Chapter 12
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It has been a little while since Melia, Miles, Charlie, Nora, and Aaron, helped Peter and Michael, and ever since they have been continuing to walk to Philadelphia, so that they can rescue Danny.
It's night, and Melia, Nora, Charlie, Miles and Aaron are two hundred and ninety miles outside Philadelphia in a town called Freeport, but if the group are going to have any hope of getting to Danny then they are going to have to cross a bridge, and because of that Nora is attempting to bribe a militia solider while Melia, Charlie, Aaron, and Miles are hidden nearby, watching what is going on.
"This isn't going to work." Aaron comments.
"It'll work." Miles says, needing to believe that as it's their best hope.
"Let's find another bridge, maybe even one that doesn't have militia crawling all over it." Aaron suggests.
"Closest bridge is in Morgantown, it's one hundred miles away." Miles reveals.
"There's got to be one closer." Charlie says, looking shocked.
"There isn't." Miles tells her, "Militia blew 'em all up, and boats are torched on sight." He admits.
"They don't make it easy, do they?" Melia asks, sounding a little surprised by that.
"That's kind of the point." Miles admits, looking at his daughter, "Anyway, we get across the bridge, it's a straight shot to Danny." Miles explains, and as he does Nora gives him them a sign saying come forward, and so they all start to walk, as they do Melia feels Charlie take her hand and so she just gives her sister a look.
"I'm never meant to let go of your hand." Charlie tells her sister, in a quiet voice, as while, most of the time, she doesn't still hold her sisters hand times like this remind her that there is a promise she needs to keep.
"Right." Melia mutters, knowing exactly what her sister is talking about, and as she does Miles, who heard what the sisters said, even though they kept their voices quiet, makes a note to ask them about it later.
For less than a minute the group walk across the bridge, but as they do Miles notices something.
"When I say so, we're gonna turn around and run like hell." Miles reveals.
"What?" Aaron asks shocked, as Charlie tightens the hold she has on her little sisters hand.
"We're walking into a trap." Miles says, and as he does the group continue to walk across the bridge for a few more seconds, until he finally says, "NOW!" and once he yells everyone goes running.
As they run Miles doing what he can to make sure Melia and Charlie are safe, he looks back and as he does he sees the only person who has ever scared him, and once he knows things have gone from bad, to worse.
After a few minutes of running, during which time Charlie never let go of Melia's hand, Miles, Nora, Charlie, Melia, and Aaron have finally found a safe place to hide, at least for a few moments and as soon as Miles is sure that the Militia aren't nearby, at least not at the moment, he turns to Melia and Charlie.
"Are you both okay? Did either of you get hit?" Miles asks, looking between Melia and Charlie, it being clear that he is worried about them.
"No, I'm fine." Melia assures him.
"Me too." Charlie says, with a nod.
"What the hell was that?" Aaron asks shocked.
"I've never seen guns like that." Charlie admits.
"Me either, I want one." Melia reveals, causing her sister to give her a look, "What? I do." Melia admits.
"You're not going to be able to get one." Miles informs his daughter, "They're from the armoury, in Philly." Miles reveals, and as he does Melia is pretty sure that it isn't the best time to say what she is thinking, which is that she'll just steal one when they're in Philly so she stays quiet.
"How did they find us?" Aaron asks, shocked as he is pretty sure that they wouldn't have been easy to find.
"It's Strausser." Miles says, looking at Nora as she is the only who would fully understand what that means.
"Who's Strausser?" Melia and Charlie ask together.
"Believe me, you don't want to know, and you definitely don't want him to know you." Nora admits, looking between Melia and Charlie, knowing it would be beyond bad if Strausser got his hands on either one of them.
"So how do we get across the bridge?" Aaron asks.
"We don't, not with him here." Miles admits, "We gotta get out of town." He says.
"Try the bridge at Morgantown?" Nora asks.
"I don't see how we have another choice." Miles admits.
"You said that's a hundred miles, that's days out of our way." Charlie says, really not wanting to go that far.
"Charlie, I commanded that entire damn Militia, and there was only one guy that ever scared me." Miles admits, "and he's out there, right now. We're in trouble." Miles admits, it being perfectly clear that he is telling the truth.
"I'd say so." Melia admits, "I didn't think anything scared you." She says, looking at Miles.
