Disclaimer not mine. I don't own Downton Abbey. If I did last Sunday's episode would never have gone with that storyline. No copyright infringement intended nor should be inferred. All copyright belongs to ITV and Julian Fellows who invented these wonderful characters.

Shocks

Carson huffed as he walked out of the kitchen. Dame Nelly Melba had caused a stir at the Abbey which he hadn't encountered in all his time there. Shaking his head he left the silence of the kitchen, glad that all the guests had finally gone home and his staff could concentrate on what they did best.

"Goodnight Mrs Patmore." He nodded as the good natured cook smiled. "I am glad you are feeling better."

"I am, thankyou Mr Carson." She smiled. "I don't know what came over me. Good job I had Ivy and Daisy. They're good girls."

"Yes, they are." He smiled slightly. "Not afraid of hard work. Now, get some rest. Goodnight." He walked out of the kitchen, aware that he and Mrs Patmore were the only ones who had yet to retire for the night. He ran a hand over his face as the tiredness began to overwhelm him. He had been so worried about the return of his former friend, Lady Mary and now Mrs Patmore and her 'funny turn' that he had witnessed earlier. Now all he wanted to do was sleep. Pushing the door to the Butler's Office open.

"Mrs Hughes." He frowned slightly. "I thought you had retired for the night."

"I was about to." Her soft Scottish accent filled the room. "I don't know if it is worth the bother."

"Is something ailing you?" He watched as she looked away.

"No, well not physically." She sighed. "Oh I don't know."

"Do you need to talk about it? I may not be much but I am a good listener. Shall I get us some tea?"

"Och, tea would be lovely." She smiled at her friend, aware that Charlie Carson was probably the best friend she had ever been lucky enough to have. He nodded before heading back to the kitchen, wondering what had happened to make his normally stoic friend to tears. Returning a few minutes later he returned with two mugs of steaming hot tea.

"That tea strainer really is inadequate." He shook his head as he handed the mug to her. "Now, what is troubling you?"

"I am fine." She sipped her drink as he watched her. "Really, it isn't me I am concerned about."

"Then who? A family member?"

"Near enough." She sighed. "If you were told a confidence, one that you knew should be shared for that person's own good would you break the confidence?"

"Is this about someone here?" He watched as her eyes filled with tears. "Elsie?" He covered her hand with his, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes.

"I've said too much."

"No, no you haven't. I know you would never break a confidence if you had the choice." He smiled kindly at her.

"How can you say that? After I took that letter from the bin? I broke your trust in me."

"No you didn't." He squeezed her hand. "No, now if this involves one of our staff I suggest you talk to her first. Before anyone else."

"Her? Now how would you know it was a her?"

"Because all the young girls, from Ivy to Anna talk to you or Mrs Patmore or both. You are mother figures to them all."

"I."

"It's Anna isn't it?" He watched as she looked away. "Oh hasn't that poor girl had enough heartache?"

"More than enough." She paused. "Please don't say anything. Please, she begged me not to."

"And I shall respect that." He watched as she sighed heavily. "All I will ask is does Mr Bates know about this?"

"No. She begged me not to tell him. I really think he should know."

"Then why hasn't she told him?" He had no idea what had happened to the young Lady's Maid but he had a feeling whatever it was had been devastating. The look in Mrs Hughes' eye told him as much.

"She's afraid of his reaction, I dare say."

"What? Why on Earth should she be afraid of him?"

"Not of him." She shook her head. "Of how he may react when he finds out what that man did." Carson paused as he let her words sink in.

"Who did what?"

"Oh my. Oh my, I've said too much. Please, please ignore what I just said." She bit her bottom lip as her eyes filled with tears. "Please don't."

"I can guess what happened and I think the man should hang for it, whoever he is."

"I agree. Hanging is too good for him." She shook her head angrily. "That poor girl, all she did was to be friend to him."

"Now she thinks her husband will take the matter in his own hands. I can understand that fear." He sighed. "It would take any man a great deal of self restraint not to seek some form of justice for what happened. I am right in thinking he did what I am afraid he did? I noticed Anna left half way through the concert. As did our visitor's valet. Mr Green."

"Aye." She closed her eyes.

"Out of respect for Anna and you I will never mention this conversation. But neither will that man work in service again. His days below stairs are numbered." He got to his feet as Mrs Hughes watched.

"No. Charlie, what are you going to do?"

"Trust me."

"I do. I do trust you, I've never had a reason not to." She got to her feet as he held her gaze. "You know that."

"And I give you no reason to lose that trust now. I will do nothing illegal but I will make certain that man has some consequences to his actions, even if it is not the one we would like or that he deserves." She nodded as he shook his head sadly. "Anna, our Anna. How dare he come here? How dare he hurt that girl?"

"I'll never know the answer to that." She sighed. "Please, don't do anything that would result in taking you away from us. You say to me that I am a mother figure to the younger girls. Well, what does that make you? Eh? Many of the younger ones here have no family back ground to speak of. Have you ever known Ivy, Arthur, Daisy or even Thomas rush to see family on their time off? No. Neither have I. You are the closest thing they have to a father figure so please, don't put your position here at risk. Please, for me."

Carson smiled slightly as he looked at his friend.

"Oh I assure you. I wont jepodise my place in this establishment." He watched as she closed her eyes. "Say a prayer for Anna and John tonight. They'll get past this and so will we. No one else need know but that young man, or shall I say excuse for a young man has a shock coming to him." He spoke so calmly Mrs Hughes had no doubt he meant every word he said. "Now, goodnight. I'll see you in the morning." He sighed as she squeezed his arm before walking past him into the main corridor that would lead to her room. In that moment he knew what had to be done.

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A/N worth going on? Please review. Personally I think the story line on screen was beautifullly acted but the storyline itself was too far.