Tess's stomach started to growl. It was apparently quite loud as Jake startled at the sound. He released his arm and he looked at her. "When's the last you ate, darlin?"
It sang a tune for him in response. She blushed and realized she hadn't eaten in over 200 years. 200 fucking years! Well, except for one hideous MRE, which she decided did not count as actually eating.
Her thoughts returned to her ruminations about cryosleep, the fact she had been frozen in a 2077 world. Would something happen to her if she ate in this new world? Would her 2077 stomach be able to process food from this time?
"Actually, this morning, but apparently it wasn't enough," she replied ruefully. She grabbed her pack and rummaged through it until she found the MREs, selected one and then offered another to Jake. "You want one?"
His eyes grew wide again, the same look he had when she first appeared after the shootout. "Is there anything you don't have from your time?" he asked incredulously. He looked at the packet with much the same expression she imagined a child having on Christmas morning. "I've only seen a few of these around in my entire life. Most of 'em are buried deep inside places even you might not want to venture." He read the contents and sat rapt in awe for a few moments.
She grinned at his boyish wonder. "My husband was quite the survivalist. Well, so was I to an extent. I'm glad he had the forethought to..." she trailed off. Her eyes stung again. Fuck.
"I'm so sorry, darlin, I didn't mean..."
She turned to look at him, his beautiful face showing that same deep concern and she was again stricken with awe that of all the inhabitants of this Twilight Zone she found herself in, how had she managed to run into Jake Evans?
"You did nothing wrong," she interrupted. "I'm still just trying to process. It still feels like at any moment I'm going to wake up from all this," she sighed sadly. "But I know that's not going to happen," she said softly, defeated. "I appreciate your concern. But you might not feel so charitable once you get some of that in your mouth."
He looked at the MRE again and tore it open. She watched with gleeful anticipation. He started finger spooning it faster into his mouth and her jaw dropped in shock.
"I haven't tasted anything this good in, well... ever!" He slurped up the remains and grinned at her.
She just shook her head. If that was any indication of the cuisine of the times, she feared for her future indeed. "You're kidding," she said flatly. But watching him lick his fingers clean was proof positive. "Dear god I think I'm even more scared now than I was."
His eyebrows knitted as he looked back at her, his thumb sliding out of his mouth as he cleaned off the last morsel. "How so?"
"If you think that actually tastes good, I don't even want to know what passes for food in your world."
He laughed heartily. "You're probably right, darlin, you probably don't."
She sat quietly again, forcing down the MRE she had opened. Then she offered Jake a bottle of water and he rolled it over in his hands and looked back at her. "I've seen military water provisions here and there, but never like this."
He unscrewed the cap and drank it down to the bottom. Then he wiped the back of his hand over his lips and let out a satisfied 'ahhh.' And then he burped. And the color of wine his face turned after that outburst made Tess laugh from her belly. He looked like he didn't know whether to run or dig a hole and bury himself. It was truly comical.
"Don't people burp in your world? She wheezed out. "They sure did in mine." And then offered up one of her own. His eyes grew so wide it sent her into another fit of laughter. It felt good to laugh, even in the face of all the lunacy her life had become. And his face was just priceless.
"Well, sure, but... I mean, you just seem so, umm... shit, what I mean is..."
Tears streamed down her face now from laughing. She fought to catch her breath. "What, you thought I was little Miss Muffet?" She finally caught her breath. "Jake, you said before I should be able to scream or light something on fire, well, that was my first scream. Does that sit better?" The laughter threatened again.
"Well that was one hell of a scream then," he admitted. "I guess it's just I've not been around a woman who, I mean, a lady like you in a very long time. Yeah, I hear shit like that 'n worse from raiders and wanderers, but you, you're so... different. Sorry, I'm ramblin."
"Does that disappoint you? Is my halo now tarnished?" she teased. And right back to full wine color. This was too much fun, but she felt a pang of guilt. She was a very forthright person. She had to be as a trial lawyer, but she'd never been so brash with a complete stranger before, and yet, Jake already felt like a good friend. It was odd, but she welcomed it all the same.
"Darlin, tarnished or not you're definitely a cut above anyone I've ever met." He was blushing again.
"Why thank you, Mr. Jake Evans. She downed the last of her water.
