Thomas sat down heavily in his chair behind his desk in the office during the mid-morning a few days later. He had shut the door of the office, eager to get a moment to himself. It would only be a moment though as he is too busy to stop for long. Richard had finished at Downton for the morning about an hour ago and would be back in the shop by now. Thomas would never complain about his position as head of staff (well maybe he would a bit) but he did envy Richard in a way, due to the fact that he was his own boss. Thomas didn't have that luxury however. Today, and the past few days, were ones where this fact was far too obvious. Three days ago, the morning after their sudden trip to York to fetch Chris home, Thomas was rather suddenly informed that there was going to be a large dinner party of about twenty guests in a few days' time. This came from just a few politicians, who were rather high up in the politics food chain so to speak, being invited, to many other guests being invited along with them. It was nothing that they hadn't handled before but all the same he would have appreciated some warning so everything could be put in place, food ordered, and extra footmen found as it would be too much for just Stephen to handle. He had managed to get Andy to agree to help out and Phyllis had said that she'd ask Mr Moseley if he would be willing to assist them. The two had been spending more time together of late, Thomas had noticed.

Thomas looked at the clock on the wall. He was expecting Stephen and Charlotte to be back from the village soon. He had sent them on errands to be sure that supplies for the meal that couldn't have been ordered a few days ago, were still on track to arrive in time. He had sent the two of them down to the village together for a number of reasons. Firstly, they had a lot of places to visit and it would take too long if just one of them had gone. Secondly, one of their stops in the village would be the butchers shop and therefore Stephen would most likely run into Daniel in a public setting, perhaps in the presence of Daniel's parents. He reckoned that they would both be more careful if Stephen wasn't alone, although Charlotte could be trusted with their secret. Also, as much as Thomas hated to think about it, Stephen's reputation in the village might be safer if he was seen with a woman once in a while. Charlotte and him got on well, as friends, so it was ideal. He really did wish he didn't have to be so calculating, but he would protect them as best he ever could.

Thomas was about to rejoin the chaos when the telephone on his desk began to ring. He sighed, expecting it to be something to do with the upcoming dinner party. "Hello, Downton Abbey. This is Mr Barrow the butler speaking," he said, picking up the call.

"Hello Thomas," Richard said.

Of all people, Thomas didn't expect him to be calling as he had only just been here and was caught off guard for a moment. "Richard? Is everything alright?" Richard's voice sounded a bit worried to him.

"Yeah, probably nothing. But I was wondering if you have any idea where Wilde might be? I haven't seen him for hours now and he usually turns up in the mid-morning," Richard explained.

"Have you looked in all his usual hiding places? Outside too?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah. I know you're busy but I just wanted to see if you had any ideas," Richard said.

"I always have time for you and your worries Richard," Thomas said. "But I wouldn't worry. It's a nice day, he's probably gone off somewhere and found a lovely sunny spot to curl up and sleep in."

"I suppose that is logical yes," Richard agreed. "He usually begs for a bit of biscuit from Chris and my coffee break that's all."

Thomas had a thought suddenly. "Richard, I think maybe Wilde is missing Chris. He wouldn't understand why he's suddenly not around. Maybe he went looking for him?"

"Maybe yes. Could you keep an eye out when you go to see Chris later?"

"Of course. Maybe Chris is Wilde's favourite?" Thomas suggested.

"Well if he is then it's only because Chris spoils him the most," Richard said, sounding happier than he did before. It was then that there was a crash followed by shouting from the direction of the kitchen at Downton. "What was that?" he asked, hearing the noise from the other end of the line.

Thomas listened from the relative peace of his office, even with the door shut he could hear Mrs Patmore shouting. Most he couldn't make out but he did understand one sentence. "Get that animal out of my kitchen!," Thomas heard her shout.

Thomas chuckled, "Richard dear, I think I know where our cat is."

"With you at Downton?" Richard guessed.

"In the kitchen, but yes," Thomas said. "I should go and rescue him before Mrs Patmore hits him with a spoon or something."

"Okay, bye love," Richard said.

"Bye," Thomas said, before quickly leaving his office for the kitchen.

