Author's Note...once again:
Dear Readers, thank you for being patient while I work on this little tale of mine. My new job has me working 6 days a week, and it's time for the spring semester finals as well.
This chapter needs to be rated M due to some adult content of a sexual nature in the lower portion of the chapter. Feel free to skip it if you want. I kept debating whether or not to include it, or perhaps simply modify it. In the end, I left Brenna and Dan's love story where it was naturally going. That may change in the future. Mwah ha ha ha.
"What do you mean 'he hasn't been seen in the city for weeks'?" I hollered.
"Just sayin'. That's the word around town. I don't know what else to tell you." Elliot said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
"Fuck." I cursed as I plopped onto the bed.
The six of us had been more or less cooped up at the Dugout Inn for the last two weeks. Only Dan never left the building. By ones or twos, the rest of us hung around Diamond City searching for answers. Our detective was missing by all accounts. Each of us were beginning to nurture the idea of heading back out into the Commonwealth. To do what, I don't know. But something more than just sitting around with our collective thumbs up our asses.
I knew that cabin fever had begun to get the best of poor Dan. He and I had been sleeping in the room that led to the escape tunnel. It had come down to where he spent his time pacing or napping. The other members of our group had dropped by with progress reports whenever they had them, but for the most part, we stayed put. The only bright spot was that it had provided ample opportunity for the two of us to talk, and we grew closer by the day. Vadim had waved off curious patrons by telling them that we were newlyweds staying in his "honeymoon suite".
"You know young love. They only leave the room for food and booze!" he'd tell them.
"Anyone else think it's time to leave? Maybe head back to Sanctuary for a bit to come up with another plan?" Dan groused from his spot on the bed next to me.
He was stretched out on his back in the double bed. Elliot was sitting across from us in the room's only chair. We were waiting for the Strykers to return from their trip into the market to procure supplies for our departure.
"We'd been planning to leave in a few days anyway. Why not get while the gettin' is good?" Elliot suggested. Almost as an afterthought, he added "I'm gonna go find out what Sandra's up to. You two don't do anything I would."
He left the room, locking the door from within as he went. I laid back next to Dan, and sighed.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked.
"I dunno. Missing home a bit, I guess. I feel like we've got little options left to us at this point." I said.
"Home to Connecticut?" Dan asked, turning onto his side to face me.
I laughed and told him that I wanted to see my little house in Sanctuary. It was
nearly time for Samhain, and I needed the spiritual grounding that came with honoring the sabbat. We spoke briefly of my faith, and the differences between our worlds on dominant religions.
"Christianity, huh? That was a huge global faith? Weird." I said.
"Paganism wasn't really practiced here before the war. I don't know too much about it." Dan told me.
"There's not too much to tell. We believe in many gods and goddesses. Each pagan travels their own spiritual path. It's taken for granted, I suppose. Religion has never been a big deal for us." I replied.
"Think you could love someone who isn't a believer in anything in particular?" he teased while running a finger along my collarbone.
"Oh I think I could manage that." I said, pleasant shivers running through me at his touch.
Our private moment was interrupted by the arrival of Ollie and Mel, with Sandra trailing behind them.
"What happened to Elliot? You guys scare him off for good?" Mel asked, swinging the key to our room around her finger.
"I'd guess Sandra would be able to answer that one better than we could." I answered.
"He mumbled something about a trade, and dashed out the door. He'll be back." Sandra said
"Ok, everyone go pack up. We'll send Brenna and Dan back through the tunnel and meet them on the outside. Back home it is." Ollie said decisively.
"Goddess do I ever hate that tunnel." I muttered under my breath.
Everyone left our room to gather their things. Dan and I did likewise. Just as we were about to open the secret hatch, Elliot burst in.
"Wait up a sec! I have something for you." he said breathlessly.
"Ok?" I asked doubtfully.
"I took your 10mm…" he started.
"What?! Why would you take my property?" I asked.
"I know you're not overly fond of Nate. Dan told me about how you came by the gun, and the reason he suspected for you rarely using it. I traded Nate's gun and some junk I had kicking around for a new pistol for you." he said before I could get indignant.
He pulled the gun and some ammo for it from his hip bag. Elliot presented me with the .44mm pistol, and I must say I was impressed. It was tarnished from age, but its deep patina lent a certain beauty to the gun. It had previously been engraved with an almost paisley-like pattern, most likely before the war or shortly after. I took the weapon from his outstretched hands almost reverently. I'd come to understand that one of the best gifts in this world was protection.
Dan got out of bed, and joined me to look at the newest addition to our arsenal. A low whistle and some words of thanks to Elliot came from my man. Both of us were grateful for the people we'd fallen in with. We all took care of each other as best we could.
