Winds of War Chapter 20: Come Join The Murder, a punisher fanfic

David finished with strapping himself into his gear, the holster under his arm and the gun ready to deploy whenever he wished. A feeling of determination coursed through him. I am prepared, he thought. No more regrets. The violence will never end so I must prepare to do violence. I must protect what is mine.

My father is right—there is no redemption for some people. Those people are no better than rabid dogs and need to be put down. His phone beeped with an incoming text. We're on the way, David. Be ready. Resolution crept into his bone marrow and David climbed up the stairs that led into the main part of the house. He opened the basement door and nearly bumped into Karen, who had been hovering outside.

She just stopped and drank in his appearance. "My God, you resemble your father so much…" Slicked back hair, piercing eyes and a hardened expression channeled Frank directly into this house. Her eyes widened as the white skull seemed to glow against the black kevlar. "David…"

"What's wrong, Karen? You wanted to meet the Punisher, so here I am." David said, his words fell as softly as brass cartridge cases hitting the floor. The Punisher was not just a man; it was a symbol of retribution when ordinary justice would not succeed. That was when punishment was needed.

"Not...like this. What's happening? What are you doing? Where are you going?" Karen's right hand played prettily with a blonde lock. Her blue eyes peered up at him as she tried to make sense of this situation and David's sudden resolute demeanor.

He touched her cheek and she smiled at the gesture. "I'm taking a team and going after the Gnuccis. They can't be allowed to get away with attacking any member of the FBI. They attacked us knowing who my father happens to be. They would have killed you. And me, after torturing me to their satisfaction." If he told her about the increasing number of law enforcement officers that were being slain, she'd be shocked and probably terrified. The media was being forced to remain silent on that to avoid mass panic and to not encourage other anarchistic thugs to rise up against the police.

"Do you think this is the way to go about it?" Karen asked as she kept one ear out for the children. Sara happily played away and Michael was due to wake up hungry. She put her hand on his chest, aware of how firm and rough the Kevlar was under her touch. "Do you think your father would approve?"

That last question was exactly the wrong thing to ask David. "My father is not here. If he were, he'd go after them himself." He thought for a moment to formulate what was deep in his mind and speak in a way that would not hurt his fiance. "I am my father's son and I've grown exhausted of having my family assaulted. It's happened three times, Karen. Three. Times." I can either try to drown the darkness in me with liquor or I can embrace it—and I'm tired of drinking.

Karen remained silent; there wasn't much she could say to refute that fact. She attempted to read his face, but his countenance was stony. When she found the words, she replied, "I understand your frustration, David, but this might not be the most appropriate way to deal with it."

David drew in his thoughts. "Do you know how many LEOs were ambushed and killed last week? I do. I'll tell you but you can't let anyone else know."

Karen's innate curiosity was piqued and she dreaded the answer. "I promise not to tell anyone. Or write about it, either." She knew she'd have to remain silent; he was entrusting her with information and she could not violate that trust. What about the baby? He's trusting me with a gift. Maybe it was a 'surprise' gift, but I've still got it. It's a responsibility I need to take seriously, no matter what choice I make. Karen wanted to talk to Rogue about her situation when she came back and how the younger woman dealt with being a mother to children who weren't hers. Karen admitted though Rogue had a demanding job, that she was a good mother doing her best. If Rogue can love children who weren't hers, especially considering Michael's circumstances, how can I do less with mine?

"One hundred and fifty LEOs were killed last week, throughout the country. Mostly in Chicago and LA, where there is considerable gang activity. What's more, we've done investigating and these gangs are sending some of their young members to the military—primarily the Army and Marines. Those gang members are coming back with knowledge, lured by the promise of high rank in the gang. This has been going on for about ten years." David watched as shock illuminated her eyes.

Karen gathered her composure, though it was akin to herding cats, and responded, "Oh my God. That's more than a year's worth. In a week? And this information is being suppressed?"

