A/N: I hope you're all ready for a chapter that is basically 95% Cobert! So, I was hoping to move the timeline forward a bit more and finally cover the bath scene and the war outbreak (because I know we're all waiting for those), but this chapter kind of ran away with me and went in a bit of a different direction, so those events should be taking place in chapter five. Anyway, as always, enjoy!
Flux
Chapter four - in which kisses are shared and tears are shed
Robert was tense as Bates helped him with his dressing gown, and his mind was whirling so much that a searing pain had started to travel across his forehead. The day had been perfectly normal by all accounts, but shortly after the family had been served dinner, Cora had turned unsettlingly pale and promptly excused herself from the table, reasoning that she wasn't feeling too well and needed to lie down. Robert had followed her to the door without a second thought and said that he would abandon his own dinner to go upstairs with her make sure she was okay.
"I'll be fine, Robert" she had told him, "I'm just feeling a little nauseous"
"Are you sure, Cora? Because I don't mind at all"
She placed her hand on his arm and squeezed it weakly…she really had looked pale.
"Stay here" she said softly, "I will rest for a while upstairs, and if I don't feel well enough to re-join everyone, I'll ring for O'Brian"
"Okay" he had conceded, "but please let me know if anything is wrong"
"I will"
And that was the last he had seen of her that evening. In an attempt to stop himself for over-worrying, he had convinced himself that she had obviously felt too tired to socialise and had called for O'Brian before going to bed. He tensed slightly, he truly hoped she was okay, they had only known about her pregnancy for a few days and the last thing he wanted for to troubles to start arising this early on. But he knew he had to calm himself; and he told himself repeatedly that she was probably just run down.
"Is everything okay, my lord?" Bates asked as he gathered up his clothes.
"Yes, fine" he lied, "Bates, do you happen to know if her ladyship called for O'Brian this evening?"
"She did, my lord. Apparently, her ladyship wasn't feeling well and had decided to go to bed early"
"Very good. Thank you, Bates"
"I do hope she is okay, my lord" Bates added once he was halfway out the door.
"I'm sure she will be after some rest"
Bates nodded and wished Robert goodnight. As soon as the door to the dressing room closed, Robert practically dashed towards the adjoining door to the bedroom, but upon entering, he found the bed empty and the sheets thrown back.
"Cora?" he called out.
There was no sign of her. Had she gone downstairs for some reason? But just as Robert was deciding whether or not he should go and look for her, he heard a strangled noise coming from the bathroom.
"Cora?" he beckoned again as he marched toward the en suite.
But when we entered the room, his entire body went rigid and his eyes blew wide; there was his darling wife, hunched over the toilet coughing and spluttering. Everything is Robert's mind fell silent and after swallowing his fear he moved to her instantly; he dropped to his knees besides and rubbed her back.
"Oh, my darling…" he breathed as she coughed some more.
"I don't want you to see me like this" she strained, and she made a weak attempt at swatting him away.
He shushed her softly and continued to move his palm in small circles across her back.
"I'm staying with you" he told her, leaving no room for arguments, "just take deep breaths"
Cora abandoned her attempt of shooing him away as she continued to splutter into the toilet. She felt wretched, and beneath the twisting in her stomach and the burning in her throat, there was a cold fear that coursed through her limbs as she began to think there was something wrong. She didn't move even after she'd finished, instead she remained on the floor, her head hanging down and her body writhing as she breathed heavily; but through it all, Robert never left her side. He had reached up to pull the chain when she'd finished, delicately wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head so tenderly that she could have sobbed.
"I hate to see you like this…" he breathed, "…are you okay?"
"I think so" was Cora's weak reply.
"Has this been happening all evening?"
She shook her head slowly.
"This has only just started, but I have felt nauseous ever since I came upstairs"
"You should have sent for me" he told her gently.
