Chapter Eight: Joannie


Kate bites her lip as she steps towards him. Thomas is angry, but keeping his emotions somewhat in check. "I don't want to fight with you Kate."

"But we're going to."

Thomas exhales deeply. "Can we agree to try not to fight?" Kate nods. "Good." He extends his hand to the booth opposite him. "Have a seat Kate." Kate nods and sits uneasily down opposite him. Thomas exhales and sits down opposite her. He laces his fingers together and attempts to pin her down with that cold stare of his. "I don't think you're aware of the situation with my sister and Freddie Thorne."

"I am actually." She clears her throat. "I examined your sister, she's fine by the way and she told me everything." He reaches into his pocket for a cigarette. "She's a very lucky woman," Thomas nearly crushes the cigarette in his hand. "to have a man love and care for her that deeply."

"That's irrelevant." He says tightly. "What I called you in here for was to say, even though you helped my sister today. You're not family. So I'd appreciate it if you could mind your own business."

"I can't!" Kate admits, causing him to arch his brow in surprise. Not that she blamed him. It was probably the first time a woman actually admitted that she couldn't mind her own business. "When a pregnant woman, comes hobbling into a pub, asking for help, it becomes my business. I can't look the other way like others do."

"Try it some time." He says tersely as he lights his cigarette. "We'd probably fight less."

"I doubt that." she leans forward slightly. "Outside of your disapproval to Freddie's choice in politics, how can you possibly object to the marriage?"

"Freddie Thorne," Thomas leans forward, pointing at her. "is clearly using Ada."

Kate shakes her head. "I disagree. I saw how those two were with each other." Thomas snorts. "The man adores your sister and she loves him."

"Love?" he snorts. "Ada is young and foolish."

Kate shakes her head. "They've loved each other for twelve years. This clearly isn't something they rushed in to. I told Ada that I think she made the right choice." Thomas chokes on his cigarette and he mashes is out on the table. "Grace is going to have to clean that up you know."

"How dare you." he bites out. "How dare you tell her such a thing? Damn you to hell!" he shouts, causing Kate to groan.

"Here we go again." she snaps at him. "What do you want for her?" Thomas stares at her. "What kind of man did you want her to marry?"

"Not him." he snaps back.

"Who then? Was there anyone she was supposed to marry?" no answer from him. "Freddie was your best friend for years. Saved your life in France."

"Don't, you go there." he shouts. "Don't go there."

"Since you won't acknowledge the life debt you owe him, you could at least allow them to live their life in peace."

"Believe me, I acknowledge the debt. It's the only reason he's still alive." he stands up and glowers down at her. "She'll have no life with a man on the run."

"That's her choice. She knew what she was getting into when she married him. No one said love would be easy."

"There's more to it than that." he snaps. "I promised I'd run Freddie out of town. I made a deal with the police. They'll put Ada on an arrest warrant with him."

"For better or for worse." Kate says as she recites the vow. "Again, it's her choice, not yours."

"God, you're a meddler."

"I am. However, you, you're worse. You're a horrible person Mr. Shelby."

"I'm a horrible person?" he shouts. "My sister is pregnant and living in a basement. Hidden away from her family and civilization!"

"It's a temporary thing. You know they're going to have a hard life and here you are making things harder for them." she inhales. "I know you're protective of your sister, but you need to let her go." He rolls his eyes. "She will need help and you don't want to alienate them so much that she winds up in a situation and feels like she can't come to you for help."

"Why are you so invested in this?" he demands. "There's something you're not telling me and now you're going to tell me."

"No." she shakes her head. "It's personal." Thomas is out of his seat in a flash. Kate jumps up, hoping to get away from him, but he's too quick. "Let me go!"

Kate fights to get free, but he has her around the waist. In one move, he's pinned her against the wall and he's restrained her wrists. "You owe me, for saving your life." the blood drains out of her face. "You owe me a favor, so tell me."

"You want to know?" she shouts. "Fine! I'll tell you! My fiancée was murdered on our wedding day!" Thomas face flashes with shock. "I was just saying 'I do' when someone shot him in the head! He was dead before he hit the ground and I didn't even get to take his name." The anger drains away from Thomas's face and she sees something akin to sympathy in his eyes. This confession, for some reason, isn't as painful as she thought it would be. It was almost as if she wanted to tell him. "I wasn't permitted to go to his funeral by his family. All I have is this ring and letters we wrote during the war. I have nothing left!"

"Kate-

"You're just like my father!" she snaps. "Trying to control everyone's lives and to hell with other people's feelings. It's alright for you not to feel any emotions, but heaven help anyone else who dares to feel something for someone who isn't part of your plan."

"Kate!"

"I've always wondered what happened to the men I patched up and put together." Her emotions are now out of control and she can't stop the following words from coming out of her mouth. "But if they turned out anything like you…I'd have rather have let them rot to death in France!" That's when Thomas slammed her wrists on either side of her head, pinning her further against the wall. "Now's when you hit me, proving to me you're every inch the dictator my father is!"

"God, you're the most maddening woman I've ever met!"

"And you're the most pigheaded and stubborn man I've ever met in my life!"

For a moment, they just stand there, staring at each other. They're both furious and breathing hard, but…there's something else between them. Kate can't quite pin it down; it was almost like…attraction. However, she shook that thought out of her head quick enough. She was not attracted to Thomas Shelby, nor could she be. Besides, they were arguing! Where did attraction even fit into the equation? She could feel his breath on her face; they were standing that close to each other.

"Why?" She asks softly. "Why can't you just let your sister be happy? She loves him and she still loves her family. If you make her choose, it's going to be him over you. Don't lose her like this."

Thomas says nothing. He just continues to stare at her. No, it's more than a stare. It's as if he's trying to read what's written on her very soul. "What's going on here?" they both turn to see Arthur standing in the doorway. Kate is glad for the interruption; she wasn't sure what would have happened in a few more seconds. Arthur steps towards them. "Let her go Tom. Now."

"I'm alright." she says as Thomas releases her wrists.

"Get out of here." Thomas snaps. "I don't want to see you back in here for a week!"

His harsh words cause the anger to rise in her again. "Fine with me!"

Kate turns and walks out of the room, head held high, but her legs are trembling. As she passes the bar, she observes half a bottle of whiskey on the counter. She reaches into her waistband for her purse, plops an amount down on the counter and takes the bottle.

"Kate." Harry says as he hurries towards her. "Wait a minute."

"If I owe you more, I'll cover it tomorrow."

And with that, she swishes out of the Garrison pub. She can hear Arthur and Thomas arguing in the back. She hadn't had a drink since coming back from the war. Now, thanks to that man, she was going to indulge in that horrible habit again.


Shariebery: It could, but not in this chapter. I thought about it, but it meant scrapping the next chapter which is too funny not to publish.

Idcam: He certainly didn't think she'd think him being there was odd. This wasn't one of their more spectacular fights, but, it sets the stage for the next one.