Nathan had reached the Citadel mid-morning and requested an interview with the Elder. It hadn't been very informative. The Elder refused to divulge any information about the mission he had sent them on and Nathan didn't tell him about the note.
Nathan took his meal in the common room. Although some of the men didn't know him many remembered him as an esteemed doctor that had practiced with them years earlier. They came over to chat with him and he managed to turn the conversation to Calli and from her to the Tradewind. He found out it was moored a good half day's walk down river. It was the information he was looking for but he had been careful not to ask since he should have known where she was. He asked if any of them knew about his favorite patient's latest mission, but no one volunteered anything.
Nathan went to the rooms reserved for Calli and Hawk to search for any clues to where they had gone. The array of battle suits and weapons still in their places weren't any comfort; he didn't know what was missing. He was bitterly aware he didn't know a lot about what was missing in Calli's life.
Before heading downstream Nathan stopped by the Citadel clinic to consult with Dr. Lorin. He had already been made aware that Hawk and Calli were on a mission as it was possible they would show up at the Citadel in need of attention. He was also one of the few people who knew Calli was his wife.
"Hey, Steve" Nathan greeted the other doctor with respect.
"Nathan, it's good to see you. You look good, what are you up to?", Dr. Lorin asked.
"I had a tiff with Calli. I'm afraid she's going to do something stupid", Nathan replied. Steve nodded. She did have a track record of going off the path of caution when perturbed.
"You think she'll end up here?", he asked thoughtfully.
"I don't think so, but you need to be prepared", Nathan said
They chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives. Nathan finally got up to leave.
"I have to get going," he said.
"Can you tell me where you'll be?" Steve asked.
Nathan considered, then shook his head. "No, that might not be safe. "
Nathan approached the Tradewind late in the afternoon. He left the mare in the stables next to the dock with the stable boy. He paid him well to make sure she would be taken care of properly. The wasteland sun was bright and hot, making him sweat in his Arhome armor. It would feel good to get it off, but he wasn't even thinking about that as he approached the gangplank. Tyrone was talking with a roving trader, so he politely, if impatiently, waited for them to finish negotiations. Once Tyrone saw him he quickly finished up business and the trader went on his way.
"Hey, Nathan, what brings you to the Tradewind?", Tyrone asked.
"Hey, Tyrone. Can I come aboard?", Nathan asked formally, not answering his question.
Tyrone nodded. "Of course, come on, we'll have a drink and catch up on things. " He wasn't a fool. Nathan was here for a reason.
"So that's how it is, Tyrone", Nathan said. "I'm asking you to keep the Tradewind here until we hear from Calli or Hawk. This is where they left her. Hawk wants me to keep you from the Citadel."
Tyrone considered. "My next stop would have been the Citadel, and I'm due there tomorrow. I'll need a reason to stay here if we're going to keep the Enclave spies from getting suspicious. If they think they're gonna show up here, they'll stake out the roads to catch them. I'll think of something."
"You're a good friend, Tyrone, " Nathan said. "I think that's why he wants you to stay here. If anything's gone wrong they'll expect them to show up at the Citadel for help."
"Oh, hell, I have to protect my wife's mother, don't I? She'd skin me alive if I let Calli down", Tyrone grinned. Nathan grinned too.
"Yeah, I don't doubt Rose would do that," he agreed.
The next morning Bill went ashore. As luck would have it the engine had developed some problems and he had to find a part to fix it. He took care of all the maintenance and repairs. The Tradewind wasn't going anywhere until her engine was functional again. He began to ask around the shops, spreading the word.
Nathan paced the deck, staring out at the wasteland.
"It was always hard for Jack too", Tyrone said quietly.
"What?", Nathan stared at him, running his hand distractedly through his hair.
"The waiting. He always found it hard to wait. He knew someday she wouldn't come back. It didn't work out that way, did it? He was the one that didn't come back. We can't predict the future", Tyrone said.
