36
I don't know where we are going. I only know we can't stay here. The Lake House is lovely but also tainted now as the kids look over the water to the homestead they can never return to.
Al knows something has happened but does not understand yet the full ramifications of it. Manny has stepped up like a good boy and is carrying the lump of a baby like he is a puppy or something, the other kids closing ranks around the baby. I take comfort in knowing he has friends, family. Siblings I guess.
Dwight has been a comfort, his kind soft voice and his solid arms letting me break while the others don't see. For some reason the anger … the rage I feel … makes me weep. More for the hopelessness of the situation than the loss of my husband. I can't mourn anymore. I am spent. I am torn now. I don't want to leave him. His grave. But I must. Poor Dwight. He knows my pain, his own wife gone and … we have to move on. For the kids, we have to move forward and keep striving for a place of safety.
.
.
.
"But was it safe? He's not marked it" Mary tapped the map they had found in the backpack they had taken from the poor dead man's campsite. Going through it they had found maps, and things suggesting he had been searching too. The small radio crackled in Dwight's hands as he turned it on to check the batteries, coming to life with a voice. Clear. A bit… Scottish?
"This is the Outpost. Can anyone hear me? If anyone is out there, still alive in this madness. My Name is Kris. We are here. We are still here. If you are in the England or Wales region please get a pen and paper. I will read out coordinates for you soon that will take you to a camp. We will meet you there on each Thursday. I repeat, every Thursday one of our people will visit this camp and greet any people there. Go to the coordinates. There is shelter, food and on Thursday there will be a friend. Do you have that pen now? The coordinates are….."
Ghost and Dwight had both scrambled for pens and were writing feverishly as the man's voice repeated the coordinates twice, then they poured over the map as the message started to repeat.
"He marked that as the next stop. Look. Poor bastard was almost there, has left it for us. Looks like the lake region" Dwight said to Ghost, "Do we trust it?"
"We can't stay. I … I don't know. I … what if I scout ahead. Looking at this it is a three day ride. I will go on the bike, check out this camp. If it looks real and I don't see a trap I will come back for you and…"
"We can't wait six days" Kathy cut in "No. We all go, and then wait a good eight or ten hours off the camp site. You go in, check it out and radio back. We then wait for you to return as well. The double check. If you don't come back it's a trap. We wait 24 hours for you then fuck off. If it is safe we all go in. We can't wait six days to find out … we can't stay"
"I agree with Kathy" Dwight nodded as the radio's voice started the message again "And I want to meet this man. He sounds solid."
Kathy nodded and Ghost turned off the radio, silencing Kris' voice.
They sat back and considered, then Mary finally said "Let's do it. Bold and determined. Right?"
"Right."
They would all fit in the SWAT vehicle now. There were now so few of them then before… Kathy rose and started to pack things as Ghost and Dwight took over the discussion of the next steps.
This Outpost… might exist.
They had to have hope. She felt it, the first tendrils of hope.
In three days they would know for sure, Kathy feeling Dwight's hands slide around her waist to pull her back into a hug reassuring as well.
In the desistance she watched her children play.
They were all hers now.
The future beckoning.
.
.
.
.
And of course we know they got there, they lived there and flourished and now… they have finally met the Torchwood Crew left and Ianto got that hug of thanks. Many times over.
As per discussions … I think the next story should be Andy's Journey. After all … getting not just Martha as a wife but Mickey as wall must be an interesting one yes?
Thanks to those of you still reading.
Love you all.