"It can't be." David's voice was barely audible as he tried to take it all in. He spoke to no one particular, no one would have heard him anyway. He could still hear Thomas's sobs, although they seemed quieter now. He stepped forward and tentatively turned the door handle. He was aware of movement behind him as Mrs Hughes told everyone else anxiously waiting to give Mr Barrow some privacy. He stepped inside and closed the door as quietly as he could behind him, as though any noise would break a spell. His friend was sitting in his chair, his head in his arms on the desk in front of him so his face was hidden from view. David saw Thomas shaking a little as he cried. He hadn't looked up. He may not have even heard him come in. Or maybe he was being ignored on purpose? "Tommy?" He stepped forward a couple of paces. "Tommy, please? Tell me what I can do." Thomas sniffed, lifted his head off the table, wiped his eyes with his hand and sniffed. His face was blotched with tears and his eyes a little red. However there was something else that David did not expect to see. He dared not even hope for it. Thomas was smiling. A small tentative smile, but it was there. David frowned as he tried to process this. "Tommy, I don't understand."
"He's alive," Thomas's voice quivered with emotion as he spoke, but those two words were all anyone wanted to hear.
"What?" David couldn't believe it. He had become resigned to bad news just now.
"He's gonna be okay. David, he will come back to me."
Thomas stood up and stepped around his desk so he was closer to him. This time David didn't need any more confirmation. He didn't wait any longer. Thomas wasn't asking for it but he pulled his friend into the biggest embrace he had given him since they were forced to part ways all those years ago in their youth. Thomas cried again then, into his shoulder as David himself tried to hold back his own emotions for Thomas's sake. For the first time in these two long days he felt hope. Not just blind faith but hope, factual real hope. They stood back from each other and Thomas wiped his eyes again. "Shall I tell them for you?"
"Who?" Thomas was understandably bewildered still.
"Everyone Tommy. Your staff, your friends. We were all very concerned and they still are."
"No. No, it's okay David. I can tell them. I want to. Saying it out loud makes it all less like a dream." Thomas blew his nose into a handkerchief and then took a few shaky breaths in and out to compose himself. He opened the door and David followed on after him, feeling a little warmer.
"Mr Barrow, sit down. If there is anything we can—" Phyllis began.
Thomas shook his head. "I am okay Miss Baxter." Thomas smiled again. "So is he."
"What? What do you mean?" Charlotte asked as everyone else looked on in a mixture of hope and disbelief.
"Richard is alive Charlotte. Simple as that it is. He's going to be okay." David smiled as everyone seemed to let out sighs and remarks of joy and relief when they finally had their minds put at rest.
"You sounded so upset, we were quite fooled," Phyllis said as she came over to give Thomas a hug.
"I was only relieved. I think, I know I had to let everything I've been feeling out. Sorry if I worried you all," Thomas said shyly.
"It doesn't matter at all Mr Barrow, we are all very happy to hear that Mr Ellis is okay," Mrs Hughes added.
"He was lucky. The bullet hit a rib, fractured it but that kept it from hitting his heart. He will be in hospital for a few weeks at least and then he will need time to recover but he will recover." Thomas's smile faltered a little. "But it will be a while until I can see him again."
"But you will see him again Mr Barrow," Stephen said. David had to admit, he was a little surprised by the determination in the young footman's voice as Stephen was usually more quietly spoken, but he was glad he said what Thomas needed to hear.
Thomas nodded. "Yes. I will. Thank you Stephen." He looked towards the stairs. "I should inform His Lordship. I was supposed to pass the news onto them."
"I'll do that Mr Barrow," Mrs Hughes offered. "Daisy, will you make Thomas a cup of sweet tea?"
"Yes, in fact I think we could all do with one," Daisy said.
"We have cake as well," Mrs Patmore added. "Seems like a good occasion to eat it."
David saw Thomas frown as he looked around the servants hall. "What is it Tommy?"
