"Open the door............" Tommy ordered, as he Arthur and Charlie got to the car.

"Tommy, she doesn't look good............." Charlie told his nephew, as he did as Tommy bid. Arthur climbing in behind the steering wheel and starting the car. The oldest Shelby knowing that there was no use in arguing with his brother. That whether the woman would survive her injuries or not, it was just best to go along with what Tommy wanted.

"Where to.............?"

"To the house; but stop off and let Charlie out at the doc's house. We are gonna need him............" Tommy replied, as he positioned himself and the woman across the back seat. Arthur nodding and pulling the car out into the road, as his uncle quickly climbed in beside him.

                                                          >>---------------------------------<<

Tommy couldn't stop himself from looking at her. All the colour had drained from her face, which made the small line of blood that had come out from her mouth, stand out all the more. She was still breathing........just. Her chest rinsing and falling slightly, as she clung to life. He didn't know what she was doing out at that time of the night; why a young woman, dressed as she was, would have been walking the streets at that late hour. But in truth, it didn't matter, he wasn't going to let her die because of him. Because some others had an issue with his family. And even though he had never met her before, he knew that he couldn't lose her. That he wanted to see her beautiful face, when it was flushed with colour. He wanted to see her eyes open, a smile on her lips. He wanted to hear her voice. He wanted to know more about her, other than the fact that she was the new barmaid that his brother had said would be starting at the Garrison. He wanted to know her.

It was strange, but her face reminded him of all the young men that had signed up to go to war. All those that had happily taken the King's shilling. Cheerily getting on the trains with their friends, so that they could fight for king and country, believing that the war would be over before Christmas. Young men, that just like him, had had no idea what they would see, what they would have to do to survive.

She reminded him of the faces of those same boys, as they lay dead in the trenches, or in no man's land wrapped up in barbed wire. She reminded him of those that had fallen in Verdun and the Somme. Those that had begged the sergeant major not to let them die, as they sobbed for their mothers. Tommy knowing that he couldn't have helped those young men; but he could sure as hell try and save this young woman now. And if he could, perhaps some of his nightmares would leave him.

"Tommy........." Arthur suddenly said, turning around and looking at his younger brother, as the car pulled to a stop outside the doctor's home.

"Charlie, go wake up the doc, tell him what's happened, and get him to come to the house." Tommy told his uncle. Charlie nodding, before climbing out of the car. Arthur just gesturing for his uncle to do as he was told, before he moved off again.

                                                            >>--------------------------------<<

Arthur watched his brother through the rearview mirror, as Tommy carefully pushed some hair away from the woman's face. He knew that she was beautiful, that was one of the reasons that Arthur had hired her in the first place; the older man sure that a face......and bosom like hers, would bring plenty of business into the pub. But he sensed that some of this, had more to do with other things, than just because this young woman had a pretty face. Hell, there were plenty of pretty faces in Small Heath. No, it had to be more; it had to be something inside Tommy that was making him do all this. Not that Arthur was about to say anything either way. He had to admit that he didn't like the idea of her dying because she had somehow found herself in the middle of their fight. That he didn't like the idea that it could be his bullets, that had done this to her. So, if Tommy wanted to do this. If he wanted to try and save her, despite the fact that, as Charlie had put it, she didn't look good, he would do all he could. The older Shelby pulling the car up to a halt, as they got to the house; Arthur quickly climbing out of the car and going around to help Tommy with the women.

                                                         >>----------------------------------<<

"What tha fuck................?" John called out, as both his older brothers burst into the house. His brows furrowing, as he saw the body of a bleeding woman being held in Tommy's arms.

"Charlie will be here with the doc in a minute, let em in, and send the doc to my room.........." Tommy simple snapped back, before carrying the woman up the stairs.

"Arthur, what.............?"

"Just do as Tommy says, yeah............." Arthur replied, giving John a look that said he would explain everything later; but for now, it was best to shut his mouth and just do as he was told. The oldest Shelby quickly following behind Tommy, just in case he could do anything. John watching, as his big brother made his way into Tommy's room; only to nearly swallow his toothpick, as a loud banging came to the front door. John quickly making his way over, opening the ingress to find his uncle, and a very groggy looking doctor.

"Upstairs, in Tommy's room.........." John explained. The doctor making his way inside and up the stairs. Leaving John to turn to his uncle.

"Charlie........what the fuck is goin on..............?"