Chapter 5

Not Her

Valentina's POV

I looked around.

"Where is he?"

They all looked and then I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I took a deep breath and then dove beneath the surface. I saw him sinking. I swam faster and grabbed his wrist. I swam back up and gasped for air. He was completely unconscious.

"Lets go!"

We all swam as fast as we possibly could. We found a waterfall and a safe place to rest. They all got out of the water and I dragged my father out. I coughed hard and held myself up on a rock.

"He dead?"

I shook my head.

"Oh yeah wait he's breathing."

I smirked and shook my head.

"I don't even know why I went down there to get him."

"He's your dad. It doesn't matter what he's done he's still your dad." Edwin said.

I slowly looked over at him. He wouldn't be waking up for a while.

"You should all keep going. If you stay here they'll find you easily."

"And what about you?" Nikolai asked.

"Like the good doctor said, he's my father. I can't just leave him to die. No matter how much I hate him. But just make sure to keep your body cold. I'm not exactly sure how to explain it, but those…beasts…won't be able to find you if you keep yourself cold."

"Well I'm not going anywhere Driscoll. You and your old man are the only ones who seem to know what to do. I don't know about you guys, but I'm sticking with them."

In the end they all decided to stick with me. I just nodded and we sat as close to the water as possible. If you went deep enough it was cold. I braided my hair back so it was out of my way and looked at my father.

"What did mama ever see in you?" I whispered.

I shook my head and looked at the water. Someone sat down next to me and I looked at Hanzo. We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"You're a good daughter."

I looked at him with wide eyes. He had a strange smile on his face. I smiled a bit.

"Yeah. Maybe too good."

I looked back at the water.

"Your father did not know. Your mother loved him and they had you. Something about him must be good. You're a good young woman, you have honor. I can see the resemblance between the two of you. Not just by looking at the surface, but by looking within."

I thought about it for a second.

"Mama always talked about him. I didn't know that he'd shot her until after she died. The doctor who delivered me told me about what happened. Which is why, due to birth complications, my heart is on the right side of my chest. Mama was pregnant with me when he shot her."

"Did he know?"

"No."

He nodded.

"Your mother forgave him. Why do you think that is?"

I looked at him for a minute.

"No se. I don't know. She loved him so much, and her heart broke with each passing day. How can I forgive him?"

"Only you can answer that. You may look more like your mother, but in your heart, I think you're more like him. I think you know this to."

I sighed and looked down. He put his hand on my shoulder.

"You will find your answer. And let's keep the fact that I speak English between us for now."

I nodded and smiled a bit.

"Thank you."

He nodded and left. I took a deep breath and sighed. I looked at my reflection in the water and saw my mama. I knew it was only my reflection, but still…it helped me know that she still might with me. Now that I'd met my father, I saw him as well. Looking into my own eyes, I saw him.

"Esperanza…"

I jumped a bit and then looked at him. He was still out of it but he was talking.

"Esperanza…"

"She's not here dipshit." I muttered.

"I'm sorry…I…always love you…"

My eyes softened a bit. I slowly turned and looked at him. I moved a bit closer. I wondered if he might possibly be talking to my mother. He kept saying her name and I just looked away.

"No puedo creer que esté relacionado con este idiota." (I can't believe I'm related to this idiot.)

He moved a bit and his hand touched my leg. I felt a strange connection. I took his wrist and then moved his hand away from me. I stood up and walked towards the water again. I looked around, my eyes scanning the area for any unnatural movement. I heard a groan and I sighed.

"Finally awake old man?" I asked.

Silence was my answer so I guessed now. Maybe I should just leave him here. But my mother would never forgive me.

"Royce Driscoll, the mighty soldier. Had to be saved by a seventeen year old who he can't accept as his daughter." I mumbled.

I laughed at myself and shook my head.

"Whatever." I said.

I sat down again and rested my chin on my knee. It wasn't like I hadn't wanted to meet my father. Growing up I'd always imagined my father to be a tall and strong man with a loving heart and a kind smile. I only got two out of four. I hadn't realized there were tears in my eyes until I blinked. I missed my mother, I missed her so much. I sniffed and wiped my tears away.

"Esperanza?"

"You awake now old man?"

I stood up and turned. His eyes were open and looking at me.

"I'm not my mother."

He sat up put his hand on his head.

"Fu…damn."

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm seventeen. I've heard it all before."

"At least I'm trying."

I laughed dryly.

"I don't need a father anymore."

He smirked. Then I remembered what he'd done. I punched him hard and he fell back down.

"You set us up!"

The others came forward and he looked at me. I tried to hit him again but he grabbed my wrist.

"I'm your father whether you like it or not! And you're not to hit me again!" he snarled.

I raised my brows and then kneed him between the legs. He was very angry at this point.

"You said no hitting."

"Damnit Valentina! You-"

He stopped and took a deep breath.

"Who pulled men from the water anyway?"

"Who do you think dipshit?" Stans said.

Royce looked at me again and I nodded.

"Why?"

"Because the only way you're dying, is when we get home and I push you in front of a bus."

Stans and Edwin snickered. I smirked and shook my head.

"You've got a sharp tongue don't you?"

"What? You didn't notice?" I said sarcastically.

He growled at me.

"You know, I didn't hear a thank you. But then again, I never expected one."

I shook my head and then noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Cuchillo?" I asked.

They all looked at Royce. I slowly looked at him.

"I won't ask again."

He sighed.

"The dogs got him. Then those things used him as a trap. He's gone."

I slowly shook my head and stepped back. I leaned against the rock and slowly looked down. Royce completely turned away from me. Tears came to my eyes but I wouldn't let them fall. Hanzo put his hand on my shoulder and shook me gently. I looked at Royce but still he ignored me. I found myself desperately wanting my father to hold me, but I knew that would never happen. I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Whoever these things are, wherever they're from…we're gonna kill every fu….one of them."

I growled in frustration.

"We're going to kill every fucking one of them." I said.

"Watch your mouth young lady! You-"

He stopped very suddenly and I raised my brows.

"How're you planning to kill those fucking things?" Stans asked.

"We set up a defensive perimeter. Make it look like we're holed up. We force them into a chokepoint, we get them into overlapping fields of fire. It can be done. I can't do it alone." he said.

I snorted.

"This coming from the man who says he does better on his own." I snapped.

He walked closer to me and I stared into his eyes.

"I'm not the one who keeps running off and leaving everyone like a child."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Maybe so, but I don't deny the truth and I take responsibility."

His eyes went wide and I saw the rage in them.

"Oh…shit…" Edwin said.

There was a long silence between us.

"What do you think Valentina?"

I didn't look at Nikolai as I answered.

"It's a good plan. It's our only plan."

Royce didn't look away from me.

"I'm curious now as to what your mother said about me."

"You don't have the right to talk about my mother. You made that decision when you shot and abandoned her." I hissed.

He narrowed his eyes before looking away. They started walking and I held back for a minute. I looked at the water.

"Lo siento mi amigo. Debería haberme quedado." (I'm sorry my friend. I should've stayed.)

A few tears fell down my cheeks and I sniffed. I wiped the tears away and when I turned I saw Royce. The others were gone, it was just him.

"What? You want to laugh at me for having a heart!? Huh!?"

I quickly wiped more tears away and scowled at him. I walked forward and pushed past him.

"You have her heart."

I stopped.

"You have Esperanza's heart."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." I said.

"You look like you needed it."

"Yeah…thanks. We should move."

He nodded and we caught up with the others.