Hey Guys, just wanted to let you know, I separated Chapter 2 to make Chapter 3, so…This one doesn't really have any smut in it, but I promise chapter 3 will. It nothing but smut, cuddles, and love, and stuff, so stick around it should be out right after this one, but I'm still typing it up. Almost done, just thought I'd give you guys something to read while you wait. ENJOY! 3

(I don't own Bioshock or Booker DeWitt)

Chapter 2: Redemption

"Owe! Hey!" The blonde with the slick back hair tightened the rope on the hostage, making sure that she was safely secured in the bondage, but not after tying her mouth shut.

Once Skinner was finished securing his victim, he squatted down eye level, eyeing her, "Don't go anywhere." He chuckled and walked off to a wide table in the room. It was covered in a black tarp; but Alessa already knew what was under it before he even removed the tarp.

Tools, lots of them. Torture devices. All kinds of utensils to make Allie's heart race. She wouldn't budge though, she wouldn't show she was afraid, instead, she took a slow breath and released through her nose while the blonde man set his eyes on one object in particular.

In all honesty, she knew this man wouldn't hurt her. Not yet any way. If he wanted her husband so bad, he'll dangle her in his face first before giving up his only mean to lure Booker in. Which concerned her even more. He wouldn't possibly work for this goon, she only hoped he had a plan out of this one. Allie hated that she was right all along on this, but she didn't think it was the men that Booker owed money to. No, this man worked nearly alone from the looks of it. And how he talked to Booker was a dead give away that he knew him from his days in the war.

It was also not surprising that this man Skinner seemed to be an isolated worker, but used only limited people to help him. It seemed easy enough to take him down. Then again, Alessa didn't dare estimate the man. From the looks of it, he was pretty skilled with weapons, and what's more dangerous than a man with a weapon? Especially when his obvious specialty was skinning.

Now, all she could do was wait, watching the clock tick down to the final hour, believing in every sense of the word that Booker would come for her, "You have beautiful skin my lady. DeWitt is a very lucky man to have such a soft pretty bird such as yourself." She didn't say a thing. She let him go on as he approached her with a sharpened skinning knife in hand.

She could figure where he got his name, and gulped back as he held the knife to her skin, admiring the shine that reflected off his eyes before he looked into the woman's blue iris's.

He could already see the fear setting in. No matter how much she tried to hide it, Skinner could see how petrified she was, "Well then, I guess he better hurry soon. Or your skin will be mailed to him by tomorrow morning. Don't worry though," He laughed, "You have to keep the host alive so meat doesn't get tainted. But for skin? You kill the animal in an instant to make sure that everything can still be maintained. Hell, who knows! Maybe DeWitt will mount you on his wall, like he did all the people he killed at Wounded Knee!"

Booker had stormed back into his office, grabbing his pistol, badge and a sniper rifle. He wasn't taking any chances with this bastard, and considering who he had, Booker was more than determined to end Skinner's life, "Mr. Dewitt? Hey, what are you doing?"

"I have to get her back Matthews, I won't stop till I get her back!" He was rounding ammo into the guns, and placing them in his flannel as he was heading out the door

"First of all, you're pissed, I understand I would be too, but getting worked up about Alessa isn't going to-,"

"Skinner's got my wife Matt! And I'm suppose to stand by and let politics tried to bring her back! I'm getting her, with or without your help. You're not my friend, so don't start getting all buddy-buddy on me now."

"Is that what you think?" Matthew scoffed, but Booker just looked at him, clicking the loaded guns, "It's what I know. You may be my partner in this job, but Alessa's my wife. I'd die, before I'd just sit back and let that maniac have his way."

"But Booker, you need back up! I mean, at least run it by the Pinkerton's first."

"Screw that. Those bastards don't give a shit about my life outside my debt and my skills, which is why they hired me in the first place. They can figure out my punishments later. You tell them." By this time, Booker was getting into his own car, a small two door car that still had some kick to its bite as he fiddled with his keys.

In the middle of the pouring rain. Matthews was still trying hard to convince him to stay and wait. What little it did to ease the older man's mind, "Booker don't do this! It's not worth it!"

Booker just looked at him, shifting the car into drive, "Maybe not to you." And drove off in a mighty hurry, screeching down the street almost just as fast as Skinner did when he drove off, he even almost caused an accident on the way, but he care. He needed to get there fast. He didn't have much time, and the rain was only getting worse.

The more he drove the more he began to repent on his guilt. For the danger he caused in his line of work, and for what he had done at Wounded Knee. His brows narrowed, the feel of a lump in his throat expanding as he got closer, the time counting down quickly.

