Me and My Wild Boy -A Yellowstone Story

It's Mine Alone To Disgrace

Kayce frowned as he watched Athena put on a bullet proof vest in front of her jeep, FBI emblazoned across the chest as he walked up to the house where Rip and Athena were. He walked over to her and said, "What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She responded as she tightened the straps on her vest.

"You're hurt, what are you doing going out there? Does dad know you're going?"

Athena gave him a look as she took a ponytail, quickly braiding her hair and tying it off as she said, "I'm doing my job, Kayce. The FBI unit out here is still small, but FBI presence is still needed. It doesn't matter if Dad knows I'm going or not, he has no power with something like this."

Kayce shook his head, turning to look at Rip who had just exited the house. "You ain't going to stop her?"

Rip scoffed, "Shit, Kayce. Have you met your sister? She's the most stubborn person I know right after your father. Now what do you know?"

"...He's with a militia. In the Crazies." Kayce reluctantly said, still glancing over at his twin who was checking the ammo she had. "We don't have any time."

"How can I help?"

At those words, Athena finally focused on them, a frown on her face as she watched the two. Kayce shuffled in place for a moment before saying, "It's a big ask: can't attack a fortified position without knowing the strength of our enemy. In Afghanistan, we'd send an armored vehicle into ambushes. Draw fire to know how many we're fighting. We don't have any armored vehicles..."

"Rip," Athena started, watching Rip with frightened eyes. She wanted to protest, afraid that he could get hurt or killed but knowing that with his loyalty to the Dutton family he wouldn't have any other answer.

Kayce winced as he heard Athena's tone of voice, slowly coming to the realization that Athena loved Rip, and the feeling was returned even more fiercely. "I'd do it myself, but..."

Rip looked at Athena and gave her a small smile as he answered Kayce, "I know. I'll draw your fire." He stood up and walked over to Athena, cupping her cheek as he told her, "You already knew that this was needed, Jade."

"But not you," she told him sternly.

He placed a kiss to her forehead and said, "The moment you were leavin' to run into danger, there was nothing stoppin' me from followin'. Now I just won't have to sneak my way in coming with you." He then pulled away and asked, "Can you drive me and Kayce to your father before you meet up with the Sheriff?"

"Yeah." She told him, closing her eyes as she gathered her emotions. Rip gave her one last look before walking to the passenger side of her jeep.

"'Thena," Kayce started, having a war within himself. He wanted to comfort her, but he also needed to get his son back.

"Get in," she told him, her eyes opening, and a cold professional look fell over her face. He frowned, never seeing her do something like that before, but he got into the back seat with her getting into the driver seat.

//***

The Dutton's had arrived where the militia group had set up camp along with the livestock agents and some police officers. John frowned when he caught sight of his daughter geared up, looking over a tablet that was sitting in her hands. "What are you doing here, Athena Jade?"

"My job."

"You are still hurt-"

"You all are sounding like a broken record at this point." Athena said, finally looking up from the tablet and stared at her father. "The FBI, me, is here to make sure that this is resolved without a war being started."