Anna wrapped her hands around stomach, continuing her effort to make herself as small as possible. She couldn't stop shaking and the tears wouldn't stop falling. She knew that her face must hurt, but now she couldn't feel anything. She could only feel despair. She was broken. Shattered. The women that she was when she came down for a simple headache cure was gone.

All she could do was wait for Mrs. Hughes and try not to cry too loud. She could feel a little blood moving down her face and moved her hand weakly to try to make it stop. She couldn't stop thinking of Green…what he did. How ruined she was. She could never let John touch her now.

John! He can't ever know. He would kill Green and then he would hang. Anna knew that she couldn't live, she couldn't live without John. He was everything to her.

She started to hear commotion. The sounds of people going up and down stairs, rustling, conversations about cleaning up and who was going home. She had no idea how long it had been since she had come down here. Since it happened. The sound of footsteps starts to come closer. It must be Mrs. Hughes! Who else would be coming into her sitting room? It didn't matter, Anna still tightened her arms around herself in a form of protection. Then the door opened, and the light came on. Anna rushed to stand and saw Mrs. Hughes enter.

"Close the door, close the door!", she quietly begged Mrs. Hughes.

Mrs. Hughes froze for a second, "Anna? Anna? What happened?"

"Please shut the door!", she continued to beg. Finally, Mrs. Hughes seemed the snap out of her confusion, and she shut the door.

"Mrs. Hughes, you have to help me. Could you help Lady Mary? Tell her that I have gone home early…" Anna's voice trembled as a cry took over. Her body continued to shake as she spoke.

"Anna…We have to call the police!", Mrs. Hughes said, still rather in a shock.

"No! No police, please they can't know", Anna begged, her voice still full of tears.

"But you have to tell Mr. Bates", Mrs. Hughes insisted.

"No! He must never know. If he finds out, he will kill him. And then they will hang him", Anna stated. Her voice full of conviction.

"Okay, okay. We won't tell Mr. Bates. What if I go and see if the doctor is still here? He won't tell and your injuries…they should be seen to." Mrs. Hughes waited a second and went to take Anna's hand, but Anna backed away. "Anna please, let the doctor see you."

Saying no was on the tip of her tongue, but then Anna started to think about her injuries. Especially the ones that were more intimate. Maybe the doctor could help her…that way when she went to John she wouldn't look as bad. She started to slowly nod… "Yes…yes you can get the doctor. But he can't tell anybody!"

"Alright, I will go and try to find him. Anna, just stay in here and I'm sure no one will come in. Please just stay here." Mrs. Hughes moved towards the door and turned off the lights. Anna went back to her corner where she began to weep again.

Mrs. Hughes quickly made her way up the servants' stairs to the main floor. By some miracle she didn't run into anyone on the way and went near the entrance, trying to stay out of sight. She spotted Dr. Clarkson as he was waiting to say good night and thank Lord and Lady Grantham for the evening. She quietly came up behind him.

"Dr. Clarkson, I am sorry to bother you, but can I speak to you for a minute?", she asked the doctor with an obvious look of concern on her face. Dr. Clarkson politely smiled for a moment before he realized that she looked very serious. He looked over and Lord and Lady Grantham and found them quite busy with other departing guests.

"Yes, of course", he said looking back at her. "How can I help you?"

Mrs. Hughes looked down, momentarily overcome with emotion, thinking of the state of Anna downstairs. "We have a very sensitive situation downstairs. Would you mind coming with me for a moment?", she asked looking Doctor Clarkson straight in the eye. Almost willing him to read her mind, understand what she was trying to ask.

Dr. Clarkson's mind was running wild, but he knew it had to be serious. Especially since Mrs. Hughes was making the request as subtly as possible. "Yes, of course. Lead the way"

Mrs. Hughes turned and led him to the servants stairs, she opened the hidden door and peered down to see if anyone was coming. She caught a glimpse of Bates heading up to wait for his Lordship. She turned to Dr. Clarkson, "Please follow me. We must be quiet, no one can know you are here" she said, her tone deadly serious. All Dr. Clarkson could do was nod in response and they silently went down the stairs.

Mrs. Hughes was grateful that not many were downstairs, and no one was near her sitting room. She quietly opened the door and ushered Dr. Clarkson inside. Firmly shutting it before turning on the lights. Small whimpers could be heard from the corner and Dr. Clarkson headed over. When he got there, he reared back in shock. There Anna was, curled into a protective ball with her face scratched and hit, her dress torn, hair destroyed.

Dr. Clarkson regained himself, "Anna…what happened to you?" he asked in a quiet, patient voice.

Anna looked up at Dr. Clarkson as her lips trembled, "I…I came down to get some water and…and I was attacked. He…He…" at this point her voice stopped working and she could only whimper. Dr. Clarkson looked over at Mrs. Hughes for conformation. At her nod he became absolutely sure of what Anna could not say. She was attacked and raped.

Dr. Clarkson turned to Mrs. Hughes, "Could you get the first aide box? There would be some bandages for her cuts and alcohol to sanitize. It would also help if we got her some water. Now Anna, if you would like me to, I can examine you for the extent of your injuries. Mrs. Hughes will be here the whole time. Is that all right?" he asked in the same patient voice as before.

