(A/N-Hey peoples! Finally a new chappy! T_T I've been so busy moving and working lately, I hardly have time for my Trigun fandom. Grr. But anyhow. In the story, keep in mind that Vash and Knives no longer have their original handguns that Knives made. Just thought I should clear that up. Lol)

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Chapter 6-Monsters

"Hey what's the point of this
Hey what's your favorite song
Maybe we could hum along

I think you're smart
You sweet thing
Tell me your name
I'm dying here

Ooh got you where I want you..."

~The flys-Got you

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"Jeez, Meryl! What is your problem lately?"
Meryl stood, mortified over the second tray of drinks she dropped in the back area of the kitchen. This was the second time that day. The first she had dropped directly on top of a group of grumpy working men. Luckily, they were nice about it and didn't refuse to pay.
She sighed heavily, and grabbed for the broom. Her boss shook her head in dismay.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Meryl pleaded as she swept up the broken glass. "I haven't got much sleep lately. Just take it out of my check, okay?"
"Well, get it together, girl! Its lunch rush already!"
Meryl scolded herself quietly, picking up the last few shards with napkins. Sleep had not come easy for her all week. She and Vash had taken sleeping shifts for the past week, unbeknownst to Millie. They wanted to make sure she wasn't going to be sneaking in with Knives again. But at the same time, they didn't want to hurt her feelings and make her seem untrustworthy.
Vash had started his new job as a Sherriff, and of course, had quite a knack for it.
It made Meryl feel safer; knowing he now had the authority to do something with Knives if he ever tried anything.
Meryl still couldn't help but wonder, WHY Millie had taken such a liking to Knives. It really terrified Meryl the more she pondered. Did Knives and Vash have some sort of hypnotic power? If they did, Vash certainly was not aware of it. He didn't even know why Knives tolerated Millie's presence in the first place. Either way, something was defiantly off. This was something they didn't want to take lightly.
"I just feel so…alone, Meryl." The way Millie sounded echoed in her head. The way she sounded and hid her head shamefully…
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to worry you."
She became visibly depressed ever since that night. Meryl felt a terrible guilt in her heart. Of course she was lonely. Wolfwood is gone. Meryl could only imagine how she would feel if Vash died in such a way…
Lunch rush subsided, and Meryl got busy with the dirty dishes in back, as the rest of the crew busily wiped down countertops, tables and booths.
Meryl heard the bell chime as a customer entered through the front door. Thank God she had the excuse of dishes to occupy her time. She didn't think she could handle another grumpy customer. One of the other girls could take care of them.
"Oh, mercy!" one of the girls cried. "I just love a man in uniform."
Meryl rolled her eyes, Tiffany always flirted with every man who walked through that door. Just a clever façade for tips of course…
Meryl's ears perked up at the sound of a familiar voice.
He laughed timidly at Tiffany's remark.
"Thank you kindly ma'am. But I was wondering if I could have a word with Miss. Strife."
"Meryl?" she laughed. "Yeah, she's still here. What's it to you? Is she in trouble, officer?"
Vash barked a laugh. "Haha! You could say that."
Meryl wiped off her pruned hands and rushed to the front. She immediately met his eyes, and his expression softened at the sight of her. He smiled and waved.
"Hey, Meryl!"
Meryl felt her stomach fill with butterflies. But her cheeks burned when she saw that every one of her coworkers stopped to gawk at them.
"Hehe.." Meryl smiled awkwardly, blushing deeply. "Hey there, Vash. I don't get off until four, remember?"
"Yeah, and she's got a TON of dishes to do!" Tiffany intervened again. Everyone laughed as they went back to work cleaning and wiping the place down.
Meryl shot Tiffany an ugly side glance as she leaned over the table.
"What's going on?" she asked quietly.
"I just wanted to let you know I was going to be working late tonight." He said, putting his hand on hers as she rested them on the bar. "There's been a rise in gang activity since their retaliation that night at the restaurant. We think something might go down tonight."
Meryl sighed and reluctantly pulled away.
"Well, I'll stay up and wait for you." She said.
"If you want to." Vash flashed that brilliant smile. Meryl felt herself melt a bit.
"Just in case, I wanted to see you before I went back on duty."
"Aww.."
Vash leaned in closer and whispered.
"Remember to be very careful when I'm not there."
Meryl rolled her eyes. "Of course."
Vash took the opportunity of closeness to kiss her on the cheek quickly before departing.
"You all have a good day now!" he called out to the rest of the crew as she opened the door.
Once Vash was gone and out of ear-shot, Tiffany's quickly spoke up.
"I didn't know you were dating a sheriff!" she said, with a hint of jealousy. "And a good looking one at that. You lucky girl, you." She sighed, smiling as she wrung out her washcloth in the sink.
"Alright, alright, that's enough." Meryl said hastily, her blush rising back to her cheeks.
"I'll say!." Her boss joined in. "No wonder you haven't been getting much sleep!"
The crew erupted in laughter.
Meryl quietly slinked away to the back of the kitchen to continue her work as they cackled away.

