Chapter 5
There it was laid out in front of her. In black and white in an 8x10. Deputy Marshall Dolls standing with Bobo Del Rey.
"Where did this come from?" Waverly asked, her heart breaking.
"We're not sure." Nicole replied. Grabbing the photo from the file. As she reached past Waverly her arm brushed against her and sparks flew up Waverly's shoulder and straight through her. She wasn't sure if it was static or something else
entirely. She had to swallow hard to bring herself back down. She looked over at Nicole and saw her swallowing hard as well.
"Dolls would never EVER betray us. Betray Wynonna" Waverly exclaimed.
"I know." Nicole said. Her voice shook but only for a moment. Nicole kept looking over the photo staring at it with disbelief in her eyes. The photo contained Dolls looking over his shoulder as his hand was outstretched as if handing something
to Bobo. Bobo was eyeing the Marshall while reaching for whatever it was.
"Are you ok?" Waverly asked. Not sure why, but she felt like the major needed a friend.
Nicole sighed and thought hard about what she was about to say. Waverly could see the emotions running through her. "I owe Xavier my life." She finally said softly. Waverly just looked at her as if questioning her, no one ever referred
to him by his first name. "Dolls and I served together in Kandahar. We went through some pretty rough shit." Nicole unconsciously put her hand inside her shirt again rubbing the same spot she had before. Waverly felt a rush, and had to look
away to calm herself to be able to continue listening to Nicole. "Let's just say if it wasn't for Dolls, I would be a different person completely." Nicole smiled.
Waverly reached over and put her hand on Nicole's thigh, "it's going to be ok" she smiled as Nicole looked up at her. "Dolls didn't do this." Nicole smiled back at Waverly. Waverly thinks she sees Nicole's eyes drop to her lips as the red
head takes in a deep breath, and then back up to Waverly's eyes. She smiles at her and quickly looks back down at the file in front of her.
"You weren't kidding when you said you had been looking into this division for a while." Waverly looked at the papers in front of her. Each one a little screen shot of the members of the team, Wynonnas being the thickest. Also were reports on all
the revenants they had dispatched, some of Waverly's research and more. "Wow, there's a lot of stuff here" Waverly excitedly started flipping through it all. Nicole just smiled and watched her. Waverly stopped when she came across
a letter written on Black Badge Letterhead.
"Attention Major Nicole Haught. Black Badge Headquarters has received some disturbing information about one of our outposts. Reports of a rouge agent falsifying documentation and falling in league with an unidentified other worldly entity.
Deputy Marshall Xavier Dolls is the lead agent in Purgatory, which has yet to provide valid evidence of revenants of any kind, and needs to be brought in for questioning. You will immediately send a member of your team to Purgatory to retrieve Deputy
/Marshall Dolls and shut down the operation in Purgatory." Waverly sat back in shock. "Deputy Marshall Dolls is to be regarded as a traitor and should be detained on sight."
Waverly couldn't believe what she had just read. Dolls was no traitor, he had saved hers and Wynonnas lives on more than one occasion. She couldn't believe what she was reading.
"So why are you here?" Waverly asked. "The letter stated for you to send a member of your team." Waverly stated looking over the paper again. "You thought you should come and take him back in person?" Waverly asked still unsure about
the Major, but hoping she knew the answer.
"No I came to warn him." She said as if surprised Waverly hadn't figured it out. She pushed the file back in front of Waverly flipping it to a map of the Ghost River Triangle. "There is someone in Purgatory who doesn't want Black Badge here.
And they must have some pretty powerful friends."
"Bobo" Waverly almost whispered the name.
"I don't know, we won't know for certain until we can get more information."
"Wait you think there's a mole in Black Badge? Do you think it's me?!" Waverly said almost offended.
"If I did would I have just showed you all of this?" Nicole laughs. Waverly relaxes. Her laugh is soft and sweet and makes Waverly melt a bit. They sat there for a moment longer neither of them saying a word. When Waverly could feel
Nicole's eyes on her. She looked over to see the red head staring at her. There eyes met and Waverly's eyes flicked down over the Majors lips. She was so unsure about herself. She had never had these types of feelings before. Just
as Waverly felt she could lose herself in those lips her phone dinged pulling them both back to reality.
Waverly picked up her phone as it dinged again
Wyn - "come to this address"
Wyn - "bring major dick-face"
Waverly scrunched her face at the last message.
"Wynonna wants us to meet them somewhere." She said looking back to Nicole. Nicole nodded and stood up the both of them reaching for the papers in the black file Waverly's hand sliding under Nicole's, nope definitely not static.
"I'm sorry" Waverly pulled her hand away blushing.
