The Vagabond War

by EnigmaticSerpent

Metro DLC Sam's Story Natasha is a bandit living in Vladivostok at the time when Sam is trying to get home. She enlists his help in the bloody clan war that her brother's clan is fighting with the other bandits. She has her own ideas. She is tired of losing her people and plots revenge on those who have wronged them, but she could have never predicted the consequences of her plans.

8. The Swamp

Chapter 8- The Swamp

Thunder rumbled ominously in the steel sky again as we approached a flooded copse of gangly birch trees. We trudged up a gangway that lead up to a squat, sheet metal box. The fishing shack, I guessed. I had not been here before. It was a relatively new area that we took over when we cleared out the previous residents. I had to admit that now that I saw it, I didn't really care for it. The whole area was basically a lake with narrow, boggy swaths of land that allowed for passage on foot. The stinking mud stuck to my boots and splattered up my trouser legs to mingle with the grime from the sewers. I sighed. No one ever told me that the end of the world would be so filthy.

Like the rest of this damned bog, the shack itself was surrounded by brackish water and a scrap metal gangway was the only way to access it. I glanced at the nets and fishing traps draped over stacks of wooden crates as rain water dripped off the tin roof into buckets. I really was tired of this rain and relished the thought of being inside. I was soaked through to my skin and it felt like I would be caked in filth for the rest of my life.

My stomach clenched at the pungent tang of fish as we stopped at the door.

"Well, here we are," Grigor said, brushing the thick mud off his boots on a heavily soiled wire mat. "It's cramped and draughty, but it's out of the rain and we have some food here, so come in,"

He swore as he pushed on the door which caught on the frame. He rammed his shoulder into the rough wood and it burst inwards, sending him lurching forward.

"Fucking moisture. The wood is all bent," he griped, disappearing into the dark interior.

I gestured for Simon to follow before turning to Sam.

"I hate you," I snarled, thrusting his mask and flashlight at him.

"What the fuck is your problem? I was wasting time looking for your sorry ass," he spat back, lip curling. "I could have just walked away and saved myself all this trouble,"

"It was your fault I fell in. You and those damn mines,"

He frowned at me for a moment before eyeing the cracks in his mask.

"You broke my mask," he chided.

"I didn't break anything, I was attacked by mutants," I glared at him as I reached for the pistol.

"You can get another one, and here, its fine by the way," I thrust the gun at him and turned on my heels and stalked inside. Seraph growled at him as she settled herself by the door. I smirked as Sam took several quick steps away from her.

Inside, I was immediately hit by an acrid cocktail of kerosene, fish and wood smoke. Oh, hell. I really wanted to be out of here already. I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the gloom of the shack. Grigor was right about it being cramped. It was a single room with a sheet metal partition that barely screened off a set of steel bunk beds in one corner. It was lit by a single large kerosene lantern hanging from a hook in the ceiling above a rough, wooden table, where Simon had seated himself. The rest of the space was taken up by a work bench and shelves packed full of fishing gear and supplies. Very useful things for an outpost, but I would hate to have to spend any length of time here.

At least the dank space was warm. It was heated by a low burning fire in a steel beer keg with a chimney of patchwork metals, which I was very thankful for. I watched Grigor throw a piece of wood on to it.

"There are some crates over there you can sit on," he said, waving his hand to a stack next to the shelves.

"Thank you. Do you have any bandages?" I asked, sliding a wooden milk crate to the table with my foot. "I was tagged by a rat mutant in the sewers,"

Grigor nodded. "There's a first aid kit in the bottom drawer in the shelves on the bench,"

Simon gave me a lop sided grin from across the table as he slid a murky bottle in my direction. "And some of Andrei's moonshine to clean it if you need to,"

"Thanks," I definitely would after my crawl through the mountain of dead bodies.

I wrinkled my nose at the bottle. "At least that concoction is good for something,"

Simon chuckled.

Grigor busied him with frying fish on a metal plate over the fire while I gingerly pulled back the shredded fabric of my trousers. Coagulated blood stained my skin around the jagged wound and I winced. It already looked infected, but I poured the moonshine over it, clenching my teeth as searing pain shot up my leg. Damn that American. I shot a glare over at Sam, who was staying by the door, as far away from the rest of us as he could. I really wanted to be rid of him and I wouldn't mind shooting him I had to admit. I was ready for all of this to be over.

I went back to scowling at the wound on my leg, dabbing lightly with a wad of alcohol soaked gauze.

"What the hell happened down there?" Simon asked, watching from across the table.

I grunted, scraping black detritus out of the wound. "What didn't happen?"

I recalled my unfortunate passage through the sewers and my encounter with the giant scorpion- spider abominations in the adjoining caves.

Reluctantly, I added the hallucination in which I saw Senya.

Grigor glanced at me over his shoulder, raising his thick eye brows.

Simon coughed. "You saw Senya?"

"Yeah, his face melted away, leaving just a skull,"

He winced.

I peered down at the bandage in my hand. "I don't know why I saw him there,"

Simon shrugged. "Maybe you still have not gotten over his death. Who can say?"
"Who's Senya?" Sam interrupted from near the door.

I glared up at him. "Someone we knew once," I said icily, making it clear that I was done talking about it.

"Hallucinogenic fungi, hmm?" Grigor commented thoughtfully after a few minutes of awkward silence. "I could use some of those,"
"Didn't you listen to what I said," I snapped. "They're toxic, I nearly died. But, by all means, don't let me stop you if that's what you're wanting," I flushed the wound with another splash of alcohol and took a swig for myself. Simon and Grigor exchanged glances.

"Ah, I hate those spiders. Damn creepy bastards," Simon said, perhaps a bit too loudly to change the subject. "As if the world didn't have enough foul creatures,"

I grunted in agreement.

"Well, I'm sorry that happened to you. But how did you end up there anyway?" Grigor asked as he sat a tray of fried fish on the table. The smell of it turned my stomach.

He gestured to the tray. "Help yourself,"

I didn't want to, but I reached for a slice as I recounted the explosions that trapped me in the sewers. Both men shot unfriendly scowls at Sam, who looked like he wanted to disappear.

Grigor narrowed his eyes. "He sounds like too much trouble,"

"Well, in his defence, he did give me his mask, flashlight and gun," I quickly flicked a glance at Sam then stared at the fish in my hand. "He could have left me there,"

Sam met my gaze and I wasn't quite sure what I saw there. It wasn't hostile and I wasn't prepared for the sudden warmth that flashed through me. I shook my head. No. I fucking hate him.

"I still don't think taking him to the base is a good idea," Grigor said, staring hard at Sam. "We know nothing about him,"

"I know that he has some damn good fighting skills and that we need all the help we can get,"

"But-" Grigor started to object.

"We are helping each other, that is all you need to know right now. I'm not in the mood to argue. We need to get to the swamp. I just need ammo and water and we'll be on our way,"

Grigor sighed and strode across the small room to a cupboard, where he retrieved an olive green ammunition box and a canteen of water.

"It is rain water, it should be safe to drink," he offered the canteen. "You can have a few clips, though he don't have many and you should take some fish too,"

I nodded my thanks.

"And we heard about your brush with the batwing," Simon said around a mouthful of fish. "You've had one hell of a day,"

I took another sip of moonshine and winced. "You really don't need to remind me," I replied drily.

"We could come with you," he suggested. "To make sure nothing else happens on the way," he scowled at Sam again as he bit a slice of fish in half.

"That's not necessary," Sam replied flatly.

