The air smelled of dust and decay and corrosion, and the smallest tinge of acrid radiation stung the back of his throat as Jack drew a deep breath, and really took it all in - with his eyes, with his ears, with his hands, and with his lungs - for the first time in what felt like forever. Unable to settle his nerves, he'd decided to step out for a bit - for some fresh air , he'd said. The mere idea seemed ridiculous now.
Shifting his weight against the rusted railing beneath his fingers, and lowering his head, his gaze fell upon the current of water beneath him. He wondered, for a moment, where all the floating debris could possibly still be coming from, as he finally released the breath he'd pent up.
I suppose when you let yourself stagnate for two centuries, you tend to forget that life goes on, with or without you . He closed his eyes, wondering just how much had transpired in all that time he'd spent holed up in his family home, more or less safe from the unknown dangers lurking just outside their door. Highly doubtful that anyone's been keeping tabs on what might be worthy of making the history books, either.
Approaching footsteps broke Jack from his reverie, but he didn't have to look up to know who dared to intrude on his solitude. Impending threat was certainly the least of his concerns as the spot to his right was soon occupied by an all too familiar presence. They acknowledged one another with an exchange of glances and little more; the scientist offering unspoken permission for his bodyguard to linger there in his company for a while.
The ghoul took the last drag from the cigarette that bobbed between his shriveled lips, and flicked the butt into the river with the rest of the refuse and litter, before he likened his stance to Jack's and leaned against the rough, oxidized metal railing. His bloodshot eyes took in the man next to him for a moment; he was all messy, wrinkled clothes, unkempt hair, and most certainly a sight for sore eyes. Though Edward supposed that wasn't saying a whole lot, given their lack of sleep. A scoff of mild amusement found its way out of his nasal cavity, and he leaned his weight just enough to nudge Jack's shoulder with his arm. Tired brown eyes met his own, and he offered a weak smile in return.
"How ya doin?" He rasped softly.
"Given the circumstances… okay, I suppose." Jack chuckled bitterly. "It's so… strange . Last night, I kept telling myself that I just… need to take this a day at a time, and not panic , but… if I'm being honest, I'm… not feeling much of anything today."
"Nah, you're feeling something… I can tell somethin's chewin' at ya," Edward spoke, scrutinizing every subtle shift in Jack's expression. "What's on your mind?"
After a long moment's hesitation, he concedes.
"I… I want to go back." He sighs. "But… if you're not ready, I understand. You got pretty dinged up yesterday, and the last thing I want to do is put you right back in harm's way."
Edward's expression grew thoughtful as he pondered what reasons Jack could possibly have for wanting to go back to that Gods-forsaken place, but it didn't take him long to reach a conclusion. He supposed it was a reason any decent person could empathize with. "You wanna give him a proper burial."
"As proper a burial as one can get these days. Not to be too brash, but… time is of the essence. Can't afford to let matters… deteriorate too much further." The words tasted bitter as they rolled off his tongue. He hated speaking of his father in such terms, but there was hardly any use sugar coating the matter. "If you're not able yet, I may be able to swing it on my own-"
"Like hell you will ." The ghoul huffed, mildly offended that Jack would even consider it; especially after everything that had happened the day before. "Nah. Just gimme another stimpak and bring a few extra supplies this time. I've got this."
Though he was hardly surprised by Edward's response, his tone was another story. He felt a small smile tugging at his lips as he glanced at the ghoul for a moment, before casting his eyes back down to the waters below.
"Any ideas where?" His guard asked. "Did you wanna' bring him home?"
"This place is hardly the home he knew anymore." Jack gave it a moment's consideration. "It would almost feel wrong to bury him here. And… he certainly deserves better than to be buried at Parsons… much less left to rot in his cell. No… the least he deserves is a proper burial. I'll have to give location a bit more thought, I'm afraid. To be fair, though, I'd much rather have some ashes to spread... "
"Cremation would be more ideal , but… where would we even go about that this day and age?"
"Perhaps in one of those vaults… maybe in an old hospital, or a cemetary, perhaps, but without a proper power source, or the materials needed… any of those is a shot in the dark."
"Could always send 'im off Viking style."
"You jest, but it's actually not a terrible idea." Jack sneered. "He'd probably have liked the notion."
Edward smiled. "Sounds like he was a pretty cool guy. Back when he was… well, himself."
