Their Mockingbird- Complete

10

Saturday

Arthur pov

Since yesterday morning, Nancy has refused to leave my side. She even cried when I went to go the toilet. It breaks my heart and I just don't know what to do. How can I possibly help her? It's clearly because of being shot and she must want me to protect her. However there is no way around this problem. Not when she's right. I can protect her but only if she is with me.

There is a family meeting in 5 minutes so me and Nancy were walking to the garrison. She was holding my hand as she skipped along, stopping occasionally to use my body as a climbing frame. Her ginger hair flowed in the wind as she struggled to tame it. It was quite a site when she was wafting her hands around to move her hair. Looked like a bloody dance

"Can i have your whiskey today Arthur?" She asked. I would often sneak her a few drinks

"We'll see honey" I said to her. When we arrived at the garrison, she tugged on my coat making me look down at her. She had her arms up signalling she wanted to be carried. I put nancy on my hip and opened the doors to be greeted by my family

"Morning" I said sitting down with Nancy on my knee

"Morning luv" John said kissing Nancy's head

"Aw...love you too john" I teased putting my younger brother in a headlock

"Why's Nancy here?" Polly asked

"Charming" nancy mumbled

"You know I didn't mean it like that. But finn isn't allowed to the meetings and neither are you" polly said sternly

"But I'm part of the family" nancy said angrily

"We know darling. But sometimes we talk about adult topics. Stuff kids shouldn't hear" Tommy said

"Well I'm not leaving" she said crossing her arms firmly and burying herself in my chest

"She's fine ain't ya luv" I said ruffling her hair

"Alright fine. You can stay for part of the meeting. But there is something that you need to leave for" Tommy said to her

"So when are we meeting Michael then?" John asked polly. I could almost feel nancy roll her eyes despite her facing away from me

"Tomorrow, you will all meet him properly for Sunday dinner. Get to know him abit better. And keep him out of business please tom" polly said

"Me and Arthur can't come tomorrow. We're busy" nancy said

"Oh ye, doing what?" Tommy asked

"Ye, doing what?" I asked smirking

"Remember Arthur, you and me are going to China for the day so we won't be able to attend family dinner I'm afraid" nancy said. Everyone was trying to suppress their laughter

"Right! And when will you be back?" John asked

"Monday" she answered

"Ah, just in time for school" Tommy said. There was silence for a minute before nancy screamed

"SHIT"

"Nancy, is this because you don't like Michael?" Polly asked the little girl on my knee

"It's not that I don't like him. It's that I think he's a selfish bastard who abandoned the woman who raised him completely, abandoned his brother and is now trying to force his way into our family even though I clearly want him to piss off. I'm happy for you aunt pol, I really am, but he's not a nice man. I know you're his real mother. But that woman still raised him and he has just left her. I bet she feels awful" nancy said

"I know darling. But he's finally home. Please just try and get to know him on Sunday. For me" polly begged

"Alright. Only because I love you" she said. After half an hour, I heard soft snores. We looked to see nancy fast asleep in the booth with her head on my lap and her feet on the seats

"Somethings wrong brother" Tommy said looking at our little sister

"She's not left your side. It isn't healthy" John said

"I know. But what am I supposed to do ay? She's too cute to say no to. And whenever I even leave the room, she screams bloody murder" I said running my fingers through Nancy's hair

"What she went to is horrible for anyone. Never mind a 7 year old. Maybe you should take her to see a doctor, they can-" I interrupted pollys idea

"No. No way. I'm not taking her to a doctor when all they'll do is prod her with needles and inject her with god knows what. It's not happening" I said getting aggravated

"Well we've got to do something. She can't come with you when we have meetings with clients. She can't go boxing. She can't go when you beat and threaten someone. And she certainly can't go the bloody whore house" Tommy said

"She's scared Tom. I think we should give her a few weeks to calm down and it should resolve itself" I said

"But what if it doesn't? It's just gonna get worse because she will become even more attached to ya" John said

"Why not take her to therapy? They won't do any tests with needles or anything. But they will get to the very root of the problem just by listening to her talk. We all know she's bloody good at talking" polly said

"No. I'm not taking her to therapy. It won't help at all. Besides, she doesn't need help. She just loves her family. That's all" I said

"You've got your head so far up your own arse that you can't see she is suffering. Nancy needs help Arthur. And desperately. Before the problem becomes irreversible" polly said. Nancy began to wake at that minute from all the raised voices. I lifted her up and she lay her head on my shoulder when I stood up

"I'll think about what you said pol. I'm gonna take her home now. We'll see you all tomorrow" I said. I didn't want to see them for the rest of the day. I needed time to cool off before i say something I'm gonna regret. I carry nancy all the way back home and at this point, it's 12 o'clock. She is fast asleep from the early morning start so I put her on the sofa and put a blanket over her