Chapter 39
"Thanks for letting Larrin stay here. I think she might feel uncomfortable at the house given we're packed to the rafters." Tex said to Andrea as she'd just come home from the command centre. He'd made Larrin something and she'd taken some meds passing out in the guest bedroom.
"No problem, though Taylor's not going to be happy." Andrea told him, she already heard about how the man felt but then the old courthouse had thin walls and well, she couldn't help herself. It was rare for someone to be game enough to shout at Tom. Michener was an easy target given Wolf wasn't a citizen of the country so he didn't have the same sense of fealty that the rest of them felt in regards to the title of President and respecting the person who held it.
"He'll understand." Tex said, which he knew was a lie as even he was finding it hard to wrap his head around but he at least felt he was able to help. He was pissed about Rachel being captured and even more so that they had to trade Larrin for her. In his mind he felt they should find a way that didn't involve Larrin as the poor girl had been through enough and didn't need to carry any more burdens as it was.
"I'm not sure I do. Larrin should be kept out of this entirely." Andrea told him as she kicked off her boots and moved to the fridge. She held up a bottle of beer in offer and Tex accepted. He still had a day before he'd be on mission and right now he could use the wind down.
"I agree but the Commodore has a plan." Tex told her.
"He has a soft spot for Dr Scott. I don't think that he's thinking very clearly past recovering her." Andrea commented.
"The mission to capture the other scavengers is sound." Tex offered he didn't know why he was even bothering in defending Tom. He was pissed at the man for lying even angrier that he'd just entrusted Rachel's life in the hands of two people they didn't know. But he wasn't going to dwell as he knew his place in it all. Rachel no matter how much of an asshole Tom was still loved him and Tom refused to admit he cared even though he did. It only made Tex want to back away from it as it just read his heart being broken. Though even he harboured hope when she'd woken up that maybe through friendship they could develop something but it wasn't going happen and Tex would rather he leave his uncomplicated for the sake of Kat's sanity as well as his.
"Agreed but we're putting a lot on the line." Andrea argued as they moved to the lounge room and sat down on the two seater lounge.
"Hmm, speaking of putting a lot on the line. Green wants to propose to Kara in their house. Preferably with at least the lounge room finished." Tex said to her.
"No kidding, I heard that place is a haunted house of 60s nostalgia." Andrea said with a chuckle, she hadn't seen the place but she heard the rumours of creepy lizards and horrible carpeting not too mention the Miller-Larrin incident of putting holes in the walls. That one made her real tempted to drop what she was doing just to see the damage and Miller turn bright red from embarrassment as he tried to explain the events. Because she was definitely ready to ask him.
"Yeah, Kat, Larrin and I have been chipping away at the place but I was wondering if you could think of a few warm bodies who'd be happy to pitch in a hand so Green can propose before the baby is born." Tex said with a smile. Andrea took a long pull of her beer and gave him a skeptical look as it was a lot to ask given the current situation.
"Green even going to get off his ass to help?" She asked in a wry manner. She could understand Kara not helping rip the place apart; she was growing a baby and frankly deserved a holiday.
"He's injured and he'll supply beer and food." Tex told her.
"Ok, I'll drop by tomorrow and see what a mess it is and then put out the word for people to help out. But no promises on anything being done before the baby is born until I see the damage." Andrea told him.
"There's Key Lime Pie in the works for you and an open dinner invitation at my place." Tex offered her with a smile. Andrea looked at him for a moment wondering if he was flirting with her but dismissed it as he was always a good friend to her. But the offer was definitely one she wouldn't taking up as living on her own eating canned meals would get old.
"Don't lie to me about pie." Andrea said growing serious as she loved pie and Key Lime was her favourite.
"I would never." Tex promised her, he pressed a hand to his chest
"Real limes?" She asked him for curiosity sake.
"Nah could only get dessert syrup."Tex told her, Andrea pursed her lips as she contemplated the idea of Lime milkshakes as it had been years since she had one.
