MIGHTIEST OF GUNS

CHAPTER TWO

Kristen and Sean lingered in silence for the majority of the walk back to the station wagon. They were both angry with the other and neither seemed sure how to start the conversation.

Sean was irritated with his sister for stepping into the middle of what he saw as 'his fight.' His young, male ego felt threatened. It was a feeling that was all too familiar. Countless times throughout his childhood, his sister had appeared at the playground – always trying to break up his fights.

As they got older, Sean and his peers quickly caught up to her in size and strength. Breaking up a fight no longer involved pulling two small boys apart. She learned to stay on the sidelines and that there was little she could do to control her brother. She was always very displeased but always present in case he got hurt. The irony was that her presence caused Sean to instigate even more violence. He always felt like he needed to prove to her that he was strong. Prove to his sister that now he was a man, he could help be responsible for their family. He could keep them safe.

That is what he had been doing just now with that hillbilly. Taking what his family desperately needed and dealing with the consequences like a man. He hadn't needed for his sister to step in.

Kristen, on the other hand, wasn't sure why she was angry with Sean. It had nothing to do with stealing the gasoline. How could she be angry with that when she was the one who asked him to do it?

No, it was the way that he had handled things with the armed man that had bothered her. She understood that Sean had a lot of pride and that by standing up to the man he was preserving that pride. But things were different now. If he got his nose broken or his eye socket smashed in, she couldn't just take him to the free clinic anymore. She couldn't look out the door each morning, making sure the coast was clear of whatever thugs were after him, before Sean flew on his bike to work or school. She needed him whole and healthy. She needed to know that the family came before his pride. She didn't know how they would all survive without him.

Though both siblings were thinking exactly what the other wanted to hear, they kept their thoughts to themselves.

But hell, who was she to lecture him about the dangers of his pride? She was the one who actually got physically violent with the man. She was the one who had taken the gas can from him. She glanced down at the can in her hand and thoughtfully chewed the inside of her mouth.

What had the man done wrong really? Sean had stolen something he needed as desperately as her own family did. Of course he was going to react aggressively. Hell, maybe he had his own kids that he was trying to get someplace safe.

Kristen's violent actions, and her taking of the gas can, had been driven by nothing other than primal protective instinct. She felt the same way when she saw Val in that laundry basket on the windowsill. The same way she felt when a young Liam came home crying once because some neighborhood kick had stolen his precious bicycle. She had looked the other way that time when Sean instigated a fight.

This sense of familial loyalty and protection had clouded her judgment and made her act irrationally. And there was no room for irrational action any more. Her family didn't need to be making enemies over a can of gasoline at this point. Especially enemies who appeared to be so threatening.

Kristen had been only 19 when she got the job tending bar at Jack Dempsey Tavern. Not even old enough to order a drink yet herself. The bar's owner Kevin knew of her from around the neighborhood. Her dad had been one his regulars. Out of sympathy for her situation and respect for her taking care of her siblings, he let her have the job off books.

The bar had a kitchen and a cook, served dinner each night. Nothing fancy, fare typical of any American diner or Irish pub. Knowing that food money was tight for the McCoys, Kevin always tried to talk Kristen into taking food home with her at the end of the night. It took her two years of working there to finally give in and take a few Styrofoam containers of burgers and Reuben's home with her. Kevin would always affectionately tease her:

"What you McCoys lack in money or sophistication, you sure make up for in stubborn pride."

Kristen was going to have to swallow her pride now. She was going to return the gas can.

They returned to the car to find Liam filling their tank with gasoline. The bridge of his nose was bright red, his freckles blending together in a slight sunburn from the long day spent outdoors. The light reflecting off of the metal of the many cars made his eyes seem even brighter. Right now they were looking at Kristen sheepishly.

"I thought it was probably best to get all the gas in the tank before anyone came to try and get it back."

Kristen smiled wryly at her brother. "You probably thought right." Liam was quiet as far as kids went. The 16 year old always seemed to be physically on the outskirts of the group, taking everything in. Kristen trusted his observational skills above anyone else's. Where Sean was aggressive and impulsive, Liam was analytical and calculating. It was what made them such a successful, and potentially dangerous duo. He noticed Val's absence immediately.

"Where's Val?"

Instinctively, Kristen's eyes quickly scanned the horizon for a sight of Carol and the girls. Not too far off she spied their hunter green cab. Caught a glimpse of the silver haired woman sorting through the trunk. The girls couldn't be far off.

