Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Wastes ❯ Chapter Forty ( Chapter 40 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Lana put Angelia down in her crib and pulled a blanket over her. After patting her back she walked to Skyla's room and sat down next to the bed. Taking a wet rag, she ran it over Skyla's body to wash her off. A sad look on her face as Skyla laid there limply.

"I have to admit. It is somewhat odd having people here while the others are away," Xavier said, standing in the doorway eating a chocolate bar.

Lana looked back at him. "It's very quiet."

"I tend to prefer the quiet. There is less animosity in silence."

"I...agree.."

"How are you holding up? Are the hormones still giving you trouble?"

She blushed and pulled the blanket back over Skyla. "No more than usual..."

"Well, at least the symptoms aren't getting worse," he smiled.

She nodded.

"When are you due to have your period?"

She thought a moment and held up her hand to count the weeks. "A week and a half I believe..."

"Okay. Let me know if there's any irregularities with your flow."

She blushed again and quickly nodded.

He sat down beside her and looked down at Skyla. "How is the baby doing?"

"Well...she's sleeping more at night. Maverick said it's because the milk fills her more than formula does..."

"That's wonderful. I've noticed she's started to get a little chubbier. That's a really good sign."

"Maverick...is very happy about that."

"Is he now?"

"Yes...he says...she's very healthy for her age thanks to me..."

"He would be correct. It's your milk that keeps her strong. She seems to have grown very attached to you because of it."

Lana smiled to herself. "I call her Angel..."

"That is a fitting name," he agreed.

"Um...Maverick doesn't know...don't tell him."

He laughed at that. "Why would you be afraid to tell him that?"

"Not afraid, embarrassed. He...finds it...attractive to have me playing mommy. It's already hard enough to keep him...satisfied," she smiled and blushed with a light laugh.

He chuckled and patted her head. "You make a cute mommy. You are very lucky to be with someone that cares about you like that."

She pushed her hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Xavier..."

"For what?"

"For saying that. I think I am lucky too."

"That is because you are. One day you will be a mother to your own child. They will be the luckiest of all."

"That's...so nice to say..."

"Yes...well, I had best get back to my computers. They start acting funny if I'm away from them for too long."

"Xavier...um...I wanted to know...when you created me...did...did you give me this personality or these looks?"

"What makes you ask that?"

She looked at Skyla. "I want to be more...feel more...than just a doll..."

He sighed and closed his eyes. "I did meddle with your genetic code to alter your looks, but your personality is your own."

"So...I look like this because of you...why...did you make me so different?"

"You would probably be better not knowing."

"No, I want to know."

"You are so different because I wanted to see if I could really alter a person's looks in the uterus."

"I...understand..." she whispered.

He just nodded. "Nothing more...but nothing less."

She only nodded.

"You have done much with your life, Lana. That I had no affect over."

"Earlier in my life...I would have said you were wrong. But then...I think of Maverick...and I am glad I am the way I am."

"I am glad that your life has had some happiness to it," he said softly.

She looked over at him as she turned. "Thank you...for creating me."

"Say anything you want. But don't say that."

"But, it's the only thing I want to say. You gave me life. And you brought me to Maverick. You gave me a family and something to love. You gave me happiness."

"No. Your parents gave you life. I simply gave you powers. The rest you earned for yourself."

"Say what you will...but I am very grateful to you."

He just nodded as he opened up the door. "The fact that you do not hate me for my actions is enough to make me happy."

"I am glad."

"So, who wants to sleep in the car this time?" Sarah asked as they stopped for the night. Already they were making camp, keeping their backs to the cavern walls so they'd only have to keep guard in one direction.

Hailey ran to Maverick and pulled on his leg. He bent down and lifted her up. She handed him her book. "Read it to me?"

He nodded. "Anyone of you can have the car."

"What is it that you have there?" Boris asked as he neared them.

Hailey snuggled into Maverick, cowering from Boris. "Nanny Doc's book..."