Elliot scooted us down to the tunnel, and said he'd see us on the flipside. We grabbed our gear, and left the safety of the Dugout. Our trip through to join our group was uneventful. No other beasties surfaced, and I kinda wish they had. An opportunity to try out my new gun would've been a real boost to my spirits.
Once we were all together, we took a vote on our next move. Majority rules, and we were back off to Sanctuary. I found that on the road, there was indeed greater safety in numbers. Ollie took Elliot under his wing, and began showing him the difference between Brotherhood tactics and actual survival out here in the Commonwealth. His first encounter with a large raider band was almost comical. He screeched at the missiles flying towards us initially before the Strykers yelled at him to shoot back. Once it was all over, with only minor injuries on our side, Elliot had what Ollie called 'a mild negative reaction' to combat.
"There's a huge difference between firing at the shooting range than at real living people. I can't…" Elliot started before leaning over and puking his guts out.
I reassuringly patted his back.
"I felt about the same in my first few months here. It'll pass, I promise." I told him.
"I'm not necessarily sure that it's a good thing to acclimatize to murdering others." he said as he wiped his mouth on the edge of his sleeve.
"Kill or be killed, sugarpie." Ollie said. For once his tone was serious in nature.
"Let's get moving. We're nearly home." Dan said, urging us onto the road again.
For a group our size, we made good time back to Sanctuary. It was a relief to be back at my yellow house. Sturges found a spot for Elliot in the Complex. The rest of us headed back to our homes. Dan and I unpacked our things in my spare room, and came back out to show Elliot around Sanctuary. The former scribe was excited to see the community. I suspect it was mostly to learn more about the kind of woman I was. As we ambled around, saying hello to the familiar faces we'd missed, I noticed some people whom I didn't recognize. I asked Sturges if they were new settlers, or if they were just passing through. He confirmed that they were all indeed new citizens of Sanctuary, and pointed out the flurry of activity I'd missed in my focus on stepping across the threshold of my house.
Thankfully we had room to spare for more creative uses of scrap and salvage. Across the cul-de-sac from my house and Sandra's, construction was in full swing on another group home. While not as huge as the Complex, it was certainly not small by any means. When complete, it would boast housing for ten more settlers.
Two of our additional residents were about to become three. The ladies, Jen and Samantha, were expecting a new baby. Sam had been held hostage and was assaulted by a handful of rogue mercenaries over the course of several days. Jen turned to the Minutemen to rescue her beloved, and true to form, they brought Sam safely back to her lover's arms. It wasn't too long after that they realized Samantha was pregnant. Despite the child's origins, both women were happily ready to become mothers. The other residents had named the nearly complete home "New Life" in honor of both the chance at rebuilding that Sanctuary offered, and for the baby that would soon call this settlement home. Unlike my world, having children was a gamble here. It was difficult enough to find a safe and secure home for a single adult. But a family? The Minutemen settlements were becoming the places more and more wastelanders were turning to for safety and a sense of community. I wanted to congratulate Preston on this new achievement the next time I saw him.
In our absence, Sturges and a shockingly sober Leo had built a bath house. A heavy duty water purifier, some sort of makeshift water heater, and six of the old bathtubs hanging around the settlement added to the last remaining abandoned house created a fantastic spot for us all to get clean. I immediately went home, grabbed one of the clean dresses hanging in my closet, and ran over to savor a nice long bath. In the months I'd gone between the last time I truly felt clean and that moment, I was certain that my dirt had dirt of its own.
Once I was in the bath house, I got the hot water running and placed my bar of soap on the crackled glass dish that had been set on the shelf above the tub. I tightened up my grip on the mostly ragged towel I'd wrapped around my body while the water ran, and I turned to discover that a mirror had been shined up, and semi-repaired. I hadn't seen my own reflection in the nearly seven months I'd been in this world. Did I really want to see what the months in the wastes had done to me?
My normally chin length auburn waves now fell to an inch or so beyond my shoulders. My husband had always told me that I had a "mom body". After having three kids, I expected as much. I was chubby around the middle, and could've definitely stood to lose some weight. Although Jay had always loved my curves, I most certainly did not.
The Brenna staring back at me was slimmer but somehow still voluptuous. The tan that now colored my exposed flesh was something I'd never been able to maintain back in Connecticut. The brown eyes that flicked over the image before them now held an edge of determination instead of an almost doe-eyed innocence and hope.
