2
Conflicted
Eventually, Mary's tears ran out. She gently pulled herself from Blue Eyes' embrace and sat back, staring up at him with moist eyes and a forlorn expression.
"I ... I can't go back," she told Blue Eyes haltingly. "I ... just can't—"
Blue eyes raised his hands to sign.
"Mary, Father won't—" he started to object.
Mary cut him off with a low snarl.
"It doesn't matter what Caesar will or won't do!" she exclaimed.
Taking a deep shuddering breath, the young female tried to get better control of herself and her words.
"It matters what I might or might not do, blue Eyes," she went on more quietly.
I don't know how I can face him again. I don't know that I won't do something stupid ... or say something stupid ... and then Caesar really will take all choice out of my hands. I ... I don't expect you to understand."
Ash would have understood, Mary thought. She bit savagely at her lower lip to hold back the tears.
"I ... I do … understand ... I think."
Mary gaped at him. Blue Eyes was speaking out loud now?
"What ... when did you start to ..."
Caesar's son shrugged and tried to look as if it were nothing.
"It ... doesn't matter," he went on, speaking haltingly but very clearly.
"Alright ... if you won't come and talk with Father ... come ... and talk to Maurice and Rocket then?"
"Maurice will tell me to come back," Mary protested, growing visibly agitated all over again.
Blue Eyes shook his head.
"Maurice ... never tells us what to do ... He just ... offers good advice. Neither of them will ... will force you back against your will."
Mary glared at Blue Eyes, obviously unconvinced.
"Please, Mary," Blue Eyes said softly.
Her resolve began to crumble.
In the end, Mary had no idea how she let him talk her in to coming with him. But
she soon found herself next to Caesar's son, making their way back through the human buildings towards … she didn't know exactly where he was taking her, and silently berated herself for not thinking to ask. What if he were taking her straight back to meet with Caesar?
No, Mary decided. Blue Eyes would not do that to her. But why did he not just let her go then? She still was not sure that meeting with Maurice would be much better. And how could she face Rocket, knowing what her Father had done to Rocket's son, to her dear Ash?
Mary halted, and tried to let Blue Eyes get farther ahead. But the son of Caesar was not having it. He also stopped, waiting with an infuriating patience.
"Alright, I'm coming," Mary told him dejectedly, and began to move again.
Rocket paced endlessly. At first Maurice ignored this, but eventually it got on his nerves.
"Please, Rocket, he will be back soon," the old Orangutan signed insistently.
Rocket stopped his pacing in front of Maurice.
"You know how lightning quick Mary is," he reminded his old friend. "Maybe he just can't catch her, Maurice. None of the children could ever catch Mary, except—"
Rocket's hands trembled and he stopped signing, clenching both hands in to fists, and breathing deeply.
"Mary … let Ash catch her," Maurice said out loud, his deep voice a very gentle rumble.
"I know," Rocket signed back after he'd managed to unclench his fists. "And that's my point. Maybe Blue Eyes just can't—"
Both apes froze. They heard faint sounds. The Children were coming back, definitely two of them.
Mary had feared Maurice's gentle nature would undo her composure. But it was not Maurice who reached her first.
"Mary!" Rocket cried. He dodged Maurice's restraining hand and bounded towards the children.
Before Mary could react, Ash's father caught her in a tight embrace.
He pulled her hard against his chest. Mary squirmed, and not just from the emotional discomfort.
"Can't breathe, Rocket," she gasped.
The older chimp loosened his grip on the young girl, but he did not let her go altogether. In surprise, Mary felt as much as heard Rocket's voice.
"Alright?" he asked?
What? Were all Apes talking out loud now? Why now? Mary wondered. For years her nickname had been chatterbox. Mary had always preferred speaking out loud to signing, and before now, the only two apes who had so easily spoken out loud with her had been Caesar and her adopted Father.
Feeling another hand on her shoulder Mary turned her head to see Maurice hovering anxiously behind her and Rocket.
"Cracked ribs?" he asked.
Mary gave a tearful little laugh.
"Likely," she answered Maurice, and tried to twist free from Rocket. Again, he loosened his grip, but did not release it.
Gently, Maurice pried Rocket off of the young Ape girl. He kept one hand on her shoulder, however, and turned her to now face him.
"Mary, Caesar—" Maurice began to sign with one hand.
Mary stiffened. Maurice gently increased his pressure on her shoulder, so she forced herself to relax. She did shoot a glare over at Blue Eyes, though.
The Orangutan took the other hand off her shoulder to sign.
"Caesar does want to talk with you, Mary," Maurice told her.
She opened her mouth to protest, but the old Orangutan held up a silencing hand.
" But not just now."
Mary blinked.
"He knows you need time," Maurice continued to sign, his dear old face a mask of his deep concern even as he made comforting sounds for the young ape girl. "If you will come back, for now, Caesar has promised he will not approach you. He is not demanding you to supplicate to him. But we all want you back, Mary. We are still your family. But, if you need a more solid reason, for now, we need help with the wounded. You have always worked so well with injured apes and animals. Come back for now and help us, Mary? Once that's done, you can decide further what to do."
"Please?"
Maurice spoke this last plea out loud, his deep voice a gentle and sad purr.
"Yes, please," both Blue Eyes and Rocket echoed out loud.
Mary's eyes filled with tears again.
"Not fair," she sniffed.
All the males simply nodded their agreement at her, and waited for her answer."
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has followed and favorited this story. Sorry for the long wait. Hope everyone enjoys this. Please R&R. More to come.