He almost collided with Charlotte who was running out of the kitchen. "Oh sorry Mr Barrow," she said.

"You're back from the village then? Stephen back with you?" Thomas asked.

"Of course. We were just coming to see you but then chaos broke out in there," Charlotte said, pointing behind her to the kitchen. "A cat got in and has decided to hide himself under the stoves so now we can't light them without harming the cat. I think the poor thing got scared by Mrs Patmore shouting at it when it walked in. I don't recognise it as one of the usual cats we have around here."

"What colour is it?" Thomas asked.

Charlotte looked curiously at the butler, wondering why that mattered at the moment. "Black mostly, four white paws and one white ear. It has one ear that has a rip in it too."

Thomas was certain that he was right as her description matched that of Wilde's perfectly. "Right, I'll sort this out okay?" he said walking past her into the kitchen.

"Mr Barrow!" said an exasperated Mrs Patmore. "Any idea how you remove this stupid animal from under there? Upstairs will have to eat cold food if we can't get it out of there soon!"

Thomas took off his jacket so that he could move his arms easier, and bent down to look under the stove. "You are not supposed to be under there Wilde," he said to the cat. Wilde looked back at him with black wide eyes.

"What did you call him?" Charlotte said.

"Wilde, that's his name," Thomas said calmly. By now the kitchen contained Phyllis and Stephen as well as Mrs Patmore, Daisy and Charlotte, as they must have heard the commotion. "Can't be that much fun sitting under there. How about you come out of there and we'll get you home? Although you must want a warm saucer of milk first I assume?" he said to Wilde. Phyllis watched Thomas curiously. This was a side of him that few people saw; the calm, gentle and patient side. She made the assumption that he must know who the cat belonged to. "I need everyone to leave the room for a moment," he said, still on the floor looking at Wilde.

"We can't just leave in the middle of preparations for-" Mrs Patmore began before Thomas cut her off.

"If you don't then he won't come out, he's scared," Thomas said. Everyone then left the room leaving Thomas alone with the cat. "You were looking for Chris weren't you?" Thomas said to Wilde. "Richard and I reckon he is your favourite, which is a bit unfair considering you live with us and I saved you but oh well. I'm not sure how much you understand but I'll tell you anyway. The person we call Chris has been hurt and he can't come to see you for a while, but he will see you again soon. He's rather fond of you too. Richard is missing you though so if you agree then I will take you back home and I'll see you later like usual? It is a nice day and I am sure that there is some unsuspecting bird that you want to stare at for hours or whatever cats like to do for fun." Thomas paused. He wondered if he was wasting his time and if Wilde even understood anything he was saying. "It will be better than being around these crazy people right?" To Thomas's amazement, and relief, Wilde slowly crawled forward from under the stove and towards him enough so that Thomas was able to pull Wilde out. He picked up the cat, brushing himself off as best he could with his free hand, before cradling the cat in his arms. "Not so bad is it?" he said.

"How did you do that?" Charlotte asked as they came in. They had all been standing outside the kitchen listening to everything that Mr Barrow had been saying to the cat. He spoke in a way that she had never heard him speak before.

"It's his cat," Daisy said, answering before Thomas had the chance. She was the only one who knew that Thomas had a cat as he had come to ask her for her to put aside some scraps from the kitchen for him.

"Didn't know you had a cat Mr Barrow?" Phyllis said.

"Well now everyone does I suppose," Thomas said.

"Does that matter?" Phyllis asked him.

Thomas sighed. "No I suppose not. I rescued it from that storm we had last week. He lives with Mr Ellis and I and is rather fond of Mr Webster too when he's in the shop." Wilde looked at the other humans around him, but with less fear than before, now he was safe in Thomas's arms.

"It would be helpful if you didn't bring your cat with you though Mr Barrow," Mrs Patmore said in a way that made Thomas feel like he was a child. She was anxious to get back to her work.

"I didn't. He must have followed me here this morning," Thomas said. Snapping back a remark wouldn't help to calm Wilde.

Mrs Patmore rolled her eyes. "Right you two back in here," she said to Daisy and Charlotte. "We are already too far behind."

