Salvage

Thirteen - Part 1

November Eighteenth

Integration of Ms. Miller seems to have gone well. They keep calling her "a normal," which I tell them is inappropriate, but of course they ignore me. However, since W12 and W13 have accepted her, the others follow suit. Those boys can do no wrong in the group's eyes.

There still remains the question of who organized the kidnapping attempt in the first place. With Ms. Miller's name no longer held in extreme suspicion, we must turn to the interrogation for more information. Agent Remington has gone to lend his expertise on Josie Lawrence's history. She suffered a psychotic break some years ago, shot her husband, then shot herself. Imagine our surprise when she turns up alive and well, and as bitchy as ever. She hasn't told us how she managed it yet, but with her skill set I'm sure it was simple enough.

We are still in lockdown, until she caves and gives us something. I know we are in danger, and I have taken every precaution possible. Despite this, I can't help but feel that I am currently no more than a glorified babysitter, and Subject Group W no more than a rowdy group of kids cooped up too long. I hope we resolve this soon.

"It's bedtime."

A loud, concerted groan arose from the table, and Aurora had to suppress a sigh of disappointment herself.

"But Daniel is still winning! We have to beat him," Cece piped up from her seat next to Adam. She was clutching a handful of cards, and Adam had been gently assisting her pick out the right ones at the right moments.

Aurora could see the expression on Jane's face brooked no argument. "It is pretty late," she offered, glancing at her watch. "You know if we started again tomorrow with a fresh brain we'd have a better chance of beating him."

Cece pondered, tilting her head to the side, then finally gave a nod and wiggled down from the chair. "Okay! I'll go to bed then. But tomorrow." She looked over at Daniel and gave a fierce scowl. "We're gonna get you."

"I'm trembling in my shoes," Daniel called back lazily. He was kicked back, had been texting on his phone for the entire evening, and was still winning this stupid Apples to Apples game. It was just because he was so freaking funny. His cards got chosen every time.

They'd been playing this game for a good hour, now, after they'd gotten tired of the endless Monopoly tournament that had been going on all afternoon. After Aurora had been introduced around the group, faces and names flying past at breakneck speed, they seemed to accept her seamlessly. There was a strange moment as she met them, each gave her an intense stare, meeting her eyes just long enough to make her uncomfortable. Only then had they smiled and introduced themselves.

Aurora felt a kinship with these people, even if their pasts had been vastly different. She saw herself in them, and it bound her mind up into a strange tangle of grief, memories, empathy, and joy as the kids relaxed around her, and accepted her. She was still exhausted from the day's ordeal, but her mind was just too overloaded to sleep.

"Goodnight 'Rora," Cece called out as she scampered out of the main room. With reluctant grumbles, the other younger children slowly followed suit, trailing out of the room behind Jane.

"Goodnight," Aurora called back with a smile. The others were starting to filter away from the table slowly, calling their own goodnights, and pairing off into smaller groups. Nobody was allowed to go wandering outside, but Jane had determined the front porch was still safe, so some were taking up residence on the porch swing and taking in the cool night air.

As they left, Chinook pushed to her feet and glanced over at Daniel. She looked a bit nervous, but smiled confidently and lifted her chin. "Want to head to bed?"

He gave her a half shrug. "I'll stay in my own room. Thanks though."

Her cheeks turned a dark tanned pink and she turned, striding down the hallway. When the door slammed shut behind her, Adam crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. It was just the three of them around the table, now.

"You shouldn't piss her off on purpose," he said with a shake of his head.

Daniel snorted and kicked his legs off the table, pushing up to his feet. "I'm keeping expectations realistic. She gets too sentimental."

"She cares about you. At least stop fucking her." Adam's expression was less playful and more pinched, now.

Daniel paused. "You know what, Adam? I'll stop fucking her when she stops begging for it." With that, he strode out of the room, and the door slammed shut behind him.

Aurora let out a small exhale in the silence of the suddenly cleared room. "He's having sex with Chinook? That's... Wow."

"Yeah," Adam replied grimly. He straightened back up in his chair and clenched his fingers into fists. "I think they started out of curiosity, wanted to see what it was like, and now... I don't know. It's all fucked up."

"Seems like it," Aurora agreed. "Do you think he feels anything for her at all?"

"Sure. He cares about her, same way he cares about all of us. He knows what we've been through, he feels responsible to take care of people, but I don't even know if he knows what love is."

Aurora blew out a soft breath and closed her eyes, resting her chin on her palm. She was so tired, and her head felt so heavy. "Do any of us know what that really is?"

"I don't know. I think I know it when I feel it." Adam's voice was deep, now, and he was very deliberately looking down at his hands as they rested on the table. "I know I love this group. My family. I'd die for them."

"Maybe that is what it means. Someone you'd die for," Aurora replied thoughtfully. She flicked her eyes open to look at him, and their gazes locked.

It felt like another moment slowed in time, but this one, Aurora wouldn't let flicker out. She reached forward and covered his hand with her own, keeping her eyes on his. Maybe she wasn't ready for anything crazy and complicated, or anywhere near ready for sex, but she didn't need to leave things as she had. As soon as they touched, that pulsing awareness thrummed to life between them once more. She might never get used to that feeling. Attraction.

"Adam, I know I've been... cold to you." He started to protest immediately but she squeezed his hand, feeling his skin hot under her palm. "Please. I have. I was kind of a jerk, and you didn't really deserve any of it. I've always said I would rather an unpleasant truth than a pleasant lie any time, and... I am honored that you trusted me with a secret as life changing as this."

Adam was silent. He turned over his hand under hers, and their fingers tumbled together, interlocking awkwardly until they found their place, intertwined. Without making eye contact, he ducked his head, and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

Aurora watched him, feeling the warm pressure on her hand, and her heartbeat accelerated, but she didn't feel panic rising. She felt... perfect.

They stayed sitting, quietly talking and holding hands for the next hour, until Aurora couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. Adam showed her to a tiny guest room with some boxes in the corners, but also a twin bed that looked comfortable and clean. She tumbled into it, and before she could even think about taking off her boots, she fell asleep.