Tommy's Rose

Chapter 34: Days

Thomas Shelby wasn't a religious man, after the war he almost stopped believing in God himself until he held his daughters lifeless body in his arms, she struggled to breath as he held her close to his chest, he begged for help of anyone, anyone who could have his little girl and a doctor took Primrose out of his arms and helped her breath but the Father's nightmare wasn't over while the doctors and nurses helped Primrose in the hospital Tommy paced the corridor in his ripped black and bloody clothing muttering things to himself, no one understood what he was saying but he was angry, at himself for putting his child in danger.

"Thomas sit down," Polly told her nephew as she leaned against the wall.

Tommy ignored her as he continued to pace up and down the corridor.

Polly looked at Arthur for help. "Tom, you need to stay calm," Arthur spoke up.

"Shut up!" Tommy snapped.

"Tom-" Arthur began.

Tommy stopped and turned to his family. "Oh I'm sorry what would you like me to do?" He asked. "Hm, to sit, to pray aye shall I ask the almighty God to save my daughter who I put in danger?"

"Primrose followed you to that factory Thomas, do not blame yourself," Polly told him. "You pacing up and down this corridor is doing nothing. God saved you and your brothers in the war; he will save that child in there!"

"Shit, it's all a load of shit!" Tommy stated. "My fucking daughter is there, she can't breath, her blood is still on my shirt from her head when it smashed against the fucking floor!"

Tommy leaned against the wall in defeat then slid down so he was sat down with his knees up, his head in his hands... His mind raced as he remembered the day he met his daughter looking out the window of the orphanage watching her friends play, he remembered listening to her play the piano with Charles making up their own songs, he remembered his daughter's sweet smile and contagious laugh. Tommy wanted to hear her laugh again, he wanted to hear her sing songs in the Garrison with his brothers, he wanted to listen to her read her favourite books, he wanted to see her ride her horse alongside him in the forest.

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite," Tommy said quietly.

"Romeo and Juliet," Daniel stated.

Everyone looked down the corridor to where Daniel and Javier were stood.

"You shouldn't be here," John mumbled as he looked at the boy.

"Leave the boy alone," Tommy grumbled. "He brought you all to the factory, he tried his best."

"I should have stopped her," Daniel admitted. "I never ever wanted her to get hurt, she wanted to protect you Mister Shelby."

Tommy sighed as he looked at the boy in front of him, he knew Daniel had been crying, he could tell the boy blamed himself for what happened to his daughter. With a hard sigh Tommy stood up and walked over to Daniel placing his hands on his shoulders...

"Primrose would have done what she did with or without you," Tommy told him. "Do not blame yourself, you are a child and you couldn't have stopped her even if you tried."

Daniel teared up. "She thought the world of you Mister Shelby," He said quietly.

Tommy pulled the boy into a hug. "She loved you, Daniel," He said in an almost whisper.

Slowly the door to Primrose's room opened to reveal a nurse who turned to Tommy. "Primrose is unconscious but she will be fine," The nurse explained. "Mister Shelby you may go in but the rest of the family must stay here."