American Angel

Closed eyes

Scarlett woke up and could hardly move because of how sore she was. She couldn't move her shoulder because of the bullet wound. Polly laid some of Scarlett's clothes and ran her a bubble bath. Scarlett got her crutches and started walking to the bathroom. She was looking down as she walked and literally ran into Tommy.
"Sorry." She said with a raspy voice.
"Where are you going?"
"Polly ran me a bath." She said as she walked into the bathroom.
"I can help you get in."
"I don't need help getting in. I am more than capable. Thank you."
"Mhm." He said.
Scarlett was standing there trying to get her dress off, but couldn't because of her shoulder. Tommy was leaned against the door, watching in amusement. She sighed and looked at him after struggling.
"Can you take my dress off?" She said quietly.
He raised his eyebrows.
"Oh no. I'd rather stand here and watch you struggle." He said sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine. I can do it."
She started again and winced in pain. Tommy closed the door and walked over.
"Okay okay." He said.
He pulled her dress off and she stood there in a bra and underwear. She turned and looked at the brand on her side in the mirror.
"It's kinda hot." He mumbled.
"It will be once their whole family is dead and it has no meaning left."
He stared at her.
"Alright, well thanks for taking my dress off. You can go now." She added.
She reached back to take her bra off, but couldn't do that either.
"Still think you don't need help?" He asked.
"Just take the fucking bra off, Tom."
"Only because you asked so nicely." He said sarcastically.
She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. He unfastened the bra with one hand and stood behind her looking at the bruising.
"Okay close your eyes." She said.
He laughed.
"No seriously, close them."
"Scarlett, it's not like I haven't seen you naked before."
"Yeah, well it's different now, so."
He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Alright they are closed."
She held onto his arm as she took her underwear off.
"Okay can you please help me walk over and get in?"
"So you do know the word please?" He said with his eyes still closed.
"Alright keep your eyes closed."
"Scar, I can't walk with my eyes closed."
He opened his eyes and made eye contact with her. He helped her to the tub and was holding her waist. She held onto him with her good arm. She was standing against the tub looking into his eyes. She swallowed hard. Scarlett could fall into his eyes and never come back out. It was almost dangerous looking into them. He eventually helped her in the tub and never broke eye contact. She sunk down below the bubbles. All he could see was her collarbone and up. He went and sat on the chair in the corner of the bathroom and looked at her.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"Well...you will need help getting out."
"I can never get any peace." She said as she leaned her head back.
"There is no peace for people like us....not until—"
"We die." Scarlett said at the same time as him.
Tommy squinted his eyes at her.
"I don't think your fiancé would approve of this." Scarlett said with her eyes closed.
"I don't need permission to do things."
Scarlett opened one eye and looked at him and then shut it.
"So when is the wedding?" She asked.
"We don't have to talk about this."
"We might as well. It's inevitable, Tom."
He sighed and closed his eyes.
"It's in three weeks."
"So where is she anyway? She hasn't been staying here." She asked.
"She's uhhh......she's at the house I bought." He said quietly.
Scarlett nodded her head and pursed her lips as she kept her eyes closed. Tommy cleared his throat.
"So I'm doing business with some Russians."
"Not a good idea. They can't be trusted." She warned.
"Arthur said the same thing."
"And you still won't listen." She said as she looked at him.
He stared at her.
"When's the meeting?" She asked.
"Later on today."
"Well then I need to get ready so we can go."
"Oh no you're not going."
"Tommy trust me, you will want me there."
"Not in your shape." He said.
She rolled her eyes and started to slowly stand up in the bathtub. Tommy walked over to the tub with a towel. Scarlett looked down at her body and then looked up at him and shrugged.
"I think I'm in pretty damn good shape."
He made eye contact with her as he wrapped the towel around her and then helped her out.
"Thank you for saving me." She said softly.
He ran his thumb over her bruised cheek.
"I didn't save you. You did that yourself. I just carried you when you couldn't walk."
She looked up at him and then Tommy leaned in and kissed her softly. She kissed him for a second and then pulled back and looked down.
"You can't do that anymore.."
"It's not fair." She said as she shook her head.
He pulled her face up by her chin and she looked into his eyes.
"We could run away. You and me. Just like you said. Change our names and go to Australia." He said.
She put her hand on his chest.
"As much as I'd love that.....you have a baby on the way and a life to live here."
"And you're gonna be an amazing father, Tommy. They way you are with Finn....your baby will be lucky." She added.
He clenched his jaw and looked away. Just then Polly walked in.
"Oh I was just coming to see if you needed help, but."
"I'll just need help getting dressed." Scarlett said as she hobbled by the two of them.
Tommy turned around and Polly looked at him. He ran his hand over his face and quickly walked out. Polly could tell he was upset. She eventually walked in and helped Scarlett get dressed.
"What in the bloody hell did you say to him? I haven't seen that broken look in a while." Polly asked.
"Nothing, Poll. I just told him he would be a great father. I don't know why that upset him...I was being honest."
Polly sighed and looked at Scarlett.
"Because it should be you. Your baby....and your wedding."
"Well it's not, and as much as I wish it was.....it's not....and there's nothing we can do about it." She said as she crutched out.
Arthur was standing at the stairs and smiled.
"Need a ride?" He joked.
"I won't win this fight will I?" She said.
"Not a chance." He said as he put Scarlett on his back.
They got to the bottom of the stairs and he handed her the crutches. She looked up at Tommy.
"Well...are you ready?"
He nodded and they walked out. It was just the two of them and they drove for about an hour. Eventually they got to a huge house and were escorted into a room with two women and two men. They all sat down at a table and Tommy introduced Scarlett to Mr. and Mrs. Romanov, their niece, Tatiana, and the priest, father John Hughes. All four of them stared at Scarlett who had a bruised face.
"My boyfriend likes it rough." Scarlett said.
They had wide eyes and then looked away. Tommy cleared his throat.
"So I'm here to help you. I'm supplying tanks and weapons to defeat the communists." He said.
Mr. Romanov nodded.
"And what exactly will I be getting paid?" He added.
"Cash money and jewels of your choice." Romanov said.
"What kind of jewels?" Scarlett asked.
"Diamonds and sapphires." Mrs. Romanov said.
Scarlett looked at Tommy.
"We'll have to see these jewels." Scarlett added.
The Russians gave her a dirty look and then Mrs. Romanov started speaking in Russian.
"Foolish of her not to trust us. Americans." She said in Russian.
Scarlett raised her eyebrow.
"How can I trust someone I just met? Foolish of you to think that." Scarlett said back in Russian.
They looked up at her in shock and then looked at Tommy who was surprised, but not showing it.
"We will give you a sapphire to take now as our word." Mr. Romanov said.
He motioned for one of his men to go get it. He brought it and opened a box to reveal a huge blue sapphire necklace. The priest stared at Tommy and Scarlett the whole time they were there. Tommy closed the box and stood up.
"Very well. We will be in touch." He said.
Scarlett stood up and the priest looked at her.
"I'll be praying for you." He said to her.
"Pray for whoever steps in my way." She said as she walked out.
Tommy smirked and followed her. They got back in the car.
"I don't trust the priest. Something is seriously off with him." Scarlett said.
"I agree. I'll have research done." He said.
He turned to look at her.
"Russian? Really?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"What other languages do you speak?" He asked.
"Guess you'll have to find out."