Chapter two

So first of all, thank you for your comments! I am so happy that you've taken the time to tell me what you think and that you feel like giving this a shot. It seems like my muse is giving me little something something so let's hope this continues ;)

(Year 1919)

For Lainey, life continued much the same way even though the boys were back. She still were the one to fix breakfast, only she made it for more people. She still went to the clinic to work for dr. Hemsey, and realised with the return of the men they had a lot more to do. There were more aches, more cuts and there were a lot of them who were troubled. They came in, looking like the devil was on their tails. Big dark bulging eyes, at times covered in stress as they looked around themselves in paranoia. There weren't much the doctor could do for those with no visual wounds, so instead Lainey usually sat with them. The first few men looked at her sceptically and muttered that "a wee lass like ye wouln' understand" but Lainey would look at them and say in the same tone she used on Finn and the kids:

"I don't need to understand. As long as you talk about it, it will make more sense to you." Some would scoff and with a look at dr. Hemsey they would storm out. They were usually the older men, but the younger ones would crumble at the tone. Dr. Hemsey called it her 'maternal gift.' But the news spread. Aunt Polly was right, men gossiped even worse the women.

Pretty soon her days were full. She never charged for the 'talks' as she called them. First of all she felt that she didn't have the right to since she were only listening, maybe presenting a question to make them think forward, but secondly; she didn't want them to stop coming just cause they didn't have enough money to spare. It wasn't right. Dr. Hemsey only looked at her when she asked if it was alright, but also clarified that she wouldn't stop with the talks, she would only try to have them at other times on the day. Dr. Hemsey had just given her a soft paternal smile, and patted her hand.

"You're a good girl." And that was that.

She had her favourites as well. Her latest one was Danny Whizz-Bang. He was one of the worst ones. But such a gentle man. Almost child-like. He talked much of "his lovely Rosie" who he loved so much, and who he felt so bad for coming back to. He ruined their home with his episodes. He drank too much. He couldn't keep a job. There was so many things that made him get confused, and his violent episodes. It was actually because of one of his episodes that landed him at dr. Hemsey's clinic.

Danny had been dragged inside by two older gents, mr Grayes and Nugget, and plopped down in the examination chair. Lainey scanned all three men, and knocked at the door to dr. Hemsey's office.

"Dr, you have a patient. Now mr Grayes, Nugget, let me take a look at those cuts while the doctor examines your friend here." The men relaxed and Nugget gave her a smile while they sat down. He was always a flirt, said it kept his marriage interesting.

"The wifey is a jealous type" he'd bragged with a dirty grin.

Mr Grayes however was a moody man. He was kind, but it had taken several meets were he'd walked inside, been met by her comforting smile and extended hand to a chair and he'd just left with a grumble. The first actual conversation had been the day when Lainey had met him at the door by placing her hands at her hips and frowning at him.

"Would you feel more comfortable in the doctor's office? If you want I can run down to the Garrison and buy us a pint?" The man had grumbled but when he realised she'd been serious he'd stared at her shrewdly.

"Can I smoke?" Lainey pursed her lips but nodded shortly and then swung a hand towards the door and then left to get those pints. Harry behind the desk had first argued and said that drinks don't leave the bar, but when Lainey had reminded him that he "could argue about this with her or with Polly" he'd sighed and then handed her a pint and then another glass of gin with plenty of tonic.

Mr Grayes had been standing by the window smoking, and looked at her blankly as she sat down the two drinks on the desk, closed the door and then sat down in the visitors chair and crossing her legs. After that, mr Graynes brought his own pint and came by ones a week.

"Now then Danny, what was it today?" dr. Hemsey asked as he looked over the cuts on his hands and his temple. Danny sat shaking, and mumbling, looking around the room until he landed on Lainey who stood smiling at Nugget's flirting and with mr Graynes next to the window smoking.

Danny didn't respond to dr. Hemsey's question, instead kept looking at the young woman who gently fixed the cuts on Nugget's knuckles.

"Are you her?" Lainey looked up with a small smile. It comforted him.

"Hmm?" She asked softly, calming the three men. Dr. Hemsey shook his head in wonder.

"Can you fix me?" Danny asked in a desperate tone and Lainey felt her eyes soften and with a pat to Nugget's hand she walked up to Danny with a sweet smile.

"Let's start with small talk. We'll see what happens after that. I hear you're married, I bet she's beautiful?" Danny grinned and nodded with a love-sick sigh that made Lainey giggle.

"My lovely Rosie is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

Aunt Polly's and Ada's everyday-life took quite a spin though. To aunt Polly's dismay and to Ada's happiness. They were no longer needed at the shop now that the men were back. They walked right in and took back and over their previous places. Aunt Polly still managed to stay on the side, advising the boys and keeping an eye out for them. Ada hadn't wasted any time and started up with Freddie as quickly as she could. Lainey understood her reasoning, Ada was in love. But she was also a very spoiled little girl who showcased her naivety.

Freddie had quickly made enemies since his return. Stirring up trouble. It would probably catch up to him sooner rather then later.

It was about now Ada and Lainey really started to grow apart, and how Lainey's roll in the Shelby household had started to change. She no longer felt like family. Tommy was very clear about that. She wasn't family. He wasn't outwardly rude to her, or mean, but he didn't have to be obvious about it to get his message across.

