Chapter 11 - A War to Revisit

Weeks passed since he exposed his secret. Leaving was inevitable, but he never expected his family to reject him so harshly. Polly wanted to kept in touch, but Tommy wouldn't let letters fly in case they were intercepted. Sabini had succeeded his fascist goal; he broke up a family. Thomas Shelby had never felt so alone, even with Grace and Polly on his side. He returned to their temporary house. God knows he needed to fresh air, especially with his ever expanding middle. Thomas walked slowly through the threshold. One hand unconsciously resting below his new weight that unbalanced him until it dropped at the sight of his two brothers sitting in the living room. Grace stood next to the fireplace.

"What are you two doing here?" Thomas asked, prepping himself for an oncoming battle. He took his hat off and placed it on the table. "They came to see you," Grace said shyly. Arthur studied Thomas from his chair before speaking. "No, this, this isn't real," said Arthur. John looked downed at the floor. Thomas stared curiously at his brothers. "What isn't real?" he said perfectly aware of what Arthur meant. He put his hands in his pockets, making his middle more pronounced. A twinge of pain went though his back, but he didn't let his company see it.

"Why didn't you contact us?" asked John shyly.

"What do you mean 'why'? This ISN'T REAL." said Arthur.

"I did. I tried. This was the only way .."

"You didn't have to leave," John interrupted Thomas.

"He didn't have to leave because THIS ISN"T REAL! How could any of this be possible!" shouted Author. Thomas stared at his brothers frustrated. The pain in his back didn't want to go away and proceeded around his enlarged waist. He tried to conceal it. Grace seemed to notice.

"Furthermore! Why did YOU put HIM in charge of ME! What is the point of all this?! Especially NOW, when we need you the most?!" roared Authur as he stood up from his chair and advanced toward Thomas.

"Please stop," pleaded Grace.

"Is that all you care about. I put John in charge to look after you and the finances. You are still part of this company and technically you are in charge of it too!" said Thomas. Arthur tightened his jaw.

"I can look after myself .. "

"Like HELL you can!" shouted Thomas. The pain intensified. Sweat appeared on Thomas's forehead. He was shaky.

"Stop!" Grace persisted as she walked toward Thomas. John stood up as well once he realized his brother's condition failing.

"You didn't know what to do with yourself after I left!" Thomas yelled into Arthur's face. A black ring formed around his vision. Shovels echoed distantly.

"Then why the HELL did you LEAVE?!" Arthur roared back, pushing Thomas backwards.

"That's enough Arthur!" yelled John. The sound of the shovels grew louder. Sweet dripped from his face. Thomas grabbed the back of a chair for support.

"Well, that's the thing isn't it. Why … are YOU ... MY responsibility. I am not … your … father …" Thomas breathed as he fell to his side from exhaustion and pain. The stress claimed its toll. The shovels caved in, and then, there was nothing but darkness.

"I told YOU not to COME! I told you to STOP!" screamed Grace, "Now help me!"

She tried to grab him mid fall. Thomas had luckily collapsed on his side. However, he was overheating, and out cold. John rushed to help. Arthur stood motionless. He had never seen his brother weaken.

"Are you going to stand there gawking at him, or are you going to help?!" Grace ordered.

Arthur snapped out of his day comma. He removed his brother's coat then grabbed his arms. They all managed to pull him to the bed.

"Get some ice, and raise his legs." ordered Grace. Arthur went to get the ice. John propped his legs up on a pillow. Grace wiped his forehead.

"Here, give me that." she said as she pointed to s stethoscope on the desk. John handed it to her.

"What are you doing? What's wrong with him?" John asked nervously. She looked at him as she put the tool in her ears. "I believe he already told you, or at least tried." she said plainly. First, she unbutton the top part of his shirt to listen to his heart. Then, she continued to unbutton it, revealing his swollen belly.

"Jesus … what are you doing?" John said shockingly. Arthur noticed the interaction, but chose to wait outside the door. Squeamish fear got the best of him. Grace looked over at John.

"I'm checking on the baby." she said. "Jesus …" said John as he nervously rubbed his forehead.

"It's nothing to be afraid of John." Grace said.

"My brother is pregnant .. ok. That's what you are telling me right now. Not my sister which would make a whole lot more sense. But no, my brother … is," he said as he nervously paced in the corner of the bedroom.

Arthur sat outside listening.

"Yes, he is, and whether anyone here likes it or not, including Thomas himself, he's going to need his family's help more than ever," she said. John looked stunned as if someone had slapped him across the face.

"Thomas never asks for help, or opens up to anyone for that matter, but he's going to have to if he wants him and our child to live." John didn't know what to do with those words. "Look, come here." Grace said softly. She put the stethoscope in his ears. Startled, he carefully took them. Then she put the round part in his hand and guided it over to his brother. "Wow, wait, what are you doing?" John said as he backed away.

"Will you just do it for me … and for Tommy. This will prove your brother right." Grace said.

"Right about what?" said John.

"That he's having our baby," said Grace. John twitched at those words and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah, alright fine," he said finally. Arthur continued to listen. The ice melting away. Grace took John's hand with the tool again and placed it on Thomas's enlarged stomach. Thomas remained perfectly still in his temporary comma. There was a pause between them.

"Can you hear it?" she asked slightly concerned.

"Honestly … I don't know what to listen for." said John after some time.

"It should sound like a fast heart beat, or a flutter." said Grace eagerly.

"Yeah … I think I hear that … it's like a whooshing sound." said John.

"Yes, that's it!" she said as she took her turn listening. Smiling at the result, she put the tool away and placed her hands on his rounded abdomen. "What are you doing now? Are you a nurse now or something?" said John slightly laughing. "No, I'm just checking to make sure everything's alright. Given his condition as a male, it will take more of a toll on him." she said sadly. John sat down on the bed next to her. "Is that why he fell?" asked John.

"Most likely. The doctor who comes to check on him said that he shouldn't put too much stress on himself. It's not good for the baby, and given what he does for a living, stress is, everywhere." Grace explained. John began to understand. Arthur continued to listen from outside. He felt sick, and disturbed. The ice was nearly water. "That explains why he left … and why he had so many … appointments. I just thought he was doing business." John said sadly. "So you believe him now?" asked Grace. John looked at her. "Do I have a choice," he said, "but how … how is it going … to come out of him." Grace had a worried look on her face. "There is a new procedure … for women who can't give birth normally … they remove the baby from the abdomen surgically while they are under anesthetics." Grace explained.

"You mean … they are going to cut it out of him?!" John asked in an anxious yet quiet voice.

"Yes …" breathed Grace.

"He could die!" said John.

"He will die if we don't try." said Grace. Arthur left his seat and went back into the kitchen. On the verge of loosing his lunch, he opened the cabinets searching for whatever alcohol he could find. He grabbed himself a glass, but decided to drink from the bottle instead.