"Is this the reason why Daniel leaves extra off cuts of meat with the orders these days Mr Barrow?" Stephen asked.

Thomas then realised that it was obvious that not only Daisy knew. Daniel would tell Stephen everything, including this it seemed. "It is Stephen," he said. "Speaking of which, did you and Charlotte get everything sorted that I asked you too?"

"We did, Mr Barrow," he said.

"Good, well I suppose I can take a bit of time then to return this little one back home," Thomas said looking down at Wilde in his arms. "You can get on with cleaning his lordships riding boots. I know it is usually the job of a valet but we have to share those responsibilities at the moment."

"Yes Mr Barrow," Stephen said. He hesitated before leaving in the direction of the boot room. "Mr Barrow can I ask something?"

"Maybe?"

"Um, you and Mr Ellis's cat. Is it named Wilde with an 'e' on the end or just wild as in wild weather?" Stephen asked.

Thomas had planned on telling people that it was just named after the condition of the weather he found the cat in but it was only Stephen and Phyllis present so he told the truth. "Wilde as in the playwright and poet, Stephen. Now you should get on with those boots."

Stephen looked pleased with Thomas's answer, before leaving him and Phyllis in the servants hall. "He's a lovely cat Thomas, may I stroke him?" she asked.

"Sure, behind the ears is his favourite spot," Thomas said.

"You said earlier that Chris is hurt? We overheard all of what you said, sorry," Phyllis said.

"I thought you all would, it's fine," Thomas said. He moved away from the door so the chances of them being overheard were less. "He was in York a few days ago visiting the bank and he was attacked."

Phyllis looked concerned. "Was he robbed?"

"Since he had nothing of value on him then no. But they beat him up anyway, pretty bad," Thomas said sadly. He and Richard had agreed to only tell people that Chris was the victim of an attempted theft but Phyllis was the only person who knew about Chris for sure, though he reckoned Stephen did too. He trusted her and he also needed her help. "He was recognised from the prison and his time there. It got worse after that."

"My god!" She exclaimed. "How bad is it?"

"He was lucky considering, nothing was broken, but he won't be moving anywhere for a while. He couldn't go to hospital for any treatment in case too many questions were asked. He has a very understandable fear still," Thomas said. Phyllis nodded. "He was lucky that Richard's parents happened to find him, and his mother was able to help him. She stitched up his wounds too, she was a nurse once you see."

Phyllis nodded sadly. "And how's he doing now?"

"I haven't had the chance to go to see him yet, due to this dinner party but Richard has been. He says Chris is improving slowly. I told him to look out for any signs of infection or fever and there is none which is good. I'm going over there to take the stitches out today if they look okay," Thomas said. Phyllis was looking at him smiling. "What?"

"You are a good person Thomas. The care you have for him and what you are willing to do does you credit," She said.

Thomas smiled bashfully. "Well he's a friend, and I'm qualified so it makes sense. I was going to ask for your help on one thing though?"

"How can I help?"

"Do you still have that needle that is bent into a curve? The one that you bent on sewing some shoe leather ages ago? A curved needle is best for stitches," Thomas asked.

"I do, but I have a better one I think. One that is used for tougher fabric such as curtains. It is curved smoother. I could dig it out for you?" Phyllis suggested.

"That would be great Phyllis thank you," Thomas said.

"I could get it for you before lunch, will that be okay?"

"That will be fine thank you," Thomas said. Wilde was starting to fidget in his arms. "I should get this one home, hopefully Richard could persuade him to stay this time. I did offer warm milk as a bribe to get him out from under the stove."

"Yes, you should," Phyllis said as Thomas was leaving. "Mr Barrow," she called after him.

"Yes?"

"When you return you may need to see to the fur on your waistcoat," she said, smiling.

"Oh, yes thank you," Thomas said. Fur on his clothes was a common occurrence now, but a willing price to pay for the company Wilde provided them all.

...

