This isn't dying, this is living!//Gwennie-1Other

[Fighter Mallory]

As Davey took Gwennie from her arms, Fighter gave him a nod of thanks. She never was very expressive with her emotions. Putting a hand on Gwennie’s back she leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Keep your eyes closed and pretend we’re at Steeplechase and I promise before you know it we’ll be home.” Fighter bit back a sigh as she pulled back and put a hand to her shoulder to try to staunch some of the blood flow. Turning down the hall she started walking again, slower this time because she wanted to keep an eye out for any surprises. As they got towards the end of the hall she saw a window and glanced out. Some of her friends were down there still fighting and some were on the ground. She closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her forehead.

Turning she looked back at Davey, “We’re going to have to go out a back door. I want to avoid the main crowd and I think it’s time we left.” Her eyes clearly said that she needed to get out of here before cops showed up because she wasn’t planning on going to jail for what she’d done today. Her actions replayed in her mind as her features hardened, if she had to do it all over again she wouldn’t change a thing. It was her or them and she’d chose her any day of the damn week. Fight studied Gwennie for a moment her eyes softening and a slight smile crossed her face. The girl gave her a reason to enjoy life and she was glad to have her back.

“Let’s go.” Fight looked up at Davey and started down another hall the gun hanging at her side. She wouldn’t use it though, she didn’t want to scare Gwennie anymore than she already was. It seemed lady luck was shining upon them right now though because they made it to the back entrance without any problems. Fight smirked at the guards lying on the ground, looks like they were already taken care of for them. Sticking her head out the door she glanced around and saw a few people fighting but the ground seemed littered with bodies. Looking back at Davey, “Cover her eyes.” She didn’t know if they were dead or alive but she didn’t want this image to be in her young friends mind.

[David Jacobs]

There was no doubt a special relationship between Fighter and Gwennie, David was getting a first row seat and at some other time he might be astounded by the display of emotion, instead it merely tugged at his heart as the sounds of fighting swirled on around them. He followed Fighter down the hall, keeping a firm grip on Gwennie, trusting her to lead the way and find the most effective and easiest exit...if there was such a thing out of this hell.

She paused at the door and looked out and he nodded at her instruction, lifting his hand and setting it on the back of Gwennie's head and pushing her face into his neck. "Remember what I said, Gwennie. Hang on tight, close your eyes and we'll get you home," He kept his hand there, nodding at Fighter in an indication that he was ready.

Except that he wasn't. He never really could be prepared for stepping out and seeing people lying, either dead or alive along the ground. Some of them were their friends, some of them were faces David recognized and he was torn between rushing to their side but Gwennie's tight hold around his neck reminded him of their goal. There might be nothing to be done for those that lay there, but Gwennie he could help, Gwennie he could get to safety and that's what mattered the most right then.

They moved together, veering off towards the treeline and presumed safety since a hill would eventually hide them from view. He saw the hardlined faces of his friends, the angry ones of guards and more blood than he had ever imagined and he was sure the images would be burned into his memory for a lifetime. But he kept his hold on Gwennie and kept up his pace; Fighter was hurt and they should probably have Gwennie looked at by the doctor that David knew would be at Irving.

Close...they were so close.

[Fighter Mallory]

They were almost there; they were almost out of sight when Fighter noticed a giant man lumbering towards them wielding a very large knife. Looking quickly over to Davey she mouthed the word run and turned to face the guard. When Davey was out of earshot she raised her gun and gave him a hard glare. “You have two choices, you can leave or you can die.” Fighter pulled the barrel back on the gun clearly showing him that she wasn’t fooling around. He stared at her his mouth opening and closing like a fish but didn’t move another muscle. Fight slowly started to back up never lowering the gun and keeping her gaze glued on him. Eventually he did the same obviously not wanting to die today like so many others had. Once Fighter was over the hill she lowered her weapon and turned catching up with Davey.

“Let’s get the hell home.” She started briskly walking towards the stream she’d seen on their way here and kneeled in front of it washing her hands off more along with her face. Turning she gazed at Davey, “You might want to wash up before we head back to the city.” They didn’t need people staring at them because they had blood all over them. Standing she walked over and held her arms out for Gwennie ignoring the pang in her shoulder that reminded her that she really shouldn’t be holding anyone or anything. She didn’t care; she wanted the girl in her arms.

Once Davey finished they would begin their walk back. Fight took the little time they had to glance around and get a bearing on their surroundings. She didn’t want to get lost on the way back and she certainly didn’t want to run into any cops. That’s why they were going to avoid the tracks on their way back. They’d have to stick to the trees and hope they weren’t spotted by anyone. God all she wanted was to crawl into bed and get the images of today out of her head. She might have lost herself in the bloodlust for a bit but now that she was thinking clearly she knew she was going to pay for what she’d done today. She may not believe in God (how could she?) but she did believe that what went around came around and she didn’t want to think about what was coming for her.

[David Jacobs]

At Fighter's warning, David had pulled Gwennie close and taking off deeper into the trees, stopping once he thought they were a safe enough distance in. He wasn't going to just leave Fighter out there, not after everything, if she didn't follow in a few minutes he'd make sure Gwennie was safe and double back. Which was why the sight of Fighter appearing through the trees sent a wave of relief through David and he nodded at her. She suggested he wash up and looking down at his hands and arms, he could see the prudence in it and allowed her to take Gwennie.

