A/N I wanted to explore the consequences of what happened to Anna in 4.03 for Mrs. Hughes. She comes across as plenty fierce in her handling of it but I'm pretty sure there was a lot more going on underneath the surface.

I have ignored all of Anna's feelings/thoughts/suffering surrounding this incident and focused only on those of Mrs. Hughes. This is deliberate. I do not understand the incident from Anna's (or Mr. Bates) point of view enough to write anything honest or meaningful about it, so I have not tried. Mrs. Hughes on the other hand I relate to all too well, unfortunately.

Italics are used for thoughts, emphasis and lines lifted directly from the show, I hope it isn't too confusing. If you have any formatting (or general) suggestions please let me know in a review.

Chapter One

"Maybe the doctor's still here…" Mrs. Hughes turned for the door but Anna clutched her arm frantically.

"Will you listen? I need your help or I wouldn't have told you! Nobody else must ever know. You promise me!"

Mrs. Hughes nodded as neutrally as she could manage. "Well wait here, I'll fetch you some water and a comb. And see what I can find you in the way of a dress."

Mrs. Hughes left her sitting room so distracted she almost bowled poor Mr. Carson over.

"Are you all right, Mrs. Hughes?" he asked steadying her with his outstretched arm.

"Yes, I'm sorry Mr. Carson, excuse me." She had no time for small talk at the moment. Not with Anna curled over in agony in the next room. She pushed the horrible images out of her mind to focused solely on the task before her: dress, comb and water.

Mrs. Hughes hurried upstairs to her bedroom in search of a dress for Anna. She found the smallest one she had, it would be a wee bit big on her, but it would have to do. Remembering the poor girls tangled hair she also took the comb from her nightstand and tucked it into her pocket.

As she moved down the corridor another thought occurred to her: I better find some underclothing, hers might be torn. What a horrid thought, but then again it was a horrid business altogether. She would have to go to the laundry and find something.

I cannot believe it. How did this happen under our roof?

There was no time for such notions now. Quickly she went about her work. The house was quiet, the day all but over, so no one paid her any mind. She managed to find clean drawers for Anna and tucked them carefully into the dress so they didn't show. She walked as quickly as she dared back downstairs, trying to prepare herself for walking back into that room.

When she opened the door Anna was nowhere to be seen but she heard the muffled sobs from behind the writing desk. There she was, curled up just as before on the floor.

"Oh Anna," she breathed.

Anna turned to look at her, gulping air. She'd shed so many tears that there were few left. Mrs. Hughes took in the cuts on her face and how gingerly she held her side. Her heart ached for her.

"Anna we must send for the Doctor," she said gently.

"No!" Anna implored, "please don't Mrs. Hughes, please! I told you, no one can know. P…Please."

Mrs. Hughes loathed that her words had caused Anna more distress and she reassured her at once: "Alright, it's alright dear. I won't, if you don't want me to."

"P…Promise," stammered Anna.

"Yes," said Mrs. Hughes reluctantly, "but let me help you."

Mrs. Hughes had spent some forty years in service and she had seen her fair share of roughed up young women. Girls pinched and prodded in the halls by unkind male staff members, unwelcome kisses, touches, or simply cruel words. Downton Abbey, unlike some places she could remember, had not stood for such things and it was partly the reason Mrs. Hughes had put her roots down here. A house where the people were respectable and there were often too many eyes for such reprehensible behaviour.

She remembered back to her second position – a housemaid in a fine house back in Scotland. His name had been Albert and he used to deliver the ice for the icebox. He'd cornered her in the larder and pinned her arms back while he kissed her. He even managed to push his hand a good ways up her skirt before his father came round the corner and boxed him about the ears. As they left he'd shouted over his shoulder: "boys will be boys" as if this was some manner of apology. She'd told no one and left shortly there after for another posting. Mrs. Hughes winced. The memory stung, but it paled in comparison to the horror before her. What had happened to Anna Bates was worst than anything she'd ever seen.

"It's ruined," said Anna looking down at her dress. She was quite right; her apron had ripped in several places and was specked with blood. The dress underneath hadn't fared much better, the seam along the side had completely come apart.

"Never mind that now, see if you can put this on," said Mrs. Hughes, pressing the clean dress into her hands, "I'm going to fetch the first aid kit so we can deal with that lip."

Anna nodded her understanding. Mrs. Hughes was back to being all business about the situation and Anna was grateful. That's really what she needed and Mrs. Hughes could see that, plain as day. She fished the iodine and some cotton balls out the first aid kit in her desk drawer, but Anna was still fumbling with her buttons.

"I'll get you some water while you change my dear," said Mrs. Hughes patiently. She peeked around the door and found the hallway mercifully empty. She wondered where Mr. Bates was – surely he would be looking for his wife before heading home? Wherever he was it was not downstairs and Mrs. Hughes was able to take a jug of water from the kitchens unimpeded.

When she brought it back she found Anna still fumbling with her buttons, utterly frustrated.

"I can't," she said her breath coming in rapid bursts, "I can't make them work, I just can't!" Her hands were shaking too much for her to undo them properly. Mrs. Hughes knelt down beside her.

"May I?" she asked.

"Yes…please," replied Anna.

Mrs. Hughes reached for the buttons and began undoing them with practiced precision. She too had been a ladies maid at one point. She slipped the garment off as carefully as she could, as every movement seemed to cause Anna pain. She helped her out of her underclothing and into the clean things in silence, as quickly and as matronly as possible. When she helped the new dress over Anna's head she noticed the girl was already much steadier than when she'd started. Good thought Mrs. Hughes, we're getting somewhere.

Next she tackled Anna's tangled hair. "Now I want you to hold the pins, can you do that for me?" Mrs. Hughes asked her. She could have easily put them in a pile on the desk but she wanted to give Anna something to do.

"Yes."

Mrs. Hughes set about taking the mess of pins out of Anna's hair and combing it through. She handed each hairpin to her and Anna clutched them diligently. She flinched a few times as Mrs. Hughes worked the worst of the knots out.

"Would you like me to put it back up for you?" she asked when she had finished brushing it.

"I can do it," said Anna.

Mrs. Hughes smiled at her. "Of course."

It took her longer than usual but at least she had done it herself. When she had finished she turned to Mrs. Hughes for approval.

"That's lovely," said Mrs. Hughes biting her lip. She wanted to reach out and hug Anna with all her might, as if with her love she could erase all of the hurt and wickedness the world had dealt.

Instead, she turned her attention to the cut on Anna's lip. It wasn't bleeding much but it was still fairly deep. Mrs. Hughes dabbed a bit of iodine on it and Anna winced.

"Hold still," Mrs. Hughes instructed pressing on the wound with a damp cloth. "There you are, that's better."

"Thank you Mrs. Hughes," said Anna, "I better head home."

"Anna I'm so sorry," she said, helping her to her feet. "Let me walk you out."

"No thank you Mrs. Hughes." said Anna firmly.

Mrs. Hughes could see there was no point in arguing when her mind was made up. She stroked the housemaid's cheek comfortingly, "if you're sure."

"Thank you, but I'll be fine," Anna insisted.

Somehow, I doubt that very much, thought Mrs. Hughes sadly, closing the door behind her.

TBC