The Rain continued on for most of the day and well into the evening; the first hours of the storm were rough and violent, but soon it petered out like all storms do. Ruth Brooks looked worried sick, she wanted the storm to end, because neither Randy or Phil had returned to either shelter, nobody knew where they were. She paced back and forth her arms crossed over her stomach looking sick with worry.

Jack sighed and pulled her down on the small cot and looked at her. "He's fine," He said gently. "if something happened.."

"We wouldn't know because their out there and were in here," She responded.

Jack sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "He's strong, he'll show up, they probably got caught out and took shelter in one of the farms," he said gently.

She sighed fidgeting and nodded. "I hope you're right," She said.

"Of course he's right Mrs. Brooks," AJ said coming over and sitting on the floor by them. "Remember when I fell off my horse?" She asked.

"Of course I do dear, that was horrible," She said.

"Yeah, but Phil he saved me, remember," She said quickly. "if it weren't for him I'd probably be dead, cause everyone was freaking out, but he took control and got me to the clinic," She said.

Ruth nodded slowly. "What does that have to do with anything dear?" She asked.

AJ frowned but then spoke up. "Phil's always thinking; Phil always knows what to do, and how to do it," She said calmly. "So when he realized they weren't gonna make it into town, he probably made Randy go to one of the farms, I'm sure 100% they are safe," She concluded.

Ruth sighed her face moving a bit as she swallowed this idea then nodded. "I just, he's my baby I worry." She said.

"Well, god wouldn't take him from you, after just giving him back," She said confidently.

Ruth nodded. "Your right sweetie," She said hugging the young girl. "Where's your brother?" She asked

He didn't make it here, he's probably out at our cousins, he had to round up the cows and horses before the storm this morning," She responded.

"Ah, well why don't you help me see about making some food for the four of us," She said gently.

AJ looked thoughtful. "I don't know how to cook very well," She said bouncing to her feet. "but I'm willing to learn," She said cheerfully.

Ruth smiled and squeezed the girls shoulders before leading her towards the small cooking area. "well, you're going to learn from the best." she chuckled.

"Good," AJ said. "Maybe Colt will stop complaining about my cooking skills," She laughed.

Ruth chuckled again as she gathered a few things to make a quick meal. AJ was watching her but her gaze was drawn to Seth who was sitting against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. "I'll be right back Ruth," She said moving around the older woman and towards her former classmate. "Hey,"

Seth looked up slowly, his dark eyes skimming over AJ quickly before going back to his hands. "Hey," he said softly.

She leaned against the wall, and slid down till she was seated next to him. "How are you doing?" She asked still looking at him.

He shrugged his eyes darting around the shelter. "alright, I suppose." He mumbled.

She nodded. "Its hard," She stated simply. "Loosing your parents," She said.

"How would you know?" he asked anger making his dark eyes stormy.

The soft smile on her face wavered, but then of course how could Seth remember her folks had died when she was just 2, and then the Cabanna's had taken her in, raised her as their own, until 2 years ago. She closed her eyes. "I've lost my parents twice," She said softly.

Seth blinked looking at her silently. "Oh," He said softly looking upset now at his rudeness. "How did you loose them twice?"

"My folks, the one's who gave birth to me, they died when I was 2 years old," She said softly. "This guy broke into our house in Chicago, and my dad I guess, he tried to defend me and my mom, and he got shot, mom started screaming and to shut her up, the guy shot her too." She said softly studying her sneakers. "I was only a baby, so I was in my crib in the bedroom, so the guy robbed the place and never even knew I was there." she said softly.

"That's just one time," He pointed out.

"Yeah, well...I was 4 when the Cabana's adopted me, Colt's parents I mean..." She said softly.

Seth took a deep breath. "You don't..."

"The fire 2 years ago...they were there...they were trapped," She said her voice cracking. "Nobody...knew they were there..." She said blinking back tears.

