Title: No Greater Love
Author: Amy Lock
Authors notes: I wrote this because of the inspiration two friends gifted me with. While watching the pilot episode of DA with one of my roommates (I have gotten her totally addicted, and we've begun to watch every episode of season one until she's caught up), she asked the simple question of why Zack decided to lead the escape. Max said it herself, they didn't know anything better was out there. Well, my answer to that would probably be she didn't, but he did. This opening part is kind of a partial explanation as to how he knew that fact.
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"Merry Christmas, Scott."
Nash sighed and nodded his head in acknowledgment at the guard who he was replacing for the night.
It was December 24th, Christmas Eve, and outside of the X5 barracks, everyone was jovial. From the janitors to the dietitians to the soldiers themselves, worries were temporarily forgotten as preparations for the next day were made. But as Nash stepped into the barracks, the atmosphere changed. Fear hung in the air, tears tainted the room. Near bare cots lay occupied with sleeping soldiers, the oldest not yet out of his "terrible two's". Christmas was not something to be celebrated here in the depths of man's abhorrence for its own kind. This was a place where spirituality was considered a sin, where the tune of 'Silent Night' was put to rest by torture and shame. This was a place where an ordinary childhood was the equivalent of heaven.
Nash neared a cot with a familiar barcode imprinted on the footboard. Lying underneath the covers, barely shivering though covered by little, lay a tiny girl with distinct features on a young, impish face. Her hair, although barely there, was a soft, downy blond, her eyes when open revealed a startling blue. Had she been a normal little girl, he would have smiled with knowledge, knowing that when she grew up she would be a heartbreaker. Being who she was, though, he knew that she would break a lot more than just hearts.
He was so caught up in his intent study of the girl, that he jumped when one large eye opened to peek out at him. Noticing that Nash was alone, the girl opened both eyes and sat straight up in bed with a giant grin plastered on her face.
"Hiya!" She giggled with excitement at seeing the familiar face by himself. "Eva's very happy to see you." She winked at Nash with delight, playing with the name he had given her.
Nash groaned, but couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. "Eva, you know I don't like you calling yourself that. If you slip up and respond to that or call yourself that in front of one of the other soldiers, or worse- in front of Lydecker- than we're both gonna be in a lot of trouble."
Eva furrowed her brow in an attempt to act serious. "There are no other guards in here tonight. Just you. And with you, my name is Eva."
"And what if it wasn't me. What would your name be then?"
Eva stuck out her chest and hopped to her feet on her cot. "X5-330, sir." Her military actions only lasted a few seconds before she collapsed beside Nash in a fit of laughter. "But, really, my designation is Eva."
Nash tried to make his appearance be that of a scolding parent, but he failed miserably. Instead, he reached over and grabbed Eva around the waist, torturing her with playful tickles. She squealed quietly with delight, using her incredible will-power to not break into loud gales of laughter. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to get in trouble for showing her some affection.
Nash knew that Eva wasn't really trying to get out of his grip. If she wanted to, the two year old could've knocked him out cold, it was in her potential. But she didn't. Instead she enjoyed playing with him, letting him think that he could take her.
Nash heard a pointed cough coming from a cot beside Eve's and he stopped his tickling to turn around.
"Hey little man," Nash said cheerfully to the small blond boy in the next bed over.
599 looked at Nash with big blue eyes, clearly debating his reaction. Trying to stifle a disappointed sigh, Nash shifted, lifting Eva into his lap so that he could talk to the boy. He didn't blame him for holding out, his life didn't allow many opportunity for smiles. Still, he had been rewarded with them before, and he had been hoping for another, as a sort of Christmas present.
To Nash's surprise, that's just what he was given. After another moment of contemplation, the little boy looked at Nash and his features lit with the most beautiful smile that Nash had ever received.
It wasn't long before the realization that Nash was the only soldier on duty that night spread throughout the barracks, and within minutes, he was packed in on all sides by amazing, tiny children with barecodes on their necks.
"So, why are you the only guard tonight?" 599 asked, inching just a little closer to the safety of Nash's aura.
"It's Christmas, little man. Everybody wanted to be at home with their families."
A little girl with the designation of X5-656 wrinkled her nose in confusion, "What's Christmas?"
Sighing heavily, Nash hugged Eva closer, "It's a day when people on the outside gather together with loved ones. They sing songs and read stories and open presents."
"Why?" This query came from a girl who was about two months younger than Eva. Her brown eyes were filled with confusion.
Laughing, Nash leaned into the group a little more, filling the air with a sense of confidentiality, "I feel a story coming on. I'll tell you what-I'll explain to you about Christmas and how it got started, but you guys have to get into your own beds. If another soldier walks in I can't have him catching all of you out of bed. You can sit up, but it's gotta be in your own bunks. Okay?"
As he looked at each child, they nodded solemnly and proceeded without sound to their respective places.
Standing up and facing the children, Nash began his narrative.
" A long, long time ago, there lived a man whose...designation was Joseph. He was a good, kind man who loved his country and his people very much. But his country and his people were torn by an evil king. They were confused and so they hoped for a miracle. Just like Joseph, these people wanted peace. Now, Joseph met a young girl one day, and pretty soon, he fell in love with her. She was a beautiful and sweet young woman and she was also very brave."
"What was her designation?" Eva looked up at Nash with large, contented eyes.
Chuckling Nash winked at her before continuing.
"Her designation was Mary. And one day, Mary got some startling news. An angel came down from the sky to tell her that she was going to have a little baby boy."
"What's an angel?" Nash glanced over at X5-615 with a smile. The little girl returned it with one of her own.
"Well, an angel is a messenger. Typically we think of angels as being female, but in this case the angel was a male. His name..." Nash shot the children a pointed look at the stressed word, "was Gabriel. Angels are usually magnificent creatures with long, flowing hair and golden crowns on their heads. Most of the time they are garbed in white garments, and they have large, majestic wings on their backs."
The story stopped as Nash heard gasps echoing throughout the room. Pausing, he looked over at X5-493 for an explanation.
"They're anomalies," the little boy responded in a breathless whisper.
"Oh! No, they're not anomalies. Angels aren't human, they're supposed to have wings. It isn't a mistake because of their genetics. Angels are immortal, they live forever, and their greatest hope is that one day peace will reign on earth." Nash glanced at the now calm children and smiled. "When I was a little boy, about the age of some of you, my father always told me that for every snowflake that landed here in this world, another angel had made a wish for peace."
"So, anyway, this angel came to Mary and said that she was going to have a little boy. And Gabriel told her that she was to name this little boy Jesus. He was a gift, and he was to become the prince of peace. Mary was very happy, but she was also a little worried. She was still very young, and she was afraid of what Joseph would say. But she knew that she had to tell him."
"What did he say?"
Nash tried to suppress a chuckle at the trance the children were in.
"Well, at first he was...confused. Maybe even a little sad. He was scared for Mary, and he didn't know how this would effect their relationship. But then he realized what a great gift this truly was. He knew that he could help Mary with the little boy, teach Jesus things that only a father could. And so Joseph and Mary were wed and they began to prepare for the baby. Well, just before the baby was about to arrive, Joseph and Mary had to take a trip. They were frightened, because they didn't know what was going to happen, but they knew that they had to leave. They were going to a city called Bethlehem. And it was there, that the little boy was born."
X5-656 scrunched her nose in concentration, "Was the angel right? Did he turn out to be the prince of peace?"