It was nearing midday and Richard was going to close the shop for lunch soon. Thomas showed up earlier with Wilde and told him about the trouble their little cat had caused at Downton. Richard made good on Thomas's promise to Wilde of a saucer of warm milk and that seemed to persuade their mischievous cat that staying home was in his best interests. Richard looked out the kitchen window into their little back garden that was now looking alive with the colours of summer. The grass was a healthy shade of green and his flower border he'd been spending some time working on over the past month was looking vibrant with a range of different coloured flowers. Thomas could tease him as much as he liked about how he will end up like Mr Carson and spend his days turning over the soil in his flower borders and how he will have dug up the lawn to plant neat little rows of potatoes, but Richard enjoyed the peacefulness of it all. Wilde was now lazing around in the flower border, keeping one eye on some sparrows in the hedge.

Despite the peace though, it was too quiet for him. Whilst he had started out with this business with the intention to run it on his own, he had grown so used to having Chris around, that not having him in the shop just didn't feel right. They worked well together and Richard found himself missing him. He had gone to visit Chris for the past few days. He had brought him some groceries and more importantly, much needed reading material. It wasn't as if he didn't have enough to give him in that regard. Chris didn't like to sit idle and he had been a bit grumpy when Richard had first visited him. Thomas hadn't been able to get away from Downton due to a large number of guests being expected on short notice, so today will be the first time Thomas has gone to see him. He was just putting some books back on the shelves when the shop door opened and he recognised who it was. "Mrs Bates, how lovely to see you," Richard said, stepping down from a stool he was using to reach the highest shelf.

Anna smiled to him as well as to herself. Richard Ellis could charm the birds down from the trees and straight into his hands if he desired. He never seemed to have to try to make people like him, they just did. But he was not full of himself as others with such social skills might be. That is probably why he was a favourite at Downton and she imagined, must be one of the reasons their butler was in love with the man. "I hope you're not too busy Mr Ellis, you seem to be," she said. She looked around and wondered where the familiar presence of his employee, Mr Webster was.

"I have a decent amount to be keeping me occupied, but nothing I can't handle Mrs Bates," Richard said. "How can I help?"

"I only have these to return," she said, indicating to several books in a bag that was over her arm. "Your shop has been a lifesaver keeping Mr Bates from complete boredom while he has been laid up with his foot injury."

"He finished all of them?" Richard asked. "If he needs more time then we can extend the borrowing period of the books?"

"He did finish them. He's been left with nothing much else he can do I'm afraid. He is stubborn though, I don't think I will be able to keep him resting for much longer," Anna said. "He wants to get back to work as soon as he can really."

"I see him as a man who doesn't like to be idle, and I respect him for it. But tell him it is a case of short term loss, long term gain with regards to his injury Mrs Bates. Rushing back will not help him. Lord Grantham will be glad to see him back but only when he is ready," Richard said, taking the books from her.

"I will pass on such wise advice Mr Ellis, but from what I have heard his lordship has no complaints about you," Anna said.

"His Lordship is a decent man and we get on well enough but Mr Bates is a friend to him as well as his valet and I can't replace that," Richard said. "Besides, as much as I love being around you all at Downton more, I am finding myself with less and less spare time these days. Thomas and I-" he stopped himself and wondered about whether he should continue or not before Mrs Bates gave a little nod of encouragement. "Thomas and I are usually so tired when we get home in the evenings we just fall straight asleep, especially in the past few days."

"You mustn't let work take over your lives too much Mr Ellis," Anna said. "Are you working alone today though? Mr Webster is usually here too isn't he?"

"He is usually yes but he won't be for a while yet," Richard said. "He was injured in York a few days ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. How did that happen?" Mrs Bates asked as she paid for the books she borrowed.

"He went to York to go to the bank. He handles most of the financial side of the shop you see. He was attacked by some thieves afterwards. They didn't take much as he didn't have much on him but he was beaten up badly," Richard said.

"Oh my! How badly exactly? Was he in hospital?" Mrs Bates asked, concern on her face.

"He looks worse than it is, well worse than it could have been. He was lucky not to break anything, but he had a lot of heavy bruising. My parents live in York and they happened to find him in the street after the incident occurred. My mother treated his wounds and Thomas and I went to fetch him home a few evenings ago. We've been looking after him since," Richard explained.

Anna nodded slowly. "Well thank goodness that he is okay. He is in a good place having you two as his friends. You must let me or anyone else at Downton know though if he needs anything. I'm sure everyone will be glad to help."

