Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood ❯ Rebirth ( Chapter 1 )

The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood

Part One: Rebirth

By Bekka Mouri

(Okay, no. I couldn't deal with Wolfwood dying on us like that in the anime so I did a little what-if sort of story… Okay, it's not little and it is not just all Wolfwood. Trigun belongs to people who aren't me and I am making no money off of this so don't sue me.)

Vash followed the trail of crimson as it led him towards a church. He caught his breath and his heart seemed to stop in his chest. ~Oh God, not another one. Please God, not him. I was just joking when I said he was planning on dying today when we were back in that saloon, ~ He thought, the air around him seeming to grow heavy with apprehension.

The doors to the church were open slightly and he looked inside when he got to them. Cold seemed to flow through his veins when he saw Wolfwood kneeling in front of the altar… no, he was slouching. One arm was wrapped around the Punisher Cross when the other was at his side, palm up and visibly limp. He pushed the doors open and moved down the aisle between the abandoned pews, his footsteps steady although he felt like even his soul was shaking.

Vash moved closer, hoping… no, praying that Wolfwood was okay. As he got closer, he saw the skeleton of a cigarette that had been lit and let burn until nothing remained but the ashes by Wolfwood's feet. It wasn't unusual for a cigarette or two to go to waste when something came up but something was just not right about the way this one had been wasted. There was a little more blood too and Vash felt his stomach knot up as hot tears filled his eyes when he saw the bloodstains on Wolfwood's jacket.

How would he tell the insurance girls about this, especially the tall one? Why did all of his friends have to die? He wiped his tears away with the back of his hand and turned to leave but something made him turn back. He stared at the cross on the wall and he felt like someone had slung a friendly arm around him.

His eyes went to the Punisher Cross and he could hear Wolfwood's voice in his head. He could smell fresh cigarette smoke in the air as he said, ~Take it, needle noggin. It just might come in handy. ~

Vash picked it up, surprised at the weight of it as always. ~Damn, this thing is so heavy. ~

Again, he heard Wolfwood's voice but it was a memory of when they arrived in May City. " That, my friends, is because it is so full of mercy, " He had said to the men on the top of the bus before he walked away.

Wolfwood's body crumpled to the side since the support of the Punisher Cross was gone and Vash caught his breath again. Should he bury Wolfwood or leave him? No, Wolfwood belonged right where he was. It was only fitting that his tomb be an abandoned church in an abandoned town because he did not have the time or means to get him back to December and to the orphans that brought him so much joy.

Vash turned and walked out of the church, his head low as he tried to figure out how to tell the insurance girls about this. Perhaps the sight of the Punisher Cross without Wolfwood would be enough for the short one but the big one would have to be told. Vash stopped as he realized Wolfwood had smelled of four things; sweat, blood, gunpowder and a woman's scent… the tall one's scent. ~Damn, I think things just got a whole lot more complicated, ~ He thought and continued out of the church.

**

A shaft of light illuminated silver/violet eyes as someone stepped out of the shadows and looked both ways before proceeding forward. She had to make sure the man in the red coat was gone. She had followed the man in black into the church and heard everything he said. She was going to help him when the man in red arrived and she hid.

She had turned her back to them as the man in red approached, fearing he would see her. She had noticed the crosses on black haired man's sleeves and decided he could be nothing else but a priest. The man in red could not see her... it would ruin her mission. She had been told specifically she was not to be seen or heard by anyone.

She was an older lady and her waist length hair was pitch black except for a broad streak of silver through her forelock that would have been bangs if it were cut. Her face had a few wrinkles and her eyes were full of wisdom as well as caring. She was tall and slender, her movements graceful as she walked quickly to the priest. She wore a simple shirt, a plain pair of pants and had a large pack slung over her shoulder, all of which were visible once she was fully illuminated in the fading sunlight.

