Need Your Love

[The next morning - Las Palapas Motel, Jackson Plains, the Badlands]

There was a peaceful calm in the air, the only discernable noise in the room coming from a low ceiling fan... and two bodies snoring softly together. Even the carrying-on of the nomads just outside couldn't disturb this little slice of heaven. The early morning sun crept in through cracked shutters, creating a striped pattern across the bed... and the two bodies sharing it.

With a sharp but quiet inhale, Jackson's eyes opened. He took in the room around him, eyes darting every which way as he gained his bearings with a stunted groan and a stretch. This wasn't his room... this wasn't his bed... and why the fuck was his right arm numb if he had slept on his back?

He looked down at a calloused hand and bandaged arm resting gently across his chest... not his own. He followed the line of the arm to a beautiful woman with wild platinum blonde hair wrapped around him and snoring peacefully as the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place. Addie's head was resting contently across his upper arm, and he dared not try and move it now for fear of disturbing the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. He rested his head back against the pillow and smiled, recalling the night before.

After a particularly harrowing throw-down in the desert with some Raffen Shiv and other unmentionables, the crew were invited back to the Aldecaldos' motel to celebrate and stay the night... if for no other reason than to get emergency medical treatment without having to hoof the two hours back to Mother Base. Bison and Addie both were pretty banged up from the crash of their beloved aerodyne, not to mention the other wounded nomads that needed tending to.

Like with all things thus far involving what Panam referred to as Outlanders, Jackson was left with more questions than answers at the end of it all. They were wild, feral and animalistic... and they were cannibals, according to Nel.

Shit... hope she's okay..., Jackson thought as he played everything back in his head. Nel was responsible for saving Addie, but she had to kill one of her own to do it. Not that he was paying very close attention once they got back, but nobody had seen or heard from the girl all night.

The hand resting on his chest curled, the fingertips scratching gently and eliciting a ticklish laugh. He turned his head, meeting Addie's green eyes staring back as she smiled, "Mornin', cowboy..."

"Mornin', cowgirl...", he answered. With what little feeling remained in his right arm, he curled it up, bringing Addie close as their lips met. He breathed in all of her, holding her bandaged hand in his chromed left hand over his heart. If he were being completely honest with himself, he didn't have any words for this moment. While they had danced around one another for years, they would have been lying if they said they thought it would ever amount to anything. Jackson had spent too long living in fear of disappointing the memory of his wife, and Addie cared too much for Jackson to corner him into something that would have made him uncomfortable.

And then there was the night before. In the blink of an eye, he almost lost the one woman he could have ever loved as much as he loved his wife. Everything fell into place in that singular moment... all of their flirting, the gentle jabs, and sexual tension over the years... in that moment, he would have given his life without hesitation just so Addie could see one more sunrise. And yet it wasn't without a tinge of guilt as he gently pulled away.

Addie could see the pain behind his eyes, the grief on his mind and in his heart, and she chose her words carefully as she pulled back from his embrace, "She'd want ya to be happy, Jax..."

The corners of his mouth curled into a half-smile as he stifled a scoff, but his face held no secrets in how little he believed that as Addie continued, "If Aiyana loved you as much as you say, she'd want you to live your life."

Jackson said nothing, simply staring blankly at the ceiling. Addie leaned up, looking down in his eyes as she pressed him, "Do you regret what happened last night...?"

"Of course I don't...", his face twisted at the audacity of that question as he sighed, "Addie, I..."

As always between the two of them, he was at a loss for words. If they weren't playfully picking on one other, he was genuinely flummoxed any time she was in the room with him. Even now, as they lay naked in the throes of post-coital embrace with no shame left between them, he was nonetheless embarrassed and bewildered as Addie tried to fill the silence with a joke, "Was it any different with her...?"

All Jackson could do was laugh before the realization hit him... it really was no different. He was no different. As cool, calm, and collected as he always appeared on the surface, when it came to the woman he loved, he was forever lost and stumbling to find his way. He shook his head as he looked in Addie's eyes, "You'd have liked each other..."

