When Richard woke he didn't remember where he was. It felt as though someone had stuffed his skull full of wool. He resisted the urge to shake his head clear. Eventually his memory supplied him with the necessary details and he groaned in embarrassment. Isobel had heard him waking and moved towards the bed. She had a tumbler of water and she used her other hand to locate his elbow before offering the beverage.
"Thank you" he whispered hoarsely.
"How are you?" she asked quietly wanting to keep her voice low.
Richard assessed himself, "Groggy, nausea is gone."
"Would you like to go home?" Isobel asked already knowing the answer.
A huffing breath let her know she was right, "More than anything, nonetheless I need to go to the hospital first."
Isobel smiled inwardly, even though he was probably still feeling worse for wear he was still focused on the patients.
Nevertheless he explained himself, "You more than anyone would understand."
"Yes I do, I also think you should understand that you needn't explain yourself to me."
Richard hung his head, "I'm sorry, I forgot for a moment that you're on my side."
Tom Branson drove them back through the village in silence nearing the hospital the car slowed to stop and the two passengers While Isobel held no sway over a doctor being a nurse she definitely held sway as a wife over her husband. Richard did a quick set of rounds, made sure no new patients had been admitted and reviewed current orders on standing patients. Nora assured him that she would contact him if there were any developments. With that settled Dr. Clarkson transformed into Mr. Clarkson and was taken home by his wife.
As the next few days passed Richard noted that no one mentioned the incident. He was at the Abbey again doing a final check on Matthew's shoulder. He found the polite smiles a bit unnerving. He secured his bag to the rack on the back of the bicycle as he mounted it he heard footsteps on the packed gravel of the drive Tom Branson approached him. "Feeling better?"
Richard's right foot twirled the pedal, seeking better purchase for his foot, "Yes, and may I say you're the first to ask."
"Does that bother you?" asked Tom shrugging.
Richard scoffed, "No, it's just out of character for this lot."
Tom laughed at this he knew exactly what the doctor meant.
"Well it's to be had. Jesus, you frightened everyone." Tom explained.
"What?" Richard asked in confusion.
"You're a doctor, Matthew and Mary said it best, 'Doctor's heal the sick I thought it made them immune.'" Tom recited.
Richard shook his head, "No, we're human just like you are."
Tom's mouth curled up into a sly grin, "I already knew that, when you took a bite out of Sybil"
Clarkson's head shot up and he stared a Tom his mind searched frantically for a memory and one came forth: The mess over Lt. Edward Courtenay.
Nurse Crawley I may not be your social superior in a Mayfair Ballroom but in this Hospital I have the deciding voice!
When it was apparent that Tom knew that he had recalled the incident he added "Yeah, I know about that she told me."
Tom recalled that night how Sybil was both shocked and contrite. Tom had been a mix of gentle and curt when she had told him. "You have to understand that while your Granny may own the Village he is King of that particular Castle."
The two men smiled in joint recollection of Sybil.
Richard sighed, "I feel as if I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Don't, you'll just be wasting your time. You were ill, now you're better. It's not like you killed someone, it's not an offense worthy of blackmail."
"You mean I'm being an old woman?" Richard concluded.
Tom raised his thumb and forefinger with a tiny space between the two.
Richard laughed before pedaling off. From the window Lord Grantham had witnessed the scene. In this moment he was so grateful to Tom and so sorrowful that Sybil were not here for him to tell her of his gratefulness.
That day when Robert had escorted Isobel back to the room where Richard was sleeping, for some reason he stayed by the door and listened to the exchange between the two. He remembered that they had not taken honeymoon due to the Spanish Flu. His mind quickly put together a surprise to send them off on a Holiday. After Tom had returned from taking the Clarkson's back to the village he mentioned it to the others.
Mary and Edith were quick to announce their delight at the idea. Tom stood up and went to the side table and grabbed a decanter of whisky and poured himself some, he wanted to be occupied so no one would ask his opinion. The women eventually left for tea leaving the two men alone.
"You don't agree?" Robert had asked him, he knew that Tom was not a drinker so for him to grab whisky something was on his mind.
Tom downed his drink to give him courage, "I think a surprise would be catastrophic."
"Oh? Tell me why?" Robert asked genuinely.
"Lord Grantham" Tom began and Robert sighed inwardly, when Tom addressed him by his title he would probably not like what he had to say. "Dr. Clarkson is a proud man and the fact that none of us knew that he had these... headaches is like us not knowing about Mrs. Clarkson's eyes. They didn't want us to know, when we found out about Mrs. Clarkson what did we do? We made right arses of ourselves. The fact that he revealed it yesterday took courage for him, he could have pedaled home but he didn't, he asked for help. I think if we were to "surprise" him with a holiday right on the heels of this he would see it as us thinking he was weak. Or trying to oust him in someway. Don't get me wrong I think a holiday is a fine idea but perhaps for Christmas when he has time coming to him already."
Robert got up to pour himself a drink to consider the words Tom had said. All of it was true, everyone shouting about Isobel. How she left Downton Abbey and the frantic search afterwards. He was not going to risk Dr. Clarkson leaving. He raised his glass to Tom in acknowledgement, thanks and affection.