Disclaimer: Trigun is not mine.
Thanks for the kind reviews! This chapter is action/sap so just go with
it!!
"What do you mean, gone?" Vash looked at the sheriff.
"The leader Steve, was it? He's not with the others."
"Ah hell," Vash grimaced. They had turned the bandit gang over to Sweethaven's local law enforcement, who'd been delighted to take them all into custody.
"Somehow he managed to get away, but don't worry, youngin'. We'll catch him." The sheriff patted his arm kindly. "Brilliant idea, pretending to be Vash the Stampede and all."
"Actually, he pretended to be Vash the Stampede," Vash gestured at the preacher. "He looks scarier than I do." Wolfwood frowned as the sheriff laughed.
"And what is THAT supposed to mean, Tongari?!"
Meryl and Millie were reading a piece of paper by the car when the men stepped back outside. Millie looked amused and Meryl looked like she couldn't make up her mind whether to laugh or rage.
"What is it?" Vash asked.
"We got a telegram from the chief," Millie said.
"What does it say? Are you being pulled off the case again?" Wolfwood asked. Meryl shook her head.
"STRYFE AND THOMPSON STOP STAY THE HELL OFF THE SANDSTEAMERS WHEN FOLLOWING VASH THE STAMPEDE STOP STEAMER COMPANY FORBIDS YOU TO RIDE STOP BANDITS ALWAYS ATTACK THE ONES YOU'RE ON STOP TOO MUCH DAMAGE EXCLAMATION POINT CHIEF END." Meryl read for them. Wolfwood burst into laughter.
"I guess it's good that Vash is the one who wanted to get off, hm?"
"Uh huh," Meryl folded the telegram and shoved it in the case. "We got the supplies, we can leave anytime."
"Now looks good," Vash looked at the sky. "We can get pretty far before the sun goes down."
Vash drove, thankful that the roads here were better. Meryl showed no sign of pain. She sat next to him, leaning on the car door, letting the wind blow her hair. Wolfwood was sleeping on Millie's shoulder and she didn't seem to mind in the slightest. They drove in a comfortable silence until Millie leaned forward a bit and tapped Vash on the shoulder.
"Someone is following us," she said quietly. Vash turned and looked quickly. Two cars, piled with men carrying guns were following them, about a quarter mile behind. And gaining...
"Shit. Looks like some bounty hunters. Guess someone mentioned Vash the Stampede. Wake Wolfwood up for me." After much shaking, Wolfwood awoke and agreed with Vash's assessment.
"What's the plan Tongari?" Wolfwood looked over the back seat.
"I'm going to try and outrun them." Vash had already increased his speed, but the cars were still gaining. A crack of gunfire rang out.
"Ouch!" Wolfwood raised a hand to his cheek and hunched down behind the seat, pulling Millie with him. "Just missed me." Millie's fingers touched his cheek for an instant, then she had her stungun propped up on the back seat. Three bolts hit one of the cars, knocking it over, spilling the men onto the ground. She ducked back down behind the seat.
"Does it hurt very much?' she asked the preacher, touching his cheek again.
"If I say yes, are you going to take out the other car too?"
"I was going to anyway." Millie flipped her stungun back up. This time the other car let loose a hail of bullets. Vash pushed Meryl down with one hand as he sank farther down in the seat. Millie made a sharp exclamation of pain and pulled herself down in the seat, one hand clasped over her arm. Blood leaked through her fingers and Wolfwood swore. A second later the cross punisher's machine gun was aimed over the back. A stream of bullets hit the front tires and the radiator of the remaining car, unleashing a cloud of steam. The car ground to a halt.
"Get us away from here, Vash!" Wolfwood shouted over his shoulder. Vash nodded and accelerated. Wolfwood helped Millie take off her coat.
"It just nicked me, I'm okay," she said faintly as Wolfwood examined the wound.
"Yep, just a scratch." Wolfwood took the roll of bandages Meryl held out to him and wrapped Millie's arm. Then she handed him a wet cloth. He gave her a puzzled look. "What's this for?"
"You, silly." Millie reached out with her good arm and took the cloth from him. She wiped at his cheek with it and he felt the sting of the antiseptic.