She knelt down to the priest and started to check for signs of life. His heartbeat was weak but it was still there. She put her face to his and she could feel shallow breath and noticed he was very pale, ~Lost blood, ~ she noted mentally. Her eyes went to the dark spots on his jacket and she sniffed. She shut her eyes as she realized what it was, blood and gunpowder. ~The bullets are probably still in him. I have to get them out before he gets lead poisoning, ~She set the pack down on the floor.

She opened his jacket and saw that his shirt had become stuck to his body with the blood. She pulled it away and located the wounds. The arid climate of the planet had helped a little because the wounds were scabbing over but it was also a hindrance because she would have to re-open the wounds to retrieve the bullets. She looked in her bag, pulling out two bottles, some gauze pads, a roll of heavy gauze wrap and tape.

~Okay, I can do this if I work fast. God, please guide my hands so I can save your servant, ~ She thought, reaching into her bag again and pulling out forceps for removing the bullets. She picked up one of the bottles and poured the liquid in it over her hands, shaking the extra off as the rest evaporated. She wet one of the gauze pads with the same liquid and went to work on the wounds.

**

Wolfwood groaned and forced his eyes to open, shutting them again because the sunlight was too harsh. He coughed, pain radiating through his chest as he did. He tried to remember the last thing that happened…

Milly… His sweet innocent Milly.

Vash… Needle noggin.

Chapel… His teacher and his killer.

Pain… Dull and ignorable at first but searing and white hot before the end. Then nothing.

Blood… His blood drew a path to the church…

Church… where he begged for God to forgive him and give him another chance. It wasn't supposed to end like that.

Death… The end came in spite of his pleas and he would never see his precious lovely Milly ever again.

His voice screaming out to Vash, " What are you doing, needle noggin? It's right next to you! Use it damn it!!! "

Was he dead and was the light of Heaven just to bright for his sinners' eyes? He tried to lift his arms but they felt like lead weights and he realized he was alive because he wouldn't be in so much pain in paradise. Had he just passed out in the church? Had someone come along and found him before death could snatch him away… away from them… away from her?

Had needle noggin found him and saved his life? ~That would be just like Mr. Goody-Goody, ~ Wolfwood thought. ~Saving me because I blocked Caine's bullet even though he probably could have dodged it at the last second. ~

He heard a door open and two sets of footsteps approach him and tried to open his eyes again but it was no use, the light was just too damn bright. The footsteps came closer; one set stopping on his left side while the other circled the bed and stopped on his right. " Sister, do you think he's ever going to wake up? " A young boy said from the right.

" Yes Chance, " The girl on the left said. " Momma would have never brought him otherwise. We just have to trust Momma. "

" But Momma said he lost a lot of blood, " Wolfwood assumed this was Chance speaking.

" That is why she traveled as fast as she possibly could to get him here. Don't you remember how the Thomas slept when she finally got home? " The girl said. " She kicked that thing's butt trying to get him here. "

" But why? " Chance asked.

" Because he is a man of God and it would have been on her shoulders if she didn't try to help, " The girl explained. " Now, are you going to help me or not? "

" Why does Momma believe all that stuff, Sister? What good will moving his arms and legs do if he's never going to wake up? " Chance was really starting to annoy Wolfwood with his pessimistic attitude. He was awake but he didn't want to scare them by speaking just yet.

The sister took a deep breath before saying, " Just get out Chance. You don't understand Momma but I do. You're not old enough to understand yet. "

" I just want to know, Sister. Why help him if he's going to die anyway? " Chance asked. Wolfwood figured the boy to be around seven and that would explain why he didn't understand.

" GET OUT! " The girl snapped. " Just get out. Momma is just going to have to talk to you again. "

Chance scurried away from the bed, the sound of suppressed sobs following him. The door shut and Wolfwood sensed the girl relaxing a little. " Kids, " She muttered, pulling the blanket away from Wolfwood and taking a hold of his arm. She moved it in every direction slowly, flexed each finger and rubbed his arm down before walking around to the other side.

