XX. A visitor.

Maude was sitting next to Tommy's bedside, listening to him complain about every little aspect of the hospital room and how much he hated being there. She only nodded along, letting him rant until his heart was content before she'd tell him he'd just have to suck it up and deal with it.

A nurse knocked on the door, catching both Tommy and Maude's attention as she poked her head in. "Ready for a visitor, Mr. Shelby?" She asked Tommy as she raised her eyebrows.

"No." He replied with a huff, having made it very clear that he'd accept no one but Maude inside his room. He didn't want to deal with the fuss of his family just yet.

"I'm here on the King's orders. I'm afraid I must insist." Campbell's voice called out as he stepped into the room, his cane thudding along with his footsteps. The nurse left and Campbell turned towards Maude, nodding at the door behind him. "I would like to speak with Mr. Shelby alone."

Tommy cleared his throat as he shook his head. "She stays." He insisted.

Campbell sighed as he turned to shut the door before stepping further into the room. He glanced at the two big windows that sat side by side on one side of the room. "Ah. You paid extra for daylight." He commented before turning back to Tommy. "The racketeering business must be booming." He said as he stopped in front of Tommy's bed, raising his eyebrows. "Are you not going to thank me for saving your life?"

Tommy stared at the man for a second before pointing at him and then at his cigarettes that lay on a table near the windows. "Pass me cigarettes?" He asked.

Campbell scoffed before walking towards the table, picking up Tommy's cigarettes as well as his box of matches. He kept them in his hand as he returned to Tommy's bed, not giving them to Tommy as he began to speak. "Three nights ago, at the co-operative stables in Montague Street, there was a murder," Campbell spoke. "A man named Duggan." He said as he placed the cigarettes and matches on Tommy's chest. As Campbell turned his back, pacing around the room as he spoke, Tommy shared a knowing look with Maude. "The Oxfordshire constabulary found his body in a shallow grave."

"I need to piss," Tommy informed Campbell before turning to Maude, who had the pleasure of helping him any time he needed to move around. "Maude, help me?" He asked, grunting as he sat up.

Before Maude could even stand to reach for Tommy, Campbell pressed his cane against Tommy's chest, pushing him back down. "I know it was you who carried out the murder of Mr. Duggan," Campbell muttered.

Maude slowly reached for her purse, keeping it close as she eyed Campbell, feeling Tommy's gun inside. Tommy glanced at her, knowing why she had her purse so close, noting that she was ready to shoot Campbell as she glared at him with her top lip pulled into a slight snarl. Even when Campbell lifted his cane from Tommy's chest, Maude's hand remained on her purse, watching him take a seat on one of the chairs by Tommy's bed.

Tommy turned back to Campbell with a hint of a grin on his face as he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with Maude's help. "Oh, by the way. Grace, she went to New York." He informed Campbell before turning to Maude. "It's New York, right?" He asked

Maude stared at Campbell as she replied to Tommy, nodding her head. "Yes." She confirmed, as they still kept tabs on Grace to ensure she wouldn't return and cause problems again. "A place called, Poughkeepsie."She said as she gave Campbell a smile. There was a lot of gossip when both Campbell and Grace left. The coppers told that the Inspector had feeling for his little spy, but she rejected him and then blew his knee out. "She's married now."

"To a banker. He's rich." Campbell replied with a nod of his head, making Maude smile to know he still kept tabs on the blonde as well. "I'm sure she's very happy." He muttered before standing up, his attention turning back to Tommy. "You have been under my microscope for some weeks now. I have been observing every move you make. And that is why I was on hand to save your life."

Tommy's eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Campbell before turning to Maude. "I imagine being shot by a woman hurts the same as being shot by a man." He commented, acting like a mean schoolgirl gossiping about someone right to their face.

"Just a bit more shameful," Maude replied with a shrug of her shoulder as she crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in her chair, thudding her tongue as she slowly shook her head.

Tommy hummed before turning to Campbell. "You know, Mr. Campbell, when I got shot they gave me a medal." He informed the man before shaking his head. "Yeah. No medal for you I bet." He muttered.

Campbell snapped at their taunting behavior, slamming his cane against the ground before standing up and approaching Tommy's bed again. "Mr. Shelby, our reunion," He muttered as he took Tommy's cigarette from between his fingers and threw it on the ground to burn out. "-is part of a very carefully worked out plan, which has been in place for some time now."