He had to wipe his face of water and sweat, the anticipation and worry settling in more. The grip on the steering wheel tightening as he begged, "Please…Please…Just let her be okay. Let her be okay." He couldn't tell what was worse, the fact that he kept the secret of Wounded Knee to himself or the fact that once this is all over, Alessa would see nothing but the monster he had been trying to hide from her.

All those people he killed, all those teepees burned with families inside of them. In a way, he felt this was pay back for the lives he had torn, and destroyed. Every horror he remembered only led him to believe this was all karma.

A part of him though pushed those few disturbing thoughts aside; he couldn't freak out now, he had to stay calm and collected for his wife sake. If he was truly willing to save her, the first thing he needed to do was keep his head on straight.

For all that this was worth, he had to save someone. Anyone. Something to make him feel human again. Something to tell him that he could protect life instead of destroy it.

Besides, she was the only one that ever believed in him, and he wasn't going to fail her again.

"The time is ticking my dear. Only a minute left. Your husband likes to doddling doesn't he?" The cloth was gone from her mouth, yet she was still tied and mute. The dark haired woman could only stare anxiously at the man that she could slightly see pass the few strands that had fallen into her face. She had tried hard to remove the rough rope around her hands, they burned from her twisting, and bleeding, the pain was almost unbearable for how long she had been trying to get free? Well, she couldn't give up now. She could already start feel the rope start to loosen the more she pulled on it,

As she listened to the man rant more about justifying his need for Booker, all Alessa could do was close her eyes, and pray for him to come. She knew he would, he always came just in the knick of time, but the count was killing her. It was only a matter of time before this bomb would go off.

Skinner seemed to come loose at the seams the more Booker wasn't around. Whatever happened at Wounded Knee though, it was something so horrible that it caused the man in front of her to be…Well, he definitely wasn't him any more. "You know, I think we should just skip the patient wait, and start the fun now." Skinner twisted the knife in his hand, flipping in the air before he put the sharp blade to the girl neck, pressing hard against what would be an adams apple for man, "It's not like he'll make it in time anyways. Right? I mean, what are the odds, that your husband will do as I say? Oh, wait. He would. He's a good listener. Isn't he little dove?"

She dared not swallow, for if she did her skin would sure slice, none the less she kept a dark glare on the man, unwavering, and unwilling to show her fear, not like before. Skinner grinned and laughed putting the point of the dagger close to Alessa's right eye. She grit her teeth, staring at the tip of the man dagger. Her heart was racing at the speed of light, the fear of death setting in on the off chance that her lover would not make it in time, " But I can't wait any longer. This man won those lives like trophies. Every badge, every metal was a lie. And the loving, caring husband you knew is gone. I doubt he'll have any use for you wallowing in his brandy, eh?" She had never seen such a look in a man's eyes.

The look of destruction of ones self, "Send my regards to God." At the words, Alessa could only closed her eyes contently, and lick her lips before opening her eyes again, staring her killer in the face as she felt only one regret. That she couldn't have told Booker that she never wanted to truly leave him, "And may he grant you peace, Skinner." The man didn't know why, but the way she said those words bothered him, more than it should've. And the soft look in her face. She was unafraid of death. Of him. And she accepted her fate.

No, he couldn't have that. He wasn't going to let her be okay with dying without being frightened. Like the women he had killed previous before. Like the women at Wounded Knee, "Don't speak to me like that! You have no idea what I've been through to be saying that to me! We never had the right to play God! Now, I can stop it myself! I need to destroy their lives! Like they did at Wounded Knee. The things they made us do! We burned down homes with people still inside them, we shot son after daughter in front of their parents, burning them when we were finished with their bodies! Those men…Our leaders had no sympathy. None! What kind of man is like that! And your husband? He was fine with it! He said we should just forget about it! We should just MOVE ON! Well I won't let him! I'll make him suffer for what he did! What we all did!" His arm arched back, ready to give her the sweet release he had been waiting for, but before he could plunge forward, there was a loud blast that startled them both.

Skinner more since his hand was wounded from the bullet. Alessa was panting, shaken but relieved to see Booker standing in the door way with the sniper rifle pointed at the man that had stood too close to his wife already, "Back. Off."

"Ah, Mr. Dewitt, glad to see that your arrival wasn't a disappointment after all."

"Let her go Vernon. It's over. And don't think I'll miss." Through the scope Booker had a head shot in view already, never once taking the point off the target.