"There was no need. I didn't want to spoil your evening by making you sit up here with me while I nursed my nausea"
"You could never spoil anything for me, Cora" he assured her before pressing another kiss to the top of her head, "I would give up a thousand dinners to sit with you and make sure that you are well"
"Oh, Robert" was the only response she could muster, and she would have blushed had she not felt so vile.
For a while they sat in silence; Cora remained on the floor, hunched over and fighting to find the strength and stability to stand again while Robert stayed by her side and held her, rubbing her back every so often and soothing her whenever she whimpered in discomfort. He was feeling the overwhelming urge to protect her, as if she was made of glass and may break. He was more fearful than he perhaps should have been when he'd found her in the bathroom, but the sight of her hunched on the floor and eliciting strangled noises had sent ice through his veins. Ever since they had been told that the pregnancy would not be without its risks, he had been on tenterhooks, ready to jump into action at any moment. She was carrying his child – a fact he still couldn't believe – and if any adversity came her way, he swore that he would do whatever he could to alleviate it.
"I'm supposed to be past all of this" Cora whimpered, "I was never sick this far along with the girls, and my nausea has seemed so far away for such a long time"
"Do you think something is wrong, do you want me to send for Doctor Clarkson?"
Cora – steadily – sat up a little before offering a gentle shake of her head.
"No, I think I'll be okay. But I will send for Doctor Clarkson in the morning"
Robert looked deep in her eyes, and Cora watched as they glazed over with an overwhelming amount of adoration.
"You would tell me if something was the matter, wouldn't you?"
"In a heartbeat" she assured him, now able to offer him a small smile, "but I want to get a second opinion about this. I have never been sick this far along in a pregnancy and something just doesn't seem right"
"I may be nothing" Robert offered, although he was trying to convince himself more than her.
"Yes, it may be nothing; it also may just be a result of my age. I just want to be sure"
"I think that's a good idea"
Robert breathed a sigh of relief. He never thought that Cora would be indifferent about the seriousness of this pregnancy, not for a single second, but he knew that she was stubborn when it came to her independence, especially when she was unwell and people insisted on fussing over her. But this was a prime example of her diligence, and it soothed his worried heart to see it.
"Thank you for staying with me" she said quietly.
"You don't need to thank me. I'd never leave you to face something like this alone"
"I love you" she said out of nowhere, her tone serious.
"I love you too" he replied as he pressed his forehead to hers and drank in the intoxication that their closeness gave him, "and I don't want anything to happen to you"
Cora felt his words more than she heard them, and for a brief moment that was a pang of guilt in her chest as he allowed her to witness his vulnerability.
"Nothing is going to happen to me" she told him.
They both knew there was no guarantee, but if there was one thing that Cora had always given him it was strength, and so he basked in it, willing himself to believe her and to trust in whoever controlled their fates, for the thought of anything happening to her was simply too much for him to bear.
"Can you stand?" he asked gently.
"Yes, I feel a little better now"
Without breaking his hold of her, Robert helped Cora rise to her feet. She stilled for a moment when she was upright, assessing the ache in her stomach and assuring them both that she was through the worst of it. She caught him looking down at her tenderly and his concern for her was palpable. She gave him a reassuring nod and he guided her back to their bed. Cora walked with slow, measured steps, each one accompanied by a deep breath and a reassuring squeeze of her shoulders from her husband. She crawled gingerly back under the covers and immediately settled on her side where she knew she'd be the most comfortable. Robert, meanwhile, had fetched her a glass of water from a pitcher that O'Brian had brought up for her.
"Make sure you drink something" he said to her as he placed the glass on her bedside table.
"I will. Thank you"
"Are you feeling well enough for me to sleep in here tonight? Because I can always sleep in the dressing room"
"Please, stay here, I want you beside me" she answered with a desperate lilt to her voice.
Robert felt a wave of relief flood his body; he was hoping she'd say that, as he couldn't bear to let her out of his sight, but he'd felt like he needed to ask for the sake of her comfort. He slipped out of his dressing gown and slippers before crawling into bed and settling himself against her in a gentle hold – ensuring that his one hand rested with a feather-lite touch on her abdomen.