"Every time you lean on that stick I bet you see her face." Tommy continued to taunt as he stared up at Campbell.

"And as a result of the information in my possession, I can charge you with murder at any time," Campbell continued to speak, pressing a hand against Tommy's wounded chest, and when he let out a groan of pain, Maude's grip on her purse grew tighter. "-and provide two impeccable Crown witnesses whose testimony will lead you directly to the gallows." He spat before wrapping his hand around Tommy's neck and Maude was immediately on her feet, but Tommy held a hand out to stop whatever she was planning on doing, "You are on my hook, Mr. Shelby. And from this moment forward you belong to me." He spat before letting Tommy go. "So, get well quickly. I'll be in touch the moment I hear you can piss standing up. Then I will send you your instructions." He informed as he made his way out of the room, Maude following him.

"You ever try that again, you're gonna need more than a cane to help you walk." She warned him before slamming the door in his face when he wanted to say something else.

"Help me get dressed, sweetheart," Tommy asked Maude as he pulled himself into an upright sitting position, letting out a low groan as he moved slowly, pushing the blankets off his body.

Maude quickly turned towards him, eyebrows furrowing as she made her way to him. "Why?" She asked as her hands carefully laid onto his bruised torso, gently helping him sit up as he threw his legs over the side of the bed.

"I have to go to London." He informed her softly as he waved a hand towards the clothes she had neatly folded and placed on a side table on the other side of the room.

"Tommy, for fucks sake, forget about London for now." She pleaded with him as her eyes once again scanned over his bruised and beaten face, her eyes silently begging him not to go through with whatever he was planning. Not until he was healed again.

"I have to meet with Alfie Solomons, and you have to come with me." He insisted as he waved his hand towards the clothes again, letting out a grunt as he shifted where he sat.

Maude sighed softly as she went t grab his clothes sending him a scowl when she returned to the bed. "We can't we do that after you've recovered?" She asked with a raised eyebrow as she carefully helped him dress, firstly helping him into his trousers and then into his button-up shirt.

"No, can't wait any longer." He argued with a slow shake of his head, groaning painfully as she tried her best to gently help him with his shirt. "Sabini won't stop until he's killed me. The coppers didn't scare them back to London last night."

"Right and now you want to fuck off to London, his territory." She lightly snapped at Tommy as she buttoned up his shirt, sending him a harsh glare even when her hands worked so gently with him.

"We'll be in the Jew's territory, he won't get to us there as easy as here," Tommy explained as he reached out and rested one hand on her hip, giving her an assuring squeeze.

"Very well." She sighed as she pursed her lips, pulling Tommy's coat around his body to hide the fact that he was only half dressed and you could fully see his chest as she opted for not putting on his undershirt with his hurt arm. "But if Polly's pissed, I'll tell her it was all you." She warned him with a firm look before slinging his good arm around her shoulder and helping him onto his feet.

Maude managed to sneak him out of the hospital and past the Peaky Blinders posted in and outside the building. She got him in the car and drove to Charlie Strong's yard as he had requested. She supported most of his weight as they made their way around the yard, following the light of a small fire Charlie and Curly had started.

"Hey!" Charlie called out through the darkness of the night. "Who goes there?" He asked.

"It's us!" Maude called out back to him as they stepped into the light.

"Tommy?" Charlie called out when his eyes landed on Tommy, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

"Curly, get that oil you put on the legs when they go lame," Tommy instructed Curly as Maude carefully helped him sit down on a chair near the fire.

"Are you fucking mad, Doyle?" Charlie asked his nephew, speaking around the cigarette placed between his lips, tucking the gun in his hand back into his coat.

"The yellow stuff. Go on." Tommy urged Curly who nodded before running off.

Charlie stared at Tommy, sending a quick glance at Maude before turning back to Tommy again. "They said you'd be in for another three weeks." He commented as he quirked an eyebrow, looking between the two for answers.

"I need to get on a boat to London," Tommy explained to his uncle, avoiding the unasked question surrounding his stay in the hospital. "Tonight." he insisted.

"You discharged yourself?" Charlie asked as his eyebrows furrowed and he looked towards Maude when Tommy remained quiet.

"Don't look at me." She insisted with a shake of her head as she held her hands up in defense before crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm a fucking sitting duck in there, Charlie." Tommy huffed softly as he closed his eyes, his breathing slow and harsh. "Sabini could send a man at any time. I need to get some things done." He explained softly.

