A/N: In this chapter I am glad to finally start revealing the truths about Danse and Merc. More details will be forth coming in future chapters. Thanks again to all my readers and the comments and messages that encourage me to keep writing.
The Fallout of War
Chapter 17, I Killed Cutler
His hand had gone limp in mine sometime ago I only hoped it indicated he'd reached some state of unconsciousness that would let him rest. Curled up against Danse's side my mind had been at war with my heart regarding the coming morning leaving me exhausted.
I have a duty as a Paladin of the Brotherhood of Steel, a duty as General of the Minutemen, a duty to the people of the Commonwealth and Danse will expect me to keep my promise, but I know I can't. Tanna this is one duty you will fail and a promise you will break. I'm just not that strong. So, I'll help them, they can have my damn DNA and any questions I answer will be falsely given. I'll bide my time and wait, find a way out for Danse and I.
Having made my decision, I dozed fitfully, semi-aware, for the sun's rising still held many fears for me, so it was that I heard the lock turn in the door, knew when it swung silently open. Is it morning already? My heart started racing as I slipped my hand from Danse's and sat up, turning to face what would come and my heart lodged in my throat when I saw who it was.
Conrad Kellogg closed the door behind him, his grin like a Cheshire cat's, his eyes glowing with satisfaction for calling a debt due. Instinctively I glanced around the room, but there was no escape. I rose to my feet and quietly stepped away from Danse, he needn't see this. I moved toward the side of the room as Kellogg approached, his switchblade in hand and my thoughts were tempting me.
If I fight him and get the knife, I could slit his throat. Wishful thinking Tanna, all my training won't make me equal to Kellogg's Synthetic power and even if I get lucky, it might be Danse who would pay for my deed.
His hand snaked out for me and I didn't bother to dodge it. Shoving me against the wall his arm pinned me there as he turned my head with his knife to expose the K already carved there. His face was an inch from mine and for once I felt no fear, accepting what was to come as he sneered at me.
"Playing the sacrificial lamb Tanna? How disappointing. I liked it when you fought me and even more so when there was fear in your eyes."
"Just get on with it Kellogg. Your nearness sickens me."
Kellogg threw a glance over his shoulder at Danse, "Maybe I should start with your Paladin then, use him for a pin cushion?"
Fear of him doing just that sprang into my eyes and was apparent on my face.
Conrad chuckled, "That's much better." I felt the cold steel of his blade laid against my throat and held my breath, when the room's door once more swung open staying his hand.
We both turned to see a T-51 power armor suit cross the threshold of my cell. Merc? Merc! I knew it, but now I see them both Merc and Danse and can't believe it. Kellogg's knife still laid against my throat as he growled his displeasure,
"What are you doing here Merc?"
Merc removed his helmet, latching it to his suit before calmly answering, "Apparently we both had similar ideas Kellogg."
"You interfered and stopped me once Merc. Don't expect to get away with it a second time." Conrad warned, his eyes flashing dangerously.
I heard a low groan emanate from Danse. Damn it! Danse is waking.
Merc exited his armor and leaned against the wall near the door as if it were a tree he was taking shade under on a hot afternoon. "I have no intentions of stopping you... maybe just postponing it a bit. You see what I had in mind, I'd prefer her not to be all bloody." Merc's eyes shone hotly as they raked my body from head to toe. Kellogg studied him a minute and I felt his knife ease away from my neck as he chuckled, "You got the hots for the bitch!"
Merc shrugged though his eyes continued to drink me in. Conrad nodded toward the power suit with rifle and duffel hanging from it's shoulders. "You heading out?" "Yep. At first light. Got another shit assignment, which leaves only a couple hours for me to say goodbye... properly."
Shit! I don't even know who Merc is any more. My anger ignited. "Go to hell Merc!"
Merc pushed himself off the wall and sauntered over toward us. Kellogg backed off about a foot from me, withdrawing his knife from my neck, but whether to concede to Merc or be prepared to do battle I couldn't tell.
Merc however simply ignored Kellogg, pressed his shoulder against the wall next to me and bent his head to my hair and inhaled deeply as he murmured, "Give a guy a break Conrad. I've been aching for this bitch for three days."
Seething my fist shot up toward his face. "You bastard!" With a lightning reflex he grasped my wrist before it even got close and slammed it to the wall over my head. My other wrist was captured and joined the first as he pressed his body to mine pinning me against the wall tightly.
