As promised, Bash had began his walk towards the general hospital in the heart of the town, presuming that Tommy would've already had someone on his tail as if he was the freshest thing on the market. He hadn't walked to the hospital by himself in a long while, maybe ten years before the war started, and he wasn't entirely sure if he'd be able to make it.

Bash couldn't keep relying on Charlie or Jimmy, he felt guilty, but what he didn't know was that they both felt as guilty as he did.

If it hadn't been for Charlie's broken leg, maybe things would've been different, and Jimmy felt guilty because he didn't offer to help his boss earlier than he did.

Neither of them should've felt guilt, it was Bash's fault and it laid on his shoulders only.

As he walked, he thought about what he'd have to do and how much he could get away with at this appointment, an appointment that he didn't even remember what exactly it was for. Could it be the shrapnel wounds that hadn't healed quite as well as everyone had hoped, or was it his eyes? Their vision going more and more blurred as the hours passed.

He was just glad they didn't burn as much as they had at the beginning.

"Oi Sebastian!"

The bellowing voice of Arthur Shelby cut through the sound of foot traffic, the fleeting toots of few new cars that were scattered across the rather large road, the creaky wheels of old trailers weighed down with metal pieces from the ironworks.

Bash's head turned to the left, where he thought his brother's voice came from, but the hand that clasped around his right wrist made him jump.

"Shittin' hell, Arthur!" Bash's voice came out in a hiss, his heart beat thudding through his ears- loud enough for a headache to start.

He really hated when he was caught off guard, but no one could've helped that. Most of the time, they didn't even realise what they had done, most of the time, they tried doing everything in their power to help, and that was the best they could do. Too many sounds made things harder to decipher, and Bash knew that, but he hated it too.

"Oh fuck, sorry mate! Want me to walk with you to hell— I mean the 'ospital?"

The feeling of a hand wrap against his elbow was clear enough for Bash that it wasn't a question to be answered.

People separated like butter and milk, allowing the two Shelby's to pass, they hadn't done that when Sebastian was on his own, but he didn't exactly give off the ability to be threatening. Of course, he could be threatening, the looks on his face painted pictures words never could.

If they had known what he really was capable of, they would've treated him the same as any other Shelby that roamed the street.

Even Ada was respected more, but it wasn't really her fault.

"What d'ya think about my horse?"

Bash's voice called out, breaking the awkward silence, tapping his free hand on his side, and for a moment — Arthur looked back at him, a perplexed look gracing his face.

What Arthur knew about the horse... and the guns beneath the horses troff, made him swallow a lump that had formed in his throat. It took everything within him to not tell him everything he knew. It was unfair, that Tommy was keeping things from Bash. It had always been the four of them against the world and now Bash was the empty seat in the four seater car. The empty space swallowing the once calm and easing atmosphere, leaving behind a glum and forewarning feeling the brothers didn't dare mention.

"He's a biggun'."

An awkward response, but a response nonetheless, made Bash nod his head in agreement. He'd been told the horse was sixteen hands, but the beast was taller in his mind.

A moveable mountain, perhaps.

"Is he alright, that horse? You've barely left its side, Pols worried about you." Arthur's voice came out in a hushed tone, it wasn't often that Arthur was able to talk in such a tone.

Bash shrugged, he didn't know why he'd spent a fair amount of time with his horse, but he had. It was as though he couldn't leave him alone, that something in the back of his mind was warning him of things to come. A bad omen... but he hadn't felt that anything was wrong when they purchased him.

"Yeah, no- he's fine. In fact—"

A shove from Arthur cut him off, both of them knew that the horse was alright and that Aunt Pol had every right to worry, because she was the one to know that Bash wasn't fine. He was barely sleeping, waking up covered in sweat, sometimes he'd forget to eat - when his mind was preoccupied with the war.

And now? After being left out of the last family meeting and made to sit with Finn on the other side of the diving door, that was like a stab from a red hot poker- straight through his heart.

Neither Thomas or Arthur had any right to prevent him from sitting in that meeting, but they did and he didn't do anything to fight it.

Arthur came round hours after it'd finished saying it was for Finn to improve his reading, but they left no books and Finn wasn't going to leave the door and miss any of the gossip. As if hearing about a chief inspector asking Irish men taller than five foot, and fit to fight to come to Birmingham was anything of much interest to an almost eleven year old.

It wasn't much interest to Bash, and he was many Sundays past eleven.

"In fact, you want us all to come down and see the beast for ourselves, ain't that—"

The sound of many, heavy footsteps came flooding through Bash's senses, it was as if they'd just been surrounded, something was choking out the air around them, something was getting ready to strike.

