You've Only Just Arrived (a Tom Hiddleston fan fiction)

Part 54

Tom’s presence in the hospital bed with you nets a few looks from those periodically popping into the room through the night, but bless them nobody orders him out, or home. How many, you wonder, are just there to sneak a peek at the beautiful man resting in the bed alongside you?

At some point, between the softly spoken disturbances John or Richard, you’re not sure which as someone had always been seated in the chair by the door – finds time to retrieve fresh sets of clothing for everyone. As depleted as you are from the surge of adrenaline associated with the confrontation with Mitch and everything thereafter it is amazing they found the energy to run the errand.

A light drizzle does nothing to thin out the crowd waiting to document your release from the hospital in the morning. There must have been some sort of very clear instruction given that the sidewalk before the hospital was off limits - the entire group waits just beyond the curb wielding cameras and other various recording devices.

There are too many shouted questions to keep track of so you don’t even try. You focus on the waiting car and the door to the backseat that John paused to open before jogging around the rear of the vehicle. Richard stands, keeping a wary eye on the crowd as you stoop through the opening and slide across the backseat. Tom has one leg in the car when something said freezes him midaction. There’s a split second pause before Tom seats himself and turns to look at the crowd, his eyes burning.

“What? Tom?” As much as you want to turn to try to spot what exactly has him so affected, you keep your back to the onlookers in favor of searching his face. What had been shouted?

Richard closes the door behind Tom before turning to the gathered mass. You see him clench his fist once before he reaches up beyond the sightline offered by the passenger’s side window. You hear the light thump of his hand meeting with the metal hood of the car. “Tom and ______ appreciate yourconcern for their wellbeing. We’re happyto confirm that everyone is ok. Thank you so much for coming out to show them your support.” He snorts as he claims his seat up front.

You lean forward as far as the seatbelt allows as John puts the car into gear since Tom is still mutely glaring at the crowd and offering no answers. “What was that about?”

“Sometimes I really just love this town…” Richard mutters under his breath.

That answer doesn’t help by much to clue you in to what had prompted the irritated reactions from both men. When Tom reaches up to pat Richard on the shoulder you plop back in your seat again. With the growing distance between the crowd and the car Tom is able to shake the dagger-glare from his face. “Yea…. Thanks, Richard.” He glances from Richard to notice your frustrated frown and shakes his head, “They said something about my ability to protect you. Using a word I’d rather not repeat to describe me.”

You stare at Tom long enough to process what he said and take a breath before commenting. “John, turn around.”

“What? No.” John replies.

Richard chimes in with his unasked for response as well. “No. _____, we’re going home.” Then snorts, “Again with the arguing. Always with the arguing….”

Well that’s the vote from the front seat. You lean forward until the seatbelt stops you again and repeat yourself, “John. Turn. Around.”

Tom is trying to talk you down though just moments prior it had seemed like he’d have liked nothing more than to get back out of the car and exchange words with the person who’d barked the insulting comment – whatever it had been. “They were just words, darling. Let’s go home. Remember how much you wanted to go home last night?” Yes, of course you do. You narrow your eyes at him but he deflects your glare with ease.