Between Heaven and Birmingham
Apologies for the delay in this one!
Chapter 7 - Same Blood.
The lift doors pinged open at the end of the long corridor. Charlie barely noticed it at first, until footsteps approached quickly, uneven yet familiar. Tightening his jaw, Charlie saw the blurred figure come more into focus. It was Duke. It looked like heâd come straight from outside, coat half open, hair damp from the light rain, and expression already tense before heâd even reached the doors to ICU. Spotting Charlie, his breath hitched a little too loudly and he stopped a few metres away from him.
Silence was broken by the doors crashing open and a chaotic rush of medical staff trying to get Tommy to theatre. âWait..â Duke called out as he neared Charlie. âThatâs my Dad!â He yelled only to be nudged by Charlie. âOur Dad..â He corrected with a frown. Duke shrugged his brother off and heaved a sigh before a Doctor came to speak with them both. âYour Father is bleeding internally. They are taking him back to surgery to fix it. We will update you when we can.â He told the pair. âYou were supposed to have done that last night!â Duke erupted, clearly his Fathers son. Charlie inhaled sharply and offered a hand on Dukeâs shoulder lightly. âJust let them do their job yeah? These things can happen..â He sighed, his tone more quieter and calming, just like Grace. Duke rubbed a hand over his mouth before speaking again. âYou were in with him?â He questioned. âYes..â Charlie nodded. âHow bad was it?â Charlie held his gaze on Duke as he asked. âBad enoughâ He replied bluntly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke again. Just the distant sounds of the hospital around them filling the silence. Machines, Footsteps and muted voices. Finally, Duke spoke again. âHe asked me to shoot him.â He said lowering his head. Charlie swallowed thickly, his gaze now on Duke, a small reaction, but real. âAlready shot twice, and asked me to shoot him, finish the job. When I did get to him..â He paused. âHe said to put him down like a fuckinâ horse. He almost looked relieved, kinda like he was tired of fightingâ Duke relived that moment in the blink of an eye and turned his head away sharply. A humorous laugh left Charlie. âOf course he did, the mad bastard..â Charlieâs eyes flicked down the corridor where theyâd taken their father through a set of double doors whilst Duke studied him briefly. âYou donât sound surprised.â He frowned and Charlie shrugged once. âI know who he is.â
Duke leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest whilst Charlie sat down on a chair. âSo, youâre in the army?â Duke asked. âWhat gave it away? The regimental hoodie or because youâd think I'd follow in his footsteps?â Charlie sat back earning a frown from his brother. âWell, I didnât know he used to be, but I guess it makes sense.â Duke admitted. âWhy did you join the fucking army?â He continued. âBecause I wanted out. I didnât want the Shelby life everyone knewâ Charlie spoke honestly. âThatâs a funny way of getting out though, Charlie. I mean, could have become a Doctor or something..â He shrugged. âLetâs face it, you still ended up around men like him.â Duke jerked his head in the direction theyâd taken their father. âJust in uniforms..â
âWhy did you leave?â Duke asked, now sat on the floor despite there being chairs next to Charlie whose eyes stayed forward. âBecause Mum wanted me to..â he replied quietly. âIs that it? Because she wanted you to?â Duke scoffed. âNo.. Not exactly..â Charlie clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. âBecause, if I came back..â He paused and set his elbows on his kneeâs and head in his hands. âIf I came back I knew I wouldnât leave again..â He admitted earning a quick look up from Duke, understanding immediately because that was a curse in the Shelby family. âIt was hard enough walking away at Arthurs funeral, then Adaâs..â Charlie uttered causing Duke to gasp quietly. âYou were there?â âI was. From afar. Close enough to pay my respects, but far enough to be able to walk away again afterâ He admitted. âAuntie Ada was the only person I remained in touch with and some fucker took that from me!â Charlie spat angrily as he got up and kicked the wall, his inner Shelby surfacing. Duke widened his eyes and looked away guiltily when it dawned on him that Charlie didnât know the true story behind their Auntieâs death.
Dukeâs silence caused Charlie to look round to him. âWhat are you hiding?â He narrowed his eyes, approaching him quickly. Duke didnât respond and looked the other way. Charlie crouched down to his level and glared at him. âFucking tell me!â He hissed, cupping Dukeâs chin between his finger and thumb. âGet the fuck off me!â Duke lashed. âThen tell me what you are hidingâ Charlieâs voice kept low and somewhat intimidating. âHe asked me to do it and I couldnât. I couldnât and wouldnât do that to my kin..â Duke began. âWho is he?â Charlie stood upright again and took a step back. âBeckett. The same guy who shot Dad..â âWhy the fuck would he shoot Auntie Ada?â Charlie was confused. âBe.. Because she was interfering with a deal between me and Beckett and reporting me to the coppers for looting at an arms dealers lock up that had been attacked by arsonists before a gas explosion got itâ He said wiping away his tears. Charlie didnât know if he was angry or sad right now. âShe was interfering? What the fuck is wrong with you?â He shook his head. âIt wasnât supposed to end like this..â Duke sniffed. âYou take after him. Donât know where or how to stop. Even when loved ones get hurt, you just canât stopâ Charlie said truthly. Duke swallowed hard, riddled with guilt but remained silent.
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