"A lot of things scare me, Melia, I just don't let it show." Miles admits, looking directly at his daughter, "We should get moving." He instructs, and as he does everyone else nod, and follow him.
For the next few minutes, Melia, Charlie, Aaron, and Nora follow Miles through the streets of Freeport, Charlie still holding her little sisters' hand, until they suddenly see a flare go off, and stop walking.
"What the hell?" Melia asks, sounding shocked.
"NORA, NORA CLAYTON, NORA, NORA CLAYTON." A Militia solider suddenly starts yelling.
"Why are they saying my name?" Nora asks, feeling confused.
"Nora Clayton! We have Mia!" The voice yells.
"Mia?" Melia asks.
"Who's Mia?" Charlie asks confused, and as she does Nora gets a look of horror on her face.
"We have Mia!" the voice says, once more.
"Nora, just hold on." Miles says, but before he can stop her Nora goes running, and not being able to do anything to stop her everyone else follows.
About a minute later Nora, with the others right behind her, get to a spot where they see a Latina women, strung up, with soldiers all around her. Seeing the women Nora goes to run out and get her, but Miles pulls her back, and gets her behind a wall.
"Who is that?" Charlie asks.
"My sister." Nora answers, and when she does Melia and Charlie exchange surprised looks.
"Nora Clayton! Nora! I trust I have your attention." Strausser says, and as he does Nora once more tries to go after her sister, but once again Miles pulls her back, "You should know that gravity is compressing your sister's organs." Strausser says, "Her lungs can't fight it much longer, she's suffocating." He reveals, "It's a horrible way to die. Fortunately, it won't take much more than an hour." Strausser reveals, "I only want two things. The necklace, you know the one I mean, and Miles Matheson, for his crimes against the republic." He reveals, "You bring me what I want in time, and she lives, it's simple really." He says.
After hearing Strausses demands Miles, Charlie, Melia, Nora, and Aaron walk from where they are hiding to a place that has a bit more cover, more protection for them.
"I don't understand." Aaron says, "They know we have the necklace, they know that Nora's with us." Aaron says, sounding surprised by that.
"It's your boyfriend." Miles says, looking at Charlie, "Nate, whatever his name is, he saw everything, must have told Monroe." Miles realises.
"But how'd they find Nora's sister?" Melia asks, as her annoyance and hatred of Nate, or whatever his name is, increases.
"Strausser, he lives for this kinda thing." Miles admits, before turning to Aaron, "Give me the necklace." He requests.
"What? No, you're not gonna just give it up to them." Aaron comments, looking at Miles in surprise.
"Give me the necklace!" Miles demands, "Give it to me, Aaron." He basically grows and as he does Aaron just hands it over due to fear.
Once Miles has the pendent he pulls his sword and stars to bash the pendent with the hilt of his sword, trying to destroy it.
"Miles!" Aaron yells.
"What is this thing made out of off?" Miles asks, looking at the pendent in shock, "Not a scratch." He says, shocked.
"What is your problem?" Aaron asks.
"We cannot let Monroe have that thing. It's too dangerous." Miles says.
"We're not giving him the necklace, or Miles either." Nora reveals, "We're gonna get Mia and kill as many of those bastards as possible." Nora says, meaning that, "but I need help." She admits.
"You've got it, because that sounds like my kind of plan." Melia says, with a smirk.
In Philadelphia, Tom Neville has found his son being beaten, apparently on General Monroe's orders, and because of that he has made his way to Monroe's office, where he enters without knocking and interrupts a meeting going on between Monroe and Colonel Faber
"Sir? Colonel Faber?" Tom asks.
"How are you, Major?" Colonel Faber asks, but before Tom can speak Bass is already speaking.
"Tom, you need to hear this. Martin's Ferry, Ohio. Multiple reports that a lighthouse beam turned on for four or five seconds." Bass explains.
"Well, that's fascinating stuff, Sir." Tom says, only partially meaning that, "Could I have a word?"
"Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Colonel Faber." Bass reveals.
"Jason's punishment under your orders, he…." Tom starts to say.
"He bribed a stablehand, Tom, for information on Strausser's whereabouts." Bass reveals, "'Now, you know how important, how high priority Strausser's mission is to me, right? So why then does your boy want to know about it?" Bass asks.
