Vicky woke up with a buzzing noise down her ear and a blinding light in her eyes. Was this heaven? No, she soon realised it was not heaven, but a hospital. She rubbed her eyes to adjust to the light and felt how dry her throat was as she tried to speak. Everything ached and the room was spinning. Vicky just wanted to go back to sleep again but then she saw Tommy's joyful face once he realised his daughter was awake. He rushed over to her bed and gripped her hand in his, kissing her forehead
"Oh darling, you're alright now, it'll all be ok" he comforted wiping vickys stray tear. She felt overwhelmed by Everything. When she closed her eyes, she was positive that she was dead, almost sure of it, and finn- oh god, vicky needed to know if he was alright
"Finn, finn where is he finn where daddy where" vicky sat up in a tizz and frantically looked around the room for finn as Tommy tried to calm the shaking girl
"Ssshh, he's fine, he's safe and in the hospital room next door. He bumped his head but you dont need to worry. Can just make fun of the egg on his head for now ay" he said making vicky sigh in relief as she clung onto her father
"Bouncer, is he OK?"
"Yes he's alright. He's at home being spoilt by polly no doubt" vicky beamed at the thought. She dug her head into her fathers neck and hugged him even tighter, scared of letting go
"I was so frightened daddy, I tried not to he for finn, but I couldn't hide it. I kept thinking we were going to die there. When the roof came down, I was sure we'd be stuck there and die due to the cold. Finn was panicking and I wanted to calm him down but I just wanted to rest, it hurt to stay awake so...so I gave up" vicky cried as Tommy cupped her cheeks to look at him
"Victoria harlow, you are the bravest little girl I know. I've been to war and seen grown men run at the fucking enemy in bravery. You do that every day just by carrying on. I couldn't be more fucking proud of the woman you're becoming. I love you princess"
"I love you too daddy" Tommy kissed her cheek and wiped her tears. A nurse knocked on the door and entered
"Ah miss shelby, you're awake"
"Miss harlow" vicky corrected. It Wasnt that she didn't want the shelby name, but harlow was her last connection with her family before tommy
"Mr shelby, do you mind if we have a word outside" the nurse said trying to smile at vicky so as not to worry her.
"I'll see if finn can keep you company, John's with him now" Tommy left the room and seconds later, finn came running in with John behind him
"Scared me to death you prick" finn grumbled hugging vicky as she kissed his cheek
"Look pretty alive to me" her voice was dry and croaky but she didn't ask for water, she couldn't be bothered in all honesty
"You look like shit" John commented
"I'm in hospital ill. What's your excuse?" Vicky asked looking him up and down
"That was unnecessary" he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Tommy was taken to an office where a doctor was sat waiting. Tommy took a seat, his knee bouncing up and down impatiently
"Get to the fucking point then" Tommy said getting out a cigarette
"You can't smoke in here mr shelby" the doctor commented
"I'm not on the ward nor around any sick people. I'll fucking smoke" and so he did. The doctor didn't have the guts to stop him
"We've looked at the scans and blood tests. I'm afraid there is no denying it. Victoria is suffering from-"
Whilst Tommy and the doctor were talking, vicky and finn were listening to John tell stories about him Tommy and Arthur when they were younger
"Did you really put bleach in his whiskey?"
"Ye. I was 6, did it as a joke. Funniest part was seeing my mother dive to Arthur and knock the cup from his hands seconds before he could drink it" John chuckled but vicky was more concerned for his sanity
"In my first Foster home, i tore about all the dining room furniture and then put it back together with weak glue. The moment everyone sat down, the chairs broke from beneath them" they all laughed
Tommy currently had the doctor by his throat up against a wall
"We were here last week. Why the fuck did no one tell me then?"
"We didn't notice Mr shelby" the doctor trembled under Tommy's grip
"It's your fucking job to diaognose people. You had the evidence right under your noses and you've been ignoring it rather than treating it" Tommy threw the man against the floor as he wiped his eyes dry
"Mr shelby, we shall begin treatment for your daughter the moment she is made aware of her condition"
"How long?" Tommy asks through his gritted teeth
"Pardon?"
"HOW LONG DOES MY DAUGHTER HAVE LEFT?" He screamed at the doctor making the man flinch
"With treatment, she could easily live many happy years. 10 or more, she can grow to be an adult and thrive as a woman" Tommy punches the doctor in the face, knocking him over before he goes to vickys room. He has to take a breath outside and wipe his face before he can go in
"Can I speak with vicky alone?" John and finn leave and John puts his hand on tommys shoulder, noticing that something is wrong. He sits down next to vicky on her bed and begin to explain
"Whatever it is, you can tell me, I won't get upset...Will I?" She asks unsure of herself. Tommy can hardly hold his tears but knows that he has to for his little girl. He couldn't stand the thought of having to tell grace and his brothers and sisters, polly and Michael, it broke his heart to tell vicky
"The doctors did some scans when you were asleep. They've found something along with some blood tests. Do you know about cancer vicky?" Vicky nods slowly, she knew all too well about what cancer can do to a person
"I'm so sorry baby. Its in your liver at the moment and they are gonna put you on treatment to slow down its growth and-"
"Slow down, so not stop....am I going to die daddy?" When she asks that, Tommy can feel his throat closing in as he chokes back the tears
"I...I don't...you will, at some point, the disease will catch up with you and you will die. But listen to me, we are gonna get you treatment, and doctor says you can still live a good adult life. You aren't leaving us any time soon. Alot of science can be discovered over so many years, a cure could be found" Tommy is trying to convince himself more. Vicky starts crying as she wraps her arms around Tommy's waist and buries her head into his shirt
"I don't want to, please daddy, make it go away" vicky knew he couldn't, but she felt hopeless at that moment, going to the person who she felt could fix anything
"I can't baby i wish I could but I cant"
"No please, please" vicky sobs loudly and Tommy rocks her back and forth whilst kissing and stroking her hair. He cries with her, unable to control it any longer. But they'd get through it, one way or another
YOU ARE READING
Shelby Fire- Completed
FanfictionBefore the war, there was a girl. Her customers knew her as Sapphire, her family knew her as Dotty. After falling pregnant with Thomas Shelby's baby, she runs. No one knows where and Tommy was left believing she had simply grown tired of small heath...