Anna simple looked at Mrs. Hughes before nodding to the Doctor. Dr. Clarkson sighed and removed his jacket before rolling up his sleeves. He then started slowly, telling Anna exactly what he was going to do and asking her before he touched her. He tested the tenderness for where she was hit and asked after other injuries. He found tender spots on her hips and stomach.

Then came the more private part of the procedure. Dr. Clarkson looked at Anna, "Anna I should check the most private area for sustained injuries. I understand that this will be extremely uncomfortable. Especially after what just happened, but it is for your health. If you would like me to end the check now that is perfectly alright. What would you like to do?"

Anna stopped for a moment. She didn't want another man there, not after… But her health was important. That is why Doctor Clarkson was there. She nodded again.

"Alright, Mrs. Hughes could you help me clear off your table? Anna will have to lay on top of it for this part." Mrs. Hughes agreed and cleared off the table before helping Anna on top of it. Then all was quiet as Dr. Clarkson examined her.

"Anna, I do not believe you have sustained any critical or permanent injuries. This is a tragic event and emotionally it will take a hard toll. However, in the physical context there will just be some dark bruising." Anna nodded and got off the table. "Mrs. Hughes, I think now is a good time for the first aid kit and water, while Anna and I put the table back together." Mrs. Hughes nodded and went to leave.

"Wait," Anna said weekly, "Could you try and find me a dress and a brush? I must change"

"Yes, of course. I will see what I can find", Mrs. Hughes said right before shutting the door. She went into the kitchen and got water. Also finding the first aide box on the counter, where Anna had left it, she supposed. As she gathered the items in her hands, she heard a throat clear behind her.

"Mrs. Hughes? Is everything alright?" asked a concerned Carson as he stopped and waited for her reply.

"Oh yes Mr. Carson. I just have a small headache and need a glass of water. I won't be but a moment. Could you let me know when Lady Mary rings? Anna felt ill so I sent her home early" Mrs. Hughes replied as she started to walk back to her sitting room.

"Of course, I hope you feel better" Carson said as he carried on. Though he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

After Mrs. Hughes dropped of the first aid kit and water, she stated that she was off to search for a dress and hairbrush. Doctor Clarkson began to bandage the cuts on her face as she tried to drink the water.

"Now Anna, I have finished with the bandages. If you can, I would recommend applying a cold compress to help reduce the bruising. Would you like me to find Mr. Bates for you?" He asked her kindly while packing up the kit.

At the mention of Mr. Bates, Anna's lip began to tremble, "No, no Dr. Clarkson. He can't know, he mustn't ever know" she said. Pleading with him not to reveal her secret, her shame to her husband.

Dr. Clarkson sighed in resignation. Anna had been through so much. He knew that arguing with her would only be pointless and could hurt her further. "Anna if that is what you want, I promise not to tell Mr. Bates. If you can get away from Downton in a few days, please come and see me. That way I can see how you are healing. Does that sound alright?" Dr. Clarkson asked.

Anna absentmindedly nodded, "Yes, I think I can do that, but first I must check with Mrs. Hughes."

The door opened and Mrs. Hughes returned. She had in her hands a black dress and a hairbrush. She closed the door and looked at Anna, "Are you ready to get dressed? Lord Grantham has already gone up, Mr. Bates will be back here soon", she asked.

Anna looked pained and then looked determined, "Yes I can get ready".

Mrs. Hughes looked at Dr. Clarkson, "Dr. Clarkson would you mind waiting outside in the hallway for a moment?" she asked.

Dr. Clarkson nodded, "Yes of course", and with that he goes to the hallway.

Mrs. Hughes carefully helps Anna change her dress and to brush her hair. She is careful to avoid the bandage on Anna's face. She looked at Anna, "Will you be alright going back to the cottage? I need to see to Lady Mary."

Anna still looked shaken but determined. "Yes, I think I can, I just want to get there before Mr. Bates." Mrs. Hughes opened the door, and they went into the hallway. Mrs. Hughes thanked Dr. Clarkson and went up the servants' stairs.

Anna turned to Dr. Clarkson and looked back up at the doctor, "Dr. Clarkson…are you sure that there is no lasting damage?"

Dr. Clarkson felt sympathy wash through his body, Anna didn't deserve this. No woman deserved this. "No lasting damage, the bruises and cuts will heal with time."

Anna nodded and her bottom lip started harshly trembling, her hands shook as she said, "And there is…there is no way to know if there will be a baby…?"

He shook his head, "No, not yet anyway. You will know if that happens, but hopefully it won't."

She nodded again, "Thank you Dr. Clarkson for everything, it was very kind of you."

"Think nothing of it Anna, now please think about visiting me in a few days. If you are okay with it, I think I will take my leave now and try to say goodbye to Lord and Lady Grantham. Goodbye and please be careful." He said seriously.

As Dr. Clarkson turned to leave, they heard a distinct tapping on the floor along with strong footsteps. Anna knew those footsteps; it was Mr. Bates.

Mr. Bates approached Dr. Clarkson and Anna. He looked concerned and confused. "Anna? Dr. Clackson? Is everything alright?"