"He was." The scientist cooed, a wistful tone in his voice as he clasped his hands. "He was always so warm, and he always had so many wonderful tales of his travels. I've missed it so much. You probably would've gotten along well."
The ghoul nudged his arm again, a bit more playfully this time as he flashed Jack a smile, in an attempt to lighten the mood. He thought, for a fleeting instant, to say how he wished he could've met Lorenzo, but that simply seemed in poor taste now, so he kept his mouth shut. He couldn't have begun to imagine how many what-ifs had played out in the man's wearied mind since the deed had been done, let alone the last four centuries, and he wasn't about to scold him for indulging or vocalizing them or reminiscing. The wound was still plenty fresh.
Jack's smile faded, and his eyes grew noticeably more avoidant. Try as he may, there was no escaping his troublesome thoughts. No amount of dodging or swerving would get him closer to the light at the end of this tunnel. But one particular, nagging thought was still weighing heavily on him at that junction -
"Edward… do you think... Emogene will come home in time?"
"Well… accordin' to Adrian, she said she'll be comin' back soon, so with any luck…" Bloodshot eyes took in the scientist briefly, before skimming up to the deteriorating structures on the horizon, as Edward gave it some thought. He could practically feel the negative energy pouring off Jack. "How about we go inside for a bit and I'll cook somethin'? Maybe you can try to eat a little."
It didn't take much coaxing or convincing, and for that, Edward was thankful.
Back inside, Jack occupied himself in his lab - leafing through innumerable and ageless files and folders and journals full of research, in what felt like an almost futile attempt to sort out what was still of importance.
Is any of it? He wondered, a bitter chuckle rumbling from his throat. The query, while made out of pure spite, was still a legitimate one. A lot of notes on the artifact were still around, sure, but there were also fledgling notes and inkling ideas that always ended up taking the back seat, most of which he could scarcely even recall. Slowly, but surely, though, he began to sort the mess; began to decipher what could be tossed, and what was important enough to keep. Jack supposed he was always best at decluttering when fuelled by bitterness or ill will. Albeit, the dash of looming existential crisis was more of a push than he was accustomed to.
He wasn't sure how much time had lapsed until a familiar tapping sound greeted his ears. He was met with a small smile, and a steaming bowl of soup.
"Thought you'd stand a better chance holdin' down somethin' light," Edward explained, handing him the bowl. "Y'know, with your nerves an' all."
"Ah, thank you, Edward." The scientist was gracious as he tipped the bowl back and took a sip. The warmth was a pleasant sensation, but it soon shifted to one of slight discomfort as it pooled in his otherwise empty stomach; a troublesome reminder of just how little he'd eaten. He hoped it would feel better once he'd drank some more.
"What's with the mess?" His guard asked. "Little early for Spring cleanin' aren't ya?"
"Just sorting out what I don't need anymore," Jack said, taking another sip of the soup. "I do realize there's… a lot ."
"Kindling for the send-off?"
"Again, you joke, but… it's not a bad idea." He puts the warm bowl down for a moment to tab through another handful of papers and folders. Edward shuffled cautiously closer, and with a laboured breath, took a seat on the floor next to Jack, who couldn't help but notice the strain in the ghoul's grunt. "Goodness, I haven't even asked today, have I? I'm so sorry. Are you okay? How are you feeling?"
"If I'm not used to you hyperfocusing after two hundred goddamn years, I'm never gonna' be. Heh. Don't sweat it. Wounds are still tender's all." He drew a sharp breath, but relaxed into position quickly enough. "Find anything interesting?"
Jack took a small bit of comfort in the words. Edward was always so understanding, and he wasn't sure he deserved it most of the time. But he wasn't about to take it for granted, either, and most certainly not at such a vital time. "Nothing much. A lot of old journals on my studies of the artifact, and the serum…"
He reached down to take another sip of his soup, and felt Edward's weight and warmth beginning to press on his arm and his shoulder. Guess it's his turn to lean on me , Jack mused, breathing a pleased sigh as he rested his cheek against the ghoul's hat; a welcomed role reversal .