"Where's Chris? I'd thought he'd be here," Thomas said, sounding disappointed.
"He was, but he got angry Tommy after the police left. Talking to them, and having to lie I think, took its toll and he left for the shop earlier. He said he was going to tidy everything up for you," David answered gently.
"He'd want to know about Richard."
"I'll go and tell him now okay? I think he needs the good news almost as much as you do as well."
"Thank you David. I really don't deserve your friendship."
"I think you do, but I'm not sure I deserve yours." He hung his head.
"If you mean that you think this is all because of you then I've told you already that I don't blame you and neither does anyone else. It was Martin, it was all his fault okay?" Thomas put a hand on his shoulder for a moment.
"I know you did but, I'd thought you might change your mind."
"David. I haven't. I need you okay?"
David felt the corner of his lip twitch into a small smile. "Thank you Tommy. I'll go and tell Chris then. I might go to the farm after that if that's okay? Mathew will want to know the news."
"Yeah you should tell him. I'll be okay."
"Save me some cake will you?"
Thomas smirked, just like he always did before all this happened. "I'll think about it."
…
Chris stood in a place that he felt he shouldn't be in: Thomas and Richard's bedroom. He had arrived at the shop many hours earlier in the morning after having to leave Downton to get away from everyone. The interview that felt like an interrogation had knocked him down. He didn't think it would before. He honestly thought that he could handle it. He had made them dance to his tune and it had felt good, giving the orders instead of being on the receiving end of them. But he had underestimated the amount of sheer effort it would take to keep up an appearance of indifference as well as lying to the faces of two men who must, in their long careers, have become used to telling whether a person was lying. Keeping up with the lies he spoke and making them fit in with what he assumed David and Thomas would have said, became harder and harder as the interview went on. Inspector Moore had almost cracked him, and that resulted in probably the only time he was grateful for his injured leg as it gave him a way out.
He sat down on the edge of their bed, only perching awkwardly on the edge as it felt wrong to be in here. His mind was still caught up in the memories of many years ago becoming blurred with the memories of this morning. The interview. He had been interviewed before, well that is what they called it officially. But it was an interrogation that time. A windowless room that smelt of sweat and fear. A light that made his head hurt more than it already did at the time. He remembered that, how his head pounded as the officers demanded information from him about the other men at the club that evening. His head hurt him because one officer decided to take out whatever issues he clearly had with his own life on him, pushing him hard into a brick wall in the cell he was forced into with the others, including Thomas. His head had been buzzing as they had asked him for names, for anyone else who wasn't at the club who he knew might have been there. That had disgusted him too. Not only were they asking for him to betray the others, they were seeking to arrest those who weren't even there! He had denied any knowledge of names and this angered them greatly. He could hear the things they called him in his mind. Dirty pervert. Miserable stinking faggot. He knew a few names, he wouldn't have got into the club if he didn't have any inside contacts. He didn't give them away, although there was little point in staying silent on that front, since those men had been arrested too. He never said a word about Thomas, but he had been released later anyway. They never got a chance to interrogate him, thankfully.
Richard had saved him because he loved him and because of his actions they were able to live their lives as best as they could, here in Downton. Chris stood up and closed the window. He had come in here to open it earlier. Since no one had been in the building for a couple of days now, the rooms were beginning to get airless so he had opened the windows, refilled a vase with flowers in on the windowsill in the living room, thrown out some wilted flowers in the bedroom, cut some more from Richard's flower border he was so proud of and replaced them, and generally tidied things up. When he came here this morning to get Thomas some clothes, he had felt uneasy. He still did, it was too quiet. Normally there was a noise of some description. A kettle boiling, Richard whistling, Wilde meowing to come in, but those sounds were missing. However, now with everything a bit neater and smelling fresher, it felt a touch more homely again.
He planned on sorting out a few things in the shop when he heard the side door rattle and open. For a moment he thought it might be Thomas but his footsteps sounded different. He froze, worried that since the place had been empty for a little that someone might have decided to come and help themselves. It was still the middle of the day though.