"I can't just stand around here doing nothing. The Brotherhood wouldn't tell me anything but I know they went north. If they're not back by tomorrow evening I'm going to go looking for them. I can cover a lot of ground on horseback", Nathan said.
Tyrone nodded. "I'll go with you. Dawson can handle the ship. Maybe it's time I had a look at this wasteland."
Calli staggered, nearly falling from exhaustion. They were approaching DC and all the dangers it contained. They had been running ahead of the Enclave soldiers for 36 hours, unable to sleep, with no food or water, naked to the wasteland. They had carefully skirted the dangers of the wasteland, but now they could barely go on. Hawk couldn't carry her, but he was helping her to stay upright.
Neither of them was thinking clearly. They were moving on instinct with just one goal in mind: get to Nathan. They had to get to the Tradewind or die- Nathan was there. They moved cautiously, imbued with years of training and experience. It didn't occur to either one to hail a Brotherhood guard, or any friendly. In their confused state there were no friendlies, only enemies to be avoided. At last they moved out from cover and approached the gangplank of the Tradewind.
Tyrone was standing guard in the early morning light, scanning the shore surrounding the Tradewind, always alert for danger. He was the first to spot them, staggering from cover.
"Nathan", he yelled. "It's Calli and Hawk. Get out here, they need help! Dawson, grab some blankets." He leapt down the gangplank and caught up the woman, even as Nathan burst from his cabin and pelted down the gangplank, Dawson right behind him. He grabbed a blanket and threw it around his wife, taking her in his arms. Dawson and Tyrone grabbed Hawk, throwing blankets around him and helping him up the gangplank to his room.
"Call Dr. Lorin.", Nathan yelled at a Brother hood guard who had appeared at his side. The man took off at a run. The shortwave radio was in a guardhouse nearby, and the doctor would soon be on his motor bike, making the quick run downstream to the Tradewind.
Calli looked up at her husband, trying to focus on his worried face. "Nathan", she murmured and collapsed into his embrace. Nathan swept up his wife and headed up the gangplank to his room.
"I'll take care of Calli," he called to Tyrone. "Have Lorin take care of Hawk. He'll know what to do for him."
Nathan carried his unconscious wife into their room and placed her gently on the bed. A quick examination told him she was totally exhausted. Although she had a significant number of cuts and wounds, many severe, none appeared immediately life threatening.
He checked her Pip-boy and found her radiation was at zero. She needed radiation and rehydrating. He went over to the tub that had been installed in the room for her. Fearing the worst, he had already filled it with radiated water. He picked up her limp form and placed her in the tub, supporting her as he gently cleaned the cuts and scrapes covering her body. Her feet were badly cut up, but he had no doubt they would heal, even though some cuts were deep enough to show bone. At least she wasn't feeling the sting from the water on her injuries and badly sunburned skin.
He tipped her head back and washed the short pink-blonde hair, noting absently that here and there a root showed a glint of red/gold. He couldn't hold her in the water any longer or he would get radiation poisoning from the exposure. He would have to take some Rad-a-way now, but her level had come up some.
He picked her up with some effort and lowered her onto the bed, pulling a blanket over her. Her breathing and respiration were normal for a deeply sleeping person. She didn't have enough resources yet to regenerate. He went out to Hawk's cabin to see how the big mutant was faring.
Dr. Lorin looked up as Nathan entered.
"Hey, Nathan", he greeted him.
"Steve, glad you're here", Nathan said. "How's he doing?"
Dr. Lorin looked back at his sleeping patient. "We have a girl coming from the clinic. She's going to take care of him. Dawson and Tyrone cleaned him up with irradiated water before I got here. I checked his radiation levels and gave him a radiated saline bag sub-dermally. His levels are up a bit and he seems to be healing. How long do you think they were out there like that?'" he asked wonderingly.
Nathan shook his head. "I don't know, but they've been gone for 4 days. Do you have enough saline bags? Calli needs rehydrating."