"Lt Green will have to find me more bottles of Lime Syrup if he wants miracles to happen." Andrea bargained with Tex.
"This is insane." Alisha told Kara as they were at Alisha's place eating Chinese take away on her lounge. Alisha had asked if she wanted to catch dinner together.
Kara had a feeling her friend needed to vent and frankly Kara wasn't ready to head back to Tex's and sit through an awkward dinner with everyone else. She knew it was bad but she kind of needed to decompress from the past 24 hours of madness.
"I know." Kara said as they'd been talking about the current state of the US and the Captain's plan to trade Larrin for Dr Scott. Pretty much everyone knew Wolf was mad and had shouted not only at the Captain but Michener as well. So they were all giving their support but trying not to take sides given they all had to follow orders at the end of the day.
"I feel like we should be drawing a line in the sand. Not capitulating." Alisha said as she ate some of her chow mien with a fork.
"I don't think there's any right way to go about this." Kara said as she split a baked BBQ Pork bun in half. Her mouth watering in delight as the aromas just hit every button in her brain. Baby seemed to like it too as Kara was pretty sure she could eat a dozen of them and not regret it unlike the time she tried to eat Bacon's Chicken Roux. Baby did not like cream dishes which was a shame as Kara loved hot creamy dishes but now the thought of it made her nauseous so she focused on the delicious Pork Bun instead.
"Probably." Alisha said with a sigh as she sunk down on the lounge and focused on her food.
"You find out if Sarah was still alive?" Kara asked, there was no way to approach the subject gently. Alisha shook her head.
"Barely had a chance before everything went to hell. Big Brother Burk thinks there is no point given she's just as culpable as any people who reside in the blue zones." Alisha said.
"That's harsh." Kara said but then she felt Lt Commander Burk was a little in love with himself as he was all for talking about what he did. He didn't exactly spread the love around to the people who worked with him. He acted like he owned them or something which Kara felt was wrong but then it was probably his command style. Luckily she'd never have to serve under his command to find out as she knew she'd been spoiled with Commanders Garnett, Chandler and Slattery.
"You should have seen those people in the green zone. Some of them were totally messed up-" Alisha stopped and looked at Kara "You want to be alone with that bun?" She asked her in amused tone as Kara was enjoying the food a little too much.
"It's really good." Kara told her, she tried to be quiet with her enjoyment but obviously not enough.
"Must be a perk of being pregnant as I think the buns are a little boring. But the custard puffs are otherworldly." Alisha said with a smile as she was happy to change the topic. She honestly didn't want to think about the green zone or scavengers.
"I'm looking forward to it. But getting back to it, are you going to try and find her?" Kara asked.
"No," Alisha said shaking her head. She preferred the fantasy of Sarah right now than what the possible present person would be. She knew it was bad but she couldn't handle being a relationship with someone who knowingly lived in a blue zone knowing their survival was on the backs of people they sacrificed to monsters. It just brought up the same feelings of betrayal and disgust she felt for her mother. "I think I'm going to let it go." Alisha added.
"Well, if you're looking for a rebound. Val's available." Kara told her with a smile trying to lighten things up.
"Just because she's a lesbian and I'm a lesbian doesn't mean we should just hook up." Alisha told her giving her an incredulous look and shook her head in amusement as she knew Kara was just messing with her but still she needed to make herself clear. Plus Val was just a confusing area of Alisha's life.
"Ok, well I'm outta of beautiful women for you." Kara told her casually as she snagged another pork bun. Alisha couldn't help but laugh at her.
"Where's Larrin?" Wolf asked he got in later than he expected. Dinner was being served, he had spent the majority of his afternoon with Doc and Lt Commander Burk learning all the ins and outs of what would happen to Larrin in regards to the mission. He spoke with the other contractor who'd be paired with Tex. He wanted to just get a feel for the guy.
