Chapter 10

Monroe had been right; the daylight had revealed much more damage. There was a lot of casualties and wounded. He saw Nahla and Joan walk over to where the dead were being lined up for burial. As he made his way over to them, he watched Joan bend down and close the eyes of a small child. Two adults lay next to the child. A whole family, thought Monroe.

"So now what?" He asked as she straightened. She turned to look at him and he saw the anger in her eyes. She always did have a soft spot for kids.

"Now we avenge and get back what was stolen from us." She snapped.

"With what army?" He asked, sweeping his arm out over the burned village. "What few men you had, are dead! That was serious bad planning on your part to stock a village with nothing but women and children. What did you think was going to happen?" Her eyes flashed.

"You really think that was all the men I have?" She asked, eyebrows raised.

"I don't see anymore."

"They are due back soon."

"You just send your military force off and leave the village unprotected?"

"They are on a supply run. Supply runs usually require more protection than the village. I didn't think Sinclair would be stupid enough to attack us!" She said, looking sadly down at the young child.

"Its not your fault Joan. We all made that choice." Said Nahla coming up beside her. Joan only looked away.

"Wait how do you know who did it?" Asked Monroe. Joan walked over to where the enemy dead are being piled up to be burned. She points to the symbol on the man's shoulder.

"That's Sinclair's mark." Monroe nods.

"Joan when that guy had a hold of me, he said he only needed you." Said Nahla as she turned to Joan. Joan cursed under her breath.

"Why would he want you?" Asked Monroe, frowning.

"In case you haven't noticed, that was textbook Militia style attack." She said, watching him carefully. "He has an obsession with the Monroe Republic and the man who ran it." She said looking pointedly at him.

"Me? He's obsessed with me?" Monroe laughed.

"Yeah real funny Monroe, you have a psychotic fan." Snapped Nahla. He noticed they were both staring daggers at him, so he cleared his throat.

"So he is copying the way I ran the Militia. How does that have anything to do with him wanting you?" Joan shook her head.

"He only knows what he saw on the outside. He doesn't know how the Republic ran on the inside. So what better way to learn than to have someone who had front row seats telling you?"

"Oh." He said looking at the pile of bodies.

"And he has a little crush on Joan." Added Nahla with a smirk.

"Yeah, he almost got what he wanted one time." She said, her eyes darkening at the memory. Monroe looked at her curiously. "He's a real son of a…." Suddenly Lily came running up, cutting her off.

"Their back! A few minutes out." She gasped out of breath. Monroe frowned as the mourning village erupted with commotion. A small smile played on Joan's lips as she glanced at Nahla, who was straining her eyes as she looked at the tree line. Monroe watched as Nahla started towards where a group was already gathering at the tree line where the bridge was. Joan glanced at him.

"Come meet my army Monroe." She said turning with a smile. He followed her to the crowd, where 40 men and women armed to the teeth on horses had arrived. Everywhere he looked there were men holding their wives and families. It reminded him of before the blackout when he and Miles had come back from a tour and families would be waiting for soldiers. He pushed the memory away as he broke though the crowd to where Joan was. He was shocked to see Nahla in the arms of a blond haired man, their lips locked together.

"Breathe you two, its only been a month." Joan said beside him, rolling her eyes. They broke the kiss and both turned towards them, huge grins on their faces.

"Yeah well a month is a life time for me without her." Said the man looking down at Nahla as she giggled. Joan cleared her throat causing him to glance up and notice Monroe. He immediately straightened and pushed Nahla a little behind him, much to her annoyance. Suddenly he launched him self at Monroe, his fist catching him by surprise.

"Max!" Yelled Nahla, in surprise as she moved towards the two men brawling on the ground. She felt someone grab her arm and pull her back.

"Joan." She warned, "make them stop."

