Love and Justice Chapter 2
Hey guys! Here is the second chapter. I am very excited to share this with you. I have not wanted to write fanfiction for a while, but I just couldn't stop thinking about this story idea. I hope to update on a weekly basis. Please review and if anyone would like I would love a beta. Also, I am American so please forgive any mistakes on the differences between English and American terms.
Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey, if I did Anna and Bates wouldn't have suffered as much.
Previously: 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?"
Anna looked startled and made quick eye contact with Dr. Clarkson before moving towards the hat and coat rack. "Everything is fine John, I slipped, and Dr. Clarkson just bandaged me up. It is nothing to trouble you with," she said. Her eyes were shifting as her nervous hands grabbed her coat.
Mr. Bates moved towards Anna; concern written all over his face. Anna flinched away and looking confused he turned towards Dr. Clarkson, who looked uncomfortable. "Thank you, Dr. Clarkson for helping Anna, is there anything I can do?" he asked.
Dr. Clarkson shared a long look with Anna before turning to Mr. Bates, "No she will be fine, she just needs to clean and replace the bandage for tomorrow. She should also rest a bit. If you would allow me, I need to bid Lord and Lady Grantham goodnight and give my thanks for the invitation this evening. Are they still awake?" he asked.
Mr. Bates nodded, "His Lordship has gone up, but her Ladyship is still awake I believe. Thank you for your help, Dr. Clarkson. I bid you goodnight." He shook Dr. Clarkson's hand and turned back to Anna.
Dr. Clarkson looked at Anna, "Anna please let me know if I can help with anything, I bid you goodnight," he said. They shared another long look before Anna replied, "I will, thank you Dr. Clarkson. Goodnight." With that Dr. Clarkson headed back up the servants' stairs.
"Well, I'm glad he was able to see to you. Are you sure you are alright?" John asked Anna, still very concerned. Anna shook her head and started towards the door. John reached out for her, and she flinched away harshly. He looked at her up and down feeling even more confused. Now that he wasn't so focused on Dr. Clarkson presence, he noticed something else concerning.
"Anna, you've changed your dress?" he said voicing his concern. John didn't understand, how could she have fallen hard enough to need to change her dress? And to need Dr. Clarkson to check on her? It didn't make any sense. Something must be very wrong.
Anna couldn't seem to meet his eye, "Yes, I took a turn and slipped. In the process I ripped and stained my dress. I put it in the soak but I'm not sure it can be saved. Mrs. Hughes lent me this," she trailed off. He had several doubts about that explanation, but he didn't want to press her now. Not when she looked almost frightened…
A voice broke through John's contemplations. "Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Bates," Mr. Green's nasally voice filled the empty hallway. A wave of frustration went through John as he turned to acknowledge Mr. Green. "And thank you for taking care of me while I've been here," Mr. Green continued. John resisted the urge to sigh and turned to him again.
"Goodnight, Mr. Gillingham" he responded and then looked back towards Anna. Anna seemed to hesitate to respond before saying goodnight as well. That was also strange. As much as it had annoyed John, Anna had seemed to like Mr. Green earlier. He heard Mr. Green start to head upstairs and returned to focusing on his wife. He reached out to touch her face and Anna quickly backed away. Now something was definitely wrong, Anna never rejected his touch. Especially since he returned from prison, they tried to have a physical connected as often as they could manage. Whether it was holding her in his arms back at the cottage after a long day or a simple brush against her during work. This just makes things all the more concerning.
"What's wrong?" he asked her. She casted her eyes down and avoided his gaze. She then began to back up.
"It's nothing, just want to walk on my own that's all," she said quickly before grabbing her hat and coat. She then almost ran out the door. For a moment John just stood there, stunned before he called out her name. But she didn't turn or respond in any way. John stood in the hallway for a long moment before turning back towards the servant's hall. He took a seat. If she wanted to walk alone, he wouldn't want to bother her. That's the last thing he would ever want to do, be a bother to her.
He sat there for a long time in the dark, brooding. As they say, brooders brood. He isn't sure how long he had been there when he finally looked at his pocket watch. A couple of hours had gone by, surely enough time for Anna to bathe and go to sleep. He did the long walk back to their cottage alone. For the first time since they had gotten the cottage, he was hesitant to go inside. He wasn't sure what was wrong with Anna, but he certainly couldn't help by staying out here. He quietly entered and closed the door before removing his coat and hat. He headed straight upstairs, no need to start a fire if Anna was already asleep.
Passing their spare room, he thought he heard a whimper. He slowly and carefully opened the door. Through the darkness he was able to see a small figure, whimpering, and shaking, curled up in the bed. He realized with shock it was Anna. His sweet, darling Anna was having some sort of nightmare. He wanted to scope her up and take her to their bed. Unfortunately, he didn't think his leg could handle it and the very last thing he wanted to do was drop her. With a groan he bent down and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead. He turned and walked to their room, trying to figure out what could be so wrong that she wouldn't want to sleep in their bed. There had never been a time…no little argument had been bad enough for them to not spend the night together with her in his arms. After preparing for bed, he laid down, cold and alone. At last, he closed his eyes and fell in a restless sleep.
