Chapter Twenty-Nine

Anna bit her lip as she tried to keep herself from going mad. It was past the children's bedtime and John was still not home. Johnny asked twice for a story from his Daddy and Maggie was putting up a fuss in equal measure. "Daddy's working tonight, loves," Anna fibbed. "We know sometimes Daddy must go and see his lordship at late hours. He can read to you tomorrow. Maggie you first, climb in there, all nice and snug."

Maggie cuddled up to her mother and listened with interest to the poem she recited. The child fell asleep quickly even if she had protested about going to bed. "I love you, poppet," Anna whispered before moving on to Johnny.

Johnny loved his father's stories and songs from Ireland, but he was a Mummy's boy in his heart. Anna laid down beside her son and stroked his soft hair. They quietly talked for a while then Anna read Johnny a story and tucked him in bed. John was still not at home.

It was raining lightly with a whipping wind. Perhaps John had decided to wait out the rain at the hotel instead of risking a fall in the mud. She wished they had a telephone installed already but John and his lordship didn't think it necessary when there was so much construction to be done so she would be able to put to rest the terrible feeling deep in her gut.

Anna fed Elizabeth her nighttime bottle and gave her a clean nappy before putting her to bed. That took another half hour. The rain had stopped and there was still no sign of John.

Anna felt sick. She wanted to call the Carsons or the abbey and ask for Andrew to drive over to the hotel in the car, but if she did that, John would be furious with her for embarrassing him. Anna set about preparing the mix for John's rose hip tea and rinsing out the tub to prepare it for John's soak.

When he still hadn't come home, Anna gave into her worry. If John became cross with her, he'd have to lump it because she had to know he was all right. He could be struggling on the return trip with the dampness, he could have dozed off if he waited things out, but the suspense was driving her mad.

It was getting too late to call the Carsons, besides they didn't have a car, so Anna telephoned the abbey. "Hello," came the comforting yet aloof voice of Lady Mary.

"M'lady, it's Anna. I'm in need of a bit of a favor. I was wondering if you could spare someone, anyone at all to sit with the children. I need to go find Mr. Bates."

"Why?" Mary asked. "Did you fall out? Did something happen?"

"No, m'lady," Anna replied. "Mr. Bates walked to the hotel to make sure it was shut up for the storm, but that was hours ago. He might have dozed off or…"

"Or…is the worry," Mary sighed. "I'll ask Mr. Branson to go over to the hotel and check on Bates. Why would he be walking all that way?"

"He says it's good for him to walk," Anna replied. "Dr. Clarkson and the doctors in Leeds told him as much. Please don't put Mr. Branson out. I can walk to find him if I just…"

"He won't be put out," Mary assured. "I'm certain Bates will be safe and sound back at home within the hour."

Mary hung up and went to get Tom while Anna paced. Meanwhile, John had come around slowly on the floor of the hotel.

At first, he only heard the rush of his own blood in his ears, then he saw a trickle of his own blood before his eyes illuminated by moonlight peeking in from the door. Next, though, he felt pain. Agonizing, aching pain, wrapping around his back and shooting through his bad leg. What had happened? That was a bit fuzzy.

John felt his body was twisted. Perhaps if he moved a bit, he could try and get up. He knew he likely twisted his bad leg again, and Anna would have his neck for it, but it was too late. A few days rest and he'd be fine, he always was.

John managed to straighten his back and hip, then gingerly tried to find his legs. He got his good leg under him, but the bad one screamed at him as soon as he tried moving. He cried out in pain.

John tried again and again the sensation was akin to agony. He'd been shot in this leg and it was certainly comparable. John could feel the right leg of his trousers pulling tighter. His head was swimming and he was getting tired. He would rest a minute, just a minute, then try again.

Tom and Robert pulled up to the hotel. From the outside it looked vacant, no sign of anyone anywhere. "Anna said perhaps he fell asleep, if he sat down to catch his breath from the walk," Tom told Robert as they got out of the vehicle and walked up the steps using two lit torches to illuminate the path. Tom called out just to avoid startling John if he was sleeping.

The door was locked. "Do you have the key?" Tom asked. Robert looked sheepish. He hadn't imagined the door would be locked if John was inside.

John woke again to a loud pounding and Tom calling his name through the door. John took a deep breath, thank God it was Tom and not Anna. He must be a sight.

