Chapter 14:

It had taken Tom a long time to trust Anthony's word. At first he'd been convinced that he was either crazy, or trying to lead them into some sort of trap. But as he'd explained just what he meant by the 'Massachusetts Militia', and just how many people had gathered there so far, Tom hadn't been able to fight the spark of hope that flared in his heart. This was something he hadn't dared to let himself dream of being a reality, even if history had taught him that it was inevitable for people to band together and fight back. As Anthony had described the way they made sure everyone had enough to eat, and that the doctors – actual doctors – had enough medicine, Tom had realised he had no choice but to trust him. He had to believe that people, some of them at least, were good, and would work together like this. What had sealed the deal had been Matt's face at the thought of the steady supply of food and when Anthony had explained that they were trying to set up some sort of school. It sounded like a real community. Hal had whispered that he thought they should go for it, and Tom had nodded his agreement, and told Anthony they'd be happy to go with him.

He was still a little unsure about the gun Anthony was carrying, but he'd explained that they were run by long serving army personnel and veterans, and that he himself was a police officer, and Tom had felt somewhat reassured. It sounded like those with guns were properly trained, and it might actually be a good thing to have some guns around for protection, even if he hated them himself.

By the end of that day Tom was barely able to believe how thankful he was that Anthony had found them. It was just as he'd described. There were people, so many people, happily working together. Maybe even more than a thousand of them. Upon their arrival they'd given their names, and stated who they'd lost. Tom's unspoken hope that Ben might have been there waiting for them was quickly dashed, but he knew they were in a much better position to find him now that they were part of a group. They were assigned specifically to the Second Massachusetts, or the 2nd Mass as Anthony put it, and Tom was pleased to find that it was Anthony's group too. They'd been given a small space to call their own, with sleeping bags and a couple of pillows, and Anthony showed them an area where they could wash and get clean clothes. They were then taken to the dining area where they were served actual cooked food. It wasn't luxury, not by the standards of the old world, but it felt like it to Tom, Hal and Matt. For the first time since Rebecca's death, Matt seemed a little more like his old self, as he happily chatted to the people they met.

After dinner, Anthony introduced them to some of the 2nd Mass, and Tom was amazed to see so many people all happy to greet them. They talked for a while with Dai and Click, before Anthony took them to the medical area to introduce them to the 2nd Mass' doctor, Anne Glass. Tom felt an immediate connection with the doctor; he could see that she'd been through a lot, and lost a lot, just like he had. But she was still smiling, still working and she made Matt smile easily. And she made Tom laugh, too. It felt so surreal that this was happening, that there were people talking and joking and being human. It was almost like before.

While they were talking Tom noticed that Hal had wandered off and felt a momentary panic at not knowing exactly where his son was. He had to resist rolling his eyes when he saw that Hal was talking with a blonde girl, who Tom noted was quite pretty. Even the apocalypse couldn't change everything. The humour left him when, with a jolt, he noticed that the girl was armed; she must have been about Hal's age. Logically Tom knew that kids their age had fought in wars throughout all of time, but he'd not let himself contemplate his own children being in that position. He wouldn't let it happen, not yet at least. When Hal left the girl and came back over to them, Tom had raised his eyebrows at his son.

"Making friends I see?" He'd asked, unable to resist a small grin. Hal had looked a little embarrassed.

"That's Karen." He'd answered, "She offered to teach me to shoot."

"Not going to happen." Tom spoke without thinking, "You are too young." He'd just found his sons somewhere he hoped was safe, he wouldn't let Hal into another dangerous situation. Not if he could help it. And not while he didn't know where Ben was. "And that's final." Tom added as he saw Hal open his mouth to protest. Surprisingly, Hal didn't push the point, although Tom saw him looking over at Karen.

Just then Anthony had reappeared, with two older looking military men. He introduced them as Captain Jameson, who was in charge of the 2nd Mass, and Captain Weaver, who was his second in command. Jameson only stayed long enough to introduce himself, but Weaver stuck around, saying that they always had need of more fighters. However, when Tom told him that he was a University professor and wasn't sure how much help he'd be, Weaver had lost all interest and had abruptly walked away; thankfully he'd been the only noticeably rude person Tom had met. Anne had told him not to worry about Weaver, and had explained that they'd be sorted into roles over the next few days.