"Chris? Are you here?" he heard David call out.
He shook his head to himself. "Relax, it's just him," he said to himself. "Yeah, I'm up here!" he called out. He met David halfway in the living room, "What is it?"
David was a little out of breath, likely from running here from Downton. "It's Richard….Tommy got a call, he's alive Chris!"
"He is?" If he was honest with himself, he had been preparing for the worst all day. It was a welcome shock that set his heart racing.
David had stepped closer smiling with relief as Chris felt his hands on his waist. They both laughed with relief and with that all their anxiety evaporated. David nodded, side stepping them both away from the view of the living room window. "He is." Chris had wanted to kiss him there and then but David beat him to it, a gentle brush of his lips on his own, which he didn't take long to respond too. He closed his eyes blissfully, as they both gave and received the comfort they had both needed. David's hair brushed his forehead as they pushed against each other, their embrace tighter, their kisses intensified. Chris felt David's shoulder blades through his shirt as his left hand roamed over his back, the right on the back of David's neck. Chris was aware of the fact that they were in Thomas and Richard's living room and it felt a bit weird but if something good can happen in a place that has been deprived of happiness over the past day or so then why not?
Eventually they broke apart, but stayed close holding each other. "How is Richard exactly? Did Thomas get any more details?"
"Not much but he was very lucky Chris. He has a fractured rib, but that isn't such a bad thing because it was broken by the impact of the bullet hitting it. Doesn't sound great I know but it stopped his heart from being the target. He will be in hospital for a while I guess until that heals and until he's strong enough again. Then I guess it will be a question of where he will go to recover after."
"He bled out a lot in the woods though?"
"Yeah, from what I saw." Chris could see in David's face that he would rather not relive painful memories of that night. "But I think Tommy brought him enough time. Kept him alive I think."
"Only Thomas could, he is who Richard would fight for." Chris looked away from David for a moment. Thomas was still there, in the corner of his heart immortally reserved for him. He shook his head a little and looked back at David, kissing him lightly again. He changed the subject before David said anything about what he was thinking. "I would have thought it would be obvious that Richard would come home?"
"I would think that would be an option, but perhaps they may transfer him to Downton hospital for a time or maybe his parents might care for him?"
Chris shook his head. "Thomas would want to. Richard would want that too."
"He will come home eventually though, that's the main thing."
"Yes, yes it is." They kissed again. "I am relieved that I don't have to be the one to pass on such bad news though. I have been trying to pluck up the courage to telephone Richard's friends Izzie and Larry. They would want to know, but now at least I can tell them something good."
"They could come and visit when he's home. I've never met them," David suggested.
"I think they would both insist on it." He smirked to himself.
"What?" David asked curiously.
"Well Larry, I may have mentioned him to you before. He is wealthy. Very wealthy, and he will insist on spoiling Richard rotten. He will definitely be a good person to visit though."
"He's the flirty one right?"
"Yep and he is rather fond of Thomas, but not in a way that would cause trouble. It's just who he is. He will lighten the mood for sure. I think Richard has a number for him somewhere I can call him on. I'll have a look."
"I should be getting to the farm. I want to tell Mathew about the news. He would have heard the worst but not the best. But I can come here later?"
Chris smiled into another kiss. "Mmm, I'd like that. We could walk up to Downton later, see if we can beg a meal off them?" he added with a cheeky smirk.
David chuckled. "Sounds good. I don't fancy cooking either."
...
David had left not long after and Chris set to the final task of the day which involved calling two of Richard's closest friends to tell them the news. He should have done it earlier in the day, but he didn't like the idea of giving them both the awful news without any silver lining. After all, he could barely manage to deal with it all himself. But David's news had given him new courage and so he sat in the office, and called Izzie first hoping she would be home. "Hello, Izzie," he began after hearing a little click on the line.
"Yes?"
