Chapter 19 – Panic!

For the next three days, Cait, Valkyrie and Nate played host to a very grateful Heather. Piper had used her presence as an excuse to visit Sarah up at the BOG bunker, but Nate knew that she would have wanted to have visited her girlfriend anyway. At least, with Piper's absence, it was less likely war would break out at home. Despite liking Heather, Nate found the constant jibes and bickering between the two grating and was delighted when Piper asked if she could spend a few days with Sarah.

"So, who is this mechanist then?" Heather asked as soon as Cait had finished explaining the reason for the powered down robot, standing motionless in their armoury.

"That's the thing, we just don't know," answered Nate as he joined the girls in the workshop. "That is something we have been tasked with finding out."

"Because it's not like we have anything else to do in the meantime," complained Valkyrie.

"Oh, do tell?" Heather encouraged.

Valkyrie looked at Nate who nodded. "No harm in Heather knowing." Nate confirmed.

"We are currently being asked to help reform the Minute Men by Preston Garvey, the Brotherhood need, well about a million things, then we have to contact the Railroad and try to find the Institute. On top of that there is Nick Valentine and the folks over at the Left Field Diner. It seems that we are not short of work right now." Valkyrie threw up her hands.

"Yeah, I can see you guys are in demand." Heather smiled, although her expression showed a hint of sadness. "Well, you all have been amazing and once again, thank you so very much for saving my ass out there and for caring enough to come back for me."

"And for the umpteenth time, you are very welcome." Nate smiled back. "You going to be ok, heading back up north to your bunker?" He asked.

"We would go with you, you know that, it's just we are heading south tomorrow to go look for this mechanist chap." Cait shrugged.

"I'll be fine, thanks Mom." Heather joked as she bent to pick up her rucksack the team had lent her.

"Well, keep your head down, ok." Valkyrie added as she handed Heather an automatic rifle the team were also happy to let her have.

"Thank you, to you all." Heather began until Nate gave her a playful scowl. "Best get out of here before I get a spanking from Mr Grumpy." Heather laughed.

Nate moved to open the door to Home Plate, "It's Mr Bossy, if it's all the same to you, young lady." Nate smirked.

Heather rolled her eyes, "whatever you say, sir." She grinned as she moved through the doorway and out into the bright daylight of Market Square.

The team headed back through the armoury and into the little kitchenette that was on the same floor.

"She's a nice kid." Nate began, "but I am so glad she decided not to stay." He reached for the kettle and filled it with water.

"Kid!" Cait exclaimed, "she's older than me."

"She's a kid because she looks so much younger than he does." Valkyrie grinned as she tipped her head towards Nate.

"You are never too old for a good spanking, even you missy." Nate looked over his shoulder back at Valkyrie. Who waited until Nate returned to looking forward before sticking her tongue out at him. "I saw that!" Nate responded.

"What! How?" Valkyrie stammered.

"Ah, so you did do something then?" Nate smiled.

"You…." Valkyrie laughed in response.

"I would have given it a week before you would have ended up hauling them both over your knee for a good walloping." Cait placed the three mugs on the counter, waiting for the coffee Nate was brewing on the stove.

"A week, how about a couple of hours." Nate responded with a wry smile. "I get that she lost her sister, and I even understand that Piper could have been so much more understanding about the whole thing, but it's been, what two years now?"

"Something like that, but it must be hard, she's on her own, you know." Cait's voice sounding genuinely sympathetic, "it's not like she has anyone to talk to, or to…"

"Knock some sense into her," Valkyrie interrupted, "we have all lost someone, we have all suffered, that's just the shit people face in war. Have your moment, sure, I did, but two years is a long time to bear a grudge."

"So, you are not a fan either?" Cait looked at Valkyrie.

"Oh, no, I like the girl, I just think she could do with…." Valkyrie began.

"A good firm slap!" Cait laughed.

"I was going to say a shoulder to cry on, a good scream and some therapy drinking. That would sort her out." Valkyrie replied.

"Well…" Nate was about to speak when there was a loud banging on the front door of Home Plate.

"Nate! Cait!" Came a muffled voice from outside.

"That's Danny," Cait exclaimed as she moved to open the front door.

"Hey…. Guys….." Danny started as he took a step into the house, trying to catch his breath.

"Take your time, Danny, what's up." Nate joined Cait at the front door.

Danny took a few deep breaths before looking at Nate. "It's Heather, she's having some kind of fit or something just outside the front entrance." He hiked his thumb over his shoulder.

"Curie!" Nate shouted down to the basement.

"Oui!" Came the response from Curie as she made her way up the stairs, having heard the commotion.

"Grab your medic kit, it's Heather, she's by the entrance to the city." Nate stated as he took his jacket from the hook by the front door.

The team followed Danny through Market Square, up into the stands and through the outer building to the front entrance of the stadium. Just outside the large iron gate, signalling the way into the city, there was a figure sat on the floor, leaning up against some railings, being attended to by two members of Diamond City Security.

As soon as Curie saw her, she ran to Heather, gently shooing away the two guards. Heather was sat on the floor, back leaning up against the wall of the stadium. She was shaking, a thin sheen of sweat on her face and neck and she was struggling to breathe.

"She is having a panic attack." Curie looked over her shoulder as she knelt down in front of Heather. Placing her hands on Heather's shoulders she spoke in a calm manner. "Heather, it's Curie here, take deep breaths for me can you."

