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Dead Men Walking
Topic Started: Nov 28 2014, 02:20 AM (70,828 Views)
DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Connor recognised what Antonio was doing, how he was calling on him to forgive and forget. Connor didn’t see why he should.

“We all need food,” he said. “But you held us at gunpoint. And your brother hit Brandon.”

* * *

“Oh, right,” Annie blinked.

In her excitement about Emmett being okay, that part of her conversation with Saxon had slipped her mind. Now she’d have to consider how that would look from Brandon’s perspective.

“He invited me over for dinner. I guess he, um, caught me off guard, because I said yes.”
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"I won't apologize for the guns, you'd have done the same. Taking that food and hitting your friend wasn't right though, you deserve an apology for that. I don't expect you to forgive us for it, but it would mean a lot if you did." John addressed Connor directly.

"Why isn't your brother apologizing? Shouldn't Brandon be hearing this too?" Emily asked.

"Donnie isn't the kind to apologize for anything, especially when he's wrong. He doesn't speak for me or my family though. I'm apologizing for him because I don't want the fallout from his actions harming my wife or my kids." John responded frankly.

Emily thought on it a moment. He admitted to having a practical reason for apologizing, but just because it was practical didn't mean it was less real.

"I can't believe you're selling out uncle Donnie." Alex protested quietly.

"Your Uncle may have earned us enemies. Look at this situation. This is exactly what I'm trying to teach you, boy. We'll talk about this later." John responded sternly.

"Fine." Emily finally answered "Apology accepted."

...

"You mean, like a date?" Brandon asked with note of incredulity.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Connor looked away. John’s apology didn’t do much to quell the annoyance that still lived in the pit of his stomach, and Connor didn’t forgive him, but he recognised he had no room to keep going at him. John had said all there was to say.

“Yeah, sure, from me too,” Hank spoke up instead. “For whatever it’s worth.”

* * *

Annie cocked her head slightly, as taken aback by Brandon’s question as she was by Saxon’s invitation. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again before words came out. She took a moment to gather her thoughts.

She realized right away that she had a decision to make. She knew the knowledge of Saxon’s condition would colour the rest of the conversation, but she wasn’t immediately sure whether she should divulge it or not. For the second time that day, she had to consider if physician-patient privilege still applied. Before, she decided it did, and that she wouldn’t disclose Saxon’s diagnosis to his people. But her own people – she decided that was different.

“He’s sick,” she said, finally. “Cancer. He didn’t want his people to know, so I promised not to tell. I think he just wants to express his gratitude.”
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
"It's worth a lot actually. Thank you." John assured Hank.

"You're done here people. This was good work. I'll drive you back and we'll send somebody around with your rations." Dwight informed them as he got into the pickup they arrived in.

...

"Oh." Brandon said to the news.

Saxon was dying. He felt a pang of sympathy for him that he knew he was going to die. That put him in the same camp as pretty much everyone else, but everyone else at least had a fighting chance. It put some of his actions in a new light. Why he offered supplies to other groups. Maybe he just wanted to do some good with the time he had left. If it were Brandon in his position, he'd probably only look out for his own, but then, Saxon hadn't seen what they'd seen.

He also felt a strange sense of relief that it wasn't a date. If it were just a thank you then accepting didn't mean anything. The whole thing just made him feel territorial. He didn't doubt for a second that Saxon was probably going to ask her to stay, she was the most valuable person they had. Brandon trusted Annie to stand by them but this town was well supplied and seemingly safe. Now more than ever Annie must be worried about Connor's safety. He couldn't blame her if she were looking at it as an out.

"That was something we should have discussed. I don't trust these people. It's not anything they've done but... you know. He'll probably invite you to stay here." Brandon said, rubbing his aching left shoulder gingerly.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Annie studied Brandon a moment before replying.

“You’re right, we should have discussed it,” she started. “Like I said, the invitation took me by surprise. And I don’t blame you for not trusting them.”

She really didn’t. She was against conflict and killing when it wasn’t necessary, but she wasn’t against caution. It would be a long time before she forgot her experience over the last couple days. That pitch black train cart was likely to haunt her dreams.