"Or maybe it is," Grigor challenged.
I huffed. "Do what you want. I really don't care. I just want to go. I've had about enough of today's shit,"

I felt my patience growing thin and my mood was not helped by my roiling stomach and stinging leg. I just wanted to get to the swamp and rest. I wanted this to all be over. But what I really wanted was Viktor, his silent but calming company. The way he just let me be, not expecting anything from me. He was a rock in the swirling storm.

"Well, at least let us eat before we go out again," Grigor sighed, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I nodded, wrapping a surprisingly clean bandage around my calf.

I glanced at my hand where Ed had sutured the bite wound earlier. I really was getting myself quite a collection of wounds, probably scars in both cases.

Less than half an hour later, we were walking miserably in the cold rain. My hands and feet were freezing and I glared ahead of me, ignoring the men. They seemed to realise I was in a foul mood, so we were silent as we made our way up another muddy bank.

The approach to the swamp wound it's way through narrow, derelict buildings. The darkness of the passage swallowed us as Grigor lead the way, gun relaxed. This was our territory and there were usually guards set up in the rooms, but today they were empty. Old tables and flaking fire drums told of their existence, but the drums were cold.

I glanced over my shoulder at Sam, who was peering around warily, while Simon followed close by, his Kalash aimed at Sam's back. They weren't taking any chances. I couldn't blame them. He hadn't given them much of a reason to trust him and my vague explanation didn't help matters. I was just glad they trusted me enough to not just shoot him and be done with it.

Never had I been so relieved to smell the choking mixture of rotting fish and sewage of the swamp. It hit me like a pungent wall, as we trudged along the length of the waste water pipe that served as the only bridge to the check point. I was exhausted and very aware of my own stench from clawing my way through dead bodies. I couldn't wait to take a shower. I imagined that those around me were also keen for that, but these days, we all smelled as bad as each other and no one complained.

We were met at the checkpoint into the swamp by two bored guards, Maksim and Kostya, who by the looks of it, were playing a hand of poker to pass the time. Battered cards and rounds of rifle ammunition lay scattered over the surface of the table. Maksim's Russian Shepherd leaped to its feet and starting barking at our intrusion, but the grey brute of a dog was quieted with a sharp 'shh' from Maksim.

I eyed the beast, its dark gaze fixed unmoving on us, ready to attack at the first sign of aggression. It started barking again when it caught sight of Seraph, who I grabbed by her collar before she could do anything.

"Finally, something to do," Maksim said by way of greeting. He flicked the end of a roll up cigarette into the blazing drum opposite their small table and narrowed his eyes at Sam.

I huffed in irritation, catching his expression. "Don't start. He's with us, that's all you need to know," I growled, stalking past them. I pulled Seraph with me, past the Shepherd. They snarled at each other, and I had to drag her away with a sharp tug on her collar.

"Yeah, but, who is he? I have never seen him before," Maksim replied, taken aback, peering after me.

"I said, don't start," I snapped over my shoulder.

He shot a confused glance at Grigor, who shrugged and gave him a warning look.

"Hmm, perhaps just leave it. She's in one of her moods,"

"When isn't she?" Kostya added.

"We've got it under control," Simon added from behind Sam.

"Uh, okay," Maksim replied slowly, eyeing Sam again. "Just don't try anything,"

I rolled my eyes. "He's under guard Maksim," frowning back at them.

"We should at least take his weapons," Kostya added.

"Touch me and I'll kill you," Sam growled dangerously.

Simon rammed the butt of his Kalash into Sam's back. "Remember where you are outsider,"

"Enough! Leave him alone," I intervened before Sam could do something stupid. "He's keeping his weapons,"

"Well If anything happens it's on you," Maksim warned, pulling his dog back by its collar as it growled.

"Yeah, whatever," I strode off without looking back at them.

I was done with everything, and my mood was not helped when the radio crackled from my belt as Maksim called in our arrival and that we were bringing a visitor. Yuri would be waiting for us. Fuck them all.

I growled in frustration, then tried to calm myself with some deep breaths. Think about how good it would feel to be rid of those jerks at the port, I told myself. This is why I am doing all of this. Just a little longer...

I shook my head, taking another deep breath as we approached the base.

The Swamp had actually been a water treatment plant before the world ended and we had been able to restart its operation, so we had a reservoir of safe drinking water and working hot water. Most of it, like the rest of the city was underwater, with the main buildings accessible by gangways of scrap metal floating on pontoons and wide piers to travel between buildings with narrow channels for passage of small boats. Strategically, it was the perfect location for a base. It was hemmed in on all sides by dense flooded woods, home to strange, ferocious creatures that would relish dragging anyone down to a watery grave.

It was also surrounded by solid concrete walls with only two points of access. One via a narrow channel of swamp that was overlooked by sentries with a machine gun nest, and the one we had taken through the buildings. The whole compound could also be seen from the sniper's nest on top of Viktor's tower. No one was getting in without us knowing. We kept a close eye on everyone passing. We would occasionally allow traders in if they had something good to barter but generally, we restricted the area to only our people. Sam was an exception, and he was attracting some close attention now that we had entered the perimeter.

I noticed him peering around warily, staring down anyone who looked at him- which was everyone. He certainly had courage, I'd give him that. But there really wasn't anything he could do against all fifty-something of us, no matter how good he was. Nowhere to run. And he needed those suits. He was trapped...again. He had no choice but to co-operate with whatever we wanted. I'd be sure to use that.

As we walked along one of the gangways leading out into the middle of the compound, one of the boats edged along side of the shrimp cages, with a cage holding a thrashing shrimp. The helmsman swore as the stern mounted crane struggled to compensate for the aggressive movement. The angry mutant growled and lunged at the bars, causing the whole boat to sway from side to side violently, threatening to tip. The others in the line of cages on the pier, joined in and there was a deafening chorus of yowls. Dumb beasts. I glowered at them and was only mildly amused when the cable on the crane snapped, dropping the cage into the water with a splash. A round of laughs followed from the men watching.

"Hey, Sasha!" Simon bellowed at the boat driver. "You've got yourself a feisty one!"

"Piss off potato head!" Sasha yelled back, sticking is head out of the wheel house to survey the damage.

Simon laughed heartily. "Ha, that will make him happy," he said approvingly.

"Just something else for him to moan about later," Grigor added, grinning.

Sam frowned at them. "What the hell is he doing?" he asked me.

"Looks like they just caught a new shrimp for training," I sighed, wiping a drop of water from my nose.
"How do you train a shrimp?"

"With a lot of fish heads and pointy sticks," Simon answered for me.

"Why?"

"I can throw you in one of those cages to see how effective they are at killing things, if you want a demonstration," Grigor commented. I could see him mulling over the idea.

"Can we go now?" I grunted before he could act on it. "The show's over,"

"Shame, that would be good to watch. Maybe we can have a man vs mutant fight later," Grigor mused.

"I would bet on that," Simon agreed with an enthusiastic nod.

"You would bet on anything,"I rolled my eyes at him, as he shot me a wide grin.

His face suddenly fell and I turned to follow his gaze, but I already knew what he saw there. As expected, Yuri was striding intently down the gangway towards us, his face drawn into his perpetual scowl.

"Ah, yes, we should be getting back to the shack," Simon commented, scratching the back of his neck. "Lots of fish to catch and everything,"

"Hmm, good luck with your plans. He looks particularly angry today," Grigor added, nudging my arm with an elbow.

When is he not?

I inhaled deeply as the cowards retreated back towards the gate. I glanced at Sam beside me. He was tense, his gaze fixed on Yuri and his finger twitched on his Kalash.

"Don't be stupid, Sam," I growled at him. "You'll be dead in a second,"

"That's Yuri I take it," he replied. "Your leader?"