As the cool water washed away the red stains on his hands, David glanced over at where Fighter was talking to Gwennie. It astounded him to realize that they hadn't exchanged more than a few words and yet he felt as though they were now connected by everything that had happened. He closed his eyes and brought water up to wash his face, shivering slightly at the images that played along his eyelids. He thought of Les and Sarah and his parents waiting back at home, of Miss Mason, Medda and the doctors waiting for them. And finally he thought of Jack and the rest of his friends, he hadn't seen any of them since they'd been separated shortly after marching over the hill and there had been no one but he and Fighter since Birdie had left them. he hoped they were all alright.

Finishing up he looked down at his shirt and figured there wasn't much he could do for it, it was ruined but the stains had faded to an almost brown color and he would just have to hope that no one stopped them until they made it back to Manhattan. Grimacing he realized for the first time how much his head hurt, and he'd somehow managed a scratch on his arm that looked suspiciously like a knife had caught him, but he didn't remember it happening. Shaking his head he started back over towards Fighter, there would be time enough for inventory later.

"You want me to take her?" He offered softly, rolling up the sleeves on his shirt and holding out a hand for Gwennie, he wasn't going to force Fighter to give her up if she wasn't ready, but it would likely be easier on the girl if he carried the little one.

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter smiled at Gwennie as David walked over to the stream to wash up, "You know we've missed you. And I promise that we'll help you forget everything that happened. We're going to head back now to Manhattan where we'll be meeting everyone else. Once everyone gets there we can go back to Brooklyn. Tomorrow will be a new day and I can take you to Coney Island. Sound good?"

Fighter knew she was babbling but she couldn't help it. She wanted to take the girls mind off what might be going on back at the factory and take her own mind off of it. Normally she wouldn't leave a fight before it was over but she couldn't risk Gwennie's safety and she knew that since she was one of the few who probably took a life it would be best if she left now. And it would be good for Davey as well, he'd seen enough today and didn't need to face more.

As he came back and asked her if she wanted him to take Gwennie, she looked at the girl and nodded after a moment. "As long as it's okay with Gwennie, it's okay with me." She gave the girl a reassuring smile. She knew after today she had found an ally in someone she never would have expected to. She not only had a newfound respect for Davey but she felt fierce loyalty welling up inside her when it came to him. He had done something amazing for her and she hoped she could return the favor one day.

[David Jacobs]

David watched Fighter for a long moment, saw some of the same emotions he was wrestling with in the depths of her eyes and offered her the smallest of smiles. He was coming back into his head a little bit, adrenaline burning off and the aches and pains he knew would linger long after were creeping into his frame, but he would battle them off for as long as it took for the three of them to get back to Manhattan.

Reaching over he settled a hand on Fighter's shoulder, resting it there gently for a moment as they exchanged a look. "It'll be okay," He said, for some reason wanting to offer reassurance, not just for Gwennie or Fighter, but for himself too. It would all be okay...it had to be.

After what felt like ages, David dropped the gaze and squatted down so he was eye level with Gwennie and held out his hand again, smiling at the young girl. "What do you say, kid?"

[Gwennie]

Gwennie mind was numb as they rushed through the building, words jumbled together and they moved through a blur of hallways and doors. She hardly noticed as she was handed off between fighter and the other boy who Fighter had called David. She had hardly believed it when she'd heard Fighters voice. She hadn't known whether to laugh or cry. In the end she had done neither. Her thoughts were racing through her mind so quickly she could hardly keep track of them. It was all she could do to shut her eyes as tightly as she could hold on like her life depended on it as she was passed between Fighter and David as they made their way out of the building that had been her prison for the past few months.

It wasn't until the light hit her face that she could think clearly again. The scrapes and bruises that covered her hands (and the rest of her body) began to hurt and she loosened her grip slightly. She opened her eyes just long enough to note that it was David who was carrying her at this point but the sun was blinding after so much time in the dark and she had to shut her eyes before she could even see if Fighter was following them. The fresh air that filled her lungs and blew tranquilly across her skin felt almost alien as they kept moving further and further away from the building .

She was finally able to open her eyes when they entered the shade of the trees. When she did she was relieved to see Fighter rushing toward them. "Fightah!" she cried joyfully as Fighter held out her arms "I knew you'd come! I just knew it!" she threw her arms around her neck and squeezed her tightly.

'We're going to head back now to Manhattan where we'll be meeting everyone else. Once everyone gets there we can go back to Brooklyn. Tomorrow will be a new day and I can take you to Coney Island. Sound good?"

Gwennie thought for a moment , still clinging to Fighter as if she might disappear "Could we get a hot dog when we get dere?" she asked enthusiastically "I'm real hungry" suddenly, she felt something wet and warm on her arm she lifted her arm up slightly to look on it and saw that there was a small spot of blood on her arm. Immediately, she remembered what was still going on in the building. There was a big fights and mean men with guns and Milo and the other little kids were still in there. Her eyes grew wided and she leaned back so Fighter could see her. "Fightah!, we gotta go back! I jus' remembah'd, I didn't evah find milo an' dere's some othah little kids still dere, we gotta at leas' get Milo. He's my friend an' I'm biggah so I gotta help him an' Marvin's still in dere lookin' foah 'im but he's jus' a doggie an' Milo can't even see 'im" she blurted out practically tripping over her words in her rush to get help for Milo "We gotta help. We gotta!"