Healing

chapter 3

A/N Kind of what you'd expect….

Moseley put down the telephone and sighed. Almost impossible to carry out, this order was. Get Mrs Crawley ready to leave, indeed. Most days they were lucky to make her leave her bed at all. But he knew Dr Clarkson's regular visits had been helping her, even if he couldn't do anything but being there.

She never had said so, however Moseley had noticed a difference in her after the doctor's visits. Less tears, sometimes even a request for tea. And he had noticed the signs of disappointment, should the doctor arrive much later than his usual time.

So now, Dr Clarkson told him to get Mrs Crawley ready to leave, because he was in need of her skills. And he'd be over to collect her within the hour.

Moseley ascended the stairs and knocked on Mrs Crawley's door. He had been there just half an hour earlier, took away the tray whereupon some food had actually been eaten, and had been dismissed for the evening.

'Mrs Crawley. Might I come in?'

'For heaven's sake Moseley, why must you? I am preparing for bed!'

'I'm sorry milady, but Dr Clarkson just called. He said he's coming over to collect you. He is in need of your skills, he said. He asked me to prepare you for leaving. Are you dressed milady, or should I send Miss Brown over?'

'What does Dr Clarkson want from me? What exceptional skills of mine does he need? Crying is my best skill, besides being miserable and feeling useless. Please tell him I can't do anything for him Moseley. Thank you.'

'Very well, milady,' Moseley said and left. There wasn't much he could do about it now. He hoped Dr Clarkson would be able to shock her into action. He had sounded very determined on the telephone.

~oOo~

Within half an hour, the doctor arrived. 'Good evening, Moseley. Is Mrs Crawley ready?'

'I'm afraid she is not, sir. She ordered me to tell you her only skills at the moment are crying and feeling miserable, and she isn't able to help you. I'm sorry sir,' he said.

'Oh don't be sorry, I was expecting that,' Dr Clarkson said. 'Fact of the matter is I actually need her nursing skills, very much so. Do you happen to know what she thinks of the Downton Abbey housekeeper, Mrs Hughes?'

Not at all understanding where Mrs Hughes fitted in, Moseley just answered, 'I believe they are on good terms, sir.'

'That's good enough for me,' Dr Clarkson said while starting to climb the stairs. 'I am going to take her to Downton, Moseley. You will be assisting me.'

~oOo~

'Mrs Crawley, may I come in? It's Dr Clarkson!'

Isobel jumped when she heard the knock on the door, followed by his request, and then she frowned. 'I told Moseley already I can't help you, doctor,' she said. 'Please leave now.'

'I'm sorry, but I can't! I have an urgent case for which I need a qualified nurse. You are the only one fitted for the job!' he said to the door.

Isobel rolled her eyes. 'Don't try to tell me I am the only nurse in the county, I know that to be nonsense,' she replied.

'I didn't say that, I said you are the only one fitted for the job. Over at Downton Abbey a woman is going to die if we don't intervene. It's the housekeeper, she is seriously ill with pneumonia and as it is, she is just abandoned to her fate because there's a big event coming up and Mr Carson can't spare anybody. And even if he did, she needs a professional nurse!' he pleaded at the door.

The room remained silent for minutes.

'It is Mrs Hughes?'

'Yes, and that is another reason why I need you to go over there. You have the authority to actually make her do as we tell her. My available nurses are all very young and just not firm enough with patients like her. She would send them away as soon as she's able to speak again, and get up to work. You know the type.'

Another silence.

'Please Mrs Crawley, if you'd just come with me and see her. I would appreciate to hear your opinion on the case!'

That did it, he supposed, because after yet another silence she gave in. 'Oh, all right then, I'll go with you but only to see her, mind you, because I don't suppose you will leave me in peace if I don't. Give me ten minutes,' she said.

At the other side of the door, Moseley and Dr Clarkson shook hands.

~oOo~

It was around eight when they reached Downton Abbey. Choosing this time to present themselves at the front door, Dr Clarkson felt some kind of grim satisfaction at the look on Mr Carson's face when he noticed Mrs Crawley.

'We weren't expecting you milady, I'm sorry, I will inform his Lordship at once.'

'There's no need for that Mr Carson, we're here to see Mrs Hughes. Kindly inform his Lordship of that, if you please. Is there a maid available to take us up to her room? Thank you,' and with that he marched up the stairs, Mrs Crawley in tow.

A young maid escorted them to the right rooms, he knocked and they entered without waiting for an answer.

The sight was even worse than he expected. No one had been checking on her since he left, that much he could see. She was no longer burning with fever. Her body had tried to cool itself by sweating heavily. The sheet that had covered her had fallen on the floor and now she lay on the bed, her shift and the sheet drenched in cold sweat, shivering and panting.

He looked at Mrs Crawley, and was happy to see what he had hoped for.

Nurse Crawley emerged from the shell of a woman he had known for months now.

'Good heavens, what's going on here!? Get me clean sheets and a nightgown for her! And a wash basin. What are they thinking, leaving her to herself like that! I…'

'Don't be hard on the staff, Mrs Crawley,' he said gently. 'They do what they can, honestly, giving up their own rest to do so.'

As if on cue, the door opened and Anna came in, carrying a tray with tea and toast and a towel over her arm. She jumped when she saw the other visitors.

'I'm sorry Dr Clarkson, Mrs Crawley, I just wanted to see to Mrs Hughes a bit before we have to clear the dining rooms,' she whispered, 'I am so worried about her Dr Clarkson, I think she is badly ill and we can't…'

'I understand, Anna,' he reassured her. 'I know both you and Mrs Patmore have been taking care of her as good as you were given the opportunity. Mrs Hughes is indeed very ill and that's why I brought Mrs Crawley here,' there he interrupted himself. He didn't know for sure yet she would accept the task. But she smiled at him.

'I will look after her, Dr Clarkson,' she said. 'We will nurse her back to health and it Anna, thank you and Mrs Patmore, you have been doing your utmost. I might need your help occasionally though. Now, I need to take care of my patient.'

She took the towels, clean sheets, soap and the wash basin and set to work.

'Now my dear, we have to get you out of these sweaty things and clean you up.'

'Nae weel,' a very soft whisper moaned.

'What was that?'

'She said she's feeling ill,' Dr Clarkson explained.

'Oh you poor thing, of course you are, we'll have you comfortable right away…'

~oOo~

He nodded at Anna and they left the room.

'Mr Moseley will come over to bring Mrs Crawley's things,' he told Anna as they ascended the stairs.

'I will leave now, but I'll be back tomorrow morning. Thank you Anna, and good night to you.'

A/N That's it for now….Happy new year! Please please please review, especially when you think I'm doing unspeakable things to the English language… x george.