"Hey, hey I'm sorry...I...I forgot about that." He said quickly reaching out and taking her hand. "I..I didn't know about your...your birth parents," He said.

She shrugged wiping quickly at her eyes with her free hand. "Not many people do, I think, Colt, Me...Phil...and well now you, I think Ruth and Jack know too, but I'm not sure," she said her voice still trembling with held back tears.

"My..my mom was in Atlanta, getting to know a new boyfriend." He said dryly.

"I'm sorry," She said softly.

"Me too," He said softly.

"Were both orphans now huh?" She asked looking at him.

He blinked before looking at her. "Yeah, I guess so." He said.

"We should stick together, if you don't wanna stay at yer ma's place, me and Colt, we have extra bedrooms." She offered.

He blinked and nodded sniffing. "Thanks April," He said softly.

"Call me AJ, All my friends do." She said smiling softly.

He nodded. " Okay, " He said just as softly. "Aj,"

0~_~0~_~0~_~0~_~0~_~0

Randy had closed his eyes, the dim light from the bulb not enough to bother him, hell he was a man used to catching sleep when he could. Phil was sitting just across from him on the cot that was pressed against the wall. He was slowly but methodically dismantling the Glock and putting it back together, easily and rapidly. About 20 minutes ago he'd caught the smaller man eying the shotgun laying against the wall.

"Where did you learn to do that?" He asked with out opening his eyes.

Phil paused and then kept working. "Military school," he mumbled with out thinking it through.

"you didn't go to military school," Randy pointed out opening his eyes.

Phil sighed as he slid the clip home and checked his sites. "Hmm, I didn't?"

"No," Randy repeated. "We went to elementary, Jr. High and high school together, had the same teacher every damn year," he said calmly.

"Ah, so we did," Phil nodded as he began taking the gun apart again.

"So how did you learn to take a gun apart like that?" He asked again now watching him intently.

"My Dad," he said just as quickly and as easily as he'd said Military school and Randy knew just like before he was lying, because Jack Brooks only took Phil hunting one time in the 24 years the two had lived under the same roof, and it had ended badly. He could still see the black eye and split lip in his mind, that Phil had come home with.

"Uh huh," Randy commented dryly. "Why do you have to lie to me?" He asked.

"Who said I'm lying, you don't know what the hell went on in my house growing up," He said coolly still refusing to look up from the gun.

Randy sighed and shook his head sending the rocking chair to rocking as he listened to the rain as it continued pouring down outside. "You've changed," He stated simply.

"Emmm, have I?" He asked finally his eyes coming up to face Randy. "So have you,"

"I have a reason for changing," He pointed out.

"Yeah, so do I." he said calmly as he began the process of putting the gun back together.

Randy opened his mouth to speak again, when a loud crash upstairs broke through the silence, He heard the clip slid home and Randy grabbed the Rifle off the floor watching the stairs. "You sure the guy was dead?" he whispered.

"I know how to take a pulse," he snipped as footsteps made there way towards the basement door. "Did you lock the door?" He asked looking at Randy.

"No, I thought we were alone after we shot the guy," He responded tensing as the door creaked open.

"I shot the guy," Phil grumbled

"Shhhh," Randy snipped aiming the shot gun at the stairs as a pair of boots began down the steps.

Phil cocked his gun, swallowing hard watching the shoes.

0~_~0~_~0~_~0~_~0~_~0

"Wade!" Jay called scrambling through the gathered townsfolk; he was never comfortable with them, he'd grown up on the same farm as his best friend Adam, so being here in the damn Fallout Shelter surrounded by people who stared at him, unnerved him. "Wade!" He snapped again finally spotting the tall Brit.

Wade turned around and smiled at the blond. "Its going well don't you think?" He asked.

"No," he said lowly but bluntly grabbing Wade and dragging him back through the crowd getting even more dirty looks. "Were going to run out of air," He whispered once they were back in the dark corner.

