Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood ❯ Jelly Donuts And Strange Dreams ( Chapter 14 )

The Resurrection Of Nicholas D. Wolfwood

Part Fourteen: Jelly Donuts And Strange Dreams

By Bekka Mouri

(Trigun doesn't belong to me and I am not making any money from this so please don't sue me. Meryl get the telegram and Wolfwood dreams about... Spoilers.)

The Urgent Transmission Machine came to life, making everyone in the office nearly jump through the ceiling. Meryl was at the machine in a flash and everyone stared as she leaned over it, " Come on! Hurry up! " She muttered at it as the carriage moved steadily, creating lines of text.

Her eyes grew wide as she watched the message appear…

'To: Meryl Stryfe Of The Bernardelli Insurance Society

From: Joshua Valentinez

Re: Coming Home

I am on a sand steamer that will be in December in three days time. Keep your eyes open for K or any of his friends. I have a really big surprise so come prepared. The steamer is scheduled to arrive at 5 p.m.

Please bring lots of fresh donuts; especially those jelly filled ones I like.

Joshua'

The chief flung his door open and focused on Meryl, " Is that the Stampede machine again? "

Meryl tore the message off quickly and hid it behind her back, " Yes sir but I think it was a misdirected personal message. "

" Then take it to the telegraph office across the street and let them know it was supposed to go to them. I nearly had a freaking heart attack when that thing went off, " The chief said. " Maybe we should look into disconnecting that thing since Vash The Stampede has vanished. "

Meryl shook her head, " That wouldn't be prudent, sir. You never know when he's going to pop back up. "

The chief thought for a long moment and sighed in resignation, " I guess you're right. Just get that to the telegraph office before they close. "

Meryl nodded vigorously, " Yes sir. "

The chief went back into his office and Meryl took off for the door quickly. " Wait! I want to go with you, Meryl! " Milly called out as she dashed across the office.

" Okay. It's only going to take a few moments though, " Meryl said without looking back. She knew Milly would come along anyway. The newspaper had said the priest who had run the orphanage was missing and it made Milly certain it had been Wolfwood like they had guessed. Milly had cried most of the day and was sticking close to Meryl as possible when she could.

" I don't care! " Milly said as she caught up. They walked out into the hall and Meryl turned in the direction of the locker room. Milly furrowed her brow, " Isn't the exit that way, Meryl? "

" Yes but this message was for me, " Meryl whispered sharply. " Follow me because I want you to see it. "

" Oh… okay, " Milly followed Meryl into the locker room and they both checked to make sure it was unoccupied. They went to the furthest corner and Meryl handed Milly the message. She read and looked back at Meryl, " Isn't Joshua the name Mr. Vash was using before he left? "

Meryl nodded, " Yes. He's coming home but I don't think he's found his brother yet. If he had found him, he wouldn't have told us to keep an eye out for him. "

" Oh yeah, " Milly looked at the message again. " What do you think the surprise is? "

" There's no telling with that guy, " Meryl sighed.

**

He found himself in darkness as he heard a woman's crying… gut-wrenching crying. He had never heard crying like it before… except when someone lost somebody very important that was loved very much. The crying echoed around him and he wanted to stick his fingers in his ears to stop the sound but he couldn't. No, he had to find the source of it… something compelled him forward and made him want to find who was crying so he could comfort them.

He couldn't see around him and he didn't know which way to go. Finally, he shut his eyes and took a step where the pull was the strongest. The feeling intensified so he kept going the way it was leading him. The sound got closer and started to sound more familiar… it sounded like her even though he had very few memories of her.

The crying stopped abruptly and the woman gasped. He could hear no footfalls and was taken by surprise when he could feel smooth cloth against his bare chest as she hugged him. He could feel the tickle of feathers on his arms as he wrapped them around the woman and opened his eyes. He squinted because there was now light and plenty of it.

" Nicholas, " The woman's face started to focus as she looked up at him, her silvery violet eyes blurred with silver tears. Rivulets of the moisture flowed down her cheeks as she stared into his eyes. " Nicholas… "

" Momma? " Wolfwood found his voice as he stared down at her. " What's wrong, Momma? Why are you here? "

" You don't know and I have to tell you. Please don't get angry with Mr. Vash for not telling you. He just found out, " Momma wiped her tears away with one slender finger.