"She's off playing with another little girl. I met the mother earlier. Seemed like a decent and sweet lady."

Sean turned on a start to face his sister. "What the hell, Kris? You just let her go off with strangers? What is wrong with you?"

Offended, Kristen felt the heat rising to her face. No matter how self assured and composed she tried to appear, the apples of her cheeks always betrayed her. Sometimes she would blush at the sound of her own name.

"Relax Sean. I used my best judgment. You know that I would never let Val go off into a potentially dangerous situation."

"Everything is a dangerous situation now! Don't you get that? A man was just going to kill me over a container of gasoline."

"No Sean, he was going to kill you because you were being a prick! The time to act like a tough guy is not when a stranger is pointing an arrow at your brain!"

"Well thank God that you were there to save me then, huh sis? Forget this, I'm going to look for Val." Sean gave his sister one last meaningful glare before storming off.

Kristen stood watching her brother as his figure disappeared among the cars. "That actually didn't go as badly as I was expecting." She knew that Sean was going to have some pent up aggression left over from her breaking up the fight. She hoped now that it was out of his system and they could have an uneventful evening.

Liam was still standing beside the car. As quiet during their argument as ever. She had worried about Liam fiercely when Maura was in the picture. Val had been too little to really be affected by their mother's dysfunction. Kristen could push her own feelings aside because she had to. Sean could never control his. The second something affected him, everyone in the small family knew. But Liam? He was much harder to read. Sometimes Kristen would come home to find Maura passed out on the sofa. Liam sat in the reclining armchair, just watching his mother as she lightly snored through her drug fueled haze. Kristen would always take him by the hand and into the kitchen. Fix him macaroni and cheese and let him put his favorite shows on. Even the ones that she didn't think were appropriate for young boys. Eventually, the unreadable glassy look that he got in his eyes when he watched his mother would fade.

Now, he was looking at her and more specifically, the gas can in her hand. Silently, he reached for it – hoping to top off the rest of their tank. Kristen shook her head. "Sorry, not this one. I think I'm going to return it."

Liam regarded his sister thoughtfully and simply nodded. When Kristen was younger, she immaturely used to get jealous of her brothers. She was sure that they liked each other the best because they were biologically full siblings. She was always afraid that she would be the half sibling out. One of the reasons she had been selfishly happy when Val was born a girl. Now the boys had half sisters as bookends. As they grew older, she realized that Sean and Liam's closeness was just a natural brotherly bond and not some biological tie that she was lacking in. If anything, she and Liam shared the closest mental connection. Liam was the one who would always wait up for her when she worked the closing shift at the bar. He'd crawl out of bed to meet her at the door. He always liked putting the deadbolt on after she got inside.

The teenaged boy nodded towards his sister. "I guess you had better go find him them. Their truck was only a few yards south of where the fight was. I'm guessing it's a safe bet that they're still there. What with you carrying all their gas" He broke out in a playful smile for the first time. Kristen couldn't help but reciprocate, despite the tension of the past half hour.

"Thanks Liam. I found some chili. I'm gonna cook as soon as I get back. You can ask Val if she wants to invite her new friend too."

She slowly weaved her way through the parade of stalled cars. Her steps were purposeful but slightly hesitant. She wasn't exactly sure what she was getting herself into.

She could hear them before she could see them. Parked several yards away from the other cars was a beat up pick up truck and a motorcycle. The engine of the motorcycle was revving repeatedly. "Dumbass," she thought to herself, "that sound is gonna attract dozens of those infected."

The man seemed to notice her presence from yards away. For a moment, Kristen wondered if the men parked so far away intentionally or if everyone else instinctively kept their distance.

The man on the motorcycle narrowed his eyes at her, taking in the gas can and realizing who she was, before breaking out into a toothy grin. "Well looky here baby brother!" he hollered, "If it ain't the girl who busted up Darylina's pretty little face! Git your ass out here baby brother!"

Kristen heard the door to the truck slam as a tall, slim figured strode out before her. She recognized him instantly, even without a bow raised in front of him. His eyes flashed with recognition at the sight of her. She pursed her lips in a strained smile of sorts and silently reached out with the can of gasoline.

"What are ya doin' that for?" He narrowed his eyes and cocked an eyebrow suspiciously at the sight of her offering.

"What does it look like? I'm returning your gasoline to you."

"What did ya do to it?"