Cora couldn't stop herself from smiling as she moved through the gardens of Downton with her husband, taking in the soft summer air and deliciously heady scent of flowers in full bloom. She had convinced Robert to go for a walk with her that morning before Doctor Clarkson came to see her, stating that she felt considerably better and that some fresh air and gentle exercise would do her some good. As was common with her protective husband, Robert had been sceptical at first, but they both knew that he could never say no to her, especially in her current condition. So, he offered her his arm, and off they went.
They talked easily as they made their way through the grounds and simply took in how lucky they were to have such luscious gardens to explore right at their fingertips. The foliage was alive with all sorts of critters who were working hard to keep up the magic of the garden, and the sunshine embraced them gently as the morning continued to pass. Cora hadn't noticed it, but Robert kept a close eye on her while they walked. Ever since she had expressed her concerns about her nausea the previous night, he had felt on edge, and there was a tense ache in his back that wouldn't seem to go away. The only way he could calm himself was to be beside her; he did his best not to hover, of course, he didn't want her to think she was being patronised, but if he could be there to make sure she was feeling okay, and that she still had some colour to her cheeks, then he was satisfied. He brought his free hand up to the caress the hand that she had in the crook of his arm, and when she felt the contact, she smiled sweetly at him before giving his arm a tender squeeze. It seemed that with each moment they shared, he was being reminded of just how much she meant to him, and how close to her he wanted to be.
"Are you still feeling well enough for this?" he asked her as they continued through the gardens and began approaching a decorative maze that lived further down the estate.
"I am" she said, a slight thread of humour running through her voice, but when she saw the pucker in Robert's forehead, she allowed herself a moment of seriousness, "I don't want you to worry about me, darling"
"I'm afraid I can't help it"
"I know, and it's a foolish thing for me to wish for, but I hate to see you anxious, especially when it's because of me"
"I just want you to be safe and healthy, you and the baby" those words still seemed so foreign to him, his wife and his unborn child…he still couldn't wrap his head around it all. But every time he did say the words, his chest overflowed with such warmth it was almost too much for him to handle.
"I know you do, and I hope you know how much your concern means to me"
"I do hope you wouldn't expect anything less from me?"
She offered him another tender smile and squeezed his arm again.
"Not at all, darling"
"What time are we to expect Doctor Clarkson?"
"Before luncheon, I believe"
"I know it's a little unconventional, but can I be there with you?" Robert asked sheepishly.
"I would like that"
"I want to be privy to any ideas he has about your symptoms, and if there is anything the matter, I want to know what I can do to help"
"You can be so sweet when you want to be" she teased – earning a smile from him.
"I like to think I'm sweet all of the time" he mock protested.
"I appreciate you saying that, but we both know your English discomfort regarding emotion won't let you say such things or act in such a way" Cora laughed.
"Well, you've got me there" he conceded, "but I do enjoy indulging in and spoiling you" he added, his voice becoming a purr.
"Is that so, Lord Grantham?"
"It is. In fact, come with me"
Robert guided them into the small maze that they had been circling, and although it was not a complex structure, he made sure to move them around every corner and explore every opening until eventually he found what he was looking for: a dead end that was home to a singular stone bench. Cora couldn't remember the last time she'd been here, but when her eyes fell upon the bench she was instantly taken back to the early years of their marriage, when they would escape the watchful eye of Robert's parents and come here to be alone and steal a few scandalous kisses. Suddenly she felt very warm.
"Is this an indecent proposal?" she asked him, her face a picture of delighted shock.
"Not indecent" Robert answered with a low chuckle, "but I do hope it to be indulgent"
He guided her to sit on the bench before seating himself next to her and taking her hands in his.
"You're not a viscount anymore, you know?" she teased, although the longer he spent without kissing her, the more agitated she became.