" Not telling me what? " Wolfwood whispered. " Was he right? Has something happened? Is that why I have felt so strange the last few days? "

Momma nodded, " Oh Nicholas… How can I tell you this? "

Wolfwood looked into Momma's eyes, " Momma, just tell me. Give it to me straight… I'm a man. I can take it. "

She backed out of his embrace slightly, " If that is the way you want it, please follow me. "

Wolfwood looked down and found he was just wearing his pants and nothing else. How he had gotten that way was beyond him unless he had passed out and Vash had removed his shirt. He looked back at Momma, " What's wrong? "

" Its your children, " Momma sighed and looked away. " Something happened that could not be stopped. "

" My children? You mean my orphans? " Wolfwood went cold all over.

Momma looked at him, her eyes had refilled with tears. " They are all dead, Nicholas. Some very terrible people went to the orphanage. They were looking to avenge Legato's death. "

Wolfwood stumbled backward, " That can't be true! Momma, please tell me you lying. "

" I can't tell lies, Nicholas. I'm sorry. "

~All my kids are dead? Who? How? ~ Wolfwood shut his eyes and ran away from Momma. " No! I refuse to believe it! It can't be true! " He screamed, tears filling his eyes.

" Nicholas! Please wait! I'm sorry! " Momma called after him as she flew behind him. " I didn't want you to find out when you got to December! "

Nicholas tried to run faster, " Leave me alone! Just leave me alone! It's my fault… I should have never… "

Momma caught up to Wolfwood and grabbed him, wrapping her arms and wings tightly around him even though he struggled to break free. " It couldn't be helped, Nicholas. It couldn't, " Momma whispered.

Wolfwood's attempts to escape weakened and he started to cry, his body shaking with heavy sobs. He said nothing as he was overpowered with grief and guilt. ~Only if I had refused… ~ He thought over and over.

" If you had refused, you and the orphans would have been killed. Don't you remember what Chapel told you when he came to you? He told you that you had no other choice but to take the job unless you wanted to see your orphans suffer, remember? " Momma reminded him.

Wolfwood realized what Momma was saying was very true. He had set out to find Vash so the children would not be harmed but they were now dead anyway. " You shouldn't have saved me back there, " He whispered to Momma. " This happened because I am still alive… I am the reason they are dead. "

" That is what you think, Nicholas. Would you please listen to me? " Momma shook her head.

" No! I should have died in Tonim Town! They would still be alive if I had! " Wolfwood shouted. " I should have died! "

Momma held him tighter, " Would you stop spouting that nonsense? You weren't finished yet and you said it yourself in the church. You knew you weren't through, Nicholas. "

" Those were just the last words of a dying man, Momma! " He started crying, " I never thought… "

" Anyone would hear you and know you were right? " Momma finished the sentence.

Wolfwood shook his head, " Momma… it's my fault. They are dead because of me! It's my fault because I am still alive! "

" No it is not! " Momma let go and turned Wolfwood around quickly. His head snapped to the side as she slapped him hard across the face. Time seemed to stand still as she realized she had struck him and she put her hand over her mouth. " Oh… Nicholas… I struck you… I'm sorry! "

Wolfwood thought about what he had been saying and sighed. He turned his head to face her, his eyes down cast, " Momma… I think I needed that. Maybe you're right and I… "

" You're not done yet, Nicholas. There are still lots of things you need to do and I don't ever want to hear you say you should be dead. If you had died, do you know what would have happened? " Momma became stern.

Wolfwood shook his head, " No, Momma. I don't. "

" The orphans would have died anyway, " Momma said. " Do you know why? "

Wolfwood took a sharp breath but didn't say anything. " Legato had a twin brother named Nagato and he formed a group called The Second Generation Gung-Ho Guns from the students of the first generation, " Momma shook her head. " Nagato thinks you are dead and took revenge on your orphans for Mr. Vash killing his brother. "

Wolfwood's eyes grew wide, " Legato had a twin brother? "

" Legato was keeping in suspended animation and hardly anyone knew about him. He put Nagato to sleep and took his powers, that was why Legato was so powerful. Nagato was supposed to sleep forever but would have come back if Legato died by unnatural causes, " Momma explained.

" That must be why Legato was smiling when Vash killed him, " Wolfwood whispered.

" Not quite. He forced Mr. Vash to kill him to save those insurance girls because he knew it would cause Mr. Vash to suffer eternal pain and because it was what Knives wanted him to do. Mr. Vash went out of his way never to kill anyone with his own hands but he had no alternative in that situation, " Momma blinked away fresh tears.

