Chapter: Somewhere in Between

Thomas brakes in front of Doctor Blake's small weekend clinic. He tries the door, but finds it locked. He peers through the glass window before suddenly kicking the door open, causing her to jump in surprise.

She stares at him as he yells to someone inside the building. "Where's the doctor?" he demands.

"You can't just-

"Where is he?" he shouts, causing everyone in the street to jump. Kate supports her waist as she gets out of the car and heads up the stairs, gasping with each step.

"Sir, I'm going to ask you to," Thomas ignores the startled secretary and heads towards the back room. "You can't go in there!"

"Thomas," he spins around and approaches her. "just wait a minute."

"You shouldn't be walking." He rumbles as he picks her up. "You're injured."

The back door opens and there's Doctor Blake holding an apple. "I should have known it was you Mr. Shelby."

"Some woman attacked Kate in the street." He says as he approaches Doctor Blake, turning sideways so she doesn't bang her legs on the wall. "She thinks she has a broken rib."

"You owe me a new door." he states calmly as he heads back to the room. "Bring her in."

"I don't like him." Thomas huffs as he heads into the examination room.

"You'll like me less in a few seconds." Doctor Blake states. "Put her down and then go wait in the examination room."

"No."

"Yes, you will leave. If her ribs are broken, I will have to examine her after I bandage her ribcage."

"You will not-

"Thomas," Kate pleads. "please, go wait outside."

"But Kate-

"He knows what he's doing. Please. I need some privacy right now."

He exhales deeply. "If that's what you wish."

Kate nods. "It's what I need. I'm sorry." He sighs and heads out, slamming the examination door. "God!"

"I'm assuming, he still doesn't know he's a father yet?"

Kate nods. "I just…haven't found the right moment."

"Unbutton your blouse please." Kate nods and does as he asks. She holds her breath as he leans over her to examine her ribcage. Kate inhales sharply against the pain as he touches her. "Breathe." She nods, closing her eyes as she inhales and exhales. He runs his hand along the deep purple area. "Your rib isn't broken. It's badly bruised, but that should be healed in three to four weeks. I recommend you stay home."

"Is my baby alright?" she asked. "I covered my stomach first."

The doc nodded. "Yes, I can see that you protected your abdomen, so, all should be well. There's not even a mark." Kate exhales and covers her eyes as the tears she'd been holding back flowed down her cheeks. "At least one good thing came out of this Mrs. Shelby. You now know how you feel about having this baby."

She inhales and nods. "Yes."

He chuckles. "Good, you can button up your blouse now." He heads over to his medicine cabinet and hands her a small tin. "Here's a witch hazel salve, it'll help."

"Thank you." she tucks her blouse back inside her skirt waist.

"Is there any other areas I need to look?"

Kate shakes her head. "She got my arm, but, it's just a bruise."

"Good. Now, I'm going to go let that angry husband of yours in here." Kate laughs lightly as he heads to the door and opens it. She glimpses Thomas leaning against the wall, smoking his cigarette. "No smoking allowed." He points to the sign. "See?"

"And you can go-

"Thomas!" Kate says sharply, drawing his attention to her. "Put out the cigarette, now." Thomas glances around and sticks it in the fish bowl, causing Doctor Blake to sigh and pull the cigarette out of the bowl as Thomas hurries towards her. "You're such a child at times."

"Are you alright?" he asks as he sits beside her, his eyes running all over her.

She nods. "I'm fine, it wasn't too bad."

"She's got a bruised rib, a few cuts," Doctor Blake assured him. "but nothing serious. She should rest once she's home. Make sure she keeps ice on the rib, it'll help speed up the heeling."

Thomas nods as he lifts her up. "She'll do that doc. Come check on her tomorrow."

"May I remind you Mr. Shelby that I do have other patients?"

Thomas glowers at him. "Do they pay you as well as I do?"

"No, but sometimes, they need me more."

"Apologies, my husband is very overprotective of me. How about this?" Kate says. "I'll call you if anything feels out of the ordinary."