"Hello, it's Chris. I'm not sure if you will remember me, but we met a few months ago when you visited Downton."
"Oh yes, of course I remember. How are you?" Izzie asked pleasantly.
"Oh, well I'm fine but I needed to talk to you about something, if you have the time?"
"Are they okay?" Izzie asked, concerned. Chris didn't need clarification on what she meant. Any friends of Thomas and Richard would share the concern that something that they were in trouble, that they had been caught.
"Nothing like that. But something has happened."
"Chris what is it?" She was sounding increasingly concerned now.
"Look before I say anything I just want you to bear in mind that he's going to be okay. Thomas got news about him this morning." Chris knew he wasn't helping Izzie's nerves. He decided to get straight to it. "It's Richard. He was shot yesterday."
Chris held back as he let her process what he had just told her. He heard the sound of a chair being pushed away from a table as she sat down. "Oh God!" she said, her voice barely a whisper. "How?"
"It's complicated. A friend of mine, who has recently moved to Downton, had someone who came after him. We all went to warn him and Richard got there first. But the man found him too, and Richard pushed my friend, David, out of the way so he was hit instead. It is a lot more complex than that but that's the basic idea of it all." Izzie didn't reply to him. "I'm sorry I had to ruin your day with this news but he'd want you to know."
"He's always been a bit of a hero." The way Izzie spoke was not how Chris knew her to be. She always seemed to know what to say and she always spoke with confidence, he admired that in her. But it was different now. He heard her take a deep breath. "I'm grateful you told me. But you said he'll be okay?"
"He will. You understand of course that it is hard to get news for Thomas. His parents are with him which is something but Lady Grantham, at Downton Abbey, managed to pull a few strings to get some news for him. Richard was lucky that the bullet didn't hit his heart, it missed because it broke a rib in his chest instead. He'll be in hospital for a while until that heals and until he regains his strength. He lost a lot of blood."
"Yes I understand."
"And then he'll need more time after that to regain his health."
"I know."
"Izzie," he said firmly. "This is obviously a lot to take in but you must keep that one fact in mind. That Richard is alive and he will be okay."
"I know, thank you Chris. He and Thomas are lucky to have you as a friend." He heard her sniff and it was obvious that she was trying very hard to sound stronger than she felt.
"Well I'm lucky to have them. Thomas is being looked after by us all, and his people at Downton. He's staying there for the moment so if you want to contact him then that would be the best way to do so right now. He doesn't want to be in an empty home right now."
"No, no of course not. But what of the shop Chris? He won't be able to keep that going if he's recovering."
"I'll take over running that for as long as he needs me too Izzie. No need to be concerned. I won't let everything he's worked for fall into ruin. I know a thing or two about it."
"Yes, yes sorry of course you do. We will come to visit him, Lucy and I, when he's home again. Although I might see about popping up there to see John and Marion too. They would need support now too. Will you tell Thomas that we will see them both and that we have them in our thoughts?"
"I will yes, and I'll call you if we know anything more and when he'll be home okay?"
"Yes thank you. Have you told Larry?"
"He's next for me to call."
"Okay good. Richard has a number for him I think. But I'll let you go so you can tell him."
"Yes. Goodbye Izzie. Remember that he'll be fine okay?"
"I will. Bye."
...
"Hello, Larry Ferroland speaking," Larry answered. Chris thought he sounded a bit guarded in the way he answered his call, but then again Larry didn't know who was calling.
"Hello. It's Chris Webster, Richard's friend, from Downton."
Larry's tone immediately changed, and he sounded more his usual self. "Oh good afternoon, it is the afternoon isn't it? Maybe the evening? I've been very busy. Whatever, this is an unexpected delight!"
Chris rolled his eyes in spite of the news he was about to give him. If this conversation was face to face he would be trying to hide his smile now, but since no one else was here he didn't bother. "It's the afternoon still. But I suppose since you don't actually have a working day then you wouldn't know," Chris teased back, it was hard to resist.