She took his left arm and worked it. " I think you'll wake up, Mister. My brother's just a baby still and he doesn't understand. You lost a lot of blood and Momma says you'll wake up once your body is ready for you to wake up. "

She bent each finger and laid the arm back down after massaging it. He wasn't certain where she had gone next but soon knew when he felt the covers being pulled off of his legs. He felt a little exposed but there was not much he could do about it. He was relieved when the girl left his hips covered but was surprised when the bed sank with her weight.

~What is she doing? ~ He thought, his mind still fogged. He felt her pick up one of his legs and work it just like she had his arms. If he could have sighed in relief, he would have. It seemed she was just doing what she had told Chance she was going to do; She was working his body so he didn't lose his strength but he couldn't help wondering if she was peeking under the covers.

~Don't think shit like that, ~ He chided himself. ~She's helping me and probably doesn't have that on her mind at all. ~

She pulled the covers back over him and moved someplace else. He wasn't sure where until he felt the covers pulled down to his waist then gauze and tape being pulled away from his skin. Air hit his wounds and he involuntarily winced. The girl started poking one of the wounds with something and Wolfwood decided to speak.

" That hurts, " He croaked. His throat was tight, dry and raw. It felt like something had been pushed down it and it stung to speak.

" Cripes! " The girl squeaked and jumped back. " You're awake! "

Wolfwood opened his eyes more slowly to give them a chance to adjust to the light. He finally got them open and blinked a few times before he could keep them open for any length of time. He tried to turn his head to see her but his neck was a little stiff. " Yeah. I guess I wasn't sandworm food after all. Can I have a drink? "

" Sure, " The girl said and rushed from the room. She came back a few moments later and set a glass of water on a table next to the bed. " I have to prop you up a little bit so you don't choke. "

Wolfwood tried to nod in acknowledgement but it was so subtle he didn't know if she saw it or not. She eased her arm under his shoulders and lifted him. When he was at a suitable angle, she supported him and grabbed the glass from the table. She put it to his lips and said, " Slowly. "

Wolfwood felt her arm start to tremble behind him and wasn't sure how long she could support his weight. He speculated she wasn't that strong and decided to take as much water as he could so she wouldn't have to hold him for very long. He shut his eyes as he started to drink, the coolness of the water bathing his irritated throat in much needed comfort. She took the glass away and he whispered; " Now THAT tastes good. You can let me down now. "

The girl eased him back down to the pillow and set the glass back on the table. She started to tend to his wounds again, " We've been feeding you by pushing a tube down your throat and Momma said that your throat would probably be pretty sore once you woke up. "

Wolfwood felt her cleaning the wound with a liquid that stung for a moment then caused it to go numb. He heard scissors cut something and felt soft gauze pads slathered with ointment against his chest. She taped the pad in place and smoothed it out. " Now, for the other wound, " She muttered.

Wolfwood felt and heard the process being repeated. She smoothed the second pad and sighed, " All done. "

" Thank you, " He whispered. " Can you tell me where I am and how I got here? "

" You're about 200 iles from LR. Momma found you in a church 100 iles from here in that town where everyone vanished without a trace. I'm sure you heard of it and about how the cavalry couldn't explain what had happened and how it happened in a lot of towns in this region. Just about everyone from here to December had heard about it by now I guess. "

Wolfwood knew what town she was talking about… she was talking about Tonim Town. The whole town's population had vanished without a trace and without a struggle, just like Carcases and several other towns. Knives, Vash's twin, had something to do with it because his name had been carefully written on the monument in the center of the town. Knives had ordered Wolfwood to bring Vash to him in exchange for a large sum of money to benefit the orphanage.

He had been weak and accepted the offer but he had done it for the children. His orders had been changed and Chapel came to him in Tonim Town to tell him of Knives' new orders. Wolfwood respected Chapel because he was the man who trained him and taught him his twisted values as if they were gospel truth but that respect had started to wear thin once he had been exposed to The Gospel Of Vash.

Wolfwood had started to think about how despicable Chapel's actions seemed now. He had taken in a young impressionable seven year old and molded him in his image. Wolfwood hadn't known any better at the time but he realized it as he looked back at it all. He had been taken for a ride and he wouldn't take it anymore.

