From The Ashes (Life After War) (21 page)

“
What the hell's wrong with him?”

“
We need to talk to Adrian.”

“
Maybe call a vote?”

“
I'll handle it.” Daryl stated, choosing to do what he thought was right. Seen as sucking up or not, it was part of his new duties to support their team leader.

“
How?” Shawn demanded.

“
I'll start with talking to him instead of throwing challenges,” Daryl responded pointedly. “We've looked up to him the entire time we've been Eagles. Why does that disappear without him even getting the chance to explain?”

“
You think it's all innocent?” Billy asked snottily.

Daryl didn't lie–he was sure it wasn't. “No, but I do think there's a reason to his madness.”

Daryl slung the bag of tinder over his shoulder, glad it didn't smell like the small pellets of shit that it was full of. “He isn't breaking any rules, you know. We've watched the shadows on that tent more closely than we ever did Rick's. We'd know.”

Daryl's tone was grew hard as the others absorbed that light blow. “Kyle may want her, but he won't cross that line until it's legal. And yes, I'll bet my new place on it–for those of you taking notes and wanting the slot.”

The six men shared leery glances. They were relieved not to have to talk to Adrian, but it was obvious that they didn't trust Daryl as their new XO. They wanted their team back the way it was before.

9

“
Judging by the lack of marks, I’d guess that it was Eagles this time, instead of camp members,” John observed, ignoring the sudden nausea that sank into his stomach. He gathered a tray of supplies as quickly as he could. It had been a busy day for medical care. “They don’t leave me as much evidence.”

“
Yeah.”

Ray and Dale resembled each other enough to be related. That helped with new arrivals until they saw the lingering glances and soft brushes, and then they understood. Most glared, but more than a few would remark on it. Only once had there been a different reaction. When the Vet had seen them, he’d started joining them for evening meals. Dale had assumed the Vet was also gay, but would never ask. He was just glad to have someone else sitting at the table.

“
Eagles did this?” Ray asked angrily. As Kevin’s XO, he had a lot of interactions with the other Eagles and Adrian, and no longer had problems with the senior members. It was the incoming rookies that Ray usually had to set straight.

“
No, not since you got hurt...”

“
Saving Adrian,” John finished.

“
Explain ‘this time’,” Ray demanded.

Dale and John both shut their mouths.

Ray scowled angrily. “Don’t worry over it. I’ll know before I hit the rack tonight!”

Dale groaned. “Don’t do that, okay?”

Ray tried not to relent. “Then tell me.”

Dale grunted. “Sometimes the rookies say shit to me.” The failed Eagle couldn’t hide his hurt. “And sometimes they want to see a little queer blood.”

“
Who?!”

“
I won’t tell you that.”

“
Why not?”

“
Because it’s like you said the other night while we were at the movie. I don’t have a real place here yet. When I do, they’ll leave me alone.”

“
They should anyway!” Ray growled.

“
Yeah.” Dale dropped his head, chest heavy. Wasn't there ever going to be even a little peace and happiness for him?

Ray felt Dale's misery peak and moved closer. “Hey. Damn. Are you okay?”

John left the tent to give the couple a moment of privacy–one Ray would take advantage of to offer comfort. John personally believed the males had the right to love whomever they chose, but the idiots getting a free ride in Safe Haven weren’t about to accept that view. The three men who’d beaten Dale in the shower didn’t have a set place here, either.

John was angry, stomach aching loudly, and his feet took him straight to Adrian’s tent.

10

“
Is it a variation of Stockholm Syndrome, in either case?” Adrian asked. In the hour John had been here, smoking and relaxing, they'd moved onto other topics.

“
Unlikely,” John stated sourly. “Bonding after a crisis takes strange forms. In time, they’ll both recover and choose what suits them. I expect they’ll stand by their men, as well. From what I’ve heard from the other freed females, Jennifer is much harder than any of the men are giving her credit for. We already know how determined Rebecca is.”

“
And my camp?”

John blew out a tired grunt with the lungful of smoke. “Will fall in line, so long as you approve.”

Adrian didn’t respond to that. Yes, they would, but not without causing problems first, testing the strength of underage bonds.

“
How about you?”

John stubbed the roach out. “I’m surviving.”

“
Angela wants to try.”

“
She’s not strong enough yet.”

“
That’s what Marc said, but she makes
those
calls.”

John didn’t argue. The pain was becoming intolerable without the pills. He was spending too much time stoned on them.

“
She’s healing well.” John wanted to ask Adrian how she was recovering so quickly and stopped himself. That would reveal a faint edge of envy that the doctor didn’t want known.

“
When?”

“
In the next week or so. She’ll tell me.”

“
Okay.”

As they stood up, Adrian clapped John gently on the shoulder. “How about cutting off early and getting some rest? Bags that dark are not a good advertisement for a doctor.”

John looked at him without amusement. “When will we head for Arkansas?”

Adrian stared back steadily. “We have been all along.”

John knew that. “I mean openly. When will the Eagles start gearing up for the fight waiting there?”

“
Sometime after Wichita,” Adrian answered lightly, pushing back the heavy worry. “Right now, they still need a break, too.”

Adrian left to do his rounds, and John returned to the medical tent. Ray and Dale were gone, and the doctor headed straight for the medicine cabinet.

When the flap rustled a bit later, the doctor was in his chair, waiting for the pills to work.

Anne didn’t say anything as his angry gaze went over her muddy clothes and new bruises. She set her broken glasses on the table and grabbed a bottle from the medicine cabinet. He had his demons to fight, and she had hers.