"Says a man that's never missed a target." He words spat venom, but Booker shrugged it off, not wanting to kill Skinner, but merely get what he came for, "Alessa had nothing to do with what happened. None of it. So, why don't you let her go, and we'll have a little chat about kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon."

"I'm afraid she's already involved Mr. DeWitt." He was pacing slowly, making his way to the half way point across the room, his arms opened as if welcoming him, "Go ahead my dear. Tell what you know."

There was a small pause, Alessa and Booker made eye contact, only Booker didn't need to hear her words to see what she had already found out, "H-He told me about what happened at Wounded Knee. Not everything. But enough to give me a clue of what occurred." Booker's eyes softened, he already knew this would happen, but he really had wish to avoid it. To have the chance to finally tell her. He just wanted time.

His eyes once full of anger were now filled with shame. That's all Alessa needed to find the truth in him, her eyes softening just as much with almost a gaze of disbelief, "So it is true."

"I wish I could explain it to you Alessa…But I refuse to make excuses for what I've done. What happened there? I never wanted you to find out this way. Maybe when I was ready, I don't know. But definitely not like this."

"But it's too late for that isn't it? Can you see the monster your husband is now? He couldn't even tell you! He simply wanted to go on with life forgetting about it, forgetting about the people we killed! Those people he tortures day and night for money! Do you see how he has to die! If it wasn't for this fucker and his god damn trophies he'd be like me! He'd be nothing, but a shell of himself! A speck of dust! Just like you're about to be!" He wasn't about to turn his anger on Alessa, but Booker knew how to handle a situation like this.

He had to when it came to his job, "Vern! Just untie my wife, and I'll let you walk." The man took his steps back towards the blue eyed girl, making Booker reset his aim on the mad man, staring him down with a threatening daze in his green vibrant eyes.

Skinner cackled patting Alessa head. Petting her dark hair harshly with a shaky hand.

Of course Ally pulled away from him, "I told you before don't touch me!"

"Oo, feisty. Mr. Dewitt, As I said before, I want you to work for me. In order to have your little wife-y here live you need to kill for me. Becoming an assassin, if you will."

"I'm not working for a bastard like you. What I did back at Wounded Knee, that wasn't my choice. Sure, I could've walked away. I should've. I wish I had. But I can't change the past!"

"Never the less you still kill to this day, so what makes you any different from then to now?"

"That I'll stop you at any cost to save someone that has nothing to do with our troubles. You brought her into this, and I'm getting her out of here one way or another."

"Then take my offer."

"Booker, don't list-," Skinner smacked his hand over Alessa mouth, the gun pointed to her head.

Booker's finger was already on the trigger, "Don't make me pull this trigger on your head Skinner. You're not worth the bullets."

"And the men laying on the battlefield were? You'll never change Booker! Always the beast! Always the parasite! Well that ends today! If you don't take upon my offer…Then say good bye to your darling wife!" He set back the hammer.

"Skinner!"

"Say hello to the dead for me." Skinner touched the trigger, Alessa closed her eyes, almost feeling death at her door step when she heard his words, "Booker…"

"NO!" All Alessa could hear was Booker yelling, shooting off the gun finally. Both shots when off, startling the girl before she stayed still, unable to open her eyes just yet until she heard footsteps running up to her with the sound of the gun dropping close by, "Alessa…Alessa?" He cupped her face, hoping she was still alive, looking for any wounds of any kind, but when caught her opening her big blue eyes to him, the look of relief washed over them both.

Booker pressed his head hers, more than happy to see that she was unharmed, "Booker…My hands…" Startled by her words he pulled back and quickly began to untie her. When he felt the rope fall he gently grabbed her forearm, seeing the bleeding rope marks that imprinted her skin.

She the marks made his heart ache, and his mind blank at the sight of her blood. He wrapped her arms around his neck, and gently picked up his wife in his arms. She held onto him, her head hiding in his chest as he walked her out, his head stayed down his trying to be close to the woman's fair skin. And he whispered sorry, over and over again as he walked her outside, trying to get as far away as they could from this place. He took one step out the door, the many lights of police cars, ambulance and squad teams diving in to clear out the warehouse. There were already paramedics picking up body's and crime scene investigators blocking off the entrances to the place.

Booker just walked pass them all, holding his wife in his arms, the long distance look in his eyes, his lips thin, and grim, and his eyes brightened by the lights they had aimed at the main entrance of the warehouse.

He saw the Pinkerton's too, standing around a circle with other people, and Matthews being the one to find a warrant on the warehouse from a generous judge. When they all noticed Booker, the brothers were the first to jump at the unsettled man with smiles, "Excellent work DeWitt. Next time though, please do as Matthew says and wait for back up."