"Don't tell me I have scandalised Lady Grantham? I know that the viscountess never minded" he smirked.
"Lady Grantham is thoroughly shocked by your behaviour, however, Cora Crawley doesn't mind at all"
It was then that an uncontrollable smile spread across Robert's features, so much so that his cheeks ached, and he was suddenly bursting with adoration for his darling wife. Sometimes, after so much time being Lord and Lady or and Earl and a Countess, there was no pleasure greater than reminding themselves to simply be Robert and Cora Crawley.
Cora spoke again,
"And furthermore, Cora Crawley is about ready to clip you over the ear if you don't kiss her soon"
"It would be my pleasure" Robert purred before his lips descended upon hers.
Cora felt herself relax instantly as she felt the warmth of his lips against hers, and one of her hands moved to lace into his silver locks. The kiss was long and slow – exquisite even – and his warm lips moved sensually over hers, drawing her in like a hypnotist. She hummed into the kiss, and he felt her shudder in response as his tongue traced her lower lip, searching for access that was eagerly granted. Soon their tongues were engaged in a slow dance and the whole thing was utterly intoxicating and caused flames to flicker in their chests. Cora squeezed her eyes shut and focused on the delectable pleasure of being kissed so thoroughly by the man she loved and the man whose child she was carrying. She shuffled closer to him on the bench, hoping to eliminate all space between them, and she moaned with delight when she felt Robert lace his arms around her and pull her body flush against his. She never wanted the moment to end, but as the need for oxygen became too great, their hungry kisses began to slow, but Robert made sure not to pull away without nipping playfully at her lower lip.
She looked at him in utter amazement, still bewildered by the sudden passion that had taken over them both, and Robert could see her eyes glaze over with the beginnings of arousal. He took a moment to admire his handy work; Cora's lips were slightly swollen from his ministrations, and he could see that she was trying with such desperation to breathe at a normal pace. But he suddenly felt too far away from her, so he moved forward and let his forehead rest against hers in a kiss of its own.
"That was some kiss" Cora breathed – her cheeks aflame.
"Would you care for another?"
"Please" was the only response she could muster.
Robert pressed his lips to hers again, but me made sure to keep it steady this time. Their lips moved together at and achingly slow pace, but the languid nature of the kiss soon became intoxicating, and Cora felt her mind being completely wiped, and in that moment, the only thing she could think about was the sensation of her husband kissing her so thoroughly. He invaded all of her senses and absorbed every part of her until she was quite sure that she was living and breathing him, just him. And she would be content to do so. To be so fully taken over by the person who meant the most to her sounded like bliss. Cora was about to run her tongue across his lower lip in a desperate plea for more contact when she felt him suddenly pull away from her before peppering a flaming trail of kisses along her jawline and down her neck.
Without thinking, her head rolled back in pleasure, and she gripped his hair tightly – holding him to her and willing him to keep going. He kissed up and down the soft skin of her neck and across her throat before pulling down the neckline of her dress to suck and nip hungrily at her. Cora moaned beside herself – completely overwhelmed by his ministrations – but pulled him back to her lips after only a few seconds and began to speak in-between their kisses.
"You'd better not –" kiss "– leave a mark –" kiss "– what if –" kiss "– someone notices? –" kiss.
"Let them –" kiss "– notice –" kiss, "– let them know –" kiss "– how much –" kiss "– I want you –" kiss.
She had planned on chastising him for his flippancy and sudden lack of propriety, but soon his tongue was battling with hers again, and all she could do was moan. She found herself gripping him by his lapels and pulling him to her, clinging to him in fact, as if she may fall without him to hold. She pulled away after a short while – though she desperately didn't want to – and looked into his stormy eyes, the very same eyes that had captivated her almost twenty-five years ago.
"I'm afraid we'll have to stop" she panted, "you've made me rather lightheaded"
And then, the storm in his eyes turned to worry.