"My money hasn't appeared out of the blue, you know Mr Webster. I earned it. But anyway, to what do I owe this surprise call? I'm afraid if you are after my fine company then you will be disappointed. I am spoken for."
"What?" Chris had still not managed to say a single word about Richard. "No, no of course not!"
"Oh...So have you found yourself a man of your own then?" Larry asked unashamedly.
"Larry, you can't ask me that! Not on this line! You may have your money to hide behind but I don't!" Chris's previous smile had disappeared.
"Oh don't you worry about what we say on this line Mr Webster. It's a private line, lovely and secure. The chap who connected you, he's how shall I put it...sympathetic to us. I also ensure he is paid well. No problems here. I would of course never say anything like that on a normal line. I do have some common sense you know and even money can't save me in that regard."
Chris relaxed a little, "Sorry."
"It is I who should apologize Chris. I get carried away sometimes, my mother always said I talked too much. How did you get this number though?"
"Richard. I found it in his address book. The number was at the back without a name. I thought it might be you."
"How is—?" Chris heard the sound of another man's voice in the room. "Sorry Chris, one moment." The other man spoke in the background again. Chris couldn't hear what he said but he heard Larry. "It suits you dear, but you can't wear that one. What would they think if we both turned up in blue? Try another one please?" He heard a door close. "Sorry Chris."
"Are you alone?"
"No, well I am at the moment, Sebastian is in the process of finding a suitable outfit for a dinner we are attending tonight. Nothing too exciting, we're just meeting my banker and a potential business interest," Larry chuckled to himself as Chris recalled him mentioning someone called Sebastian at Thomas's birthday picnic a few months ago. "I am sorry, I have been talking and I still don't know why you are calling me. What can I do for you?"
"Um, well..." Chris suddenly found himself tempted to make something up and call him another day. Larry was obviously in a good mood and this news would end that. But he had to know. "...I am calling about Richard actually."
"Oh. He and his handsome butler aren't having problems are they? Sorry, please ignore me. As you were saying."
"Not like that, no." Chris sighed, too loudly to keep his pain a secret.
"What is it?" Larry asked more seriously.
"Something happened yesterday. I won't go into the details but basically, um, Richard is in hospital." The words came out in a rush, as though he couldn't wait to get speaking them over with.
"Is he ill?" Larry's tone changed, the flirtatious jovial side to him unusually absent.
"Not exactly. Sorry. Someone came to Downton looking to settle an old score with a friend of mine. Richard got in the way and...There's more to it than that but Richard got shot by accident."
Silence. Chris waited. More silence. "What? I don't understand. What do you mean?" Larry asked in shocked disbelief.
"Exactly what I said."
"Why didn't you just say—?"
"Larry I—"
"No, sorry. You tried too, but I was so busy talking I never gave you the chance. I'm such a fool," Larry sounded annoyed at himself. "Is he alive?"
"He is. Larry, he's going to be okay. We managed to get some news from the hospital. Richard got lucky, but he's going to need a lot of time. But he will get there eventually," Chris reassured him. He understood some of what Larry was feeling now. The shock, the fear and the self loathing that he and David shared for different reasons.
"Okay. Well that's good. Yes, that's something. How's Thomas? I take it he's not with him?"
"No, he can't be. He's hanging onto the news that gave us all hope. But he's struggling if I'm honest. He's been better this afternoon but I don't know how being separated from him for so long in this situation is going to affect him. But we are with him, his friends in Downton."
"And Richard? Are his parents with him?"
"I haven't spoken to them yet, but they are yes."
"Because he can't be alone, Chris. He's struggled with hospital stays before." Chris didn't know what Larry meant by that. He knew Richard was injured in the head in the war but neither he nor Thomas ever spoke about it. "Is there anything I can do? Anything at all that you need?" Larry offered.
"Not much anyone can do at the moment, Larry."