A thoughtful glaze came over Nash's eyes at the question, "Yes. But, you see, in order for human beings to have peace, we have to make the peace ourselves. Jesus taught us everything that he knew, to help us find that peace. But there is always evil in the world. The good news is that we can overcome the evil. And that's why people celebrate Christmas; because of all the things that Mary's little boy taught us."
The barracks were filled with silence as Nash finished his story. He knew that the story didn't end there, and he also knew that he hadn't given the children the whole version. But he didn't have the time to explain the concept of God to them, nor was he sure if that would be a wise idea. The more he told the children of the outside world, the better chance there was that one of them would slip up and be punished for that knowledge.
Nash shook himself from his reverie at Eva's tired yawn. He noticed that some of the X-5's had been lulled to sleep by his protective and calming storytelling, and most of the others had drooping eyes. He smiled softly and tucked the thin blanket tighter around her shoulders, fighting the urge to kiss her on the cheek like he did to his own nieces.
"Good-night munchkins," he whispered, making his way slowly to his chair by the door. It was amazing just how silent a Christmas Eve with so many small children could be, but Nash was not happy about that fact. Despite himself, he had become severely attached to these children and knowing what they were in for made his stomach churn. He wanted nothing more than to take them as far away from Manticore as possible, but he knew that this was not an option. One guard and several toddlers would never make it past the perimeter of the most highly guarded government facility in the United States, at least not alive. Even the White House didn't have the amount of security that Manticore kept, and these children had not yet tapped into their special abilities which would help the escape. No, taking the children was not an option. But neither was leaving them there. Nash wasn't stupid, he had no falsities about who the children were and what they were created to do. The sharp black lines on their skin were a constant reminder of how different they truly were. And he also knew what they were to be used for. He had just started training that very week; special training that enabled him to guard the children once they surpassed the age of four. After that, a guard alone with them was a deathtrap. He knew all about the plan, about the "perfect soldier", and he had to admit to himself that these kids were pretty damn perfect. Not because of their DNA that allowed them to jump fences or take out highly trained operatives in the blink of an eye. Not because they were programmed to be the most beautiful human specimens. And certainly not because they were tortured and beaten into following orders. They were perfect because in spite of the fire and hell that consumed their lives, in spite of the fact that they were taught to never love, in spite of the fact that they were a combination of every creature on the earth, they were the most human children he had ever met.
And so he began to think of a plan. He was the only guard that was ever allowed in the barracks alone. Whenever Nash was not around, there was always two soldiers on duty. But Manticore had been shocked to see that with Nash in the room the children were calm, collected and obeyed orders. He had been more than thrilled at this development, and as he spent more and more time alone with the kids, he became more and more concerned with the matter of getting them to escape. He found his solution in X5-599.
Nash had given Eva a name, because it was what she needed. Her only hope was to understand that she was normal, that she was loved, and that there was more to her soul than a soldier. She was not scared of who she was and all she needed was a constant reminder of her humanity. X5-599 was different. Already he was consumed with a hatred for Manticore so strong, that he was put into physical training at the age of two. Giving him a name would only have hurt him, taunted him with what he didn't have. What he needed was hope and to understand that all humanity was not evil. And so Nash had given him a nickname full of love, the very name that his own father had called him. Little man. It had an underlying meaning, though, for that's what he was. A man. Already there was a ferocity and pride that exceeded far beyond his years, and Nash knew without a doubt that the boy cared for his fellow unit members with all his heart. 599 was the key to the X5's escape. If anyone had the brains and the strength to pull off such a daring attempt, it would be Kelly's son. All he needed was reassurance that what was "out there" was better than what was in Manticore. Armed with loyally, love and training, Nash had no doubts that the boy would succeed. He knew it wouldn't be tomorrow or the next day, or even a few years down the road, but it would eventually happen. For Manticore had forgotten something, something that would be their downfall. They had forgotten to take into account the will of a truly human soul.
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"Eve!"
Mandy's excited cry made Eve jump as she looked up from her novel. Bouncing into her room, Mandy flopped onto the bed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Merry Christmas, Mandy." Eve tried to suppress a giggle at her friend's childish excitement, but failed miserably.
"Merry Christmas, Eve!" Mandy reached over and pulled Eva into a choking hug, "Oh, and it's gonna be the best day ever!"
Pulling away, Eve put a hand up to her now painful neck, "And why is that?"
"They're letting me talk to Nick!"
Eve's gaze snapped up in surprise to meet Mandy's twinkling blue eyes. They had had many a late night conversation talking about love and relationships and Eve's fear of commitment, and Mandy had helped Eve out a lot. And in those discussions, Eve had learned that Mandy, herself, was head over heels in love - she was engaged. Nick Carson was Mandy's high school sweetheart. They had been going out for four years before her nineteenth birthday rolled around and Mandy had gotten the present of a lifetime, her engagement ring. When Eve had asked about Mandy's feelings towards being engaged at such a young age, she had admitted that it was always the plan to wait until she was significantly into her twenties. But then love struck. And as Mandy said, true love is such a rare and wonderful thing, that you should never let it go.
Nick was in the military, and so the couple was all too familiar with the goings on around that particular subject. That was kind of how she had ended up at Manticore in the first place. When she was a young teenager, she had been struck with a deadly form of ovarian cancer. There was some hope, though, and Mandy began treatments. She was very sick but through it all, Nick stayed by her side, and it was then that she realized just how hard she had fallen for him. The treatments worked, and she had been out of remission for a little under three years, but the medicine had taken its toll. She was told that she would never be able to conceive or bare children. The news broke her heart, but once again Nick was there to help her make it through. When Nick had heard rumors about Manticore's work he did a little research and found out that they might be able to help. After explaining the idea to Mandy, the two came to the conclusion that they should try. And so that was why Mandy was sitting beside Eve on Christmas day, and not by the side of her fiancé.
"What! I thought there was supposed to be no outside contact." Eve's mind reeled at Mandy's excitement, her heart burning at the idea that this could all be some cruel joke.
"There isn't. But since Nick is military, and since they've kept him in the loop, they say that I should be allowed to call him on Christmas. The call'll be monitored, of course, but it's so worth it. Just to hear his voice again, I can't imagine any better gift that I could be given."
Mandy's excitement was contagious, and Eve felt her worries be pushed aside as she reached over to hug her friend.
"Oh Mandy, this is awesome. Tell Nick that I say hi and that I hope all is well with him."
Mandy smiled with bubbling happiness, but shook her head, "I'd love to, but I can't. I'm not supposed to mention any of the other surrogates since it's confidential information. I'm not even supposed to really say anything about the baby, but they're gonna have to go slack on that one, because there is no way that I'm gonna talk to Nick and not mention Pooh Bear. She's the miracle of a lifetime, and he deserves to know that it worked."
"Yeah," Eve agreed, "He does. So when do you get to call him?"
"Chris is gonna bring the phone in. I'm not even allowed to dial the number, he has to do it, and then someone'll be listening from another room. They threatened to cut the connection without warning if I start talking about stuff I'm not supposed to, so I'm gonna have to watch what I say. The last thing I want to do is not be allowed to say good bye."
"I wouldn't hold it against them." Eve wrinkled her nose at the mention of the security that they tolerated, "but I'm sure that you'll have plenty to talk about other than Manticore. Even if it is just an hour of pet names and 'I love you's'."
Mandy giggled at Eve's comment, then glanced at her slyly. "Speaking of 'I love you's', that new soldier seems to have a real thing for you."
Eve flushed instantly at her friends comment, "Nah, he's just friendly, that's all. He seems like he's all business, and it would be very unbusiness like to fall in love with the person that you're protecting and guarding." She tried not to flinch as her statement dredged up memories of how Nash and her had met. The similarities of her previous statement and that of real life were cutting it close.