The next day, Dr. Clarkson was seating at his desk at the hospital, trying to concentrate but failing to. He couldn't take his mind off what happened last night. Anna being attacked and him helping her. Last night so much was going on, there was such a rush to check on her. He hadn't had time to think about who could have done it and why. He didn't believe it was any of the servants that currently work at Downton. Though he didn't know many of them well, he couldn't imagine them doing that to Anna. She was always so nice and polite.
Anna asked him not to say anything to Mr. Bates and Mrs. Hughes told him that no one could know he was there. But it just wasn't right. He went and asked one of the nurses to arrange for a note to be sent to Mrs. Hughes. He wanted to speak with her about this as soon as possible. There were many people at the house last night due to the concert, only Anna knew what happened. Therein laid the problem. He knew that she wanted to keep this a secret, but justice needed to be done. This horrible man could not get away with it. Just the memory of seeing her curled up, broken in that corner had a flash of rage go through him.
He managed to get some work done while he waited on a response from Mrs. Hughes. He was looking at a potential flu case when one of the nurses informed him that Mrs. Hughes had arrived. Dr. Clarkson was rather surprised, he thought she would send a note back. Though this is much better, he showed her into his office.
"Hello Mrs. Hughes, thank you for joining me on such short notice," he greeted her as he sat behind his desk. Mrs. Hughes took a seat on the other side of his desk looking very downcast.
"Of course, I thought you would want to speak about last night. Thank you for coming to our aid and helping Anna. It means a lot to me," she said sincerely.
Dr. Clarkson nodded, "Of course, I'm glad I could help, it's just that this morning I couldn't stop thinking about the attacker. Do you know who it was? Can we report it to the police?" he asked.
She slowly shook her head, "She doesn't want anyone else to know. It took a lot of convincing for her to allow me to find you. She was almost frantic that no one is to know. Especially not Mr. Bates."
Dr. Clarkson couldn't believe his ears. She knew who did it and did not want anything done about it. "But why? Why doesn't she want to report it? Or at least see if there is something to be done?" he questioned.
"Well, she is worried about Mr. Bates. I asked about the police, but after thinking about it she may be right. What will the police do? Try to blame it on Anna? That will destroy her, though I'm sure the poor thing already blames herself," she said looking down on the desk.
They sat in silence for a moment, "Perhaps you are right, maybe the police shouldn't be involved. But someone should know, someone who can help us. We can't just let him get away with this!" he said, his words were hard and fast.
She responded just as passionately, "We will if it is what Anna wants! She is all that matters here, if later she feels that she wants to act then we can help. But we can't before. It isn't right." She stared him down.
Dr. Clarkson felt a hard ball of anger settle in his abdomen. He wasn't angry with Mrs. Hughes of course, just the terrible situation. He knew that something had to be done. Though maybe it didn't have to occur immediately. "If you think that is best Mrs. Hughes then I won't say anything. Though the moment you believe she is ready or that you think justice is required please let me know," he said.
Mrs. Hughes nodded, "I believe that is acceptable, Anna needs allies in this. We need to be her allies," she said. Then she stood and Dr. Clarkson with her. "I must go back to the house; they must be done with breakfast by now. If anything happens, I will let you know. I will also encourage Anna to come back in a few days for a check up," she said.
"Thank you for coming Mrs. Hughes and I hope I can be of help in the future. I bid you a good day," he said. Then Mrs. Hughes left, and Dr. Clarkson sat back at his desk and contemplated the matter at hand. No, he will not tell anyone yet, but soon. Justice will be served soon enough.
Anna was in Lady Mary's room, folding clothes. Really, she was avoiding going downstairs and seeing John. At least Mr. Green had left that morning. Seating next to him at breakfast had been one of the hardest things she had ever done. She couldn't eat, it all tasted like bile. She had to do it, for John. He would have known something was wrong if she refused to sit there, especially since she was friendly with him before.
Friendly, she couldn't believe she had been friendly to that monster. Defended him to her husband just hours before he…
She shook her head, as if it would shake the thoughts out of her head. She heard the door open and looked up to see a smiling John, "Would you like any help with that?" he said.
"No", she said, "I'm almost done". Anna played with the clothes in her hands waiting for him to leave. She couldn't even look at him.
John came closer to her, "Well I just wanted to see how you are feeling. Last night when I came back you were asleep and then you were gone when I woke up this morning. Are you avoiding me?" he asked. He stood before her now and reached out to touch her hands. She flinched away.
"I'm not avoiding you; I was just tired after my fall last night and then I wanted to get right to work this morning." she responded.
"Oh? Then why did you sleep in our spare room last night?", he questioned somberly.
"I…I didn't want to disturb you." She responded faintly. He nodded. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must take Lady Mary's clothes to the laundry." She passed him and walked to the door.
"Anna"
She turned her head in his direction.
"I wish you would tell me what I have done." He said in a tortured tone.
Anna turned back, "You have done nothing wrong" she said before walking down the hallway with tears sliding down her face.
John looked down at the floor in defeat. He didn't know what had happened in the past day that caused his whole world to change, but he needed to find out.
Thank you for reading!