I nodded. "And my brother. You need his permission to pass into the upper mashes,"

"Outstanding," Sam sighed.

Yuri was at least six feet, probably taller, and his pre-war Spetznaz training made him as rigid as stone. He still wore his old camouflage jacket and Kevlar vest, with a buzz cut as if he had come straight from the barracks. His nose was crooked slightly from an old break that hadn't healed properly. And dark, dangerous eyes that should have cut us down where we stood.

Oh, good.

I moved to put myself between him and Sam. "Yuri," I started.

"Shut up," he snapped.

I stopped, taken aback, but pulled myself together. "Stop, just listen,"

"No, Natasha, get him out of here, before I kill him,"

I held my hand up in front of Sam to hold him back. "He can help us,"
"We don't need help from an American. He's just like that one from the port. He should not be here. We can't afford for Tom to find us,"

"I don't give a shit about your base, or your fight with Tom, I just want to get home. It was just my bad luck that I got caught up with all this," Sam cut in.

"Yuri, Sam won't tell Tom where we are," I glanced at Sam, who glared back at me. "He doesn't care,"

"And I'm just supposed to take your word on that?" Yuri narrowed his eyes at Sam.

I watched the two men size each other up for a moment, fully expecting something to happen, for Yuri to just shoot Sam where he stood.

After a few tense seconds, I interjected. "Yes. Damn it Yuri, for once in your sorry life, just listen to me!"

Yuri broke the stare off to glare at me again.

I inhaled deeply again, willing my anger back down. I barely managed it. He was a stubborn mule and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to convince him. If not, we had come a long way and endured a lot for nothing. Senya's face appeared in my mind and I almost snapped. There had to be a way. I had to find a way.

But it was Viktor who found it. He walked up behind me, laying his hand on my shoulder in sympathy. I startled. I hadn't even heard him approach. Judging by Sam's sudden alertness, he hadn't either. Yuri frowned as the sniper stopped in front of him. I watched on in confusion as Viktor said something to my brother in a low voice that I couldn't hear.

The two looked at each other for a few seconds and I could see the trust and loyalty they shared, as a result of years of fighting together.

Finally Yuri sighed and glanced back at me.

"Fine, take him somewhere and watch him closely," Yuri said, waving his hand at Sam.

"I need to talk to my sister it seems," he gave me a particularly hard stare and I winced. Oh, good. I was about to get my ass kicked. Well at least he was going to listen to me.

"Anton!" Viktor yelled.

At hearing his name, a tall, lanky twenty something year old with a scraggly, unshaven face, came jogging over like a loyal dog to stand in front of Viktor. He winked and grinned toothily at me, but when I scowled back at him, his face fell and he coughed to hide his embarrassment.

"Baby sit him," Viktor ordered gesturing at Sam. "Don't let him out of your sight or I'll cut your fingers off,"

Anton swallowed nervously and nodded. "Ah, yes sir,"

Viktor scowled at him, shaking his head. He nodded at me before stalking off towards the main building.

What just happened? I watched him scold another of the men for dropping a bucket of fish heads on the pier.

Anton cleared his throat. "Ah, come on then, we have some moonshine here that will kick your ass,"

He gestured for Sam to follow him.

Sam glanced at me with a pleading look. I shrugged. He didn't have any choice. I nodded, feeling slightly uncomfortable about leaving him. I watched him reluctantly follow Anton towards the living quarters.

As soon as they had left, Yuri grabbed me by my jacket collar and propelled me towards a nearby out building, a concrete and brick shed housing pumping equipment where we couldn't be over heard.

At the livid expression on his face, I went to explain, but he abruptly cut me off.

"Natasha, what the hell were you thinking bringing him here? This will come back to hurt us. This is what I have been saying all this time. You are causing problems where there should be none,"

"There was already a problem," I matched his angry tone. "You just don't want to do what's needed to fix it,"

"We can't risk a war we can't win,"

"Oh, what? You haven't noticed? We're already in a war! And those bastards at the port are the cause. I have the solution to put an end to it. Just listen to me for once in your damned life!"

Yuri growled. "Fine," he spat. " You have two minutes to convince me that you have not gone insane,"

I inhaled deeply again, readying myself. Yuri narrowed his eyes. His patience would not last.

"We know Tom wants fuel rods to get the sub moving, that's what we are doing out here," I begun. "We need to get to the fire depot to get radiation suits to get them because of the radiation at the plant. My plan is to sabotage them, so they blow up the sub when Tom tries to use them. Then, we take advantage of that with all of our guys and take the port. Sam will be there, I will take care of him. He won't even know I was there. We only have to work with him for a short time. Then we will live here in peace like we have always wanted,"

He remained unconvinced. "How will we sabotage the fuel rods?" He finally asked, his scepticism etched in every word.

"I already have that covered," I pushed on. "That old Captain Ed, is going to make an explosive to attach to them when they go to retrieve them,"

"And you think he will?"

"I know he will. He thinks Tom is a madman and will not allow him to leave. He told me himself and he meant it,"

I paused, waiting for him to say something. He didn't, just stood there glaring at me with his arms crossed in front of him.

"See, working with our American friend here, has had it's benefits," I added to break the tense silence. "This will work in our favour. If you do it for nothing else, do it for Senya and Mikhail what they did to them,"

Yuri was quiet for a long time, his face furrowed with a deep frown. I watched him, willing him to agree and fearing he wouldn't. It was a lot to ask I knew. Taking the port was a huge risk and I could see him weighing it up. He wanted Tom gone as much as I did, but he was scared. I didn't blame him. Tom was dangerous, and I knew that what they did to Senya and Mikhail was staying his hand. He didn't want that to happen to anyone else. Neither did I. And the only way we could guarantee that, was to deal with them once and for all. Also to stop whatever insane plan Tom had with that submarine. But that was a side note to me.

Yuri finally met my eye and sighed. Some of his previous vehemence had softened, but he was far from pleased.

"We should just let them go," he said.

"I know you don't believe that," I countered. "Tom is worse than we thought. He plans to use the submarine to threaten people into doing what he wants, threatening them with nuclear warheads. He's mad, he needs to be stopped,"

Yuri shook his head. "That's not our problem,"

"It is if he decides to turn them on us,"

"So you want to provoke him to do so?"

"He can't if we destroy them,"

"I will not risk our people over something so reckless. Tom wants to leave, I say let them. What he wants to do away from here has nothing to do with us. The world is fucked already, what will a few more warheads do?"

It was like a slap in the face.

"So you will do nothing?" I clenched my teeth. "You will sit back and watch those murderers leave and get away with what they did? "

" There is no point. What's done is done. Killing Tom won't change that,"

"You're just a coward!" I yelled.

Yuri glared back at me, face reddening with fury. Fine let him be angry. I didn't care.

"They deserve better! After all they have done for us, for me! They deserve justice,"

"You are reckless and irresponsible," Yuri yelled back. "These men don't deserve to be sacrificed for your personal vendetta. Don't let your affection for Senya cloud your judgement," he turned to leave.

I went to object and he spun on me, grabbing me by the collar again to pin me against the concrete wall behind me. The toes of my boots scraped the floor and I struggled to draw a breath.

"I will not say anything else on this matter. Let it go. And get rid of that American, before I have him killed!" He dropped me. "I should feed him to the shrimp for even being here,"

My hands shook with the rage boiling inside me. No, this could not be his decision!

"He can help us!"

"No, Natasha!"Yuri spat. "He could be a spy! And you brought him straight to us!"

"Then let him prove he's not," I offered desperately. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to do something.

He said nothing, continuing to glare at me.