"Uh huh, well what if he'd fallen in love with his 'protectee' before he was hired on here?" Mandy wasn't giving it up, and she had a knowledgeable smirk firmly on her face.
"What are you talking about? I've never met Scott before in my life." Eve knew that her voice didn't sound too convincing, but at least she was telling the truth. She'd never met 'Scott' before.
"Right," Mandy's voice was dripping in sarcasm, "Eve, you may be able to fool the other girls, but this is me you're talking to."
"Mandy, I don't know what is going on in that pretty little head of yours, but I..."
"Have a picture of him on your dresser." Mandy finished the sentence for her.
Realization hit Eve with full force and she gaped at Mandy and then at the picture of Nash on her nightstand.
"Yeah. You're lucky this time because I'm the only one who's been in your room. But if you want to keep the charade up, you better think of putting that photo away. Otherwise, it'll be all over that Eve and soldier boy are gettin' it on."
Eve bit her lip and grabbing the picture, stuffed it savagely into the top drawer of her nightstand. The last thing she needed was for the staff at Manticore to figure out that Nash and her had a serious relationship and reassign him to a different post.
Mandy looked at Eve's white face and couldn't help the giggle that formed on her lips, "Sweetie, it's okay. You're allowed to fall in love, you know. And it's gonna make things a lot easier for you with him here. Plus, you really don't need to worry. As soon as I figured it out, I knew that I had to tell you. Nobody else knows, okay? Calm down."
"Okay." Eve tried very hard to let Mandy's reassuring tone wash over her. "Thank you."
"No problem." Mandy's face scrunched in thought as she considered how to phrase her next question. "So, he, ah...works with the kids?"
"Yeah."
"Does he...say much about them?"
Eve looked at Mandy with suspicion, "Not really."
"Oh." Mandy frowned in concentration. "So, he doesn't say how they're treated?"
Eve's eyes flew wide open as she stared at Mandy. How in the world...?
Sighing in frustration, Mandy leaned in closer to Eve, "Look, it wasn't just the picture that tipped me off. I kinda heard a bit of your conversation the first night, and I'm curious. I'm sure he's just trying to protect you and everything, but Eve..."
Her comment was cut short by Chris knocking on the door. Without really waiting for a reply, he stuck his head in, a teasing smile very apparent on his handsome features.
"Hey girls. Mandy, I think there's someone on the phone for you. He says his name's Nick, or somethin'." Chris burst out laughing as Mandy squealed with excitement and jumped off the bed. "Here you go." Handing her the phone he shot Eve a wink, and left the room.
Immediately Mandy lifted the cordless telephone to her ear. "Hello?" she said, her voice breathless from her happiness. "Hello?" Her brow furrowed momentarily at the lack of response on the other end, and then her eyes lit up with a greater joy than Eve had ever seen. "Baby?" she exclaimed, her eyes filling up with tears, "Is that you? Oh...I know, I miss you too. Uh huh. Yeah." Her voice began to waver and she lowered it in order to keep in control, "I love you."
Eve watched in silence as Mandy took her free arm and wiped away a stubborn tear that had fallen down her cheek. Reaching out, she gave Mandy's hand a squeeze, and was rewarded with a very grateful smile.
"Really? How're they doing? Tell them I miss them too, and that I can't wait to get back. Only five more months now. Yeah, hard to believe. Well, I can't really talk about..."
Eve gave Mandy a look, and Mandy smiled at her then nodded into the phone, "She's doing fine, really good." Another tear trickled down Mandy's cheek as her grin became wider, "Yeah, it's a girl. Uh huh. We better talk about something else now, baby. I'm not really supposed to discuss her too much. Okay."
Eve gave Mandy's hand another squeeze and then nodded her head towards the door. Mandy smiled and then mouthed the words 'thank-you' in return. Eve felt a grin make its way to her own face as she opened the door to her room. Mandy deserved some time alone with her fiancé. After all an hour in nine months seemed more like seconds in the heart of two separated lovers. Eve knew that for a fact. She was just glad to see her friend so happy. As she shut the door behind her, she caught a few more of Mandy's words.
"Yeah, they say it'll happen. Uh huh. Just think about it. In a few years, we'll have a whole bunch of little Pooh Bears running around the house..."
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When Mandy's phone call with Nick had come and gone, small presents had been exchanged and the remaining women had devoured their special dinner, they repeated the scene at Thanksgiving; opting for living room conversation before desert. Once again when all the women were sitting, the giggles and stories commenced and the family atmosphere was struck up again.
About an hour into the discussion, the women were so engrossed in their words that they didn't hear the door open and the new guard come on duty.
Nash stood near the entrance to the living room, his eyes smiling with humor and admiration for these women. He waited for a suitable pause before he interjected his greeting.
"Merry Christmas ladies," he announced good-naturedly, flashing the women a dazzling smile.
Each woman looked up and grins illuminated their faces at the pleasant surprise. Like the children, the girls had become attached to "soldier boy", and his sparse guarding times were always looked to with great anticipation.
"Soldier boy!" Mandy exclaimed, her voice even more joyful at seeing him again after her discussion with Eve, "What're you doing here? It's not your night to be on duty with us."
Nash grinned and flopped himself onto the ground where he was facing the majority of the women, "Nope, but I switched with Randy. He wanted to go home to the missus, and I wanted to spend Christmas with my favorite girls."
As the women around rolled their eyes and chuckled, Nash met Eve's eyes and the raw emotion there left her ducking her head at the hot flush spreading across her face.
"What about the kids?" Megan asked this, leaning in a bit, so that she could talk to Nash easier.
"They don't really do the Christmas thing," At the shock on some of the girl's faces, Nash rushed to continue, "They're from too many different ethnic backgrounds for them to be taught that only one religion is correct. Don't worry, though, I told them a story last night and they seemed to like it as much as a present."
Maggie, who had made it to Christmas after all, shot Nash a playful look. "Well what about our presents?"
"Sorry, I'm fresh outta candy canes," chuckling Nash held up his empty hands as a testimony to his statement.
Maggie wasn't going to let it go that easy, however. Pouting out her bottom lip, she flashed Nash her best puppy dog eyes, "Aww, c'mon. It's Christmas and you didn't bring us anything? I thought that you were a gentleman."
At that comment Nash let out a burst of loud laughter, "Well I sure as hell never said that."
Jill had caught on to Maggie's game and continued it with flawless innocence, "You said that you gave the kids a story. We've been good. Don't we deserve a story?"
Shrugging Nash gave in, "Ah what the heck. Sure, why not. What do you wanna hear?"
Silence followed his question as each of the girls tried to think up a suitable request. Finally Alecia's eyes lit up as an idea flickered through her mind.
"What's the most romantic thing you've ever done for a girlfriend?"
Nash's smile disappeared at the challenge and an embarrassed expression became its replacement. "Oh...well, I'm not exactly the big romantic type. I can't really think of anything that..."
Grinning at his obvious discomfort, Jill decide to push the subject, "Yeah right. I know you can think of something. Have you gone dancing in the rain? Had a moonlight picnic? Went walking on the beach?" At Nash's fumbled responses in the negative Jill laughed even harder. "Geez, soldier boy, have you ever even had a girlfriend?"
