"I don't need your help," John said sternly to his granddaughter.
Najia followed him as he walked around the truck to the driver's side. "Please," she said. "I want to at least get Shane his car back."
John raised his eyebrows at her as he slid into the seat. "You just got back," he said shaking his head.
"I've barely been here an hour and no one will look at me."
He sighed. "You'll have to learn to live with it for a while."
"Let me help you," she begged. "You need help. The cars are close."
"C'mon, John," Gil said as he opened the passenger side door. "Better she help in any way she can then be sitting around doing nothing."
"There's plenty to do around here," John muttered.
"These people think she betrayed them," Marlon reminded him. "Their lives have been live or die. Do you really want to trust her alone with them? After the move Sam pulled?"
John hesitated and met Najia's gaze. "Fine," he finally muttered.
Najia didn't wait for him to say anything more. She slid into the tight backseat beside Marlon, more eager than ever to leave the valley.
"I don't like this," John muttered as they drove into the parking lot just outside the hospital. "It's too quiet."
"Najia took care of the trouble," Gil pointed out.
John shook his head. "It's only a matter of time before another army makes there way here. I don't like being out of the valley."
"We don't have much of a choice," Marlon said. "They're coming whether we like it or not. The valley won't offer us much protection for long. We can't hide anymore."
John cut the engine and made his way across the parking lot.
"It's time to start planning our next move," Gil said as he, Marlon, and Najia followed closely behind John.
John shook his head. "We're not soldiers. We can't do this."
"Probably not," Marlon said. "But I'd rather go down fighting than cowering."
"I don't think you can expect everyone to be so willing to fight," Gil reminded him.
"Maybe we should give them what they want," Najia said.
John stopped and met her gaze. "You?"
"The valley. The way I see it, this war has three sides. We're split with our own kind - the very people we should be working with."
"The Gotoro are working with the Dwarves," Gil said.
"And we're fighting against them and the Shadow People? It's ridiculous."
"The Dwarves-"
"The Dwarves aren't our enemies," Najia said.
"They pushed the Shadow People out of their home," John hissed. "That's why we're in this mess."
"But they're not the enemy," Najia raised her voice at him. "We need to stop treating them like our enemies. If they're willing to fight the Shadow People with the Gotoros, then we can work together to get rid of those brutes once and for all."
"So," John started. "What are you suggesting? We walk right up to them and suggest an alliance?"
"Yes."
John held his gaze on her. "What if they say no?"
"Why would they?"
"They'll want the valley."
"All the valley offers is protection." Najia hesitated. "Well, it did." She shrugged. "Maybe when they realize that the valley isn't all it's cracked up to be, they'll refocus on the war."
"It wouldn't hurt to talk," Gil said with as shrug.
"Over a fucking cup of tea?" John growled. "Sure, and let's bring a bottle of wine, and a nice house warming gift. Here you are. Welcome to Stardew Valley. Please don't kill us."
"Do you see another option?" Marlon asked.
John shook his head. "I can't talk about this right now," he said, frustrated. "I'm trying to find something to kill a good friend. Now, excuse me." He shot at the glass door, stepping through, muttering to himself.
They searched the hospital up and down for hours before John finally found the morphine that Harvey had described to him. They worked quickly to fill their bags with every last bit of it before they made their way back to the truck. Despite John's objections, they drove down into the canyon where the abandoned cars sat. Najia moved quickly, replacing the blown out tires and starting the engine to the Trans Am. It roared to life easily. Najia followed the truck out of the canyon and back towards the valley.
They drove through the tunnel, down the dirt road, and pulled up in front of Harvey's cabin. It was late when they got back, but people were still milling around a large fire, talking quietly amongst themselves. Najia felt their eyes on her as she stepped out of the Trans Am. She forced herself to straighten, in an attempt to exude confidence. The edges of the key bit into her palm and she forced her grip to loosen. She watched as Shane made his way to the car, his hands shoved in his pockets. He did not meet her gaze as he looked the car over.
