Disclaimer: See chapter 1 please

Chapter 3

It was nearly night fall as the cart rolled onto the streets of London. Bill thanked the man and, climbing out of the cart, headed for Fagin's. It started to rain again but Bill felt more comfortable lost in the crowd of people than in the small town were he was easily discernable as a stranger. It wasn't long before he arrived at Fagin's. he limped up the stairs and knocked on the door.

"Password?" a voice called out.

"Plummy and slam." Bill answered and a moment later the door opened and he stepped inside. He looked around for the old fence and found him sitting by the fire. "Fagin." He said Limping over to the man.

"Bill!" exclaimed the Jew looking up in surprise. He noticed the limp and the man's unexpected return. "What happened?"

"Not here." Bill said, looking around at the many children that scurried about the large, ill lit room, performing various tasks for the old man.

"Alright, alright my dear." Fagin stood and led them into an adjoining room. "What happened?"

Bill sat down heavily on one of several chairs that were scattered around the room, rubbing his knee. "These two idiots tried to rob me, on that side road, you know the one."

The fence nodded and Bill continued.

"I ended up killin' on of 'em, not on purpose mind you, but it was him or me. I stabbed the other in the leg, the one that nearly broke my knee. I left 'em both there. I could barely walk so I didn't scout the job but made my way back 'ere." He said.

Fagin stood shaking his head.

"They're a couple of thieves apparently so I doubt that the other one 'ill go to the beaks." He finished.

Fagin scratched his chin thoughtfully as he walked to a nearby cupboard and pulled out a bottle of rum and a glass. He then sat down next to the robber, placing the objects on the table that stood between them. "'Ere Bill." He said pushing the bottle and glass toward the tired man who received it gratefully.

Bill poured himself a generous amount of the amber liquid and drained it off, repeating the process twice more before Fagin placed a hand over the glass.

"Bill listen to me a moment."

Bill looked the old man in the eye. "What?"

"If those men were thieves than I'm sure there will be no one looking for you. They wouldn't risk being caught themselves." Fagin reasoned. "Besides they don't know who you are."

Bill sat up straighter. "It was raining heavily."

"Exactly, and you won't be going back there, right my dear?"

"I have no reason too." Bill replied, running a hand through his hair. "Except on your business."

"Any business there can wait until this dies down my dear." Fagin assured the man, he saw Bill staring at the floor. "What's wrong Bill?"

Bill continued to stare at the floor boards.

"Bill?"

"Hmm … oh, nuthin' Fagin. I better get home to Nance." The distracted man stood to leave but paused at the room door. "How 'bout some blunt for my trouble."

Fagin knew it wasn't a question, he dug into his pocket, putting on the usual 'poor me' show, before handing Bill several pounds. Bill pocketed the money and headed out through the main room and into the street, leaving behind a disappointed and confused Fagin.

Bill made his way to the apartment he shared with Nancy in Spitalfields. The street lamps lit the wet and muddy road that led Bill to the crowded and seedy area that was home. He made his way up to the apartment and unlocked the door, he pushed but it wouldn't open, Nancy had obviously bolted it.

"Eh Nance." He called through the door. "Let me in."

He waited a moment, hearing a chair scrape across the floor and the soft sound of the woman's footsteps approaching and the bolt being drawn back.

"Welcome back Bill." She said as she opened the door and let Bill inside. "You're a day early."

"Aye." Bill said, leaning in and kissing the girl.

As she turned to lock the door back up Bill quickly limped over to a chair hoping that Nancy wouldn't notice.

"Bill."

But she did.

"What happened this time?" she asked as she made her way over to him.

He sat down and stretched out his injured leg. "I hurt my knee." He said simply, not wanting to tell her what actually had happened. Nancy kneeled down in front of Bill and looked into his yes before quickly looking away.

"Who was it this time?" she asked standing and walking to the window, her back to the man.

"It couldn't be helped Nance." Bill said, leaning on the table and palming his forehead. "They tried to rob me."

