Mine, chapter 28

[darkangel_0410]

 

A/N: So, guys, here we are. Only a few more chapters 'til the end of this; two or three, plus the epilogue. I can't thank everyone enough for continuing reading this. Especially candy_belle and energy_purple, without them and their feedback/support, I doubt that I would have been able to finish this. Thanks, guys, and I hope you like the rest of this story.

 

 

Randy turned and looked around the clearing. He could see Ted hugging Cody, trying to coax him into calming down a little. John was doing the same to Evan and Justin was headed right for him, his face upset and Randy could feel his concern through their bond.

 

I'm so sorry, Justin told him, wrapping his arms around Randy's waist. It's all right, Randy sighed, dropping a kiss on Justin's hair.

 

After one last hug, he let go of his mate and turned to face everyone else. They were varying degrees of sadness on their faces, but there was no surprise or even disquiet there. Everyone knew that this had been coming since the day Colt had died and Punk hadn't.

 

“What happened?” Randy asked, looking around the clearing and noting the two headless vampires a foot or so away.

 

“Wade's still alive,” Chris told him when he noticed Randy looking at the other vampires. “We thought you might want to deal with him yourself,” he added, his voice dead. He squeezed Punk's hand one last time before he got to his feet and went to stand by Randy.

 

Randy nodded. “How long will he be out for?”

 

“Until his neck heals.” Alex answered, giving his mate a worried look. “His healing ability will depend on his age, but from what I was able to pick up from fighting him, he's not that old. I'd guess, a half hour, maybe forty minutes.”

 

“Considering you're pretty ancient, I guess you'd heal a little faster, huh?” Mike snickered as Randy motioned for Adam and Jay to get Wade and bring him over to them.

 

“Probably about fifteen minutes,” Alex told him, smiling a little. “I've never broken my neck before, but -”

 

“It's my fault,” Chris said suddenly, looking at Randy. “I should have -”

 

“Stop,” Randy ordered. “Start at the beginning and tell me what happened.”

 

“After Punk showed up, it was quiet for a few minutes, but then it got too quiet,” Chris explained, that same dead tone in his voice. “Once Wade and the others showed up, I told Dan and Josh to take the others and go through the woods and keep going until they ran into you.”

 

“It was going good; Josh and I were on each side of the group, and -” Dan hesitated, glancing at John and Evan before sighing and continuing. “All of a sudden, Evan stopped and turned around. He took off before I could stop him, and wouldn't listen when I yelled for him to stop running.”

 

“Evan broke into the clearing, and distracted us, all of us,” Alex said quietly. He didn't blame Evan for what happened to Punk; he knew that it had been inevitable that it ended like this. The only thing that had been up for change was the time. What really worried him was the state Chris was in. “Wade knocked us back and headed for Evan, but we were able to stop him before Evan got hurt. ”

 

“It's my fault,” Chris repeated, barely noticing when Alex placed his hand on the small of his back. He took comfort in it, and he knew Alex was trying to help, but it didn't distract him from what he was saying. “I should have known Evan wouldn't listen to me. I was the one in charge; it's my own fault.”

 

Randy sighed, closing his eyes for a minute before he looked at Chris. “Chris, what happened would have happened if anyone else had been here, even me.

 

“Should you have looked away from the fight? Probably not; but, Punk knew better then to look himself, and he did it anyway. I saw the wound on his neck; he could have healed himself. One Change and he would have been healed, but he didn't want to.

 

“That was his choice, Chris, and you had no control over it. Punk knew exactly what he was doing when he made it. I'm not surprised that it came down to this, and I know once you get over your guilt and grief, you won't be, either.”

 

Randy placed his hand on the back of Chris's neck and rested their foreheads against each other.

 

Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. Understand?

 

When Chris nodded reluctantly, Randy moved his hand and turned to everyone else; he'd let Alex finish comforting Chris.

 

Alex rubbed his hand up and down Chris's back soothingly. He's right, babe; and as big an asshole as Punk could be, you know he wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this.

 

I know, 'Lex, Chris answered, and while he was still obviously upset, his voice had lost that dead quality that had scared the shit out of Alex earlier. And I know that this was what he wanted; every time I looked at him, I could tell he was mourning Colt.

 

Hell, I even admit that, as fucked up as it sounds, that this is better then him living in despair for the rest of his life. But I'm going to miss that fucker.

 

Alex smiled in relief; if Chris was already trying to lighten the mood, he was going to be OK.

 

“Evan,” Randy started to say and then shook his head; just like he said it wasn't Chris's fault for what happened to Punk, he didn't think it was Evan's either. But there was a bigger issue here then Evan distracting everyone.

 

“I don't blame you for Punk; I'll say the same thing to you that I said to Chris: it was his choice, his decision and one that I'm not surprised he made.