"The older Matheson girl, my son has a weakness for a pretty face." Tom reveals, "I'm sure he's worried about what Strausser would do to her." He admits.
"So worried that he would betray a commanding officer?" Bass asks, honestly feeling a little amused by that as he is pretty sure that letting Jason having a relationship with the girl who could be Miles's daughter could be have better consequences than anything he could think off, as he can imagine what Miles would do about that, especially considering who Jason is.
"Let me handle it." Tom requests, "I'll keep him in line, believe me." He says.
"I'm sure Tom, but it's not necessary." Bass admits, "The colonel here had an idea, John?"
"There's a diplomatic expedition heading out for the California Commonwealth, we're gonna put Jason on it." John explains.
"California? Sir?" Tom asks, sounding shocked, but then, as he remembers who he is talking to he stops himself before he says more.
"Yes? Speak freely." Bass says.
"It's three thousand miles across the mountains, even if he did make it, those heathens have been known to send our boys home in a box." Tom reminds him.
"I'm being generous here, Tom, and that is out of respect, to you." Bass explains, "So it's California, or he faces execution for treason, it's your choice." He reveals.
A little while after Nora said that they are going to kill as many Militia soldiers as possible Melia, Charlie, Miles, Aaron, and Nora have set up something that is going to do just that.
Once everything is set up Melia, Nora, Charlie, Aaron, and Miles met back where they watched Mia from, and seconds later, when they were all where they agreed to meet, several bombs go off, allowing the group a chance to go running to Mia, who Nora and Miles cut free.
"Are you okay?" Nora asks her sister, concerned
"Yeah." Mia answer.
Once they have Mia the group start running, as fast as they can, Charlie still holding her sisters hand, and as they run Miles sees Strauss, and as he does he pulls his sword, and is about to fight him, but then he looks and sees Charlie and Melia running, and remembers how much they are counting on him, so instead he holsters his sword, and goes running after them.
A little while later Melia, Charlie, Mia, Nora, Aaron, and Miles are out of the city, and in a wooded area where they are walking, Charlie still holding her little sisters hand as they aren't safe yet.
"It's good to see you again, Mia." Miles says, trying to make conversation, "I mean, despite the circumstances." He adds.
"Really, Miles, we're just gonna pretend we're pals after what you did to my sister?" Mia asks, and as she does Charlie and Melia exchange looks, both wondering what they are missing, "So, what's the plan?" she asks curious.
"We cross the river at Morgantown." Miles reveals.
"Are you insane? You'd be heading into Philly." Mia says, sounding shocked about that.
"That's the idea." Nora says.
"We should go out West, out of the Republic." Mia says.
"We can't." Melia informs her.
"Our brothers in Philadelphia, Monroe has him." Charlie explains, referring to her and Melia as she speaks.
"And if we want to get him back, we've got to get across that river." Miles explains.
"This is what you're mixed up in?" Mia asks, looking at her sister.
"Yeah." Nora confirms.
"And I can't talk you out of this?" Mia asks.
"No."
"Okay then." Mia says, "If you want to cross the river, you're going the wrong way." Mia reveals, "I know a coyote, he has a ferry about ten minutes North of here, just outside Ford City." Mia explains, "Get you across, but it won't be cheap."
"Get down." Miles suddenly says, and everyone does exactly as he said.
Realising that they have to hide Miles leads everyone over to a large storm drain where they all hide instead, Melia sitting between Miles and Nora, across from her sister, and wait for the coast to be clear so that they can go.
A little while later, it is now daylight and Melia, Charlie, Mia, Nora, Aaron, and Miles are still walking together.
"Let's get a better look, see if Strausser's still out there." Miles says, and once he does he, Melia, and Charlie head up to a high perch, where the three of them start to look for signs of Strausser.
"Do you think we lost him?" Charlie asks curious.
"No, I don't." Miles admits, "If he's not behind us, he's probably ahead, waiting to ambush." He reveals.
"How bad would that be?" Melia asks, looking at her father.
"Really bad, Melia, really, really bad." Miles says, knowing that he doesn't want Melia or Charlie anywhere near Strausser, "We gotta get across that river, soon." Miles reveals, and once he does Melia and Charlie head back to where they others are, and as they do they see Nora and Mia talking, and as they approach they hear Mia say,
"Nora, I found Dad." And as soon as they hear that Melia and Charlie both stop walking, and exchange looks.