Addie laughed in response, "Unfair advantage, that... both of us picking on ya left and right..."

She traced a line up and down his chest as her tone shifted to one of sincere concern, "Look, Jax... I won't apologize for last night, but I understand if this is all it can be."

Jackson leaned up against the headboard as he locked eyes and summoned all the confidence he could muster, "Addie, what we have... what we've had... some days, 's the only thing 'at feels right..."

He reached up with his hand and stroked her cheek as she nuzzled into its warmth and smiled while he tried his damndest to put how he felt into words, "We've come this far... ain't no chance in Hell I'm turnin' back now."

They locked eyes again as Addie lunged forward, kissing him deeply with a longing moan. As their lips parted and she curled up next to him, she closed her eyes and asserted herself, "Mmm... good... 'cause I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me now, Jackson Calloway."

"Ain't no other way I'd have it...", Jackson sighed as he wrapped his arm around her, planting a soft kiss in the crown of her head. He allowed himself a gawk as he looked down, admiring the ample curves of her body melding into his, their legs intertwined.

As with all good things, their brief moment of bliss was cut short with a heavy rap against the door followed by Panam's hoarse voice, "Hey old man! You up?"

Both Jackson and Addie laughed to one another... of course the freckle-faced brat would be the one to ruin the moment. Jackson quickly pulled the sheet up to give Addie some dignity as he called out, "...yeah?"

They were bound to be found out anyway, so may as well face the music. The door swung open, Panam charging across the threshold before her eyes widened and she choked on her own words, "JESUS, FUCK... I-I'm... huh..."

She stood with her hands on her hips and stared awkwardly as Jackson stared right back and asked blankly, "...need somethin'?"

Panam couldn't bring herself to look away from Addie's sheepish grin as she tried to compose herself, "I uh... f-figured your crew could use a ride back to base..."

"...bu-u-ut...?", Jackson poked and prodded with a smirk, leaving Panam entirely beside herself as she tried to look anywhere else in the room, "Old Lady wants to meet about last night... she has questions, and so do we."

"That nasty red shit...", Jackson mused, to which Panam nodded, "Plus, one of our KIA was one of her boys. You can ride with me, Strong too... my people will get the rest of your crew back safe and sound."

"But what 'bout after we meet with 'Kota...?", Jackson asked, trying as hard as he could to keep Panam in the room and entirely uncomfortable. She wasn't having it, and she turned to leave as she barked, her voice trailing out the door, "Quit fuckin' around... we're on the road in five!"

Jackson laughed to himself, looking down at Addie trying to hold it together as she chided him, "Give the lass a break, will ya?"

He shrugged his shoulders as he pulled the sheet down and shifted to stand up from the bed. Addie was entirely content to stay put for a few minutes longer as she admired Jackson's naked form basking in the morning sun, short-lived as it was as he quickly dressed himself with regimented precision. He turned to her one last time, leaning over the bed as they shared one last kiss and he asked, "See ya soon?"

Addie blushed and nodded, "Not soon enough..."

Jackson smiled, his cheeks burning as he checked his revolver, grabbed his jacket off the floor, and turned to leave, careful to close the door behind him. As his eyes adjusted to the full blast of the sun rising in the east, he was met with Bison's shit-eating grin and bruised face. He narrowed his eyes, not giving an inch as he ribbed the big lug, "Ya look like shit, kid... how're ya feelin'?"

Bison winked, speaking through the pained rictus painted on his face, "Look like shit, don't remember shit, can't feel shit, and now I owe Doc another twenty eddies..."

If Jackson had to guess, Bison likely hadn't slept yet. By all appearances, he had masked the pain of jumping out of a crashing helicopter with booze and young nomad pussy. He was happy as a clam... and he honestly smelled like one too. And Jackson knew well enough that he wouldn't want it any other way. A trip back to base and two days' worth of sleep, and the big beefcake would be right as rain.