Nodding his head, Nash kept his gaze towards the floor.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Eve stared in wide eyed shock at Mandy's question. She hadn't really just asked that, had she? She knew about Nash and Eve, and yet she had still egged him on like that. Eve felt her cheeks heat up once again, and was about to cut in and help him out when she realized that he had already answered. With the most crystal clear of voices, his eyes no longer averted to the floor, his answer had been a most decisive 'yes'.
All the girls wicked glee melted at Nash's simple response. With a slight smirk, Eve noted that perhaps they had spent a bit too much time in this place when a soldiers declaration of love to an unknown woman would make them all swoon.
"Really?" Maggie whispered, a soft smile playing at her lips. Any trace of her pouty playfulness had been swept away by Nash's statement. "Can you tell us a story about her then?"
Frowning Nash shook his head. "I...I don't think so. It's complicated and I don't think that she'd really appreciate me telling a roomful of strangers about our lives, so..."
"Please," Eve's voice stopped Nash dead in his tracks, "I'd really like to hear a little bit about this woman."
Nash raised his eyebrow, and for a moment Eve thought he was going to say no, but then he shook his head in wonderment and threw up his hands. "All right, all right, you guys win. Geez, remind me to never try and argue with a roomful of pregnant women again."
Nash waited until the chuckles and shifting of positions had ended, and then he began. "Well, we met when we were just kids. Our parents knew each other or something. Anyways, we couldn't stand each other. Truth be told, she was kinda a tomboy and she could lay it to me good. She thought I had cooties, and I couldn't stand the humiliation of getting whipped by a girl, so we didn't really speak much to each other." More chuckles could be heard and Eve knew that a loving smile was playing quite obviously at the corners of her mouth. "Then my family moved away, and I didn't see her for a very long time after that. When we finally did meet up again it was years later and I didn't realize who she was at first."
"Where'd you see her?"
"At a bar. I was there on...business. She kinda made my mind wander from why I was there, though. God she looked beautiful. She was pretty young at the time, but I didn't care. If she could manage to sneak into a bar at seventeen, then I figured that she was old enough for me to give it my best shot."
"Did she turn you down flat?" Megan's question made Eve snort with laughter, but luckily the other chuckles covered it up.
Nash had noticed it, however, and he sent her a devilish look before continuing, "Nope, she was all over me."
Eve rolled her eyes, "Yeah right."
Cassandra glanced at Eve and then back at Nash with laughter in her eyes, "Yeah. I thought this was supposed to be a true story."
"Okay, okay. So she played it cool. The important thing is that I won her over eventually." Nash's teasing expression proved to everyone that he wasn't taking himself too seriously, and so the girls left him alone. "There was a big bar room brawl, and I used my military skills to stop it. She was kinda impressed, and we got to talking. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was a goner."
Mandy stole a glance at Eve, who winked at her. Nodding knowingly, she turned her attention back to Nash. "That kinda sounds like an abridged version to me."
Laughing Nash shook his head, "Maybe, maybe not. But I can tell you that it is the only version you're gonna get out of me. So I suggest, although it is Christmas and everything, that you guys be heading off to bed now."
"But we haven't even had our pie yet!" Jill whined, wrinkling her nose.
Nash rolled his eyes. "Fine, have your pie, but then it's lights out otherwise I'm gonna be without a job tomorrow."
Smiling at their slight victory, the girl's enjoyed another hour of desert and conversation before listening to Nash's pleadings and headed for their rooms. After a chorus of 'good-nights' and 'Merry Christmas's' silence reigned and Nash rubbed his face tiredly. He hadn't noticed where Eve had disappeared off to, and he had to admit that he was a little disappointed that she hadn't stuck around to say good-night to him. He had the memory of her face when he walked in, though, and he was grateful for that small miracle. He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea before he headed back into the living room. He rolled his shoulders, trying to get the kinks and knots out, but as he set the cup down to rub his tired muscles, he felt himself being slammed into a wall. Before he could figure out what hit him, he felt Eve's warm lips upon his own.
"Thank-you..." she whispered tearfully between kisses, "for being here. That was the best present you could have possibly given to me."
Kissing her back hungrily, he let his emotions take over and he temporarily forgot where he was. As he ran his hands down her spine, his mind floated back to a time where things were less complicated, if that was possible. He was back at his apartment with her in his arms; before his job, or her feelings or Manticore had been able to tear them apart. He was once again at a time when the only thing that was important was her and how good it felt to hold her, to kiss her, to let the world slip by unnoticed.
His momentary freedom didn't last very long. A loud cough broke through to his senses like ice water, and the soldier in him returned. Breaking apart, the two looked up to see Kelly watching them, a half annoyed, half amused expression perched on her face.
"Well, if I had any doubts before, this sorta clears them up, doesn't it. You guys are damn lucky that it was me who came out here, and not one of the other girls."
Nash felt a flush creeping into his cheeks at the lecture. At a loss for words he licked his overly dry lips, and gritted his teeth.
Kelly looked at Eve, the amused half of her expression taking over as she took in the girls disheveled appearance. "You know, Eve, you're quite famous in the world of undercover cops and special ops personnel."
"What?" Eve stared at Kelly in confusion, "Why?"
"You're the weakness that made our most famed officer fall. His 'Achilles heel', so to speak. At least, I'm assuming it was you. You are the girl from the Pilot Bute mission, aren't you?"
Eve blinked in surprise, comprehension still not with her. "How...how did you know?"
Nash sighed heavily and ran a hand through his now messed up hair, "Because, you're an urban legend in the field."
Kelly's smile got even bigger, "You still don't get it? Nash never had a single failure on any mission he'd been on. He was a regular super hero in the ranks. At least, that was, until Pilot Bute, when he let the guy get away and took a bullet for you that left him in the hospital for weeks. Lots of people still don't believe you even exist, since we got the guy within a month, but I knew better."
The color had drained from Eve's face as realization dawned on her. "Yeah well, I've tried really hard to forget that night and what happened. You know, there's nothing that can wreck your day quite like almost getting the man that you love killed."
Kelly placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Hey, that wasn't your fault. You know, we were told that once we put on that badge nothing should interfere with our work, not even love. But sometimes there are things no one can control. Just be careful. I want you two to be together as much as possible, but if you guys get caught and they figure it out, there won't be an ounce of good news in it for you. They already know that you were at Pilot Bute, Eve. They do extensive research before they'll even let anyone into the surrogate program. But they don't know who Nash is. And if they figure it out, they'll also figure out that he'll do anything to help you, and they will silence him. That's a guarantee."
At the pained expression on both Nash and Eve's faces, Kelly shook her head with a sigh. "I'm not saying that you two can't cuddle on the couch or whisper 'I love you' to each other. All I'm saying is watch out for the heel, cause it'll only take one shot."
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Wow, I thought some of the other chapters were long, but this is getting ridiculous. Still, I'm kinda glad if any chapter had to be this long, that it was this one, cause I'm finishing finals this week, then I'm going on a short vacation, then back home for Christmas. All things considered, I have no idea when the next chapter will be posted, so enjoy this one for all it's worth.
I had a huge debate with myself about whether or not to put the whole 'Pilot Bute' thing in, b/c it won't be discussed extensively in this story. However, it brought them to a this critical point, and I am hoping to explore it further later on. If it's confusing, don't worry. You don't need to understand completely as long as you get the basic gist of it.
Lastly, I'm gonna be doing some minor reworking to previous chapters b/c I reread it, and realized that some of the dates and birth orders of the X5's were out of whack. Since no one has commented on it, I'm sure that it's not a big deal, but it'll make me less confused, so I'm gonna do it anyway.
Please review and if I don't talk to you before the 25th, have a very Merry Christmas.