"Are you okay? You're not feeling unwell again, are you?" he asked, ready to carry her back to the house if he had to.
"I promise it's all because of your ministrations"
"You wouldn't hide anything from me, would you?"
"Not a thing. I do feel a little tired, though that is to be expected" she explained before he could chime in with suggestions of bed rest, "everything else I'm feeling is simply because my husband decided to kiss me absolutely silly in the middle of a maze"
Her words managed to coax a blush from him, and she was relieved to see that he hadn't sent himself into a flurry of panic.
"Will you let me take you back to the house all the same? I would feel better if could see you resting for a while become Doctor Clarkson arrives"
"Very well" she agreed with a smile before taking his arm once again and walking with him back to their home.
"So, what are your thoughts, Doctor?" Cora asked once her consultation was over.
She looked over at Robert – who was hovering awkwardly in the bedroom – and she gifted him with a warm gaze, hoping to quell both her nerves and his.
"There's not a great deal I can say at the moment" he answered thoughtfully, "there is a chance that you have Hyperemesis gravidarum, which is essentially an acute form of morning sickness that can continue throughout the entire pregnancy, however I can't know for certain without monitoring your symptoms for a little longer and also eliminating other causes for the nauseas, should it continue"
"Is that a serious condition?" asked Robert, doing his best to remain composed.
"It can come with some complications, mostly weight loss, fatigue and dehydration. If the nausea does continue, we will need to monitor your diet, fluid intake and your weight to ensure you are healthy and that the baby gets the nutrition it needs"
"But you can't say for certain just yet?"
"No, Lord Grantham. First, we will need to know if this nausea is a recurring issue or not, as there is a chance it could have just been a blip this time. If it does persist, then I need to confirm whether or not there is a separate health issue causing these symptoms"
"And if it is the acute sickness, what then?" questioned Cora.
"I will need to monitor your weight as well as give you some advice on your fluid intake. I will also need you to get enough rest too, to ensure that you are not too fatigued. You can ease the symptoms by figuring out which foods or odours trigger any feelings of nausea"
"And if that is my diagnosis, will it last throughout the entire pregnancy?"
"It could. But in many cases the symptoms ease after the twentieth week, which isn't too far away for you"
"So, the risks aren't tremendously high?" Robert asked.
"Since we have caught onto this early, if we can monitor Lady Grantham's condition, we should be able to counteract the symptoms quite effectively. If we can prevent excessive weight loss or dehydration, then there should be no real cause for concern"
Both Cora and Robert felt the cool wave of relief fill every inch of them, and with a controlled smile, Robert moved closer to his wife to take her hand in his and squeeze it encouragingly. She looked up at him from her place on the chaise longue and gave him one of her warming smiles, one that told him to have faith and that she would be okay.
Despite not wanting to ruin their private moment, Doctor Clarkson continued,
"Hopefully we won't need to diagnose anything, sometimes the odd bout of nausea can be normal in the middle stages of the pregnancy due to the amount of hormonal and chemical changes occurring within the body"
"Very good, Doctor" was Robert's flippant response, as he suddenly remembered how much he disliked medical detail, and all this talk of hormones was cutting it a little fine by his standards.
"I should tell you now that due to your age, Lady Grantham, and the fact that it has been some time since your last pregnancy, that I will need to monitor you for Pre-eclampsia once you have passed the twenty-week mark"
"What is that?" Cora questioned, suddenly feeling her reassurance slip away from her.
"It's usually due to a complication with the placenta; I don't want to worry you as it is a rare condition, but your age does slightly increase your chance of developing it. I will discuss the symptoms with you during your next check-up, but if they do materialise, we will need to monitor them fully and discuss any alternative plans for the birth"
"What do you mean by alternative plans?" Robert asked, his chest puffing up protectively.
