Chapter Two
I
The Chinook landed on a large concrete courtyard situated behind an ancient house. When the blades stopped turning Seras and Jack got out and walked over to three windswept figures. "Sir Integra we were attacked…" Seras began.
"I know that," said Integra bluntly.
"Well Jack and the Maxwell family were attacked also and so we fought together then we flew here and now erm," said Seras and Jack stepped forward. "Ma'am I'm here so we can help each other as both me and Hellsing were attacked by a section of the CIA. I'm also here because my home has been compromised and I need a temporary place to stay," said Jack and at this point the jeep rattled out of the back of the Helicopter.
Sarah drove the jeep up behind Jack. The girls and the toddler once again in the back while Carey sat in the passenger seat. "Well ma'am can we stay and combine are forces?" Jack asked holding out his hand.
"This alliance is strictly temporary and it requires that you don't withhold any information. Am I understood?" Sir Integra asked and Jack drew back his hand. "Yes ma'am."
Sir Integra turned and headed off to the main house. Alucard the vampire went up to Seras and gestured for her to follow him and they too left for the house. Walter the butler was left with the others. "I've had rooms prepared for you. You are all staying up at the house if you would follow me please. And I'll have someone take care of your things," said Walter holding out his head gesturing towards the house. The girls followed happily but Carey lagged at the back.
"What's wrong?" A voice asked her and she nearly screamed in freight. Jack placed his arm across her shoulders and walked beside her. "What's going to happen to me?" Carey asked eventually and Jack smiled. "Well if you behave after this has all died down I'll take you back home to Boston. If you don't behave well…" said Jack grinning like a Cheshire cat showing off his elongated canines. Carey went pale and stared down at the floor.
II
"I'm afraid there is more of you than expected so some people will be forced to share," said Walter as he led the group down a dimly lit corridor. "Well that's alright. The twins can share, Sarah had better stay with Charlie and that leaves me and Carey to share. Is that okay girls?" Jack asked and the twins replied yes in unison. Sarah took baby Charlie off the twins and smiled. Carey nearly fainted. "Well that does make things much easier on my part. So the first door on the left is for the twins. Mrs Maxwell you have the first door on the right. Jack and Miss Carey can have the second room on the right," said Walter and he handed each person a room key.
"Come on Miss Foley," said Jack as he guided her into the room. The pair stepped inside the dark room and Jack hit a light switch on his left. "Dam that's going to be problem," said Jack as he went over the king sized bed and poked it with his finger. "Well that's pretty soft. You better take it then," said Jack and he helped Carey sit down on the bed. All the walls were solid stone bricks with no windows but with a door leading to an on suite bathroom. The bed was pressed up against the left side wall with the door leading to the bathroom on the right. On one side of the door stood a wardrobe on the other sat a small wooden desk with a single leather chair tucked underneath it.
A knock came from the door and Jack opened it letting in four men carrying two of Jack's steamer trunks. "Thank you gentlemen," said Jack and the men came to attention before walking out. One of them actually gave Carey a cheeky wink on his way out. "Soldiers these days," said Jack as he checked the contents of the trunks. "Here catch," said Jack and he threw a rucksack at Carey.
"What's this?" Carey asked quietly.
"I grabbed some clothes that might fit you. I think we would prefer it if you changed out of those combat fatigues. If you work with me you have to learn to relax," said Jack as he threw her a smaller bag. "And this?"
"Ablutions, toiletries I thought that you could use them."
"Thank you."
Jack smiled before he turned back to the contents of the trunks. "Ahh here it is," said Jack pulling out what looked like a black wooden suitcase. He placed it on the bed next to Carey before opening the box to reveal four large pistols sat comfortably in blue velvet. "Woah they look old," said Carey and Jack looked at her in disapproval. "These are original Colt Dragoons my dear the most powerful pistols of their era. So don't let their age fool you these four ladies have fought with me since Fredericksburg," said Jack as he took out the pistols one by one.
"That's heavy," exclaimed Carey as she picked up one of the Dragoons. Jack went over to a trunk and pulled out several gun belts. The first one was brown leather and had two quick draw holsters on it. The other two had single holsters with leather covers. Jack put the dual wield gun belt on first hanging just under the green belt holding up his trousers. He then did up the small leather ties that went around his legs to hold the holsters against his legs. The next two belts he did up at their largest setting then placed one over each shoulder so that the holsters dangled under his armpits. He then took out a leather box and attached it to the back of his green belt. The four Dragoons then were slotted gently into each holster and the covers pulled over the pistols.
Jack finished off by taking a long black overcoat out from another trunk and putting it on. "So how do I look?" Jack asked standing up in front of Carey and she looked him up and down. His black hair hung down brushing the upturned collar on the coat. Several bullet holes could be seen in the coat. The green turtle neck was curtained by the sides of the long coat while the green belt and trousers stood out like sore thumbs even under all the black leather. The gun belts where prominent as the brown leather was striking compared to all the green and blacks. Carey sat down on the bed again and looked away.
"What are the sunglasses too much?" Jack asked walking over and sitting next to Carey. He then noticed she was shaking. "Hay…" said Jack holding out his arm about to place it on her shoulder before she pushed it away. "What's wrong?" Jack asked more sternly this time.
"How did it come to this? Me sat sharing a room with a monster. A monster that killed all my teammates and now looks like he's about to go to war. Why did this happen to me? Why am I still alive?" Carey asked nearly screaming in Jack's face as tears fell down her checks. Jack took off his sunglasses and looked into her eyes. Carey fell silent and Jack began.
"You are alive because at first I needed information on my attackers. Now I've come to realise you are nothing more than a combat virgin who barely understands her own mission. So there is not much more information you can give me that I cannot get elsewhere. But I kept you alive because I actually felt sorry for such a meaningless grunt with a gun but that means I can't let you go on your merry way so we're here together so that I can maintain close watch over you. So do yourself a favour and man up or take the alternative," said Jack who took a Dragoon out of a holster pulled back on the hammer and pointed the barrel at Carey's head.