If I Can't Have you

(23) Gabriels Date Night

"Thomas."

"Morrigan," Tommy responds, leaning back in his chair, "pleasure to have you in my office, how can I help?"

"We need to tell John."

"Like fuck we do," Tommy scoffs, "have you hit your head?"

"No," Jemima replies, "but Max knows, it's only a matter of time before John knows, and it really shouldn't come from anyone else."

"Max won't tell John," Tommy states.

"You're not threatening, Max." Jemima says, "if not for fact that it would ensure your castration, but also you really wouldn't be able to."

"I would."

"Oh be realistic, Thomas, he has you wrapped around his finger," Jemima remarks.

"We're not telling John. We're keeping it contained, you, me, Ada, Freddie and Max." Tommy says.

"When have you ever cared about anyone else's opinion?"

"This is different," Tommy mumbles.

"Why?"

"Because it's you," Tommy states, "and that makes it different."

"Why? It's just like any other women you've fucked that still hangs around here." Jemima shrugs.

"You're not like any other women, Morrigan. We both know that," Tommy sighs.

Tommy glances up at her, "I fucked Johns best friend."

"Is that what I'm known as now? Johns best friend?" Jemima retorts.

"It is what you are, and it is what you should have stayed to me, because John... he will not react well to me touching you." Tommy replies.

Stayed. That was past tense. That means she is something different to him now. But what was that?

"He'll have to get over it, but I hate that we- I have kept it from him for this long. He'll eventually understand that we're two adults who can make our own decisions, without his input." Jemima says.

"He's already pissed at me, I don't want to make it worse," Tommy mutters.

"Scared of Jonathon 'I'm afraid of butterflies' Shelby?" Jemima teases.

"Yes," Tommy nods, "when it comes to you, absolutely. I am scared of what he'll do, what Arthur will do, fucking hell I'm scared of what I'll do when it comes to you."

"He's your brother," Jemima responds, though his words kept repeating themselves in her head, I'm scared of what I'll do when it comes to you.

"Yes, and you've seen us fight as brothers before. It doesn't end well." Tommy replies.

"Tommy, I'm telling him. I can't keep it a secret, especially now that Max knows." Jemima says.

Tommy. Jemima had called him Tommy. Not Thomas. Judging by her lack of reaction, he assumes that she can't have realised what she's just said.

"Fine, when? I need to know when I should be expecting the barrel of his revolver against my temple," Tommy remarks.

"Fucking hell, you're dramatic." Jemima sighs, "I'm going out tonight, so probably tomorrow."

"Not going out with him tonight?" Tommy inquires and she shakes her head, "no."

"With Max?"

"No, with Gabriel." Jemima states, raising an eyebrow at him.

He clears his throat, "where?"

"Thomas, it is really none of your business." Jemima says.

"It is," Tommy replies, "and you fucking know why. I'm not going to randomly show up, don't worry. But I need to know you'll be somewhere safe. I need to know that if you're in danger I can get there. So please, satisfy my inquisitiveness."