"You what?" Nora asks, sounding more shocked than Melia and Charlie have ever heard.
"I'm a bounty hunter, right? Finding people's the gig." Mia says, "He's alive."
"I don't…. how did he.." Nora starts to say, not sure how to get out what she is trying to say.
"Remember when we went into Galveston to find him? He was heading into San Antonio to find us. He buried Mom, figured we were dead too, so he never came back." Mia explains.
"How is he?" Nora asks, needing to know.
"Well, he's grey now, and cranky." Mia says, a certain level of fondness in her voice, "Come with me, let's go see him." He says, "We should get out of the Monroe Republic anyway, no one's hunting us in Texas."
"I gotta go to Philly, I promised." Nora reveals, and as she does Melia and Charlie exchange looks.
"You promised who, Miles? You think you owe Miles anything?" Mia asks, sounding disbelieving as far as she is concerned Nora doesn't owe Miles anything.
"I promised Charlie, and Melia." Nora explains, "After we get their brother, I'll go with you." Nora informs her sister.
"After? You go into Philly, you won't get out alive. There is no after." Mia reminds her sister.
"It's their family." Nora argues.
"I'm your family." Mia argues.
"Tell you what, come with us to Philly. We could use you." Nora says, telling the complete truth.
"I'm sorry, that's a suicide mission." Mia admits, "Listen, I guess I'll get you and your friends across the river, and then go to Texas on my own." Mia says, but before Nora can respond Miles says,
"Come on, we gotta go." And once he does Miles, Nora, Mia, and Aaron all start walking again, but as they do Melia reaches out and puts her hand on her sisters arm.
"Charlie, you know what we've got to do, don't you?" Melia asks her sister.
"Yeah, Melia, I do." Charlie confirms, and even though she knows it will be painful she also knows that it is the right thing, "We should catch up."
"Yeah, we should." Melia confirms, and once she does the two of them continue to walk.
A little while later Melia, Charlie, Mia, Nora, Aaron, and Miles are still walking towards the Coyote that Mia knows off and for the first time since they attempted to cross the bridge Charlie isn't holding her little sister's hand, instead she is walking up front with Miles, and because of that Miles decides to ask something he is curious about.
"Something up Miles?" Charlie asks, concerned, as she noticed that Miles looks like he wanted to say something, but then did.
"No, it's just, Last night, when we were walking across the bridge, you told Melia that you were never supposed to let go of her hand." Miles says, "What did you mean by that?" he asks curious.
"I made a promise to my Mom." Charlie reveals, honestly, she didn't think Miles heard what she said to her sister, but considering he wasn't that far ahead it's not overly surprising, "The day we left Chicago, after the blackout, she asked me to be a big sister, to not let go of Danny and Melia's hands, to never let go of their hands." Charlie reveals, sadness in her voice, "I let Danny get taken, I'm not going to let anything happen to Melia, no matter what I have to do." Charlie reveals, and as she does it is clear to Miles that she is completely serious.
"What happened to Danny wasn't your fault." Miles tells Charlie, doubting that she will believe him, but wanting to try anyway.
"If I kept my promise, he wouldn't have been taken." Charlie tells Miles, as she climbs into the area where the coyote is supposed to be.
After Charlie and Miles, Nora enters, then Melia, then Aaron who is helped by Mia, and less than a minute later they find a dead body.
"So much for your coyote." Miles says, seeing the dead body, and burnt boat, "We're never getting across this river now."
"Strausser, it's gotta be." Nora realises, knowing all too well how bad this is.
For a few minutes Melia, Charlie, Mia, Nora, Aaron, and Miles just stand around all six of them trying to digest what just happened.
"What do you think, Morgantown?" Aaron asks, looking at Miles.
"Only play we got." Miles admits.
"Sorry." Mia says, to her sister, "Guess this wasn't such a hot idea."
"We'll manage." Nora assures her.
"I gotta go." Mia admits, "Head to Texas, hopefully get there by January." Mia says, "I don't suppose I can change your mind? Get you to come with me?" Mia asks.
"I'm sorry, no." Nora answers.
"Nora, it's a long walk, I don't want to do it alone." Mia admits, "And who else will look out for me." She says, and as she does Melia, and Charlie, who heard exchange looks.
