Chapter eighteen: A strong fighter

She'd met men before. She'd met dozens of strong men as well. However, none of them were as strong as Thomas Michael Shelby. Truly, the man had a will power and spirit that wouldn't break, no matter how much pressure he was under.

She and Ada had managed to get him into the car and Thomas stayed conscious, long enough to get to the hospital. He was immediately rushed to surgery and it had been a long, dark night. Kate had stayed with Ada in the hospital, waiting for the rest of the family to show up and they had. Kate had a bad feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she'd be in the hospital because of some event involving Thomas Shelby. When the doctor came out, everyone received the news of his condition with alarm. It had been bad; the concussion and internal bleeding weren't the worst, but the skull fractures were.

Polly and Arthur had instantly demanded that she stay on his private nurse and she'd agreed. The doctor was reluctant, but she'd promised to stay out of his way. Considering Thomas was to be stuck flat on his back, with his head raised, he'd be glad of the company somewhat. He was Thomas Shelby, which meant, he hated being in a weak and vulnerable position.

There were a ton of little things, such as bathing and helping Thomas relieve himself, which made the first week extremely awkward between them. Then, he had his first nightmare and Kate had instantly given him a shot before he injured himself worse. The nightmares were awful, but she stayed seated by his side, holding his hand tightly until it passed. Slowly, they became less frequent and Thomas was relieved when they removed the neck brace two months later.

Then, he began pushing for the next step, he wanted to start walking. She disagreed with the doctor to allow it, but he did, because he expected Thomas wouldn't be able to get up. Thomas did though. The doctor immediately told him that standing was enough for one day and Thomas had sat back down on his bed, a fury on his face. The moment, the doctor had left, Thomas had forced himself to stand on his own.

She remembered dropping her book on the floor and standing up. "Thomas Michael Shelby, you've stood! You don't need to start walking."

"Yes," he takes a step forward with an exhale. Kate grabs a hold of his hand firmly. "I do."

"God, you're such a stubborn man." he says nothing as he takes a few more steps forward. Thomas's legs buckle and he starts to go down. "I've got you."

"Let me go."

"No." Kate went down with him, supporting his head as he hits his knees. "I've got you."

"F**king hell," he bellows in frustration. "don't do that again!"

"Yes, I will do it again because I'm not letting you go." He looks up at her, exhaustion in his blue eyes. "We're in this together."

That was the moment they both became friends.

During the next two months, their relationship changed. They talked a lot, got to know each other a bit better. Thomas was still grumpy, but, she found that she knew how to make him smirk, which she was starting to count as a smile. He listened to her as she read aloud and they discussed various books together. Thomas hadn't finished school, but he had a quick and inquiring mind. They both enjoyed writers such as Jules Verne, Victor Hugo and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and even poets like Poe or Browning managed to hold his attention. She even brought a record player in to tune his ear to classical music, which he detested, until he heard the theme from Swan Lake. After that, he stopped quibbling over if it was Tchaikovsky or Bach. He didn't enjoy composers such as Ravel though, not explosive enough for him.

Then finally, almost five months after the brutal beating, Thomas was finally permitted to go back home. Kate was relieved to finally be able to return to a soft mattress and she'd fallen asleep almost instantaneously.

The following morning, she woke up late, but instantly refreshed and famished. The hospital food had been alright, but she'd been spoiled by the chef at the estate. After dressing quickly and braiding her hair, she hurried down to the breakfast table. It was empty, well, aside from two breakfast places. One for her and one for Thomas, who was lying back in his chair, smoking a cigarette.

When she enters the room, he looks up at her and nods his head at her while she says cheerfully. "Good morning." He shrugs at her. "Not for you, I guess. Oh well, you'll feel much better if you eat first, smoke later."

"Not hungry."

"You're not hungry." She states as she sits down on his left side. "Oh, how's this? I don't care." He rolls his eyes at her as she butters the toast and sets it in front of him. "You need to eat." He blows the smoke in her face. She snatches it from his hand and puts it out on the table. He shoots her a look. "Eat."

He sits up and reaches for his cigarette case. She takes it casually out of his hand and sets it to her left, out of his reach. "Remind me again. Why'd your husband…ever marry you if you're so damn bossy?"

"Because he loved me." She says with a smile. "Besides, Grace put up with your tantrums and moods." He glowers slightly at her. "That's what love is, we love the flaws as well as the perfection, don't we?"

He nods. "Indeed."

At that moment, Mary walks in with the paper. "Good morning Mary."

"Good morning Kate, nice to see you back."

"Good to be back." She says as she takes a forkful of scrambled eggs. "Oh, I've been dreaming about these for months."

Thomas glances at her out the corner of his eye as she moans in pleasure. "Doesn't sound like it's just eggs, you've been dreaming about."

"Hmm, let me enjoy these." She takes another forkful. "How's Charlie been?"

"Very good, he's running now."

"He asked for me today, Mary." Thomas states as he looks longingly at his cigarette case, out of reach. "Not his mother; for the first time."

"He missed you." Mary supplies with a smile. "He missed you as well Kate. Kept calling for kitty."

"Where is he?" Thomas inquires. "Is he in the kitchen?"

