The War Without Fate

Chapter 15- Vulnerability

I held my hands in front of me as the 3 people walked up the ramp and into the little puddle jumper plane that would take them all the way across to South America where they would be able to board another plane and head to Europe. The tall blonde girl that had been so accomadating in giving up her friend looked back and locked eyes with me. She mouthed the words 'thank you', we wouldnt be able to heard them over the roar of the jets. I nodded my head and I turned back toward the un-noticable jeep we were using for transformation around the states. Swinging into the drivers seat, I turned on the car and waited for everyone to climb in. As I peeled out of the empty parking lot I looked into my rear view mirror to make eye contact with clint in the back seat. 

"Give the Captain a call. Tell them they better be ready. Tell them to meet us in Washington D.C. There is a little inn outside of the city. Castor has kept in touch with the owner and it is, so far, untouched by the current destruction spreading around the states. Mention to Castor their honey moon destination. It should ring a bell I think." 

Clint nodded curtly and made the call as I sped down the empty highway. I was flooring the gas pedal. There were no speed limits now and no cops. The longer we stayed out in the open the more danger we were in. So getting to the inn as fast as possible was a proirity. 

We drove for 4 hours to reach our destination and I only let off the gas pedal a little bit when we had reached the dirt road that spanned for a mile before ending with the inn itself. The jeep bumped around past the gravel and multipul pot holes and the forest slowly swallowed the road and our car on it. Turning from just a garvel road to something more like a hiking trial. Where weeds grew up in the middle where wheels hadnt rolled. 

I pulled up in front of the quant little cottage with ivy twirling up its walls and the pillars on its porch. I squinted through the trees and two vehicles parked in the shade covered with branches. I pulled into a space next to them after the others had poured out of the car. Climbing out I spotted the pile of branches on the gournd and began camoflouging the jeep. It was already a forest green color anyway so there was little to do. 

After finishing up on the car I stepped over the under brush to reach the dirt path that lead to the picturesque little porch. Looking up I saw Tony step out of the screen door and stand at the top of the steps waiting for me. When I reached the top of the steps he pulled me into a hug and I noticed how wide and watery his eyes were.

"Are you ok?" I asked

"Yeah," he nodded slowly "Why did you go without me?" 

"We are running out of time. The country is running out of time. We needed to act." I pulled back a little to look at his face "I was only gone a couple of days."

"But you didnt even say good bye." He clamped his jaw done 

"I'm sorry," I replied sincerely "I was being careless. I shouldnt have done that."

"No you shouldnt have," He shook his head seriously, yet his voice gave way to the slight humor "You should always check with me before you do something."

"OK," I smiled "I'll be sure to wake you up in the middle of the night when I got to pee from now on."

He chuckled and rubbed took his hand in mine rubbing his thumb over the tips. I ran my finger down his jaw line and swung my arm around him as we walked into the house. We looked to the left to see the sitting room full of people. Steve was sitting next to the low hanging coffee table and spreading out blue prints. Setting up a plan and explaining it to the surrounding onlookers. 

Some heads turned as we entered but most were paying their attention to Steve. Max spotted us and moved over on the couch to make room for us. We went and sat down, squeezing our selves in. Glancing around the room I took note of Castor standing with the owner in the kitchen. I examined them through the propped open swining kitchen door. Held upen by a plastic trash can. Castor was comforting the woman. She had been Deana's mother. I began to get up to go say my apologies, but Castor caught my eye and shook his head. Perhaps afraid it might bring on some emotional out burst. I nodded and sat back in the couch squished against Tony.