"I have to do something Chris, because tell me, what is the point of my fortune, the point of everything I have built for myself if I can't help people out? I can't just sit here looking at the view, choosing designer clothes and attending dinner parties and carry on as though all is right in the world when my best friend lies dying in some hospital in Yorkshire away from his partner and all he knows! What is the bloody point of it all!" Larry was practically shouting in the end. After, Chris heard the sound of what he imagined was a fist on a table. He was taken aback, the Larry he knew, the one Richard and Thomas had told him about was never like this. He had never been able to imagine him as being angry. But this was something else he could relate too— Larry was scared.
"Larry. Larry, listen to me! Richard is not dying okay? And there is something you can do, but nothing money can buy."
"Name it Chris. Please?"
"You. Not yet, but when Richard is home. Come and see him, bring Sebastian too if you like. Because I know that these next few weeks or months are going to be tough for them both. He will need his friend to come and make him smile, make him laugh. I know that you can do that."
Larry's voice eased a bit. "Well I have made him smile on many occasions before. Many varied occasions."
Chris grinned to himself. "That is exactly what I am talking about. Whilst you do probably talk too much, I think he will need that. So you have my permission, not that you need it, to flirt with him and dare I say it, with all of us as long as it cheers him up."
"That's all you want me to do, just visit and be myself?"
"Basically, though, I think I'm going to regret this," Chris joked. "I mean if you happen to bring one of those cars Richard is so smitten over then it wouldn't hurt I suppose."
Larry chuckled. "I don't suppose it will. I will have to consider which one to bring. I'm sorry about letting my temper loose on you Chris."
"It's understandable. We're all on edge right now. But it will be okay eventually."
"Yes, yes it will. I'll let you go Chris. But one thing, which hospital is he in?"
"York, why?"
"Just curious," Larry answered vaguely. "Thank you Chris, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
...
Larry put the receiver back down and stood up wearily from his desk in his study and slowly walked over to the window. The windows were large, rectangular and Georgian in design, as was the majority of the rest of the house. He and Sebastian had left the house in London to stay in his country house for a while. It was becoming a bit difficult thinking of excuses for him visiting. Sebastian's stay in England was becoming longer and longer and he didn't want him to leave. He had told him that he plans on staying, buying a place of his own in this country so his visits could be more frequent and less suspicious. But they were living a lie. Everyone he introduced Sebastian to knew him as his business partner from America, and he was,but he was more, much more than that. More than he had ever hoped. Larry looked up at the blue sky, the sun blinding his view of the top of the window frame. The window was slightly open so he could hear the sound of one of his gardeners working outside, trimming a hedge close to the house. Beyond the house, lay an unspoilt outstretched lush green parkland, dotted with oak trees in the design of one late 'Capability Brown' as he was known back in the day. He knew that now, more than ever, he needed the company of his lover. He had managed quite well on his own for many years, save a few brief affairs that came to nothing, but until Richard had suggested that he and Sebastian give things another go, he never really realised what it meant to be loved unconditionally.
The sound of the door opening, a brief click and a slight creak, woke Larry from his thoughts. He saw his reflection in the glass. It would not do to spoil the moment right now so he put a smile on his lips and a glint in his eye. Satisfied with this masquerade of happiness he turned on his heel in time to see Sebastian enter wearing yet another of his many formal outfits. Sebastian had his own of course, but they were the same size and he had suggested that looking more British this evening might put the gentlemen they were meeting to discuss the latest venture, as ease more.
"What do you think?" Sebastian asked, stretching out his arms and turning a full circle showing off the outfit he had chosen from the dressing room, which could be accessed by a connecting door from the study. Beyond that room, was his bedroom, which Sebastian had been sleeping in most nights he had been staying. Larry could count on his butler's discretion, he knew his butler was, whilst not nearly as handsome as Mr Barrow, similar to him in other ways. However, they still had to be careful.