He laughed and gave his younger choom a heavy pat on the shoulder as he turned and walked down the row past several doors. The last door on the right was open, several bodies exiting with freshly-dressed bandages or nursing other injuries. Jackson leaned against the door frame and peered in, watching Doc Strong hard at work with the other nomad 'docs putting Panam's people back together. He also likely hadn't yet slept, leaving Jackson remorseful and wondering if he and Addie were the only ones who actually enjoyed themselves.

He held off on lighting a fresh cigarette for Strong's sake as he crossed the threshold and said, "Won't ask if ya had any sleep..."

Strong smirked as he wiped his hands with a microfiber cloth, the dried blood deeply entrenched in the calloused creases, "I'll sleep when we get back. Got Bison's twenty for me...?"

Jackson's jaw clenched amid a twinkle in his eye, silently asking himself just how many people were taking bets on his sex life... or up until recently his lack thereof.

He let the subtle jab slide as he looked past Strong to see Jayce curled up in a corner, a blanket wrapped around and her head leaning on her arm against a wall. She was out cold, but the dirt on her face was streaked from fallen tears. He looked to Strong, who just shrugged and said, "Been there all night... she's physically okay, but she was torn up over something when she came in here. Wouldn't tell me what, though..."

Jackson moved past Strong and walked over, gently kicking Jayce's boot as he knelt down in front of her with a deep sigh. Her face twisted as she stirred, her eyes fluttering open with a groaning yawn as she stretched overhead. Her neck and back popped in several places as she took stock of her surroundings, her eyes locking on her old man as she said groggily, "Mmmrf... mornin' Pa..."

"Heya kiddo...", Jackson smiled as he leaned in, "How're ya holdin' up?"

She looked down, her eyes clouding over as her shoulders sagged. It was a simple question, but there wasn't a simple answer. She wanted to pour her heart out, but she knew this wasn't the time or place. Her eyes slowly raised, the corner of her mouth curling up as she tried to wave it off, "I'll be okay... jus'..."

He saw her hands trembling... there was something inside yearning to escape, and he reached for her as he pulled her into his arms and held on tight. He felt the shaky breathing as Jayce wrapped herself around him. She didn't need to say anything in that moment as she clutched at the fabric of his shirt. He gently rocked her back and forth as he rubbed her back and said, "...'s okay, baby... I'm here... and I'm proud of ya..."

After a long while of holding each other, Jayce sniffed up and let go, slowly pulling away as she looked her dad in the eyes. There was a kindness in his face that she hadn't seen since they found Nel curled up and crying in the maintenance access of the megabuilding during their last venture into the City. She tried to smile as Jackson pinched her cheek and said, "Maybe next time you'll listen to me when I tell ya to stay put... this ain't ever somethin' I wanted for ya, Jayce. This life, it's..."

"T'was bound to 'appen sooner or later...", Jayce reached up to put her hand over his, "Maybe last night was my first time... but this life is all I've ever known."

Even though Jackson knew it wasn't her intent, her words brought into sharp relief the fact that she should have been better shielded from all of it. His nostrils flared as he tried to quell his own emotions, but Jayce read him like an open book, and she reassured him all the same, "This ain't your fault, Pa..."

He looked down at the floor, "Am I really that easy to read...?"

"...depends... can Ads walk straight this mornin'...?", Jayce offered in response as a cheeky smirk crossed her face. Jackson's face dropped all emotion, his eyes wide as she burst into a giggling fit, cheeks burning bright red. She really was a chip off the old block.

Jackson laughed to himself after a few seconds, catching Panam out of the corner of his eye and leaning against the door frame. It was time. He grabbed Jayce gently by the back of her neck, pulling her to him as he planted a kiss on her forehead, "I love you, kiddo... see ya back at Base."

Jayce's nose wrinkled, "Be careful, Pa... love you too."