"Again, it may not be something we need to worry about, but the trauma of natural childbirth when the mother is suffering from Pre-eclampsia can lead to further complications that can put you and the baby at great risk. If – and only if – this applies to you, then we will likely have to arrange for a caesarean birth"
Cora felt herself turn white, and in that moment, she could barely think straight; suddenly nausea was the least of her worries. She rubbed her hands together nervously and felt the thin layer of sweat that had already begun to cover them, she forced herself to remain calm, to take deep, inconspicuous breaths, not only to keep herself upright, but in an attempt to not let her husband know how scared she had suddenly become. She knew there would be risks, the doctor had talked to her about it on the day she found out she was pregnant, but she hadn't been prepared for something like this.
"You can't be serious" Robert snarled, "that's suicide!"
"Again, it may not be something for us to be concerned about" Doctor Clarkson said calmly, although his measured tone seemed to only anger Robert even more.
"Then why bring it up? Why strike such fear into us when we're supposed to be looking after Lady Grantham?"
"I want you both to be fully aware of all of the facts and possibilities. My job is to keep my patients healthy, and the only way I can do that is if we are all at an understanding. My intentions have never been to frighten you, but you have a right to be aware of everything that can and may occur, regardless of how low the possibilities are"
But despite Doctor Clarkson remain level-headed, Robert's temper only grew.
"And what about the mortality rates, were you going to tell us about those too? How could you suggest something so dangerous to us?"
"Because in the right circumstances it can save a life" the Doctor bit back.
Suddenly Cora rose to her feet – pushing her fear aside – and placed a hand on her husband's arm. She could feel him trembling, though whether it was from anger or fear, she couldn't tell.
"Robert, please, he's just doing his job"
That was enough to send him into a sheepish silence.
"Doctor Clarkson, would you mind waiting in the library while Lord Grantham and I take a few moments to discuss what you've told us?"
"Very good, Lady Grantham" nodded the doctor before he took his leave.
Robert had expected to be scolded as soon as the doctor was out of the room, but instead he felt Cora embrace him tightly – her fingers clawing to the back of his jacket as if she was trying to scratch her way through it. He had hoped that it was her way of trying to calm him down, but when he felt a singular sob wrack through her body, he knew that wasn't the case, and the revelation broke his heart. Within an instant his arms were around her too and he dipped his head to bury his face in the crook of her neck. For a while they just held each other, and they used the strength they found in each other to process what they had been told and tried desperately to calm the fears that he begun to twist inside their stomachs.
"Oh, Robert…" Cora whimpered – her voice muffled by the closeness they shared.
"I know, darling, I know" he soothed – holding her as tightly as he dared. He just wanted to wrap her up and keep her safe from the world, to keep her away from all harm until their child was born.
"I know I said everything was going to be okay, but…I'm frightened" she told him weakly.
"So am I" he responded. He didn't want to admit it, for fear he'd frighten her even more, but the last thing he wanted was for her to feel like she was alone. As long as Robert was still breathing, he would never allow her to face any strife by herself.
"We will get through whatever comes our way" he continued, "and I am sorry that I lost my temper, and I know that I have made a fool of myself. But I just couldn't bear the thought of…" he trailed off then as a lump formed in his throat and his voice suddenly grew weak. Before long he found himself blinking away a tear or two, and his eyes stung as he pushed on and continued to speak.
"…I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you"
He felt her grip him tighter.
"But nothing is going to happen" he claimed, "we know the risks, but also know that the chances are low. We are in this together, and we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that you are as fighting fit as you can possibly be" he pulled away then an offered Cora a sloppy smile, and he was elated when she gave him one of her own.
"Even bed rest?" she asked – teasing herself.
"Especially bed rest" he chuckled before kissing her sweetly.
"You're right, Robert. We're going to get through this"
"I will apologise to him when we go down, I know he's only telling us all of this because he wants us to be aware of all risks, even the minute ones"
"He will understand why you reacted in the way that you did" Cora reassured as she ran a hand up and down his back.