"I don't think even I could do that right now." Joan said back. Nahla looked back to find Joan's eyes locked on the fighting duo. She couldn't be sure but she thought for a moment, Joan actually seemed to be enjoying this! Nahla turned back to the fight in time to see Monroe's head snap to the side from a blow to the jaw. She couldn't help but feel a since of pride fill her as she watched Max get several good hits in on Monroe. The crowd had formed a circle around them, making a fighting ring. The men that had just returned cheered Max on. Max was a very capable fighter and had fought in many ring fights with many brutal men, but never one like Monroe. She had heard Joan talk about the way he fought; she had said he was very good, but so far he hadn't really gotten any good hits in. She glanced at Joan again and noted the strange look in her eyes as she watched the men. She wondered who she wanted to win and why she was allowing this fight in the first place. All those years of protecting Monroe, just to let Max tear into him now? Her thoughts were cut short as Monroe stumbled back into her and Joan. She noticed as Joan caught him and through him back into the ring, it looked like she had whispered something in his ear. She watched as they circled each other before Max lunged and got a hit in that sent Monroe to the ground; the crowd cheered. She couldn't stop the smile that slid across her face. Her joy was short lived as she watched Joan and Monroe lock eyes. She frowned as she watched Joan give the slightest nod of her head, one you would miss if you weren't watching carefully. She watched as Monroe pick himself up off the ground and wipe the blood from his mouth. They squared off again but this time Monroe was the one to attack first, taking the fight to Max and catching him off guard. Monroe got several solid hits in before he sent a crippling blow to Max's head, snapping his head to the side and sending him to the ground. Max shook his head obviously disoriented as he pushed himself to his knees. She saw Monroe readying to hit him as soon as he regained his feet. She looked at Joan expecting to see her stepping in to stop him, but she stood there watching. Nahla did see the tension in the set of her shoulders and a hard look had replaced the happier look from earlier. She turned back as Max swayed to his feet and Monroe readied for the final blow. She glanced at Joan again, still no sign that she was going to stop this. Fine she thought, if she's not going to stop this then I am! She surged forward and since Monroe was turned with his back slightly to her, her fist hit the side of his head. He went to the ground more out of surprise then pain, but struggled to his feet quickly as Nahla placed herself between the two men. She knew Monroe didn't know who had hit him and he would come up swinging, so she was ready to fight when he came at her.

"Enough." Came Joan's voice as she stepped in front of Nahla, making Monroe stop short. She watched as he blinked at the blood running into his eyes. She turned to Max as he spit blood on the ground and wiped his mouth before glaring back at Monroe.

"Nice to finally meet you General." Max spat at him. Monroe's eyes flared with anger and he took a step forward only to be met with Joan's hands against his chest, pushing him back.

"I said enough." She breathed. Nahla also push back against Max to stop him. It was clear that both men still wanted blood. They stayed that way for a minute, glaring at each other; the crowd silent, wondering what would happen next. The rumbling of wagons over the bridge broke the tension as everyone turned to watch the supply wagons roll into the clearing with their escort of 20 men. Several more people ran to the newly arrived soldiers. Several others seemed to be searching for loved ones. One of the wagon masters jumped down and walked towards them.

"Where's Martha?" He asked, raising his voice when no one answered, "Where's my wife?"

"I'm sorry but she didn't survive the attack." Said Nahla finally. The man looked at her like she was crazy and scanned the crowd as if expecting to see her. With a strangled cry he pushed through the crowd and stalked towards the burned village. Nahla took Max's hand and began to pull him in the direction of the village; with one last glance at Monroe, he let her. The rest of the crowd slowly started to follow. Until it was just Joan and Monroe left.

"How come more of them didn't seem surprised by the village being attacked?" He asked as they watched the others walk away.

"I sent a messenger last night to tell them. Max needed to know before he got here, to give him time to cool off so he didn't just go charging off and try to attack Sinclair without a plan." She answered shaking her head and starting in the direction of the village. "He's a lot like you in that way."

"We are nothing alike. He's cocky and impulsive."

"Oh really?" She said turning to him with raised eyebrows and a smirk as they walked towards the village.

So new main character! I hope yall will love Max as much as I do! I have some really good ideas for future chapters. Please review and let me know how I am doing!