11

Marc found Angela in the usual place as full dark settled over dystopian Kansas views–perched on the top of the highest, sturdiest structure inside the perimeter. This time, it was Adrian’s semi.

It’s like she can’t get close enough to the sky,
Marc thought.

He noted her shadows, and the newest layer of awning on the outer edges of the perimeter. It was a deflecting glint that would interfere with the sights on a scope and make it rough to pick out a single target. They only had one side of the camp covered right now, but it was something they added to every day that Safe Haven wasn't on the road.

Marc nodded to Kyle, Angela's senior shadow.

The mobster quickly vanished toward the QZ. No doubt to check on Jennifer, who he hadn't been able to get near since returning from the dump and burn. It would be a short moment, though, because Kyle had duty over the farthest perimeter from the girl for the next five hours. Now doing schedules together, Marc and Kenn had agreed that a separation was needed, and this first day of it had to feel like it wasn't ever going to end. Tomorrow wouldn't be any better.

Marc held only a bit of sympathy. He'd always been a little leery of the mobster, but he had honestly thought Kyle was one of the good guys.
It's like he and Adrian switched places on me
, Marc thought with a slightly resentful frown.

Reaching the semi, Marc called out first. “Permission to come up?”

Angela sounded relaxed. “As you would, Grunt.”

He cleared the top and stopped, stunned at the sight of the shield above the camp. Right over them, it was pure purple. Marc was glad the sheep weren't paying much attention yet. For now, only Adrian and a few of his Eagles knew of the magic building itself around Safe Haven.

“
Watch this…”

The colors above them faded, and then began to change like a rainbow.

“
It feeds off of emotions–reacts to them.”

Marc sat down next to her, mind racing for a response. “What is it?”

“
Can’t you guess, Brady?”

His mind flashed to their clubhouse in the snow. “Protection.”

Angela flushed at the thoughts rolling through his mind. They’d experienced something like this once before. The shield had been a lot closer then, almost hot to the touch, but so strong that nothing could have gotten through. It was right after Brady had said
I love you
for the first time.

“
It’s so nice to be able to remember those moments.” Angela slowly leaned against his arm.

Happiness settled into Marc’s heart. He had Angie and Charlie. There was little else he wanted.

Angela didn’t bat a lash when his arm slid around her, still concentrating. She was making the shield fluctuate in small ripples now.
Sort of like a pond
, she thought.

“
Brace.” Angela inhaled deeply, pulling energy from the bubble.

“
Noise coming.” Marc let off of the button an instant before a crackle of harsh static went through. It was loud enough to make the dogs start yapping and the wolf come out from under the truck.

Curious, Marc waited.

Radios lit up again. “Just a pulse. At ease.”

Marc’s mouth dropped open as Angela let go of the mental link.

“
There’s something new for ya!”

Marc didn’t say anything, working on accepting it. She was able to send thoughts over the radio. What would she be capable of in a year? Or ten?

Angela had been lying low about her gifts over the last two weeks. She wasn't too weak to use them anymore. She wasn't sure she was strong enough to control them. However, seeing Charlie in the line of fire today had reminded her how serious the challenge ahead of them was. Complete control or not, she wouldn't be sitting back anymore.

“
Is that frightening to the big, bad Marine?” Angela joked awkwardly in the silence.

“
A little.” Marc's expression darkened. “For you.”

“
Me too, Brady, but for our son. He'll always be a target. First, to trap me, then, to use him.”

Not sure how to change that, they sat in silence as the camp slowly settled back down from the pulse of energy she'd sent.

Neither of them was surprised when Adrian came through the shadows a minute later. His expression said he wasn’t happy about what she’d done, and a sharp glance passed between them.

The blond leader left soon after, delivering a hard, warning sweep of the guards as he vanished.

“
What was that about?”

Angela leaned closer to Marc’s heat. “He wants to be sure I’m not preparing for a suicide run that I haven't told him about.”

Those words sent Marc’s profile into an instant scowl. “Are you?”

“
No. One gunshot wound at a time, please.”

Marc wasn’t amused by the joke, still too hurt from the near loss.

Angela didn’t offer ear candy. He had to deal with it–like she did when the nightmares woke her up gasping for air.

“
Are you sleeping through yet?”

Angela winced at his accuracy. “Some nights.”

“
You can wake me. I’ll stay up with you.”

“
And still work your shifts as alertly?”

“
No.”
That’s the line
, he realized. If it would hurt the camp, or even affect them badly, it was too far. That was her limit now.

“
Yes, it is.”

Marc's mind kicked into high gear, picking out the mind-reading and the things she knew, but shouldn't if she were too weak. Not only had she caught his conversation with Charlie, she knew that he more than approved of the down time she was being forced to take.

Angela viewed him with shuttered eyes. “You know that I can block them, right? Your thoughts.”

Marc wasn’t sure where she was going. “...yes.”

“
I can stay out of your mind.”

“
No, please, don’t.”

His fast response had her raising a brow. “Why not? Most people find it to be…”

“
I’m not most people!” Marc interrupted sharply.

His voice dropped into flames. “And I can love you there, baby cakes.”

Angela giggled, and the bubble above them flashed into a deeper purple. It drew their attention back to the shield.

“
Why can’t the camp see it, but some of the Eagles can?” Marc asked.

“
Belief, mostly.”

“
But it’s always there, even if they don’t believe in… magic?”