Before too long most people were settling down for the night, and so Tom and his boys went back to their area and made themselves comfortable. It was strange to suddenly be surrounded by so many people, after so much time being on their own. But Tom couldn't help but feel that it was a good thing.

"I like it here." Matt declared as he lay down next to Hal, who grinned at him.

"Me too buddy!" Hal agreed.

Tom smiled, pleased to see them looking relaxed and happy. Tonight he could rest without worrying about keeping watch; well, he could try to rest without worrying.

"I just wish Ben was here." Matt added, sounding sad again, "And mom." Tom felt the smile fall from his face as he caught Hal's eye, but he moved closer to Matt, so he was sandwiched between the two of them.

"So do we, Matt," Tom agreed, "But we've still got each other."

It was surprising how quickly they fell into a routine with the militia, how quickly it became the new normal. There was a real sense of hope, a sense of community and of having something to fight for beyond their family, something to fight for that had a real chance of surviving. It was a sense of hope that Tom had desperately needed, and he was doing all he could to instil it into his sons. He'd quickly made real friends; he loved talking to Dai and Anthony, although Dai rarely contributed much to the conversations, and he spent hours talking with Anne. Hearing how she'd lost her husband and son had brought home to Tom just how lucky he was to still have half of his family with him. She had become the person he could go to for advice, and he hoped she felt the same way about him. It was a true friendship. Matt enjoyed playing with the other kids, but Tom had noticed a change in him. He would spend as much time as he could around Tom or Hal, and had really taken to Anne. Hal disappeared for long periods of the day, and Tom was fairly certain he was with Karen. He wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to know what they were getting up to, and Hal grew fairly awkward and taciturn if he brought it up.

Tom had warily agreed to learn to shoot. He'd happily volunteered to join scouting parties and to take part in food runs, and had quickly learnt how to ride a motorbike, but it had taken him some time to come around to the idea of learning how to shoot a gun. His fiercely held beliefs from before the invasion were hard to shake off, but eventually he accepted the necessity. The world was no longer safe without a gun. He knew he'd eventually have to allow Hal to learn to shoot, but he wanted to hold off on that for as long as possible; especially as once Hal learnt to shoot, he'd be desperate to go out with Tom on the missions, and Tom wasn't ready to risk that. Not that he'd ever be ready to risk that. He knew the day would come soon, but he wanted to wait as long as he could.

For the most part, Tom avoided Captain Weaver. The man was difficult and made no attempt to get aquatinted with the 'civilian' element of the group. As long as they had minimal contact, Tom was able to get by; although their difference of opinion on most subjects led to more than one clash between the two. Captain Jameson was slightly easier to talk to, but he was always so busy planning the next food run or organising the soldiers that their paths didn't often cross.

Whenever Tom went out he made sure to keep an eye out for Ben. On their second day with the group Anne had confirmed one of his worst fears; that removing the 'harness' – which was what they called the device attached to the children's backs – killed the kids, and that they had yet to figure out how to take them off safely. Tom had been forced to accept that whilst they couldn't be sure, if Ben was alive he was mostly likely with the 'Skitters' and the 'Mechs' - the militia's name for the green aliens and robots. Tom had to believe that Ben was alive, and that they would get him back. He had to believe that they'd discover a way to save him from the alien control. They had to.

A couple of weeks into their time with the Militia and Tom was looking for Hal. He wanted him to watch Matt while he filled a last minute slot on a food run, but he had disappeared yet again, with Karen no doubt. Tom wasn't sure exactly what he was going to walk in on, but he knew that Hal had seemed happier since they've joined the militia and he knew Karen was a big part of that. However, the scene Tom walked in on was the last thing he expected, but probably something he should have realised. Hal had given up on the idea of learning to fight far too easily.