"Yes, he's with the girls and Johnny."

Kate frowns. "John's here?"

Thomas shakes his head. "Business."

"Did you remember your medicine, Sir?" Mary inquires before

"Do you ever read the bible Mary?"

Something in his tone causes her to frown. "Thomas." She warns while reaching for her teacup. Being stuck with him on a day-to-day basis, made her aware of his behavior and she just knows that something inappropriate is going to come out of his mouth.

"Sometimes." Mary doesn't see it.

"Do you ever read it out loud while standing naked to my bed?" Kate chokes on her tea, dropping the cup and hacking against the droplets. Thomas pats her on the back. "Cause when I take the morphine the doctor gave me, that's what you do." Mary looks just as mortified as a person could be. "I'm wide awake, but you're standing there naked, plain as day, reading from the book of Leviticus."

"Enough!" Kate stares at him in shock. "I'm sorry Mary, the morphine causes hallucinations at times."

"Do you want to know what happens next?"

"No, she doesn't!" Kate half-shrieks.

"No. Neither do I… that's why I poured the medicine away. Go get Charlie Mary."

Mary nods and walks stiffly out of the room. "You're a real bastard at times, Thomas Shelby."

"Do you want to know what I see you do," Kate drops her fork. "when I take the morphine?"

"No, I do not!" She bites tightly. "And considering I've been taking care of you, you will do me the courtesy of sparing me the details!"

He smirks at her. "As my lady wishes."

"I'm not your lady. Now eat your toast before I shove it down your throat myself!"

He blinks and reaches for the toast. "Do you know, the tips of your ears turn pink when you're angry?"

"No, but you blink whenever you've lost an argument."

"No, I f**king don't."

Kate rolls her eyes as she reaches for her tea. "Just shut up and eat."

He smirks at her, one of these days he'll smile at her, she just knows it. In addition, he did eat his toast. He actually ate his eggs without protesting and Kate allowed him to leave the table. Of course, Thomas would state that he left of his own accord, but, she knew better. Over the course of his hospitalization, their roles of 'employer' and 'employee' had rather gotten mixed up. Charlie had run straight up to his father first, which made her smile, then he'd come over to her. Thomas, didn't seem to have a problem with it and she hoped he didn't, since there was a bond between her and Charlie forming.

Twenty-five minutes later, Kate found him out in the garden…with a bottle of whiskey. "Thomas Michael Shelby, you shouldn't be drinking."

"I'm not taking the morphine Kate, it's perfectly harmless."

"Hmm," she looks at his half-full glass and up in the sky. "it's not even noon."

"Doesn't mean a man can't enjoy a glass."

"Indeed. I have a question for you."

He nods as he opens his eyes, his gaze dropping to the greens in her hand. "What is that?"

"Wild lettuce, or lactuca virosa. I pulled out one of my books on herbs and discovered that I can make it into a syrup. It's bitter, but the most effective. I can also dry it out and you can have it as a tea or smoke it. If you take it as a tea, you can have it to help you sleep at night."

"Looks like an f**king weed."

"Looks can be deceiving." She reminds him. "You try this or you go back to the morphine."

He's silent for a moment before stating. "If I take the morphine, I'll go back to dreaming of you at my feet-

"For God's sake, Thomas Shelby!" she snaps as her cheeks heat red. "I do not need a peek inside your mind! So, is it the morphine or the tea?"

He's silent for a moment before stating. "I'll try the tea."

"Thank you!" She inhales deeply. "I'll prepare it myself."

"Don't trust the cook?"

"I trust the cook, just not with herbs and I shall try not to succumb to the temptation to poison you myself!"

"If you do, I'll haunt you to your dying days."

She snorts. "I doubt God will let you."

"Who the hell is this one?" Thomas turns his head slightly, while she whirls around. The man had come out of nowhere.

Thomas shrugs. "This is just Kate, Johnny."

"Kate who?"

"Webber." She adds.

"Ah, so, who are you to Tommy?"

"His private nurse and nanny to his son."

"Oh," he looks slightly confused. "my mistake." She frowns slightly. "Sorry, I just, thought you two were a couple."

Kate and Thomas glance at each other briefly before making a face and shaking their heads. "No f**king way, Johnny."

Kate nods. "Wouldn't take up with him if he were the last man on earth." She turns. "I'll leave you two to your business, I'll go make that tea. And," Kate takes the bottle with her and walks swiftly away from them. "no more alcohol, Thomas Michael Shelby!"

"Christ," Thomas groans. "that woman never shuts up."

"Dunno," Johnny says. "she's quite a looker. You think she'd-

"No, Johnny." Thomas practically growls. "Just think of her as Ada."

"She looks nothing like Ada. Don't talk to you like Ada does either. The girl probably just cares for you."

"Just, sit down Johnny, we've got business to discuss."

She should have known. Back in his house for barely a day and he's already back into his old way of life. Nothing, was going to bring down or hold Thomas Shelby back.

And Johnny was right. She did care for him. As a friend, nothing more. At least, that's what she'd been telling herself for the last few days.

Idcam: Well, I am warming up to something, can't say what, obviously, but it'll be good.

MeriemDjez: I know, it is a little weird to see them somewhat civil towards each other now.