043 Deaf
They could hear screaming outside. Necrolai was laughing, urging her robots on to infect more people. Even Leelee was taking part in the fun tonight.
Nick was pacing back and forth angrily. Xander watched him, waiting patiently; he'd been expecting this, but he couldn't make his move until Nick did.
Clare was getting nervous, watching Nick warily. Vida and Madison were asleep, or close enough that Nick couldn't tell the difference—Xander wouldn't let Vida stay out on watch on nights like this. If they were found, knowing about it in advance wasn't going to help. Chip was curled into a corner, ignoring them. He knew what was coming just as well as Xander did.
"That's it." Nick headed for the door; Xander scrambled to his feet, blocking his path. "Out of my way. Xander."
"No."
"Get out of my way!"
"No."
He could see the others getting up; Clare looked upset, the others resigned, and no one made a move to interfere.
"You're going to sit here and listen to that?"
"Yes."
"Those people out there will die at dawn if we sit here."
"The people in here will die if we don't."
"You're just going to sit in here, pretend you're blind and deaf?" Nick spat. "You're a coward."
"You're responsible for Clare," Xander said evenly. "If you go out there, they'll find us and she'll die." Nick cursed, turning away and kicking at the nearest wall. Xander added more gently, "You told me not to go after my parents, and…"
"This is payback?" Nick protested.
"You were right. One of us can't fight all of them. We just have to stay alive." He turned away, moving to sit back down.
"What if that's your sister screaming out there?" Nick demanded, ignoring Clare's attempts to calm him. "What if it's your friend Toby?"
"Nick, leave it," Chip said warningly. Xander had frozen, stock still in the middle of the room.
"Oh? Sore spot? Hey, here's a thought. Toby knows where we are. What if he's handed us in? Maybe that's why he's not here!"
Xander spun, advancing so fast he had Nick backed into a corner before anyone could react. Xander used every inch of his height advantage over Nick, pinning him in place.
"You don't get to talk about Toby. Toby stays away so there's more for you and Clare. That's why he doesn't come back anymore." He was peripherally aware of Clare crying, Chip holding her arm to keep her in place, but he couldn't seem to focus on anything but the boy in front of him. "You don't get to die, because it's spitting in his face. You and Clare stay here, you stay safe, you stay alive. Understand?" Nick didn't answer, and Xander slammed him into the wall. "Understand?"
"Yeah. I got it."
"Xander?" Maddie touched his arm. "I'm cold. Will you come sit with me?"
"Yeah." Distantly he knew he was shaking, but it didn't seem important. "No one goes out," he told Chip, stepping away from Nick.
"Got it," Chip agreed, letting go of Clare so she could go to Nick.
Nick brushed off Clare's concerns—he wasn't hurt in any way she could help with—and turned to Chip. "Do I apologise?" he murmured.
"Are you sorry?" Vida retorted.
"I'm sorry for what I said."
Chip shook his head, turning away as Maddie coaxed Xander to lie down with her. "Don't mention it again. Don't do it again."
"He wants to help those people, just as much as you do," Vida added. "But he's thinking of us."
"That was low, bringing up his sister," Chip agreed.
"I said I was sorry. I was angry. And he brought up his parents."
"He knows where his parents are." Chip looked past him at Clare. "Sorry, Clare, but we're all sleeping at this end tonight."
Clare nodded quickly, scrubbing at her cheek. "That's fine."
Nick glanced over at Xander again, flinching when he realised he was crying; Maddie was stroking his hair, murmuring softly.
Nick turned away.