"That job you wanted me to do, the one you wouldn't tell me over the radio. What was it?"

He grunted in annoyance. "Sergei and Ivan have gone missing," he said, a hint of concern creeping onto his face. "No one has seen them for a few days,"

I shrugged. "That's it? Maybe they went out and got themselves killed,"

"No one just goes out without telling someone. They know the rules," Yuri said.

"I've heard rumours of them contacting someone, and their stuff is gone. They've left. I want you to use that beast of yours to find out where they went,"

"That's all?" I shrugged. "And you couldn't say that on the radio? We could have looked for them before coming here,"

"No, I don't want anyone else to know right now,"

"Well good riddance I say,"

Yuri sighed. "I want to know what they are up to, men don't just leave, and if they have been talking to someone, I want to know who and why,"

"You really are paranoid," I said casually.

Yuri narrowed his eyes at me again.

"Alright, alright, fine," I held my hands up in resignation.

He continued to scowl at me

"What, you want me to go now?" I groaned.

"Yes,"

"It's getting dark and I am wet. I want a shower, and some food and sleep,"

Yuri went to object, but I cut him off. "I have been through hell to get back here. I have a wound on my leg and I need to get these clothes off, they are covered in mud and who knows what else. I will do it after I have rested," I hissed through clenched teeth.

"Fine," he growled.

"And Sam comes with me. We will prove to you that he is with us,"

"No, you need to get rid of him!"

"That is my only offer," I replied shaking my head.

With another angry grunt, he turned to leave. I took that as a reluctant yes and exhaled out a long breath as I watched him open the door to disappear outside.

I took a moment to collect myself before following him. I was ready to punch something. And I was silently daring someone to give me a reason. Well, everything could wait. I was going to have that damned shower.

Outside, Seraph was crunching the pile of fish heads that the worker had dropped earlier and followed me as she gobbled the last one. Her claws scrabbled against the slick metal as she struggled to find traction, legs flailing. So much for the deadly hunter. I thought as I reached the open door to the large, brick, two story main building.

Everyone inside gave me a wide berth, as I stomped down the stark concrete corridor, either because of Seraph or the dangerous expression I turned on anyone who even looked at me. They knew to leave me alone when I was like this, so I was unimpeded as I worked my way through the labyrinth of passages to my room on the second floor. Seraph immediately jumped up onto the bed, leaving muddy paw prints over the blankets. Great. Thanks for that...

Heaving a sigh, I grabbed some fresh clothes and headed back down stairs to the bathrooms, tiredness making my body feel heavy.

The bathroom was fortunately empty when I reached it and I walked over to the furthest cubicle and shut the door. I threw my soiled clothes in a heap on the floor by the door and let the warm water run over my body.

The long, tiled room, filled with small separate showers, was dark, dingy and smelled of mildew and sewage, but at that moment, it was paradise. I could almost forget my troubles, watch them swirl around my feet with the mud that was washing from my skin. I could stay here forever. But we have water rations, and all too quickly, I reached the two minute limit.

I sighed as the stream of water shut off automatically. Maintenance had fitted some sort of timer to the showers to make sure water rationing was followed. I understood of course, but two minutes just wasn't long enough and my irritation returned. I still felt dirty. Would I ever be clean again? Did I mention how much I hate the apocalypse?

With that all too quickly done, it was time to find Sam. I hoped he'd managed not to kill anyone. But then, I suppose I would have found out by now of he had.

I towelled myself and checked the wounds before shrugging into my fresh clothes. Damn, it felt so much better not to have soaked clothes sticking to my skin. The rain that had been threatening to fall again was hammering on the roof now. I swore. I would not be going outside again until it stopped. I really didn't care what Yuri thought.

Reluctantly, I wandered back upstairs to my room. Seraph was sound asleep on my bed after having devoured what looked to have been a rat. I gagged at the blood and bits of entrails that mixed with the mud on the blanket I now had to deal with.

Who's great idea was it to keep a watchman as a pet?

I didn't want to risk having my face bitten off by disturbing her, so I turned around and headed back down the stark hall towards the mess to look for Sam. That problem could be added to me ever growing list.

As I entered the cavernous cafeteria, I soon found Sam in the middle of the square room, ducking a punch thrown at him by Anton. Fuck! I rushed in, feeling the panic shoot through me at the thought of what Yuri would do to him if he found out he was attacking his men.

Sam threw the much smaller man to the concrete floor with a deft movement. If I wasn't so worked up, I would have admired it, as I usually did when watching his fighting skills.

No, no, no!

I darted forward, intending to stop them, but I was held back by an outstretched arm.

I looked down at it incredulously.

"Wait," The arm's owner said,"This is good,"

"Alik? What's going on?" I replied, bewildered.

Alik didn't respond, just continued to watch with an enthusiastic grin on his face. "I have a few rounds on the big guy,"

I frowned as Anton swept a leg out towards Sam's ankles, which he avoided by jumping, then followed up by placing a boot firmly on Anton's neck, pinning him there.

The gathered crowd cheered.

"Hey Anton!" Someone yelled from the tables. "Give up, he has you beaten,"

It took me too long to realise, they were sparring. Sam wasn't attacking him, he was practising. And was giving the men a show.

As Anton stopped struggling to get free, Sam lifted his boot off his neck and reached a hand down to help him up. He nodded and gave him a slap on the shoulder.

"Nice work, kid," he said. "But don't let your guard down and try not to be predictable. I knew what you were going to do even before you did it,"

My jaw dropped. He was teaching him how to fight?

Anton nodded, looking a little sheepish to be bested by this outsider in front of the men.

"Don't feel too bad," Sam added, catching his expression. "Been doing this a few years,"

Anton nodded again and sat at a nearby table, sipping from a bottle of moonshine, while the men around him leered and laughed at him.

As Sam took a sip of his own drink, he caught sight of me standing there staring at him dumbly. To my surprise, he gave me a small smile, his cheek dimpling ever so slightly and I had to quickly squash the flash of attraction yet again. Damn that man and what he made me feel. I hate him, I reminded myself again.

"Ha! This guy is pretty cool," Alik said with a grin, thankfully pulling me away from the horrifying thought.

"Ah, thanks,"Sam frowned back.

"You know, you should stay here. We could use your skills,"

Sam glanced around the room at the ragged faces around him. Some were still hostile or suspicious of him.

"Nah, I don't intend on staying in Vladivostok,"

"Oh, you have somewhere better to be?" Alik asked.

"Yeah, I am going home to California,"

"To America? You know there is the little problem of the ocean between here and there, right?"

" Yeah, no kidding,"

"So, yeah. What's your plan for that?"

"I'm going to swim it," Sam replied in a serious tone.

Alik looked at him blankly.

"He's joking," I said, walking up to them.

Sam cocked an eyebrow at me and grunted, turning away to face the room.

"Anyone else want to have a go?" He challenged the watching men.

A reluctant muttering filled the space, but no one came forward.

"No one?" he looked disappointed.

"She might,"Alik said, gesturing at me.

I was half considering it when Sam snorted derisively. "Is that a joke?"

My face burned as hot as the anger at the blatant insult.

"Well, no," Alik replied, quickly flicking a glance again in my direction. "She can hold her own,"

Nods of agreement followed, but Sam looked unconvinced.

Without thinking, I rammed my boot into the back of his knee. His legs buckled from under him and as he fell, I speared the point of my elbow into the side of his head. This received a few appreciative cheers.

"I may be smaller than you, asshole, but I'm unpredictable. Be unpredictable, isn't that what you just said?" I growled through gritted teeth.