They sat that way, for a long while, Jack tabbing through the stacks of writings that were at arm's length. Everything felt curiously peaceful - the hum of the machines in his lab nearly the only noise that dare pervade the house - aside from the soft snoring and rhythmic breathing near his ear that was a good indicator that Edward had dozed off, and the scientist dare not disturb him. Goodness knows he needed the rest. He wasn't sure what his mother was up to - and he wasn't sure he wanted to know. Mostly, he was just glad she was keeping her distance for the time being. It was hard to say if or when he'd be ready to break the news to her, but he'd certainly take whatever time was being afforded to him to prepare for it.
There was one short stack left within his reach, composed of journals and folders and papers he'd fished from his desk; the ones he'd deemed most important, or even sentimental . One very familiar-looking, half-filled journal grabbed his attention immediately. It's where he'd fairly recently begun to write out his most up-to-date notes on Lorenzo, and the artifact, and the serum, and everything that all of those entailed. Guess this one won't be terribly tedious to finish, will it? , he scoffed quietly, placing it atop the almost concerningly small 'important' pile.
His fingers traced along the cracked, faded leather cover of the journal that was next in the stack, pausing, almost questioning if it was what he thought it might have been. Just the sight of it jarred so many memories - memories of those days, weeks, and months right after the bombs fell - as he pulled it into his lap and flipped it open. Brown eyes skimmed across familiar, albeit yellowed pages, and Jack felt a strange emotion stirring inside him; it was vague, but it was some sense of yearning , with just a touch of the sense of purpose he felt back when he'd first scrawled onto these pages. But the sensation soon fizzled to one of sadness - the thought that he may very well never get to feel that sense of purpose again, and, once more, he was faced with the realization of just how much of his long life had been spent stagnant .
Over 400 years old, and how many of those have I actually lived? He pondered, flipping another page. A piece of paper slid loose from its confines - thick and yellowed and with ragged edges - catching Jack's interest. He picked it up and turned it over, finding a family portrait on the other side; at least, one with himself, Emogene, and their mother. There was no saying when it was taken, but it brought a smile to his face nonetheless.
"You brought that along while we were holed up at Parsons." Edward rasped as he nestled his face closer against Jack's shoulder, and readjusted himself slightly. "For when you started missin' 'em."
His voice, and the fact that he was already awake again, hardly came as a surprise as Jack chuckled, but the fact that the ghoul had such keen memory really tugged at his heart strings. "… yeah ."
"Guess that's the journal you kept while we were there, then?"
" It is . If memory serves, a lot of notes on what was happening inside the asylum, and what we could see of the surrounding area, and…" Jack trailed off as he flipped another page, almost not wanting to vocalize it. But he knew he really didn't have to, either.
"- and keepin' tabs on all that pokin' and proddin' you did on me, most likely." Edward laughed, and it proved infectious. The scientist's face broke out into a smile, and he wriggled his hand between them to find his bodyguard's, intertwining their fingers and giving a firm squeeze; almost as if to reassure and remind himself that the ghoul was, in fact, still there with him.
"Yes Poking and prodding , pacing and worrying , stressing and crying ... what-have-you." Thankful as he was that Edward managed to pull through in one way or another, and even moreso that he could retain a sense of humor about it all, he still hated thinking about it too much. "But you're still here, and that's what's most important."
Jack traced his thumb along the ghoul's gnarled digits, remembering just how fascinating his transition was back then, and thinking on just how much he still had to learn about the whole process.
"That was the last time I was actually excited to work on something, you know? It was something new and different , something there's still so little proper scientific understanding of," he lamented. "I wanted to learn so much more , but…"
"It always took the back burner." Edward sighed. "Well… maybe now you can finally do it."
"Edward, I… I know you mean well, and…" The ghoul's words left him taken aback, if not a bit frustrated, as he furrowed his brow. "You keep speaking so optimistically , but -"
"- and you keep assumin' the worst." His guard interjected. "You didn't give up on your old man for 400 years . Are you really gonna' sit here, look me in the eyes, and tell me you're just gonna' throw in the towel now? After everything? You never gave up on him, so don't give up on yourself."
Jack furrowed his brow. Perhaps he had a point. Wallowing in his pity, at least for an extended period, wasn't going to get him anywhere. He'd be wise to get back to studying the serum - and looking for an alternative, or some way to alter it to prolong its effects - sooner rather than later. If he wanted to turn things around, time was no longer on his side, and it hadn't quite dawned on him until it had come from Edward's mouth.
