Outside Of Life [WayHaught]

Fighting Back

Shae knelt down beside Nicole and took the redhead's hands into her own. "Bobo Del Ray is a visionary. To offer my expertise to him was one of the greatest honours of my life and it's a shame you can't see that, Nikki."

Nicole pulled her hands away and stared past the soldier. "I don't really care why you decided to up and leave the lives we built together; I care about my team and getting out of this hell hole alive."

"Well, that's not very nice, Nikki. Manners are important."

"I told you not to call me that."

"Then it seems we're at a stalemate? How about we make a deal?"

Nicole turned in her seat to face Shae. It was breaking her heart more than she wanted to admit, knowing that her wife had been alive all this time. And, even worse, she'd chosen to leave her.

"Ok then," the Sergeant said slowly, looking Shae up and down. "What are your terms?"

"Well, Bobo always likes meeting new people so what I'd ask from you is that you meet him. You and your team, that is. Even those who we've captured on the other side of the camp."

"Wynonna and Dolls?"

"Yup. In our custody and perfectly safe. If you agree to meet with Bobo, you and your team can be set free. No hidden clauses, no prenup. It's as clear as it seems."

Nicole raised an eyebrow, clocking the approaching soldiers in her peripheral vision. "And why should I trust you? Or anything that comes out of your mouth?"

Shae stood up and leant close to the Sergeant, their foreheads touching. "Because deep down you know you still love me, and that I still love you. We can be together, Nikki. We can both work with Bobo to reach the new Eden."

"That's not-" Nicole opened her mouth to speak but her lips were met with Shae's. The kiss was warm and sweet and reminded her of a better time. The time they'd shared together when Nicole was still working in construction and Shae would visit her with freshly-made lunches out of whatever rations they had for the day. They'd spend hours walking the perimeter of the wall, Nicole's relationship with Nedley meaning they were allowed to see over the top and watch the sunset a burnt orange every night.

After what seemed a mere second, Shae pulled away and grinned. "You kissed me back, Nikki. Seems like our deal is on."

Back in the cages, Waverly had managed to unhook her chains from a broken bar, allowing her more room to try and find a way to escape. Doc, however, had decided to remain firmly where he was.

"Come on, Doc, don't tell me you've given up?"

"No such thing is occurring, Miss Earp. I am simply biding my time."

"Seriously? The bar between our cages has a gap in it. If you untangle your chains too, maybe we could-"

"We could what, exactly? Lil darlin' I know what you're talking to, but I believe our energy and thinking can be used elsewhere."

"I can't believe you right now!"

Doc picked up his hat and lay it over his face, much to Waverly's annoyance. It was like he couldn't care less about them escaping and actually surviving more than five minutes. Just as the younger Earp was grappling to reach a hairpin in her coat pocket, a couple of soldiers started walking towards the cages and she hurried to hide her freed chains.

"What are you two squawking for?"

Waverly looked up at the soldier who'd spoken and smiled. "Nothing. I was just making sure he hadn't fallen asleep on me but it looks like he has now so."

The soldier didn't seem convinced and kicked Doc in the back through the gap in the bars.

"Dang nabbit!"

The soldiers laughed, Doc glaring at Waverly. It seemed as though he was trying to tell her something but what it was, exactly, she couldn't tell.

"If you would be so kind," the gunslinger said. "I require the use of your facilities."

"Then go where you are. You're not getting let out. You're a criminal, the both of you are."

Doc smiled, his bushy moustache twitching. "Well thank you for your kind consideration. Then may I suggest that you simply escort us to a hole in the ground so we may do our business away from your card game?"

The soldier exchanged a look before one of them grabbed a fistful of keys from his belt and started to take off the collection of padlocks holding the cage doors closed.

"Miss Earp," Doc whispered. "Be ready to fight for your life."