January 2020- Seven and a Half Years after the Blackout
The sound of the key in the lock made Nora lift her head. She straightened up, back rigid as the door opened to reveal Miles. He glanced at her but said nothing as he turned to shut the door. She waited- a bit impatiently, he noted, sensing her tension- practically shaking where she sat on the staircase.
"So?" she finally prompted, unable to contain herself any longer. He sighed quietly, threading a hand through his hair.
"She only left this morning. She… she was on the Texas convoy."
"The- what? The one you sent Alec on?"
"Yeah."
"The one that is being billed as negotiations but is actually an assassination attempt?"
"She's not the one doing the assassinating."
His glib remark only earned him a dark glare. She stood quickly, turning so she could head up to the second level of their home.
"What are you doing?"
"If they only left this morning they couldn't have gotten that far."
"Nora," he sounded tired, not ready to get into an argument over this. She shook her head, not bothering to look back at him.
"Don't. How did this happen anyway? Weren't you there this morning?"
"No. I didn't feel the need to check on a group of seasoned soldiers. They had Peters as their CO. He was more than capable of handling things. Trust me, if I was there, I would have stopped her."
"I still don't understand how she got over there. How would she even know about it? Why does she think going to Texas is a good idea? Does she really believe this so called lead she got? And what about that troop? They didn't notice she had stowed away?"
His lack of response made her pause and she turned at the top of the stairs, hands resting on the railing. He stared morosely up at her, trying to find some way to break it to her.
"What?"
"Apparently, a few extra soldiers were added to the detail. They were tasked with escorting her to Galveston." he rubbed gently at his eyes, licked his lips. "Bass signed off on it."
"And you didn't know?"
"It was a last minute addition. I've been dealing with those Georgian soldiers. As far as I was concerned, everything was in place weeks ago. I trusted the guys I put in charge. I wasn't going to let it bother me when I had other things to worry about."
She pushed violently off the railing and stormed down the hallway to their bedroom. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, then counted to ten, and slowly made his way to her.
"What are you doing?" by the time he entered the room, she had a bag open on their bed, and was busy digging through their dresser.
"I'm going to get her."
"This is a bad idea."
"Didn't ask you to go with me."
"Well, you're stupid if you think I'm going to let you run off alone without a plan in the middle of winter." he replied quietly. She hesitated momentarily, watching as he grabbed another bag out of the closet and set it next to hers. He glanced up after he tossed in a pair of jeans and met her gaze calmly. She felt her throat tighten at his expression. He may have just insulted her but his face betrayed him, highlighting his love and devotion.
She collapsed onto the foot of their bed and hung her head, eyes clenched shut. He was ready to drop everything- things that were more important than her and Mia's stupid differences and obstinacy- and was willing to go with her on a journey that would most likely end badly.
The floor creaked under his footsteps and she sensed him standing in front of her. After a second, she felt his fingers in her hair and she leaned forward, burying her face in his stomach. She gave an inward sigh as he continued to stroke her hair comfortingly, his other hand idly running along her back.
"We're not going to catch up to them today but we'll get a good start. If we leave early enough tomorrow, we should be able to find them. I have the route they were supposed to take." he muttered over her. "Babe, she might not want to come back."
"I don't care."
"We can't force her to come with us."
"She's-"
"-legally an adult. Bass-"
"-is the cause of all of this." she leaned back, tipped her head up to meet his eye. "I don't know why or how but he is."
"I asked him. He said she came to him asking for help because she got into contact with your father."
"Oh come on."
"It's… possible. She went to him before for help."
"Because she's stupid enough to think he will." She muttered. He sighed a little, glancing away to avoid her intense stare.
She hesitated, wanting to push the conversation further, but didn't want to aggravate him. Bass had become a sore topic between them over the past few months and one they tried to avoid altogether. Her issues with the other man aside, she could tell Miles's relationship was strained as well. She had spent plenty of time watching them together, could see the exhaustion in her husband's eyes as he tried to muster the strength to nod and agree along with the complete loss of knowing what to do. Ever since she had admitted Bass's advances, Miles seemed to become more bitter and distant from his best friend. On one hand, she knew it went beyond her problems and into more serious matters between the two, but still, she felt some sort of responsibility for the cause of this.
"Doesn't matter now. Let's hurry up. The faster we get out of here, the faster we'll catch up."
"I don't know what to say to her."
