Worst Second Date Ever, Chapter 7 by patricia51

(After encouragement by two of my best friends here I have decided to go ahead with my own version of what might happen to Rosita after the season 2 finale. I probably will be very vague about some of the surrounding action (i.e. Clootie and all) because the story is about Rosie and what happens after she flees Shorty's. Thanks LushColtrane and NellieJ2011.)

Running and hiding; hiding and running. From the moment I burst from the back door of Shorty's, hoping that Waverly Earp was not pursuing me with Peacemaker in hand that's all I have been doing. Back to where I was months ago, before Doc made his offer. Trying my best to keep a low profile and not find myself in the sights of an angry Wynonna.

Of course it's a lot harder to do that now compared to what it was before. Before no one knew who I was or what I am. Now all the players in the "Let's rid Purgatory of every last Revenant" are not only familiar with me but I bet I'm on top of their shit-list. Not that I can blame them.

Showing that I hadn't been getting a lot of exercise lately I didn't make it a hundred yards down the alley before having to stop and catch my breath. Obviously if I was going to survive I would have to work on that. I remembered some set of rules for surviving in an apocalypse I had seen in some movie. The number one rule was "Cardio". I would have to remember that. Plus, I looked at my legs and sighed, even though I loved them the thigh high boots were going to have to go.

Movement caught my eye. From the other direction Dolls was running towards Shorty's. Just as he disappeared in the door I had just exited I heard a commotion inside the bar, followed by the thunder of Peacemaker. Sounded like the Revenant brethren had made it only to be unpleasantly surprised judging from the high pitched screaming I heard. And I thought even from this distance I could catch a whiff of fire and brimstone.

The reports of a second gun joined Peacemaker and I knew that Dolls was in the fight. Estupida Rosita. If you had kept your calm you could be fighting side by side with them right now, proving once and for all you were on the side of the good guys.

Maybe. Maybe it wouldn't have made any difference. I thought I had already proved myself but being a Revenant took precedence. I got up and got going. I reached Main Street just in time to see Nicole's Sheriff's Department SUV go roaring by. A quick glimpse showed me that Nicole was driving and Waverly was in the passenger's seat. Was she holding something? Of course. The baby. They were headed somewhere in a hurry. I hope it was someplace safe.

I hesitated. My plan was... I had no plan. Panic and fear and bitterness had led me to act out of character, or rather to act just like the Earp s and everyone else expected me to act. But that was done and no amount of moaning could undo it. So I needed to figure out what to do, keeping in mind that I was trapped inside the Ghost River Triangle. But that was my fault. I didn't find out until after I had followed my curiosity and the continual tugging sensation I felt drawing me here that once I was inside the boundaries I couldn't get out. Well not without becoming roasted Rosita.

I needed someplace to go and some means to survive until I can find a place and work again. I sigh. Just my luck that before I crossed the line I had placed what was left of my gold and silver for safe=keeping in a certain place. And of course that place is elsewhere and no; I can't get it without personally appearing there. Another bright idea of mine, insisting that I and I alone have access to it.

So I reverse course. As quietly as possible I steal back to Shorty's. Wynonna and Dolls are gone and as always there's no evidence of the Revenants except for a little charring on the floor. Judging from that I estimate at least 10 Revenants are back in Hell. That's about the biggest haul I've ever heard of.

For a minute I hesitate. Dolls. Dolls was always good to me even after he found out my nature. I'm sure he's not that well disposed towards me now but I still worry about him. I had got close to making the serum last for two weeks but I wasn't done yet. Well maybe some day I can get together with Jeremy. I still trust him.

So the basement is out. I slip upstairs to the bedroom I share, shared, with Doc. I gather up some clothes and pack them in a couple of bags. I pull a drawer out from the dresser and reach into the cavity, grunting as my fingers find the bag I keep my money in. It IS mine, the share of the profits that Doc gave me. Those were small at first but grew, especially when it became apparent he would not need to repay Agent Lucardo.