He stood and turned to leave, Strong turning to follow, but not before he smiled and gave Jayce a reaffirming nod. She nodded back, looking down at her own two feet as she tried to work through all of it in her own mind... most importantly, how the fuck was she going to talk to Nel about what had happened? In hindsight, she should have left well enough alone... especially for as drunk as she was, the dull headache throbbing in the base of her skull and reminding her of her poor judgment. She could only hope she hadn't driven a wedge between them.

Outside the makeshift infirmary, Jackson lit his first smoke of the day, watching Panam and Strong as they both climbed into the Warhorse and waited patiently. He looked up to the second floor, noting the door to Nel's room still shut. He had an uneasy look about him as he inhaled deep and peered up at the clear skies, exhaling smoke through his nose. He reached for a pair of sunglasses in his jacket pocket, placing them across the bridge of his nose as he firmed himself and walked toward the truck. Whatever the fuck actually went down last night, something wasn't adding up. He only hoped his crew could shake loose from it, or that Dakota could make sense of it...

--

[Location unknown...]

"...what do you mean, 'she's still alive'...?", the distantly familiar and authoritative voice inquired, his tone firm and annoyed. A raspy voice answered shakily, "I-I don't know w-what to say, boss... b-but we saw her with our own eyes. Shrapnel is alive..."

"What was she even doing there?", the authoritative voice followed up. The raspy voice answered again, "She's crewed up with some cowboy helping the Aldecaldos... she fought against us... killed Powder with her bare hands."

The silence was deafening as the authoritative man considered the implications of the girl killing one of her own, after all she had seen and done... after all that he had done to her. After a long and protracted lapse, he sighed deeply, rubbing his brow as he asked, "And what of the morons who reported her dead two months ago...?"

"Two of them ate it last night...", the raspy voice answered, "...the third is MIA, but we'll handle him."

And yet, that wasn't the worst of the disappointments told to the man today as he continued his line of questioning, "So the Aldecaldos took the bait...?"

There were a few seconds of trepidation before the raspy voice confessed, "Hook, line, and sinker... but they were ready for us. Even with the war parties on either side... I'm down almost a hundred men."

"Bodies for the rank and file won't be an issue...", the man chided, "...but I don't need to tell you what happens if the girl remembers... I trust you'll handle that as well."

"yes... sir...", the raspy voice confirmed before the call dropped. The man leaned against a tempered glass pane, the oils from his forehead smudging the otherwise pristine surface as he massaged his temples and groaned. His sad little empire was already shaken to its core because of that... 'cowboy'... and now the very foundation was beginning to crumble.

He reached for a glass sitting on a small table, three fingers of a brown liquid swirling around melted ice. He paused for a moment before bringing the glass to his mouth and downing the entire contents in a single gulp, a few drops clinging to the whiskers of his manicured mustache as he exhaled sharply. From the far side of the gaudy and lavish room, a silky smooth and sultry voice called out hesitantly, with a hint of an Italian accent, "C-Charles... it's time..."

--

[DaKota's Garage, Rocky Ridge, the Badlands]

The mid-morning sun was in full swing overhead, the warmth of the desert washing over everything in sight. While everyone was still reeling from the fight and festivities following, the heat was really the last thing they needed... unless their collective goal was to sweat out the copious amounts of alcohol in the fastest way possible.

Jackson led Strong and Panam, and a few other nomad escorts, on the seemingly long march up the driveway to the open bay doors of Dakota's humble establishment, hoping at the very least she had some RealWater... or even better, some beer... waiting for them.

Always cool and calm, Dakota appeared in view, leaning against the garage frame as she watched and waited, and took another hit from the tank of pure oxygen strapped to her stomach. Once the distance was closed between them, she chanced stepping out into the sun as she greeted them with her usual dryness, "...well, you all look like shit..."

Jackson rolled his eyes and flashed his teeth, unsure as to why he expected anything different as he returned fire with a sigh, "Good to see you too, mom..."

The old lady narrowed her eyes as a smirk crept in. She was gearing up to bite back before Panam cut in front of Jackson and lowered her head, "Dakota, I'm... I'm sorry about Paul... we—"

"Paul knew the risks when he volunteered...", Dakota interrupted, her aged and slender hand reaching out and raising Panam up by the chin, "...as did all of them."

