His cottage was dark and quiet as came back to it. He could hear the steady breathing of Isobel letting him know she was asleep. Just hours ago they had made love for a second time.
As he removed his clothes he let his mind wander.
A kiss to his throat and he moaned in response. "Clothes" she whispered and in his passion filled brain he was confused. All his clothes were on the floor.
"Clothes?" He echoed as his hand wandered down her back over her rump to pull her against him.
"Can I *moan* bring my clothes here?" She half gasped half spoke.
It took a moment for her words to form some semblance of order in his brain before he kissed her lips quickly before affirming, "Of course you bloody can." He then began attacking her neck. After that there were no more words.
As he got into bed he noticed that the sheets carried her scent, he was suddenly glad that she had asked about bringing her clothes here for he knew that he couldn't live without her. Even if he knew she was just up the road at Crawley House that wouldn't be enough.
Will you be going to York today? He asked as he hastily drank a cup of tea.
Isobel was clearing away bits of toast, "No, I want to utilize my other skills. May I be with you at the hospital?"
The feeling of elation swept over him for somehow he knew she wasn't just asking about the hospital.
Sybil's blood pressure had not resolved after a night of sleep. Tom was holding her hand and Richard noticed that her wedding band was absent, last night he had seen it. On a hunch he asked permission before drawing done the coverlet on the bed to examine Sybil's feet. The swelling was prominent, while swollen feet were sometimes commonplace in pregnancy she had not been on her feet for sometime. Alarm bells were beginning to sound in Richard's mind. He reviewed the nurses notes, so far she hadn't urinated yet.
"I'd like it if you came to the hospital, can we arrange a car?" He asked softly making sure his voice exuded calm.
Tom's voice was sharp, "What's wrong?"
Luckily Lady Cora was there, "Tom let's let Doctor Clarkson explain."
"My pressure?" Sybil asked tiredly.
Richard had a soft spot for this particular daughter of Lord Grantham, the way she had fought for Downton Abbey to be a convalescent home had endeared her to him. "Yes, your blood pressure has not resolved. Your hands and feet are also swollen. I would like to test your albumin levels, I would like it if you went to the hospital."
Sybil nodded and Lady Cora pulled the call bell in the corner. Downstairs, Carson had ordered that only women were permitted to answer calls from Lady Sybil's room. While maids were currently occupied in cleaning rooms, Mrs. Hughes climbed the stairs and appeared.
"Mrs. Hughes, we need a car to take us the hospital." Cora said and augmented her statement by waving at everyone in the room.
"Right away my lady." Mrs. Hughes delivered as she rushed out to comply with the order.
Seeing that her son-in-law needed an occupation she asked, "Tom, why don't you pack a few things for Sybil."
This order snapped him out of his daze and he began pulling items from a wardrobe. Cora then motioned to Clarkson and he moved to join her, "Is she in danger?"
"She is showing signs of eclampsia, toxemia if you will. I want to test her urine at the hospital and if it confirms my suspicions we must get the baby delivered. She's obviously exhausted, as you well know labour is trying." His words had Cora nodding her head.
"What will happen next if the test shows what you think?" Cora asked heistantly
Richard swallowed, "I will perform a caesarian section to deliver the baby."
Cora's mind was reeling, "Couldn't she still deliver?"
"Her labor hasn't established itself into a pattern yet. If she does indeed have eclampsia the trauma of natural birth will cause seizures and she will not survive." He said in a low tone.
Cora's hands flew to her mouth, she knew that surgery had its risks but if what Clarkson was telling was true then by not performing surgery Sybil could face danger. Not wanting to waste time Cora went to her daughter's bedside and helped her sit up, Sybil groaned in protest and Cora soothed her. "All right my baby, we're just going for a little ride." Cora's eyes met Dr. Clarkson's, "Let's go."
It was somewhat of a circus getting Sybil downstairs. Each member of the household was talking over one another of what action they thought best. In the end, Sybil broke free of her Mother and gripped the banister rail on her own, making her way downstairs. Clarkson allowed her this brief protest before he came to her side and indicated to Tom with his head that he should join him. Out of instinct Tom moved to the driver's seat before Clarkson's hand on his shoulder guided him to the cab portion.
At the hospital Clarkson obtained a urine sample from Sybil while Isobel helped her change into a gown. The urine was boiled and cooled and Richard's suspicions were confirmed, the urine was forming clumps, Sybil Branson had eclampsia.
Dr. Clarkson stood in the doorway to the room where Sybil and Isobel were. Somehow sensing his presence Isobel turned and he nodded slowly. Isobel understood and began preparing Sybil.
Tom and Lady Cora were cloistered in Clarkson's office he came in to tell them news. "Lady Sybil needs to be delivered of her child immediately. We are preparing things here for a cesarean."
Tom blanched as did Cora but somehow he found his voice, "This is something that you've done?"
"Yes, and I have kept up on the latest techniques." Clarkson said with authority
Tom's Irish accent was thick as tears threatened, "but there's a danger?"
Clarkson believed in truth, "Yes, with surgery there is always danger. However, I can guarantee you that if we don't do this you will lose Sybil perhaps even your child."
"When will you start?" Cora inquired.
Doctor Clarkson moved closer to the seated pair, "When everything is ready, from the nurses notes she hasn't eaten or drunk anything so we don't have to wait."
Tom's head was bouncing in agreement, "Yeah, her stomach has been upset."
Cora watched as Clarkson's hand pointed to a corner, "you can use the telephone if you wish. I would just like to remind you that I do have other patients."
Cora understood his silent request, she would not have the Crawley's swamping the hospital.
Sybil was taken to an operating theatre. Clarkson was true to his word and he had been reading up on techniques. He would be using a Pfannenstiel incision to gain entry to Sybil's uterus. The anesthesia was administered, Clarkson called for a scalpel and Isobel handed him the instrument. The incision began, it was time to meet the newest member of the family. While Richard was suturing everything back up, Isobel was cleaning the newborn. She was small, another sign that Sybil's pregnancy was not progressing.
Sybil had tolerated surgery, she had had some blood loss which hopefully with rest she would recover.
The look on Tom's face as he was presented with his daughter was a look that Isobel would cherish. Lady Cora too was overwhelmed, before her eyes snapped up to Isobel's "Sybil!"
"She's well, we've taken her to the recovery room. Would you like to see her?" Isobel asked.
Cora nodded as did Tom, Isobel led them to where Sybil was sleeping off the anesthesia. As they walked into the room they stopped for Dr. Clarkson was there. "Not to worry, just taking her blood pressure."
As Clarkson went to exit as the others came in he regarded the bundle in Tom's arms, "A vision that one."
What the doctor said struck a chord with Tom and he had an idea for a name, he would just have to ask Sybil.
A/N: AU in all respects and no disrespect to Sir Julian