They camped that night behind a large cluster of boulders. They mutually decided that a fire might be too obvious, so dinner was a cold one, eaten around a small lantern. They had rewashed and bandaged Millie's injury just in case, as well as Meryl's. Vash had watched the other three silently as they teased each other about the severity of their injuries.
"I'm gonna take a walk," Vash got up abruptly and left. The remaining three looked at each other.
"He's feeling guilty again," Wolfwood said to the girls. "One of us should..."
"I'll go," Meryl stood up. "You two rest... or whatever." She grinned at them and followed Vash into the shadows.
He was sitting on one of the rocks, eyes on the stars. Meryl sat beside him without a word. He looked over at her briefly.
"Could you give me some time alone?" he asked quietly.
"No." Meryl answered in the same tone. Vash blinked.
"Huh?"
"I think you've been alone enough. I'll be quiet, so you can brood in peace, but I won't go." Meryl leaned back on the rock and looked up at the stars. Vash sighed.
"I'm not brooding."
"Sulking," Meryl didn't even blink, "or moping even, whatever you want to call it. You know. Do it." She made a 'get on with it' gesture in his direction.
"I'm thinking!" He protested a bit angrily.
"Whatever..."
"MERYL!"
"Vash," Meryl looked at him finally and raised her eyebrows. "Why do you keep talking to me? I thought you wanted peace and quiet to..uh.. think in. Shush." She raised a finger to her lips and looked back up at the sky. Vash glared at her, frustrated.
"Meryl, why are you doing this?"
"Isn't it part of my job," she said with a cheerful smile, "to keep an eye on you at all times?" Vash was silent for a long moment.
"What if Bernadelli calls you back?" He asked quietly.
"I'll quit." Meryl responded promptly.
"Wha-? Why?"
"I'm your friend. Just like Millie and Wolfwood are. You need us right now." She looked at him earnestly.
"But... everyone who gets close to me dies." Meryl shook her head.
"Vash- everyone dies. That's how it is." She looked down at her lap. "If I have to die, I'd rather do so out here with you. It's my choice. Just like Millie and Wolfwood. We choose to follow you. You aren't responsible for our destinies- we are."
"But... I... Knives...why?" Vash tried.
"Wolfwood follows you because he's your friend and you need his help. Maybe he has another motive- but I can be sure of at least that one. Millie follows you for the same reason- because she's your friend and you need her help. Millie always helps people who need it if she can- after all, her big big sister told her to." Meryl smiled faintly. "Of course, it's her job too, but I think that's a minor reason these days."
"Her job- and yours. That's why you follow me isn't it?" Meryl sighed, and braced herself- dangerous ground here. But didn't he deserve honesty?
"No, it's not just a job to me." She managed.
"It's not?" She heard the faint hint of disbelief in his voice, and it was like a slap. He heard her take a deep breath.
"No, it's not! I love you, damn it! I can't just sit by while Knives hurts you!" Meryl rushed the words out, anger that he would even think that this was only a job for her taking over. "You don't deserve this Vash! You don't deserve all this pain and suffering that Knives has caused you!" Meryl clenched her fist. "I want to hurt him, simply because he hurts you!" Her eyes were snapping with anger; anger that suddenly dimmed. "But I can't. I'm not strong enough to face him." Meryl looked down at her tightly clenched fists. "All I can do is try to help you. To ease your pain. To stick with you in spite of him." He reached out and covered her hands with one of his.
"Meryl..." What could he tell her? Vash tried to find the words for her but she spoke first.
"It's okay Vash. I already know that you don't love me. And I won't ask or expect you to, ever." Her words hurt him. How could she not know how he felt? She turned her violet eyes up at him, pleading. "But please, at least let me- and Wolfwood and Millie- help you. It's our choice. Okay?"
"Okay," he responded automatically, still stunned. She slid one of her hands free and patted the top of his. "I'll give you your time alone now. Don't stay up too late." She disappeared into the darkness, leaving Vash staring after her.
Meryl walked back into the tiny circle of light. Wolfwood and Millie looked up at her. "I did my best," she said to them, tears in her eyes. "I don't know if it was enough, but I tried."