"Look, I wish I could, I do, just give me a few weeks to get Melia and Charlie's brother back, and I swear…" Nora starts to say.
"But you won't come back, I need you, Dad needs you." Mia says, and as she does Melia and Charlie walk over.
"Hey, can we talk to you for a sec?" Charlie asks, and once she does she, Malia, and Nora walk a little while away from everyone else.
"You gotta go." Charlie informs her.
"No, Charlie, it's all right, I made you both a promise." Nora says, looking between Melia and Charlie.
"Yeah, you did, but we're telling you that you don't have to keep it." Melia tells Nora, "Your sister's right, we're not your family."
"Look, if our Dad was still alive and I could spend just one more minute with him, I'd do anything, I would give anything." Charlie reveals, and as she does Nora can't help but think about the truth that she knows.
"So would I, to be with my Dad or Mom." Melia reveals, as even though she doesn't want Nora to go she understands why she has to.
A couple of minutes later it is perfectly clear that Nora is going to go with her sister, and thanks to what Charlie and Melia said no one is going to stop her.
"Gonna be a lot tougher to get Danny back without…" Miles starts to say, but before he can finish what he is going to say Nora kisses him.
As Nora and Miles kiss Melia, Charlie, and Aaron all avoid looking at what is going ahead, all feeling rather awkward.
"I'll see you around." Nora informs Miles.
"These days, I doubt it." Miles says, "Doubt we'll ever see each other again." He admits.
"That's what you said last time." Nora reminds him, and once she does everyone heads off, Nora and Mia going in one direction while Melia, Charlie, Miles, and Aaron go in another.
For a while Melia, Charlie, Aaron, and continue to walk, none of them really talking as no one is sure what the right thing is to say after Mia and Nora left.
"Stop, stop, stop, stop." Aaron says, breaking the silence they have been walking in, "The pendent." He says, as he searches his pockets, "It was in my pocket, what did you do with it?" he asks, looking at Miles.
"What did I do with it?" Miles asks, angry, "You're supposed to…."
"You took it, didn't you?" Aaron asks, looking at Miles.
"You're making me wish I had." Miles admits, and once they are the group are fired upon.
The second the bullets start flying Miles grabs Melia and Charlie, and pulls them down behind one of the cars that has been abandoned, while Aaron goes behind another. As they are fired upon it's not just Miles who is trying to protect Melia and Charlie, but the sisters are trying to protect each other.
"Come on out, Miles." Strausser's voice says, "You've got nowhere to go." He says, as the group continued to get fired upon, and as they do Miles looks over to Melia and Charlie, who are trying to protect each other, and as he does he knows, exactly what he has to do.
"Hold your fire!" Miles yells, "Hold your fire! I'm coming out." Miles says, before moving away from the car, and out into the open, both Melia and Charlie going to follow him, but after a look from Miles they stop.
"Miles." Strausser greats, as Miles walks out with both his hands up, "All right, lose the swords." He says, and once he does Miles takes both his swords out of their holster and drops them on the ground.
"Corporal." Miles greats.
"I'm a Sergeant now." Strausser corrects.
"Well, let's be honest, you're a sociopath, is what you are." Miles reveals, meaning that completely, "Before the blackout, you'd have been locked in a rubber room." He says.
"Did you ever consider that maybe society was sick, not me?" Strausser asks.
"No, I never considered that." Miles admits.
"I will agree, it is true that the Militia has been a healthy outlet for me." Strausser admits, "Arms out front, keep them out." He instructs, "Cuff him." He says, but before Miles can be cuffed someone from the distance, who is clearly Nora, and because of that Miles takes cover behind another abandoned car, and a few seconds later Nora appears, with a rifle.
"I knew you couldn't stay away." Miles says, looking at Nora, with a smirk, "Go get Charlie, Melia, and Aaron." He requests, taking the rifle.
Once Miles has the rifle, he starts to fire back, fight back as Nora hurries over to the car where Melia, and Charlie are hiding. For the next few minutes Miles fights back against the Militia, until there is finally the opening that allows him to get to Melia, Charlie, Nora, and Aaron.
"Let's move." Miles says, and once he does, the group starts to run, Charlie once more taking her sisters hand, and they don't stop until they finally get to a Clift, overlooking the water.
