Chapter 15
Sleep did not come easily to Wyatt Cain the night. As soon as he would drift off with DG tucked safely in his arms he found himself awake again.
So finally he just gave up. He knew what he had to do. He carefully extracted himself from DG's grip and changed his clothes. He left his duster hat and leather vest behind, where he was going he wasn't going to need them. His gun however he took, just to be safe.
He left DG's room through the door that she had created to connect their rooms and hoped that he would be back before she woke up. He wandered the corridors for a while before he finally relented to the tiny voice in his head that was eerily starting to sound like DG.
Steeling himself he went down to the holding cells. Now when he first heard the Queen talking about them he thought it was strange that they would have holding cells in the palace. But when he asked about it he was told that they were actually in a separate building behind the stables. He entered as quietly as he could, showing his Tin Man badge to the guard on duty and telling him who he wanted to see. He walked down the row of cells slowly not wanting to get where he was going but knowing he had to do it if he was ever going to be truly free.
"Zero," he kicked the bars of the cell.
Zero woke and took a moment to stare at Cain. "Well, well, Wyatt Cain. Are you going to be my executioner? A little early aren't you?"
"I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to talk."
"Well, the Great Wyatt Cain wants to talk. What shall we talk about?"
"I want to know why. Why me? Why my family? Why throw me in that suit? Why go after my kid? Damn it, Adrian, we were friends once."
"Friends?" Zero sneered. "We were NEVER friends, Cain. Our parents were friends. All I ever heard was how well you could ride or throw a rope or hit a target. Then in school you were always showing me up. Smarter, faster stronger just plain better. Everyone always praised you and you just shined under it all."
"I never did any of that on purpose. I tried to help you."
"Oh, yeah and everyone loved you for that too. Then we both got into the Tin Man academy. And again you out did everyone and I fell behind. I hated you when I got kicked out because they thought I couldn't hack it. Then we met Adora and she looked at you like you were the last apple on the tree and she didn't even see me.
I hated you when you got presented to the Queen at graduation. You remember that don't you, the presentation of the latest Tin Men? Yeah, I was there my parents made me go with them. Said I should be there to support my friend.
She was there you know, the little princess. Even the little girl was taken with you, couldn't take her little blue eyes off you. I knew there was no way I could beat you.
Then years later there's the Sorceress. She offered me power and position and then I had a chance. I knew you'd join up with the resistance. All had to do was wait. Then I had my chance.
A report of you came in and she gave the order to take you out. I could have just killed you. Thinking now I probably should have. But I just had to try out the Tin Suit and the holo time loop device. She begged for 3 annuals for you to be let out. I'd had enough and told her you were dead, a few months after that she took the boy and disappeared."
"So why go after them again? I was locked away and they were out of your hair."
"Oh I had originally intended to. I didn't care. I had what I wanted, your defeat. But I got a report that she had become a runner for the resistance and the boy had grown and was one of the prime leaders. I couldn't let that go. By the time I tracked them down she was already sick maybe dying. It didn't take much effort." Zero was laughing.
Cain was staring at him. He couldn't believe that it was so easy to get Zero to talk, to tell him why. I guess facing your own death has that effect on you, he thought.
"So all of it was because you were jealous? You destroyed my life because you were JEALOUS?!? Of all the stupid, idiotic, childish things to do!! I can't believe it. But at least I know. I will never forget what you did to me, Adrian, but for my own sake and for my future, I forgive you." Cain turned and walked away from Zero, not seeing the almost insane look on his face. Cain smiled as he left and walked back to the palace. The suns had not started to rise yet. There was a new lightness to his heart that he could feel. DG was right. He was truly and finally free.
He finally got back to DG's room and checked on her. She was still sleeping. Placing his gunbelt on his duster and kicking off his boots he slipped back under the blankets and held DG close to him.
She woke. "Wyatt, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Sweetheart, for once everything is perfect," they settled down under the blankets and fell asleep.
When they woke several hours later DG told him that she had requested that they have the day off, because she thought that after the trials that he would need time to unwind and relax. So they just laid there together, basking in the closeness.
"So where did you run off to this morning?"
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was but your lack of tossing and turning woke me. You left you hat and duster so I knew you'd be back. So where did you go?"