Author: Amy Lock
Authors notes: I wrote this because of the inspiration two friends gifted me with. While watching the pilot episode of DA with one of my roommates (I have gotten her totally addicted, and we've begun to watch every episode of season one until she's caught up), she asked the simple question of why Zack decided to lead the escape. Max said it herself, they didn't know anything better was out there. Well, my answer to that would probably be she didn't, but he did. This opening part is kind of a partial explanation as to how he knew that fact.
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"Merry Christmas, Scott."
Nash sighed and nodded his head in acknowledgment at the guard who he was replacing for the night.
It was December 24th, Christmas Eve, and outside of the X5 barracks, everyone was jovial. From the janitors to the dietitians to the soldiers themselves, worries were temporarily forgotten as preparations for the next day were made. But as Nash stepped into the barracks, the atmosphere changed. Fear hung in the air, tears tainted the room. Near bare cots lay occupied with sleeping soldiers, the oldest not yet out of his "terrible two's". Christmas was not something to be celebrated here in the depths of man's abhorrence for its own kind. This was a place where spirituality was considered a sin, where the tune of 'Silent Night' was put to rest by torture and shame. This was a place where an ordinary childhood was the equivalent of heaven.
Nash neared a cot with a familiar barcode imprinted on the footboard. Lying underneath the covers, barely shivering though covered by little, lay a tiny girl with distinct features on a young, impish face. Her hair, although barely there, was a soft, downy blond, her eyes when open revealed a startling blue. Had she been a normal little girl, he would have smiled with knowledge, knowing that when she grew up she would be a heartbreaker. Being who she was, though, he knew that she would break a lot more than just hearts.
He was so caught up in his intent study of the girl, that he jumped when one large eye opened to peek out at him. Noticing that Nash was alone, the girl opened both eyes and sat straight up in bed with a giant grin plastered on her face.
"Hiya!" She giggled with excitement at seeing the familiar face by himself. "Eva's very happy to see you." She winked at Nash with delight, playing with the name he had given her.
Nash groaned, but couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. "Eva, you know I don't like you calling yourself that. If you slip up and respond to that or call yourself that in front of one of the other soldiers, or worse- in front of Lydecker- than we're both gonna be in a lot of trouble."
Eva furrowed her brow in an attempt to act serious. "There are no other guards in here tonight. Just you. And with you, my name is Eva."
"And what if it wasn't me. What would your name be then?"
Eva stuck out her chest and hopped to her feet on her cot. "X5-330, sir." Her military actions only lasted a few seconds before she collapsed beside Nash in a fit of laughter. "But, really, my designation is Eva."
Nash tried to make his appearance be that of a scolding parent, but he failed miserably. Instead, he reached over and grabbed Eva around the waist, torturing her with playful tickles. She squealed quietly with delight, using her incredible will-power to not break into loud gales of laughter. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to get in trouble for showing her some affection.
Nash knew that Eva wasn't really trying to get out of his grip. If she wanted to, the two year old could've knocked him out cold, it was in her potential. But she didn't. Instead she enjoyed playing with him, letting him think that he could take her.
Nash heard a pointed cough coming from a cot beside Eve's and he stopped his tickling to turn around.
"Hey little man," Nash said cheerfully to the small blond boy in the next bed over.
599 looked at Nash with big blue eyes, clearly debating his reaction. Trying to stifle a disappointed sigh, Nash shifted, lifting Eva into his lap so that he could talk to the boy. He didn't blame him for holding out, his life didn't allow many opportunity for smiles. Still, he had been rewarded with them before, and he had been hoping for another, as a sort of Christmas present.
To Nash's surprise, that's just what he was given. After another moment of contemplation, the little boy looked at Nash and his features lit with the most beautiful smile that Nash had ever received.
It wasn't long before the realization that Nash was the only soldier on duty that night spread throughout the barracks, and within minutes, he was packed in on all sides by amazing, tiny children with barecodes on their necks.
"So, why are you the only guard tonight?" 599 asked, inching just a little closer to the safety of Nash's aura.
"It's Christmas, little man. Everybody wanted to be at home with their families."
A little girl with the designation of X5-656 wrinkled her nose in confusion, "What's Christmas?"
Sighing heavily, Nash hugged Eva closer, "It's a day when people on the outside gather together with loved ones. They sing songs and read stories and open presents."
"Why?" This query came from a girl who was about two months younger than Eva. Her brown eyes were filled with confusion.
Laughing, Nash leaned into the group a little more, filling the air with a sense of confidentiality, "I feel a story coming on. I'll tell you what-I'll explain to you about Christmas and how it got started, but you guys have to get into your own beds. If another soldier walks in I can't have him catching all of you out of bed. You can sit up, but it's gotta be in your own bunks. Okay?"
As he looked at each child, they nodded solemnly and proceeded without sound to their respective places.
Standing up and facing the children, Nash began his narrative.
" A long, long time ago, there lived a man whose...designation was Joseph. He was a good, kind man who loved his country and his people very much. But his country and his people were torn by an evil king. They were confused and so they hoped for a miracle. Just like Joseph, these people wanted peace. Now, Joseph met a young girl one day, and pretty soon, he fell in love with her. She was a beautiful and sweet young woman and she was also very brave."
"What was her designation?" Eva looked up at Nash with large, contented eyes.
Chuckling Nash winked at her before continuing.
"Her designation was Mary. And one day, Mary got some startling news. An angel came down from the sky to tell her that she was going to have a little baby boy."
"What's an angel?" Nash glanced over at X5-615 with a smile. The little girl returned it with one of her own.
"Well, an angel is a messenger. Typically we think of angels as being female, but in this case the angel was a male. His name..." Nash shot the children a pointed look at the stressed word, "was Gabriel. Angels are usually magnificent creatures with long, flowing hair and golden crowns on their heads. Most of the time they are garbed in white garments, and they have large, majestic wings on their backs."
The story stopped as Nash heard gasps echoing throughout the room. Pausing, he looked over at X5-493 for an explanation.
"They're anomalies," the little boy responded in a breathless whisper.
"Oh! No, they're not anomalies. Angels aren't human, they're supposed to have wings. It isn't a mistake because of their genetics. Angels are immortal, they live forever, and their greatest hope is that one day peace will reign on earth." Nash glanced at the now calm children and smiled. "When I was a little boy, about the age of some of you, my father always told me that for every snowflake that landed here in this world, another angel had made a wish for peace."
"So, anyway, this angel came to Mary and said that she was going to have a little boy. And Gabriel told her that she was to name this little boy Jesus. He was a gift, and he was to become the prince of peace. Mary was very happy, but she was also a little worried. She was still very young, and she was afraid of what Joseph would say. But she knew that she had to tell him."
"What did he say?"
Nash tried to suppress a chuckle at the trance the children were in.
"Well, at first he was...confused. Maybe even a little sad. He was scared for Mary, and he didn't know how this would effect their relationship. But then he realized what a great gift this truly was. He knew that he could help Mary with the little boy, teach Jesus things that only a father could. And so Joseph and Mary were wed and they began to prepare for the baby. Well, just before the baby was about to arrive, Joseph and Mary had to take a trip. They were frightened, because they didn't know what was going to happen, but they knew that they had to leave. They were going to a city called Bethlehem. And it was there, that the little boy was born."
X5-656 scrunched her nose in concentration, "Was the angel right? Did he turn out to be the prince of peace?"