She looked past to the surviving members of her crew, nodding in affirmation as they did the same. Panam was hurting, guilt-ridden, and Dakota continued, "Child, our people will follow you anywhere... but enough of that. Tell me what happened."

She stepped aside and motioned them into the garage as Jackson took point, "Well... wasn't much of a convoy, so to speak. Three li'l piddly trucks... and no weapons... but 'at's where things get interestin'."

"They knew we were coming... had two war parties on either side of the valley...", Panam took over, seemingly having regained her confidence, "...they were waiting for us to engage, to spring the trap."

She gave a smirk and a side-eye to Jackson, who smiled to himself as Dakota asked, "How many are we talking?"

"Minus what Mitch picked off in the tank...", Jackson counted off in his head, "...say 'round forty vehicles, maybe a hundred or more bodies."

Dakota whistled, genuinely impressed with her eyebrows raised as she joked, "I take it back... all things considered, you lot look like fresh-picked roses..."

Everyone rolled their eyes at that, Strong stepping forward as he held out one of two vials taken by the crew from the recovered crates, "We could use some help with this... not sure what it is, but they were carrying a few crates of it."

Even Jackson was surprised, as he thought he had the only vial sitting snug in his jacket pocket. Dakota took the small glass in her hand, holding it up and admiring the almost blood-red glow from the sun refracting through the liquid as she mused, "I suppose the real convoy will come later... now that they know our tactics."

Panam almost looked insulted at the comment as she spat with a scoff, "Yeah, but they also know how stubborn we are!"

"Well, your people would take after you...", the older fixer joked, a twinkle in her eye, "...so tell me about these mystery motherfuckers."

"Where to begin?", Jackson sighed deep with a stretch, exhaling smoke from a fresh cigarette, "They fight like demons... 's hard to see 'em as human when they's painted up like skeletons. And accordin' to Nel, the male warriors like to capture a few in case they get hungry later."

That last comment sent a shiver down Dakota's spine, her entire body shuddering at the notion, "Wouldn't be the first time we dealt with 'psycho cannibals..."

Her eyes drifted to Panam, who smirked and wandered off in her mind to some not-so-fond memories... a time when Saul had to break her and another crew out of an off-books Militech facility in the ass-end of nowhere. Her face darkened, remembering an old choom that was lost in the chaos. He didn't have much time left anyway, and he made a choice to go out on his own terms. His sacrifice paved the way for their escape, and for as long as she lived, she would never forget him, or his crew... what was left of it.

Dakota tried to lighten the mood as she beckoned all of them further inside, "All in a hard day's night... I'd say you've earned a round on me. Make yourselves at home, if you want."

As much as Jackson wanted nothing more than to scream back home... and Lord knew he had his reasons... it would have been rude to turn the old lady down. He turned to Strong and shrugged his shoulders... not like he was driving anyway.

--

[Meanwhile at Mother Base...]

It was a quiet ride back, all two hours of it. There wasn't much to say, after all. Jayce was never good with hangovers, and still had no idea what to say to Nel. Bison slept the entire trip. Addie mostly kept to herself, nursing a near-permanent blush in her cheeks as she rode shotgun next to the daughter of the man she jumped the night before. Not like they all didn't already know, Jayce wearing a shit-eating grin the moment she spotted Addie finally leaving the room.

In a prudent bit of foresight, since Jackson's rover only seated two, Addie intentionally chose to ride with Jayce. It gave Bison the chance to sleep off his all-nighter in a cushier ride, and gave Nel and Jayce some space from one another. The tension was palpable, and despite their obvious fondness for each other, they were still young, brash, and sometimes irrational.

To absolutely no one's surprise, Nel still hadn't spoken a word, mostly keeping to herself and curled up in a bucket seat. Not that anyone could blame her... it was a fool's errand to believe a mere two months removed from her past life could undo eighteen years of trauma. Jayce hoped it could have been different, but now it all felt like a distant dream... just out of her reach.