Doctor Blake nods. "Good. After all, you're a nurse. Please record your temperature and pulse. If you have trouble breathing, then let me know."

"I'll mail you a check doc." He heads out of the room. "I'm taking you home."

"Thomas, put me down. I am not an invalid!"

Thomas ignores her as he addresses the secretary. "I'll also have someone stop by to repair the door today."

She chuckles lightly as he walks carefully down the stairs. "You silly man," he stops and glowers at her as she caresses his face gently with her hand. "I won't break. Put me down for a moment, please."

"Why?" he asks suspiciously.

"Trust me." he hesitates but sets her down on the ground. Kate grips his coat lapels as she tugs him towards her and kisses him deeply. He runs his hand through her hair, which is hanging down around her shoulders. She wraps her hands around his waist as he breaks the kiss.

"Mrs. Shelby-

"I'm aright Mr. Shelby. Now, take me home." He takes her arm and leads her down the final step towards the car. He holds the car door open and gets her situated before hurrying around to his seat. Kate scoots closer towards him as he starts the car and heads back home.

"I'm sorry Kate. I wanted you to have a nice afternoon without any trouble."

"And, you gave me a good afternoon. I had a lovely time until that incident happened."

"Do you know why she did that to you?" he asks firmly.

"I do." Kate sighs. "The girl apparently has issues with you. You blinded her father, for some reason?"

He shrugs. "Possible, can't remember details."

"So, she had a vendetta and threw coffee on my dress."

Thomas glowers at her. "Is she a salesgirl at that store? If she is, I swear I'm gonna burn that store down."

"You'll do no such thing." He glowered at her. "The girl who attacked me was fired and left without any pay or résumé."

"That's not enough!" his anger was simmering. "You're my wife!"

"I say, it was enough." Her voice rises. "You cut her face Thomas! Let this be the end of this."

Thomas brakes the car in the middle of the street and turns towards her. "You're trying to make me into something I'm not! No one is going to attack my wife and get away with it!"

"You are free to be whatever you want! But please, don't ruin someone's life on my account. It was an attack on me and I've stated what I want to be done." she inhaled. "I love that store and I gave my word to the owner that you'd leave it intact."

"Damn you, Kate."

"Damn you too, Thomas Shelby." He glowers at her as all her suppressed worries came bubbling out. "I love you as I've never loved any man before in my life." he blinks in surprise. "What am I to do if something happens to you and I know it was because of me?"

"Kate-

"By God," she smacks his arm. "you saw what loosing Emmet did to me!" he catches her by her wrists. "If I were to lose you because of something that happened to me, I would never, ever forgive myself." She hiccupped as tears began trickling down her cheeks. "So please, just let it go!" He suddenly pulls her tightly against him as she holds onto him as if she's afraid he's going to slip away from her.

"I've got you," she lets out a shudder as she allows herself to cry, letting out the tension from the last two days. "I've got you Kate." He kisses her deeply and quickly before pulling her back against him, pressing kisses against her face. "You won't lose me Kate."

"How do I know that?" she asks him as he wipes away her tears. "No one knows that."

"It'll take a bullet to my head or heart to stop me and maybe, not even then." He holds her gaze. "Please…don't worry about me."

"I do worry about you, I worry about you because I love you." she snaps. "And I know you worry about me too. You're obsessive and overprotective," he opens his mouth to protest, but she cuts him off. "which I love and appreciate. For a long time…no one cared what happened to me and it's such a wonderful feeling to know that someone cares for me as deeply as you. And there are times…when the tension between us is so strong that it frightens me. I'm scared that if I lose you… I know that I'll never know or feel anything like this again in my life. I don't want know this feeling with anyone else but you."

He nods, seemingly without words for a moment before kissing her on her nose. "Let's get you home, my love." He exhales deeply as he pulls her into his side. "I'll let it go this once."

"Thank you." she exhales and wraps an arm around his waist.

He places his arm around her shoulder and holds her tight. "I've got you. I'm not letting you go Kate."

Angel029: The baby is alright.

Idcam: She's alright, but at least now she knows how she feels about having a baby!