Dom
I woke up the next morning to find Macy already gone. I feel kind of bad for sleeping in for so long while everyone else got to work, so I went out to find Macy and find where I can help out.
"Morning Mr. Howard, sleep well?" Oh so Matt is talking to me now
"Yeah I guess. Do you know where I can find Macy?"
Matt clenched his jaw and looked me in the eye, "What do you need her for?"
"I just want to see where I can help out. I feel bad for sleeping on for so long."
Matt stared at me for a few seconds and backed away a couple steps.
"She's cleaning up the lunch hall. I'll take you to her." Even though I remember this school, Matt walked me to the lunch room and sure enough Macy was in there wiping down tables and counters
"Good morning ma'am," Matt greeted
"It's fine Matt, we're in private you can use my name," Macy smiled at the two of us, "Good morning Dom, sleep well?"
"Yeah why didn't you wake me up? What time is it?"
"Oh I say about eleven in the morning. Is there something you needed?"
"I want to help out around here, is there anywhere I can go?"
"Of course! Matt, show him around would you? He can decide where he wants to help from there."
"Alright, let's go Dom."
We walked out of the school and into the town. Matt explained to me that certain areas were where families stayed, mostly the children. The adults would go out to work and the kids stay inside or the older ones go fix up other homes for more people if they come.
"In here is where our hunting team comes after the finish getting food and water. They leave at dawn, go fishing, collect water, come back and clean up their catch. We either dry the fish or the hunting team cooks it over that fire pit over there," Matt gestured to a wide and deep hole next to the building, "wanna see the training area?"
We walked to the park where he and I met and I saw the set up they have. A few soldiers were practicing their shooting with dummy guns and their hand to hand fighting with each other. I saw Chris watching and instructing them.
"What happened to you all?" I asked
"We learned the only way to survive was to change. We couldn't stay as a group of musicians with their camera guy. We have family to look after." I looked at Matt and really saw him. His eyes look tired, his face looked hard and cold. I can't believe this man was the man I grew up with.
"Everyone has learned how to handle a gun and other weapons. Families, hunters, soldiers, night guards, even high command. We all have to know how to defend ourselves and protect one another."
"Where did you get all this anyway?" I asked
"The ship. Just about everything you see came from the ship, even some of the soldiers."
"Hm. Where's Tom?"
"Tom should be coming back in soon. They don't take long fishing and getting water."
"I want to see him."
About an hour later the hunters came in and went for their building to clean their catches. I saw Tom at the back of the group carry four large burlap sacks of fish. He looked at me and did a double take before dropping the sacks.
"I heard you were back but didn't believe it," Tom embraced me in a bone crushing hug, "Great to have you back buddy."
I let him go back to his work and he smiled at Matt.
"I miss seeing Tom smile," Matt admitted
"What do you mean?"
"He hasn't smiled that genuine in a long time. It's nice to see it. Anyway, we better head back. I have to get some sleep for tonight," and we went back to high command.
Macy
I talked to Matt that morning. He was upset about Dom and I sleeping together. I don't mean sex, he was just upset we slept in the same bed. I'll confess, after Elle died I let Matt sleep in my bed with me because he couldn't sleep well. After that, it just became a regular thing. Then Matt went on about I let Dom back into our lives too quickly. I had to remind him that the man I "let into our lives too quickly" is the man he has been best friends with for twenty years, played music with, was with him through thick and thin.
Matt shut up after that and muttered something under his breath. I knew what Matt said but I asked him to repeat it, he didn't. He knew he didn't need to. He knew that I heard the three magical words everyone wants to hear, but now wasn't the time for them.
Dom came into my room with Matt and they seemed to have had a good day.
"Have you decided yet?" I asked Dom
"I have an idea of what I want to do, but only if it's fine with Matt," He looked at Matt with hopeful eyes. Matt looked at me and I mouthed the word yes.
"It's fine. You'll be put on the first night shift with me tonight."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Yeah I'm gonna go get some sleep. You should too if you're going to be with me tonight."
Matt walked out of the room and Dom sat down on my mattress.
"I'm going to check on Sophie," I announced and left. Of course I wasn't, she's with Kelly so she's fine. I was going to talk with Matt.
"Sergeant Bellamy, do you have a moment?" I asked walking into the large room of resting soldiers
"Of course, Commander." Matt walked out of the room and into the hall with me.
"Thank you for letting Dom work with you. I think this is what you need, real interaction with a friend. You have Chris and Tom but work at different hours. This is what you need," I said happily
"But that won't change anything, between us..."
"Matt please don't be like this," I placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked me in the eye
"It doesn't matter anyway, it's obvious you love him and he loves you."
"I was just a fan before this. I only talked to him the two days we were in the office building. Then he disappeared and we ended up here. To him it was a few hours, for us it was six years. I'm nothing to him, you and Chris and Tom are my friends," I saw pain in Matt's eyes and I started feeling guilty.
"It's fine, Macy. You're my best friend too, I should get some rest."
Matt went into the room and I stood in the hall for a few seconds after. I'd rather take my chances with the outside than deal with this shit.