He ducked and twisted his torso at the same time in response. He grabbed my arm, wrenching it back until I thought it would snap. I let out an involuntary cry of pain as I fell to my knees beside him.

"Don't start fights you can't finish," he growled back. He held my arm so that the pain stopped me from moving. "Anger makes you stupid," he released his grip after a few seconds and got to his feet.

The room was silent. All their eyes were turned on me. I knew they were expecting me to do something, but my treacherous body wouldn't obey, so I stayed on the floor, stunned. Sam shot me another contemptuous glare as he disappeared outside, slamming the door behind him.

There was a belated "Oh, shit," as Anton realised Sam had left, and hurried to catch up, likely thinking about losing his fingers.

Hot embarrassment flashed through me.

"Ah, are you okay?" Alik asked tentatively, reaching out his hand to help me up.

"Don't touch me!" I spat angrily, getting to my feet. He jumped back as I shouldered past him to follow Sam.

I burst outside, letting the rain damp air hit my face. Already, night had begun to creep over, the sun now just a fading red -orange smear behind the tree line. I stood at the railing overlooking the piers and fishing boats as I tried to calm down. Everything was one big damn mess. Why did it always have to go wrong? Why couldn't people just do what I say?

I huffed, focusing on the swirling white mist that surrounded the swamp in a thick blanket, concealing everything except the gnarled, lifeless branches of the trees. I scowled at them, imagining they were the twisted limbs of some terrible monsters. My skin prickled and I shuddered involuntarily. There was no way anyone could make me go out there. It would be foolish to try to go out in that, with zero visibility and aquatic mutants ready to pull you down to a watery grave. That was it. It definitely had nothing to do with how creepy it looked.

I turned away. I was suddenly very tired. I needed to sleep, to get something to eat, but first, I needed to find that American jerk to tell him we were staying until morning and that we weren't going straight to the fire depot.

Oh, yay. I wasn't looking forward to that conversation.

I wandered along the metal pier, watching as some of the boys, the Shrimpers, as we called them, prepared a few of the mutants for the fights later that night. As there wasn't much in the way of entertainment in the apocalypse, we had to find our own. A few nights a week we would put on shrimp fights and bet on which one we thought would win. We even gave them names. The winner got to gorge themselves on the loser and we wouldn't have to feed them for weeks, so the mutants were always starved before their fights. They fought harder and better that way. Gave a better show. It was kind of sadistic, but they were only stupid, drooling mutants after all.

One of the shrimp boats pulled along the pier a few metres off, winching a swinging cage full of angry mutant, onto its flat stern. I was only half aware of the shouted orders and insults they were hurling at each other, as I scanned the compound for Sam. A part of me hoped I wouldn't see him, but I knew it was inevitable.

As I wandered along the walkway, a sharp flash of blinding red light assaulted my eyes. I flinched and frowned in the direction it had come. I saw it again, the reflection off a near by beacon glinting on something, like a mirror fragment. I squinted up at it and realised it was the sniper's nest on top of the tower. I could see Viktor illuminated by a dull light bulb, sitting at his observation post. He pointed the barrel of his Draganov east toward the pump shed at the edge of the compound. I squinted through the failing light. Sam was sitting on the flat roof, with his legs dangling over the edge, looking miserable. Anton was still skulking a few metres away, keeping his distance.

Ah. There you are.

I glanced back at Viktor and gave him an appreciative nod. He had been watching our guest it seemed. Of course he was, the man had the eyes of a hawk.

Now time to have a friendly chat.

Friendly was the last thing Sam wanted to be. He raised his rifle at me as I emerged through the trap door in the ceiling of the pump shed. He reluctantly lowered it as I pulled myself onto the roof. Anton gave me a nervous half smile, as if he really didn't want to be the one to intervene if Sam tried anything. We all knew it wouldn't end well for him. I turned to him.

"You mind leaving us for a few minutes?" I asked the gangly man.

"Ah," he glanced nervously at the watch tower and then back to Sam.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Relax alright, Viktor won't cut your fingers off,"

Anton looked sceptical.

"Sam won't do anything, and if he does, Viktor can just shoot him himself from his tower,"

Sam's head shot up towards the tower glaring as he spotted the sniper. I stood in front of him as Anton's head disappeared inside the pump room.

"Right," I said doggedly. "You're not going to like what I have to say, but no one cares. You have no choice anyway,"

"Spit it out,"
"We are staying here tonight," I stated.

"The fuck we are," Sam spat. "The deal was to come here to resupply then go to the depot,"

"No, the deal was to come here and decide if we should let you go to the depot," I corrected. "You aren't going if we say no. I told you already,"

"I'm going whether you like it or not,"

"Go then. What is stopping you, if you are so determined?" I waved a hand at the machine gun above the sluice gate to the marshes, where several guards wandered about on the scaffolding.

"You can take them all, right? So why don't you try?"

He didn't answer.

"Because you know you are cornered, trapped like one of those mutants in hostile territory," I sighed. "But they don't have to be hostile if you just cooperate with us. We'll get your suits, tomorrow. For now, let's just take a break. They'll still be there,"

He looked at me for a long moment then subsided."You really are a pain in my ass,"

"That's what I keep hearing," I looked out into the gloom of the surrounding swamp. "And just to add to that, there's a job that we have to do before hand,"

Sam slowly looked up at me, his expression should have blasted me straight off the roof.

"What?" he growled dangerously. "No one said anything about me doing jobs for a bunch of bandits,"

I held my hands up. "Just one job, I promise. In exchange for passage through the marshes without being shot,"

He bared his teeth at me.

"It was the only way Yuri would let you go. He wants to kill you by the way. You probably would have already been dead if I didn't make this deal with him,"

Sam looked ready to shoot me.

I watched his rifle closely. "Remember we are being watched," I warned. "Look, we're having shrimp fights tonight. It'll be fun. Maybe you can even win some bullets,"

He scowled at me.

"What? We have to do something for fun around here,"

He turned away, glaring at the shrimp boats.

"Come on, let's go down and watch," I said. "I think I will put some bullets on The Executioner. He looks pretty mean,"

"The Executioner?" Sam questioned with a frown.

I shrugged. "They're bandits. They have no imagination,"

"You seriously have cage fights for shrimp?"

I nodded. "Well, it's more like a pit, but yeah,"

I pointed down at the boats. "The Shrimpers are preparing them now. They'll start soon,"

"Shrimpers?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, the guys that trap, train and contain the shrimp. Shrimpers. The guys that put on the fights for us. They're a bit crazy if you ask me. Playing around with those things, is asking to be eaten,"

He shot me a look to say he thought we were all crazy.

"Moonshine, shrimp fights, and fish steaks, what's not to love?" I added, ignoring him.

"Well, I'm going to put some bets on. Come join me. Or you can sit here and sulk in the dark with your new best friend," I pointed behind me to the trap door.

He growled in annoyance, but slowly stood up. I smiled at him as I strode over to the trap door.

"You might even enjoy yourself,"

Crunch.

The Executioner slammed its powerful claws into its opponent's face. The other mutant, hastily named Freakshow, let out an agonised shriek and swiped back as dark blood spattered the metal floor of the fight pit.

I joined in the cheering as Alik and one of the other men stepped up beside me, eating a slab of cooked meat.

"Hey, they cooked some venison tonight," he said gesturing to the raging bonfire across from the pit. "Pavel's scouting party went hunting and bought back a huge buck. You had better get in before it is all gone,"

"Oh, awesome, thanks," I nodded back to the fight. "You have a bet on?"