"They! You killed more than one person?" Nancy exclaimed in horror, turning on the man.

"No! No!" Bill said, nearly exasperated. "It was one man, I didn't mean to. He was pulling a gun Nance. I just hit him once!"

Nancy turned back to the window shaking her head in disbelief.

"They would have killed me Nancy, would you rather that had happened?" Bill said grabbing a glass and smashing it against the wall.

Both Nancy and Bill were silent, each mulling over their own thoughts for several minutes before Nancy spoke.

"I'm sorry Bill." She said, she walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I just worry about you … you don't want the traps after you … I don't know what I'd do without you" She wrapped her arms around the man's shoulders.

"I don't want ta talk about this anymore." Bill said, meaning the subject was closed for good. He already felt as though he had told her too much, never before had he ever felt the need to explain his actions to another but for some reason this was really weighing on him.

"Let me see your knee." Nancy said moving to kneel in front of Bill. She began rolling up his pant leg and when Bill didn't object she took that to mean he consented. His knee was as swollen and purple as it had been when he last checked that morning.

"Oh Bill." She sighed. "This must hurt terribly."

Bill didn't reply but when Nancy poked his knee he grimaced and swore. "It's sore alright!" he said angrily.

She stared at the banged up joint for a minute before rolling his pant leg back down. "I can't do anything for it Bill."

"I didn't expect you too." He replied.

She stood and went to the cupboard. "Are you hungry?"

Bill was about to answer in the negative but realized he hadn't eaten anything the entire day. "Yea." He was shocked at how preoccupied his mind had been. He watched as Nancy wandered through the small front room of their apartment gathering food and drink for him. She took a plate and ladle in hand as she went to the fireplace where a pot hung simmering over the flames of a small fire and scooped some beef stew onto the plate.

"Here you are." She said handing the plate to Bill prior to fetching a plate of bread and cheese and placing it on the table. She poured out two glasses of gin then, getting a plate of stew for herself, joined Bill at the table.

"Thanks Nance." Bill said through a mouth full of food.

Nancy smiled at the man in response. She could tell that the events of the past day were weighing heavily upon him, a fact that was very strange since Nancy had seen him after doing much worse things and he hadn't batted an eye. She knew better than to comment though.

After a meal eaten in virtual silence Bill announced he was heading to bed for the night. He stood and limped into their bedroom and, kicking off his boots, he flopped onto the mattress and fell asleep directly. Nancy closed the curtain that separated their bedroom from the rest of the apartment and busied herself with cleaning up after the meal. A soft knock at the door interrupted her work.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Fagin." Came the reply.

Nancy opened the door and let the old man enter. Fagin looked around for a sign of Bill and, seeing the curtain closed, inquired if the man was asleep.

"He is." Nancy answered closing the door. "Wot is it you want Fagin?"

"I'm a bit … are you sure he's asleep?" Fagin asked again.

Nancy pulled back the curtain revealing the sleeping form of the housebreaker sprawled across the bed.

Certain that Bill was indeed asleep Fagin ventured to continue. "He's actin' a bit strange don't ya think Nance?" Fagin asked, wringing his skinny hands together.

Nancy was a bit surprised with the question but had to agree. "He is."

"It's because of wot happened yesterday isn't it?" The Jew prodded.

"I believe so Fagin." Nancy replied. "He's never been bothered by this before."

"No he hasn't." Fagin agreed. "I just needed to be sure wot the problem was."

Nancy smiled at the old man, realizing what he was playing at. 'Ya thought he was mad at you, didn't cha?"

Fagin shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't sure Nance, Bill's not a person I wish to have mad at me, though to be sure." He looked over at the sleeping man. "He'll get over this, my dear, don't worry." He turned and let himself out, stopping just outside the door. "I'll be keeping a watchful eye out for trouble and I'll let you know if anyone's onto Bill." And with that he left.

Nancy closed the door and bolted it. She finished her tidying and crawled into bed with Bill. He sighed in his sleep, rolling closer to the girl. Nancy smiled and let herself drift off to sleep.