After some much needed rest Olivia was able to deal with her present issues. As she rushed into the hospital the following morning, the snow falling heavy she decided that she wouldn't let Mr Shelby get under her skin.
Accepting his offer to be on the board was a kind gesture, one that she appreciated but it wouldn't be held over her head. Olivia was going to make it very clear to him.
Stepping into his room she quickly found him sat with his two brothers, engrossed in a family meeting.
"Good morning Mr Shelby" she greeted cheerily before throwing a newspaper at him.
Reacting quickly he caught the newspaper with a slight surprised expression.
"Your reflexes are improving" she said before squeezing by a surprised Arthur who was at the side of Tommy's bed "But you were squinting. You may need glasses"
"Tommy with specs?" John laughed "Now that's something I'd love to see"
"Hmm" she mused as she looked him in the eyes before snatching the paper and holding it a foot away from his face "Read the headline" she demanded.
Tommy squinted instantly as he looked at the paper and she pulled away, tucking the paper under her arm and leaving the room.
—-
"Is she always like that?" Arthur it asked as he watched Nurse Heart leave the room.
Tommy nodded, slightly amused at her quick visit this morning. Olivia looked well rested and less angry with him, something he was surprised at given their last conversation.
"If I get out of this and I only have to wear glasses I may just be the luckiest man alive" he mumbled as he leaned back in his chair, trying to dissolve some of the stress on his shoulders.
Parts of his business were suffering due to his lack of involvement.
"I think you'll be leaving her with more than glasses Tom" John grinned as he twiddled his famous toothpick between his teeth.
——
The eye doctor would be visiting Tommy later on in the afternoon so Olivia decided to use the rest of his morning on productive steps towards his recovery.
Jackson helped Tommy get dressed and wheeled him to the outside yard where she was waiting. Perfectly wrapped up in her coat and scarf Tommy watched as she stood from the bench when he approached.
"Out you go" she said as she leaned down and grabbed his hand.
Tommy took her hand and ignored the warm feeling as he pushed himself out of the chair, grateful that he was getting steadier on his feet.
"Let's take a walk shall we?" She asked with a smile as she slipped her hand away from his and linked arms with him instead.
"I can only do a few steps" he breathed, suddenly angry at how restricted he was.
"Then we do a few steps" she shrugged as she gently pulled him toward the end of the yard
Tommy had to admit that the cool air felt good on his face. Even moving his heavy legs felt good. After the first three steps he realised he was capable of doing more and led them both.
Jackson hovered behind with the chair, waiting in the shadows which took all of Tommy's strength to ignore.
"How's your head?" She asked him, looking up with her big brown eyes that always swam with worry when he was vertical.
"Fine" he breathed, grateful that his spine was adjusting to the slow steps and that his brain wasn't throbbing erratically under his skull.
"Good but don't push it Mr Shelby. We don't want to cause anymore damage"
"Why weren't you on my service last night?" He demanded, ignoring her worry as they passed two nurses who stopped to gawp.
"I thought it best that I went home and rested. I can be quite abrupt when I'm tired"
Tommy watched as she threw a dirty look at her colleagues, enjoying the way they scuttled away at her fierce gaze. Olivia Heart was not one to be messed with.
"I like abrupt" he said as he stopped, knowing he was close to pushing his body. Not letting go of his arm she looked up at him from her long lashes.
"I know you do" she sighed "On a scale of ten how bad does it hurt right now?"
Tommy paused "Six" he replied honestly, surprised at himself for being honest about his pain.
"In a week Mr Shelby I can promise you that we will get that number down but for now I need you to get back in the wheelchair"
Olivia turned to look over his shoulder and nodded for Jackson to move forward.
Suddenly too tired to argue he accepted the mans help and took a seat. It never occurred to him how far he had come until the wheelchair was turned and he saw how far they were from the door.
"Morning Miss Heart" a doctor greeted with a large handsome smile as he walked by the courtyard with perfectly shined shoes and slicked back hair.
That had been Tommy only two weeks ago.
"Good morning" she replied curtly before opening the door from Jackson. Once they where in the building Olivia was pulled to the side by another nurse but Jackson silently moved on.
"They all try to get her attention" he muttered as they made their way down a narrow corridor "Half the time she doesn't notice them" he laughed and Tommy realised that this was Jackson giving him more information.
"She notices them, she chooses not to acknowledge them" Tommy replied as he lit a cigarette.
"Well, she's acknowledging you Mr Shelby. That has to say a lot doesn't it?"
Tommy didn't have to look over his shoulder to know that Jackson was incredibly smug right now.
——
Tommy needed glasses. Tommy fucking Shelby needed glasses. It didn't matter. After his injuries he would only walk away knowing he needed glasses. Olivia could see the relief spread over him as she watched his shoulders relax.
Seeing the eye specialist out he watched how she walked, graceful and with purpose at all times.
"Can I look at your stitches?" She asked as she made her way over to the sink to wash her hands.
"Yes" he mumbled as he sat up in his bed, watching her.
Olivia quickly dried her hands and took a seat on the edge of his bed, as she did every night. Gently pulling back his bandage she paused.
"You're hot" she breathed before blushing
"What?"
Pressing the back of her hand against his head she felt his temperature soaring. Around two of his stitches the skin was starting to turn red, the first sign of an infection.
Unwrapping his bandage she threw the material away and began searching the draws by his bed.
"What are you doing?" He enquired with a bemused smirk as she went off in her head
Olivia shook her head before looking at him "I think you have an infection. I want to start you on antibiotics but I don't bloody know where they are!" She hissed as she began ripping open the draws.
Tommy could see that she was worried and wanted to reach out, tell her to relax but she was already stepping away
Opening the door to his room he watched her carefully
"Nurse Appleton, where is Mr Shelby's antibiotics?" She snapped, her hand going to her hip.
"We took them out yesterday when-"
"Well bring them back Miss Appleton. Nothing is to leave this room without my say. Do you understand?"
Slamming the door on her colleague she turned to face him, her face softening "Sorry about that Mr Shelby. I really do hate it when people move my things"
"I'm fine" he mumbled as she touched his head once more.
"I'll be the judge of that" she whispered as his door opened revealing a sheepish Nurse Appleton.
"Miss Heart, where do you want them?" She asked.
Olivia didn't look at her and Tommy watched as she closed her eyes, frustration building from the stupid question.
"Just leave them on the side" she spat through gritted teeth.
Nurse Appleton did as she was told and quickly left the room.
"You're very abrupt. Are you tired Nurse Heart?" He asked her.
Olivia laughed, surprising them both "To them it's not an issue but to me, making sure everything is where it should be is important. I'm tired of...."
"Idiots?" He suggested
Smiling she grabbed the medicine bottle and poured two tablets for him and passed him a glass of water.
"I'm sure in your line of business Mr Shelby you have no room for people getting in your way"
"I don't" he agreed as he took the tablets "But people who get in my way don't tend to walk away"
Tommy watched as her eyes widened at the information and he wondered if it would change her opinion of him. Everyone knew that Tommy had blood on his hands and not everyone could live with it.
"Will you ever reach a height of success that you would be content with?"
"Probably not" he leaned back "Its more addictive than any drugs this place holds"
"But the dangers...." she trailed off "You almost died"
"But I didn't because there's people like you, who like things in a certain way, in certain places, that make sure I survive"
"I can't be there every time" she laughed at his carefree attitude towards his morality, a sound that he would never tire or hearing.
"Why can't you?" He asked her.