A thoughtful glaze came over Nash's eyes at the question, "Yes. But, you see, in order for human beings to have peace, we have to make the peace ourselves. Jesus taught us everything that he knew, to help us find that peace. But there is always evil in the world. The good news is that we can overcome the evil. And that's why people celebrate Christmas; because of all the things that Mary's little boy taught us."
The barracks were filled with silence as Nash finished his story. He knew that the story didn't end there, and he also knew that he hadn't given the children the whole version. But he didn't have the time to explain the concept of God to them, nor was he sure if that would be a wise idea. The more he told the children of the outside world, the better chance there was that one of them would slip up and be punished for that knowledge.
Nash shook himself from his reverie at Eva's tired yawn. He noticed that some of the X-5's had been lulled to sleep by his protective and calming storytelling, and most of the others had drooping eyes. He smiled softly and tucked the thin blanket tighter around her shoulders, fighting the urge to kiss her on the cheek like he did to his own nieces.
"Good-night munchkins," he whispered, making his way slowly to his chair by the door. It was amazing just how silent a Christmas Eve with so many small children could be, but Nash was not happy about that fact. Despite himself, he had become severely attached to these children and knowing what they were in for made his stomach churn. He wanted nothing more than to take them as far away from Manticore as possible, but he knew that this was not an option. One guard and several toddlers would never make it past the perimeter of the most highly guarded government facility in the United States, at least not alive. Even the White House didn't have the amount of security that Manticore kept, and these children had not yet tapped into their special abilities which would help the escape. No, taking the children was not an option. But neither was leaving them there. Nash wasn't stupid, he had no falsities about who the children were and what they were created to do. The sharp black lines on their skin were a constant reminder of how different they truly were. And he also knew what they were to be used for. He had just started training that very week; special training that enabled him to guard the children once they surpassed the age of four. After that, a guard alone with them was a deathtrap. He knew all about the plan, about the "perfect soldier", and he had to admit to himself that these kids were pretty damn perfect. Not because of their DNA that allowed them to jump fences or take out highly trained operatives in the blink of an eye. Not because they were programmed to be the most beautiful human specimens. And certainly not because they were tortured and beaten into following orders. They were perfect because in spite of the fire and hell that consumed their lives, in spite of the fact that they were taught to never love, in spite of the fact that they were a combination of every creature on the earth, they were the most human children he had ever met.
And so he began to think of a plan. He was the only guard that was ever allowed in the barracks alone. Whenever Nash was not around, there was always two soldiers on duty. But Manticore had been shocked to see that with Nash in the room the children were calm, collected and obeyed orders. He had been more than thrilled at this development, and as he spent more and more time alone with the kids, he became more and more concerned with the matter of getting them to escape. He found his solution in X5-599.
Nash had given Eva a name, because it was what she needed. Her only hope was to understand that she was normal, that she was loved, and that there was more to her soul than a soldier. She was not scared of who she was and all she needed was a constant reminder of her humanity. X5-599 was different. Already he was consumed with a hatred for Manticore so strong, that he was put into physical training at the age of two. Giving him a name would only have hurt him, taunted him with what he didn't have. What he needed was hope and to understand that all humanity was not evil. And so Nash had given him a nickname full of love, the very name that his own father had called him. Little man. It had an underlying meaning, though, for that's what he was. A man. Already there was a ferocity and pride that exceeded far beyond his years, and Nash knew without a doubt that the boy cared for his fellow unit members with all his heart. 599 was the key to the X5's escape. If anyone had the brains and the strength to pull off such a daring attempt, it would be Kelly's son. All he needed was reassurance that what was "out there" was better than what was in Manticore. Armed with loyally, love and training, Nash had no doubts that the boy would succeed. He knew it wouldn't be tomorrow or the next day, or even a few years down the road, but it would eventually happen. For Manticore had forgotten something, something that would be their downfall. They had forgotten to take into account the will of a truly human soul.
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"Eve!"
Mandy's excited cry made Eve jump as she looked up from her novel. Bouncing into her room, Mandy flopped onto the bed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Merry Christmas, Mandy." Eve tried to suppress a giggle at her friend's childish excitement, but failed miserably.
"Merry Christmas, Eve!" Mandy reached over and pulled Eva into a choking hug, "Oh, and it's gonna be the best day ever!"
Pulling away, Eve put a hand up to her now painful neck, "And why is that?"
"They're letting me talk to Nick!"
Eve's gaze snapped up in surprise to meet Mandy's twinkling blue eyes. They had had many a late night conversation talking about love and relationships and Eve's fear of commitment, and Mandy had helped Eve out a lot. And in those discussions, Eve had learned that Mandy, herself, was head over heels in love - she was engaged. Nick Carson was Mandy's high school sweetheart. They had been going out for four years before her nineteenth birthday rolled around and Mandy had gotten the present of a lifetime, her engagement ring. When Eve had asked about Mandy's feelings towards being engaged at such a young age, she had admitted that it was always the plan to wait until she was significantly into her twenties. But then love struck. And as Mandy said, true love is such a rare and wonderful thing, that you should never let it go.
Nick was in the military, and so the couple was all too familiar with the goings on around that particular subject. That was kind of how she had ended up at Manticore in the first place. When she was a young teenager, she had been struck with a deadly form of ovarian cancer. There was some hope, though, and Mandy began treatments. She was very sick but through it all, Nick stayed by her side, and it was then that she realized just how hard she had fallen for him. The treatments worked, and she had been out of remission for a little under three years, but the medicine had taken its toll. She was told that she would never be able to conceive or bare children. The news broke her heart, but once again Nick was there to help her make it through. When Nick had heard rumors about Manticore's work he did a little research and found out that they might be able to help. After explaining the idea to Mandy, the two came to the conclusion that they should try. And so that was why Mandy was sitting beside Eve on Christmas day, and not by the side of her fiancé.
"What! I thought there was supposed to be no outside contact." Eve's mind reeled at Mandy's excitement, her heart burning at the idea that this could all be some cruel joke.
"There isn't. But since Nick is military, and since they've kept him in the loop, they say that I should be allowed to call him on Christmas. The call'll be monitored, of course, but it's so worth it. Just to hear his voice again, I can't imagine any better gift that I could be given."
Mandy's excitement was contagious, and Eve felt her worries be pushed aside as she reached over to hug her friend.
"Oh Mandy, this is awesome. Tell Nick that I say hi and that I hope all is well with him."
Mandy smiled with bubbling happiness, but shook her head, "I'd love to, but I can't. I'm not supposed to mention any of the other surrogates since it's confidential information. I'm not even supposed to really say anything about the baby, but they're gonna have to go slack on that one, because there is no way that I'm gonna talk to Nick and not mention Pooh Bear. She's the miracle of a lifetime, and he deserves to know that it worked."
"Yeah," Eve agreed, "He does. So when do you get to call him?"
"Chris is gonna bring the phone in. I'm not even allowed to dial the number, he has to do it, and then someone'll be listening from another room. They threatened to cut the connection without warning if I start talking about stuff I'm not supposed to, so I'm gonna have to watch what I say. The last thing I want to do is not be allowed to say good bye."
"I wouldn't hold it against them." Eve wrinkled her nose at the mention of the security that they tolerated, "but I'm sure that you'll have plenty to talk about other than Manticore. Even if it is just an hour of pet names and 'I love you's'."
Mandy giggled at Eve's comment, then glanced at her slyly. "Speaking of 'I love you's', that new soldier seems to have a real thing for you."
Eve flushed instantly at her friends comment, "Nah, he's just friendly, that's all. He seems like he's all business, and it would be very unbusiness like to fall in love with the person that you're protecting and guarding." She tried not to flinch as her statement dredged up memories of how Nash and her had met. The similarities of her previous statement and that of real life were cutting it close.
