Little Red (Jacob Seed)

24. I Will See You Later

The next morning was somber to say the least. Jacob and Rieka woke up at the same time and ate together. Now they are standing at the front door, just looking at each other. Jacob sighed as he cupped his Little Red's face. Rieka reached up and placed her hands on his, smiling sadly at him.

"Don't cry Little Red" Jacob smiled as he wiped away the few tears that had fallen down her cheeks with his thumbs.

"I'm not crying" she forced a sad laugh and smiled up at him.

"I love you" Jacob whispered before leaning down and kissing her, slowly and passionately. Rieka kissed him back instantly, gripping onto his jacket. She didn't want to let him go.

"I love you" Rieka whispered back as they pulled away.

"I will see you later" Jacob assured her, stepping away from her.

"You better" Rieka said a little sternly. Jacob smiled at her before turning and walking towards his truck.

Jacob turned as he climbed into the truck and looked at Rieka. He looked her up and down, committing every part of her to his memory. They both knew that this could be the last time they see each other. Rieka watched Jacob drive away, she was watching the man that she loved driving way to his death. She knew that she had to be strong to do what she had to do.

Once the truck was out of sight she pulled her coat on climbed into her own truck. As she pulled away from the cabin she grabbed her radio and clicked it on. "John? You there?" She asked as she drove towards Jacob's bunker.

"Rieka? What's going on?" John's voice came through the radio, he knew that something must be wrong.

"I need you to do something for me...I need to help Jacob. He is going to face the Deputy and I don't think that he is going to win this battle" Rieka sighed as she drove.

"What do you need?" She heard John's voice sigh. Rieka smiled gratefully before going on to explain what she needed him to do.

-----

Rieka walked out of the cages with Pratt, they noticed that the security around the bunker had decreased. She assumed that it was because Jacob needed them for his confrontation with the Deputy. She climbed into the truck again, with time with Pratt sitting in the passenger seat. "W-what is happening?" Pratt asked nervously. Jacob doesn't allow Red to deal with Pratt alone so the situation was concerning and he didn't want to deal with Jacob's anger afterwards.

"You probably don't understand this Pratt but, Jacob is about to do something really stupid and I have to try to stop him...I can't lose him" Rieka explained as she drove away from the bunker.

"Why do you love him?" Pratt asked, hanging his head shyly.

"Like I said, you probably don't understand. I love him because of everything about him. I can tell you this because the chances are that I won't be seeing you again. I love him because he cares, went we first spoke he was actually nervous even if he won't admit it, he is fascinating and intelligent, he listens to me. Pratt, he is so deeply flawed and to me...that makes him perfect" the hooded woman rambled, smiling at the thought of Jacob.

"He doesn't deserve you" the dark haired man whispered, she only just heard him.

"That's what he thinks. But he is wrong" Red shook her head. She knows that Jacob feels like she can do better, he had even told her that before, but she knows that there is nothing better than Jacob Seed.

-----

Rieka and Pratt sat in the truck, listening to the sounds of gunfire in the distance. It was a battle field behind those trees and Rieka wondered whether Jacob needed this moment. Perhaps something in him craved the action, maybe the Deputy was just the opponent that he needed to feel...useful. Then concern flooded her body as she wondered if the war in front of him would cause his PTSD to act up. Rieka tried to push all of those thoughts to the back of her mind when another truck pulled up.

Two of John's men stepped out and Pratt got nervous. After a reassuring pat on the shoulder from Red, the pair climbed out of the car and approached the two men. They eyed Pratt sceptically. "Thank you" Rieka thanked the two men, who simply nodded at her with smiles before walking to the back of the truck and dragging something out of it.

Hudson trashed against the two men and cried as they dragged her over to Rieka. She gestured for Pratt to fetch the small medical bag, which he did a little too quickly. Hudson looked at him quizzically but couldn't say anything due to the duct tape over her mouth. Rieka tried to shush her as she removed the duct tape and threw it to the side.

"Fuck you" where the first words Hudson said to the girl, John's men kept their aim on the woman just in case she tried something.

"Shh, it's alright. I am trying to help you, but you have to let me" Rieka spoke gently as she opened her bag.

"What the-" Hudson began but stopped, looking over at Pratt with a confused expression.

"It's a-alright. She really does help" Pratt assured her, smiling slightly. He was excited to see a friend, and to know that she was in good hands.

Hudson looked at Rieka before sighing and nodding, accepting her help. "I'm Red. This will all be over soon, you will see your friends again" she smiled before getting to work, cleaning Hudson's wounds.

Pratt watched from the side, feeling once again grateful for Red and what she was doing. Not only has she helped him and so many other people under Jacob's control, she is now helping his friend. Hudson had her hands cuffed behind her back and was pretty weak from John's poor care but she would be fine. Not only did Red clean Hudson's wounds, she also cleaned away most of the blood and the dry tears on her face. Pratt truly thought that she was a miracle worker. Joseph and the others are right, Red really is an angel. At least in Pratt's mind.

"Alright, now that we have you cleaned up, let's get you on your feet" Red smiled before standing up and helping Hudson to her feet as well. She held her arms to help her stand and once she was standing she let go. "Can you two watch her?" Rieka asked John's men and they nodded, eager to help. "Pratt, can you grab the bag?" She asked. Pratt nodded and hurried to grab the larger medical bag before returning to her side, he was even more eager to help her.

"Alright. We are ready" she smiled at the small group of people. They weren't much of an army like Jacob would suggest they get but Rieka is not a soldier.