"If we were visiting the Scottish highlands for the grouse season then maybe you would be okay," Larry smirked. He reckoned his disguise of his expressions had worked on Sebastian but as he sauntered over from the window, Sebastian's smile faltered a little, so perhaps his mask of expression was not so effective. After all, a mask is only an illusion, it can't change what is real underneath, only disguise it.
"I thought it looked very fetching in the mirror," Sebastian said in mock defence, as Larry walked right up to him and loosened the bow tie to take it off. "And I liked that tie Larry," he added.
Larry flicked his gaze momentarily up into Sebastian's blue/green eyes. He couldn't linger there too long or his emotions would be revealed. "You look very handsome but the tartan inspired design on the jacket and the trousers wouldn't fit who we are meeting."
Sebastian sighed as he glimmered a smile. "Larry honey, you are too much of a perfectionist."
"Perfection is worth it, impressions are everything. Try another please?"
"Fine, one more and then we should go out. I've been in your dressing room for longer than is healthy," he said, grinning and giving him a quick kiss before disappearing into the dressing room once more.
Whilst he was changing once again, Larry paced the study trying to think about what he should do regarding Richard. He did have an idea as to how he could be useful, in addition to Chris's suggestion. He looked towards the door. All this pretending was draining so he decided to just tell him about the telephone call he just took. He opened the door and shut it gently behind him in the smaller oak panelled room that made up his dressing room or walk in wardrobe, just as Sebastian stood shirtless with his back to him, braces from a new outfit hanging down from the waistband of some black trousers that sat neatly on his hips. He was a sight to behold, which was the same thought he had many years ago when they first met on the site of a dusty mine in southern California. "I like this look on you."
Sebastain grinned and turned around to face him. "Thought you would but not suitable for a formal dinner though, am I right?"
"Sadly yes. What have you decided on?"
"This one I think," Sebastian held up a deep red waistcoat and a black jacket with a matching lining. "My coat has the same colour. Red to your blue, should look okay don't you think?" Larry sat down in a leather armchair as Sebastian dressed. "There. What about this?"
Larry nodded, "That will do very well. Sorry I've been so fussy."
Sebastian frowned. "Glad we're decided but what is it? You've been trying to hide something from me ever since you were on the telephone earlier. What's wrong?" He sat down on the arm of the chair Larry was in. Larry thought his dark brown hair, smoothed back although a little unkempt at the front, suited his clothing perfectly.
"I didn't want to bother you with it yet. Thought I could wait until after this evening," Larry began.
"You don't have to hide anything from me. I am here for you, and vice versa. I heard you shout earlier."
Larry sighed. "You know I have mentioned a friend of mine, Richard Ellis."
"Ah yes, and his partner who you won't ever stop talking about. I am eager to meet them both, just to see what all the fuss is about is nothing else."
"Well you will get too. In the next few weeks."
"You don't sound too happy about it though?"
"He's in hospital. Richard that is. His friend Chris was the one who called. He told me something happened yesterday in Downton and basically, Richard got shot. Chris reassured me that he is going to be okay but—"
"Oh my! You're still worried?"
"Yeah. I can't do anything for him, Seb. I have all of this around me, everything I've built up and none of it is of any use. That's why I shouted earlier. I was frustrated with myself. Chris wants me to visit later when Richard is out of hospital as he thinks I can lift his spirits."
"You certainly can. Money can't buy your charm Larry. You'll be perfect for that."
"But is that all I can do? I want to do more. I have something I thought of but I don't know if I should. It might make it easier for his man, Thomas, to be able to see him sooner. It won't overcome the obstacle of getting him visiting access to the hospital but I'm hoping his friends at Downton might come up with something. They are a smart bunch, and kind from what I've heard."
Sebastian, put his hand on Larry's knee, kneading it gently with his fingers. "Will this plan of your's be something risky? Could it put either of them in danger or us? Would it make anyone suspect?"