"Jay, no were not we're going to be okay," Wade said guiding Jay to the cot settling him on it. "I know your scar-"

"Fucking hell Wade listen to me! I'm the god damn engineer, We only have enough air for another 2 hours with this many people in here," He snapped looking annoyed.

Wade blinked. "Are you sure?" He asked slowly.

"100% positive," He said softly looking down.

Wade sighed softly sadly and rubbed Jay's arm smiling softly. "Okay, I'm gonna go get Sheriff Brooks you stay here," He said gently

Jay nodded taking slow shallow breaths; Wade sighed and got to his feet walking over to Jack Brooks tapping him on the shoulder. "Um, Excuse me sir but myself and Jay need to speak to you in privet," He said softly keeping his voice.

Jack picked up the low tone from the Brit as did Ruth, she nodded waving him away; glancing to check on AJ and Seth who were completely engrossed in their conversation. Jack followed Wade back to Jay who was chewing on his thumb nail looking nervous and upset still.

"What's going on Reso?" he asked.

"Were going to run out of air," he said calmly. "The..the machine, I didn't fix it right, its recycling only half what it should be," He said weakly.

Jack stared at him for several minutes before running a hand through his hair and looking out over the people with in the shelter with them. "How long do we have?" he asked.

Jay licked his lips and glanced at his watch. "2 hours, maybe 3." He said softly.

"Well, then we better all pray the storm is over by then," He stated rubbing his face.

Jay nodded looking down looking miserable, Jack sighed softly. "Hey, this is not your fault, you did what you could on short notice," He said gently. "Okay, Will be okay," He said patting Jay on the shoulder.

Jack sighed and looked at Wade. "Keep an eye on him," He said Wade nodded and watched the Sheriff walk away. Wade sighed and sat down on the cot next to Jay rubbing his back gently

Jack walked through the crowd back to the small set up table with the radio on the table. He sighed studying the table and closed his eyes. "damn it," he mumbled.

"whats going on?" Ruth asked softly taking Jacks hand looking worried.

He shook his head. "Don't worry about it," He said gently. "I'll handle it,"

"Its my Job to worry," She said with a smile.

Jack opened his mouth to speak when the radio crackled to life. "Hello? Is anyone out there?" Phil's voice crackled over.

Jack blinked and moved over grabbing the handset. "Phil?" He called.

"Dad?" Phil's voice came back.

"Yes, its me, where are you and Orton?"

"We got in a shoot out at the Cabana's farm," He responded.

"Oh my god," Ruth whispered.

"I..I have to kill a man, uh..were fine, but we have a minor problem," He said.

"What is it son?" Jack asked taking a deep breath.

"Colt got caught out in the rain; he probably was outside for 20 minutes...we uh, we don't know what to do." He said.

"Hang on Son, let me get the doctor," He responded looking at Ruth who nodded and hurried over to fetch the doctor. "Are you sure you and Orton are okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, the guy was a horrible shot," He laughed.

Jack laughed shaking his head. "Alright Son, here's the doctor," He said.

"Thanks Dad," He said slowly before the Doctor took the handset and started giving Phil advice on how to help Colt.

Ruth stared at Jack silently, and he walked over wrapping his arms around her. "He's okay, he's safe." He said softly.

She nodded huddling against him. "Oh thank god," She whispered softly. "Thank god,"

He nodded rubbing her back gently. "yeah, thank god." He said looking up at the ceiling praying silently that the rain would stop soon, listening as the Doctor explained that as soon as it stopped raining they needed to get Colt to the clinic immediately. He looked across the room at Wade and Jay, Jay was leaning against the bigger brit, watching the oxygen monitor as it hummed away the seconds ticking away. "Thank god," he whispered.

TBC.

A/N: OMFG Look its an update! I so wrote my self into a corner with this chapter and I had a real hard time figuring out what to do! I mean I KNOW where the whole fic is going, it was just this chapter was like NAAAH not gonna let you do it! :P LMAO! Anyways, Please read and review and more will come soon I promise!