David nodded. He didn't say who was responsible. David did not have to; Karen was smart enough to figure it out for herself. His phone rang out with a notification bing and he checked it to read a text. We're outside. Time to move out.

He typed: I'm on my way. David turned his attention to Karen as he stuffed the phone back into a pocket. "I've got to go." David, tall and imposing in his gear, paused. "May I have a kiss before I leave?"

Karen smiled and nodded, still digesting the news he gave her. What he told her seemed so unreal to Karen and she wanted the kiss, wanted to feel real emotion through the heavy blanket of shock.

He brought her into his arms, bent his head, and kissed her. A desperate, loving yet firm kiss that made her knees weak. David broke it off. "I'm sorry. I do have to go. I need to break the Gnuccis because they'll just come after us again. They'll come after you, first, to get to me. And if not them, some other threat."

Karen rested her head on his chest, against the white skull. Her arms were wrapped around his waist, acutely aware that he was armed with a handgun, the cool metal brushed against her hand. "I understand. I don't like it, but you have to do this. Be safe, love."

David smiled at Karen, his striking blue eyes softened. "I will, Karen. Stay inside, though." He added, "Rogue will be back soon from whatever she's doing, I'm sure." He hesitated as if he did not want to leave her and the children. He did not want to leave Karen's warmth, her sweetness. Or leave his young half-siblings. He doubted Frank would approve of his departure, even if guards were stationed at the house. David knew that a hard call had to be made, though, and he needed to follow through with the plan.

A knock on the front door, heavy-handed and official, stirred him to action. "I promise I'll return, Karen, but probably not for a few days."

She followed him to the door, unable to speak. A gnawing thread of anxiety curled up in her stomach, unsure of what would happen to David. Karen watched the brief exchange at the door, the man talking to David was also garbed in black tactical gear. The unknown man glanced over David to watch her with a cynical gaze.

"That's my fiance, Karen. Let's hit the road, Agent Smith." David swiveled his head slightly to give her a tender grin but his eyes gleamed with resolute determination. "Stay inside, Karen. I mean it. Keep Sarah inside, too."

She gave her assent. "I will." Karen kept her composure until David shut the door behind him and she collapsed on the couch. She hoped that Rogue would come home soon. I need to talk to someone so badly. Maybe Rogue could help me make sense of what the hell is going on.

Rogue thought it best to not fly home as that might upset the agents assigned to protect David's house and fiance. So she stopped and picked up her motorcycle which had not been stripped of parts. Of course, she thought, this was close to the Pentagon and there were probably cameras around.

She straddled and revved up the bike. At this point, she just wanted a hot shower and a meal. After that, time with the children. Ah told Sarah Ah'd be home today. Ah need to make good on what Ah told her. Rogue glanced at the sky and thought it was about seven or eight. Dusk was approaching on silent feet.

It didn't take her long to make her way through the traffic. Riding the bike felt nice, but she thought that flying was better. If asked, Rogue would describe flying as a more intense sensation of freedom, of pushing through the air currents and a greater sense of control. She pulled into David's driveway and was glad she cleaned up at SHIELD headquarters before heading home. She had not appeared, to understate her situation, very presentable and would have scared Sarah. As it were, she garnered a few apprehensive glances and the other agents gave her a wide berth.

She greeted the agents as she strolled up the walkway. "Hey, Agent Smith and Agent Black. Havin' a good day?" Rogue was amiable and warm-her natural disposition shone through even when she lacked energy. She dug around for her SHIELD identification-a precaution insisted upon by David to ensure that it wasn't anyone impersonating her. Rogue understood completely as she remained aware that Mystique had two clones on the loose. She showed the ID to the two agents.

Agent Smith took the ID and scanned it with his phone. It was authentic and he handed it back to her. "We're doing well, Agent Castle. Welcome home." With that, the two men stepped aside.

Before she could enter, Agent Black mentioned that the Director had pressing business and had to leave. Rogue nodded and dreaded dealing with Karen. Mostly because she hated putting the childcare burden on Karen. It wasn't fair to her, Rogue considered. Next time, Ah'll take them to the official daycare center. That is if Nick doesn't kill me for going over his head and breaking the chain of command.