I debate leaving a note. What would I say? I should just leave. But I owe him something. Even if he doesn't love me I do love him. I find a piece of paper. I tell him I'm sorry; that I screwed up and it was all my fault. I tell him I know he loves Wynonna and that's the right thing to do. I ask him to forgive Waverly for me for her letting my secret go right after she told me she wouldn't and I hope one day she'll forgive me for what I did even though I know she won't forget it. I tell him I panicked but that I never ever would have hurt his child.

I debated saying I love you but he wouldn't believe that anyway. I sign it "Rosie" and then I'm gone.

I almost turn back. I should have simply said "I'm sorry". Yeah well not a good time for second thoughts. I barely get back out the door and I hear the front door opening.

So where do I go next? And how do I get to wherever that might be? I'd pace but a moving figure draws attention. So I make myself as inconspicuous as possible and think. I don't have a car. Stealing one would draw attention. I suspect the bus line would be watched and it only runs every other day anyway. So either I walk or I catch a ride.

In fact I end up doing both. Fortunately the walking was just enough to get me out of town because I still had those damn boots on. But that's probably what caught the attention of the trucker who stopped to give me a lift. Since I was not really made to hide out in the woods I got him to take me to the little town where the "Forever Eternity" spa is located. It's not as far away from Purgatory as I would like and it sits uncomfortably near the Triangle line, which means I can't run very far in that direction if flight is required. But it will do and I get a job at the spa and even a room upstairs. Well, back when I was learning the profession I was told that a good bartender can always find a job.

Over the next few weeks I settled in but never stopped looking over my shoulder. A time or two I thought I caught a glimpse of someone who might be familiar. Taking no chances whenever that happened I made sure I stayed out of sight. I figured that Wynonna and company most likely had other more important things on their minds than hunting me but after all the two times I had run into an Earp previously had both been accidental. That would have made no difference as to where I would have ended up if either had shot me dead. Deader.

So I worked and when I wasn't working I brooded. Mostly I brooded over my actions. What I did was wrong, no doubt about it. But even with hindsight I don't know that there was another course. Was there? If I had stayed my hand and helped deliver the baby would Wynonna had stayed HER hand or would she have picked up Peacemaker immediately after and told me I wasn't needed anymore? Maybe so. Maybe not. But I think I would have slipped away immediately after anyway. I m sorry, I just don't trust her.

Enough. Thinking about what could have been doesn't help. I have been doing that ever since that hot afternoon in 1897. I try not to brood, to let go of my bitterness and yes my guilt. I work hard and smile at the customers and listen to them. AT night I sometimes take long walks in the dark and just listen to the night. It was on one of those walks I heard something strange.

What was a helicopter doing out here? And landing. I move quietly as close as I can get. It's just on the other side of the border, I can feel the heat on my skin the dividing line produces, warning me to go no further. There's enough moonlight so I can the men getting out. Heavily armed men in tactical gear. The man in the center looks familiar. Why?

I realize I have never seen him before but I have heard his description often enough from Doc, who hates him. It's Richard Moody. So Black Badge is back. And slipping into the Triangle like that doesn't make me think they're coming to the rescue for anyone except themselves. I listen intently and the words I hear confirm my suspicions.

"Get into your groups. Jackson get us some transportation. Quietly if possible. We'll move on Purgatory as soon as possible. I want to hit them around 3 when no one will be expecting anything. Remember, Wynonna Earp and her child need to be taken alive. The rest..." even in the dim light I can see the uncaring gesture he makes.

While they set up I sneak away. What am I going to do? They're hunting my former friends. But still they were my friends once. What if I went to Moody and offered my help in retrieving the baby? I dismiss that immediately. I didn't trust black Badge before and even less now. I did promise Wynonna the baby would be safe and this isn't the way to do it. Do I still owe her that? What am I going to do?

(To be continued)

(In "Whiskey Lullaby" Nicole advises a restless Wynonna to go to a spa. Wynonna replies that Purgatory doesn't have one. So "Forever Eternity" must be elsewhere and it doesn't seem likely it would be sitting somewhere all by itself. And of course it would have to be somewhere inside the Triangle or a nervous Waverly and a at that time unrevealed Rosita wouldn't go there.)