"I think you got a fight on your hands Merc." Kellogg snickered. "Just how I like it Conrad." Merc bantered back with a wicked grin.
There was a loud groan drawing everyone's attention as Danse belted out, "Let her go!" He was trying to push himself up with his good arm to a sitting position, his face twisted in pain. I sucked my breath in knowing it was costing him and seeing his whole body tremble with the effort. "Danse, No! I'm okay!"
Merc gave a slightly startled glance over his shoulder as if he hadn't even noticed Danse till that moment. He looked back at Kellogg, "Who is that?" "That's her Paladin lover." Merc's gaze immediately turned on me. "Thats who you thought I was all this time?" I refused to meet his gaze turning my head away. Merc threw back his head and laughed and I heard Kellogg's laugh join his.
Kellogg had now relaxed and was leaning back against a wall, arms and ankles crossed, his switchblade returned to his pocket. "She's all yours Merc, but don't think I won't call in a favor for this one day." Merc needed no further prompting to smash his lips against mine in a brutal kiss bringing a whimper from my throat that was not related to pleasure.
"You son-of-a-bitch!" I heard Danse's voice raw with pain, anger and a misery that had nothing to do with his wounds.
My pulse was working over time and my body trembled in fright. I never knew the real Merc. Oh shit! This is really happening! I'd prefer Kellogg's knife.
Merc lifted his head after a moment and I was gasping, "Kellogg you coward. Gonna walk away again with unfinished business? Let this Merc tell you what to..." Merc's hand covered my mouth even as I saw Kellogg tense from my barbs. It lasted only a moment before he relaxed again, "Damn Merc, she's more afraid of you than me. I'll have to make that up to her later."
Merc had been staring at me with murder in his eyes due to my taunts, they now returned to an amorous ogle at Kellogg's words. "So you still here Kellogg?" He tore his gaze from mine and lifted an eyebrow at Kellogg.
"Don't mind me. I figured since you already had an audience one more wouldn't hurt." Kellogg's features expressed a sick enjoyment. "I do not perform well for an audience Conrad which means you, him..." he nodded in Danse's' direction, "I just consider it another form of torture, not an audience."
Kellogg's eyes moved from Merc to Danse then back to Merc. He nodded to Merc and and gave him a slap on the back. "I think I'm starting to like you Merc." Conrad headed for the door, pausing to look back, but Merc had once again covered my mouth with his as I struggled to break free.
The moment the door closed Merc lifted his head and made sure Kellogg was gone. He turned his gaze back to me, his eyes crinkling at the edges and a smug look on his face, "I'm damn good, aren't I?" "You arrogant bastard. You blowfly cesspool scum. I'll kill you, you rutting..."
He covered my mouth with his hand. "Tanna, calm down. Tanna. Tanna! I was faking it!" It took several seconds for his words to sink in and then I went still. "So your calm now?" I nodded. "You're sure?" I nodded again. He removed his hand from my mouth. "Merc?" "Don't go ballistic Tanna, I had to improvise when I found him in here."
He released me, but took two quick steps back as if he still expected me to come out swinging. I was shaking and my heart still pounding. It had all happened so fast, Kellogg, then Merc. Damn it! He had scared the hell out of me! I started toward Merc and he started backing up. "Now Tanna just calm down."
Danse's groan is what diverted me, "Tanna." I rushed around Merc and ran to Danse who was now slumped back against the wall, his breathing ragged, but he'd been watching and listening. I went to my knees next to him, bringing his good hand to my lips before I turned back to Merc. "What are you doing here Merc?"
He strode across the room, "I'm getting you out of here." He reached down and grabbed my wrist to pull me up. "Let's go. We don't have a lot of time." I jerked my wrist back out of his grasp. "I'm not leaving without Danse." "Look Tanna, I can only get two of us out of here and he doesn't look like he's able to go any where." I glared up at him. "I'm not leaving Danse!"
"Get her out of here Merc." Danse suddenly groaned out. We both turned toward him. Merc squatted down in front of Danse and for the first time took a good look at him. "So this is your Danse. I guess he looks sort of like me. Hard to tell right now. Damn, they did a job on him." Danse took his hand from mine and lifted it toward Merc, "Merc Brother." Merc Brother? "You know him Danse?" I asked incredulously. Danse nodded slowly. I glanced back up at Merc who just shrugged at me. Merc, took the extended hand and shook it. "Nice to meet ya Pal." "Son-of-a-bitch... They... got to you." Danse mumbled. "Who got to me?" Merc looked at me and I shrugged.