Boris's face fell as he saw her do this. "Hailey doll, you know that I love you very much. I realize...that I lose my temper, and I'm sorry for scaring you like I do."

She looked up at Maverick and he offered her a smile. "But you were mean...to Maven and Skyla!"

His lips tightened and he nodded. "I was, and I do not feel sorry for that. They hurt me, Hailey. I was mean to them, but I could never be mean to you.:

"Nanny Doc says that no matter what a person does you have to forgive them or you will die with a black heart," she said and moved closer into Maverick chest.

"Sometimes...it is hard to forgive people. Even if they do not intentionally mean to hurt you."

"Then you are not a man," she said softly.

Boris bit his lip. "I am. I am just a broken one."

She softened and looked at him. "Skyla told me I had to be strong for you...because you have a broken heart..."

He gave her a smile. "I am strong enough Hailey, but some wounds of the heart never really heal."

She bit her lip and held out her book. "Want to read it to me?"

He slowly reached out and stroked her face. "Maverick can read it to you," he said. "But I will save you a spot in my sleeping bag if you want."

She nodded. Maverick sat down on his sleeping bag and she sat in his lap. Pull the book open she flipped it to the pages she had last read. Maverick cleared his voice and started to read.

Maven closed his eyes as he stared up at the sky. He couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts in his head. "You shouldn't blame yourself," Sven said as he looked down at him.

"Blame myself for dying? Or for wasting Boris's once chance to see his daughter again?"

"From what I've heard, it doesn't end well for her if he had."

"What about Nanny Doc for Hailey? Or even Sarah's husband."

Sven sighed and blew out smoke. "Yes. They might have been saved. They might have been happy for a short amount of time, but they wouldn't have served any purpose. Your life might save others."

"Maybe.... But that doesn't make this any easier."

Maverick flipped the page. "It's hard to picture my life without Xavier. Today I woke up in his arms and the first thing out of his mouth was 'Don't move...I want to stay like this all morning. With my arms around you.' Of course, I couldn't say no. It's hard to say no to him. But by mid afternoon he went to the basement to his office, the office he calls his alone time. I understand he needs his space. It was at dinner that I brought of the possibility of having a family. As you know I've been secretly looking at children at the adoption agencies. None of them seem right. But I saw this little infant today in this woman's arms...she was so small...she was sick. All the children are sick. But for some reason this little girl touched my heart. I told the mother to bring her by my office and I would look at her for free. Supposedly the baby's name is Hailey. She has to most beautiful blue eyes..."

I'm getting off track. What I was saying before is that I brought up a family at dinner. For a long time he was silent which was odd for him because he's always go something to say. But after a few moments, he set his fork down and smiled. His words were 'We should adopt a girl with blue eyes.' I swear it was fate. I swear we are meant to have Hailey. I want her. She's all I can think about. I see her and her mother tomorrow. Perhaps...I could offer her something for Hailey..."

Maverick looked down at Hailey. She was a sleep. Closing the diary and laid back and let her cuddle next to him.

Sven woke the others up, wanting to get on the road again before teh Raiders started waking up. "The flatlands are the worms territory. When we get closer tonight, be quiet. Those things are monsters and will tear you apart."

"You better just hope that Evana doesn't try to push you into one."

He groaned and nodded. "I'm expecting the worse."

Maverick carried Hailey to the car and let her sleep as he put the diary up. Thoughts ran through his head about Xavier and Doc. He had never thought their relationship was as deep as love. It explained why Hailey is so important to him. Getting in the car, Maverick sat down. Evana was the last to get in the car. She threw her bag in the back and took a deep breath as she got in.

"Sleep well beautiful?" Sven asked, flashing her a smile.

She flexed her fingers. "I will hurt you," she warned but didn't bother to look at him. She knew he knew.

"What? Can't a guy make idle conversation?"

"I swore I said don't ever talk to me again."

"I have a bad memory."

"I'm reminding you. Leave me alone."

"Fine. But it's going to be a very long and boring day."

"Shut up."

"You know we could go out on a whim and talk about this."