He made his decision to go against Knives and side with Vash even though the fear of death lingered in his mind. He had decided to start living a better life if he survived his encounter with Chapel and perhaps ask Milly to be his wife. She made him feel whole and he needed her. Those plans seemed to vanish as he bled at the altar in the Tonim Town' church, asking for God's forgiveness for making so many mistakes and telling God he wasn't ready to die.

Had someone else been there and he was in too much pain to notice, slipping in after he went to the altar? What was this Momma person doing in Tonim Town anyway? Had she heard everything he had said? Why wasn't he dead?

" I know where you are talking about, " Wolfwood coughed. " More water. "

The girl lifted him and gave him a drink, letting him back down easy when he was done. He realized he hadn't re-opened his eyes but he didn't care. The darkness felt good and he wondered how long he had been out cold. " It was awful, " The girl sighed.

" Momma said that she thought there wasn't a soul there until she saw you drag yourself into that church, " The girl lowered her voice. " Momma says a man in a red coat came in and took your cross. I think he was the one who shot you and came to finish you off but thought you were dead. She says it was Vash The Stampede but says she knows he wasn't the one who did it because he was very sad when he saw you. "

" Needle noggin, " Wolfwood muttered. He wasn't certain if it were real or if he dreamed it when he told Vash to take the Punisher Cross. He was certain it wasn't a delusion when he screamed at Vash to use the Punisher Cross on Knives. He could have sworn he watched the whole thing from above because it was so real and vivid. It was the only almost tangible thing he could recall from his long stupor.

" What was that? " The girl gasped. " Did you just say needle noggin? "

" What? " Wolfwood cracked his eyes open and saw the girl looking down at him. His eyes were refusing to focus so all he saw were blurred features. The only things he could make out were auburn hair that must have been tied back and a blurry face. He blinked but his vision wouldn't cooperate.

" You said needle noggin… you said it in your sleep a few weeks ago. Wait; maybe it was more than that. At any rate, you screamed something like 'what are you doing, needle noggin? It's right next to you! Use it damn it!!!' and you passed right back out again. You sat straight up and screamed it so loud that you startled everyone, " She said.

" I was watching you that day and I thought for certain you were going to die. Momma came in to check you over and said that you were okay so I tried not to be too worried. "

" I'll be damned, " Wolfwood muttered, hearing that cementing it in his mind that he wasn't dreaming and Vash had indeed taken on Knives. He wasn't sure who won because everything had went black after he had yelled at Vash. The revelation had been so heavy he needed a cigarette. " Could you get me a cigarette? "

" No, " The girl said. " Those are no good for you and you don't need them. Momma said she found some on you when she fixed you up and threw them away. "

" Oh come on! " Wolfwood growled. " I really need one though. "

" Sorry, " The girl shook her head. " I said no. "

Wolfwood let out a frustrated whine/grumble. He loved smoking more than anything else… well, except for Milly. He could handle not smoking if he had her because he would be too busy to smoke. An evil little grin tugged at the corners of his mouth with the last thought, ~Oh yeah, way too busy to even light one, ~ He thought to himself before stopping, ~Damn! What am I thinking? ~

" Besides, Momma would kick my ass if I let you… " Wolfwood heard the girl gasp and slap a hand over her mouth. He heard her hand fall away, " I'm sorry Mr. Priest. "

" My name is Wolfwood, " Wolfwood whispered. " Nicholas D. Wolfwood. "

" I'm sorry I cussed, Mr. Wolfwood. Please forgive me, " The girl said. " I shouldn't have cussed. "

Wolfwood tried to laugh but it hurt. " It's okay. I have said and done much worse, " He admitted softly.

" Okay, " The girl sighed. A knock at the door attracted her attention and she walked to it. " Yes? "

" Eve? It's Momma. I saw Chance crying and I can't understand him when he tells me why. Do you know why? "

Wolfwood moved his eyes to where he assumed the door was even thought he still couldn't see that well. He really wanted to talk to Momma and find out why she had been in Tonim Town in the first place. She could have been there to loot but no one dared to enter the town after the disappearances except for Vash, the girls and himself. He really had a lot of questions and she would be able to hopefully answer most of them.