As soon as they got back to base, the nomads turning right back around and heading to camp, Addie took it upon herself to wrap Jayce up in a big bear hug. She got to thank her younger choom properly for getting her out of that mess, and she was able to let the poor girl pour out her heart and frustrations. Even an hour after getting back, there still wasn't much to say, and so Addie left well enough alone to grab a shower and see to her own injuries, at least until Doc Strong was back.

Bison elected instead for a shower and half a bottle of the hair of the dog before crashing face-first in his own bed. He'd feel it all later, but for now, he slept right through the aches and pains like a breastfed baby.

So it was, Jayce took the time to herself, organizing and cleaning her benches and tool racks while the radio serenaded her... and all the while beating herself up inside her own mind. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't help the tears forming in her eyes, a series of sniffles dominating every breath, in and out.

She felt so stupid... so boorish. After she had already bared all to Nel only a few weeks prior... feeling like she barely managed to dig herself out of that hole... now she had dragged the li'l albatross into something for which she should have never been a part. That life should have been behind her, and Jayce tossed her back in head-first... sink or swim.

She continued admonishing herself as the song playing on the radio sent her further down the spiral, it's breathy lyrics permeating her very soul...

I... I can't get these memories out of my mind...

And some kind of madness is starting to evolve...

Wipe, brush, oil, polish... rinse and repeat. Her brow furrowed, her jaw clenched as she gritted her teeth and tried to hold herself together. Each and every tool got a rougher and more deliberate treatment...

Now... I need to know is this real love...

Or is it just madness keeping us afloat...?

In the thick of all of it, Jayce's hand slipped, the tool dropping and crashing against the bench with a loud clang as the metal bristles of the brush drove into the calloused pad of her thumb. As she drew blood, she recoiled, dropping the brush as she slammed her hand against the bench and screamed amid a stream of tears, "FUCK!!!"

Her mind was a muddled storm, no single thought clear or coherent. She was drowning in her own self-loathing, the waves crashing against her and sending her reeling in every direction. She couldn't escape her own head, crashing from side to side as she just wanted it to stop. She wanted to stop feeling... and to stop seeing the faces of the lives she took.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the clouds parted, a peace befalling Jayce as she felt the presence of another body. She was excited, and terrified all at the same time, but she forced herself to turn as she saw none other than Nel standing only a few feet away, looking up at her with a forlorn longing. She was trembling, but as she looked down and saw the trickle of blood from Jayce's thumb, she stepped forward, taking the hand in her own as she massaged it and applied a gentle pressure. Slowly, she looked up again, meeting Jayce's eyes as her mouth twitched... she wanted to say something, but had no words in that moment.

Jayce stared deep into Nel's eyes, wanting to see her very soul as her hand crept toward the girl's face. At first, Nel pulled away slightly before she firmed and forced herself to remain calm and still. A light smile broke on Jayce's face as she slowly placed her hand around Nel's cheek, her long fingers covered in grease resting against the girl's neck. Nel nuzzled into the warmth of the hand with a deep sigh, as if she had longed for this touch her entire life.

As Nel's eyes opened, Jayce grazed her bottom lip tenderly with her thumb and took a chance, pulling her close. She leaned down, cradling Nel's head in her hand as their faces met.

Nel's lips were stiff and awkward at first, eyes wide open as she tried to understand what was happening. Her cheeks burned, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up straight as her entire body lit up from the sensation. Every nerve ending was on fire, but it wasn't pain...

She didn't know what to do, or how to react to another human's mouth pressed against her own... and she panicked. She pushed Jayce away with a gasping breath. Before Jayce could even realize what was happening, Nel pulled her around by the arm and threw her back against the wall.

Jayce felt the impact against her spine as she grunted. She was in shock and wondering just what the fuck was about to happen. Before her very eyes, Nel pulled her ragged tank top up and over her head, baring herself from the waist up as goosebumps formed on her skin. She rolled her shoulders back and perked her chest proudly with a breathy exhale as she walked toward Jayce with a purpose.