Jake just shook his head and looked at her, smiling, and she wondered what he was thinking, but dared not ask. "So Jake, you asked me to come by after...?"
"Oh right!" he shot up to his feet. "I wanted to ask your opinion on somethin, come on, follow me." He led her back downstairs and they both looked at the blood which was starting to congeal. He turned to her "Eh, don't worry about that, gives the place a dash of color, no?"
She giggled and followed him around a counter that had a decaying cash register and some boxes that looked as though a sneeze would disintegrate them. Around the front he stopped where there was a table set up with some old electronic equipment and devices she had never seen before. She picked one up and turned it over, examining it.
"Actually, that's parta what I wanted to talk to you about. That device was manufactured by RobCo and they help people build structures, like houses and workplaces 'n such. I've been tearin 'em open, seein what's what, how they work, and I have an idea." He looked at her hopefully.
Well, wasn't this a new wrinkle in the enigma that was Jake Evans. He had electronics skill, possibly even programming abilities. Impressive for this world, as far as she could tell. "And they work?"
"Yes..." he began tentatively. "I did give a handful to some people to try out for me, as a test, supposed to get back with them at some point."
"Okay, so what's this idea of yours?"
"I figure if these things actually do what it says on the tin, then maybe I could help more folks to start buildin for themselves, y'know, instead of wanderin around tryna find some makeshift shelter or some place that only ends up getting overrun with raiders, or worse, the Gunners."
She placed the device back down on the counter. "Gunners?"
"Oh, right, well, the Gunners are sorta like the raiders, only they have all the weapons, gear and whatever tech they've found as a bonus. And they're organized. But they're ruthless and you don't ever wanna cross their path. Or them. Trust me." His face was grim as he finished.
"So these Gunners are also attacking civilians?"
"They could, but I'm not really sure. Though if folks started gettin settled, you know, havin their own places, it could get their attention. I haven't done all the math yet to be honest, but I really just wanna help people out, like the ones you helped in the museum. I figure if enough people start havin a place to call home, build up something more solid than a lean-to, they could defend it. Maybe bring back some civilization to the wastes. What d'ya think?"
She studied him for a moment, his sincerity was obvious and she admired that. "So, let me get this straight. These devices can help people build structures, and by doing so they can help people stop being homeless and have towns or cities and then be able to defend themselves?"
Jake nodded.
"Where do I sign?"
His smile lit up the room. "You'd be willing to help me with this? Really?"
She smiled at him "I don't see why not, and umm..." she pulled her large left sleeve up, revealing her Pipboy and pretended to look at it "Huh, nope, no meetings or other engagements on the calendar in the foreseeable future. You're lucky Mr. Evans, my schedule is clear!"
"Hot damn! Boy I sure am glad you wandered into Concord, darlin. Shit, I don't even know what to say!" He held out a hand as if to shake on the deal.
"Oh please." She stepped in and gave him a hug. And then laughed as he got all flustered and blushed again. He was a character.
She stepped back and looked at his face. How could someone that good looking be that shy around a woman? Maybe in this world no one had anyone. Maybe he didn't even have, or ever have, a woman (or a man maybe?).
There were so many things she didn't know about this timeline it made her head hurt. But one thing she did know, Jake Evans was truly, and achingly attractive.
"Umm, yes, well, glad to have you on board, darlin!"
She had to admit, the 'darlin' was growing on her, although, having known people from the south, it was just part of their vocabulary. She didn't hate it though. "So Jake, how does this all work, what's the plan?"
They had moved back upstairs and sat on the floor, talking until the sun was setting. The deep ochre and umbra tones of early evening filled the sky and Jake set to lighting some lanterns. She suddenly had a flashback of watching Nate's favorite Westerns on TV but shut that shit down quick.
She was relaxed, safe, and enjoying her conversation with Jake and another fit of the sobs wasn't needed right now. She needed the distraction. But her body was so sore, so very tired. It felt as though she had been run over and the driver came back for a few more rollovers. She yawned and immediately regretted it.
"Oh darlin, I'm sorry, I tend to get carried away and..."
"Jake, you really need to stop apologizing. I'm enjoying your company and conversation. And I think your ideas are truly inspired. It's just the execution you're going to have to help with because I don't know shit or Shinola about your world."