"Don't be" Nicole looked at her softly. She smiled as she saw Waverly's cheeks turn red. She pushed all the papers back into the folder and went to put it back in Dolls office. Waverly grabbed her coat and then they both headed out the door.
Waverly wasn't sure what she had expected the major to drive but a Mini Cooper was not it. She sat in the passenger seat awkwardly riding quietly with Nicole as they bumped along a back road following the GPS coordinates Wynonna had sent her.
"So," Nicole broke the silence. "How's working at Shortys? You seem like a pretty popular girl around here." Nicole smiled not taking her eyes off the road.
"Oh it's all in the smile and wave" Waverly smiled and giving a shy little wave. "Plus I pour a mean whiskey" she jokes.
"I'll bet" Nicole replies. Waverly is enjoying their conversation even if it's nothing fascinating the Major has switched and become Nicole, seemingly more relaxed and less stick-in-the-mud.
"You know you still owe me that coffee." Nicole breaks Waverly's thoughts. Her voice playful.
"You're right, Major, I do." Waverly smiled back. Nicole glances over at her long enough to give what Waverly can assume is a playful wink. Her heart dips and she can feel nervousness climbing. She's not sure why, but Major Haught
is giving her some Major feelings.
"How abouttomorrow?" Nicole asks her voice seemingly a little shy. Waverly feels herself taken aback she wasn't expecting her to actually follow up and ask her out. Was she asking her out? Or was she still playing. "Or do you need two or
three days to plan?" Nicole asks her voice breaking slightly at first and then seeming more playful. She smiles nervously.
Waverly smiles, "jerk". Easing the situation. Nicole looks over at Waverly. "Actually tomorrow-"
"SHIT!" Nicole slams on the brakes and comes sliding to a stop only inches from Wynonna who is standing in the middle of the road hands on her hips. "What the hell Earp?!" Nicole shouts at her. Waverly feels something on her chest.
"You guys going to get out? or you going to stay there and continue feeling up my sister?"
Waverly looks down and realizes Nicole's hand is on her chest. She had thrown her arm over her as they slid to hold her secure, even though they were both belted in properly. Nicole quickly moves her hand and looks down blushing "sorry."
She says blinking and reaching for her buckle.
"Don't be" Waverly says as she opens the door and gets out. Nicole my heart flutters and her face turns red. She sits in the car a minute longer looking after Waverly as she walks towards her sister.
"Geez took you long enough!" Wynonna says throwing her arm around Waverly. "Had a talk with Dolls," Wynonna leans in and says quietly to Waverly, "I know why she's here."
"So do I" Waverly replies. Wynonna looks at her sideways and they continue on towards the deputy Marshall who is standing outside an abandoned building. Nicole catches up with them.
"What's that?" She asks pointing to a concrete marker not far past the building.
"That is the edge of the Ghost River Triangle" Waverly replies. Nicole looks impressed and smiles at her.
"Marshall." Nicole nods as they get close.
"Major" Dolls replies holding the door open for her to enter the old barn. Wynonna holds Waverly back.
"Be in in a minute, gotta use the little deputies room" Wynonna says crossing her legs and wincing. Dolls simply nods and heads inside with the major.
"So it took some persuading"
" "persuading" ? " Waverly asks with air quotes. Wynonna rolls her eyes and slaps her arm.
"BUT I finally got Dolls to spill." Wynonna says while walking over towards the truck.
"And..?" Waverly says leaning against the front grill while Wynonna walks around the side.
"Well it turns out she's not here to take him back. Someone is framing Dolls and she's her to help. Or take him back. He still has some doubts but after the stories he told me about what they did in Kandahar, i think she's one of the good
guys" Wynonna says while dropping her ripped jeans.
"Geeezus Wynonna!" Waverly turns looking away.
"What?! I was serious."
Waverly and Wynonna enter the old barn "creepy" Waverly breathes out. Dolls and Nicole are in the corner having a conversation.
"So what did you find out?" Wynonna whispers to Waverly.
"Basically the same thing," Waverly doesn't want to tell Wynonna about the photo. Wynonna and Bobo have a heated past and Waverly doesn't want to give her sister any reason to go all "Wynonna" again.
The two approach Dolls and Nicole. They have both resumed their military air, standing feet shoulder width apart hands behind their backs. "I think this should do nicely. I'll requisition the equipment we need." Nicole says turning
towards Waverly. "You said that marker marks the edge of the triangle?" Waverly nodded. "Good. We can use that to our advantage." Nicole says turning back towards Dolls. "You chose an excellent location."
"Actually, Wynonna chose it" Dolls replies. Nicole looks over to Wynonna
"Great choice Deputy Earp." Wynonna smiles back at her.