" I know but it seems he still beats himself up over it sometimes, " Wolfwood shook his head.

" But you gave him hope, Nicholas. "

Wolfwood snapped his head up, " What do you mean? "

" The fact that you did not die gave him hope that he didn't bring death to everyone he touched, " Momma's lips curved into a tiny smile. " That's why he kept his distance emotionally with Meryl. He truly loves her and doesn't want to see her get hurt. "

Wolfwood let out a strained chuckle, " Well, I'll be damned. "

Momma pressed a finger to his lips gently, " But don't tell him that you know about that. "

" I won't, " Wolfwood muttered. " He'll just deny it like everything else. "

" Yes but he know he loves her. I need to tell you one other thing; " Momma took Wolfwood's chin in her hand. " You have to take care of the girl until it is time for her to make her stand. "

" What girl? " Wolfwood looked a little confused. He didn't know whom Momma meant by 'the girl'.

" You'll understand soon enough, " Momma shut her eyes.

" If you say so, " Wolfwood said.

Momma gasped and looked into Wolfwood's eyes, " It's almost time for you to leave this place. "

Wolfwood furrowed his brow and watched as Momma started to fade away. He tried to grab for her but his hands went through her. " Momma! There's something I still need to know! "

" Ask me now. Please don't hesitate, " She called to him, her voice fading.

" Why do you look so familiar? Are you my mother? " He called as she became a mere shade.

New tears came to Momma's eyes, " Yes, Nicholas. I am and I am so proud of you, my son. "

Wolfwood fell to his knees as Momma vanished and darkness fell around him, tears of joy falling from his eyes…

**

" No! " Wolfwood cried out as he started to thrash in his sleep. Cathy sat up from where she was laying in the floor. Kaite had managed to find a bedroll so she could stay with him and Joshua.

The room was filled with moonlight because all of the moons were full and Cathy could see him almost plainly. Sweat was beaded up on his flesh, his bangs sticking to his forehead and his face showing he was in some kind of anguish as he mumbled incoherently. She could almost swear he was crying too but he was sweating so much, she wasn't certain. Joshua had covered him with a blanket after taking his shirt off but the blanket had been pushed down to his waist.

She reached out to touch him but stopped when her eyes focused on two scars on opposite sides of his abdomen. They looked like healed bullet wounds and, from what she could tell, were still pink with fresh skin. ~Could it be him? Is this one the one that… no, he can't be. ~

" Mr. Preacher? " She whispered, reaching cautiously for him. " Are you okay, Mr. Preacher? "

He started to thrash more and she panicked. ~What's going on with him? I hope he's okay… ~ She thought, touching his shoulder. " Mr. Preacher, you're having a nightmare. Please wake up. "

Wolfwood started to thrash even more, knocking her arm away with his but he didn't seem to be waking up. She reached for him again and he hit her arm away harder and she yelped in pain as she cradled the arm to her chest. " Please wake up, Mr. Preacher… you're scaring me! "

Cathy's brain reeled as a flood of memories attacked her. She could see herself standing next to her mother's bed, trying to wake her as she trashed and shouted. She was soaked in sweat and crying, begging not to go and saying she was sorry for abandoning her daughters. Shortly after that, she stilled and died.

" What's going on? " Vash asked from his bed across the cabin. " What's that noise? "

" Mr. Joshua! " Cathy looked at him. " There's something wrong with the preacher. He's having a nightmare I think but I can't wake him. "

Vash got out of the bed and went to Cathy. " He's not going to wake up for a while, " He looked down at the girl and realized that her eyes were filled with tears or at least the one that wasn't covered by her hair. Her right eye wasn't visible because her hair had fallen over it. He sighed and crouched down, " He was given something so he would sleep, Cathy. "

" What? We have to wake him up! You can't tell me we can't wake him at all! " Cathy gasped.

" We can't Cathy. He's been drugged. It was my idea because he hasn't slept since we left May City, " Vash ran a hand through his hair. " I guess it wasn't such a good idea after all. "

Cathy grabbed the front of Vash's pajamas, " My mother… at the last… when she died… she… she… I'm so scared, Mr. Joshua! "

Vash was shocked at first but put his arms around Cathy slowly as he sat down in the floor. She crawled into his lap and clutched onto him as she shook. He buried his chin in her hair, rocking her as he tried to calm her down as Wolfwood started to still. He felt Cathy start to shake even harder so he whispered, " He's calming down now… "

" She did too! " Cathy shouted although it was muffled by Vash's chest. " Right before she died! "

" Shhh, " Vash started to stroke her hair. " He's not going to die… "

**

" I told you to make him go to sleep, not to kill him! " Vash screamed at Kaite as Cathy watched. She was certain that the preacher was going to die after all and started crying again.