Jayce tried to move before Nel playfully growled and pushed her back again with both hands. She let her raw instinct take over as she instead reached for Nel, grabbing her by the neck and waist and pulling her close as their lips met again. Nel was ready this time, her mouth melting into Jayce's as their tongues battled one another amid loud and feral moans. They breathed each other's air, longing to taste one another.

Nel grabbed the neck of Jayce's racerback shirt before ripping it down the middle to bare her breasts and stomach. She wanted to see Jayce's body again, all of it, and had waited for so long. Jayce shrugged her shoulders back to let what was left of the shirt fall as Nel pressed her lips against the supple yet muscled flesh.

Jayce tried not to squeal at the light nibbles, feeling something else entirely as Nel shifted her focus further down. She couldn't get Jayce's pants undone fast enough, resorting to simply shoving her hand inside and hoping for the best. Jayce gave her a helping hand, quickly undoing the button and zipper as she shifted her hips to let them fall just enough.

Once Nel had room to work with, she took all of Jayce in her hand, admiring the swell as the blood flowed south. Jayce hesitated for a moment, a look of genuine concern on her face. Everything she knew about Nel to this point contradicted what was happening here and now... until Nel looked up in her eyes. The look of sheer lust and want in her eyes spelled it plainly, and Jayce shuddered at the touch as she worked to undo the girl's pants.

With her free hand, Nel pushed down and let the pants fall to her ankles. She carefully lifted her feet to free herself as she stood naked, her hand slowly stroking Jayce back and forth. She reached up, pulling Jayce down by the neck to kiss her again. She loved the feeling, and she wanted more. She never wanted their lips to part. Jayce let herself melt into Nel's embrace as she took the girl's smaller frame in her arms before picking her up.

Almost instinctively, Nel wrapped herself around Jayce... legs around the waist and arms around the neck... as the latter turned and pressed her against the wall. She pulled Jayce close, bucking her hips and whimpering as she lunged forward for another kiss. Jayce reached down, grabbing hold of her shaft and guiding it up. To her apparent surprise, Nel was ready and waiting, a slick pair of lips spreading and welcoming her inside.

She paused, gauging for some horrible response... but none came. In its place, Nel yelped and dug her nails into Jayce's back, her warm breath rolling off her taller choomba's collarbone. Jayce took this as encouragement and carefully slid her full length in bit by bit, enjoying the wet warmth of Nel's pink walls wrapping tightly around. She grabbed under Nel's leg, holding her up as she braced her other arm around the girl's back and worked in and out with a steady rhythm. Every thrust was met with a moan as Nel held herself tighter around Jayce, wanting her harder, faster, and deeper as their collective sweat mixed together.

And all the while, the radio continued washing over them, the lyrics now more poignant than ever...

Our love is madness...

--

[Some time later...]

It was a welcome and pleasant change of pace to take a load off and not have to be the voice of reason... or in this case, the gonk behind the wheel. Jackson enjoyed his mid-afternoon buzz on account of several beers at the old lady's garage.

Ever and always, Doc Strong was the more responsible one, limiting himself to two beers on account of still not having slept. His bed was calling to him, and although he had the equipment in the infirmary to identify whatever the nasty red shit was, he was happy to let the responsibility for this one fall to someone else. By his own reckoning, he had gone above and beyond already.

And so, once they were dropped off, Strong took his leave and nearly ran to his bunk while Jackson popped yet another beer and enjoyed a smoke under the shade of the open hangar doors as he took stock of the last twenty-four hours...

There were about a hundred different ways it could have gone wrong at any one moment, and it never ceased to amaze him just how many things had to go right for this moment. Addie wrapping herself around him from behind only further drove the point home as she rested her head against his back and said, "Just had to celebrate without me, huh?"

He chuckled as he turned to face her, "Had'a get some liquid courage in me 'fore I could look ya in the eye again..."