Rogue found Karen in the kitchen, making some dinner for herself. Karen looked up from stirring the stir fry. "Karen, Ah'm sorry that Ah had to leave."

Karen waved her spatula around. The scent of dinner tantalized Rogue's nose. "You're not the only one who had to leave today. It's ok." Karen paused. "I made dinner for the children earlier. Both are in bed and sleeping. And I thought you might like a bite to eat, so I made enough stir fry for the two of us."

Rogue would appreciate a good meal but it was the first sentence that caught her attention. "What do you mean that Ah'm not the only one who had to leave…" Then, through the haze of the exhaustion that crept up on her, she remembered what Agent Black had told her. "David had business to take care of?"

The blonde woman gave a nervous laugh and her hands shook while she stirred the food. "Yeah. You could say that. He left looking like his father, Rogue. He was wearing a black vest with the skull on it. The Punisher skull." Karen did not like the slightly hysterical tone in her voice. Will Rogue think I'm weak? Hell, I KNOW I'm weak. Why should I be surprised if she thinks the same way?

Rogue came over to give Karen an embrace. This latest news about David worried her and she knew she needed to relay this to Frank. "What's going on, Karen? You can take your time, no pressure, but Ah need to know what's happened." The hug was quick but reassured Karen that she would be heard and that her concerns were important.

Karen's hands shook as she plated the stir fry and handed Rogue her meal. The two women sat down and ate in silence. She struggled to gather her thoughts to convey her feelings coherently.

"Rogue, I don't know where to start…." Karen began then continued after a pause, "so I guess I'll just start with this. I caught David getting drunk a few days ago. I'm pregnant. Then David ran off, to get the Gnuccis. That's why he left looking the way he did." Karen remembered his words: What's wrong, Karen? You wanted to meet the Punisher, so here I am. They haunted her with the core of truth in them. She DID want to meet the Punisher, but not like that. Not in David.

Rogue blinked. That was a lot of information to unpack. No wonder Karen's worked up. Ah completely understand. "Let's start with you. How do you feel? Do you want this pregnancy?"

Karen responded, her blonde head bobbing up and down in a nod. "I do, but David relapsed, and then..then he took off. He truly looked like his father, Rogue, his eyes were cool and so resolute. It was almost like something clicked in him like he accepted a part of him that was denied for too long. I'm not sure if we should have a child under these circumstances. I want the baby but not if he or she is going to live in a chaotic home."

"Ah can't blame you for feelin' the way you do. You should only have the baby if it's something you want. Ah will say that bein' a father gives David a sense of purpose. He's been good to Kevin and Eleanor; they're decent people. Trent's...well...he's broken and Ah don't think that's due to David." Rogue got up, dug around in the fridge, and brought back some bottled water. She plunked down a water bottle in front of Karen. "But Ah also think this is a conversation that you need to have with him. In-depth."

Karen smiled. "You're right. We've talked about it a little and I know that David wants the baby but things are going to have to change around here. I'm not going to be able to do all this by myself."

Rogue recognized a subtle reprimand when she heard one. "Yeah, Ah'll do mah part. Ah ain't happy about leaving Sarah and Michael, believe me. Gonna see if Ah can work less and be around more." She added, "Ah'm also gonna have to let Frank know about David-it'll be a few weeks since communication is limited right now. We might have to make other living arrangements."

Karen relaxed in her chair. "I like having all of you around but…"

"Ah know. Frank and Ah are bound by our respective duty so we can't always be here. We love our kids, Karen, but we need to keep them safe." Rogue sighed. "It's not pretty out there. Truth be told, it's quite nasty and Ah have no idea how all this will end. But what Ah can say is that life has to go on. We gotta keep on livin' our lives and not be afraid of what-ifs."

"What did you see today, Rogue?" Karen finished up her water, almost afraid of what Rogue would tell her.