"Oh Meryl," Millie pulled her friend down next to her and rocked her gently. "It's okay. I'm sure you did."
"What do you mean, gone?" Vash looked at the sheriff.
"The leader Steve, was it? He's not with the others."
"Ah hell," Vash grimaced. They had turned the bandit gang over to Sweethaven's local law enforcement, who'd been delighted to take them all into custody.
"Somehow he managed to get away, but don't worry, youngin'. We'll catch him." The sheriff patted his arm kindly. "Brilliant idea, pretending to be Vash the Stampede and all."
"Actually, he pretended to be Vash the Stampede," Vash gestured at the preacher. "He looks scarier than I do." Wolfwood frowned as the sheriff laughed.
"And what is THAT supposed to mean, Tongari?!"
Meryl and Millie were reading a piece of paper by the car when the men stepped back outside. Millie looked amused and Meryl looked like she couldn't make up her mind whether to laugh or rage.
"What is it?" Vash asked.
"We got a telegram from the chief," Millie said.
"What does it say? Are you being pulled off the case again?" Wolfwood asked. Meryl shook her head.
"STRYFE AND THOMPSON STOP STAY THE HELL OFF THE SANDSTEAMERS WHEN FOLLOWING VASH THE STAMPEDE STOP STEAMER COMPANY FORBIDS YOU TO RIDE STOP BANDITS ALWAYS ATTACK THE ONES YOU'RE ON STOP TOO MUCH DAMAGE EXCLAMATION POINT CHIEF END." Meryl read for them. Wolfwood burst into laughter.
"I guess it's good that Vash is the one who wanted to get off, hm?"
"Uh huh," Meryl folded the telegram and shoved it in the case. "We got the supplies, we can leave anytime."
"Now looks good," Vash looked at the sky. "We can get pretty far before the sun goes down."
Vash drove, thankful that the roads here were better. Meryl showed no sign of pain. She sat next to him, leaning on the car door, letting the wind blow her hair. Wolfwood was sleeping on Millie's shoulder and she didn't seem to mind in the slightest. They drove in a comfortable silence until Millie leaned forward a bit and tapped Vash on the shoulder.
"Someone is following us," she said quietly. Vash turned and looked quickly. Two cars, piled with men carrying guns were following them, about a quarter mile behind. And gaining...
"Shit. Looks like some bounty hunters. Guess someone mentioned Vash the Stampede. Wake Wolfwood up for me." After much shaking, Wolfwood awoke and agreed with Vash's assessment.
"What's the plan Tongari?" Wolfwood looked over the back seat.
"I'm going to try and outrun them." Vash had already increased his speed, but the cars were still gaining. A crack of gunfire rang out.
"Ouch!" Wolfwood raised a hand to his cheek and hunched down behind the seat, pulling Millie with him. "Just missed me." Millie's fingers touched his cheek for an instant, then she had her stungun propped up on the back seat. Three bolts hit one of the cars, knocking it over, spilling the men onto the ground. She ducked back down behind the seat.
"Does it hurt very much?' she asked the preacher, touching his cheek again.
"If I say yes, are you going to take out the other car too?"
"I was going to anyway." Millie flipped her stungun back up. This time the other car let loose a hail of bullets. Vash pushed Meryl down with one hand as he sank farther down in the seat. Millie made a sharp exclamation of pain and pulled herself down in the seat, one hand clasped over her arm. Blood leaked through her fingers and Wolfwood swore. A second later the cross punisher's machine gun was aimed over the back. A stream of bullets hit the front tires and the radiator of the remaining car, unleashing a cloud of steam. The car ground to a halt.
"Get us away from here, Vash!" Wolfwood shouted over his shoulder. Vash nodded and accelerated. Wolfwood helped Millie take off her coat.
"It just nicked me, I'm okay," she said faintly as Wolfwood examined the wound.
"Yep, just a scratch." Wolfwood took the roll of bandages Meryl held out to him and wrapped Millie's arm. Then she handed him a wet cloth. He gave her a puzzled look. "What's this for?"
"You, silly." Millie reached out with her good arm and took the cloth from him. She wiped at his cheek with it and he felt the sting of the antiseptic.