The door opened, " He volunteered to help with the priest but then started to ask why we even bothered with someone who wasn't going to wake up. I got frustrated with him and sent him away. "

Momma sighed, " You know he's only six. He really doesn't understand. You need to keep your temper under control with him because he's so little yet. "

" Yes, Momma, " Eve said dolefully.

" So, " Momma said, " How is the priest doing? "

" He's awake! " Eve beamed. " He woke up when I was cleaning his wounds. "

" Ah really now! " Momma said, not at all surprised. " I want to see him. How did his wounds look when you cleaned them? "

" They are healing nicely, Momma. Is there anything else you need me to do? " Eve said.

" No. I don't think so. Run along now and help Adam with dinner, " Momma said and Wolfwood could hear Eve walk out of the room.

The door shut and Wolfwood heard Momma approach him. She leaned over him and he could make out a smile. " Hello, " He whispered.

" Good afternoon. Did you enjoy your nap? " Momma said.

" How long was I asleep for anyway? " Wolfwood wanted that question answered first.

" I think you were in a coma for a while, " Momma took a step back and opened a cabinet next to the bed. " Hold still. "

Wolfwood was puzzled at first but was soon startled by cool water being squirted in his eyes. Momma wiped the corners with some gauze and told him to blink a few times. He did and his vision cleared. " Thanks, " He said. He looked at her, studying her face intently because she seemed familiar somehow.

" That girl tries so hard but she would much rather run her mouth, " Momma chuckled. " I told her to wash your eyes as soon as you woke up. "

" Isn't she your daughter? " Wolfwood asked.

Momma shook her head, " No. None of the kids here are mine. They are all orphans that I take care of. My family has a long history of helping others but I was the rebellious one and never found a good man. "

" So you never married? " Wolfwood asked.

" I married, " Momma sighed. " I tried to save him but it didn't work out. I lost him twenty five years or so ago… I really can't remember exactly how long it has been. "

" I'm sorry to hear that, " Wolfwood said quietly. " Did you have any kids with him? "

" Just one, " Momma said quietly. " But I lost him too. "

" Was he killed? " Wolfwood didn't want to pry but she didn't seem like she minded.

" No. He… " Momma's voice cracked. She took a deep breath, " He was taken from me… and I never saw him again. "

" I'm sorry, " Wolfwood said, " I didn't mean to be nosy. "

" It's okay. These orphans help me though and I am passing along the family tradition to them instead, " Momma took a deep breath and seemed like she was trying to hide the sound of sadness that had crept into her voice.

" Orphans, " Wolfwood said. He thought about the children in December and wanted to cry. He had left them and promised to return. Now, he had been gone for God knows how long and they were probably thinking he would never come back.

Momma patted his hand, " Don't you want to know how long you were out? "

" Oh yeah, " Wolfwood said. He wouldn't tell her about his orphans yet. He hoped they were okay though.

Momma looked over at something on the table and picked it up. She silently counted and looked down at Wolfwood. " According to my count, you were out for exactly twenty eight days. "

" Damn, " Wolfwood whispered. " Why was I out so long? "

" Like I said, " Momma sat down on the edge of the bed. " I think you were in a coma for a bit and then the rest was probably because of all the blood you lost. You were in horrible shape when I found you. God only knows how much longer you would have lasted if I hadn't saved you. "

" Oh, " He muttered because his throat was staring to bug him again and it was the only sound he could make. It seemed like Momma sensed it and slid her arm under his shoulders. She was much stronger than Eve and got him up with no problem. He tried to lift with her to take some of the strain off of her because he felt like he hadn't lost that much strength.

She put the glass to his lips and he took a larger drink than he had for Eve. She took the glass after he emptied it and set it back on the table. " I guess Eve told you how I found you, right? "

" Yeah, " Wolfwood said. " Why were you in Tonim Town? "

" Why were you there? " Momma replied.

