• THE GOOD SIDE • A Thomas Shelby Fanfic •

1

"Thomas Shelby needs assistance, nurse." A mans voice is beckoning in my ear as I continue to examine another prisoner with a wound that needs tending to.

"I'm a bit busy guard." My voice comes off flat and rather factual. He can see that I am busy, he shouldn't bother me in such times.

My eyes don't leave the prisoners wound, that seems to bleed a pink colour. There is an obvious ordour do it, telling me that it's been infected, puss comes oozing out and I want to cringe but I know it'll scare the lights of him.

"I told you to stay off your knee." I whisper, cutting into the wound I had stitched up a week ago. "This is getting out of hand William, it's infected." I throw the wasted gauze on the floor. "Again."

"I'm sorry nurse, but it's hard when you're confined to these walls. I have to walk around, otherwise, I'll lose my mind."

I nod, understanding that in order to survive this penitentiary, you must learn to walk around, gain strength and health. Maintain your humanity, otherwise you'll wither away.

"Perhaps," I seize, another wave of puss pouring from his wound. "Perhaps I'll see if I can get you something to medicate the wound better-"

"Ma'am." The guard from behind me has not yet caught the hint.

I turn around and look at him, he's a rather large gentleman, seems annoyed with me.

"I told you I am busy at the moment. Your prisoner must wait his turn."

"There is no time!" He snaps, "Thomas Shelby needs help now!"

"I don't give a damn what T-"

"Thomas Shelby you say?" The prisoner William asks, looking past me and up at the guard.

"Yes." He nods before clearing his throat. "He was beaten badly by a priest."

"A priest?" I turn again, this time confused. "What priest would beat a man?"

"I don't know exactly, nurse. Can you come?"

"Go on, love." William says, nodding me off.

I shake my head, "But your wound needs tend-"

"Thomas Shelby gave me a job when no other lad would." He tells me, staring deeply into my eyes. "If it were n't for that man, I would've been a no good beggar on the street. I owe that man my life."

His life? I slowly arise, not wanting to ruffle up his feathers. I've disobeyed a prisoner once and had to have three guards pry him off of my neck. I do not want to be put into a situation like again.

"I'll be back then?" I point right at William. "Stay seated, please."

"I will." He nods. "Go on then."

I turn around, and collect my little medical kit before looking up at the guard. "Was the prisoner kept a secret until now?" I ask, "He wasn't on my list of patients to see."

"Thomas Shelby, is a very private and stubborn man." The guard tells me, picking up my bandages and alcohol. "At first he refused to be tended to, but now I'm afraid-"

I pick up my kit and head for the doors, the guard follows shortly after me, he seems to be in a panicked state. One that makes me question if the prisoner is even alive.

"What's your name?" The guard asks, pushing a door open for me.

A foul smell surrounds us, and at first I think it's gasoline before realizing that the smell that fills my nostrils is a heavy alcohol.

"Alene," I put my scarf over my nose and pinch my eyes. Everything burns.

The man does what I do, covering his nose at the dark ordour. "Thomas Shelby asked specifically for a nurse who is discrete."

"Oh for fuck sakes," I snap, staring into his big eyes. "I cannot be discrete with anyone if they're dead, can I?"

"Y-you're right." He coughs, before I walk away. "My- you're a feisty one."

"I heard that!" I tell him, but the moment we enter a room, the mood shifts and I go from a girlish, annoyed person to a professional nurse.

I drop my scarf, that falls around my shoulders and slowly approach the man who seems to have smoke pouring past his lips. He lays down flat on a bed, his eyes weak as his body is limp.

I stare at him, approaching him like he's venomous. There is a weary disguises to him that makes me feel an onemous pull in the air that makes me fearful.

There is a face belonging to the man. He is hurt, major bruises to the face, shoulders, chest. He seems to be overly aware of my presence, he stills. "Who are you?" He winces.

Who am I? I look at my outfit that clearly signals that I am a fucking nurse. "Who are you?"

Taken aback, the man called Thomas seems to continue with his cigarette. I can almost hear his lungs crunch inward as he inhales and go out when he exhales. Without much consideration I reach for the deadly stick and toss it across the floor. The smoke goes out against the wind, and with a golly smile on my face, I turn back to the gentleman to see him looking at me as if I've just slaughtered his parents before his eyes.

"What?" I ask, my voice heightened. "It's for your own good." I hiss.

"Nurse," The guard says, grabbing my arm. He pulls me into him, I have my back to Thomas. "What the hell do you think you're doing-Are you mad?"

"No," I shake my head, folding my arms over my chest. "Not mad. Just a nurse trying to help, is all."

"Victor," His voice is a croak, but he's loud enough to make me jump. "Leave her alone."

I look into the guards eyes. Victor, and pull my arm from his grasp. I almost want to stick out my tongue, the way I would when I was a child. Having my mother tell my older brothers to not pick on me. The guard does as told, he looks like he wants to lunge at me.

"You can go now," Thomas says, and I smell tobacco again.

When I turn around and face him, sure enough, he's sucking on a small cigarette, getting as much out of it as possible. I stare at him, my eyebrows pulled together and a frown on my face.

He points the thing at me, and in a low hurtful voice he says. "You touch my cigarette again, and I promise you I'll fuckin' kill ya.