#there's snow on the ground and ive gotten enough sleep after traveling to feel human again

[whumpacabra]

31. Jackrabbit

Loss of communications, community isolation, anticipated violence, fictional politics, implied military violence, briefly implied past captivity, referenced stitches

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Harrison felt a bit guilty watching Wolf shift uneasily in the diner booth. When he had asked if Wolf wanted to be left alone or get breakfast with them, he already knew the answer.

Wolf would clearly rather not go anywhere or do anything, but he was even more reluctant to be left behind. Harrison understood. He couldn’t blame Wolf for agreeing even though they both knew he wasn’t quite up for the clatter and din of the diner and its patrons.

Neither of them wanted to be alone again.

At the very least, Wolf looked better - color in his cheeks, dark hair clean and free of blood. Save for the gauze covering the fresh stitches across the right side of his head, he looked the best Harrison had seen him since before the Box.

“Here’s you go; careful, it’s hot.” The owner and hostess was Merrill’s wife he had discovered. Lucy was her name. It wasn’t a guarantee of the character of this little village, but it did ease Harrison’s mind as he watched the two old women smile at each other and speak in soft whispers.

“How they doin’?”

“Well as they can.”

“And you?”

“Right as rain sugar.”

There was a jingle as the door to the diner opened, a flush of cold air following. Wolf was on high alert, jaw set and eyes sharp as he sized up the threat: Thomas, shaking snow from his hat with a huff.

“Gettin’ bad out there?”

“Naw, just dusting is all.” Thomas gave Lucy a nod before looking to their booth, sliding in next to Harrison. “You boys get something to eat yet?”

“Yessir.” Harrison smiled, giving a lazy salute to the little old lady behind the counter. “Lucy makes a damn good omelette.”

“Don’t overdo it son, I’m in no hurry to see you sick.” Dan sighed, dropping into the booth across from Merrill. (Harrison was grateful on Wolf’s behalf that he was being given personal space.) It didn’t look like Dan’s investigation into the diner’s landline proved insightful.

“Still no phone?”

“Nope. My bet’s they cut it out past the pastures.”

“You’d be right.” Thomas piped up, shooting Harrison an apologetic but grim smile. “Carlisle’s checked their perimeter fence this morning. Phone lines are down and plenty of tire tracks from the south.”

While Dan, Merrill, and Thomas were making a point to busy themselves with their coffee, tea, and bagels Harrison watched the gathering storm in Wolf’s eyes. Something between grief and fear.

“You don’t have any other communications? A cell phone? Radio?” He needed Jennings and their people here ASAP. Nothing annoyed covert ops more than nosy journalists, mostly because they were hard to kill without drawing attention.

“Cell service doesn’t reach out here. Could try driving over to Duck Creek but…”

“Good chance they’re out on the roads.” Dan finished for Thomas, taking a sip of coffee. “As for the radio, anything from the sherif?” Thomas perked up, smile tentative.

“Got him at the edge of its range this morning. Kept it short and sweet but he’s going to do some needling.” He turned to Harrison, clearly trying to be reassuring. “He’s got friends in the nearby installations. Even if he can’t call ‘em off he can at least get a finger on their pulse so we know what we’re dealing with.”

“More than you can handle.”

Harrison could feel Thomas tense beside him, Wolf’s gravelly baritone bringing a hush over the tables. There was still the sizzle of bacon on the griddle and Lucy humming softly to the staticky drone of a country song.

“What makes you say that, son?” Dan’s voice wasn’t accusatory, soft with gentle curiosity, trying to coax more from him. Wolf glanced to Harrison, who gave an encouraging nod when he saw the sharp focus behind his eyes.

“You’re civilians in a civilian town. You can’t win this fight.”

“With all due respect, we can handle ourselves.” Thomas’ self confidence shrunk as Wolf eyed him, gaze flickering to his holstered pistol.

“Have you ever shot a man, Deputy?”

“That’s enough, son.” Dan interrupted before Thomas could reply, a blush rising up the younger man’s ears and his throat bobbing as he looked away. Wolf’s judgement lingered on the deputy before he turned to Dan.

(Harrison would say he was impressed, seeing Wolf choose to ignore a direct commend for even a heartbeat.)

“Past experience aside, none of us are in any condition to dig in for a fight and you are not prepared for a siege.”

“Then what’s the plan Wolf?” Thankfully, Wolf’s intensity shifted to him - something that would have made his stomach turn a few days ago.

“We need to leave.“

“As I said, son, they’re probably on the roads already.”

“Then we best make an effort before the noose closes.”

“Where?” Mel’s question was simple and soft. “Where would you go?” Wolf’s eyes flicked between her and Harrison.

“North.” Harrison shrugged, filling in the sketch of a plan Wolf had provided. “Try and get across the border. Not foolproof but safer than staying in the States, I guess.”

“You can’t just leave; you’re injured, and - “

“Are we prisoners?” Wolf’s question made Thomas’ mouth snapped closed. When he didn’t reply, Wolf turned his eyes to Dan.

“No. Tommy’s just worried is all.” The old medic gave Harrison a glance of reassurance. “I can walk you down to the Trautmire’s garage. They probably haven’t demo’d the humvee yet.”

Harrison could almost feel the stress leave Wolf’s body language, shoulders easing and expression slackening as he nodded.

“I would like that. Harrison?”

There wasn’t fear in his eyes, no anxious need for approval or support. Harrison felt a smile tug at his lips. He didn’t know if it was another of Wolf’s façades, but at least he seemed to be easing into being his own person again.

“Kinda tired, to be honest.” He laughed weakly, his body genuinely worn down from the energy it took to keep up with the conversation. “I’ll stay here - you can pick me up on your way back.”

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(An AU of my Freelancers series)

Taglist: @i-eat-worlds @whumpy-daydreams

#loss of communications #community isolation #anticipated violence #fictional politics #implied military violence #past captivity #stitches #freelancers au #sorry for the plot but if you want more angsty goodness i need Situations to arise #there's snow on the ground and ive gotten enough sleep after traveling to feel human again #might post updates to this sporadically until febuwhump rolls around