" I had my reasons, " Wolfwood muttered.

" So did I, " Momma smiled.

Wolfwood let her lower him back down to the bed before giving her a quick dirty look. " You know, confessions are supposed to be private. You know, just between the person and God or the priest that is listening. "

" I don't think he minded that much. Besides that, you were bleeding, " Momma countered. " Did you want to bleed to death without anyone to help you? "

" What if I was supposed to die? " Wolfwood muttered. He had no idea where he was in relation to anything but Tonim Town and LR. How would he find Milly and the others? What if Vash didn't win against Knives?

" You didn't want to. You told God you didn't want to. I heard you tell him and I don't think your friend wanted you to die either. "

Wolfwood growled, " Never mind. Why were you in Tonim Town? Were you there to loot the place? "

" Were you? " Momma countered. " Or maybe you were there for something else… "

" Answer me first, " Wolfwood visible stiffened.

" I personally don't think you went there just to die. Someone gave you those bullets and if their aim had been better, you would have had two pierced lungs and you could have kissed your ass goodbye. "

Wolfwood caught his breath; Chapel seemed like he was struggling to control the gun when he shot, like someone else was controlling his hands. Could that have been Legato's work? If so, how come he was off? Had the aim been thrown off by his struggling for control or was it something else?

~Legato was too strong so how could have he missed me? ~Wolfwood thought then he recalled that only two of the bullets struck him, the rest scraping and grazing his flesh. He winced as Momma poked him in the ribs.

" Hey, breathe a little. You're turning blue, " She said.

Wolfwood released the breath but he still wondered just what had happened. " I had business to attend to. "

" What did it have to do with Vash The Stampede? " Momma said quietly. " You know, that sixty billion double dollars would have gone a long way. Too bad he's vanished but he'll pop up again. He always does. "

" He had something to do with him but that is all I am going to tell you, " Wolfwood looked at her sideways. She had a knowing smile on her face and it made him wonder just what she knew.

" I saw him take your cross. What use would he have for it? " Momma asked even though she seemed to give off an air that told Wolfwood she knew.

" Plenty, " Wolfwood mustered up enough strength to face her. " He's not the monster everyone says he is. "

Momma nodded, " This I know. "

" How? " Wolfwood forced himself up on one arm. " How do you know? "

Momma smiled gently, " He cried when he found you, Nicholas. "

" You don't know why I was in Tonim Town and I am not going to tell you… " Wolfwood said. He thought for a moment and looked into her eyes, " Hold on a second… I don't remember telling you my name. "

Momma smirked, " There are lots of things that I know but that I heard when I was at the door and Eve was talking to you. "

Wolfwood's arm started to shake a little and he let himself back down to the bed. He didn't know who this woman was but he was thinking. If Knives had won, this woman could very well be using the set up as a way to kill him but why get him well just to kill him. ~No, that doesn't make any sense, ~ He thought.

" You do a lot of thinking, " Momma commented. " Why don't you rest a little more and when you are a little better, we can help you back to your feet. "

Wolfwood sighed, " Whatever. "

Momma stood up, " I made you a couple of suits. I figured since your other suit got ruined, you would need them. "

" Yeah. Thanks, " Wolfwood shut his eyes. " I'm going back to sleep. "

" I'll wake you up for dinner, " Momma said and left the room.

Wolfwood opened his eyes again and looked towards the ceiling. A small smile curved his mouth, " So, you did hear me. Is this your way of saying I am forgiven and I can make a fresh start? "

The room filled with light as the clouds that had been covering the suns moved away. Wolfwood mustered up some strength to push himself up on his elbows and tried to look out the window across from his bed but all he could see was sand and wind kicking it up. Out there somewhere were the others and even further away were his orphans. He would make it back to all of them but it would be a while until then so he eased himself back down and shut his eyes, ~Someday… someday I will be able to tell you all I am okay. ~

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