"Mr. Branson!" John called with the loudest voice he could muster. "Mr. Branson!"

Tom looked over at Robert. "Stand back," the younger man commanded. "I'm going to have to bust in the door. If he could answer he would have instead of calling out."

"Bates!" Tom called out. "Are ya all right? Can you let us inside? I have Lord Grantham with me."

The silence was an answer for Robert. "He can't, but he'll never say. Something happened."

"Bates?" Robert called. "John, are you alright in there?"

Again, no reply. Robert nodded at Tom and with their combined weight they broke down the front door.

Torches lit the room, the first real light John had seen since the sunset. Robert hurried to his fallen comrade. "John, what's happened?"

"Seems I've fallen, m'lord," John replied. "I've twisted my bad leg Can't seem to get my feet under me."

"You're bleeding," Robert took out his handkerchief and held it to John's temple. "Stay still, Tom will go for an ambulance."

"I don't need the ambulance, just a hand," John insisted. "If I can get some leverage…"

Robert and Tom exchanged looks but nodded. Tom made himself sort of a frame, holding his arms out spaced out to be on either side of John's hips. Robert moved around the back to provide strength from behind to help propel John to his feet.

John's physical strength amazed Tom as he felt the powerful muscles in John's arms and chest work to get him standing. Once John was up, he carefully put weight on his bad leg. He hissed in pain as soon as he bore any weight on the leg.

"It's no use, I can't stand on it," John sighed. "Anna is going to be so angry."

"Anna will just be glad you weren't hurt worse," Robert replied. "Can you walk if we help you? Get you to the hospital?"

"I can try," John said after a moment. "But I want to go home, I can't go without talking to Anna."

"We will telephone Lady Mary and she will talk with Anna," Robert soothed. "Tom can pick her up and her ladyship or Lady Mary can watch the children until morning. You have to get this seen to and you might need stitches for that cut."

John sighed exasperated, but gave in. "Robert, if you stand on the right. I can try to balance."

Robert nodded and together Tom and Robert helped John to the car.

Anna was holding Maggie on her hip as she paced and comforted the little girl. Maggie had awakened crying out for her father as she often did with bad dreams. She was settling in Anna's arms as her mother softly sang her own special lullaby, the same one John always sang. Anna walked to and fro to soothe the girl, softly stroking her back.

The phone rang loudly and shocked Anna causing her to jump. She quickly answered the phone so it didn't wake the children.

"Anna," Mary's voice came through the phone. "Tom and Papa found Bates."

"Oh God," Anna sighed. "Good. He's coming home then? Did he nod off?

"No," Mary replied. "No, he…he had fallen, Anna. They are taking him to hospital. Papa will stay with him and Tom is coming to get you."

"But I can't leave the…" Anna began as her heart was pounding.

"Don't worry about the children. I rang Carson and he and Mrs. Hughes are going to watch the children. Just put your hat and coat on and go with Tom when they arrive. I'll meet you there."

Anna couldn't argue anymore. She had to get to John and be where he was. If he was going to the hospital, it had to be a serious injury.

Maggie shifted in her arms and gave a little sigh. Anna moved to put her back in bed so she could be ready when Tom arrived. Every moment that passed was agony, her heart was pounding in her ears.

When Mrs. Hughes and Carson arrived, the older woman gave Anna a firm hug. "He's alright, darling girl. Go and tend to him, and come home for rest, both of you."

Anna took a deep breath, "I just need him to be alright, Mrs. Hughes. Thank you so much for this. Mr. Carson, thank you."

"Not to worry, Anna," Carson soothed. "Mr. Bates will be fine and the children will be lovely. Go now with faith."

Anna offered a weak smile and pulled her gloves on before heading out to the waiting car.

John was lying on a hospital bed, his knee elevated on pillows and towels while Dr. Clarkson sewed up his head. "We'll have the x-rays back soon and get a better look at the status of your leg, though I think it's obvious that you've broken something. Your fibula, perhaps. Sorry, your calf or knee."

John nodded, "What if it is the knee?"

Dr. Clarkson met John's gaze. "Then you will have a difficult time using it. More than you have now and the arthritis won't do you any favors."

John sighed, "I won't let it keep me down. The walks, soaks, and tea have helped a lot. I'll manage."

The click clack of Anna's heels announced her impending arrival. John held his breath, "She's going to have my head for this."

