He didn't talk until we were in the garage, and he saw the car. "You're taking me somewhere?"

"Just anywhere but here." I opened the door, "C'mon, get in. I don't think we have much time."

I took him out to my makeshift shooting range. The desert had claimed what was left of that weekend's unfortunate bottles and cans. The white terracotta wall was already crumbling, showing strips of rebar.

I removed the gun from the pillowcase I had hidden it in, and handed it to him. He seemed disappointed and pleased.

"Can I drive you somewhere?"

"Aren't you going to get in trouble?"

"Don't worry; I gave them two weeks notice. Another nephew of yours gave me a heads up." I said.

"It's a good town, isn't it?" he asked

"Best I've seen yet. I hate to leave it." I realized, suddenly, "Will they be safe?"

"Safe enough." He slipped the gun into its holster. The glare faded from his sunglasses and his eyes came back into view.

"So… what have you been doing?" I asked.

"Trying to find you. I was hoping you had gone somewhere else. This town and I have a bad history."

He was looking at his piece as it rested in the holster.

"You shouldn't have shot him."

"You don't think he deserved it?"

"No, Sen's had it coming for a long time. But things aren't the way they were after Augusta was destroyed. There's more than just me and my brother on this planet now.

A brother?

I had never knew about a brother, Vash had certainly never told me.

But I wasn't surprised. There had to be a brother. I wasn't that lucky.

"His children will come after you in force now, just because you're a human, and you've become a danger to us, in their minds."

This just kept getting better and better. I was suddenly imagining angry blond legions with Vash's eyes and a taste for human flesh.

"How many kids does your brother have?" I asked.

"Isn't one after your blood enough?"

"Yes, but I'd rather be prepared." I said, "C'mon, tell me."

He looked at me, incredulous. "Can't you be scared, just a little bit?"

"Sorry. I thought you were going to help protect me." I said "Guess I should have asked first."

He didn't answer, and getting nervous, I pulled out a smoke and lit it.

"If I asked you, would you protect me?" I finally said.

"I don't know… Please don't ask me that." He said.

Angry, I crushed out the half burnt cig on the dashboard.

God dammit. Why had I been waiting for a different answer?

"I'm heading to Enpril city." Vash said, "If this hunk of junk can make it there, I'd appreciate a ride."

It was something.

"Sure, we can do that." I told him, "Always wanted to see Enpril."

I started the car, and we were on our way, albeit as chatty as a tomb.