Freakshow had gotten back the upper hand and was lashing The Executioner with its long claws, howling its outrage. It pushed The Executioner against the corrugated iron barricades, sending the men watching from the side, scrambling back. Several tripped over in their efforts to get away, causing a raucous of drunken laughter to follow.

"Yeah, on my boy Freakshow!" Alik said jovially.

"Ha!" It hasn't got a chance!" I retorted, even as The Executioner stumbled and fell underneath Freakshow's attack.

"Looks like you backed a loser, Natalya!"he laughed. "Freakshow will be feasting on his guts in no time,"

But as he spoke, The Executioner viciously stabbed his claws up into the other mutant's soft underbelly as it tried to attack from above. Freakshow screamed in pain and The Executioner pushed its claws deeper, throwing its thrashing opponent to the floor of the pit. It loomed above and finished its kill off, before ripping into the soft flesh of Freakshow's belly. Cheers and boos exploded around the pit.

I glanced to Alik, who looked shocked. "You were saying?" I grinned at him. "I'll just go collect my payout,"

The fight pit was a ring of corrugated iron at the far edge of the compound, wedged between an outer wall, where the bonfire was, and the main residential building. It was encompassed by a wide platform built directly over the water from scrap metal, with two narrow chutes for the shrimp at opposite ends. There was a jetty where the boats could get along side to off load the cages.

I watched as two Shrimpers vaulted into the pit, wearing body armour and brandishing their long, electrified spears before them. The Executioner hissed at them as they approached. Blood from its meal oozed down its front and splashed on to its clawed feet. The shrimpers stepped over the remains of Freakshow and jabbed their spears at the angry mutant. It hissed again and slashed at them, but they were out of reach. They managed to get a few hits with the spears and electricity sizzled against the thick chitin. The mutant reared up, lunging for them.

"Get back you devil!" One of the Shrimpers yelled, thrusting his spear forward.

He narrowly dodged a powerful swipe. "You damned ugly son of a whore!"

"You're right," Sam said from behind me as I started down the path towards the residential building. "They're crazy,"

"Yep, it's the best part if you ask me," I answered over my shoulder.

"Any of them ever get killed?"

"Oh, yeah, all the time. Sometimes they fall in the water and drown because their body armour drags them down, or they get ripped apart by the starving mutants. One little mistake is all it takes. Like I said, they're crazy,"

Sam grunted. "So where are we going now?"

"To the armoury to get my bullets," I turned to him with a grin. "You should put one on for the next fight,"

"Nah, I'll keep mine, thanks. Might actually need to use them,"

"That's no fun," I said, leading the way through the open door to the armoury.

It was in the back corner of the residential building, and now there was a short queue lined up in front of it, chatting noisily. Several minutes passed before we got to the front, as they all stopped to swap banter with the armourer.

"Hey Oleg!" I greeted the weathered armourer as we finally stepped up to the window. He had a pile of bullets in a box in front of him. "Busy night for you I see,"

"Ha! Is good! Means I can have a few for myself," he winked conspiratorially and tugged on a pocket in his jacket. It rattled with the rounds he had stashed there.

"As long as I get mine," I said, handing him the roughly drawn up betting slip. I paused in thought. "And Ripper, to win the next fight,"

"Such an original name," Sam intoned as Oleg slid a piece of paper with the name Ripper on it.

He quickly glanced at the slip I had given him and he pulled a small handful of rounds from his box without counting them. I stashed them in my own pocket.

"I'll see you again later when I win another fight," I said, leaving, waving my ticket in the air.

"What the hell was that?" Sam said, glancing back over his shoulder as we walked outside.

"What?" I shrugged.

"That was the worst book making I've ever seen. He didn't even count them,"

I shrugged again. "Oleg is lazy,"
"And a cheat too apparently,"

"Why are you so offended? You didn't even bet,"

"I'm not offended, just astounded,"

By the time we had gotten back to the pit, the Shrimpers had managed to wrangle The Executioner back into its cage and had removed most of the eviscerated remains of Freakshow. Although blood and bits of flesh still stained the floor. I glanced over at Sam. He was looking a little more relaxed for now, but we was still wary. I followed him to a round, metal table by the pit and sat down opposite him.

The second fight had stared in the pit, but I was distracted by my sour stomach, which protested at the sight and smell of the shrimp guts. I breathed through it, turning to Sam.

"So, what is that other American jerk even doing in Russia, anyway?" I asked after a moment, raising my voice over the shouting around us. "Now that you two are best friends, did he tell you?"

Sam frowned. "We aren't best friends,"

"You're just working for him,"

"With him," he corrected.

"That's not much of a distinction,"

He sighed. "He was an arms dealer on the international market before the war,"

"Oh, a great guy, then," I replied drily.

"That's great coming from you,"

I shrugged. "I'm just trying to survive, he's an asshole,"

Sam narrowed his eyes at me, but continued. "He had some local contacts and ended up relocating here. Then the war happened and he was stranded. To say he was prepared for it, would be an understatement,"

Next to us in the pit, the crunch of shrimp chitin drew my attention and I was just in time to see one of the monsters rip the head off its opponent. I groaned and I wanted to throw up.

"You look sick," Sam observed with amusement.

"Piss off,"

"Anyway, our friend the Captain was in charge over at the port, but he wasn't prepared for the ongoing fight against the bandits,"

I nodded stiffly. "Yeah, we are a belligerent lot. So, he stepped in to help, how noble of him," I said sarcastically. I felt my good mood slipping.

"I'm not sure being belligerent is a good thing," Sam eyed me.

"It is out here, it keeps us alive,"

"Clearly not. Klim wiped out a bunch of you and strung them up all over the ruins, so others would stay away.

I glared at him. "You don't need to remind me, Sam. Evil bastard. Those bandits he strung up, were our people, scouts scavenging the ruins," I bared my teeth at him.

Sam considered me for a moment, sitting back in his chair. "Well, it worked didn't it? You're all afraid of them, right?"

"We are not!" I snapped at him furiously.

"You brother seems like he is,"he shrugged, indifferent to my rage.

"You know nothing about us!" I shot back.

"That works for me," he shifted in his seat and watched as the shrimpers battled with the winning mutant with their spears as the assembled men cheered and shouted at them. I didn't even really care that I backed the winner.

My good mood had vanished completely and I was considering leaving the bastard here to disappear to Viktor's tower, when he spoke again.

"So, that's it then? That's your problem with them?"

"I thought it would be obvious," I sighed, done with this conversation. "They kill our guys, and they have that damned submarine, which he stole, parked on our doorstep. He is a threat to everyone, especially if he is allowed to leave,"

"So you're fighting them for the greater good?" Sam snorted. "I don't buy it,"

I rolled my eyes. He was going to make me say it.

"Your best buddy had Klim torture two of our guys and one of them died." I spat the foul words as fast as I could.

Sam watched me, unmoved.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, glancing at the metal wall of the pit. "The one that died...was close to me," I forced out.

Sam sighed and nodded. "Senya," he guessed.

I nodded subtly and dropped my eyes, feeling his gaze heat my skin."He made it personal,"

He was silent for a few moments, as the announcer called the names of the next fighters.

"So, I'm what, then?" He asked finally, his voice icy. "And don't give me that bullshit that I'm here to help clear out your competition,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied. "You've seen what they do, we really do need your help,"

"What happened to your, I can take on all of Vladivostok on my own, attitude?"

I winced. "So yeah, maybe some of that was bravado,"

Sam slammed a fist down on the table, making me jump and the two guys at the table next to us, spun around and give him hostile glances. I stared at him, taken aback.

"Stop your fucking games!" Sam barked. "What am I really doing here? You're using me to continue your vendetta against Tom, is that it? Insider information?"