"Thank you, I will, yes."

"He lives alone doesn't he? Does he have any other family?" Anna asked. She suspected the answer would be no, as when Mr Webster has visited Downton a few times he never spoke fondly of his past.

"He does, and no, none that he would care to mention anyway," Richard said.

"I suppose he is bored too then?" Mrs Bates said, changing the subject. She saw that Mr Ellis didn't want to say more on the matter of Mr Webster's private life.

Richard lightened and smiled again. "He is yes. He is much like your husband in that way. He doesn't like to sit and do nothing. I have been taking him books from the shop but that will only help so much. Talking of which, do you need to borrow anymore?"

"I might come back later today or tomorrow with a list Mr Ellis, I will have to see what novels I can suggest," Anna said. "But if you can suggest any more then I'd be grateful?"

"I will see what I can think of Mrs Bates," Richard said.

"Good, thank you. I suppose we will see you at Downton this evening?" she asked.

"Yes of course," Richard said. "Good day Mrs Bates."

...

Thomas arrived at Chris's place just after lunch. It was warm and sunny and under a blue sky the day was looking calm and pleasant. Thomas thought it was a shame that Chris couldn't be outside now, though perhaps in a few days time. The front door was open to make things easier so Chris didn't have to move unnecessarily to come to open it. "Only me," Thomas called out as he closed the front door behind him.

"Upstairs," Chris answered. Thomas went upstairs and found him in his bedroom, looking rather relaxed lying with his back rested against a few pillows behind him, his bad leg lying stretched out in front of him, and his good leg lying at an angle lazily over one edge of the bed. Thomas also noticed he had cake and wondered who that was from. "Ah hello Nurse Barrow! Come to tend to the injured have you?" Chris said cheerily.

Thomas looked at him with a deadpan expression, "Oh not you as well! If this is to be my new nickname then I regret ever offering to help you," Thomas said. He couldn't hide a small smile though as Chris's mood was rather contagious. He seemed rather cheerful considering his circumstances.

"I confess it was not my idea. Richard told me of his new name for you and I thought I rather like it," Chris teased. "I was not feeling in the best of moods and he told me it to cheer me up and it worked. Makes me laugh every time I think about it."

"I'm glad I made you happier, really, but don't get used to calling me that, and please don't call me that in front of anyone else. I'll never hear the end of it otherwise," Thomas said, sitting down half way up the bed.

"Deal," Chris said. "Fancy a biscuit? I have plenty," he said handing Thomas a tin that was on the table.

"You haven't been baking have you? You shouldn't be moving," Thomas said.

"No, of course not Nurse Barrow," Chris said, earning himself a glare from Thomas who took a shortbread biscuit from the tin. "No these were a gift. Along with those things over there," he said. Thomas noticed the flowers now, and the card on the windowsill.

"Who else has been to see you?" Thomas asked.

"Oh just Richard, but he came bearing gifts yesterday," Chris said. "Apparently I'm more popular here than I thought. The cake and the biscuits were from the bakery. I am such a regular customer that they were missing me and Richard was asked where I was. When he explained what happened then the baker's wife Mrs White, came over to the shop and asked Richard to pass these onto me." Chris took another mouthful and paused talking while he finished it. "The flowers and the card are from Mrs Partridge, the postman's wife, and their son Billy. I was a little surprised about that one but apparently they owe you the life of their son and therefore since I'm your friend that warrants me worthy of a gift and card made by the boy." Thomas remembered that day he had jumped into a swollen river and grabbed Billy just before the river took him away forever. He didn't ever have an answer for when he was asked why or how he did it. He just did, it was an instinctive reaction, and one that made him just a little bit more popular with the folk of Downton village than he was before. "Oh actually Thomas, I tell a lie, there was one person other than Richard who came to see me. The farmer that you and Richard are friends with, Mathew Tomlinson, he was here yesterday. He turned up when Richard was visiting me. There is a box of vegetables from his garden in the kitchen downstairs, fresh and they smell lovely."

Thomas was, if he was completely honest, a little surprised and maybe a bit jealous of people's kindness to his friend. "I think this proves it then, you've made a good impression with folks here Chris. That is something that you and Richard have done a lot better than me."