Nora's voice was barely above a whisper but it caught Miles's attention. They had stopped for the night and were currently holed up in a hotel. He was half asleep but he knew she was wide awake- too upset by the day's events to properly relax.
"Gotta respect her." He mumbled, shifting slightly. He was on his side facing her, with both arms wrapped around her. She was currently on her back, eyes glued to the ceiling and the vague patterns of shadows caused by the curtain and moonlight. "At some point, you're gonna need to let her go."
"I thought things were going okay. She seemed happy. I don't know what-" she trailed off, a thickness forming in her throat. After a moment, she let out a reluctant, wet sniffle that had him moving closer and nuzzling the side of her head softly. She took a deep breath, refusing to allow her emotions to get the best of her. "I tried everything and she doesn't get that."
"She's a teenager. Her rebellion needs to be a bit more creative these days since the Blackout. Think of what you were like at 17."
"That's different."
"Not really."
"I wasn't like her. It doesn't matter if there was electricity or not, I cared about school and doing well. I wanted to make something of myself."
"There are different ways of going about it. She wants to make something of herself- just not quite so conventional." He muttered, eliciting a scoff from her. "Listen, some advice from a bitter, younger brother who thought he knew everything to a wiser, yet oblivious, older sister just trying to do what's right? She's lived in your shadow long enough and knows she is capable of being more than the baby. She's trying to prove that."
"I don't smother her."
"From her point of view, you do."
"I'm looking out for her. She thinks she's invincible and she's rash- she went running off without a second thought- and she doesn't understand that outside the city, she isn't capable of surviving. She knew she was wrong and that we wouldn't agree to this plan because she sneaked out in the middle of the night to do it. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to convey to her that I understand that she feels suffocated and wants more out of life but if she would just wait- I don't know. I don't know.
"And apparently, she thinks that my father is going to be there, waiting to welcome her. He's not. I know him. I've been down that path more times than I can count. I thought things were different with Mia. I thought he cared more but he doesn't. He's still the exact same person he always was. But she's so naïve, despite all of her insistence otherwise, and she believes in him. He's the last person who deserves it. I know how she feels. I know she says she hates him and would never go back, because I said all those things plenty of times, and I still did it and I still got hurt each and every time. She doesn't believe me when I say these things. She wasn't old enough to see how it was between me and my father. I'm trying to spare her more heartache. I don't want her to get hurt any more than she already has. She won't let me do that. She'd rather go traipsing across the country for nothing."
"You did the traipsing across the country thing too."
"That was survival. She's holding onto a pipe dream."
"And she needs to realize that on her own. At some point, you need to let her fall and make her own mistakes, even ones concerning your father."
"How do I do that?" the sheets rustled as she shifted to look him directly in the eye. "How do I say, 'Okay, here's a gun and a sword, have fun. See you at Christmas.' when I know what is going on past our borders? And don't say, it has to happen. I know it has to happen but if she'd wait a few years, let us train her, get her ready, I'd feel more comfortable. I know I would. I can't just send her off into the unknown. This isn't like she's moving away to college for the year. It's not like it used to be. It's worse out there. She wouldn't last on her own. I would be sending her to her death and I refuse to do that."
"Well, as much as it sucks, I don't know what else to tell you other than give up and let her go or keep fighting with her. Considering it is the two of you, I would say the former option is the only logical choice because you're going to butt heads until the end of time."
"It's not the logical choice. It's the easy choice."
"And you never take the easy way out."
"I can't believe you!"
"You can't believe me? You sneak out in the middle of the night, leaving a damn note that basically says 'nice knowing you'and you're what- shocked that I would go chasing across half the damn republic to find you!"
"This started off predictably." Miles muttered as he shut the door to the office calmly. He immediately shut his mouth as Nora's head whipped around quickly, reminding him of the scene in The Exorcist. "It's okay. I'll stand here and pretend I don't exist."
"If you succeed, it'll be a first." Mia spat.
"Whoa. I didn't do anything to you kid. Retract the claws, okay?" he sat down at the desk in the corner, then hummed in appreciation as he saw the bottle of bourbon sitting near the edge. Nora, satisfied with her husband's level of contentment, turned back to her sister.
"What the hell are you even doing?"