I glared back at him, but couldn't find anything to say.

He sat forward, with a hard expression. "What, no witty remark? Don't fucking lie to me this time. Lying gets people killed,"

"You know what else gets people killed?" I asked, matching his dangerous tone. "Threatening someone while surrounded by their allies,"

I glance pointedly at the two guys near by as they started to get to their feet. I held up my hand to stop them.

"You have to leave some time," Sam retorted.

"Then you'll have the entire swamp on your stupid ass,"

We glared at each other. I could see how much he wanted to hurt me, about as much as I wanted to hurt him. But I knew he wouldn't dare, not surrounded by all my guys.

"Then there will be a few less bandits in the world. It'll do everyone a favour,"

Asshole.

"We are about to have a problem," growled one of the guys at the other table by the pit wall.

"Don't worry Anatoli, he's not quite that stupid. I hope," I said flashing him a sideways glance.

"Go to hell," Sam snapped.

"There's nothing you can do here, Sam," I said, sitting back in my chair, while Anatoli loomed by our table, finger twitching above the trigger of his Makarov.

He went to respond, but I watched his jaw clench as he glared past me. I felt the brush of fingers on my shoulder as a hand grabbed the back of my chair. I didn't even need to turn around to know it was Viktor behind me. I just needed to see the fear in Sam's expression to know it was.

"You had better be careful, American, you are not amongst friends," he warned in a low, but dangerous voice.

They glared at each other for a long, tense moment, before Viktor pulled a chair from an adjacent table and sat next to me, never taking his gaze off Sam.

"Hiding behind the strong men again, I see," Sam hissed derisively.

"You alright?" Viktor asked me, finally pulling his eyes from Sam to look at me.

"Fine," I managed.

I noticed he wasn't armed with either of his usual weapons, but Viktor never went anywhere unarmed, not even to the shrimp pit. He'd have a knife on him somewhere. Not that he needed one. The man himself was a weapon.

Confident that Viktor had it handled, Anatoli and his pal sat back down to watch the current fight, with one more unfriendly look behind them.

"I'm coming with you to find those idiots, tomorrow," he stated. "Don't argue,"

I shrugged and flicked a glance at Sam. "I'm not arguing,"

"Good,"

I was not surprised that Viktor knew what was going on. He always knew. He was the only one that Yuri really trusted. I was also inwardly relieved that I didn't have to leave the base alone with Sam. I was sure he was done being amicable.

I glared across at him again, mirroring Viktor's contentious expression, while a part of me still wanted his companionship and trust. I knew he could be a good friend to have.

My stomach roiled again as one of the shrimp in the pit, split the carapace of its rival with a sickening crunch. I sighed and turned to Viktor. "He needs someone else to baby sit him, I'm done,"

Anatoli glanced over his shoulder at me and narrowed his eyes, before gesturing to his friend. They both stood and headed pointedly towards the bar. I guess they didn't want to either.

"Where is Anton?" Viktor asked.

I shrugged. "I told him to leave, because I wanted to talk to this jerk,"

Viktor swore. "I told Anton to stay with him,"

"Don't go cutting off any fingers," I rolled my eyes. "As if he could get far anyway. Any one of us would shoot him if he tried something, and Anton is useless. He'd have no chance,"

Viktor grunted in irritation, but turned in his seat and grabbed a man walking past. The guy was obviously very drunk and stumbled as Viktor pulled him forward, sloshing his moonshine all over the boots of an other guy near him. He swore loudly, but Viktor waved him off.

"Watch the outsider," he ordered, throwing the guy towards Sam.

I looked at him sceptically. As if he would be able to take Sam. The American jerk himself, seemed to agree with that at least. I shook my head and stood. Whatever, I didn't care. He was someone else's problem now. Without a backwards glance, I strode out on to the metal catwalk in the middle of the compound, glaring into the murky water all around me.

Before I could get very far, Viktor caught up to me and walked in silence beside me. I sighed, grateful for his presence. That's just one more thing that I liked about him. He knew when to be quiet. He waved a hand towards his tower and I followed him up the metal fire stairs at the side. At the top he turned to gesture me silently forward. I brushed his arm as I passed and is gaze followed me.

The Smoky warmth of Viktor 's room enveloped me as he pushed the door open. To say the room was sparse would be an understatement. It was utilitarian, and sterile, with very little in the way of personal effects. Much like Viktor himself.

It had been some sort of observation tower, perhaps to oversee work within the treatment plant, with windows on all four sides. Although sheets of corrugated metal had been secured over the glass of two of the sides, to give a little more privacy. The windows overlooking the main compound and the approach from the river were left as they were, so that Viktor could still keep watch. He liked to keep watch. Always.

Along the back wall was a long workbench with everything neatly put away and a rack where he kept his spare guns with carefully stacked ammo boxes underneath. I have never seen a bandit who was so tidy. I allowed myself a small smile as Viktor peeled off his jacket at the door and strode over to the steel, half beer keg that served as a fire place. I remembered the any times I had gotten in trouble for leaving something out of its place.

I let my head droop on to the boards of the table as the sound of a cast iron kettle scraping over the metal grate, told me that Viktor was boiling water. I heaved a sigh. This place was as familiar to me as my own space, for all the time I've spent with him here. I have probably spent more time here than anywhere else if I was being honest.

I listened to Viktor loading wood into the fire and the rain drumming on the tin roof and I could have fallen asleep right there at the table. I almost did, when Viktor's deep voice broke the silence.

"I heard you had a rough time today,"

Rough didn't even begin to cover it. I sighed, opening my eyes to watch him reach into a cupboard above the sink next to the fire drum.

"You could say that," I grumbled into my arm. "The Batwing, the sewers, those mole rat bastards with their corpse pile, and those fucking spiders,"

Viktor paused in the middle of pulling a wooden box from the cupboard and turned to look at me, brow furrowed in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

I grunted in annoyance. I really didn't want to go over this all again, but I forced the words out, explaining for the second time, my ordeal. I watched him narrow his Arctic grey eyes as I finished.

"I heard about the Batwing attack over the radio, but nothing about any of that,"

"Not many people know, and I would like it to stay that way,"

Viktor shook his head, pulling a small sachet from the box he was holding and replacing it in the cupboard.

"Only you could have these things happen, Natalya," he snorted, as he returned to the table. "I knew it was a bad idea to leave you with that American,"

I pressed my eyes shut with a huff. "I don't want a lecture right now. Sam saved me from the Batwing and gave me what I needed to survive the sewers. I'm alive now because of him," I suddenly felt an overpowering urge to defend the asshole even though it was his fault I was there in the first place. " He didn't actually mean for the ground to cave in, it was an accident," I added grudgingly.

Viktor grunted as if he didn't believe me. He gave me an intense look, one that always set me on edge. I tried not to squirm, remembering his ruthless efficiency in interrogation.

"I hope you know what you are doing," he said finally. "I agree with Yuri, that man is dangerous,"

I ignored him, scowling at a knot in the wood of the table.

"I don't like him," he continued.

I glanced up at him with a smirk. "Are you jealous?"

He frowned at me. "Oh, yes, that's why I don't like him. It has nothing to do with him being a threat to us, or anything like that," he growled sarcastically. He turned away from me, but not before I saw his jaw clench. I chuckled into my arm and shut my eyes again, with satisfaction at his non-answer.

A few silent minutes later, the sound of a mug being placed on the table in front of me, made me open my eyes.

"Here, drink this, it will help with the nausea," Viktor said.

"What is it?" I asked dubiously, frowning at the white, chipped mug.