"People like you though, I'm sure of it. They are idiots if they don't Thomas," Chris said.

"Maybe now, but I wasn't exactly the best person for a long time and people didn't forget that. I did things, things I am not proud of," Thomas said.

"Most people here can never understand how hard it is for people like us to fit in somewhere Thomas. You defend yourself and those you love with conviction and since it was just you back then, well you had to do what you needed to do to defend and look after yourself. As we all did," Chris said, he placed a hand on Thomas's arm before he could even think about it and was glad when Thomas didn't pull away. "The staff at Downton respect you from what I have seen, you have friends there."

"Yeah I know," Thomas said.

"And you know Thomas that if most people, with the exception of Mr Tomlinson and a few others, knew the real reason I was beaten up so badly then there would be no gifts or warm wishes. This is just because people haven't seen something they don't want to see." They were silent for a few moments. "This is all the wrong way around you know," Chris said suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you came here to patch me up and to cheer me up, not the other way around," Chris teased once more. His aim was simple, to take Thomas's mind of his own self doubts.

"Richard is better with cheering people up than I am," Thomas said.

"Maybe, but I wouldn't let him within ten feet of me with a needle!" Chris said and he was rewarded with a smile from his friend. "He was good at getting me up off the sofa on the first day he came to see me though, he helped me upstairs when only one side of me seemed to be functioning."

Thomas was feeling better about himself now and it showed when he decided to tease Chris a bit. "I bet you enjoyed that. His lovely muscular and tanned arms holding you up?"

Chris's eyes widened as he remembered the things he said when he was drunk a few days before when Richard and Thomas brought him home. "Oh no!," he hid his hands in his face. "Oh you remember that?"

"How could I forget?" Thomas smirked.

"Oh god!" Chris said reddening with embarrassment. "Thomas I am so sorry! I don't usually get like that."

"It's alright, you had a lot to deal with," Thomas said.

"I suppose though, we should stop stalling and get on with what you came here to do," Chris said.

"Yeah suppose we should. How are you feeling now? From what Richard told me you are doing okay?" Thomas asked.

"Better than I was. I would probably still scare off most of our customers with my beaten up face but I feel more myself," Chris said.

"Well you sound it, and I'm glad. The bruises don't look so extreme I don't think. Probably best to stay away from any mirrors for a while yet though," Thomas joked.

"Thanks," Chris replied sarcastically.

"They will take a while to go completely though. What about the ones on your chest and your legs?" Thomas asked.

"Still hurts when I breathe sometimes and my leg is okay if I don't move it. But a few days ago it was painful even when I was still," he explained.

"And the grazes and cuts?"

"Sore."

"No swelling or weeping?" Thomas asked, remembering the importance of looking for signs of infection, although Chris's mood indicated that he was not feeling ill with fever.

"No," Chris said.

"Good," Thomas said.

"Are you satisfied with my progress Nurse Barrow?" Chris asked.

Thomas pretended not to notice that. "I am, but I need to see them and to see if I can take the stitches out today or if we are best to leave it. Compared to other wounds I've sewn up it's a tiny one," Thomas said.

"Okay," Chris said, unbuttoning his shirt. He felt a bit self-conscious. This was not the way he had imagined undressing with Thomas around. He had imagined it though, more often years ago in prison. Thoughts of Thomas were the only things that kept him sane half the time, but now he tried not to think of such things. He looked warily at Thomas who was busy looking in the bag he brought for the things he needed, as if he was worried that Thomas could hear his thoughts. If Thomas felt any awkwardness in the situation, he did not show it. "Not pretty is it?"

"Seen worse," Thomas said. On others but also on myself, he thought remembering how battered he was after taking a beating for Jimmy years ago. "I'll be back in a minute, just going to wash my hands okay?"

"Okay," Chris said.

Thomas returned to him a minute later. "Do you have a lighter?"

"Not in need of a smoke now are you?"

"No, but I need to sterilise the needle," Thomas said.

"Oh, of course. Burning needle, wonderful," he said with little enthusiasm. It wasn't a nice thought.

