AN: Thank you so much for the reviews! I read and appreciate every single one. I know I kind of guilted you into it last chapter, but I hope I continue to receive more! Honestly, it's what keeps me going. I posted this first chapter on a whim, and thought about taking it down the next morning, but when I checked I already had four reviews. It's the reviews that have encouraged me to write this much, please keep the feedback coming!
They hurried George into the hospital where he was quickly seen by Dr. Clarkson. Mary felt herself go weak at the knees as her son was taken away from her, but Tom held onto her arm strongly.
"How bad is it?" Tom asked when Dr. Clarkson returned. Mary looked up in concern.
"His left ankle is sprained, and he'll need stitches on both legs. The nurses are prepping him for that right now."
"How long should that take?" Mary asked.
"The procedure will be over within a half an hour… the tricky part is that he will have to stay off his feet for at least a day."
"That's not easy with a four-year-old," Tom said.
"I believe it," Dr. Clarkson agreed.
"What are you saying?" Mary asked, still impatient.
"I think the boy should stay here overnight. Then you can take him back home tomorrow, but he will still have to take things easy for another few days."
"I'm not leaving him alone," Mary declared.
"If you want to stay, you're certainly able to, Lady Mary," Dr. Clarkson said with understanding. "I'm afraid it won't be very comfortable, there's only two chairs in Master George's room... but you'll be very welcome."
"Of course she'll stay," Tom agreed. "I'll run back to the house and get a change of clothes for her and something to eat."
Dr. Clarkson nodded and left the two alone. Mary sat down in a rush.
"He's alright, Mary," Tom said evenly. "That's the important thing."
"He will be, anyway," she agreed. "I don't like him in surgery."
"He's not in surgery, Mary," he lightly chided her. "A few stitches. He'll be up and running about the house before you know it." Mary looked up at her brother in law with something between frustration and encouragement.
"I know you're right. I just… I hate having him out of my sight."
"Do you want me to wait with you until it's over?" he offered.
"No," she shook her head. "I'll be alright. I think I spotted a pot of coffee in the corridor. You return to the house for now. There's no need for both of us to be sitting here worrying."
"I will go," he agreed. "But I'll be back soon." He kissed her cheek and left her smiling.
On his drive back Tom wondered over all that had happened within the past hour. How quickly things could change. He no longer had any personal agenda. He just wanted to keep Mary as calm as possible, and let the family know that George was not seriously injured.
As soon as he pulled into the drive he found Edith and Bertie running up to him for news. It was clear that Mary hadn't thought to telephone, but that didn't really surprise him.
"What news? How is he?" Edith asked, her concern for her young nephew obvious upon her face.
"A sprained ankle and some stitches," Tom dutifully reported.
"Oh thank God," Bertie breathed. Edith's sigh of relief was evident.
"You better tell Papa," Edith said. "He and Mama have been keeping vigil at the telephone."
"Edith," Bertie chided, "your brother-in-law is still covered in blood. Let him go upstairs and change. We'll go tell your parents."
"Yes," she agreed. "Yes, that makes sense. Thank you, Tom!" she kissed his cheek and then ran inside to spread the news.
Tom and Bertie smiled at each other. "How's Mary?" Bertie asked.
"Pretty badly shaken. But alright, all things considered. I – uh – I better go up and change," he said looking at the bloodstains on his shirt. "But tell Lord Grantham I'll be right down to see him." Bertie nodded and left.
Tom quickly made it to his room and changed. He privately gave thanks that Bertie had been there for Edith the same way he had been there for Mary. He had never realized before just how devoted Edith was to her little nephew. But then again… she is a mother too. He wondered if perhaps Bertie had picked up on her maternal nature with this near tragedy.
Tom changed very quickly and came downstairs to the library. He was surprised to find Lord Grantham alone, waiting for him.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
"Cora and Edith still needed a little calming down," Robert said, pouring himself a sherry. "I sent Bertie out with them to clear their heads now that we know everyone's alright."
"Well," Tom said carefully, "I wouldn't say George is perfectly alright. He's sprained his ankle and he's getting stitches on both his legs as we speak," Robert met his eyes with worry. "But there's no permanent damage done. That's the important thing."
"Yes," Robert agreed thoughtfully. "Yes, you're right." Tom sat down across from him. "I wish I'd been there," he thought aloud. "But I don't suppose I could have done anything."
"No," Tom agreed. "It happened so fast. And it's just as well you weren't there. It shook all of us up who witnessed it. Henry Talbot couldn't even bear to stay around until Mary woke up."
"I do feel sorry for poor Talbot," Robert said. "The truth is almost killing Mary's son has put him in a rather awful situation."
"It wasn't his fault," Tom said.
"I know it wasn't. But the fact remains that Mary lost her husband in a car crash and she nearly lost her son in one. I don't think she'll have stomach for a racecar driver as a suitor going forward."
"No," Tom agreed.
"Was she very keen on him?" Robert asked his son-in-law.
"Well, you know Mary. She's so blasé about her romances… But I believe she'll be fine," Tom answered.
Lord Grantham nodded. He poured himself a drink and invited Tom to join him.
"I better not. I have to drive back to the hospital soon."
"You don't have to do that," Robert said. "We can surely send someone else…"
"No," Tom insisted. "I want to be there for Mary. The shock that she just went through… well, I just don't want her to be alone."
"Oh Tom, thank God for you. If it hadn't been for you grabbing George…"
Tom held up his hand. "There's no need for that," he said. "I'm so happy I happened to be fast enough."
Robert didn't appear to hear him. He continued to think aloud. "If anything happened to George… it would almost be as if Matthew had never been. All the work and love he put into this place… The only way it makes sense is for his son to inherit."
"It would have destroyed Mary," Tom observed.
"Yes," Lord Grantham agreed. "How on earth did you do it?" he asked. "Edith and Bertie said you practically flew to grab that little boy away from the car."
"I did it because I had to do it," Tom answered honestly. Robert raised his glass in a toast.