"Uh huh, well what if he'd fallen in love with his 'protectee' before he was hired on here?" Mandy wasn't giving it up, and she had a knowledgeable smirk firmly on her face.
"What are you talking about? I've never met Scott before in my life." Eve knew that her voice didn't sound too convincing, but at least she was telling the truth. She'd never met 'Scott' before.
"Right," Mandy's voice was dripping in sarcasm, "Eve, you may be able to fool the other girls, but this is me you're talking to."
"Mandy, I don't know what is going on in that pretty little head of yours, but I..."
"Have a picture of him on your dresser." Mandy finished the sentence for her.
Realization hit Eve with full force and she gaped at Mandy and then at the picture of Nash on her nightstand.
"Yeah. You're lucky this time because I'm the only one who's been in your room. But if you want to keep the charade up, you better think of putting that photo away. Otherwise, it'll be all over that Eve and soldier boy are gettin' it on."
Eve bit her lip and grabbing the picture, stuffed it savagely into the top drawer of her nightstand. The last thing she needed was for the staff at Manticore to figure out that Nash and her had a serious relationship and reassign him to a different post.
Mandy looked at Eve's white face and couldn't help the giggle that formed on her lips, "Sweetie, it's okay. You're allowed to fall in love, you know. And it's gonna make things a lot easier for you with him here. Plus, you really don't need to worry. As soon as I figured it out, I knew that I had to tell you. Nobody else knows, okay? Calm down."
"Okay." Eve tried very hard to let Mandy's reassuring tone wash over her. "Thank you."
"No problem." Mandy's face scrunched in thought as she considered how to phrase her next question. "So, he, ah...works with the kids?"
"Yeah."
"Does he...say much about them?"
Eve looked at Mandy with suspicion, "Not really."
"Oh." Mandy frowned in concentration. "So, he doesn't say how they're treated?"
Eve's eyes flew wide open as she stared at Mandy. How in the world...?
Sighing in frustration, Mandy leaned in closer to Eve, "Look, it wasn't just the picture that tipped me off. I kinda heard a bit of your conversation the first night, and I'm curious. I'm sure he's just trying to protect you and everything, but Eve..."
Her comment was cut short by Chris knocking on the door. Without really waiting for a reply, he stuck his head in, a teasing smile very apparent on his handsome features.
"Hey girls. Mandy, I think there's someone on the phone for you. He says his name's Nick, or somethin'." Chris burst out laughing as Mandy squealed with excitement and jumped off the bed. "Here you go." Handing her the phone he shot Eve a wink, and left the room.
Immediately Mandy lifted the cordless telephone to her ear. "Hello?" she said, her voice breathless from her happiness. "Hello?" Her brow furrowed momentarily at the lack of response on the other end, and then her eyes lit up with a greater joy than Eve had ever seen. "Baby?" she exclaimed, her eyes filling up with tears, "Is that you? Oh...I know, I miss you too. Uh huh. Yeah." Her voice began to waver and she lowered it in order to keep in control, "I love you."
Eve watched in silence as Mandy took her free arm and wiped away a stubborn tear that had fallen down her cheek. Reaching out, she gave Mandy's hand a squeeze, and was rewarded with a very grateful smile.
"Really? How're they doing? Tell them I miss them too, and that I can't wait to get back. Only five more months now. Yeah, hard to believe. Well, I can't really talk about..."
Eve gave Mandy a look, and Mandy smiled at her then nodded into the phone, "She's doing fine, really good." Another tear trickled down Mandy's cheek as her grin became wider, "Yeah, it's a girl. Uh huh. We better talk about something else now, baby. I'm not really supposed to discuss her too much. Okay."
Eve gave Mandy's hand another squeeze and then nodded her head towards the door. Mandy smiled and then mouthed the words 'thank-you' in return. Eve felt a grin make its way to her own face as she opened the door to her room. Mandy deserved some time alone with her fiancé. After all an hour in nine months seemed more like seconds in the heart of two separated lovers. Eve knew that for a fact. She was just glad to see her friend so happy. As she shut the door behind her, she caught a few more of Mandy's words.
"Yeah, they say it'll happen. Uh huh. Just think about it. In a few years, we'll have a whole bunch of little Pooh Bears running around the house..."
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When Mandy's phone call with Nick had come and gone, small presents had been exchanged and the remaining women had devoured their special dinner, they repeated the scene at Thanksgiving; opting for living room conversation before desert. Once again when all the women were sitting, the giggles and stories commenced and the family atmosphere was struck up again.
About an hour into the discussion, the women were so engrossed in their words that they didn't hear the door open and the new guard come on duty.
Nash stood near the entrance to the living room, his eyes smiling with humor and admiration for these women. He waited for a suitable pause before he interjected his greeting.
"Merry Christmas ladies," he announced good-naturedly, flashing the women a dazzling smile.
Each woman looked up and grins illuminated their faces at the pleasant surprise. Like the children, the girls had become attached to "soldier boy", and his sparse guarding times were always looked to with great anticipation.
"Soldier boy!" Mandy exclaimed, her voice even more joyful at seeing him again after her discussion with Eve, "What're you doing here? It's not your night to be on duty with us."
Nash grinned and flopped himself onto the ground where he was facing the majority of the women, "Nope, but I switched with Randy. He wanted to go home to the missus, and I wanted to spend Christmas with my favorite girls."
As the women around rolled their eyes and chuckled, Nash met Eve's eyes and the raw emotion there left her ducking her head at the hot flush spreading across her face.
"What about the kids?" Megan asked this, leaning in a bit, so that she could talk to Nash easier.
"They don't really do the Christmas thing," At the shock on some of the girl's faces, Nash rushed to continue, "They're from too many different ethnic backgrounds for them to be taught that only one religion is correct. Don't worry, though, I told them a story last night and they seemed to like it as much as a present."
Maggie, who had made it to Christmas after all, shot Nash a playful look. "Well what about our presents?"
"Sorry, I'm fresh outta candy canes," chuckling Nash held up his empty hands as a testimony to his statement.
Maggie wasn't going to let it go that easy, however. Pouting out her bottom lip, she flashed Nash her best puppy dog eyes, "Aww, c'mon. It's Christmas and you didn't bring us anything? I thought that you were a gentleman."
At that comment Nash let out a burst of loud laughter, "Well I sure as hell never said that."
Jill had caught on to Maggie's game and continued it with flawless innocence, "You said that you gave the kids a story. We've been good. Don't we deserve a story?"
Shrugging Nash gave in, "Ah what the heck. Sure, why not. What do you wanna hear?"
Silence followed his question as each of the girls tried to think up a suitable request. Finally Alecia's eyes lit up as an idea flickered through her mind.
"What's the most romantic thing you've ever done for a girlfriend?"
Nash's smile disappeared at the challenge and an embarrassed expression became its replacement. "Oh...well, I'm not exactly the big romantic type. I can't really think of anything that..."
Grinning at his obvious discomfort, Jill decide to push the subject, "Yeah right. I know you can think of something. Have you gone dancing in the rain? Had a moonlight picnic? Went walking on the beach?" At Nash's fumbled responses in the negative Jill laughed even harder. "Geez, soldier boy, have you ever even had a girlfriend?"