 

“But, there is something that happened today that is your fault. You disobeyed an order from someone that outranks you, and you did this not once, but twice. That's something that I can't ignore -if things had happened different, it could have been you laying on the ground and John going crazy.

 

“You'll be punished for that -or, more accurately, John will. Hopefully, this will teach you to listen when someone gives you an order.”

 

“I didn't mean to,” Evan said softly, his eyes down. He moved closer to John, trying to get as close as he could right now. “I didn't think it would do anything. I mean, I just didn't think -”

 

“Didn't think what?” Mike asked, raising an eyebrow when Evan looked at him. “That you should follow orders? Or was it that you didn't want to follow Chris's orders? You ignored both your Alpha and your mate, and then Dan, why? Out of spite?”

 

“Mike,” John said, a warning note in his voice. “Now's not the -”

 

“Fuck that, John,” Mike snapped, moving away from his mate and Ted to go stand in front of the other wolf. “With all respect, I think now's the perfect fucken time to get into this.

 

“You ignored Chris when he told you to leave and keep going; you ignored Dan when he tried to keep you from coming back here. Hell, you're own mate told you to turn around, and you still kept going.

 

“Of course, Chris wanted you to die. I mean, he is Alex's mate, and obviously Alex wants you dead. When he told you to get away from Wade, he obviously sent you toward a trap. Never mind that he sent you there with four other people; one of whom was his Alpha's mate.

 

“As far as Dan's concerned, well, I guess he hates you, too. It only makes sense. I mean, everyone wants to kill you, right? The whole pack, probably, but those three for sure. Ever since you heard part of what Shelley used to be like, you've acted like he's going to kill you.

 

“The whole fucken world revolves around you, right? You learn something you don't like, and automatically that means it has to do with you. Like, everyone's got nothing better to do then come up with ways to -”

 

“That's enough, Mike,” Randy said softly, his eyes on Evan. Mike backed away, but there was still a gleam in his eye that said he hadn't said everything he wanted. Evan looked at John and bit his lip, but it looked like he was thinking about what Mike had said. Randy hoped he was; nothing anyone else had said had gotten through to the newborn, maybe Mike would be able to.

 

“Ted, take Adam and take Punk's body and put it on my back porch; it can stay there until we bury him tomorrow night. John, Evan, you're coming with me. Everyone else, gather all the extra body parts and burn them. Keep an eye on Sleeping Beauty -” Randy paused long enough to kick Wade. “-I'll be back in a few minutes to deal with him.”

 

He headed for the woods, John and Evan following more slowly after him.

 

“Christ, did you have to take their heads off?” Mike asked as he picked one up. With a grin, he yelled to Jay and then tossed it to him.

 

Jay rolled his eyes but caught it neatly and dropped it on the ground where there was a break from the grass and leaves.

 

Cody wrinkled his nose and shoved Justin playfully when the newborn laughed at him. “Chris, is it all right if go in your guy's house and get a lighter or matches?”

 

“Yeah, go ahead,” Chris waved them off with a smile. “We wouldn't want to upset your delicate nerves.”

 

Justin flipped him off and walked off with Cody, both of them talking together in low whispers. Alex and Mike each grabbed one of the dead vampire bodies and dragged them over, putting them next to the head Jay had put on the ground.

 

Watching Mike and Alex play catch with the remaining head while Riley and Jay stood there laughing at them, Chris knew that where ever Punk was, he was finally just as happy as they were.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[candy-belle.livejournal.com]

Jesus Mike say what you think, why don't you?!! I know that bb fang needed a sharp slap but youch!!! I so want to snuggle Chris and tell him its not his fault but I don't think he wants to listen right now. IS it wrong that the pass the ball with the vamp head made me giggle - loved the image of that and I can so see Mike and Lex doing it as well :) cant wait to see what happens next but I'm scared for John - hes going to get his arse kicked and all because that bb fang is an idiot :( next part please!!!

[darkangel-0410.livejournal.com]

You know how Mike is *shrugs* He's trying to help and well, that's what happens. I'm glad it made you laugh! I wanted something silly after the last chapter, and I was snickering the whole time I was writing it. Well, John'll be ok, and I think Evvy's finally learned his lesson, too. I started it the other day, so it should be up fairly soon -I hope!

[rfg-72.livejournal.com]

If Mike's words didn't totally sink in, seeing the crap beaten out of John will have to have an effect on Evan. Losing Punk was very beautifully written, and maybe that will also have a positive impact on Evan. Punk died protecting clan, which includes Evan. And he's with his beloved Colt again. :) I can just picture them playing Keep Away or catch or fetch with the other head till they get bored with it or Randy finally *orders* them to quit playing around and get on with disposing of the dead vamps. This is an awesome story, and one I've really enjoyed all along.

[darkangel-0410.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) I'm glad you're enjoying it. It means a lot that you're still liking this so much and for so long.