I ran my hands over every bit of skin that wasn't covered, transfixed by the changes to my body. I let the towel fall to the floor in order to see more of what had been altered by the daily battles, both emotional and physical, that I had endured up to that very moment. The scars gained over the years back in my world still drew lines over my body. Knee replacement, and gallbladder removal surgical scars stood out in the fading light of sunset that filtered through the windows of the bathing house. The faint burn mark on my thigh from a teenaged me when I dropped the last cigarette I'd ever smoked caught my eye.
I took some cleansing breaths, and stepped into the water. Working a lather up with the same soap Dan had given me, I washed up. New scars peppered my body as well. The first gunshot wound from Sanctuary. A stab near my ribs from a raider band when it was just Nick and I traveling through the Commonwealth. Another burn, this time on my forearm from helping a settler get their generator up and running. I wondered what Jay would think of these changes.
"What would Dan think of the scars? My body?" I wondered.
By the time I stepped from the bath, dried my hair and body, and buttoned up the dress, night had fallen over Sanctuary. I walked home slowly, enjoying the evening breeze and hearty greetings from my friends and neighbors here at home. Dan passed by, and let me know that he too was off to bathe. I told him that I'd be waiting for him at home.
On our way here from Diamond City, I'd been thinking about the dilemma of pursuing Dan more aggressively, or letting him set the pace. I loved him, and wanted him to trust me with his heart as well. When he came back, it was time for a talk about what the future held for us. I was waiting in my bed for him. My nerves were shot while I waited for Dan, but now seemed the right time.
"Honey, I'm home!" came after a knock at the door and a chuckle over his greeting.
"Dan, I'm back in the bedroom. Can we talk?" I called to him, my voice wavering from nervousness.
His footfalls reached the hallway leading to where I was. He came into my bedroom haltingly. It had been awhile since I had seen him cleaned up and in fresh clothes. We had both been more road weary than we thought. Dan sat on the edge of my bed, and looked inquisitively at me.
"I love you. You know that, right?" I started.
He kissed me tenderly, and said that he knew I loved him, and that he loved me in return. I patted the bed next to me, hoping he would lay down and relax with me. Without hesitation, Dan took me in his arms. I could hear his heartbeat as I laid my head on his chest.
This was home, right here with him.
"Dan, stay with me? I need you. In every way." I whispered, shyness overcoming me.
He had been absentmindedly running his fingers through my hair, and halted before answering.
"I've never made love before. You know that. Hell, I'd given up dreaming that I would one day. Are you certain, love?" he asked.
"I know, I know, sweetheart. I don't need you to have been down this road before. I need you. Just as you are." I said while I caressed his face.
We had never progressed beyond that day he ran from my home, flustered by my boldness. Even I was nervous about taking this next step in our relationship. I'd never been with anyone but my husband. I felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, debating whether or not to leap.
Dan leaned over me, and blew out the candle on the nightstand. I could feel the tremble in his body, a thrumming that went through both of us. He took a deep breath, and as he kissed me, he began unbuttoning my dress. My breathing came faster, moans of sweet anticipation between kisses. My fingers fumbled on the buttons of his shirt, and before I could get much further, Dan took my hands in his.
"I look the same all over. The scars, the burns. I just want to…prepare you." he said, his voice quaking with what sounded like fear.
"Don't you worry, sweetheart. I want to see all of you." I said. I couldn't conceal my desire and need any longer.
We went slow, and savored each moment. As badly as I wanted him, I knew he had waited a long time for this. I wanted it to be special for him.
The night breeze wafted over my bare skin, bringing goosebumps along with it. The heat of Dan's skin against mine made a delicious contrast to the chill in the autumn air. He trailed wet kisses down from the nape of my neck to my breasts. He looked up at me, our eyes locking. All traces of hesitation were gone from his face, and lust shone in his eyes. I tried to rise up on my elbows, but Dan very gently pushed me back down. My breath hitched in my throat as his warm tongue swirled over first one nipple, then the other. My hands went to the back of his head, stroking down to his shoulders. The lines of his jagged skin beneath my fingers felt so different than what I'd been accustomed to. I loved his immediate reaction to my touch, and his was like fire against my body. I coaxed him over onto his side, and finished removing his clothes.
"I shouldn't be the only one of us laying here nude." I laughed.
"I know I've already asked, but you're sure? I'm a ghoul, and you're…" he said before I interrupted him:
"You're the man I love. Now hush, and hold me."
He kept the distance between us until I pulled him over, pressing myself against him. Dan groaned as I traced my fingers slowly along the evidence of his desire. He asked what came next, and I must admit that I felt somewhat intimidated by his lack of bedroom knowledge.
"Let me show you instead." I whispered, taking the length his cock in my hand.
