at the Abbey. He was hoping for a good long soak to ease his muscles. Instead he had washed hurriedly before changing. He rolled his head on his shoulders and sighed. With the talk of Daniel he let his thoughts wander to the past.

1899

Richard had kept his promise to himself to ride, Mr. Mason was more than happy to let Richard borrow his horses. Never had he been happier, his wife had finally bore a child that had lived beyond the life of his siblings. William his name was and was the jewel of Mason Farm. Once in a while Isobel would ride with him but it was rare. She was no longer afraid of horses but her enjoyment of the activity was not on par with Richard's she prefered to garden. Matthew had become extremely proficient at horse riding and would ride with Richards on the weekends he spent in Yorkshire. He had grown several inches and was drawing close to Richard's own height.

When Richard and Matthew came back to the house both found Isobel sitting in an armchair staring into space.

"Mother?" Matthew asked.

She looked up and saw her two men and tried to smile but both saw through it. She pointed to a letter that had been delivered. Richard followed the line from her finger and found the letter, it was an official letter from the government. He knew what was.

Once again disagreement between the British Empire and The South African Republics had flared. Another war was being fought and men were needed. Richard opened the letter, it was as he suspected. He had been called for by the Royal Army Medical Corps, he would be a commissioned officer.

"I have to talk to Daniel" He said softly before pulling Matthew aside, "Keep her here."

Matthew nodded before Richard left for the hospital. Dr. Miller was tired, his retirement couldn't come soon enough. He heard footfalls and saw Clarkson, his appearance was confusing until he noted that he was still in his riding clothes. He held out the letter and Daniel took it.

Miller had been spared conscription due to his age, he had tried to get Clarkson out of it. He told the Board of Army surgeons that he was needed in Downton that people of the Village would suffer if left with one doctor. They hadn't agreed.

Weeks later Captain Richard Clarkson found himself on a boat heading for a Cape Town. He spent most of the voyage topside trying to not vomit every waking minute. With the sighting of land his stomach seemed declare a truce. He and the rest of the ship's passengers disembarked. They would be traveling north, horses had been secured for them. Richard's first impressions of South Africa was the heat, the sun was blinding and the heat seemed to be a tangible force knocking him back. They rode for three days before arriving at the medical encampment. There were two large canvas tents, one was the hospital the other was lined with cots, it was to be the sleeping quarters for the medical personnel.

There was enough time to throw his bag on an empty cot before he was called for. He shucked off his uniform tunic and rolled up his sleeves. He followed another officer and was led to the hospital. Many of the soldiers had bullet wounds. It didn't take long for Richard to recognize a dum-dum wound. Both armies were using the softened lead bullets which would expand on impact. Large gaping wounds and broken bones were the main injuries. Battalion doctors had packed and stabilized the wounds as best they could in the field before the injured were transported. However, amputation was performed almost daily. Adding to the workload was the spread of Typhoid Fever among the wounded.

Night after night Richard would collapse onto his cot sleeping when he could only to be woken with the next wave of patients. Letters during this time were sporadic. He could go a whole month without receiving anything. Then the next month a brick of envelopes would be tossed at him. It pleased him that Isobel was writing to him, telling him of the goings on in Downton. Once in a while he would also receive a letter from Matthew. He kept them all wrapped in a spare pillowcase in his footlocker.

In Downton Isobel was focused on nursing, she had thrown herself into her work. Dr. Miller was grateful to her and all his staff. He recognized that Isobel needed to keep busy to stop her thoughts from straying to dark places. The truth was that Daniel was overworked. His shoulders seemed to carry a constant ache and his head always seemed to pound. One morning the pounding was too much and he cried out.

"Captain Clarkson!" a man bellowed, "Grab your gear you're heading out."

Not one to question orders Richard grabbed his items before meeting up with his summoner. The Colonel merely handed him a piece of paper.

His eyes scanned it before he shouted, "Damn it!"

A/N: Continuing