Kaite pushed Vash away, " Calm down. You said he hadn't slept for a couple of days so I gave him enough to make him sleep for that long but maybe I did give him a little more than I should have. Just calm down, there's no way you can kill anyone with that stuff. "

Vash walked over to Wolfwood and pointed down at him. " If he doesn't wake up soon, I'll have to carry him off the steamer and the girls will think I have lost my mind! "

Kaite shook his head, " He'll be awake soon enough. "

" He better be! I wanted to surprise the girls! " Vash said through clenched teeth, " Not scare them to death! "

" Quit yelling so much, needle noggin. If you keep that up, you WILL raise the dead, " Wolfwood muttered.

" Yipes! " Vash jumped halfway across the room.

Wolfwood's eyes fluttered open and he blinked a couple of times. He looked around and saw Kaite standing in the corner of the room. He looked again and saw that Cathy was standing next to the bed, her eyes red from crying. He narrowed his eyes as he scanned her scanty top and tight jeans, " What is she doing here? "

Vash nodded at Cathy and got the feather from her backpack, " I found this and thought it belonged to you. I felt like it was really important to you for some reason and I had to find you. I'm so glad you're okay. "

" Oh, I didn't even realize it was gone, " Wolfwood sat up, putting a hand to his forehead as he hoped the room would quit spinning soon. " How long have I been asleep? "

" Since Inepril. We're supposed to be arriving in December in a few hours and the girls are meeting us there, " Vash smiled. " You weren't waking up and I thought Kaite had overdosed you with the… "

Kaite threw an unidentifiable heavy object at Vash, " Shut up, stupid! "

Wolfwood narrowed his eyes at Kaite as Vash dodged the item, " You slipped me something, didn't you? "

Kaite pointed at Vash, " It was his idea, not mine. "

Wolfwood looked at Vash and doubled up his fist, " Needle noggin! "

Vash stepped back as Wolfwood took a swing, " Hey! I did for your own good. "

Wolfwood growled, " Whatever. What are we going to do about HER? "

Vash and Kaite looked at Cathy. " I figured she would come with us, " Vash shrugged his shoulders.

" What happened to her family in May City? " Wolfwood looked at Cathy with narrowed eyes.

" She couldn't stay with them, " Vash stated. " She didn't want to. "

" That's not a valid reason, " Wolfwood shook his head. " There has to be more to it than that. "

Cathy looked down at her feet, " There is. "

" What is it then? " Wolfwood asked.

" I… I couldn't go to them because they hate me. My grandma and uncle blame me for everything that happened to my mother even though they aren't her family; they're my dad's. Not only that, they'll abuse me. They did it before… when I stayed with them for a little while when I was in May City just a few months ago. "

Wolfwood stared at the girl for a long time. He could tell by the tone of her voice that she was telling the truth. " I guess THAT is a pretty good reason, kiddo. You can stick around with us if that is the case. "

Cathy looked up slowly, " Do you mean it? "

Wolfwood nodded, " But you're going to have to do something about the way you act and dress. "

Cathy looked at her clothes, " What's wrong with the way I act and dress? "

" You know what's wrong with the way you act, " Wolfwood rolled his eyes.

" And the way I dress? " Cathy crossed her arms under her breasts. The action pushed them up, causing Kaite and Vash to blush.

" Put your arms down! You're about to fall out of that thing! " Vash shouted as he covered his eyes. Kaite just stared dumbstruck because of how close Cathy had come to falling out. Another ich or so and he would have seen both of her nude breasts.

" Need I say more? " Wolfwood sighed. He didn't know what it was about Cathy but she seemed to really get under his skin. He tried to be nice to her but he couldn't seem to be for more than a few moments.

Cathy let her arms fall to her sides, " I guess I could put on a bra and a regular shirt. I don't want to attract that much attention out there. "

Wolfwood nodded once, " Very good and don't just do it today to sate me. If you don't want to attract attention to yourself don't dress like that at all. And, by God, you WILL act like a lady, Cathy Marie Harry. "

Cathy looked down at the floor, " Yes Mr. Preacher. "

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