Nodding his head, Nash kept his gaze towards the floor.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Eve stared in wide eyed shock at Mandy's question. She hadn't really just asked that, had she? She knew about Nash and Eve, and yet she had still egged him on like that. Eve felt her cheeks heat up once again, and was about to cut in and help him out when she realized that he had already answered. With the most crystal clear of voices, his eyes no longer averted to the floor, his answer had been a most decisive 'yes'.
All the girls wicked glee melted at Nash's simple response. With a slight smirk, Eve noted that perhaps they had spent a bit too much time in this place when a soldiers declaration of love to an unknown woman would make them all swoon.
"Really?" Maggie whispered, a soft smile playing at her lips. Any trace of her pouty playfulness had been swept away by Nash's statement. "Can you tell us a story about her then?"
Frowning Nash shook his head. "I...I don't think so. It's complicated and I don't think that she'd really appreciate me telling a roomful of strangers about our lives, so..."
"Please," Eve's voice stopped Nash dead in his tracks, "I'd really like to hear a little bit about this woman."
Nash raised his eyebrow, and for a moment Eve thought he was going to say no, but then he shook his head in wonderment and threw up his hands. "All right, all right, you guys win. Geez, remind me to never try and argue with a roomful of pregnant women again."
Nash waited until the chuckles and shifting of positions had ended, and then he began. "Well, we met when we were just kids. Our parents knew each other or something. Anyways, we couldn't stand each other. Truth be told, she was kinda a tomboy and she could lay it to me good. She thought I had cooties, and I couldn't stand the humiliation of getting whipped by a girl, so we didn't really speak much to each other." More chuckles could be heard and Eve knew that a loving smile was playing quite obviously at the corners of her mouth. "Then my family moved away, and I didn't see her for a very long time after that. When we finally did meet up again it was years later and I didn't realize who she was at first."
"Where'd you see her?"
"At a bar. I was there on...business. She kinda made my mind wander from why I was there, though. God she looked beautiful. She was pretty young at the time, but I didn't care. If she could manage to sneak into a bar at seventeen, then I figured that she was old enough for me to give it my best shot."
"Did she turn you down flat?" Megan's question made Eve snort with laughter, but luckily the other chuckles covered it up.
Nash had noticed it, however, and he sent her a devilish look before continuing, "Nope, she was all over me."
Eve rolled her eyes, "Yeah right."
Cassandra glanced at Eve and then back at Nash with laughter in her eyes, "Yeah. I thought this was supposed to be a true story."
"Okay, okay. So she played it cool. The important thing is that I won her over eventually." Nash's teasing expression proved to everyone that he wasn't taking himself too seriously, and so the girls left him alone. "There was a big bar room brawl, and I used my military skills to stop it. She was kinda impressed, and we got to talking. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was a goner."
Mandy stole a glance at Eve, who winked at her. Nodding knowingly, she turned her attention back to Nash. "That kinda sounds like an abridged version to me."
Laughing Nash shook his head, "Maybe, maybe not. But I can tell you that it is the only version you're gonna get out of me. So I suggest, although it is Christmas and everything, that you guys be heading off to bed now."
"But we haven't even had our pie yet!" Jill whined, wrinkling her nose.
Nash rolled his eyes. "Fine, have your pie, but then it's lights out otherwise I'm gonna be without a job tomorrow."
Smiling at their slight victory, the girl's enjoyed another hour of desert and conversation before listening to Nash's pleadings and headed for their rooms. After a chorus of 'good-nights' and 'Merry Christmas's' silence reigned and Nash rubbed his face tiredly. He hadn't noticed where Eve had disappeared off to, and he had to admit that he was a little disappointed that she hadn't stuck around to say good-night to him. He had the memory of her face when he walked in, though, and he was grateful for that small miracle. He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea before he headed back into the living room. He rolled his shoulders, trying to get the kinks and knots out, but as he set the cup down to rub his tired muscles, he felt himself being slammed into a wall. Before he could figure out what hit him, he felt Eve's warm lips upon his own.
"Thank-you..." she whispered tearfully between kisses, "for being here. That was the best present you could have possibly given to me."
Kissing her back hungrily, he let his emotions take over and he temporarily forgot where he was. As he ran his hands down her spine, his mind floated back to a time where things were less complicated, if that was possible. He was back at his apartment with her in his arms; before his job, or her feelings or Manticore had been able to tear them apart. He was once again at a time when the only thing that was important was her and how good it felt to hold her, to kiss her, to let the world slip by unnoticed.
His momentary freedom didn't last very long. A loud cough broke through to his senses like ice water, and the soldier in him returned. Breaking apart, the two looked up to see Kelly watching them, a half annoyed, half amused expression perched on her face.
"Well, if I had any doubts before, this sorta clears them up, doesn't it. You guys are damn lucky that it was me who came out here, and not one of the other girls."
Nash felt a flush creeping into his cheeks at the lecture. At a loss for words he licked his overly dry lips, and gritted his teeth.
Kelly looked at Eve, the amused half of her expression taking over as she took in the girls disheveled appearance. "You know, Eve, you're quite famous in the world of undercover cops and special ops personnel."
"What?" Eve stared at Kelly in confusion, "Why?"
"You're the weakness that made our most famed officer fall. His 'Achilles heel', so to speak. At least, I'm assuming it was you. You are the girl from the Pilot Bute mission, aren't you?"
Eve blinked in surprise, comprehension still not with her. "How...how did you know?"
Nash sighed heavily and ran a hand through his now messed up hair, "Because, you're an urban legend in the field."
Kelly's smile got even bigger, "You still don't get it? Nash never had a single failure on any mission he'd been on. He was a regular super hero in the ranks. At least, that was, until Pilot Bute, when he let the guy get away and took a bullet for you that left him in the hospital for weeks. Lots of people still don't believe you even exist, since we got the guy within a month, but I knew better."
The color had drained from Eve's face as realization dawned on her. "Yeah well, I've tried really hard to forget that night and what happened. You know, there's nothing that can wreck your day quite like almost getting the man that you love killed."
Kelly placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Hey, that wasn't your fault. You know, we were told that once we put on that badge nothing should interfere with our work, not even love. But sometimes there are things no one can control. Just be careful. I want you two to be together as much as possible, but if you guys get caught and they figure it out, there won't be an ounce of good news in it for you. They already know that you were at Pilot Bute, Eve. They do extensive research before they'll even let anyone into the surrogate program. But they don't know who Nash is. And if they figure it out, they'll also figure out that he'll do anything to help you, and they will silence him. That's a guarantee."
At the pained expression on both Nash and Eve's faces, Kelly shook her head with a sigh. "I'm not saying that you two can't cuddle on the couch or whisper 'I love you' to each other. All I'm saying is watch out for the heel, cause it'll only take one shot."
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Wow, I thought some of the other chapters were long, but this is getting ridiculous. Still, I'm kinda glad if any chapter had to be this long, that it was this one, cause I'm finishing finals this week, then I'm going on a short vacation, then back home for Christmas. All things considered, I have no idea when the next chapter will be posted, so enjoy this one for all it's worth.
I had a huge debate with myself about whether or not to put the whole 'Pilot Bute' thing in, b/c it won't be discussed extensively in this story. However, it brought them to a this critical point, and I am hoping to explore it further later on. If it's confusing, don't worry. You don't need to understand completely as long as you get the basic gist of it.
Lastly, I'm gonna be doing some minor reworking to previous chapters b/c I reread it, and realized that some of the dates and birth orders of the X5's were out of whack. Since no one has commented on it, I'm sure that it's not a big deal, but it'll make me less confused, so I'm gonna do it anyway.
Please review and if I don't talk to you before the 25th, have a very Merry Christmas.