They spoke over the radio but Wolf like how the man spoke and answered his questions. His personnel file read well as he was a man in his late 40's who was career military, Army Ranger turned trainer when he felt age was starting to slow him down before the Red Flu broke out. He was naturally immune and had spent majority his time during the Pandemic helping people before the Scavengers emerged and well he put his skills to better use.
It put Wolf at ease but frankly he was just ill equipped to handle this situation and was messing it up. He needed to talk with Larrin to try and repair things with her. He needed to get her ready, he needed to bolster her out of her resignation and remind her that she mattered to him and many others. This trade wasn't about who was worth more but about using it to their advantage to take down a good chunk of the scavengers. He knew it was a hard sell given he still didn't drink the Kool aid but he needed Larrin to believe it.
"At Garnett's." Tex told him.
"Why?" Wolf asked him.
"I felt it was too hard on her to sit with all like one big family when she's a day and half from walking away. She agreed and Garnett didn't mind the company." Tex told him, Tex was taking the blame but he could tell that if Larrin sat with them all right now she'd break down. That wouldn't be good.
"I hate this." Wolf told him as he knew Tex was right. They were like a large family and it was in some ways easier for Wolf, Tex and Miller to go on mission as they left their families behind. While yes it was hard, they had training and the confidence to believe they were coming home. Larrin had the physical training but she was not mentally geared like them.
"Don't worry, the feeling is mutual for everyone involved." Tex said smacking him on the back in a brotherly fashion as he pushed him to sit at the table.
"The Captain, I get. He wouldn't propose it if there no other way but Michener just lept on it like it was the best thing he'd heard of since sliced bread." Wolf said as he took his chair. Kat and Barbara were dishing out the dinner while Miller was placing the filled plates onto the table.
"I know, so how are you with your injuries?" Tex asked him.
"I'm not ready for field duty." He remarked drily, he wished he was but one nudge in the rib cage and he went down like a sack of potatoes.
"I know, how about exercising those demons?" Tex suggested.
"What do you want?" Wolf asked him already suspicious as Tex had a way of wrangling people into things they didn't really want to do.
"Danny wants to propose to Kara in the house. I figure if it were my sister or even Kat and I was in your shoes. I couldn't stand in the command room. Now you could punch things or you can-"
"Pretty up a house?" Wolf finished for Tex.
"When this is over, we could all use some joy. Wouldn't be nice to give Kara and Danny a home for their wedding present?" Tex asked him.
"I think it would be a lovely present for a young couple with a baby." Barbara said joining the topic as she and Kate sat down with Miller at the table.
"Exactly, 200 odd sailors can spare a couple hours over the next couple weeks we should be do something impressive but those monkeys need someone to direct traffic and Kat has to go to school next week. Barb is on food detail and sussing out colour schemes for the house as well as baby furniture. So what do you say?" Tex asked Wolf who had to admit he was a little impressed with Tex finding people to help.
"I'm not a monkey." Miller piped up before Wolf could answer.
"Of course not, I was talking about the other monkeys." Tex told him, Miller who was pretending to looked pissed at the name calling gave a shrug as if accepting Tex's answer as ok.
"Fine, I can direct traffic." Wolf said, he wasn't happy about the job but he didn't mind the cause behind it as Danny was like a brother to him and putting in some reno hours in his house was a lot better then trying to find a wedding present. He also appreciated Tex being upfront as he was right. Wolf would tear himself to pieces standing in the ops room witnessing it go down. The idea of removing himself did make it easier even if it made him feel like he was abandoning them all.
"Great, I spoke with Garnett and she'll drop by tomorrow to tell you what's what and will make a roster of people to pull in to help our also means while I'm gone, you'll be the man of house. So I'd like to come home to our womenfolk un-debauched and lovely as they are right now." Tex told him.
"Yeah, of course I can do that." Wolf said as he felt remiss in how it was going to affect those at home. Kat and Barbara would be worried about Tex and Miller. Kara was going to be in the Command Centre helping coordinate their mission with Lt Commander Burk and the others. Danny was still laid up in the hospital and Wolf realised he was in the position to help on the home front.