"I don't need a warrant to get my wife." He growled pressing pass the able bodies to get to his car. There he set Ally down in the passenger seat, letting her regain her strength with Booker by her side, a hand running through her long damn hair as he came down to cup her face, making her tired eyes focus on him, "I'm getting you out of here. Okay?" Alessa nodded slowly, and with a small resistance, she let Booker go so he could close the door, and get them out like he said.

Yet, it wasn't fast enough. When Alessa heard a conversation start, she heard Booker began to raise his voice. She could catch some of it here and there, but she could tell her husband was more than displeased at the moment with the Pinkerton's, "DeWitt…"

"No, you listen to me. I'm taking my wife home, I'm going to stay with her for as long as she needs and then I'll come back to work. I'm not just going to leave her at the house by herself tonight so I can write a statement!"

"It's protocol." One of the brother hounded, getting Booker to spit to the side, "My ass! Since when have you two ever gave a damn about fucking protocol!"

"You can't just abandon work."

"I'm taking leave. Two weeks. I deserve that much."

"Don't forget we have a deal!"

"Screw your deal. I'll still work for you, I won't like it either, but my wife needs me. And for now? You all can go to hell."

"How dare you! Do you -,"

"Nah, it's alright. Let him go Johnny. He ain't going anywhere. Besides, he's had a rough night. His wife was almost capped for god sakes."

"It doesn't excuse for his attitude! And he still has a debt to pay!" Booker had already been getting in the car by then, starting up the car as fast as he could to pull out and drive away.

No one stopped him. And they couldn't even if they tried. All the DeWitt's wanted now was to be home.

The whole ride was silent. Not a world spoken, just the sound of the engine seemed to sooth the both as they kept their distance, and once they made it home Booker brought his wife into the house, again in his arms.

He walked up to their door, and unlocked it, opening it to stand in the door way. He looked around the house. It was clean, empty, quiet. He began to ponder if every night was like this for Alessa. How lonely she was without him. To fall asleep alone without the warmth of him next to her. Luckily, Ally was able to lure Booker away from his arising guilt, "Booker?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember the first time you held me like this?"

"Huh?" He looked down, seeing Alessa press her hand against his chest, her nose close to his shirt. She could smell his cologne under the musk, trying to etch every touch, taste and smell in her mind. And he remembered. It made him chuckle as he walked into the house, kicking the door behind him with his foot, "Yeah. Our wedding day."

"You tripped in through the door."

"Fell right on my ass." He chuckled, putting her down on the couch in their living room. He even set up the fireplace so they could get dry and warm.

"And after the endless laughter we made love right there on the floor."

"Heh, yeah…I remember. Those were the good old days, before all of this."

"We still have good times. Just…Not as often." She stopped choking a bit, "But it's okay. I'm okay with it."

"No. You shouldn't be okay." He was staring hard at the fire, another flash back of his days in the war seeped through one last time before pushing them away, "I didn't tell you what happened when I left. When I went to Wounded Knee because I didn't want to upset you. Also, a part of me I guess didn't want you to leave me. But I can't hide my past. It'll haunt me no matter where I go." He could hear Ally moving behind him. Coming to sit on the soft fuzzy rug they had set in the fire place, "You deserve to know the truth, Al." She crossed her legs under her, and took her husband's hand, catching his eyes for a moment to see a small smile form.

It quickly disappeared though when he sat down beside her, his eyes staring down at their laces fingers now. He then cupped over her hand with his other hand, and began to tell her the truth. He wanted no more secrets, no more guilt, something to rid him of the burden he felt, "It was a war zone there, many of our enemies were soldiers, mostly men. I got most of the scares fighting the bastards off of me getting out. First, I thought they were just angry for landing being taken. But it took me until we came across a small a village did I realize why they wanted us dead so much. It was a pretty big village went stormed through, filled with families, couples, many of their soldiers regrouped there. It was like its own little town. I bet before we took it over it was a peaceful bunch." He went quiet, making Ally nervous.

"What happened next?" She asked catching his eyes for a just a moment, the day reliving in his head, the paleness taking over and his eyes changing.

She didn't like the look in his eyes. Not one bit. It scared her actually. It frightened her to hell of that look he was giving to the blazed log in the fire place. "They told us we had to take the enemy out, before more could regroup and we'd loose the war. We listened to them and went through every home taking the people out of their homes. We must've seemed like such horrible people, coming in raiding their camps, tearing parents from their children, taking prisoners, interrogating, torturing…After we were through, they took the remaining bunch, tied them up, and threw them in their tee pees. And then we burned them."