He took a drag off his cigarette as Addie's eyes narrowed before he placed the filter end in her mouth, watching her inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose like an old pro. Just being around her was intoxicating all on its own, and Jackson tried to subtly change the subject, lest he mount her right there in the open air for all to see, "How's our girls doin'...?"

Addie's cheeks flushed as she tried to hide a smile stretching from ear to ear, pulling away from Jackson as she nodded her head back and said, "Go see for yourself..."

Jackson was curious, walking past Addie as he labored to toe a straight line at this point. He held the beer bottle loosely by the neck between two fingers, lit cigarette hanging from his mouth as he crossed the hangar, stopping just outside the door to Jayce's room. Off to the side, he saw the remains of a torn shirt and another pile of clothing by her workbench. As much as he didn't want to invade her privacy, he had to know, and he gently turned the handle, feeling every quiet click of the latch and lock until it finally gave way. He inched the door open, a smile crossing his face as he saw a beautiful and heartwarming sight. Nel's tanned back was to him, and she was curled into Jayce's body as they embraced one another and snored softly together.

He couldn't put into words how happy he was for Jayce, especially considering the relative turmoil in which he found her earlier that morning. And he was also happy for Nel's sake, knowing that she was mostly okay, all things considered. He carefully pulled the door shut turning to find Addie right on his heels as she grabbed him by the lapel of his jacket and pulled him in for a kiss. She moaned into his mouth as she pressed herself against him while he wrapped his arm around her back and held her close.

After several seconds, they pulled apart, Addie's eyes holding no secrets as she quietly ordered him, "Take me to bed, already..."

...giddy up, cowgirl...

--

[Even more time later...]

Jayce's mind was still a mess of emotions... and would be for some time... but for the moment, things were calm and quiet as her eyes slowly opened. She breathed in, trying to carefully stretch so as not to wake the smaller body nuzzled into her. It was a lost cause, as Nel was already awake and staring intently.

Her deep and soulful eyes lit up at seeing Jayce awake as she whispered, "Do you always cry in your sleep?"

Jayce realized her cheeks and pillow were damp, suddenly embarrassed as she sniffed up and tried to wipe them dry. Nel caught her hand, holding it in place as she shook her head, "No. No shame... talk to me."

Jayce closed her eyes, the tears falling again as her lips quivered, "I-I... j-just w-wish it could have g-gone d-differently..."

"We wouldn't be here...", Nel said blankly, moving hers and Jayce's hands over her heart, "...if it had gone differently."

Jayce let the tears fall and opened her eyes, longing to see the beautiful face in front of her as she tried to piece everything together, "I-I'm sorry... 'b-bout your s-siste—"

"No...", Nel cut her off, fighting her own tears, "...she made her choice... and I made mine."

They moved closer, their heads resting against one another as Nel continued, "She threatened the only people who ever cared about me... who ever loved me... so I did what I had to."

She brought her other hand up, cupping Jayce's cheek and gently wiping away the tears, "Jax said once that all of you are my family now... I'll let the world burn before I ever let anything happen to any one of you... especially to you."

Jayce smiled through the tears until her blood ran cold at the look on Nel's face as she followed up, "...When she tried to make a run for you... I-I couldn't let..."

She almost couldn't get the words out, a light shiver setting in until she chose another path for what she wanted to say, "...you did what was necessary to protect your family... and so did I. And I'll do it again..."

As they held one another, Jayce closed her eyes, her face twisting with the swirl of emotions rising in her chest. She was confused and afraid... at the same time still excited and yet terrified of what lay ahead. But here and now, she had her little albatross to help guide her, and she would never take it for granted. Still, for reasons she couldn't explain, she felt the need to keep shoving words in as she said, "A-About last night, I-I shouldn't have... I-I'm sorry..."

Nel firmed her grip on Jayce's face, pulling her close as they shared a long and breathless kiss. She nuzzled closer to Jayce's warmth as she closed her eyes and cemented her promise, "We're here now... that's all that matters. And I'm not going anywhere..."

--