The Blood War, Peaky Blinders

𝟎𝟓𝟔 Love was the law and religion was taught

The blood war
chapter fifty six, Love was the law and religion was taught———————————————————————————

-1929
Birmingham, England

As Paige falls bag due to Robb's bullet, Robb falls face first into the gravel by the impact of the shot behind him... Polly's gunshot. "Woah woah, I got you" Arthur said. "Get her inside" Apollo said. Tommy goes to help Arthur support Paige but Arthur refuses, "No, I got her, you go open the doors." Arthur scoops her up into his arms and Tommy and Apollo opened the doors and led Arthur to the dining room, Milly and Tara following closely behind with James. "Clear that shit, clear it!" Arthur yells.  Apollo and Tommy swipe all the silver wear and glasses they could off the table to make space for Paige. 

Arthur sets her down gently and she then shot up, the shock washing off her causing Tara to jump. "Paige lie back" Apollo said as Paige groans in pain. Tommy then nods at Arthur to Paige. "Paige, lie back" Arthur said, pinning her down gently. "Maybe it's better if Arthur waits outside" Milly said. "No. Not a chance" Arthur said, kneeling down behind Paige's head, "I should've taken Robb's bullet, I deserved the bullet!" Paige was completely delirious, the pain was completely taking over her. "Paige, Paige look at me" Tommy said, turning her head to face him, "You've got kids. Three of them. If you die, they'll come to us to raise. You hear me?" "He used a derringer" Tara piped up, "It was one of father's guns." 

"It's still in there. It's above the bone" Tommy said. "Mr Shelby" A voice came from the door, "Your guests." "Arthur get him out" Tommy said. "Mosley fuck off" Tara said, shooting him a look. "Tara, please" Apollo snapped. "Family only, get him out!" Tommy shouts. "Mr Shelby" Mosley tried to but in again but Arthur pulled the gun on him, "Get out!" He roared, "Get. Out!" "Mills, go to the kitchen and get some iodine. Go, now please, go!" Tommy shouts. 

Arthur then kneels down behind Paige again, placing kisses on her forehead in an attempt to distract her from the pain. "Paige, you'll have to bite on this" Tommy said, holding a napkin in front of her, "Arthur." Arthur takes the napkin, "Baby you need to bite it, come here" Arthur said, placing the napkin in her mouth and Paige grips it in her teeth. "Now, this is really gonna hurt. Tara, you might need to leave for this" Tommy said, looking over at Apollo. "Taz, it'll only be for a minute. I'll come out and get you as soon as it's done" Apollo promised. 

Tara looks down at Paige before looking up at the boys again, hesitantly turning to leave the room. "Arthur hold her" Tommy said as he gets ready to pour the solution into the wound, "One, two, three..." A sting runs through Paige's body as she screams through the napkin. "Shh, you're alright" Arthur said, "It's all over." "Arthur, hold her again" Apollo said. Arthur holds Paige's shoulders down again as Tommy pours whiskey into the wound, causing Paige to scream again without the napkin in her mouth. Tara heard the scream from outside and was ready sprint back into the room, her sister was in pain and she could do nothing to stop it.

"Is she gonna be alright, Tom?" Arthur asked repeatedly, going into a state of panic. "Yeah" Tommy said. "Oh Jesus" Arthur sighs with relief. "Arthur come here" Tommy said, taking him under his arm and hoisting him up to his feet, "If you love her, go to the library, get some opium. Go in, she'll be fine" Tommy said, "Go sort it." "Right" Arthur nods. "Send Tara back in whilst you're out there." Arthur nods and leaves the dining room. "Well?" Tara asked, looking up at Arthur desperately. "She'll be alright" Arthur pants, still clearly stressed. "Oh thank fuck" Tara sighed with relief, tears in her eyes as she hugged Arthur for probably the first time ever. 

"Tommy says you can go back in" Arthur said, not moving out of Tara's hug. To be honest, he needed one. Tara then lets go and walks into the dining room, seeing Paige lying down on the table a bit calmer. "The hell did you give her?" Tara asked, her eyes widening slightly. "Nothing yet... poured whiskey on the wound you know... like we did with Apollo's eye." Tommy said. "You can use my opium, brought a bit to celebrate the wedding proposal" Polly said. "Oh, so he proposed?" Tommy asked.