Jake grinned at her. "Well, I'm actually relatively new to these parts myself, but I've been here long enough to have trekked over most of the Commonwealth and with my knowledge of what's where, and your skills with that rifle of yours, I'm sure we'll be able to figure it all out. But for now I think you need some rest, so come on, I'm not allowin a lady to wander off in the dark, no matter how good a shot she is."
He got up and rummaged through some boxes and found a spare sleeping bag that was more or less the equivalent of taking a bedspread and laying it in your driveway. And she thought her body was sore now? She feared the morning.
And then there were the dreams.
They were faceless. She recognized military fatigues, an array of weapons that would have taken out half the Chinese in Alaska, but she couldn't make out their features. Her heart raced with fear. They marched, they marched closer and closer and then they entered the hardware store. They stormed the stairs and opened fire. She felt the burning of bullets pierce her flesh, slide into her body, searing pain and then screaming...
"Darlin?, Tess! Hey, hey, shhhh, it's all right."
Strong arms were encircling her, rocking her, smoothing her hair. It was Jake. She was shaking so badly she couldn't speak, tears stained her face. Her head started darting around, looking for the men, and then she finally realized it had just been a dream.
"Oh my god Jake, the Gunners. I think it was the Gunners!" she cried.
"No, no darlin, it's all right, nobody here but us chickens, okay?" He shushed her and held her closer.
Was this her life now? Was she just going to be a blob of nightmares and tears? In all her life she had never felt particularly vulnerable or helpless. She was a vicious litigator all through law school and into practice. She held her own through all the training she insisted Nate give her. She had never truly feared much of anything. Now her entire existence was terror. She felt as though her mind would tear from her.
The only consolation, the only tether she had now was this remarkable, strange man. Jake Evans. He wasn't battle-hardened in a war sense, but he had battled. He wasn't of a military mind, but he was brilliant in his own right. He was so different from Nate. They were polar opposites in many ways. But Jake had known exactly what to do to calm and assure her.
She looked up at him, ashamed of being so pitiful, quickly wiping at her nose in case it was running. "I'm sorry Jake, it was just a really bad dream."
His worry was apparent even in the dim lantern light. "Hey, I think bad dreams are part of the package here. We all have them. And considerin what your day's been like, I'd be worried if you didn't have any." He picked stray hairs from her face and she felt a warm wave of energy sweep through her heart.
She lowered her head. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know how to do this.." she sniffled.
"Well darlin, everyone knows how to be alive. You just breathe, and you keep breathin. There's no how, it just is. Now if you're talkin about wantin to give up, then shit, I don't buy it. Not from what I've seen about you so far."
He tilted her chin up, his face earnest. "Look, I can't even begin to imagine what all this is like for you, but trust me, I've had my share of shit flung in my face. If you don't figure out the why of it all, for you, then you're right, there's no point. I can't imagine that kinda thinkin is all that different than it was in your time."
She looked back into his face. This man had wisdom she didn't even think he realized himself. She knew he might be the person that could help her get through this, at least help her get Shaun maybe? She just didn't know.
She was already terrified of men she'd never seen. Heartbroken over the death of her husband. Mortified that strangers had taken her baby for no reason she could fathom whatsoever. Still in shock over seeing her home, her town, reduced to rubble. If this lone man could find meaning in this cruel place, then why should she be any different? He was right.
She nodded at him. "Yes, of course. It's just that the dream was so... vivid. I actually felt it."
He scooted around to her side and pulled her closer. "Tell me."
She explained the dream and he nodded. "Well, that there's your perfect example of the power of suggestion. I think we'll start to choose our conversation topics a tad better, hmm?" That elicited a smile from her. "Now how am I ever gonna be able to enjoy those pretty green eyes of yours if you keep makin 'em red, huh?"
This time she giggled. She felt like she was in high school with one of her crushes. It was so ridiculous but it was a tonic to her aching soul.
"Now come on, still a few more hours 'til daylight, try and get some sleep, okay?"
"Thanks Jake, I really appreciate you."
"Yeah, well, you ain't seen my bad side yet, so, fair warning." He winked and crawled back over to his bedding, watching her.
She turned on her side to face him. She still had so many questions, but it could wait. She really was tired. Her eyes started closing, the picture of Jake watching her as she drifted away burned into her mind.