"I… can't … breathe." Heather struggled with her words.

"Look at me and take my hand," Curie spoke in soft tones. "Just take deep breaths and follow me." She lifted one of Heather's hands and placed it on her own chest. "Like this …. in ….. out." Curie slowed her own breathing down to try to encourage Heather to follow.

"I….. am…" was all heather could manage as panic spread over her face.

"You are doing great, Heather." Curie reassured. "Look at me and concentrate on your breathing, my chest and try to copy me." She calmly reassured, keeping hold of Heather's hand and pressing it to her own chest. "Look at me…" Curie commanded gently, "Count with me as we breathe...One… Two."

The rest of the team stood watching Curie as she gradually and slowly brought Heather's breathing under control. Cait then quickly scooped up Heather's Kit and Nate came to kneel next to Curie.

"Let's get her back home." Curie ordered Nate, who gently knelt and scooped up the seated girl into his arms.

As the team neared home, they met back up with the returning Piper, who immediately stepped in to help Nate as he looked to set Heather down. The two of them part carried, and part dragged Heather back down the stairs and into the main kitchen in Home Plate. They sat her in the chair Nate used at the dining table.

"Shall I get her a drink?" Piper asked.

"No, not yet." Curie answered, "Let's get a tea on, plenty of sugar." She looked around as if searching for something.

"What do you need?" Cait asked.

"Her water." Curie responded.

Cait looked over to the bed Heather was using and grabbed the glass that was on her bedside table, handing it to Curie

"Here you go," Curie offered the glass to Heather who took a long drink.

"Thank you." Heather said as if still a little dazed and confused.

"It's ok, you are safe with us now. Just keep breathing and keep taking water and you will be fine." Curie reassured. "This will help." Curie instructed as she clasped her hands together and raised both arms above her head.

Heather smiled as she copied, "This….helps?" She asked.

Curie returned the smile. "No, it just takes your mind off whatever it was that led to the attack."

"I had a what." Heather asked as she placed her glass on the table.

Piper handed Heather a mug of tea. Heather looked up and stowing any sarcastic jibe, simply smiled gratefully, "Thank you."

"You had a panic attack, by the looks of it." Curie answered. Heather looked blankly back at her. "How are you feeling now." Curie probed.

"I'm ….. ok, I think." Heather responded.

"Do you remember what happened?" Cait asked.

Heather looked straight ahead for a few seconds. "I was just so scared all of a sudden, so totally overwhelmed, and then I couldn't breathe." Heather took a sip of her tea and then pulled a face.

"It's sugar and it won't kill you." Piper laughed.

"Well, actually tea contains caffeine and so in theory this is a bad idea," Curie smiled, "but I want you to have something warm and sweet."

"I just felt so utterly helpless and so incredibly scared. I haven't felt like that since the Synth raid on University Point, it was so …. Real." Heather's voice portrayed a rise in emotion.

"You are safe now and do not need to worry about any of it." Curie responded as she sat down to face Heather. "I'm just wanting to check we have picked everything up for you," Curie turned and grabbed Heather's bag. "So, there was your bag and weapon?"

"I had a jacket…" Heather answered

"I got that." Cait confirmed. "I have hung it up for you."

"What did you have in your bag?" Curie continued with the questioning.

"She is distracting Heather with questions that need her to do simple math and recall, just to allow her to get Heather's breathing back under control and to get her thinking about anything else other than what triggered her." Valkyrie whispered to Cait who she could see was perplexed by Curie's questions.

After Curie had gone through the contents to the bag and was happy that Heather was in a better place, she turned to Nate. "We have another guest for dinner, if that is ok?"

Heather began to stand, "I have already put you guys out way too much, let me finish my tea and I'll be off. I am fine really." Heather lied.

"You are not going anywhere missy, not today anyway, do you understand?" Cait stepped up to the table and stood in front of Heather with her hands on her hips.

"I thought you said you had never spanked someone before." Heather smiled.

"First time for everything." Cait smiled back.

"You are very welcome to stay for as long as you need, another day before we leave for General Atomics Factory will not do any harm." Nate joined the team around the table, "but I will need you guys to help if you are going to hang around in the Kitchen."

Soon the places were set at the table, and a second chair made the sixth setting at the opposite end to where Nate sat. Curie served up a fantastic stir fry and, after Cait's encouragement, Nate agreed to open some wine.

"So, how are you feeling now?" Nate asked, looking across the table to Heather.

"I'm, good, I really am." Heather answered genuinely, "I have no idea what that was and why I suddenly felt that way, but it was …. Something," she blew out a breath.

"Yeah, you were just missing us, that's what it was." Cait joked.

"Whilst I am sure you are keen to get on, do you want to stay here for a few days until we get back?" Nate asked, "you are more than welcome, and I can always ask Danny or Lilly to pop in and say hi."

"You guys are amazing, you know that." Heather paused, "and it seems that the fates don't want me to leave this team, no matter how hard I try, so…" she looks at Nate, "If you are OK with this, I would like to come with you to General Atomics. I can't let this," Heather waived her hand in front of her, "stop me from getting on with things. I just need a few days out on the road, killing raiders and getting some much-needed fresh air."

Nate looked around at the team who all nodded their approval, "Well in that case, welcome to the team, again."