…

The suns finally set upon the little town. People retreated to their homes quickly, as if they knew something was not right. Vash noticed how empty the streets were as he patrolled on foot. Not even the drunks or the addicts strayed in the alleys.
"Saverem!" Vash jumped and let out a small yelp. "Oh!. Uh…Yes, Johnson?"
Vash turned sharply and saw fellow lawman sitting at a bench nearby, enjoying a cigarette.
"Jeez, take it easy, Alex. You sure are jumpy."
Vash smiled, embarrassed.
"Hey! Its quiet out here! You startled me!"
Alex Saverem was Vash's new fake name for living in this town. A name after man Rem used to talk of all the time.
Phil Johnson took another drag off his cigarette before flicking it to the side. He didn't seem too amused to have Vash as a partner.
"You might as well just take off early now." He said, rising to his feet. "Go home and get some rest, but remember; tonight you're on-call in case something does go down."
Vash nodded kind of relieved. He had been worried about the girls all evening.
"Yes sir." He nodded, turning the other direction towards home.
"See you in the morning."
Phil nodded, lighting another cigarette as Vash dashed away.
"Please be okay. Please be okay." Vash pleaded silently as he neared their house. Nothing seemed to be wrong as he walked up the stairs and across the porch. He smelled food cooking as he turned the doorknob.
"Meryl?!" he called. "Millie!"
"We're in the kitchen!" they called out in unison. Meryl came out to greet him, setting down her apron across the couch.
She laughed at his worried expression. The way he stood there dumbfounded, it was as if he were expecting to come home to a slaughter. Ever since he started working and being away all day, he came home every day looking like this.
"You need to stop worrying." Meryl said, wrapping her arms around his torso.
Vash nodded and plopped down on the couch.
"Dinner will be ready soon." She said, leaving Vash to cat-nap as she and Millie continued cooking.
"Is Vash okay?" Millie asked as she set the table.
"He's fine." Meryl replied, gathering the necessary items to make tea.
"We're out of ice. So we'll be having some luke-warm tea."
Meryl laughed. She frowned when Millie didn't respond.
"Ya know, I bought some pudding for desert. I got your favorite brand too."
Meryl said, attempting to invoke a smile from her friend.
Still nothing. Meryl ceased stirring the pitcher to turn toward her.

"Millie?"
Millie stopped setting the table. She froze, silverware in hand. Her head hung, and her shoulders began to tremble.
"Meryl…I…"
The silverware dropped to the floor, creating a horrible sound as Millie began to sob uncontrollably.
"Millie!" Meryl leapt forward and took her tall friend into her arms.
"I haven't eaten pudding in so long, Meryl. It just reminds me of…of…"
Millie was barely coherent as she struggled to quiet herself. Meryl had no idea a kind gesture would make Millie so sad. Now that she stopped to think about it, Millie hadn't eaten pudding in ages…
"What's going on?" Vash practically broke the kitchen door frame as he barged in.
"What's wrong with Millie?"
"Just stop!" Millie cried. "Don't worry so much about me, okay? You two need not waste your time!"
Millie withdrew herself from Meryl's embrace and attempted to push past Vash in the doorway.
"Well, that's not fair, now is it?"
Vash said, raising his arm to block Millie's exit. She gave him an incredulous look and attempted to push past him. She tried shoving his arm out of her face, but she was no match.
"Who are you to say we shouldn't care and worry about you? Huh?"
Millie raised her hands to her face.
"Just go away." She said.
"You don't think I miss Wolfwood too? I miss him every day, just like you."
Millie, slowly lowered her hands. Vash lowered his arm and rested it to his side. His face turned ashen as he closed his eyes.
"He was my best friend. He was like family." He continued. "You're not alone, Millie."
He stepped forward and drew Millie in his arms.
"I'm sorry if you feel like we've been indifferent to your suffering. To tell you the truth, I've just been swallowing my pain to deal with later, because I'm too worried about Knives hurting you girls."