He buried his face in my neck, his sighs coming faster and faster in time with my strokes. As he came, he murmured words of love into my ear. Dan pulled me even closer to him, and I draped my leg over his. It felt as though we both wanted to melt into each other. Watching his face while he recovered from his orgasm, I took his hand and gently pressed it to my cheek.
"That was amazing. You…I love you, Brenna. It's my turn to express to you just how much." he said, his voice husky with need.
The friction of his hands on my thighs as he slowly spread them apart was unlike anything I'd experienced before. In a way, this was a first for us both. He slid his hand over my pussy, and slowly pressed one, then two fingers into me.
"You're so slick and hot. Oh my love…" Dan sighed, his head resting on my stomach.
He quickly figured out the ways I loved to be touched. With a gentle stroke, he had me squirming beneath his hand. I ran my fingers down to his wrist, squeezing tighter when the waves of my own orgasm hit.
Before long, Dan was ready again, and he easily settled his body over mine. I wrapped my legs around his back, the feeling of his rough skin over my most sensitive areas ramping up my need for him. He pushed his hips forward, but hesitated just as the tip of his manhood entered my molten core. He rested himself on his forearms, planting tender kisses on my lips and neck.
"Brenna, you're certain you want this? That you want me?" he asked quietly.
"Daniel, do you love me? As much as I love you?" I replied, using his given name without truly realizing it.
"With all that I am." he said.
"If you love me, then love me." I whispered, slowly drawing his cock into me with gentle pressure from my legs around his middle.
Every inch of him felt better than the last. I was unprepared for just how big he was, pain and pleasure dancing together along every nerve in my body. I couldn't restrain the little gasp from it, and he stopped immediately.
"Am I hurting you?" he asked, concern written all over his face.
"Not at all, sweetheart. Quite the opposite." I told him.
We started slowly, letting my body adjust to his. He sighed in his pleasure, and told me just how much he loved me as he thrust harder into me. I whimpered as we began to move faster, my hips matching his rhythm with ease. I felt my orgasm building, and urged him to push harder. Dan pressed his forehead to mine, and we came as one. I was helpless to do anything but cling to him and cry his name over and over again.
The next morning, in the dim light of dawn, I woke and savored the strength of my lover's arms around me. Dan snored, and I found it absolutely adorable. I eased myself from his embrace. A smile touched my face when I noticed that I hadn't disturbed his rest.
"Wore the poor guy out." I thought, contented with the reasons for his exhaustion.
I dressed for the day, and went to the kitchen purely out of habit. My hands on the countertop, I noticed a sparkle from the corner of my eye. The sunlight had caught my engagement ring, the diamonds sending reflected light across my arm like an accusation. My eyes closed, I slid the two rings from my finger, clenching them in my palm. Taking an embroidered handkerchief from the kitchen drawer, I wrapped my rings up and tucked them safely away.
"I'm so sorry. You're so far away, and he's right here. With me. Please forgive me." I said quietly, almost like a whispered prayer.
Needing his presence, I slid back into bed until Dan woke up. It gladdened my heart to see his smile and hear him say that his first experiences with making love had been the best night of his life. Coming from a man his age, it meant so much. After a quick breakfast, we left our home to find our band of misfit detectives and come up with a plan.
We spotted the Strykers waiting outside the Complex. Arm in arm, we headed their way. Ollie was standing at the foot of the steps that led up to the first floor of the Complex itself, which sat atop Nate's former home, and that of his long dead neighbors. Mel laughed at his pose, hands on his hips so that it mimicked hers.
"Sugarpie, get your pampered ass in gear! I know you're fixing your hair up there!" Ollie shouted.
We could all hear the smattering of giggles at Elliot's expense echoing from the upper floors, followed by stomping that could only mean he was indeed getting his ass in gear for Ollie's sake.
I felt Dan shift his grip on me, and lean down to offer his hand to a German shepherd that had trotted over to us.
"Hey there, buddy. Where's your master?" Dan said to the dog nudging his hand that wasn't currently cupping my hip.
The four of us turned in the direction of the footsteps pounding the pavement towards us. Piper had the look of a woman not to be trifled with.
"Daniel, I was looking for you! And you, Zombie. Blue has been hiding something from me, and I need you to help me find out just what the hell is happening to him." she demanded.
Mel raised an eyebrow before either of us could answer. She informed Piper that Nick would be her better option.
"Too bad Nicky has gone missing, right? I know you were sniffing around Diamond City. Time to play detective ourselves and get him back." Piper announced.
"Looks like we finally found our clue." Elliot said while coming down the steps toward us.
Found our clue indeed. The hunt for Nick just got more interesting.