"You can't lose all hope, Jack. I know stuff seems grim right now, but… I've seen you do amazing things. I've got absolute faith you can do it. For Christ's sake, you gotta' try , at least." Edward huffed a tired breath, his voice taking a softer, more earnest tone as he squeezed Jack's hand. "And maybe it's a little selfish of me, but…what the hell am I supposed do if somethin' happens to you?"
A solitary laugh escaped Jack's lungs, and he felt a smile coming on again, but he let Edward speak his peace.
"By all means, take the time ya' need to process everything, but… don't let it eat away at ya. I wanna' see you finally have the chance to live for yourself . God knows you deserve at least that much after all this," his bodyguard continued. "I wanna' see you able to do the things you always wanted to. Learn new things. See life outside of these walls. Take all those wild ideas of yours and finally be able to do somethin' with 'em. Get out and live ."
"That all sounds pretty nice… so long as you're along for the ride."
"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times; you're stuck with me ." Edward half-laughed, half-groaned.
"I know." Jack cooed, his face breaking into a grin. "I just enjoy hearing it is all."
"I know you do. You know damn well you got me wrapped around your finger," his guard's hoarse voice came, barely veiling the laughter beneath it. "You smug little shit."
They both shared an honest-to-goodness laugh for a moment before Edward's demeanor shifted to something more serious. Carefully, he sat upright, straightened his posture, and turned to address Jack more properly.
"Listen… I'm gonna' make you a deal, okay? You gimme another stimpak, and gather a few supplies. We'll head back to Parsons. It's still pretty early yet. We can probably make it back here before dark if we play our cards right-"
" Edward ." there was a mildly scolding tone in Jack's voice, but the ghoul simply shook his head. He'd already decided he wanted to do it, and he wouldn't take no for an answer. The scientist didn't have to protest any further to figure that much out. It was far from the first time they'd had a similar conversation.
"We're gonna' go get your old man, and we're gonna' bring him back here… 'til you figure out where we're gonna' do this. That'll give your ma and Emogene a chance to say their goodbyes. And when you're ready, we're gonna' give 'im the send-off he deserves."
Through misty eyes, Jack flashed a bittersweet smile and nodded. "And what's my end of this bargain?"
"Put even just half as much effort into finding a workaround, or some kinda' alternative for the serum as you did trying to save your old man," Edward admonished. "It's gonna' take time, and it's not necessarily gonna' be easy, but put even just half that much effort, and I have every bit of faith you'll… we'll actually have a future to look forward to. But you've gotta' try , Jack. Think you can do that?"
"I think I can," Jack conceded, closing his eyes for a moment. Edward's spiel had actually given him some semblance of hope, but goodness was he grateful for it. "I can't promise I won't still need a kick in the ass every now and again if I get too mopy, though."
"That can be arranged."
Breathing a contented sigh, Jack closed the journal in his lap and placed it atop the 'important' pile, turning to face Edward. "Guess we should get moving, then, hm,?"
The fact that his old satchel hadn't crumbled to dust in the 200-odd years it was in storage came as a bit of a surprise to Jack - let alone the fact that it was still usable . It was a pleasant surprise, though, he reckoned, as he packed some medical supplies. He thought, for a moment, to change his clothes, but the dirt and the dried blood from the day before were clear indicators that it simply wasn't worth the effort. Having decided a coat may not be the worst idea, though, he slipped into the one that he found stored, folded underneath of the bag he'd unearthed - Edward's old field jacket, he recalled; it was large on him, but it was well worn-in, and it was warm. It had served him well on his trips between their family home and the asylum after the bombs had fallen.
And now he got to wear it on one more such trip. He draped the bag over his shoulder and across his chest as he made his way back upstairs to find Edward.
He found him with ease - standing in the foyer, near the front door, and trying his damnedest to get his chest piece back on. "Here - let me help you with that."
Edward was hardly in a position to protest; they'd both been in this predicament so many times before . But he did smile a little at the sight of the scientist as he adjusted the chunky piece of metal. "Damn. Lookin' half-way like a proper wastelander. Haven't seen those in a while."
"Not since the last time I made regular trips to and from -" Jack said, his hands staying busied with what seemed like excessive buttons and straps on the ever so aggravating piece of combat armor. "How are you feeling? Did the other stimpak help?"
"Better."
