Let me take a moment to wish everyone a happy 4th of July! Well, my American readers anyway. For my British readers, my condolences on your loss, haha.
Sorry, I just couldn't resist ;)
Anyway, I'm worried about the reception this chapter will receive but here we go...


Anthony took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright then." Edith opened the door and Anthony followed her into the room.

"Hello Granny, Papa, and you must be Mr. and Mrs. Chetwood," Edith said warmly. "I'm so pleased to meet you."

But Mrs. Chetwood's eyes were not on Edith, they were on Anthony. He heard the voices of the others as they spoke but he was focused on two people, Edith and the woman who was his sister, Agatha. Gently, Edith led him to a chair near her and they all sat. Anthony couldn't say what he had expected, but this woman wasn't it. She was short and a bit round with a jovial face, a nose much like a smaller version of his own, and a small pert mouth. And as light as he was, her coloring was the exact opposite. Her dark hair was beginning to grey but her dark eyes were very bright. And her complexion was more Mediterranean than the pale skin he wore. Could they really be siblings?

Her husband, he noticed, was also a bit round but of average height. Mr. Chetwood, Alistair he heard someone call the man, wore a moustache over full lips and under a small nose. His eyes were dark also. His hair, what little remained, was grey. And he remained quiet.

He looked from his sister and her husband to Edith, feeling somewhat panicked. Agatha was speaking but he couldn't really focus on what she was saying, which only upset him seemed to sense his situation and surreptitiously placed her hand on the arm of his chair so that her finders touched his sleeve. There wasn't much contact, but it was enough to settle him again and he turned back to his sister. She was speaking again but of course, he hadn't really followed what had been said. It felt as if everything was closing in around him and his head began to ache. To add to his state, the faces in front of him seemed to be swimming.

"Anthony, have you heard a word I've said?" She finally asked.

"I…I'm sorry, but no. I… this has been…" he paused and thought of the endless months in various hospitals when he'd been all alone. It was only when he came to Downton that he felt anyone cared about him. And before he realized what he was going to say, anger boiled within him and he said it. "Where the bloody hell have you been?"

He could feel the ripples of shock that rolled through the room. And he was appalled at his behavior. But all those months-where had his sister been all that time?

"Yes, I know it seems like it took me far too long to get to you," she replied with a tinge of anger of her own. "Alistair and I were in Scotland. It took a while for the letter from your doctor to find me. And then we went to London to the hospital there but you had been sent on by then. So we had to try to hunt you down. I can't tell you how relieved I was to hear that you were at Downton."

"Yes, I… I'm sorry. It's just that…"

"You've been on your own through it all and I'm sorry," Agatha interrupted. "But don't worry now. Alistair and I plan to take you to Locksley for a few days and then we'll take you back to Cambridge with us."

"Cambridge?" He exclaimed. "I can't go to Cambridge."

"But Anthony, Alistair really must return to his duties there. The war has created havoc for the University and the finances are in a terrible state. The Vice Chancellor requires him to return within the fortnight."

Anthony blinked. "Yes, of course you must go back. But I must remain here, don't you see. Dr. Clarkson has not released me from his care and I haven't finished the course of treatment that was prescribed for me."

"Surely you could continue with a doctor in Cambridge?"

Anthony's head was spinning and he knew that he might lose control at any moment. Thankfully, Edith came to his rescue. "Mrs. Chetwood, as I understand things, the Army doctors and nurses are trained to take care of cases like Anthony's but a doctor who hasn't treated returning soldiers isn't."

"Yes, well… it can't be that complicated…You certainly look as if you are on the mend," Agatha insisted as she looked at Anthony.

"On the mend?" Anthony blurted. "I haven't got the use of my right arm, I can't remember a damned thing from before waking up in that torture house the Germans had me in, and …and apparently I'm suffering from shell shock. I hardly call that mended. Now if you will all please excuse me, I'm tired and I'm going to my room." He stood rather shakily and started for the door.

"But Anthony…" Agatha started to call out.

"Really Mrs. Chetwood, it would be best if you let him rest now. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow?" Edith asked as Anthony left the room.

"Well I….I suppose we could….."

"Yes, I think that is best. Let him rest and I'm sure he'll feel better tomorrow," Edith said as she stood. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go find one of the nurses to check on him and be sure he is alright. And she hurried out the door.

Anthony had taken the steps by twos as he hurried away. His heart was pounding and his head was spinning as he rushed through the hall to his room but before he could get there, he felt the shaking begin. Somehow, he managed to stumble into his room and collapse on the floor, shaking violently.