Anna burst into the room, winded and shocked. "John! Are you all right? Oh, my goodness! Look at you!"

Anna started to fuss even as the anger erupted in her head. She knew she never should have mentioned the shutters and certainly never agreed to let John go alone. Now, he was in the hospital, his head stitched and his bad leg…his bad leg!

"I'm all right, Anna," John soothed as she took his hand in her own. "It was just a fall. I tripped on a loose floorboard."

"It was a serious fall," Anna interjected. "You have stitches and a bruise on your head! Will he be alright, Dr. Clarkson?"

Dr. Clarkson looked at John for permission to answer her query. It was customary for him to inform a husband of his wife's condition, but not a wife of her husband's.

John nodded once and squeezed Anna's hand. "He will be in regards to the bump on the head. It is a small laceration, only 6 stitches. A few days rest and he'll be good as new. The leg is another matter."

Anna's hand went to rest on John's elevated thigh. She subconsciously rubbed it through his hospital gown. She could feel the heat and swelling through the material. "He's twisted it again?"

Dr. Clarkson shook his head. "It's a bad sprain at best, Anna. At worst, a break either in the shin bone or the knee itself. We are waiting for the x-rays. There also appears to be a tear in the ligaments across the bone. It's a difficult injury for anyone, but given Mr. Bates' age and medical history, it will be harder to recover."

Anna sighed and took it in. She didn't want to be upset at John, she truly didn't, but this a serious injury. If he hadn't walked there alone, if he only called for help. Why would he, even now, never accept any help?

"I was telling the doctor before you came in, I can manage," John smiled and tried to reassure his wife.

"Dr. Clarkson…" The nurse stepped into the door. The doctor excused himself, leaving the couple alone.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Anna asked, knowing he wasn't, but wanting to hear the lie again for her own comfort.

"I'll be fine," John said, running his thumb over her knuckles. "It's a bump on the head, maybe a broken leg, but I felt worse pain before. Broken bones mend, love."

Anna's lip trembled. John hated that little quiver. He had seen it a few times before Mr. Green, and far too much after. It meant she was suppressing great emotion and John didn't like it when Anna did that.

"Don't hide from me, Anna," John whispered softly. "You're angry with me, you have every right to be. You were right. I should have called Mr. Branson or at least taken a ride."

"I never should have circled back to the shutters to begin with,' Anna sighed. "But no, you shouldn't have walked there alone in the darkness with rain coming. That was daft!"

John sighed and tried to shift his position to take some weight off his back. When he did, pain shot through his right leg, causing him to gasp audibly.

"What's the matter, love?" she asked. "Your head? Your leg?"

John grit his teeth, "My leg is on fire," he admitted. "Even with the ice bag."

"I'll see if they can get you something for the pain,' Anna told him quickly. She scurried off to find a nurse and copied Mary's tones as best she could.

"I'm Mrs. John Bates, he's in the 3rd corridor there. He's in pain and I want him to have some medication, please. I also would like a basin and some flannels, please."

The nurse looked at Anna like she lost her mind. Anna was about to repeat the request when Robert and Mary approached her. "Your lordship," Anna greeted. "Lady Mary. I'm ever so sorry, but I cannot talk just now. Mr. Bates is having pain and he needs medication and some cool flannels."

Robert looked at the nurse. "I'm sure Nurse Harrison can provide you with flannels. As soon as we see Dr. Clarkson, we will tell him Bates isn't feeling well."

Anna smiled at Robert, "Thank you, m'lord. And thank Mr. Branson for helping too. I know Mr. Bates is greatful."

Robert nodded quietly. He was worried about John and hated knowing his friend was suffering. He wanted to support Anna, so did Mary, but she was so focused on John it hardly registered they were there.

"Well, I was worried about Bates," Mary said as Nurse Harrison brought Anna the basin and flannels. "But not anymore."

"How come?" Robert asked a little confused at Mary's comment.

"Because Anna is focusing all her energy on him and has the bit between her teeth with the nurses," Mary replied. "When Anna is devoted to anything or anyone so completely she can move mountains."

Robert smiled at Mary. His eldest daughter and Anna had a similar relationship to the one he shared with John, but while he let down the final social barriers with John, Mary hadn't yet, but the clear love and admiration she felt for Anna had already exceeded what she felt for her own blood

A/N: Thanks for reading!