"Well, ask and you shall receive!" Wynonna says clapping her hands together. "Just doing my part to help." Wynonna emphasized the last word. "That's what we're all here for right?" Wynonna drags out the last word and leans towards
Nicole raising her eyebrows and nodding. Waverly rolls her eyes and puts her fingers to her temples. A small smile creeps onto Nicole's face.
"Right." The major replies slowly. Then looks towards Dolls who is looking at Wynonna like she's an idiot. Wynonna smiles and looks over at Dolls and does a big totally-not-obvious wink. "I'm guessing we are all on the same page
now?" Nicole questions Dolls and glances towards Wynonna.
"I don't know, are we?" Dolls replies looking towards Waverly.
"It seems we are." Nicole nods.
"YeaP!" Wynonna throws in for good measure. "Wait, we are talking about the fact that Major Haught-pants isn't a total nutsack here to take your job right? that page?" Dolls can only shake his head but Nicole let's out a laugh that echoes
through the barn.
"Glad I'm no longer a total nutsack." Nicole says as she turns and heads out of the building. Waverly looks over her shoulder at her.
Pointing with her thumbs toward Nicole "she's my ride so guess we're going." And starts to turn and go.
"I can give you a ride back" Wynonna says.
"Uh-" Waverly tries to think fast. " she's uh new. Yea she's new here. She doesn't really Uh know the roads all that well. Safety First!" Waverly says awkwardly walking backwards towards the door making strange hand gestures along with what
she says. "Don't want her lost! Byeeee!" And she slips out the door.
"Okay..." Wynonna shouts after her obviously confused.
Waverly is walking towards the blue Mini Cooper just as Nicole starts it up. She looks up to see her approaching and smiles. Waverly smiles and waves and approaches the side of the car. Nicole rolls the window down.
"I thought you might want some company on the way back to town." Waverly leans in the window. Nicole nods and unlocks the doors "And maybe we could stop and get some coffee." She says as she's buckling her seatbelt. Nicole's smile now
fills her entire face revealing the cutest dimples Waverly has every seen.
The coffee was the worst Waverly had ever tasted, but she didn't mind one bit. The first five minutes they were at the small cafe they stopped at on the edge of town had been strange and awkward as neither woman knew what to say. It
was Waverly who first broke the silence asking Nicole about where she was from originally. Nicole had explained how she had grown up in Illinois but had moved to Kentucky when she was stationed at Fort Campbell. Which sparked
a long conversation about horses and Waverly's dreams of having horses one day.
They sat through 3 more bad cups of coffee and a shared piece of lemon cake discussing everything from movies to skydiving. Waverly could not remember having a more perfect time with anyone in her life. Nicole caught her staring
at her over her cup of coffee.
"Is there something in my teeth" the major asked putting her hand up over mouth.
"No!" Waverly exclaimed and smiled back reassuring the red head that nothing was amiss. Nicole just smiled and looked down.
"I guess we should be heading back to town." Nicole said as she looked back up at Waverly. Waverly's smile instantly faded thinking that this moment had to end. But she did have to be at work in two hours and it was at least another
20 minutes back into town.
"Yea. I guess so." Waverly said the disappointment showing in her voice more than she intended.
Nicole left some money on the table and they got up from their booth and headed out to the blue Mini Cooper.
The drive back into town stared out feeling like it would take forever and no time at all, all at the same time. Waverly didn't want it to end.
"So what made you join the military? Weren't you scared?"
"Not really" Nicole said nonchalantly. Then retraced her thoughts. "Well maybe a little, but I guess that's why I did."
"Huh?" Waverly asked confused.
"My father always said that I should do things that scare me. That's how we grow stronger. If it doesn't scare you then it's not worth doing." Waverly sat and contemplated Nicole's words as they pulled into the station. It was
already 7 and Waverly's shift started at 8. Wynonnas truck was gone which meant she was likely already at Shortys racking up a tab. They both sat there for just a moment. "Well I guess this is our stop." Nicole stated, sounding slightly discouraged.
And reaching for the door handle.
"Nicole." Waverly blurted out.
"Yes?" Nicole responded quickly, anxiously.
"I uh-" Waverly faltered. She spoke before she even knew what she was going to say. She didn't plan out her next words before speaking and now she was out there in the realm of not knowing, not planning. "I uh- I think I forgot something in the war room."
"Oh." Nicole said her voice showing her disappointment. She opened her door and headed towards the office.
This is crazy, Waverly thought to herself. She barely knew this woman yet felt as if she knew her her whole life. She wasn't sure what she was doing she just knew she had to do something. She wasn't ready for their night to end.
The two women walked into the war room Nicole first then Waverly following. Nicole flicked on the lights and turned to look at Waverly "what was it you forgot?"
And with that Waverly pounced.