Every evening Lainey stood in the kitchen, making dinner for the family. Often talking to John with little Mal by her legs joking and listening to his mumblings. This evening as she stood stirring the stew she'd made the table was occupied by a muttering aunt Polly who sat crinkling the newspaper with a glass of whiskey in hand. As she sighed she looked to the young girl and actually looked at her.

Lainey had grown.

Polly didn't really know when it had happened. Maybe she hadn't kept track of it as much as she'd had with Ada. But then again, she'd had to with Ada. Lainey was a good girl. Who'd taken the hard goings and made sure to make it a little better. Lainey took care of the family. That was one of the things that Polly sometime felt that Ada wouldn't understand. Ada would always feel like she was a part of the family and therefore be taken care of like one the family. But Lainey tried to take care of people without wanting people to take care of her.

Polly had more then once been approached by hesitant wives on the street with baskets of small things. A loaf of bread, maybe some pitiful vegetables. Things hadn't been the same between Lainey and the Shelby's for about a week after Polly being confronted by one of the wives.

"Ms Shelby, we want to give thanks to your girl, miss. She's helped my Albert so. It's not much but it's a little to show our thanks." At first Polly had frowned. The woman must have felt frightened and hurried to explain further.

"Your girl, at dr. Hemsey's office, apparently she's good at making the men talk of their worries." Polly's expression had darkened and hurried home to confront the young woman, looking so innocent at the counter listening to young Finn tell her about his day and how much his brothers trusted her.

"Lainey-"

"You fucking whore!" Both Lainey and Polly swung around at the murderous words and in stormed the two elder Shelby brothers followed by John who was clenching his jaw around his toothpick. Lainey looked in confusion at Arthur who was almost frothing at the mouth in his anger as he stared at her.

"You shameful fucking whore. How dare you shame this family? We are the fucking Shelby's! How fucking dare you spit on everything we've done for you?!" Lainey was shaking her head in fear and gripped the counter behind her as she looked at Arthur.

"I haven't-"

"Finn." Polly interrupted and the young boy looked out from behind Laineys skirts at his aunt.

"Go upstairs to your room." Finn gripped Laineys skirt and was about to protest when Lainey put a hand on his head and nudged him to his aunt.

"Go on Finn, you should probably fix that room of yours." Polly was proud to note that there were almost no shakiness to her voice, only the kind of soothing she usually saved for the kids when they were worried or had been hurt. The small boy looked at the grown ups and started towards his room.

"Don't hurt her Tommy. Or I will never help you again" he told his older brother who merely exhaled through his cigarette while Polly smirked and took a step forward.

"Now-" she looked at Lainey who's eyes had now shifted from the pacing Arthur, resembling a mad dog, to the very calm Tommy who stood staring at her with his cold eyes "-why don't we start again."

"She's a fucking whore, lying to our faces. And she's out of this house before I kill her!" Arthur boomed. Lainey stood shaking her head, looking between Polly and Tommy.

"I haven't done anything! I don't know what he's talking about aunt Pol'!" Tommy took another drag and let it out.

"Arthur." The older man looked to his brother and growled but kept quiet.

"Me and Arthur was approached by a young lad, wanting to thank us with a gift for the time he was allowed with you, helping him with his problems." Tommy took a step closer and looked at her stonily.

"So tell us the truth now Lainey, so we can be done with this." Lainey shook her head again, she was almost getting dizzy at the repetitive movement.

"You've gotten it all wrong! I don't do that. They come to dr. Hemsley's office to talk to me." The men scoffed and felt even more anger at the fact that the old doctor was in on it.

"They talk of their times in the war Tommy." The kitchen got silent and Tommy looked back into those beseeching eyes. He was reminded of the time when she was seven and he was eighteen. Such a long time ago.

"What?" John said and Polly sighed while Lainey finally started crying.

"I sit and listen and talk to them while they talk about their experiences from the war." She whispered and heard Arthur slump down at the table. Polly took a step closer to Lainey who was still shaking and crying.

"They came back so troubled, and no one wants to listen. It's just shoved in a box and out they are supposed to go and continue like before. But they can't. They shouldn't have to! Horrible things happened to them, and they need someone to listen." She sniffled and glared up at Tommy.

"I've never done anything like.. that! And I won't stop with my talks either. I am helping" she bit at him and Polly put a hand on her shoulder and looked to the boys.

"I was approached today by one of the wives. She wanted to thank me for Lainey's help. How many wives would thank a woman for sleeping with their husband" Polly glared at Arthur when he and John laughed and muttered "more wives should."

Lainey looked at Tommy and then to aunt Polly while she untied her apron.

"The fish is in the oven and the potatoes are ready. Don't forget to mix in the peas in the potatoes for the kids, otherwise they won't eat them." John raised his head and frowned. Polly also startled and Tommy gave her a new kind of glance.

"Wha- where are you going love?" John asked and Lainey laughed and wiped her hands on her skirt and reached for her coat.

"Well, now that we've established that I'm not a fucking whore-" Lainey sneered and made the other occupants startle, Lainey never spoke like that "-I am going out for a walk. If I can be trusted to not shame this family. Since you are the fucking Shelby's."

With that she stormed out, knocking into Tommy as she left and didn't see him look after her with a thoughtful and almost worried expression.