Arthur's voice was quickly cut off by a gruff hand ripping his hand from Bash's elbow, and then the blind Shelby was roughly shoved into the wall, the harsh brick rubbing against his bare cheek.

No doubtedly creating a small abrasion, peeling away the top layer of skin - leaving a raging pink, and probably sore, layer behind.

"Arthur?!"

Frantic voices bashed against the gruff and authoritarian voices of those pinning the brothers, leaving them unable to move.

Arthur was more concerned about his brother, than his own welfare. How could the police be so stupid, pushing a blind man against a wall, roughening him up in the process. Who were they, even? Arthur knew almost all of the police that worked in Small Heath, some even on a name to name basis.

Before Arthur had the chance to say anything else, he was given quite the knock to the head and in a moment of clarity, he was almost certain the same fate had met his brother.

Once the rest of the family found out about it, not only would hell be raised, but heaven would fall.

Bash felt his feet become stone, unwilling to move as a barrage of words were screamed into his ears. They'd have to take him by force if they were going to get him to willingly go with them, and Bash was good at refusing to move, given the chance... but he had never had to do so, with a gun pressed in the small of his back.

"HE'sS FUCKING BLIND YOU PRICKS!" Arthur's voice cut through the sound of wooden batons beating against flesh and bone.

They didn't relent, instead, they picked up their tirade and added more power into the blows as both brothers were dragged back down the alley they'd just emerged from, presumably to the last place anyone would come looking for them.

The police cell. 

Back and forth, Sebastian and Arthur kept screaming each other's names, hoping for a break in the torment but that break didn't come quick enough.

Only when two arms on either side of each brother were looped within their own did they have a moments peace.

Their shoes scraped against the floor, such sound reverberated through Bash's body. He could only compare it to nails on a chalkboard. If he hadn't worn a nicer pair of shoes, with metal plating on the cap, he'd probably not be able to hear anything but a shuffle or two.

Once stationary again, Bash and Arthur were thrown into chairs, and both heads tilted towards the light.

Arthur squinted his eyes, finding it hard to adjust, from the blood soaking his vision, and the sudden burst of white from the lightbulb above his head. Sebastian on the other hand didn't react, and both police officers shared a look.

They knew they'd fucked up, but they didn't know how badly.

Not until the door opened, to reveal Chief Inspector Campbell, a new enemy of the Shelby family.

"Arthur and —"

Chester Campbell had expected to see Thomas sat in the seat next to his older brother; not the one Shelby who was on the 'do not approach' list. It was more than just a minute little slip up.

This mistaken identity had royally thrown a spanner in the works.

"Sebastian." Bash added for the inspector, wondering if he knew his name or not.

Clanking of heels against concrete were heard next, the inspector didn't offer his thanks towards Sebastian and Arthur didn't say anything either. Neither of the Shelby's really wanted to say anything.

They gad always been told to keep quiet when around police and the rule had served them well.

"Either of them have a gun?"
"No gun. Arthur had a knife in his sock, and a cosh in his belt. Sebastian had a stick."

"I think you'll find, it's called a cane." Bash couldn't help but correct the officer who was speaking.

Although, yes, it was just a very large stick - he didn't have a cane yet, but he didn't want anyone to think he was lesser because he just didn't have what he needed yet. Especially those who find fun in attacking the unsuspecting.

At least everyone his brothers goes after, actually deserves it.

"So, what do you know about the robbery?"

Campbells hand went back into Arthur's hair, lifting his head to look at him in the eye, but Arthur didn't know anything about the robbery. No one did, and the inspector knew that by the looks on their faces.

"What robbery?" Arthur sputtered out, red blood droplets spraying across the inspectors face.

"We don't know anything about a robbery." Bash added before anyone else had the chance to speak.

Why no one was focusing their questions on him - he'd never admit to not knowing. He may have less eyesight than others in the room, but it didn't mean his ears didn't work.

"If I find out you boys have been lying to me, I'll make sure you live to regret it."

The inspector was certain he'd have every member of the Shelby family face down in the bottom of the canal by the end of the year, but he didn't have what they had. They had unwavering loyalty, trust in each others words, and a bond so strong not even the best of women could break it.

"Get them out of here."

Once again, two arms scooped up each brother, and yet again their feet were dragging against the floor. Bash knew they'd end up dumped out by the cut, it wasn't too far away from where they were. He could smell the putrid waters and he'd convinced himself he could hear the water running too.

Of course, he couldn't - he just knew how to make it home from there, so he hoped.

"Oi, Arthur, that's the last time I say I'm going to the fucking hospital."