"She's a little bruised up," Najia said. "But she runs beautifully."
Shane nodded and met her gaze. "Cool."
Najia held the key out in her palm. "You're welcome."
Shane's fingers brushed hers as he took the key. He smiled crookedly. "Cool."
Najia turned away from him, watching as John handed Harvey the bags filled with morphine. Harvey took them solemnly and nodded slowly. He turned and made his way into the cabin, John on his heels. The door closed behind him.
Najia pinched her lips as a single tear escaped her eye. She turned back around, but Shane was gone. She leaned against the car and waited, alone in the darkness. The fire died and everyone made their way to their homes for the night when John finally emerged from the cabin. His figure seemed alarmingly small, bent over in exhaustion. Even in the dim light from the window, Najia could see his face was torn with grief.
Najia walked to his side, hesitant, before wrapping her arms around him.
"Promise me one thing, Rōśanī," he said softly. "Don't go getting yourself killed."
Najia said nothing as he pulled away and walked down the dirt road towards the farm. She stood alone outside Harvey's cabin. Through the window, she watched as Harvey pulled a blanket over the bed, covering Linus's body. She turned away and made her way to the truck, sitting cross-legged in the bed. She watched as Shane emerged from the darkness, a beer in each hand. He leaned against the truck and extended a beer towards her. Najia wrapped her fingers around the neck of the bottle, but Shane did not let go. She met his gaze, hesitant.
"Shane," she started, her voice soft. "I'm sorry."
"I know." Shane released his grip on the beer. He fingered the label on his own for a moment before he spoke again. "You gonna sit here all night?"
Najia shrugged. She stared at the beer in her hands.
Shane pushed himself into the bed beside her, letting his legs dangle over the edge. They sat in silence as they drank their beer, staring into the darkness.
When Najia finished hers, she let the bottle roll towards the back of the truck. She lay down against the wood panels and stared up at the stars.
"How the hell did we, of all people, make it this far?"
Shane smiled and lay back beside her. "I don't know about you," he said, "but some of us have survival skills."
Najia scoffed. "And you think you're one of those people?"
Shane turned his head, looking at Najia. "When you find yourself killing your own race…" He hesitated and turned back to the sky. "Fuck yeah I've got survival skills."
"You killed a human?"
"To save your stupid ass," Shane muttered.
Najia was quiet for a moment. "I don't think things could get more fucked up."
"I'm sure they will," Shane said simply. He turned back to her. "Are you prepared for that?"
Najia bit her lip. "No," she admitted. Her heart raced as she thought about walking right up to the Gotoro army and turning herself in to them.
"I'm scared, too."
Najia turned her head and met his gaze. "You can't be," she said. "You're supposed to be the one with the survival skills. You're supposed to have your shit together."
"Not even close," Shane said, turning his gaze back to the sky. "I had this idea that finding the valley would fix everything and everything would go back to normal."
"Me too."
"Sometimes I wish we never made it here," he said softly.
"I wish I died jumping out that window," Najia muttered.
"I don't." Shane turned and met her gaze. "Would have made a life on the run really boring."
Najia smiled. "I don't think you would have lasted as long as you think you would. Wouldn't have been boring for long."
Shane smirked at her through his narrowed eyes. "Hmp."
Najia pressed closer to him. She bit her lower lip, hesitant, as she caught his gaze.
"At least I wouldn't have to listen to-" Shane started, his voice cut off as Najia's lips met his. "Taylor Swift," he said softly when she pulled away.
"Don't pretend you hated it," Najia said quietly.
Shane pressed his lips against hers. "I hated every second," he whispered against her lips.
Najia pulled away and met his gaze for a moment, searching his eyes. "Well," she started. "Then we never have to do that again. I'll go back and take it all away."
Shane pulled her back into him and their lips met once more, harder this time. "I wouldn't change any of it."