"It will be cool enough in no time," Thomas reassured.

"You think they are ready to come out then?" Chris asked.

"Yeah. Marion only needed to put in a couple of stitches. How are you with needles?" Thomas asked.

"Fine," Chris answered a bit too quickly.

"Really? Richard is not keen," Thomas said.

"Well it's not one of my favourite things, I'll be fine Thomas. But distract me please?" Chris asked.

Thomas knew one sure way of distracting Chris from any pain, but a kiss would not be a good idea, not while they had begun to find out where they stand with each other after almost a year of him being around him and Richard. "I can tell you something that happened at Downton today?"

"Depends if it's entertaining," Chris said as Thomas held the curved needle in the flame. "Not interested if one of the ladies couldn't find their hairpin or something."

"No it's more interesting than that," Thomas said. "It concerns Wilde, who is missing you a great deal by the way. So much so he went looking for you at Downton today and got himself in a bit of a situation in the kitchen."

"Oh I imagine that was interesting," Chris said.

Thomas felt Chris jump as he touched near the wound. "Sorry, don't mean to hurt you but this will hurt."

"Do what you need to do Thomas just keep talking," Chris said, not having the heart to tell him that he jumped not because of any pain, but because of Thomas's hand on his chest.

"Richard called me this morning. He was worried about Wilde as he usually is around you and Richard at your mid-morning break," Thomas said.

"Yeah he begs constantly for food that one. It's like he isn't ever fed," Chris said. He winced and took a shaky breath in as Thomas started removing the stitches.

"Anyway, as I was talking to him I heard the sounds of chaos from the kitchen, along with Mrs Patmore's shouting and, well it was obvious where he was then. Turns out he had hidden himself below the stove so nothing could be cooked until they removed him, and he wasn't moving for anyone," Thomas said. He wasn't sure if Chris had realised but he was tightly holding onto Thomas's knee. He saw that Chris was looking down at his wound. "Might help if you don't look."

"I take it you got Wilde out of there?" Chris asked. He wasn't looking anymore and instead was distracting himself by the way Thomas's eyelashes flickered up and down as he concentrated.

"Yeah. Got everyone to leave, which Mrs Patmore wasn't happy about, and talked Wilde out of there. He was scared that's all. Understandable with all the shouting," Thomas said calmly. "It was only Daisy who knew we had a cat, now everyone does. I reckon they will find that amusing how the supposedly cold and unfeeling Thomas Barrow has adopted a little cat." Thomas took a pair of scissors and cut the thread to remove the remainder of the stitches. "There, I think we are done here."

"You wouldn't know you're employed as a butler looking at that, Thomas. Looks rather professional if you ask me," Chris said, looking at the cut that was now closed up.

"Well Marion did most of the work really, I just got them out after you healed. You might be sore for a bit still but as long as the wound doesn't reopen, which it shouldn't as long as you take it easy and also since it looks a lot better, then you'll be fine," Thomas said.

"Back to work yet then?"

"Um no. That is just one wound, you have to get all of you better first. But I think you'll be okay for the cricket match," Thomas said,

"Not sure if there is much point in turning up to that. I'll probably be the only man watching instead of playing," Chris said. "Even if I could play, cricket is not my sort of thing."

"Well I'll be there and you can also see how well Richard does. He doesn't play either, he's getting lessons from me to make him good enough to be useful," Thomas said. "And anyway, you won't be the only one, Mr Bates doesn't play either."

"Well, I suppose I could come along," Chris said, putting his shirt back on.

"Have you had lunch?" Thomas asked.

"No, well apart from the cake. Have you?"

"I have but I could see what vegetables Mr Tomlinson has brought and if he has tomatoes then do you fancy a sandwich?" Thomas asked.

"I do, but only if you have one too. I don't want you to feel like this is all for me," Chris said. He smirked, "You can manage that can't you?"

"I don't know what Richard has told you, but I can make a sandwich. My skills with food aren't that bad you know."

"Of course. I am sorry, Nurse Barrow."

"Hey, if you aren't careful you will find a slug in your sandwich Mr Webster!" Thomas warned, matching Chris's mischievous grin before he left.