"Nothing!" She was here to apologize. Why did they have to make it so difficult? "My brother was wrong to take it from you. I'm sure he honestly thought your truck was abandoned. When you confronted him, his pride just got the best of him"

"Yeah? And he had to send his lil' sister to care of it for him? He's just gonna let a pretty little girl wander away to find some strange men?" The older of the two stepped forward now, clearly trying to intimidate her.

"Come on Merle, lay off." Kristen was surprised to hear the younger one speaking up. He looked up at her, almost apologetically. The older one, Merle, just continued to leer at her.

She could feel irritation building in the pit of her stomach, tinged with a slight feeling of unease. She kept her composure though; she'd faced scarier and uglier men before.

"I'm his older sister, actually." She faced Merle, clearly the elder of the two brothers. "And we're supposed to look out for our younger siblings, right? Maybe you should have been looking out for your younger brother when I bloodied his nose."

For a split second, she wasn't sure how Merle was going to react. Then his voice bellowed with a toothy laugh. "Ah, you's a brave bitch!" He reached over and forcefully patted her arm, causing the gasoline to swirl around the can. "No wonder you were able to scare Darylina here off! I'll be honest though, when Daryl admitted to being hit by a girl, I thought ya had to be one of them big Butch types. Which clearly you ain't." His eyes traveled lecherously down her figure but Kristen held still. Like the countless other bar girls across America, she had built up a high tolerance for testosterone fueled bullshit.

Clearly disappointed at not having garnered a greater rise out of her, Merle quickly lost interest in the situation and returned to working on his bicycle – leaving her with the younger.

She stood silently for a moment, half expecting him to speak. She took the chance to take in his appearance. He looked much less threatening now, standing there looking a bit uncomfortable. His hair was a sandy brown, though it was hard to tell under the layer of grease and grime. Kristen made a mental note to find a way to help Val wash her hair tonight. Maybe Carol would have some ideas. His eyes were the same clear blue shade as her brother's.

She could tell from the way the sleeves of his cotton work shirt constricted around his arms that he had a decent amount of physical strength. But no vanity muscles. Kristen was thoroughly turned off by men with bulging biceps and pectorals. The kind of men who spent hours in the gym, watching their own reflections as they lifted weights. Wanting nothing more than to appear strong and masculine. She preferred the sinewy muscles of hard labor. This man had them in plenty. The same muscles he had used to hold a crossbow to her little brother's head…

Kristen felt her cheeks redden. How had she started to ponder this man's physique? He stood watching her curiously. Suddenly she thrust her arm forward, trying to hand the gas canister over. "This is yours. I just came by to apologize for hitting you. Though, it looks like you'll manage a full recovery."

His eyes flitted down to her outstretched hand before meeting her gaze again. "Nah, you keep it. Merle and I can get more later."

"No, seriously, here. It wasn't ours to take and I'll feel better knowing we gave it back." The familiar dread associated with charity was climbing up her spine. Sometimes she felt that no matter how well her family might be doing, she would never escape that feeling.

He seemed to get frustrated at this. As though it had taken a lot of effort for him to offer her the gas can and he couldn't understand why she wasn't cooperating. "Look, I'm tryin' ta be nice here. I'm sorry I threatened your brother, but he was bein' a little shit. Keep the gas and we'll be even."

"Hardly!" She scoffed, "We were even from the second I smashed your face in. We take this gas and then it's like we owe you." Her voice got smaller, "I don't like owing people."

He regarded her bemused, the corners of his lips twitching at the hint of a smile. "So, y'all would rather steal from someone than accept a gift?"

Kristen set her jaw and straightened her shoulders back. "Yes"

He considered her for a moment and to her great surprised he nodded slowly. "Yeah, I get that." He slowly bent down, leaving the gas can on the ground. "Well, I'm just gonna leave it here. If ya'll don't take it, I'm sure somebody else will."

Kristen couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips.

The silence that followed almost felt tangible. She didn't know what was left to be said but for some reason she didn't feel like ending the conversation. The man, Daryl, must have been feeling something similar. Rather than turning back to his truck he continued to watch her, nervously chewing the side of his thumb.

"I'll pay you back for the gas. Come for dinner, you can invite your brother if you want. We're having chili."

Authors Note: Thanks so much everyone for the reviews/follows/favs! Really is a great incentive to update quickly! Tune in next time to see if they ever get to eat their chili.