"I hope so. And with any luck, we won't have to worry about any of the things he has told us…"
Robert moved a hand down to rest over Cora's abdomen, and he looked at her with so much love that Cora thought she might just burst into tears.
"…and we will have our beautiful baby with us before the year is over"
"What's got you seething?" Thomas asked as he found O'Brian angrily mending a loose thread on one of her ladyship's gowns.
"Wouldn't you like to know" she snapped back; she was in no mood for his scheming or gossiping.
"I would like to know, Miss O'Brian" he replied cockily, and it was clear he wasn't going to leave until she told him what had angered her, "you never know, I may be able to help"
"You just want to know in case I say anything that's useful for one of your schemes"
"You've never held back from me before, why start now?" he reasoned.
O'Brian released a struggled sigh before putting down her sewing equipment.
"You'll probably hear about this soon enough, but her ladyship is being monitored for some kind of severe morning sickness"
"Severe morning sickness?" Thomas echoed.
"Something like that"
"It sounds a bit melodramatic, if you ask me"
"I don't know…apparently it can be serious, but I don't know if they mean truly serious or just aristocrat serious, and they don't even know if she's got it yet. But whether it is serious, or whether it isn't, guess who is now vomit-watch for her ladyship?"
"I don't envy you" Thomas grimaced.
"I don't envy me, neither"
"Well, you'll be gone before long anyway" he smirked, and O'Brian had a good mind to prick him with one of her sewing pins.
"Don't joke about that" she seethed, "over a decade of my life I've given to that woman and now she's ready to sack me out of the blue just because his lordship thought it would be a good idea"
"It's disgraceful" Thomas commented, and for once, he actually meant it.
"And she hasn't said a word to me either, no discussion, no compromise, not even a bit of warning"
"Why don't you show her that she can't get away with that sort of disrespect – even if she is a countess. Quit on the spot, walk out, leave her high and dry and make her realise that if you treat a servant badly then they have every right to leave. They need us far more than we need them"
O'Brian shook her head.
"No, no I won't do that"
"Why not? Don't tell me you've actually got a sense of loyalty"
"It's not loyalty, but if she is going to give me such an unfair dismissal then I want her to feel like the villain in all of this"
"So what? You're going to carry on being a picture-perfect lady's maid until she tells you to sling your hook?"
"That's right. At least then I can say that I never put a foot wrong, and she'll have a much more difficult time justifying why she got rid of me"
"Will she need to justify it when you're already so disliked upstairs"
Thomas found himself on the receiving end of a sharp look from O'Brian, one that he thought could very well cut him to shreds if she tried hard enough.
"A victory isn't always about how many people you impact" she informed him, "sometimes it's about how much you impact the right person"
"But doesn't it seem like a waste of your time to be so flawless when you know the end is coming?"
"How many schemes have your or I planned that have come to nothing?" she asked, but Thomas didn't answer, "it's a risk I'm willing to take, even if the only result is a boost to my own sense of pride"
"I wouldn't go so easy on them" Thomas grumbled.
"And that, Thomas, is why you're just a disliked as I am"
And with that, she walked away, flirting with her anger and leaving Thomas to stew in his own.
A/N: I hope you enjoy that Cobert injection! So, yeah, I wasn't really planning for all of that to happen, but I seem incapable of writing short scenes and I'm trying to keep each chapter at around 5k-6k words. The section with doctor Clarkson ran away with me a lot, but I did so much research on pregnancy conditions that I wanted to make sure that my time was well spent! XD (I also didn't intend for pre-eclampsia to come up, and I promise it's not rehashing what happens to Sybil, but it cropped up in my research, so I thought it would fit well, and I suppose it can be used as some interesting foreshadowing for series 3)
Anyway, as always, thank you all so, so much for all of your lovely reviews; I know I say it every time, but they do mean so much to me and really help me with my motivation. I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, and feel free to let me know your thoughts, ideas, or if you have any feedback.
- OMC
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