"I... killed... Cutler." Danse spoke as plain as he could through swollen and split lips. Oh no. His mind is wondering now. I reached out to stroke his hair and realized he still held Merc's hand and was focused on him. I turned toward Merc and saw he'd gone very still, his eyes staring blankly at the wall as if deep in concentration and his mind was wandering elsewhere.
"What's happening?" I whispered. Danse murmured, "Something good... I hope." A couple minutes passed and suddenly Merc's eyes refocused. He looked at Danse, at me, stood up abruptly and glanced around the small cell.
"Son-of-a-bitch! Dr. Pinkerton is a genius!" Merc once more squatted down before Danse and grasping his arm they clasped one another at the wrists. "Danse Brother." Merc said. Danse grunted. "You know... I'm gonna kick... your ass for kissing... her." Merc chuckled. "Hey, I wasn't myself!"
I couldn't stand it any more and I belted out, "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Danse's hand took mine again, "Tanna, meet my... Synth, Merc." I know my mouth dropped open wide enough for a bloatfly to enter as I stared at Merc. I dazedly looked back at Danse, "That means..." I couldn't even finish, but Merc did for me. "Yep, Danse here is the real deal."
I think it is the closest I've ever come to fainting. Danse's hand upon my cheek brought me from my reverie, but his tone had gone serious, "Get her out... of here Merc." "No!" I gave them both my not giving an inch, don't even think about it stare. "See that!" Merc decried, "I've had to deal with her for three days. How do you survive it Brother?"
Merc rose and started pacing, "Okay, Let me think." While he paced I placed my hand over Danse's on my cheek and whispered, "Why didn't you tell me?" "Because... you never really... believed otherwise." He was right. "And Merc?" "We swore an... oath." I nodded. I could see he was loosing strength, he had expended so much in the last few minutes.
Merc squatted down beside us, his duffel next to him. "I got it. Danse, it's time to switch places again." My head jerked towards Merc. "Again? What do you mean by again?" I would have thought Danse's cringe was from pain if Merc hadn't cringed at the same time. "Um, no time right now Tanna. This is gonna be risky, but its the only way to get you both out of here."
He bent over Danse's unexposed leg and ripped his uniform material for a look. "Damn it! The one leg is broken, both his knees aren't worth shit and I only have two stempaks. If he can't walk out of here, the plan is useless.
Merc was digging in his duffel pulling out all kinds of meds as he spoke, "Danse, bad news is, you're gonna have to walk out of here on a broken leg, cause if those knees don't work, you're not going any where." Danse nodded. "Good news is, you're gonna be so full of meds, you're not gonna feel a thing. You're gonna feel like a rutting deathclaw.
The down side is, it's only gonna last so long. When those meds wear off, all the pain is gonna come rushing back at once. It'll slam into you like a herd of Yao Guai and it's gonna be a lot worse than what you're feeling now cause you'll have been on the move." Merc gave me a look that plainly said, it isn't gonna be pretty. "Affirmative." Danse was moving into his stiff controlled soldier mode.
"You'll be in the power armor so once you get moving, the hydraulics will help some, just keep moving. Head for Country Crossing, it's your best chance." He pulled a stealth boy out of his duffel and shoved it at me. "This is for you. The guards down here think I'm taking you to the guest quarters. Use the stealth boy when you get to the top of the stairs, if anyone notices, they'll think I'm taking a Courser with me on my next assignment. Any questions?"
"Yes. What about you Merc?" He hadn't mentioned his part and my eyes filled with concern. He picked up Danse's Bomber jacket and exchanged it for his. "When the guards do their rounds, they'll expect to see Danse in here and they will. Alarm filled me. "You're not coming with us?" For a moment his brown eyes just stared into mine. "Don't worry tough girl. I'll be fine."
He picked up the stempaks and applied one to each of Danse's knees. "Ready Brother?" "Do it." Danse rumbled. Merc started stuffing pills in Danse's mouth; med-x, bufftats, mentats, and hitting him with Psycho and whatever else he had before grabbing Danse's good arm and pulling him up. We pushed Danse toward the power armor and were startled when he gave a low roar and climbed into the suit on his own. Merc clamped the helmet on him. "Go!" Danse and I both walked out the door closing it behind us, leaving Merc inside.