"I don't think so. Not if I do it right and it's not the first time I've helped people out. But I can't imagine how it would be if I was separated from you for such a long time, not knowing how you were?"
"Then you have your answer Larry honey," Sebastian smiled, before leaning down to kiss him on the forehead. "You are an intelligent man, and a kind one. The perfect two qualities for any such plan."
"Thank you," Larry breathed as he pushed himself up in his chair and kissed Sebastian slowly, guiding him down towards him, so they met halfway.
…
David pushed the spade down with his foot into the soft earth of Mathew Tomlinson's vegetable patch. He had found him around the back of the farmhouse in the garden that was separated from the rest of the farm by a stone wall on all sides and since he felt a bit guilty abandoning his duties on the farm for the whole of the day, he had offered to help in the garden, as it was the least he could do.
"So do they know anything more about how Richard is?" Mathew asked him, bringing him a cup of tea.
David thrusted the spade into the ground so it stood upright, taking the cup. "No more than I told you. We can't expect much more either, unless we hear it indirectly from Richard's parents. I reckon they will contact Mr Barrow soon, although today understandably they have been distracted. Or maybe he will call them? I will suggest it, I think it might help him."
"Must be tough for him, being seperated and not able to be there for him or his family. It's not the same but I can relate a little. My son, Alfie, died in a field hospital somewhere in France. I only found out when he had already passed on. It took a toll on my late wife, Elizabeth, and she died a few years later. If I could have been there, it would have been something. Now I know Richard is not dying, but the same thoughts must have been in Mr Barrow's mind."
"He was scared. He hated being so powerless, but I think, in my non-medical opinion you understand, that Tommy may have done more than he realised. I do believe that a certain amount of Richard's survival is owed to the fact that Thomas was there before the ambulance turned up. If it were me waiting with him, I don't know if...Maybe I wouldn't have been enough to keep Richard fighting."
"We will look after them both when they come back home again. You needn't worry about the farm David, if you are needed elsewhere more."
David smiled at Mathew's saddened expression, caused by the memories brought to the surface with their conversation. "I can split my time between here and there. I think we need a bit of normality. Chris was back at the shop today for example, making things back to how they should be."
"How is Mr Webster? How are you both?"
"I er...He is...If I'm honest he's had to deal with a few resurfaced memories and emotions recently too. I guessed you knew something about us but I didn't know you knew officially."
Mathew smiled as folded his arms. "Maybe I should have said but I saw you two once. I was not intending to spy David, just wanted to make sure no one else came along and saw you both."
David nodded thoughtfully and sat down on top of a sack of potatoes. "I don't actually mind. Funny that, cause I always have. But the thing is, I trust you."
"I'm glad you do. If you two ever need someone to be on your side, I will do so gladly."
"Well I think you already are," David chuckled. "But I know what you mean. Can I ask though, why are you so willing to be on our side when so many are against? It's just unusual that's all."
Mathew sat down slowly on the edge of a raised flower border and stretched his legs out in front of him. "Well, maybe I will tell you what I told Thomas once. He had similar queries. I asked him if he woke up one morning and decided that he wanted to be attracted to men. He obviously told me he did not. I said what I have always believed, that casting someone aside because of something that is natural to them is not only stupid but cruel. I added that if God created all things then he made us all so that we were different in our own special ways. Any preacher in a church will tell you that we are made in God's image, and that he doesn't make mistakes. If anyone who believes that can then go on and say that homosexual men, and I am not afraid to say that word as so many are, are a mistake then aren't they questionning God's own skills? Whether religion is a big part of your life or not, differences are all around us and should be celebrated as we as a species would be nothing without them."
David was in awe. He'd never heard anyone speak in that way before, no one so firm in defence of people like him. "Your son would be proud of you, your wife too."
Mathew didn't reply straight away, he looked ahead of him over the garden and at the wall beyond. "Now, now David. You should be careful what you say or you may end up seeing this old man shed a few tears."
David knew it then. He had found the loving father he never really had.