Chapter 43: A Pain Laid Bare

A/N: My second to last chapter. I won't be doing an author's note or a warning on the final chapter so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has reviewed or added me to lists. Truly it makes my day. This is for every last one of you guys and thank you SO MUCH!!! Keep an eye out for more from me in the future. I've got a full length Nancy/Dodger fic coming relatively soon. And again thank you to all who have read, you made this worth while.

Warning: Contains Violence, Swearing, Pain.

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Bill was not at all in a good mood the day following his job. He grumbled over breakfast, complaining how Nancy could not fix a meal to save her life. He complained through the afternoon, that the sun was too bright and the house was too messy and his life was too awful. He was in an awful mood straight into the evening when he intended to go to Fagin's and get the cash. Nancy simply stayed out of his way, the last thing she needed was another black eye to lie to the gang about. If he complained about something she did her very best to fix it, quickly and silently.

"Well, are you coming?"

"Coming where?" Nancy asked mildly as she straightened up the kitchen after dinner.

"Don't be daft woman, to Fagin's! I've got to get the cash," he said as if spelling it out for a two year old. Then he muttered morbidly under his breath "Not that there'll be enough." Nancy ignored his mumblings and quickly wrapped her tattered shawl around her shoulders. The thing was so old she was surprised it had yet to fall to pieces.

"Of course Bill," she said trying to smile. It was absolutely frigid outside which struck Nancy as odd considering they were nearing spring. Dusk was painting the horizon an inviting color of gold as they walked in silence through the street. Nancy couldn't help but wonder as to what had put Bill in such a foul mood, it wasn't as though the job had been unsuccessful. In fact he'd woken her up when he came back in just from all the clanking of assorted odds and ends in his pocket. Which she didn't mind at all. The old habit of enjoying knowing he was home safe regardless of the time had yet to die. Finally the pair of them ascended the stairs to Fagin's place, a smile on Nancy's face to deeply contrast the frown on Bill's.

"Now then?" A voice demanded from inside after Bill knocked. Nancy was about to utter the password when Bill growled out angrily at the door.

"Just open the damn door Dodger." Instantly the rotting wood swung aside and Bill bounded up the steps. Dodger closed the door behind Nancy and gave her a concerned look. She simply shook her head silently as if to inform him it was better to just dismiss Bill's ill temper. Dodger sighed and followed her up the steps where Nancy took notice of the fact that Bill and Fagin were already going at it.

"Now Bill I-"

"Fagin. I risked my hide for this stuff and I want my cash!"

"You'll have it Bill," the old miser was reassuring him quickly, already cowering under Bill's fury. "Honest."

"Honest?" Bill demanded. "And when 'ave you ever been honest once in yer life you old bag of bones! I want the cash tonight I say."

"I have to price it first Bill, make sure everything's-"

"Listen to me you old fence," Bill said taking Fagin by his collar and raising him so his feet dangled above the dirt blackened floor. "If I don't get my cash tonight it'll be your neck!"

"Bill!" Nancy cried alarmed. She knew what it felt like, every sting, every blow, and she wasn't about to watch it happen to the only person to ever protect her in her life. "Leave 'im be, 'e says he'll get it to ya."

"Stay out of it Nance," Bill warned darkly. The tone in his voice was enough to make the most staunch hearted man in the world cower but Nancy stood strong against him.

"But 'e's done nothin' to you Bill. Leave 'im be. If he says he'll 'ave you the cash then he'll 'ave it to you simple as that."

"Nancy," Bill warned.

"Bill you're hurting him. Put 'im down before-" But Nancy's sentence was cut short by Bill dropping Fagin and backhanding her across the face. She cried out as she staggered back into a wall, tears already brimming her eyes.

"I told you to stay the hell out of it," he growled menacingly. He looked around at the boys, the ones who had idolized him, and how they looked at him in terror. Unnerved Bill turned to Fagin pointedly. "My cash Fagin, by noon tomorrow or you'll be sorry." And with that, Bill Sikes walked out the door.

Dead silence echoed around the flat as Nancy clutched at her cheek which was throbbing in pain. There wasn't an eye in the flat that wasn't trained on her. Dodger and Charley, her dearest friends in the world, both looked ready to cry. She looked up at every one of them, shame and guilt racking her body. That was it then, the boys would never again believe she'd done something stupid like falling down the stairs. Now they knew the full truth of the life she'd chosen to lead.

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When Nancy awoke the next morning it was to a grumpy boyfriend, a sore face, and a broken heart. Everything about the day seemed to contradict the way she felt. The sun was up, the birds were singing, and somewhere in a workhouse, a boy was asking for more.