Edith wasn't far behind and when she saw the shaking begin, she hurried to catch up. Finding him on the floor, she fell beside him and wrapped her arms around him. "You're alright Anthony. I am here and you are alright." He began to shake harder.

Sybil happened to be on that hall and heard the commotion. Peeking into the room, she breathed, "Oh no…."

"Is Dr. Clarkson around?" Edith asked when she heard her sister.

"He was a few minutes ago. I'll see if I can find him." And she scurried off in search of the doctor.

Edith turned her attention back to Anthony. "Anthony darling, try to relax. Everything will be alright."

Anthony heard her and tried to respond but he couldn't, he was shaking so hard. He folded his left hand under his right arm thinking that might help him get some control. It didn't. Looking up into her concerned eyes, he cried out. "Please don't let them take me away."

"No, my darling. No, I won't let it happen," Edith replied as she tightened her grip on him.

Anthony could feel her arms around him and while it did give him some comfort, he couldn't make the shaking stop. He did somehow manage not to let out the sobs that were threatening. He knew he couldn't bear for her to see him sobbing. It just wouldn't do. He couldn't face her again if she saw him crying like a baby.

Edith continued consoling him, repeating her mantra that he would be alright and that she was there for him. She kissed him on his cheek and then held him close again. But the shaking continued.

"What's this?" Dr. Clarkson asked from the doorway. But before Edith could answer, he was already beside the patient. "Ah, another episode." Anthony heard him but couldn't respond.

Looking across at Edith, Clarkson nodded. "Let's see if we can get him to his bed. He'll be more comfortable there." The two of them helped Anthony stand and steered him to the bed. Edith pulled off his shoes while Clarkson worked his jacket off. "There now," the doctor said. "Just lie back, Sir Anthony." Reaching toward his bag, he slipped his hand in and pulled out a bottle. Glancing around the room, he spied a glass on a table near the window. As if reading his thoughts, Edith retrieved the glass and handed it to him. Gr. Clarkson poured a bit of the liquid into the glass and held it toward Anthony. "Try to drink this," he instructed. Anthony tried to take the glass but his hand was still shaking too much. Clarkson held it steady at his mouth as Anthony drank.

Once the liquid was finished, Clarkson eased Anthony down and then set the glass on a nearby table. "That should help him," Clarkson said quietly as he and Edith watched Anthony's eyes close. He was still shaking but it seemed to be slowly abating. "What happened?" Clarkson asked as he turned his attention to Edith. She explained everything that had transpired with Mrs. Chetwood, ending with her desire to take him out of Downton and then to Cambridge. "And when I found him here, he begged me not to let them take him," she concluded.

Storm clouds had gathered in Clarkson's face. "I would have liked to have spoken to her before she saw Sir Anthony. Of course he isn't ready to leave here and certainly not ready to move to Cambridge."

"I tried to tell him that we wouldn't let it happen but he was already so upset…." Edith offered.

Clarkson looked at her uncertainly. "Lady Edith, I don't mean to intrude but I have to know…."

"What Doctor?"

"Well, I believe you are a great help to Sir Anthony but worry because he seems to be somewhat dependent on you, too dependent really, so I need to ask - what are your intention where he is concerned?"

"I….I… well, isn't it really more a question of what his intentions are about me? I thought he would propose before the war and I would have accepted. Nothing has changed for me. But I do understand that so much has changed for him. I've told him that I am here for him and when he is ready, if he is ready, I want to us to be together. We haven't actually discussed marriage but if he asks, my answer will still be yes."

Dr. Clarkson sighed in relief. "I'm glad to hear it. But you must understand, he will never be the same gentleman that you knew before the war. What I mean is, memory or no memory, between his wounds and everything else that happened to him, well…. it has affected him. He'll get better but he'll never be the same. But to do that, he'll need to be less dependent. I know you want to help him, but sometimes not helping him is the best way."

"I know. And it is difficult but I try not to interfere. I try to let him handle things as he can. And I know he won't be the same ever but underneath it all, Anthony is still there and I …. Well, I love him."

Clarkson smiled. "Take it slowly, Lady Edith. He isn't ready for responsibility yet, not for himself and certainly not for a wife."

"Of course. As I said, when he is ready…."

"Then as long as you understand what you are taking on, I can only be happy for Sir Anthony. I'm sure your caring presence will aid him immensely."