No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 15- Morgan

Arthur places Claudia in his bed as they arrive back at Shady Belle . "How is she?" Hosea asks as she follows Arthur to his room.
"Alive for now, the brothers must of fled before we came" Arthur huffs as he takes a seat next to the bed rubbing his eyes.
"Arthur you can have my bed for tonight, I will watch her while you sleep" Hosea insists putting his hand on the man's shoulder.
"No it's okay, I can sleep here" Arthur shrugs Hosea's hand off leaning back in the chair. Hosea leaves it there knowing Arthur is feeling angry about current events. Sean's death and now he had to save one of his friends.
"I'll send Miss Grimshaw in to check on her, goodnight Arthur" Hosea says before walking out of the room closing the door behind him. Arthur stays there hoping that she will be okay after all this. The door creaks open, Arthur turns his head to find Miss Grimshaw.
"Arthur, can you just step out so I can check her all over please" She whispers, he nods making his way out of the room. He waits outside of the door fiddling with the rip in his shirt. Dutch walks out of his room and sees Arthur.
"You okay, son" Dutch asks.
"Yes, Miss Grimshaw is checking on her now" Arthur responds leaning against the wall of his room.
"When I first met her, I didn't want to know her because she reminded me to much of her mother.." Dutch sighs as he stands opposite of Arthur, "then when she was taken, I didn't want to lose her like her mother. I didn't want to mess up again".
"Dutch, at least she's safe now" Arthur adds to try and lift his mood up.
"Oh, and I have noticed how close you are with her" Dutch adds putting his hands into his trouser pockets.
"Well..I.." Arthur stutters.
"I'm just saying, don't hurt her" Dutch smiles patting Arthur on the shoulder.
Arthur's bedroom door opens and Miss Grimshaw slips out closing it behind her.
Arthur could tell by the look of her face it wasn't good.
"Susan?" Dutch says.
"There's bad bruising on the neck, there was some deep cuts but I stitched them up and there was bruising all around the body. Those men or sick for what they did, Dutch" She says and storms off down the stairs.
"Go to bed, I can stay with her. You can go in my room" Dutch says sternly opening the door to Arthur's room.
"Fine, thank you" Arthur nods and walks off to Dutch's room, Molly doesn't even sleep with Dutch anymore because of how bad he has been ignoring her. Dutch walks into the room seeing his daughter lying on the bed unconscious.
"Oh Claudia" He whispers to himself, putting a bigger blanket over the top of her. He places himself in the chair next to the bed trying to keep his eyes open, until he drifts off to sleep.

Claudia opens her eyes as the sun seeps through the window, she jumps up not realising where she is.
"It's okay, it's okay you're safe.." Dutch reassures as he wakes up. Dutch notices her breathing quickens as she tries to speak "Try not to speak, darling" Dutch says sitting next to her on the bed.
"It..h..hurts dad" she mumbles trying to get her words out.
"I know, but you need to rest" He says helping her lay back down onto the bed. After he sees her fall back to sleep, Dutch walks out of the room and down the stairs to find Hosea.
"Hosea she called me dad" Dutch panics, sitting next to the man reading.
"See, I told you she will warm up to you.."  Hosea smiles and faces back to his book "how is she holding up?".
"Well she woke up panicking, like she couldn't breathe but I calmed her down after" Dutch explains taking out a cigar and lighting it.
"That's a start for you two" Hosea says closing his book.
"Yes, yes indeed" Dutch says with a small smile on his face.

Arthur walks into his room seeing Claudia sat up on his bed with her legs dangling off the edge, she looks up seeing him and smiles.
"Jenkins, you're alive then" Arthur laughs sitting next to her.
"Morgan" She stutters as her throat throbs in pain.
"Easy there, I've brought you some food" Arthur places the bowl of stew on the cabinet next to the bed.
"Arthur, I.." Claudia breaks as tears fall down her face, "they were monsters Arthur, fucking monsters".
Arthur places his arm around Claudia to comfort her. She glad to finally see a friend of hers. He sighs, "I know but they will not get you again, I promise" He promises.
Claudia rests her head against his shoulder, "Thank you Arthur, for everything".
"Don't thank me, now eat up or Miss Grimshaw will be yelling at the both of us" Arthur says as they both laugh.
"Not going to lie, I thought you wouldn't come and save me when I was trapped down there" She says eating the warm stew that Arthur brought her.
"Don't be like that, Claudia.." His tone softens, "You're apart of this family now".
"Seems like I'm the one slowing you all down.." she puts the bowl down to the side "Might as well throw me into the river. I'll be a lost cause anyway."
"You're not a lost cause. You're tough, tougher than most of the lazy men we ride with. This will pass, and you'll be back on your horse in no time" Arthur disagrees, hearing Claudia talk to him about her that way.
She looks away, a mixture of frustration and fear swirling within her. "It's just.... this life , Arthur. It's dangerous".
He moves closer to her taking her hand, she looks up to him. "Like I said I will never let you get hurt again, because I can't lose you. I love you".
"Oh, Arthur you are a good friend to me" she mumbles moving her hand out of his. Arthur's mood changes as he realises the feelings aren't mutual. He can't help but think of the word  friend
"You need to eat, you will feel better" He mutters holding up the bowl to her.
"I don't feel like eating anymore" She declines wrapping the blanket around her tightly.
"Get used to it, I'm staying here until you finish it" He orders keeping put in his position. She sighs taking the bowl off him, as she takes a few tentative sips of the stew. Arthur's stands up after she finishes the bowl, he takes it off her and makes his way to the door.
"Arthur.." Claudia calls out, "thank you".
Arthur leaves her in the room closing the door behind him, he will always keep that promise, that he will protect her. Will he?