Clouds

~ A Downton Abbey series

Author: TopOfChaplin

Pairing: Thomas Barrow/Jimmy Kent

Other characters: Lord Grantham, Lady Grantham, Mary, Edith, Sybil, Tom Branson, Matthew Crawley, Mrs. Crawley, Lady Grantham, Mrs. Patmore, Ms. O'Brien, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Carson, Daisy, Ivy, Alfred

Genres: Angst, Romance, Drama

Rating: M

Summary: A young boy comes along who's had a rough past. Thomas is given orders to keep an extra eye on him by the Lord himself. But Thomas is damaged too, and what no one knows is that what they need is not acceptable. Not in 1920, and Downton Abbey is no exception. But the sky is quickly changing, and everyone will feel it as the clouds roll in. A dangerous change casting its shadows over the abbey.

Acknowledgements: I do not own any of the characters, and all events are purely fictional. The story does not follow the series correctly at all times, and some circumstances are changed.

Cumulus - Part 1

~ Cumulus clouds are puffy clouds that sometimes look like pieces of floating cotton. The base of each cloud is often flat and may be only 1000 m above the ground. The top of the cloud has rounded towers. When the top of the cumulus resembles the head of a cauliflower, it is called cumulus congestus or towering cumulus. These clouds grow upward, and they can develop into a giant cumulonimbus, which is a thunderstorm cloud. ~

"Thomas, you'll be skipping dinner, his Lordship wants a word with you this instant," Mr. Carson barked as he entered the kitchen.

Everyone had been seated and Mrs Patmore has just served the stew, but all stood as the butler entered. Faces turned to Thomas, who was keeping his head bent. He let go of his napkin and left the kitchen, the others getting seated again, fussing at once over what could urge the Lordship as to not let it wait. It was unusual at Downton that the upstairs bothered the staff during their meals, after all they only had three a day, and worked hard. Only in situations of utter crisis would they summon the butler, or if needed, the valets.

"Now, now, you eat. I'll deal with this matter but be sure to leave some supper," Carson finished before he left the downstairs once again. Thomas took the stairs in a swift and met the Lord in the dining hall.

"Thomas, please follow me outside for a moment will you? No need to retrieve your coat or mine, it'll only be a second." Thomas gave Carson a glance, but if Carson knew something of the matter, he did not give it away. It was not cold, chilly maybe but not unpleasant. Almost too hot to be the start of November, but Thomas didn't have another moment to blunder over the weather, for just down the pat from the great entrance stood a shadow. It was too dark for Thomas to see much, but it certainly had to be a young man considering the hat he was wearing. There was a suitcase in his left hand, and he was eyeing the surrounding grounds.

"This," his Lord spoke to Thomas. "is James Kent. He's..." Thomas turned to the Lord, waiting the explanation.

"James is the son of a woman who passed away years ago. She was the woman who saved me and my family. James has been living with foster parents but has been working since he became of age at the residence of my cousin. He'll be second footman here, something slightly different from what he used to...work as." Thomas listened, but he still waited to know why he was summoned especially, and why this James Kent wasn't sent to be introduced to Carson first.

"Thomas, this is a very rare situation, and I'm going out of my usual common sense and behind the rest of my family to help James. I owe this woman that much, and I owe James that as well. Now, I want you to look after Jimmy, as I cannot do such a thing from my position. You may report to me anything particular, but for the most time I just want to know that he'll be good off, and I'm putting my trust on you. I know of your situation Thomas and I also know you've had a hard time making fit of that life. It is not for no reason that I want you to be the one looking after him. Don't get me wrong, he's no child but he's still young. He's also had a hard life, and I believe this position at Downton Abbey will make him content. Maybe also happy."

Throughout the Lord's conversation, Thomas had yet to say something. He'd been studying the man who now seemed to be inspecting the abbey from another standing point. Thomas focused on the Lord again, giving a nod.

"I understand your Lordship."

"You must also, not for any reason or in any situation, speak of anything I confided in your tonight. That could certainly cost your job. But I must know straight away if you're up to this task Thomas, or I must find other ways to keep this smooth." Thomas straightened, his many years in service teaching him not to be shocked by anything, rather see it all as opportunity and challenge.

"Most certainly your Lordship. I shall take Jimmy-I mean James here under my wing and teach him myself."

"It's important that you not let him know of my concern. He must not know he's being treated any different than the rest of the staff. Not that he is, but this is, as I said, a rare situation. That's all I had to say. Now, if you would please follow him inside and be present with him when formalities are being fixed with Mr. Carson. I suppose he can meet the others and get settled tomorrow. Tonight, I want him to know that he can count on you Thomas."

"Yes my Lord," Thomas replied. Lord Grantham called James over, and Thomas got to have a proper look at him for the first time, as he stepped into the dim light from the windows. He was indeed a young man, but Thomas quickly took note that he probably was a few years older than he seemed, being half a head shorter than himself and quite slim. As he lifted his gaze the shadow from this hat slipped, and Thomas was met by clear blue eyes and full lips. With a small smile and a nod of his head Thomas greeted him.