"Ginger tea,"

My frown deepened. I hadn't seen anything other than bland mushroom tea for years.

"Where the hell did you get ginger tea?" I asked, sitting up to pull the mug towards me.

"From a trader a few years ago. I have a handful in there still, but it was the last of his supply and probably the last we'll see," he waved a hand at the cupboard as he sat down opposite me, setting a bottle and glass before him.

I inhaled the warm steam deeply. "That must have been valuable. What did you trade for it? "

"His life," he said casually, pouring himself a glass of moonshine from the bottle.

I took a sip of the tangy tea and almost choked on it. "You killed him for his tea?"

"No, he tried to steal from me, so we came to a deal. I take his most valuable wares, or his life,"

I nodded. "Fair,"

"That's what I thought too," he smirked at me from over his glass.

" What else did you get?"

" That box of tea you saw earlier, a modified rifle scope, some ammunition and the sawn-off," he gestured to the gun rack behind him.

That shotgun was one of his favourite weapons. I tried using it once, but it has a hell of a kick and almost broke my shoulder. Well, shotguns were never my thing.

"You've had that tea a while, then, and you're giving it to me?" I asked after a while.

"Hmm, I don't care for ginger," he shrugged. "Thought it would be useful to trade,"

I nodded. " Well, thanks," I said, taking a long drink. I felt it's warmth radiate through my body, chasing away the cold.

"What did you say to Yuri earlier, to make him listen to me?"

"I just said it was in our best interest to listen to you," he watched me intently for a long moment.

" I hope I wasn't wrong,"

I met his gaze. I didn't think that was all of it, but I knew he wouldn't say more.

"You're not wrong. Everything I do is for us," I said, giving him a warm smile.

His grey eyes softened, and I could see the trust he had for me. And I loved him for it.

My lips turned up in to a playful smile. "Even when my methods are... questionable,"

He narrowed his eyes again, but his mouth had a hint of a smirk at the corners.

"Yuri is right about you. You are trouble,"

"It's a gift," I grinned.

" Hmm," He was almost able to suppress his smile, but I could tell he was trying hard. The fondness in his eyes gave him away.

I drained the rest of my tea before standing and circling the table. The ginger had been like magic on my stomach and the nausea that had been hanging around for most of the afternoon, had all but disappeared. Viktor's hawkish eyes followed me as I slid on to his lap. I hooked my arms around his broad shoulders and lightly kissed him, tasting the sharp, almost metallic bite of Andrei's moonshine concoction, in his mouth. He pulled me against his body, kissing me hard, with the same energy he always had when we were together. It was so easy to fall into his arms. I could stay here forever. After everything I had been through today, he was exactly what I needed.

We lingered in the kiss for what seemed like an eternity, feeling each other's energy. He ran his fingers through my hair with a gentleness that made me sigh against his mouth. He pulled away to stare into my eyes and run a finger down the side of my face that left a tingling trail in its wake.

"You are trouble," he repeated in a low voice.

I brushed my lips against his neck. "Oh, You love it,"

He sighed, but confirmed that he did, by standing and hauling me up against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he kissed me again, carrying me to the back corner of the room where his camp cot was concealed behind a screen. Where I had been many times before.

Yes, this is everything I want right now.

He gently lowered me onto the blankets, never breaking the kiss. I groaned as his delicious weight settled between my thighs. I ran my tongue over his and I felt his body come alive on top of me. His hands slid slowly over my breasts, down to my stomach and then lower, making me arc beneath him, wanting more of him. All of him.

I pulled his shirt free, feeling his warm skin beneath, the raised ridge of a scar. I broke the kiss briefly to tug the shirt over his head and drop it on the floor and he did the same with mine. I watched his pale eyes heat as they passed over my naked body. He groaned almost imperceptibly and I grinned up at him. I pulled him down to me, taking his mouth with mine again, moaning softly. The tenderness of his skin against mine set my whole body on fire, igniting an exciting spark inside me and I longed for the burn.

"What are you waiting for?" I murmured, slipping my hands between his hips and the leather of his belt.

" Oh, You want me to make the first move, then?" The fingers on one hand worked the buckle of his belt, while the other found his hard length below. He groaned again, louder this time, his head dipping to rest his forehead on mine.

" I know you like it that way," I traced a slow arc along his jaw with my lips.

Wordlessly, he kicked off his boots and trousers, revealing himself fully, and I couldn't help but admire the hard, toned muscles of his back, chest and arms that had not dulled with middle age. He never failed to impress me with his fitness. Or his stamina. I grinned mischievously at the thought of him as I claimed his mouth again.

I thrust my hips into him and twisted so that he rolled to the side, allowing me to climb on top of him. His gaze was full of anticipation as I pulled off my own trousers and underwear, before pressing my naked thighs into him. My skin burned with the want for him.

His mouth was on mine again, sliding his tongue over my own, with a new ferocity. His hands caressed my back and ass, pulling me closer. I felt him inside me and I rocked my hips. At first slowly, then gradually faster until I moaned aloud with the pleasure of it. He pushed himself deeper with a series of powerful thrusts that made me cry out. His hands cradled my hips and I was consumed with a heat that simmered over my skin, and under it. More. I needed all of him.

I moved over him again and again, for I don't know how long, each thrust growing a knot of pleasure deep inside me that was almost more than I could bare. Then, he rolled me over with a quick, deft movement so he was on top of me, keeping his weight off me just enough for me to breathe, to moan with each thrust that took me closer to the edge.

"You feel...so good," I said between ragged breaths.

" I can tell," he replied, curling his lip into a smile.

I pulled him down to kiss him as he shuddered with pleasure and I used his sculpted ass as leverage to push him in deeper, expanding that knot of pleasure almost to its limit. It was so damn close.

" Give me more," I breathed into his ear.

He obliged by slowing his rhythm slightly, pushing himself as far as he could, over and over. I kissed him hard and I felt the first wave begin to devour me. I arched into him, taking all of him in as pleasure surged through me again and again, until all I could do was clutch at his shoulder and ride it out. Still he continued, faster, with a desperation for his own finish. It came quickly, and his whole body shuddered as he let out a moan of immense pleasure, muffled against my neck.

We lay there panting, until his weight became too much and I squirmed trying to move him.

When he didn't respond, I jabbed him in the ribs.

" Hey, you great fucking lump. Get off!"

He groaned as if woken from sleep.

"You can't fall asleep there, I can't breathe. You're too fucking heavy,"

He rolled and I shoved him off, untangling myself from his hot body. He gave no other response, passing into sleep completely.

I glared at his back. The jerk always did this, falling asleep almost immediately afterwards. I was jammed between him and the cold metal of the wall. I growled at him, trying to move him over, but it was as useless as trying to move a mountain. I squeezed myself down next to his back, but the edging of the cot dug into me and I gave up. I punched his rock hard shoulder in frustration, hurting my knuckles and climbed over his immovable form."Why are men assholes?!" I yelled at the darkness.

Finding the blankets we had thrown aside in lust, I hurled them down on the floor before lying on top, using another as a pillow. Staring up at the ceiling, listening to the persistent rain on the roof. I tried to sleep, but despite how tired I was, it was a long time coming. My mind kept circling back to what would happen when we left the protection of the base the next morning. Would Viktor be enough to stop Sam from killing me if he decided to? And why the hell, couldn't I get that American Bastard out of my head? I was not attracted to him. No fucking way. I couldn't be. I needed to kill him, put this all behind me and get on with my life, but I needed the right time. Not for the first time, I hated my decision to get involved with him. I glowered through the darkness at Viktor' s prone form, and seethed as I went over the plan in my mind.