The Gamma's Daughter

Chapter Seven

Mercy

🦋

My alarm blaring on my phone and my Mom's 'quiet' cursing had me squinting my eyes open. I wasn't blinded by any light due to the living room lights all turned off. I tried to raise from my spot off the couch, but she hushed me and laid my head back down on the pillow on her lap.

"Mom, I have to get ready."
"No, you're not going tonight." She whispered.
"Mom."
"No, Merce. You are in no shape to go on patrol." She argued.

I sighed and sat up even with her trying to hold me down.

"Mom, look at me."
"You didn't see the look in your eye earlier as I helped you in the shower. It killed me seeing you like that. You can't go tonight." She worried like the caring Mother she is.

I grabbed her face in my hands and made her look to me. She was teary eyed and worried. I smiled delicately and nodded.

"I know. I know you hate seeing me like this. I hate it too, but we can't change it. All we can do is try our best to look past all of it and continue on to another day in order to protect this Pack. I was sad, hurt, and angry. That's okay, but now I have to pick myself up and push the grief to the side for just a little while because there are so many more people who could end up just like Chuck, Marina, and Mitch. I would never forgive myself if I allowed myself to be swamped by the hurt and someone else got killed."

She deflated a bit, but I could see in her eyes that she understands.

"Your Father would be so proud of you." She smiled sadly.

I silently sucked in a sharp breath while smiling back.

"Of us. He would be so proud of us."

I pulled her into a hug as a sob broke from her lips and stroked her back until she had calmed.

"Go get some sleep. I'll wake you if anything happens. Sleep in my room tonight and lock all the doors while I'm gone."
"Yes, Mom." She joked causing me to laugh lightly.

I stood up and walked upstairs to get ready. I pulled on my black tights, a white tank top, my black hoodie, my black mask, and of course my black combat boots. Before leaving my room I grabbed some extra arrows, then went back downstairs to grab my bow from the hall closet where I kept it.

"Mom, I'm about to leave now."
"Alright. Billy is on the porch waiting. You two please be careful." She smiled handing me two sandwiches wrapped in foil.
"Thank you and we will. Remember, lock all the doors and sleep in my room."

She just laughed and waved me off, but I was being serious. If I wasn't here for her and he came... I doubt he would look for her in my room. I hope at least.

I walked out to the porch and handed Billy his sandwich which he unwrapped and discarded the foil in the trash can. I did the same and we began walking.

"How did you sleep?" He asked.
"Well. I woke up on the couch not remembering how I got there."
"Sounds about right." He whispered taking another bite.

I nodded, then we fell into a comfortable silence finishing off our sandwiches while walking.

"Stay near me tonight." He told me.

He wasn't asking. He was telling me and I wasn't going to ignore that because I was going to do so regardless.

"I already planned on it."
"Good." He smiled while looking to me as we walked up to the border.

I smiled when we reached the border and seen Cooper and Michael.

"How was everything today?"
"Alright. Haven't had any problems since this morning." Cooper answered.
"Good, you guys get home and get some sleep. We got this." Billy said shaking both their hands.