"Welcome James, this is Thomas Barrow, valet of Matthew Crawley. He's been here for some time so I decided he'd be fit for showing you inside."

"Thank you Lord Grantham. I look forward to work for you." James took his hat off, showing off blonde kept hair, set for a curl resting on his temple to the right that Thomas couldn't stop staring at. "Well then I'm off, good night." And Thomas and James were left.

"Let's get you inside, let me take your luggage, you must be tired from the journey." James followed him inside, silently but willingly letting Thomas aid to this belongings. It could hardly be much, for Thomas found the case light and immediately thought how James had probably not made a fortune at his old job, for there surely were no nice clothes save those he arrived in.

"We'll head straight to Mr. Carson. He's the butler and your work superior. After you'll dine with me and Carson seeing as we've not had a chance yet. Then I'll show you to your room. The rest will be taken care of tomorrow." They were approaching Carson's office, and with a knock Thomas let them in as he answered. Papers were settled, tasks instructed and room and fitted clothes given. Thomas suspected the Lord had given Carson notice of the arrangement with him and Jimmy, but that he knew no further detail, for Carson did not ask why Thomas was accompanying him, though he kept giving Thomas glances of curiosity. Carson hated being kept in the shadows of something going on downstairs – he was a man of charge for sure. Thomas couldn't help feeling satisfied that the Lord had given him a task even excluding Carson, so he had no way to keep up with it to see it through.

"Well then I guess you are settled James. Now let's have supper." Mrs. Patmore had left the food heating at the stove and three plates out, but it hadn't been a secret that a new employer would arrive one of these days. Dinner passed silently. Usually neither Carson or Thomas were the ones to chatter while eating, except when someone remarked something Carson wouldn't tolerate listening to while enjoying his meal. Thomas kept glancing at Jimmy, who only ate half is portion, but neither he or Carson commented on it.

"I'll settle for night then. I'm taking it Thomas will follow you to your room. I'll see you bright and early for breakfast as your schedule says. I'll take you through the rest then and have Thomas show you around. Welcome on board."

"Yes Mr Carson. Good night," Jimmy replied, and Carson left the two alone in the silent kitchen. Thomas cleared their plates and out of the corner of his eye he saw Jimmy once again scanning his surroundings.

"Never been in such a big house, it's quite a place," he remarked and Thomas looked up.

"Yes, well, we're all quite privileged to work here. His Lordship, Mr Crawley and Mr Branson are nice people. Not so sure about the women, but I guess Lady Sybil is all right. Should watch out for the old lady Grantham though, you never know where she'll take your mistake gossiping around." Jimmy absently held onto a chair.

"What about the other staff?" Thomas turned then, finished with the clearing. "Well, I'll leave it up to you to see for that. You'll meet them all in the morning, and then see them every day after that."

Thomas took his luggage once again from the hall and showed Jimmy to the boy's sleeping area. "Here's your room, you have the washing room just across from you, and mine's the one two doors down." Thomas entered the room and flicked the light on, also starting the heating.

"You'll find your uniform in your closet as well as towels and anything else you'll need. I'll show you all the other rooms and what you need to know tomorrow. Then we'll start your training." Jimmy placed his coat and hat on the bed and slumped down beside it.

"Jimmy?" Thomas questioned him, stepping closer. His eyes shoot up to him then.

"No one calls me that any more."

Thomas didn't know how well the Lord knew him or the other way around, but he kept from telling him that's what the Lord had called him as he'd spoken to Thomas.

"Mind if I do though? It suits you." Jimmy only shrugged. "But how come you'll be showing me everything, didn't Lord Grantham say you were a valet?"

"Indeed yes. But that's quite recent. I've been first footman for most of my time here. Lucky circumstances moved me up, so to say." Thomas didn't bother laying out the Bates story now.

"I see."

Thomas was staring at the loose lock of hair on his forehead again, and he really wanted to twitch it between his fingers, so this was the moment to leave. "Well, I can see you're tired so I'll leave you now. If there's every anything..." He trailed off. "Anything at all really, you can come to me. Carson is not always very understanding and well, it must be very serious to bring it up to the Lord. And I'm a tight seal if you want me to be. I've orders of that. You can trust me Jimmy." He gave his shoulder a squeeze to imply it, but Thomas sniggered himself for that thought. He also really wanted to touch him, feel his skin if it was really as smooth as it seemed. And those lips. He silently both damned and praised him for being so beautiful. But this one was dangerous. Even more so than usual, given the Lord's personal attachment to Jimmy. Thomas was certain there was one, ever so slight. There was some history with Jimmy's mother, history that probably even Jimmy knew limited about. No, Thomas really had to watch it this time. He gave Jimmy a last rare genuine smile, Thomas' one of many this night, before he went to leave.

"Wait." Jimmy had stood up and was walking over as Thomas turned, hand leaving the door knob. "I could really use some pain relief, I got a hit to my shoulder earlier."