Dr. Lorin nodded toward the metal box on the floor. "They're in there."
"Thanks". Nathan took two of the packs and went back to his room.
Nathan watched Calli all day, changing out the saline bag when the first one finished. She was getting rehydrated and her cuts were healing. Dr. Lorin was well aware of their requirements and the saline bags had been irradiated, adding to their healing properties for the duo. She had gone into regeneration but it had been brief, and she was again sleeping soundly.
Dr. Lorin came into the room just before noon. "My assistant is with Hawk. He had a brief period of regeneration but he's sleeping now. Looks like he's gonna be fine. Cindy'll take care of him, she knows what to do. You sent for supplies?", he asked.
Nathan nodded. "They used up most of their resources", he said. "I think Calli's down 20 pounds, and it's hard to say how much the big guy lost. They'll be famished when they wake up. Dawson's making sure there's plenty of food for them."
"What do you think happened to them, Steve?", Nathan asked. The older man thought about it before answering.
"It appears to me they were in a bad firefight. I think an Enclave doctor tried to patch them up but he didn't know what to do for them. He probably gave them anesthesia to keep them under, maybe some antibiotics."
Nathan nodded. "That's what I thought too. A lot of these cuts are surgical. He wouldn't know they needed radiation so he probably cleaned up with purified water. He may even have injected them with RadX. They usually kept their levels high. Without radiation they would have burned through any meds they gave them and not fully regenerated before coming to. Then again, it's just as likely he did know and deliberately kept their radiation low to keep them weak. That would be a mistake but he wouldn't know that."
Dr. Lorin agreed. "They would have probably been in a lot of pain and disorientated, not thinking clearly at all. That would explain why they took off through the wasteland naked", he said.
"Yes, they probably got fixated on getting to the Tradewind, a place of safety to them", Nathan replied.
Dr. Lorin considered. "Do you think so? I would've thought the Citadel would be more likely. They knew you were on the Tradewind, didn't they? Maybe they were trying to get to you."
Nathan thought about the note Hawk had left him telling him to find the Tradewind and keep it from the Citadel. Maybe Steve was right.
The night settled in around the Tradewind. Dr. Lorin had left, leaving his assistant to care for Hawk. Nathan had removed Calli's last IV bag. Her wounds were no longer raw and her skin was just pink in areas. It didn't surprise him how fast she healed when she had the proper treatments. He was tired, and he didn't expect her to wake any time soon. He slid into the bed, wrapped his arms around her familiar form, and fell into a light sleep. He would be aware of any change in her condition.
Calli stirred. The wonderful smell of meat stew reached her, pulling her from her slumber. She peeked open an eye, taking in the bright sunshine. She sniffed hungrily and sat up, the light blanket sliding from her naked form.
"Nathan," she breathed. "You are here. I thought I was dreaming." She pulled the blanket up around her, warding off the slight morning chill. He handed her a warm Arhome shift.
"Nope, not dreaming, I'm here. You ready to eat now? The stew's warm." While she shrugged into the shift he piled a large bowl high with stew and set it on the stand with a beer, large slabs of bread and a bowl of fresh apples.
"Famished," she mumbled, digging into the grub with gusto. "How's Hawk?", she asked around a mouthful.
"He woke up a little while ago. I think he's been eating ever since. He has a girl taking care of him", Nathan said.
Calli raised an eyebrow at this and continued eating. She cleaned out the bowl and finished off the bread and beer. Picking out an apple she ate it more slowly, having consumed as much as she could hold. She placed the core on the table, not looking at Nathan.
"Thanks for taking care of me", she said quietly. "I'm glad you were here."
"Calli." Nathan's voice was firm. "We have to talk."
She nodded. "I know."
Calli stood and went to look out the window at the river side with her back to Nathan.
"Tell me about Jack", Nathan said.
"What?", Calli turned to look at him, confused. This wasn't what she had expected.
"You've been so consumed with Jack's death you've forgotten his life. You have to quit thinking about how he died", Nathan said. "Would he have wanted that? You have to remember his life. What was he like?"