"I don't have to answer to you." She replied coolly, arms crossed over her chest. She stood at the window and looked out onto the driveway, where the carriages and horses had been stopped. They had been travelling just fine until they had reached one of the Militia outposts along the old I-95 outside of Baltimore when word had been received that 'General Matheson would be inspecting any troops passed by on his journey' and the convoy had been inexplicably detained. In her gut, Mia had known that Miles had no journey scheduled and had no doubt her sister would be leading the investigation and not him. She had been mortified when Nora had stormed in, looking ready to cut down anyone in her path, and physically dragged her away from the young private she had been flirting with. She was also sure that Bryan would never speak to her again after receiving a cold glare from Miles that clearly read I'll slice you open if you even so much as look at her.
"Are we seriously back to that?"
"I seem to remember that you told me to just let you know when I was leaving. I let you know I was leaving."
"You disappeared into the night and left a note with no warning, no explanations, nothing. I don't know why you would suddenly just take off when you seemed to be fine at home. I thought we were working on things."
"So did I." Mia mumbled under her breath as she felt her recent bitterness begin to build once more.
"What?"
"I said so did I."
"What the hell does that mean? We were fine. Things were fine." Nora turned and looked at Miles for affirmation. "Things were fine, were they not?"
"I don't exist." He held his hands up as a sign to stay out of it, which earned him a scowl.
"And that, right there, is a prime example of what is wrong. You can't say or do anything without using him as a crutch. He shouldn't even be here! Neither of you should!"
"I'm here as security, in case one of you decides to throw the other out a window."
"You're not helping!" Nora exclaimed. "Don't talk!"
"Yes ma'am." Miles tipped his fingers in a salute, then took a long sip of his drink. "I will only speak when spoken to."
"Things were fine. We were getting along. You were going to school."
"Are you sure about that?" Mia challenged, tilting her head in a bitchy, infuriating way that made Nora want to snap her neck. "You haven't exactly been the most… perceptive of people lately. Remember all the things I got away with because you were so sure things were fine."
"Then tell me what is wrong so I can fix it." She grounded out through clenched teeth. "I don't know what it is that is making us have to go back to this same old, stupid routine every single time. You're not a child anymore Mia. You know how to communicate. It'll make things easier on all of us."
"I don't have to tell you anything. Why would I enlighten you and share important information when you don't do that to me? Don't be a hypocrite."
"What the hell are you talking about? What do you think I've been keeping from you?"
"I'm not telling you. You know why? Because this is what you do. You play the innocent one, but you're behind the scenes, trying to wreck everything for me. I won't give you the satisfaction of watching me be the young, stupid one anymore." The cold look of anger and hatred on her face surprised Nora, who for a moment, said nothing in response.
"I haven't wrecked anything! What do you think I've wrecked? Your stupid plan to go running off and getting yourself killed because of Dad? You really think you'll be happier and safer out in the wilderness with no idea what to do? I can't-" she broke off as she shoved her hands through her hair. "God, I know you want to do what you want and I'm trying to respect that and I said I was going to come in here and try- and you accuse me of wrecking everything for you? Mia, I'm only looking out for you! Do you have any idea how much that hurts? I have done everything I can to help you, to make sure you have the best life possible, and you throw that in my face for... for… I don't even know what! And the thing is, you're serious. You honestly believe whatever it is you think you know. So… so… fine. Fine, I don't- I can't do this anymore. There's no point. Go. Just go. I hope you find Dad and he winds up being the person you think he is. But, if it doesn't work out-"
She paused, glancing around the room before finally settling her gaze once more on her sister, "I don't want you coming back. I won't keep doing this, only to be treated like I'm some kind of horrible person. You're killing me, Mia. Honest to God, you are."
"Good." Her tone was simple and even Miles raised his eyebrows at the empty expression on her face. Nora was caught completely off guard and took a step back, as if Mia had punched her, and sucked in an audible gasp of air. "Now you know how I felt when Bass told me about Dad."
"What?"
"Yeah, unlike you, he actually cares and respects the fact that I still would like to have a father. He showed me the letter, told me he told you, and you said to not tell me about it."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right."
"Mia, I haven't heard from Dad. Bass didn't say anything about Dad. Of course I would tell you if that happened."
"No, you wouldn't."
"You really believe that?"
"Yes! Because for as long as I can remember, you always gave Dad shit, always said he wasn't good, never wanted anything to do with him. But you were wrong. He always did what he could, always cared. He just didn't care enough about you."