"I have some Med-X if need be-"
"You know I only take that shit as a last resort." Edward scoffed. It was true, though - if he wasn't turning away a dose of Med-X, it was a sure sign that things were dire. "I'm good."
Though he wanted to fuss over Edward's condition a bit more, he saw better fit to let it go. The ghoul insisted he was okay, so Jack accepted that he would have to take that at face value. Snapping the last button shut, he did a once-over to make sure everything was strapped and latched where it was supposed to be. "Everything looks okay. It's not hurting you, is it?"
"It's as comfy as it can be, everything considered." His bodyguard said. "You ready to head out?"
"Ready as I can be, everything considered." Jack echoed, garnering a small laugh from the ghoul.
"I, uh... already went upstairs and told your ma that we're heading back to tie up some loose ends..."
The scientist nearly felt his blood run cold. "What… what did she-"
"Don't worry. I told her you'd talk to her when you were ready." He offered a weak smile to try to settle Jack's nerves, though he wasn't sure how effective it really was. "She seemed alright with it. At least, after some convincing . Because, let's face it, it's Wilhelmina . Mostly just didn't want her to freak out if she found an empty house, y'know?"
"All too well… thank you, Edward."
" 'Course. "
"… no sense delaying any further, I suppose." Jack sighed. "Shall we?"
"Right behind ya, Jack."
Jack shut and locked the door behind them, looking out at the end of the drive and feeling a pang in his stomach. He drew a deep breath, musty air filling his lungs, and he felt so overwhelmingly small all of the sudden. But the feeling of rough fingers sliding their way between his own brought him back to earth - he looked up at Edward, who offered him a reassuring nod, and somehow felt alright again. Finally, he put one foot in front of the other, beginning their trek. Each step he took became easier, and before long, they were crossing the bridge that led to Bunker Hill.
As they approached the gate, though, a familiar voice could be heard nearby, bading someone goodbye - both men paused and exchanged knowing looks, but not a moment had passed before they saw the face to match it coming their direction.
She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw them, a bewildered look on her face. Her lips parted to speak, but no words came.
"Emogene..." Jack mouthed thoughtlessly, surprise apparent in his voice.
"Yeah, I was just about to head home…" she finally mustered, still off put. She furrowed her brow, glancing over at Edward, before she shifted her focus back to her brother. "What… is going on? Jack, you never leave the house, why-"
"We're going back to Parsons," he explained, voice grown feeble. He cast his eyes down, unable to look her in the eye as he elaborated. "We're going to… bring father home."
"Wait, what do you mean, you're bringing him home ?" Emogene was at a loss - there were only two situations that came to mind that would result in Jack even thinking to try bringing Lorenzo home - either he'd finally been successful in removing the artifact, or… the alternative. She could assume it was nothing good from the way Jack avoided her gaze, and the uncharacteristic droop in his entire demeanor. There was a certain air of bleakness etched onto his features, and as the mist in his eyes grew heavier, it became all too easy to draw her conclusion. She felt her chest clench, and her heart drop, and her eyes stinging. "Oh my God…"
"I'm so sorry, Emogene," Her brother spoke, voice cracking as he was finally able to look her in the eye. "Things escalated so quickly, and so much happened, it… it was all I could do. I'm so sorry ."
She stared in disbelief for a long moment, trying to process it all, before she crossed her arms tightly and cast her bitter, tearful eyes down to the ground. There was a visible tremble in her limbs, and a tapping of her right foot that was almost certainly nerve-driven as she worried at her lip and did her best to fight her tears, but it hardly seemed to help her as they spilled from her eyes.
"There's nothin' anyone coulda' done any differently, Emogene," Edward attempted, trying to offer her some small semblance of comfort. "If he got out, we all know what woulda' happened."
" Yeah . And I wasn't even there ." She seethed; it seemed as though she was more angry with herself than she was with either or them. After a long moment's fight with her emotions, she looked up at the two men in front of her. "You guys are going right now?"
"Ah… yes." Jack stammered.
"Alright," She nodded to herself, a silent debate scrawled onto her face. Shaky hands wiped at her puffy eyes, and she did her best to regain her composure. "I'm going with you."
"Emogene, are… are you sure?" Jack asked. "Mother has been worried -"
"What, am I sure I wanna' help bring my dead father home?" She hissed. "Yeah, Jack, I'm pretty damn sure . Now let's go."