"I took your advice and went down to talk to him."
"And how did it go?"
"It was… freeing. I'm finally done with him, DG. I can breathe without shuddering at the thought of him."
"Oh, Wyatt, I'm so proud of you. I know that had to be hard for you."
"It was but he did remind me of something. I don't know if you will remember, you were so little, maybe 4 annuals. The new Tin Men were always presented to the Queen on graduation day.
Mine was no different. I was 22 annuals and I had never been to the Queen's Court before. My parents were there and I was so nervous I had nearly twisted one of the Tin buttons off my uniform jacket.
We lined up in front of the dais and you were just standing there staring at me. So the ceremony went on and the Queen swore us into the service of the crown, but the entire time you just kept staring at me.
At the reception every time I turned around there you were. Finally I knelt down in front of you and asked if there was something you needed. You just reached out and touched my cheek, and then my badge and there was a small flash of light. You told me that as long as I had it, it would protect me until I came back to you."
"I remember, I was older than you think. I was 6. That was you?"
"That was me. I guess even then we were connected. You know I still have that badge."
"Really? I thought you left it…"
"No, that was my Central City badge. The one you touched was the one I got at graduation. I'm hungry. How about I go get us something to eat?"
"Yeah ok, that sounds good."
They stayed in her room most of the day. He left to get food or drinks when they needed them but no more than that. When word came that Zero was dead, Cain just smiled and held DG tightly.
They concentrated on themselves and their Bond. They found that he could sense her magick and even feed energy into it if needed. He even tried to channel some of her magick through himself but that didn't work. It was early evening when Cain suddenly jumped up from where he was lounging in the fading suns light. He stumbled to the balcony rail with a hand rubbing at his chest.
"Wyatt, what's wrong?" DG rushed over to him concern clear on her face.
"I don't know, it hurts but I know that it's not me that's hurt. Something's happened I can feel it can't you?"
DG pushed her concern for Cain out of her mind for a moment, and then she felt it, pain and exhaustion. "Yes, now that I am not totally focused on you I can feel it. Come on let's go." She grabbed his hand and together they ran to where ever this feeling was coming from. They ended up at the stables where the found a beaten Jeb dismounting his horse.
Cain helped his son down and supported him as they walked into the palace. "Jeb, what happened?"
"I was escorting the prisoners to Central City and after leaving them I stopped for some dinner. Well some people started talking about you and DG and well, I just couldn't let them." Jeb explained.
"Jeb, I appreciate that you defended us but you really shouldn't have gotten in a fight about it. Come on let's get you healed up." DG said before she ran ahead of Cain and Jeb to get the doors open.
Cain laid him down on the bed in Jeb's room and then left to get Raw. DG got some supplies and began cleaning Jeb's wounds. "This is going to hurt. You have to stay awake, ok? Until I check to see if you have a concussion you have to stay with me."
"I can't, I'm so tired. I'm just gonna close my eyes." Jeb was slurring his words. That was a bad thing. She passed her hand over him using her magick to check the severity of his injuries. He had a concussion.
"No! You can't, you have to stay awake. I am going to heal the worst of it but you have to stay awake. Talk to me, tell me about Molly, the girl you were dancing with at the ball." As Jeb talked, DG sent bursts of healing magick to the worst injuries; concussion, cracked ribs and a broken wrist. It was a wonder he had even gotten home. "Ok, I'm done. You should rest now." She turned to leave when he grabbed her wrist.
"DG, thank you." He whispered as exhaustion set in and sleep took him. She was met by Cain and Raw at the door.
"Shh, he's sleeping. I healed what I could. I think I got the worst of it. He had a concussion and a few cracked ribs so I concentrated on those. His left wrist was broken, Raw, you may want to go over that again. I was getting tired."
"It's ok, DG. You did great. Raw, please take care of my boy. Come on, it's late let's get you back to your room." Cain held his arm around her waist to support her. As they got to her door he asked, "Do you want me to stay tonight?"
"I'd love it but the seamstress is going to be here early to take measurements for my dress. You'd better go to your room," she said a little sadly.
He took her fully in his arms and kissed her gently. "Alright, Sweetheart, goodnight."
"Goodnight, Wyatt." She closed the door behind her and Cain continued to his room.