Millie sighed and hugged Vash back.
"You know, you hug just like him." She sniffed. "You feel the same as him"
She forced a small laugh. Vash smiled before letting go.
Milie wiped he tears from her cheeks. Her expression looked a lot different than before.
"Aren't you two hungry?" she said, smiling. "Cuz I'm starved!"

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"Finally, I can feel my legs…"
Knives thought, trying to shift in whatever position he could manage. He was still tied down to the bed. He could feel his strength coming back, however it was still a matter of days, considering how much energy he had used.
Knives suddenly realized he had not been contemplating an escape plan. It was unusual of him.
Even more unusual were his thoughts of that tall, brown haired girl. The one who had been so compassionate towards him. She knew he was a murderer. Why the hell did she care so much? And why did he not feel a genocidal rage when she was near?
Knives clenched his teeth together.
"Stupid, stupid humans." He growled.

He lay still as he heard the sound of footsteps nearing the doorway.
The door opened slowly, the heavy sounds of boots echoed in the otherwise empty room.
"Ah. Good evening brother." Knives said cooly. "I was hoping for the girl, but I suppose company is company."
"About that." Vash replied. "What have you done to her? Hypnotized her?"
Knives went into a fit of laughter.
"Oh, if only I possessed such power, Vash." He sighed. "But no, afraid not. Humans tend to go a bit insane when they've lost a loved one. She's just lonely. And since I'm here against my will.."
"I just couldn't comprehend why she would take a liking to someone like you."
Vash scoffed.
"I could say the same about you and that, Meryl girl."
Knives retorted.
"You're a monster too, you know. We're brothers. We're one in the same."
He smiled evily.
"She's obviously a naïve fool to be involved so deeply with something like you, Vash. We both know how it will end."
"Shut up!" Vash yelled. "You come close to those girls, you're a dead man! You understand?"
Vash made a swift exit, slamming the door behind him. The house shook, knocking some pictures off the mantle in the living room.
Knives smiled to himself. Just a few more days and he could get out. Somehow, while in the confines of the bedroom, he was going to have to test his limits. Push Vash. Make him blurt out everything about the house and the girls. Catch him off guard maybe.
It only seemed like a few minutes before he heard the sound of footsteps again. She must have waited for hours for Vash and Meryl to fall asleep.
She quietly cracked the door open and slipped inside.
She simply smiled sweetly s she approached his bed side. She quietly pulled up a chair and sat beside him. She leaned in and untied one arm so that he could eat.
"I brought you some sandwiches." She said quietly.
"You're too kind." Knives replied. "But you don't have to bring me food."
Millie smiled, unwrapping one before handing it to his free hand.
"You need more than what Vash allows you to have. You need to heal."
Millie unwrapped one for herself and took a small bite. Knives paused to catch her gaze.
"And you're not afraid of what I could do when I do heal?" he asked. "I'm sure you know everything by now."
Millie frowned and lowered her sandwich. "I do worry. But I trust that you'll change your mind before then."
Knives growled. "Why do you have so much faith in me? Huh? Are you really that stupid?"
Knives threw his sandwich across the room.
"If I really felt like it, I could kill you with a swift movement of my one free hand. What an idiotic thing to do!"

Millie flinched, looking mortified.
"Don't you realize it was me who killed Wolfwood? Do you?!"
"Shhh!" Millie shushed him, throwing her palm across his mouth.
She put her food aside and quietly cleaned up the mess Knives had made. She didn't want any evidence that someone other than Vash had been in the room.
"Why do I have so much faith in you?" Mille asked, taking her seat once again by his bedside.
"Because your brother has faith in everyone. He sets a really good example around here you know! You could learn a thing or two if you just shut your mouth and listen!"
Millie handed Knives a new sandwich.
"Now eat."