Thomas furrowed his brows, wanting to question how that'd happened. "Let me have a look."

Jimmy began to shake his head, "Really, it's nothing serious-" but Thomas cut him off. "I'm a trained medic from the war. Let me have a look." Holding Jimmy's eyes for a moment, he finally gave in with a sight, backing a step and opening his waistcoat. Opening the buttons of his shirt he slid it off his left shoulder, giving Thomas a look at his slightly toned chest, all smooth skin like his face. Then he spotted his blue shoulder and dragged his shirt down further to see it running down several inches on his back along with a nasty cut that had stopped bleeding.

"Shit, who did this to you?" Jimmy wouldn't reply, trying to get his shirt back on. "It doesn't matter does it? I'm not going back there if I can help it." He was harsh now, voice cold. He'd seen a lot of ugly Thomas understood.

"Let me clean the cut and cover it. It could start bleeding again if you get any friction on it. I'm sure nothing is broken or you wouldn't have been able to still use your arm."

"I've had worse." Jimmy muttered but seemed to regret it a second later, gaze plastered to the tiny window in the corner of the room. Thomas couldn't help his feelings of pity. He himself had been in the war almost three years, Jimmy had been in war what seemed all his life.

"I'll be right back." He brought pain reliever, hot water and a cloth, and patches. "Cut isn't deep so not likely anything that could develop infection. I'd still like to check it again in a couple of days and to change the binding." Jimmy had removed his shirt all together and was sitting on the edge of his bed. Thomas drew up a chair from the corner by the closet and started trailing the damp cloth over his wounded backside. A few minutes later, having felt across the bones as well, he declared himself done. "Take the pain relievers and go to bed now. If the shoulder bothers you tomorrow please let me know."

"Yes. Thank you Thomas."

Jimmy was putting on a white shit to sleep in and Thomas made it to the door.

"Good night Jimmy."

Jimmy looked up at him as he turned in the door.

"Good night."

Thomas let his gaze linger another moment, holding Jimmy's, before he closed the door behind him. Finally in his own room he hurriedly rid himself of his clothes, sitting heavily onto the bed and resting his face in his hands. Whenever he closed his eyes he saw Jimmy's face. Deep blue eyes, pink lips, freckles over his nose that he'd noticed as he'd patched up his back. His kind small smile, haunted look of impassiveness when he'd shown him his shoulder. Thomas didn't sleep well that night, his dreams were not filled with scenes of him back in the war, but rather Jimmy stuck in a house of a battlefield. Waking with a start the next morning, shooting up from his bed, he found Jimmy opening his door to a creek, peering in.

"Thomas?"

"Come in" Thomas replied, voice raspy from only just waking up. Forehead damp from his livid dream.

"I'm sorry to disturb you this early, but I want to make a good impression my first day, and would like to know if I am decent." Jimmy stood straight, hands behind his back. Hair was kept like last night, still the little twirl of hair hanging loosely. He'd dressed in the dark green footman uniform, and Thomas had to admit he looked better than any other footman Downton had seen in years.

"Mm," Thomas kept inspecting him, but didn't allow himself to look too long and got out of bed, retrieving his own black uniform. "You'll do. Remember, it's your composition and words that count the most. Well, second to doing your tasks properly. The upstairs are the ones to impress, but Carson will be the one throwing daggers if he's not pleased with your work or attitude." Thomas got no response as he got his clothing ready and turned with raised eyebrows at Jimmy.

"All right, anything else?"

Thomas wanted nothing more than to warn him of certain...people, including himself, but he went for his old tactics instead. "Jimmy, I will not give you any privileges that other newcomers haven't received. Now, get your arse down in the kitchen and let me get dressed. I'm a valet, and I have to be ready for Mr. Crawley in thirty minutes." His tone was slightly harsher than he'd meant, but Thomas knew he couldn't let his façade slip. The others couldn't know anything of these arrangements if he didn't want his miserable life to turn even more miserable. Keeping his tensed back to Jimmy as he replied.

"I apologize for my intruding. I'll leave you then."

Thomas didn't really feel bad, it was necessary after all. And Jimmy was tough, like himself. He couldn't stop thinking of the way the Lord had looked at him as he'd spoken of Jimmy, or the cold hard look upon Jimmy's features as he'd exposed his beaten shoulder. He hated knowing that he'd been given a huge task by the Lord, a task that now seemed like it would break him even more. He had to slam the wall above his washing bowl with his good hand. Otherwise he was sure he'd strangle the Lord when he saw him later for putting him up to this. He needed a smoke before today's work started, and decided for once to skip breakfast.

Outside the morning was grey and dull, heavy clouds hung low, but it wouldn't rain. It fitted his mood so well he could've chuckled. Instead he took a last deep inhale of the pint before tossing it on the ground and stepping hard on it. Just where the Lord had been standing last night upon Jimmy's arrival.

It seemed fitting.

Author's note: If you're interested in more, let me know. I need to know if this is of interest. I have an idea worked out for this. Thank you for reading.