She grabbed his collar and forced him over to her. Her eyes were hard. "I. Will. Kill. You."

"They say you always hurt the ones you...love," he whispered.

Evana punched him in the face. She went to do it again, but Maverick caught her hand. She turned to look at him. His face was hard. "You could kill him."

"Fub! M- jaw!" Sven held the blood back, moaning in pain.

Evana let his collar go. She plopped back in her seat, crossing her arms.

"I think you broke his jaw...." Maven said as he looked over at him.

"If I care, I'll let you know."

"At least wake Hailey up so she can fix him up."

"Nope."

"Fine... Hailey. You need to get up sweetie."

Hailey yawned and opened her eyes. "Are we there?"

"Not yet sweetie, but Evana broke Sven's jaw."

She sat up and stretched. Maverick handed her the medical bag and she crawled in the back seat. She sat in Sven's lap with a yawn and stated examining him. "It's not too bad," she said with a tired voice. "Just off line..." She grabbed his jaw and popped it back in place then gave him some gads. "Can't do much other than stop the bleeding and let it heal on its own."

"Fuck," he muttered as he held his mouth. "God.... Thanks brat."

She patted his head then crawled back in the front seat.

"Can we please refrain from hurting each other for the rest of this trip?" Sarah asked in a tired voice.

Evana said nothing. Sven couldn't say anything so he just stayed quiet. Evana had finally gotten her wish.

Maven just rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long trip if things kept up like this.

That night they camped off the road again, hiding the car behind broken down cars and metal. Everyone was asleep, but Evana couldn't sleep. Instead she took a walk and ended up in one of the broken cars, sitting in the back seat while she stared at the sky from the missing roof.

"Eating hurts thanks to you," Sven muttered as he stared at her.

Evana looked over at him. "There are no doors on this car so don't be surprised if I suddenly kick you...again."

"What's your problem with me?"

"You talking. Go away. I've been saying it for the past two days. Leave me alone. But no, you just keep talking. And here you are now, even after I've walked away from camp, you are here...still talking," she said as she stared straight and crossed her arms yet again.

"Yes, well I believe you also said that you didn't give a shit about me...which was also a lie."

Her teeth started grinding. "You like getting hit don't you? It's gets you off. It's the only explanation."

"Fetishes aside. What the hell? Is this some game, or what's going on with you?" He was serious, which wasn't like him at all.

"If it was a game, I would be drunk and my clothes would be off."

Sven groaned and closed his eyes. "There was a rule to prevent this. It was just suppose to be fucking."

"I haven't fucked you in weeks. Get off my back and walk away."

"Just tell me this. Am I correct in assuming that you have feelings for me?"

"Sven, if I wanted to talk, I wouldn't have hit you in the face or kicked you out of the car. I'm going for the legs next."

He smirked. "Good. For a minute I thought you were going to say that you were going to kiss me. If you want to pretend that you don't have feelings for me, that's fine, because I really don't think that you do. I'm the first guy you've met that doesn't give in to you, and that you can fuck without getting attached to. That's all."

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "You are not the first guy that hasn't given in to me. In fact, I lost count of how many that didn't. Don't think you are special in any kind of way. Now for the last fucking time. Go the fuck away."

"No."

She stood and got out of the car. "Fine. I'll leave."

He stopped her. "Fine. I'll go. Don't want you hurting your pretty little feet on my account."

She pushed him to the ground. "I'm not dainty and I don't need your fucking sympathy. Jackass."

He winced and stared up at her. "I'm not one who gives out sympathy. So don't think that's what I meant by it."

"Then what did you mean?"

"I meant that I was going to give you your space. That's all."

She crossed her arms. Turning from him, she walked off.

He sighed, not bothering to get off the ground. "Oh what tangled webs we weave." There was a quiet puff of air followed by a twinge of pain. He looked at his chest, noticing the dart sticking out of it. "Not...good." With that his world went black.

Evana walked back to the camp and sat down on her sleeping bag.

Several forms appeared from the darkness and grabbed Sven's body, carting him off back into the night.