"You gotta be kidding me." Aaron says, sounding shocked.
"We don't have a choice." Miles says, and once he does Aaron puts his glasses in his pocket, and then he and Nora jump into the water.
After Aaron and Nora jump Miles, who is standing between Melia, and Charlie, grabs one of each of their hands, and then the three of them jump.
As soon as they hit the water Miles holds tighter onto Melia and Charlie's hands, and as the water carries them away he doesn't let go, not planning on letting go of either of them until they are out of the water.
A while later Miles, Charlie, Melia, Aaron, and Nora have made it out of the water, on the other side of the river, and they are all trying to get warm, and dry.
"You should move closer to the fire." Charlie tells her sister, who is sitting on the ground between her and Nora as they are sitting on a log.
"I'm fine, Charlie, really." Melia assures her sister, and as she does Miles walks over to Aaron who is standing by a tree.
"Look, I already know." Aaron says, "You don't have to say it."
"What do you think will happen if Monroe figures out that necklace?" Miles asks.
"I don't know. He will turn the lights on and buy the world a coke?" Aaron asks, trying to make a joke.
"Not funny, Aaron." Miles says, clearly annoyed, "He doesn't care about lights. All he cares about is weapons, so while the rest of us are running around with swords, and muskets, he'll have jets, and drones." Miles reveals, "People are gonna die by the boatload, all because you couldn't tell if a girl had her hand in your pants."
"I said I get it." Aaron says, sounding angry, "Now get the hell out of my face." Aaron requests.
While Miles and Aaron are talking Melia, Charlie, and Nora are still sitting in silence by the fire, and as they sit Nora realise something that she has to do.
"I'm so sorry, Charlie, Melia." Nora says, looking between the sisters, "I shouldn't have trusted her." She says.
"Nora, you didn't know." Melia reminds her.
"A couple of years ago, I'd have done the same thing without blinking an eye." Nora admits, telling the truth.
"You wouldn't now." Charlie tells her.
"That's what matters." Melia says, looking over at Nora, "Look, I don't trust a whole lot of people, but I do trust you." She reveals, "That hasn't changed." She says, causing Charlie to smile at her sister as for Melia that is progress.
"Thank Melia." Nora says, smiling slightly at the teenage girl, honestly the fact that Melia has faith in her, and that from the look in Charlie's face she does as well, means a lot to her, more than she would expect.
A few hours later, in Philadelphia, Rachel is sitting in a workroom, which is basically just another cell, surrounded by things as she builds what she has told Bass is an amplifier, but is actually a way for her and Danny to escape.
As Rachel works she hears footsteps and as soon as she hears Bass's voice say,
"Rachel." She tenses, "I've got something for you." He reveals, as he walks towards her, and as he does Bass shows Rachel the pendent that he has.
"Where did you get that?" Rachel asks.
"Well, the point is, I got it." Bass says, "So now, you have everything you need." He reveals, and as he does Rachel knows she doesn't have long to finish what she is building, she doesn't have long to pull of doing whatever she has to do to give her and Danny a chance to escape, a chance to be free.
Hours after they climbed out of the river and made camp Melia, Charlie, Nora, Aaron and Miles are still at the camp sight they created, while Aaron, Nora, Charlie, and Melia are all asleep Miles is wide awake, watching everything, listening for signs of danger.
As he watches Miles looks over at Melia and Charlie, who are unsurprisingly asleep close to each other, and once he does he realises something, and so he picks up his blanket, and his jacket which has finally dried, and walks over to the two girls, who both could be his daughter.
Once he is close to Melia and Charlie Miles starts to move as silently as possible and once he is right by them Miles squats down and gently puts his hand to Miles's cheek, and then Charlie's, checking to see if either of them are cold.
As he realises that both the girls are a little cold Miles puts his blanket over Melia, who already has one of her own, and then he puts his jacket, which is just as thick as the blanket, over Charlie, and with both girls he does the best to tuck the blanket, and jacket, around Melia and Charlie respectively.
For a few moments after Miles covers both the girls he just watches them, makes sure they are sleeping soundly, and after a few moments, once he is sure that they are Miles gets up and walks back over to where he was sitting, knowing that he isn't going to sleep any time soon as the only thing that matters is making sure Melia and Charlie, his girls, are safe and warm.