Maude approached him, placing the back of her hand against his cheek, feeling the extreme warmth radiating off him. "You're burning up." She whispered in concern and she looked down at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Here." Curly called out as he rejoined them with a bottle of yellow liquid in his hands.

"Oh, Tommy! That stuff's for rubbing into fucking horses." Charlie commented as he looked at the bottle in Curly's hand before turning towards Tommy.

Tommy let out a dry chuckle. "I am a horse." He commented, his eyes remaining closed and his eyebrows deeply furrowed as he silently endured his pain, knowing Maude wouldn't hesitate to drag him back to the hospital.

Charlie scoffed as he stared down at Tommy. "If you were a horse, they'd shoot you with this many broken bones." He informed him with a shake of his head.

"Get the black powder, Curly," Tommy instructed Curly as he weakly waved him off with his hand and Curly nodded before rushing off to grab the black powder as well.

Charlie shared a confused look with Maude before turning to Tommy. "You pay for a bloody hospital and you're using witchcraft?" he asked as he raised his eyebrows.

"I need to sleep in the open air and feel the boat under me, Charlie," Tommy explained softly.

"Oh, Tommy," Charlie whispered as he slowly shook his head. "You're just like your mother." He commented as he pursed his lips.

"Do you have a boat here?" Tommy asked his uncle.

"Only the January. She's heavy." Charlie replied, glancing at Maude with eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "London will take four days." He informed them, figuring Maude would accompany Tommy, as by now everyone knew the two were sometimes inseparable.

"That'll do," Tommy replied with a nod of his head. " Can you spare Curly?" He asked and Charlie nodded in agreement as Curly rejoined them again, this time with two bottles in his hands. "You have tobacco, Curly?" Tommy asked as Maude helped him onto his feet.

"And tea and whisky," Curly replied with excitement as he nodded his head, the three of them following Charlie to the boat. "We'll have you running around like a colt." He assured Tommy with a giggle.

"Ah, get him aboard. I'll fill her up." Charlie instructed Maude and Curly.

"If I sleep all the way, it's Camden Town we're heading for," Tommy informed as he glanced back at Maude and then towards Curly.

"What business do you have in Camden Town, Tommy?" Charlie called out to his nephew as his eyebrows furrowed.

Tommy chose to ignore the question as he stepped onto the boat with Maude and Curly's help. "Tell Polly she's in charge while I'm away. If I don't come back, tell her she's in charge for good." He called out to his uncle and Maude's eyes widened as her heart sank a little.

Throughout the four days, Maude kept close eyes on Tommy, forcing him to eat, drink his medicine, and helped clean his cuts every morning and night. She took care of him, just as she did after Billy Kimber had shot him.

Again she was sat cleaning his wound, his head resting on her lap as he lay sprawled out on the bed.

"The cuts are healing nicely." She said softly as she ever so lightly rubbed cream onto every cut on his face. "They'd heal a lot nicer and faster in a hospital bed." She muttered as she shot him a pointed look.

"I have to get this done." He replied as she looked up at her with pursed lips, enjoying the soft and gentle touch of her fingers on his aching skin. "Don't have time to lay n a hospital bed." He added.

Maude sighed, not pushing him any further as she knew it would be a losing battle for her. "You know...after digging a bullet out of you, I didn't think I'd ever have to take care of you like this again." She told him softly as she briefly met his gaze before sighing again. "Wishful thinking." She muttered.

"I'm sorry sweetheart," Tommy whispered as he reached up, taking hold of the hand working so gently with his face, bringing it to his busted lips and softly kissing her palm. "I'm sorry for always dragging you into my business."

"Don't be." She said softly as she pulled her hand away from his lips and carefully leaned down, pressing a feather-light kiss to his lips. "I'd say it's more like I run after you into the fire than you dragging me into it." She said as she finished rubbing the cream on his cuts before putting everything aside, her hand moving in his hair, calmingly running through it, "Get some sleep." She insisted.

For the past four days, it was the only way Tommy got any sleep, with his head resting either on her lap or on her chest. He'd admit, he liked when she held him whenever he felt so vulnerable. It was only with Maude he could feel vulnerable. Back at their shared home in Birmingham, he'd always be the one to hold her when they slept, but he didn't mind one bit when the roles were reversed.