"You know that's not true. You eve agreed when we talked about it."
"No, I didn't think it was because I had you and Miles telling me that was the truth. I was angry enough to believe it. I kept wondering why he wouldn't come or contact us and it was because of you."
"Mia,"
"I have the letter right here!" she exclaimed. Her hand went to the pocket of her jacket and she yanked out a worn piece of paper. "It explains everything because you need everyone to be under your thumb. You don't want me going to Dad because it would prove that I'm his favorite and you couldn't run my life if I wasn't nearby anymore."
"You sound like a five year old! This isn't about favorites! This is about what's best for you!" Nora reached for the paper and unfolded it violently, nearly ripping it in half. "I swear to you, Bass never said anything about Dad contacting him."
She was silent as she read over the letter once, then twice, and then finally a third time. Once she was finished, she looked up, and said,
"I don't know what this is but it's not from Dad."
"Yes it is. That's his handwriting."
"It's close but it's not." Nora turned to Miles, dropped the paper onto the desk for him to read. "What do you think? Did Bass and my dad suddenly become pen pals? Alright, start from the beginning Mia. When did you go to Bass and what did he tell you?"
"Exactly what I just said."
"And you believed him."
"Of course I did. Why wouldn't I? He's the only one who's actually been truthful in all of this."
"Where do you think Dad is?"
"Galveston."
"Don't you think he would head east to get you instead of making you travel by yourself?"
"It's out of the way and he doesn't want to see you."
"So he loves you so much that he would risk your safety just to avoid me? That doesn't sound right. I'm sure, after living with Dad for six years that you were aware of his distaste for Miles and Bass. So why do you think he would take time to contact Bass for help?"
"Because he knew you wouldn't answer him."
"Mia, despite our mutual struggle with each other, if Dad contacted me, I would answer and he knows that and vice versa, especially if it came to you. All the times I sent him letters about you, he responded. I would never do anything to sabotage your relationship with Dad. I wish it could be the way we want it to but it's not going to. I'm trying to spare you from all the hurt that I went through."
"Because he didn't care about you! He cares about me! He asked for me!"
"You were the one saying you didn't understand-"
"That was then! That was when I thought he had left! He's been looking for me this whole time! You were wrong! You lied!"
"No, she didn't." Miles spoke up. "This letter was forged. If you look close enough, you can see the stamp for Bass's letterhead, like the ink had leaked through the paper onto this page. Plus, if you hold it the right way, there's an indentation from the M press they decorate the paper with. Unless your father is hiding in Philly, inside Independence Hall, he didn't write this. I'm sorry."
The apology was to both of the women- to Mia, for crushing her hopes once again and to Nora, because it was evident Bass had played a large role in this.
"You see? I wouldn't treat you like that."
"But Bass-"
"He was lying. Why? God only knows." Nora muttered, though she knew exactly why. "So, that's it. I'm done playing games and being nice. You fell for Bass's stories. Now it's over. We both told you that there's no way any of this is true. Either you come home with us now or you keep going and find another empty lead and probably get yourself killed."
The tone of the room had changed. Nora was angrier than before and Mia wasn't confident anymore. She had been hit with a double whammy- her father hadn't asked for her and Bass, who she had trusted, had concocted the whole thing.
"You better make up your mind because I'm not waiting around here all day and Alec and the others need to actually do their job rather than babysit you."
Mia grimaced at the statement but gave a silent nod of defeat. She hung her head, now unwilling to meet her sister's eye.
"Go grab your things and tell one of the men to get you a horse. Wait by Bond and Lady. We'll be down in a few minutes."
She left the room wordlessly, shutting the door just as silently behind her. Nora stared at the empty spot, then looked at Miles.
"I'm done. I'm absolutely done."
"I know."
"He did this to get to me. I don't know if he thought he'd play hero and bring her back in some way or bribe me in to getting her back but he had some plan of action. He- Miles, the only way he could have forged that- and it was damn close- was to find a letter from him. He went through our house to find that. Or had someone do it for him. I don't care. You… I know you two-"
"No, don't start saying that you know we're friends or whatever else. He was wrong. Beyond wrong."
"I can't do this anymore. I'm not going back to Philadelphia."
"Let's just get home first."
"No. That is not home. He's targeting me. I'm sorry. I don't want to be away from you but I know you need to be there and I can't. I can't do it anymore."