Which, of course, was why Tom found him and Karen shooting at targets on trees. Tom felt his heart lurch at the sight of his son holding a gun, aiming and hitting his target perfectly as Karen applauded. It was bound to happen eventually in this new world, but Tom couldn't fight how much it hurt that Hal had learnt to fire a gun, and that he'd done it without him. He'd lied to him about it. Or neglected to mention it. Tom felt a swirl of emotions flood through him; anger, sadness, disappointment and terror. Terror that Hal would soon be in a position to use that gun for real. Hal was old enough, technically, to be allowed to fight but that didn't stop Tom from wanting to protect his child. Tom was still deciding exactly how to react when Hal looked over and noticed him. Tom saw him go pale, and he walked over to them.

"Dad, I can explain," Hal started before Tom got a chance to speak, "I know you don't think I am, but I'm old enough to fight. Karen's my age and she goes out on food runs and scouting missions and she stays safe and she's careful. I want to help. You go out, you do it and you were a teacher. I just want to be able to help. Maybe if I'd had a gun and known how to use it, I'd have been able to protect Ben. But I didn't, and I failed him. I won't fail Matt. Or you. I'm doing this, and you can't stop me. The world we live in is not the world we thought it would be, and this is the right thing for me to do. You always taught me to do the right thing." Hal's tone was as determined as ever, but Tom could tell that he was worried he'd be angry. He wondered if his son had prepared that little speech in advance.

Tom turned to Karen, "Could you excuse us for a moment please?" She looked at Hal for a moment before nodding, and starting to walk away.

"He's really good." She called, turning back towards them, "He'd be a big help out there." Tom waited until she'd walked out of earshot before turning back to his son, who was looking at him expectantly. Tom gave him a stern look, realising he had no choice but to accept that this was happening. Hal was old enough to make his own decisions, and Tom respected him enough to accept them, even if it killed him to do so.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked as a look of surprise crossed Hal's face, "You don't have to fight, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. I know I'd rather you stayed safe here."

"But that's just it, if we don't go out there to get supplies, no one will be safe in here. If we aren't prepared to fight, then no one will be safe. It's important."

Tom was struck, not for the first time, by how much Hal had matured since the invasion. He'd grown up completely, and Tom couldn't help but feel proud of him even as it terrified him. It was clear to him that Hal wasn't doing this because he thought it would be fun, and he wasn't doing it just to impress Karen. He was doing what he thought was right, just like Tom was.

"Alright, I'll allow it." Tom conceded, raising a finger as Hal grinned at him, "But you'll be under my supervision, at first at least. You don't leave my sight unless I say. Agreed?" He would feel much better about this if he could keep an eye on Hal at all times. Hal nodded eagerly.

"Agreed!" He paused, his grin falling a little, "Would this be a good time to mention that Karen also taught me to ride a motorbike?" Yet another of Tom's pre-invasion never will I allow my children near items. Tom shook himself. If Hal was going to be out there risking his life against aliens, a motorbike was the least of his worries. He decided to change to course of the conversation.

"So, Karen's been teaching you a lot, has she?" He asked, his tone teasing, "What else have you two been up to?"

"What?" Hal spluttered, "Nothing!" He insisted, but he refused to make eye contact with his dad.

"What do you think of her?" Tom continued, smiling, "I think she likes you. 'He's really good, he'd be a big help out there.' Is there something I should know?"

"We're friends, dad." Hal answered, although Tom could see he was going a little red in the face, "I'm going to go find Matt." Hal finished, starting to walk away from his dad, shaking his head a little.

Tom let his smile fall as he watched his son go. Rebecca was gone, Ben was missing, Hal was going to risk his life fighting and Matt was growing up surrounded by all of this. And yet it was a new normal that he was starting to get used to; he was making jokes and feeling somewhat relaxed. They were all making friends and that was wonderful. But he was beginning to forget what it had been like before, and that thought scared him.

Author's Note:

So... we're meeting the rest of the characters from the Pilot! Hope I've done them justice!

I'll be posting the last 2 chapters on Friday! Can't believe we're nearly finished! Almost caught up with the Pilot's events!