A/N: I don't have much to say this week, guys. Read and review if you like :)


Season 2, Episode 3


The house awoke to terrible screaming. There was movement immediately in all quarters, and as Mr Carson emerged from his room, pulling on his dressing gown, the adjoining door was opened by the housekeeper.

"What's going on?" Mr Carson asked Thomas, who was already in the corridor

"It's Mr Lang," Thomas replied absentmindedly

He could hear the worried tones of the housekeeper as she spoke to Anna, hurrying down the hallway with many of the maids in tow.

"What in Heaven's name's happening?" She asked to the room at large

"No, no can't do it" Mr Lang yelled as he thrashed about on his bed, soaked in sweat. Mr Carson opened the door and went in. He went straight to the man on the bed, attempting to wake him

"Mr Lang, Mr Lang wake up, you're having a bad dream. Mr Lang you're having a dream," Mr Carson said, trying to assure the man and wake him.

The man was delirious, grabbing the Butler's arm and yelling that he didn't want to go back. She stood near the doorway, still carrying her lamp, watching the poor man suffer. It was shell shock, the worst she'd seen it. Her hand hovered near her open mouth, she didn't know how to help Mr Lang or the butler.

Miss O'Brien went forward and held Mr Lang's other arm

"No one's asking you to go back Mr Lang," he assured gently

"No just to put a sock in it," Thomas intoned

"Don't worry Mr Lang, you've had a bad dream, that's all," Miss O'Brien said

He seemed to wake up to the sound of her voice, and turned to her wearily, "is it a dream?"

She hovered close by, wanting to help. The poor man, he had been working much too soon. The horror she had seen in him at the notion of being sent back was awful to witness.

At the man's whisper of 'thank god,' Mr Carson looked up at the worried housekeeper. He tilted his head minutely at her to ask her to take the women back to their room. He could handle this. She went without another word, leading the servant's back to their beds before returning to the room.

She heard Mr Lang's heartbreaking calls of, "sorry, I'm sorry," as she re-entered the room. This was not a night she'd forget easily, and she doubted the Butler would either. She stood as close as she dared to the Butler, seeking comfort in his presence. The worry was etched on both of their faces.

"Is it any wonder when he's been to hell and back," Miss O'Brien spat accusingly at the two of them.

There was nothing they could do. Mr Carson knew he had to ask Mr Lang to leave and dreaded doing so. He allowed his head to fall forwards, looking to the woman beside him for guidance. She wasn't his housekeeper now; she was a woman who had just witnessed the same heartbreaking scene he had.