Alessa was trying hard not to cry, both of their hands holding the other with such a vice-grip out of comfort and fear, "Did you…Did you have to do it?" She asked, needing to know the answer.

Booker nodded, "Yeah." He quivered, hearing a soft gasp leave his wife, "I uh-, I tried to say no. I really did Alessa. I told them that it was inhumane what we were doing to them. That this wasn't doing it for the good of our people, we were just…Butchering them. But the one that led us there started rambling, going on about how I must've liked sleeping with the enemy. That I was an 'Injin.' lover. He was screaming at me, threatening me with treason if I didn't do it. All I wanted at that I point was to come home to you. Tell'em to go to hell. But…"

"But you were pressured, he talked you into doing it." He didn't answer her at first, shaking his head as he thought about it, "No, I should've walked away. Tell him to blow out his ear. But I didn't. I burned those people alive, and killed their wives and daughter, and sons, parents, grandparents. I ruined their lives. Skinner was right about me Ally. I'm a monster." Alessa gasped softly, tears filtering her eyes as she looked to Booker. The guilt was as plain as day, his regrets ran deep than any river. He nearly seemed angry at himself, "I don't blame you for wanting to leave me."

"Booker…" She used her free hand to get him to look at her, the tears rolling as she realized how much weight this war had on him. He had carried it around since he had gotten back, and now understood why he didn't want her to know what happened at Wounded Knee, "You aren't a monster. I don't see you that way. I…I can't imagine it. What you went through would print on anyone for life. But I do not hate you nor do I see you any different Booker. I knew who you were when you left New York. When you returned. You came back changed, traumatized. And I can't blame you completely. I blame those bastards that made you do it. The ones that pressured you to do it. I blame them more than anyone else. That made you feel like if you didn't do it you would be a disgrace. But they're wrong…They're all wrong about you Booker. You're an artist. You play the guitar, you sing, you write. You even helped me paint better." She thought of his hands, how many times they have helped, even though he couldn't see that. How many people he saved in all that chaos, "You're hands can heal too. They can help in many ways. Love many things. And have many talents." She stopped and put the hand she held to her cheek, putting her forehead to his lips, which he gladly kiss with closed eyes. "To me you are human. And war has no place for sympathy, or moral. It's kill or be killed. That's what they wanted to put in your head. And they did. But at what cost? Your humanity? Well I didn't see them take yours. You're alive Booker. You're alive because you wanted to come home. And…I love you. I forgive you."

Those words melt the soul of the happy gunslinger, his consciences feeling less weighed down to know that his wife knew what happened. That there were no more secrets and pain, just forgiveness. He even smiled and pulled her in closer, nuzzling his face to her cheek, "Say it again."

She smiled, brushing her nose upwards till their nose and lips were barely touching, their body's shivering from contact, "I forgive you." Then, without hesitation Booker kissed her, feeling the warmth and sincerity that laid behind her soft full lips. Their hands unlacing to wrap around the other so earnestly.

The only pulled away slightly, panting a little from the lack of air.

Booker looked into her eyes, seeing nothing but what she spoke. The forgiveness was there, and so was the relief he felt as his heart began to pound like a drum, "Ally, I-,…" Alessa brushed her lips against Booker's one last time before their lips meshed against the others in a fierce passionate kiss. The moment they touched each other Booker took a breath in, inhaling his wife's floral scent and shuttering at the taste and smell of his lover. It'd been so long since he'd touched her, and when he did now, the dark haired girl shook to his touch, almost unfamiliar by it. The further they deepened their heated kiss, Alessa could only feel out his touches and kisses, wanting more, feeling as if she flesh would burst into flames by his hands.

He then wrapped an arm her thin frame pulling her close while his other hand found her hip and dug into it desperately when he too began to feel that he would rupture with yearn. Alessa sighed in content, loving the feel of him once again, craving it to the point that it shook her very core. She was starving. She was deprived sexually. She was a faithful woman in deed, but for the price it left her empty, and the only one to fill the void was Booker DeWitt.

Next - Chapter 3: The Us Before

This is actually just as long as the other one I made :D I'm kind of happy about that, considering it's only a mini-series, I want to stretch out the story as long as I can. I'm assuming it's going to be another 2-4 pages before I decide to end it L Sorry guys, that's how mini stories work, but if I'm feeling for it I'll make another one. But, that's if you're up for it. R&R