“As for me staying here – you know you don’t have to worry about that, right?” she asked, though she guessed from his tone that he didn’t know that. “I was with you in that laboratory in Chicago, remember? I saw what you saw.”

She lowered her voice – “The cure in your bag is not a fairy tale.”

Then she took a breath before continuing.

“If I can help – and I know I can – I don’t know how I’m supposed to ignore that. I don’t mean to pay myself on the back, but if I wasn’t here, what would have happened to Emmett? What will happen the next time someone gets hurt or sick? That’s a lot of pressure, and I don't like it on my shoulders, but I can’t shrug it off. Not after everything that’s happened. And yes, I’m worried about my son, and maybe dragging him into this was the wrong call. I thought it would help him. Maybe it has, even. Either way, the call’s made. I’m with you. We’re with you.”

She paused.

“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to make a speech. I just wanted you to know that. As for this dinner invite, do you want me to renege?”
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Brandon smiled a little to hear Annie's reassurance. In the back of his mind he was questioning whether the cure was worth all this. He'd always been sure so he kept on going without entertaining the idea of abandoning the mission. It might have been this place or maybe just that he was tired but he was dwelling on everything they'd gone through, all the people they'd met and fought and began thinking that maybe it wasn't a bad idea to settle down somewhere and look after themselves.

Inevitably though he thought about everyone they'd lost however and he knew letting it go was impossible. Mostly he thought about Randall. He wanted there to be a world for his daughter. Now that Nolan was gone too there was really no choice. They had to finish it. It felt good to hear that again from somebody else.

"No, don't cancel. If. When he invites you to stay don't say no, just tell him you need time to decide. If he really wants you here he might try taking the choice away from you. If these people aren't what they say we want to give them a reason to stay civil. We'll keep everything business for a few days, then when Eli and Kelsey get here we leave straight away." Brandon said more aassuredly.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
Annie nodded along to Brandon’s instructions. Humoring these people seemed sensible. Maybe if they had played along with Leonora longer, things would have turned out differently in Salt Lake City. Maybe they could have left quietly in the middle of the night, instead of being kidnapped and shot at. She may have felt reasonably confident that Saxon and his people weren’t the same brand of secretly insane as the New Dawn followers, but better safe than sorry.

“That makes sense,” she said. “But, uh…”

She hesitated. The last thing Brandon said – the part about waiting for Kelsey and Eli – was something she had been too busy to really think about until now.

“What if they’re not here in a few days?” she asked after a beat. “Believe me; it pains me to even suggest that possibility. Truly. I want them here too. I want to see Kelsey again more than anything. But I don’t think we can just…”

She trailed off. How to put this? She didn’t like to appear cold or uncaring, but all her talk about the cure and their mission had just reinforced how important it was. How it was bigger than any of them.

“That’s something we’ll have to think about,” she said. “If not now, then soon.”
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Strompy
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With all their present concerns it was hard to look ahead more than a couple days. They were so close to California now that a couple days could be the end of all this. It was harder still to consider they may have to press on without Eli and Kelsey, but Brandon was completely confident they wouldn't have to. With any luck they could keep this arrangement with Saxon and his people going until then. If not then they'd do what they always did and survive somehow.

There was a brief honk from outside and Brandon readied his carbine again. A pickup approached from the street and as soon as it stopped their people disembarked. They were all still okay. One less thing to be worried about. Brandon opened the door and kept an eye out as they filed back inside. The driver reversed the pickup, turned and headed off in the direction of the Red Lion.

"How'd it go?" he asked them as he closed the door again.
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DoctorYerishi
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Dude, wake up! We've got a world to save.
“It was hard work,” Hank said. “But it was fine. We’re okay.”

He held Brandon’s gaze only for a moment as he entered, before quickly looking away. The mixed emotions that came with it were still too potent. He looked instead to Annie, who had followed Brandon to the foyer, and had kneeled to embrace her son as soon as he walked through the threshold.

“Riley and the kids?” he prompted.

The good doctor looked up from Connor, and gave him a nod.

“They’re okay, they’re where you left them,” she said.

He nodded back and headed that way.

* * *

“I’m fine mom,” Connor said. “It was no big deal.”