"You really want me to tell you how he was?", Calli asked slowly. "Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Yes", he said firmly. "I want you to tell me. What was he like to you?"
Calli turned back to the window, turning her back on Nathan, looking into the past, seeing Jack as she had seen him then.
"He was a big man", she began dreamily. "in every way. He was tall and strong, as big and powerful as the sea he loved. He had a big laugh and a big presence. When he came in a room everyone felt he was there. He commanded attention and respect. He was so full of passion, so full of life. He fought like a demon and loved like one to. We were so young then, so full of adventure. He was like a storm, wild and fierce, sweeping me out to sea with him like a tempest. He should have died out there, at sea, not on a wasteland hillside."
Calli turned from the window to look at Nathan. He was sitting very still, the tension evident in the strong hands grasping the arms of the chair, his body stiff, trying hard to hide the pain in his eyes. How could he compete with her memory of Jack?
She walked quietly over to him, and knelt in front of him. Resting her hands on his thighs, she looked up into his eyes. "Nathan," she said softly. "Let me tell you how I see you." She watched him questioningly. He nodded briefly.
"You..",she paused briefly, drawing a breath. "You're like the wasteland sun, warming me and giving me energy and life. Your love calms me when I'm upset and brings me home when I'm lost. When you come in a room you light it up with warmth and comfort and love. You command respect and admiration from all you know, everyone wants to be near you, to feel your heat, your strength, your wisdom. I am born of the wasteland, I belong to the wasteland. The sea was exciting and different, but how could I survive without the sun? My fear, maybe it's because of Jack, how he died, but it was always for you because I love you so much it frightens me." Her voice had dropped to a near whisper as she laid her head on his lap. He gently stroked the soft cap of hair.
"And the sex is terrific" she murmured fervently. She felt the release of his tension in a rumble of laughter vibrating through his belly as she leaned against him. He slipped his hand under her chin, raising her face to stare into her eyes as he bent down to her.
"Would you like to see how terrific?", he asked huskily and kissed her deeply. With a guttural sound she wound her arms around him. He tumbled from the chair onto the floor with her.
They had finally made it onto the bed, and Calli was lying with her head on Nathan's shoulder, gently stroking his chest. "Nathan", Calli said.
"Hmmm?", he mumbled.
"I've just wondered", she said hesitantly. "About Jewell. I mean, she's very attractive, and intelligent, and cheerful. I thought she would be a great match for you. Why didn't you want her?"
She felt the slight tension in the arm holding her. "Why did you bring her for me?", he asked quietly. "Your intentions were clear you know."
She asked cautiously, "Why did you think?"
He sighed. "I thought you wanted to be rid of me", he said heavily. "To give me someone else to distract me so you could go away. Maybe you were tired of me, or maybe you felt I had become a coward, hiding in Arhome when there was so much need in the wasteland."
Calli gasped. "By the One" she said fervently, rising up abruptly to look into his face. "I would never think that! I don't know if I can ever give you any more kids. I know you love kids, I thought you might want more. And I'm gone so much. I just wanted you to have someone to hold. Jack was so happy with Aileen and their sons! I just wanted you to be happy!"
Nathan looked at her wryly. "You're very strange, you know that don't you? And I'm not Jack! I don't want any other woman, I'll never want any other woman, and I love our kids, yes, and if we have more I'll love them too but I don't want to make them with anyone else. Next time talk to me before you decide to make me happy, okay?"
She sighed, slipping back down into his arms. "I know you're not Jack. I don't want you to be. I love who are. I was so afraid when you walked out on me", she said.
He smiled. "I love who you are too, Calli. Let's not try to second guess that. I'll never leave you alone again." She snuggled in closer.
"Okay" she murmured just before falling into a deep healing sleep. Tomorrow would bring its own troubles, and she would definitely have to talk to the Elder, but for now she was content to rest in Nathan's arms.