They camped that night behind a large cluster of boulders. They mutually decided that a fire might be too obvious, so dinner was a cold one, eaten around a small lantern. They had rewashed and bandaged Millie's injury just in case, as well as Meryl's. Vash had watched the other three silently as they teased each other about the severity of their injuries.
"I'm gonna take a walk," Vash got up abruptly and left. The remaining three looked at each other.
"He's feeling guilty again," Wolfwood said to the girls. "One of us should..."
"I'll go," Meryl stood up. "You two rest... or whatever." She grinned at them and followed Vash into the shadows.
He was sitting on one of the rocks, eyes on the stars. Meryl sat beside him without a word. He looked over at her briefly.
"Could you give me some time alone?" he asked quietly.
"No." Meryl answered in the same tone. Vash blinked.
"Huh?"
"I think you've been alone enough. I'll be quiet, so you can brood in peace, but I won't go." Meryl leaned back on the rock and looked up at the stars. Vash sighed.
"I'm not brooding."
"Sulking," Meryl didn't even blink, "or moping even, whatever you want to call it. You know. Do it." She made a 'get on with it' gesture in his direction.
"I'm thinking!" He protested a bit angrily.
"Whatever..."
"MERYL!"
"Vash," Meryl looked at him finally and raised her eyebrows. "Why do you keep talking to me? I thought you wanted peace and quiet to..uh.. think in. Shush." She raised a finger to her lips and looked back up at the sky. Vash glared at her, frustrated.
"Meryl, why are you doing this?"
"Isn't it part of my job," she said with a cheerful smile, "to keep an eye on you at all times?" Vash was silent for a long moment.
"What if Bernadelli calls you back?" He asked quietly.
"I'll quit." Meryl responded promptly.
"Wha-? Why?"
"I'm your friend. Just like Millie and Wolfwood are. You need us right now." She looked at him earnestly.
"But... everyone who gets close to me dies." Meryl shook her head.
"Vash- everyone dies. That's how it is." She looked down at her lap. "If I have to die, I'd rather do so out here with you. It's my choice. Just like Millie and Wolfwood. We choose to follow you. You aren't responsible for our destinies- we are."
"But... I... Knives...why?" Vash tried.
"Wolfwood follows you because he's your friend and you need his help. Maybe he has another motive- but I can be sure of at least that one. Millie follows you for the same reason- because she's your friend and you need her help. Millie always helps people who need it if she can- after all, her big big sister told her to." Meryl smiled faintly. "Of course, it's her job too, but I think that's a minor reason these days."
"Her job- and yours. That's why you follow me isn't it?" Meryl sighed, and braced herself- dangerous ground here. But didn't he deserve honesty?
"No, it's not just a job to me." She managed.
"It's not?" She heard the faint hint of disbelief in his voice, and it was like a slap. He heard her take a deep breath.
"No, it's not! I love you, damn it! I can't just sit by while Knives hurts you!" Meryl rushed the words out, anger that he would even think that this was only a job for her taking over. "You don't deserve this Vash! You don't deserve all this pain and suffering that Knives has caused you!" Meryl clenched her fist. "I want to hurt him, simply because he hurts you!" Her eyes were snapping with anger; anger that suddenly dimmed. "But I can't. I'm not strong enough to face him." Meryl looked down at her tightly clenched fists. "All I can do is try to help you. To ease your pain. To stick with you in spite of him." He reached out and covered her hands with one of his.
"Meryl..." What could he tell her? Vash tried to find the words for her but she spoke first.
"It's okay Vash. I already know that you don't love me. And I won't ask or expect you to, ever." Her words hurt him. How could she not know how he felt? She turned her violet eyes up at him, pleading. "But please, at least let me- and Wolfwood and Millie- help you. It's our choice. Okay?"
"Okay," he responded automatically, still stunned. She slid one of her hands free and patted the top of his. "I'll give you your time alone now. Don't stay up too late." She disappeared into the darkness, leaving Vash staring after her.
Meryl walked back into the tiny circle of light. Wolfwood and Millie looked up at her. "I did my best," she said to them, tears in her eyes. "I don't know if it was enough, but I tried."
"Oh Meryl," Millie pulled her friend down next to her and rocked her gently. "It's okay. I'm sure you did."