He watched Hank leave the room, and then rolled his eyes a little bit when his mom took a little too long to end the hug.

“What about here?” he asked, when she finally did. “Is everything okay?”

“Actually, yes,” Annie said, standing up. “There was some good news.”

Connor looked past her to the hallway Hank had just exited out of. Moving in the other direction, another man appeared. Connor felt himself smiling in relief.

“Emmett!” he said.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
Antonio, wearing a rueful smile on his lips, lingered by the door as everyone reunited. It hadn't been a long foray into the unknown, maybe a few hours, but every day could be their last. A fact everyone here was already far too familiar with. He was glad that this time, at least, everyone had made it back safely.

"So did we miss anything good?" Antonio idly asked Brandon.

Of course, he asked Brandon knowing full well that they had. Emmett was not only awake but on his feet. In his condition, it was nothing short of a miracle. Or a testament to the man's otherworldly willpower.
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Strompy
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"Welcome back to the land of the living dead, guy." Emily said to Emmett with a simple nod.

It seemed like this might end up being a good day after all if Saxon and his people made good on their promises. There was another short honk outside, different from the last. Since they were announcing their presense Brandon assumed it was King's people again, probably there to do just that.

"I'll check it out. Aside from Emmett, nothing really note worthy happened. Well Annie's got a date but that's about it." Brandon teased with a grin before leaving the room for her to explain.

He joined Willow at the front where she remained as wearily vigilant as he had. Outside there was a delivery van appraoching at a respectful speed. Brandon raised his carbine in preparation and nodded to Willow to handle this one. If this was trouble he was going to hose that thing.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
I bet it's Annie's date. Willow immediately thought as the van rolled up outside.

She had been filled in on the details of Annie's dinner with Saxon. And frankly, she didn't know what to think of it. Brandon has seemed okay, if not apprehensive, about everything, so she tried her best to emulate that and think positively, pushing aside her thoughts of them capturing Annie to use as a doctor for their community.

"Alright." Willow said, the exhaustion visible in her voice.

She propped her Ruger against the wall, not wanting to lug it outside. She knew it was important to maintain appearances, but she still had her FNP secured on the right side of her waist and Glenda's 'knife' strapped on the left. That should be enough. And if it wasn't, then her boyfriend would even the odds in her favor. With all that in mind, she slipped outside and took a few steps onto the dead lawn and then waited for whoever was in the van to show themselves.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
Whoever was driving was wise. Once the van stopped he raised both hands out the window before reaching down to the latch and opening it. It was an asian man of about fifty with a little bit of a gut on him. He slowly turned a full revolution, his clothes were tight on him and it was plain just looking at him that he hadn't concealed a firearm on his person.

"Your food and medicine." he explained with arms still raised.

He nodded toward the van, asking permission to proceed.
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Make-7-Up-Yours
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Is that so?
"That was quick." Willow mused lightly.

The food and medicine. The whole reason they had talked to Saxon's group at any length was for these supplies. Honestly, she was surprised they had upheld their end of the bargain. At least, so far. She wasn't sold on these people yet -- in the back of her mind, this could still be a trap. Thankfully, there was a guy she loved behind her that always had her back.

"Go ahead." She confirmed, still maintaining a healthy distance.
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Strompy
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More posts, more Busey.
The man nodded and lowered his arms before going to the back of the van and opening it. He brought out two heavy looking boxes and placed them on the ground before heading back toward the door.

"Open the boxes. Show us what's inside." Brandon instructed him from the window.

The man started at the new voice, apparently unaware Brandon had been observing. He nodded quickly and walked back over to the boxes. He opened the first and pulled out two cans of soup showing them to Willow. He then tilted the box to the side to show her the rest of it. Some frozen dinners and more canned food. They'd have to get a fire going out the back.

The second box opened was the smaller of the two. Inside were several bottles, probably antiseptic and aspirin, as well as boxes of various cold and flu medicines. The thing Brandon was most interested in were fresh gauze and surgical thread. He thought about the wound in his shoulder and the less than proffessional job he'd had to make do with, he'd need Annie to take a look at it with a trained eye and hopefully avoid an infection. He had no idea where that guy's knife had been afterall. The man waited for permission once again.
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