American Revolution!AU: Part 3

"Father, you cannot let them go!"

"Nancy," Mr. Drew sighed, leaning on his desk. "They have fulfilled their apprenticeships. They work here of their own free will now; if they choose to leave, they may."

"Do you condone it?" she asked incredulously. How could her father...?

How could Frank?

Joe was a hothead; everyone knew he charged right into things with the purest intent - but without fully realizing the repercussions until afterwards.

But Frank?

He was calm.

He thought things through.

He didn't let his heart eclipse his head.

Which meant he truly believed in this fight.

And he truly believed it was worth dying for.

Mr. Drew looked over Nancy's shoulder, and she didn't need him to tell her that Frank was standing in the doorway. He nodded and Frank entered.

"Nancy..." Frank hesitated. "Would you run an errand with me?"

Nancy looked back at her father, who inclined his head. "Don't be long."

~ND~

Frank didn't say anything until they had traveled the length of main street.

"'Tis a fine day," Nancy tried lamely. Her anger had subsided, leaving her empty. She only now realized they were heading towards the river.

Frank looked straight ahead as they walked. "Nancy, I'm sorry."

Sorry.

You will be sorry when you're bleeding out from a Redcoat's bayonet.

Instead she said, "I don't want you and Joe to leave."

I can't imagine life without either of you.

"I don't want to go, Nan." He voice wasn't more than a hoarse, exasperated whisper. "But these are the days we live in. We cannot let tyranny win."

They were on the banks of the river now.

Frank absentmindedly took hold of a low-hanging tree branch and leaned his forehead on it; his whole body seemed weighed down, weary.

Nancy felt a little guilty about how inwardly upset she'd been at him, as though he was doing it simply to torment her. He could do whatever he wanted with his life.

It really was none of her business.

And yet, it felt like it was entirely her business.

"Frank," she murmured. "If you believe in this, I trust 'tis the best choice."

She wouldn't tell him that she was a spy. She wouldn't tell him that she had secretly harbored hopes that he and Joe would join her rather than join the militia.

She'd let him go do what he must. She could do that.

She walked over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Crush tyranny," she said, attempting a teasing smile.

He turned to her, looking more distressed than she had ever seen him in the entire half-decade she'd known him. "Thank you."

Frank's face was inches away from hers.

She couldn't breathe. The moment stretched on, and she felt her heart beat erratically.

But she lowered her head so that she wouldn't be tempted to do something foolhardy. Frank, however, took her shoulders in his hands and kissed the top of her head so earnestly that it sent shivers down her back.

"Don't die," she choked out. "And make sure Joe stays out of trouble."

Her eyes were shut, but she could hear the laugh in his voice. "Yes, ma'am."