[IC] The Few and The Far (Dizzy & Crim)

[Master Crim]

Josh glanced back at Richard after Jinny askes if there was a weapon she could use. "Yes but remember to be careful." He said as he un holstered his pistol and handed it to her. He hoped Richard didn't mind her having a gun because it's like she said if they get into trouble she can help, and he trust her with it even though he might not. "If anything does happen I want you to stay down and only shoot if someone we don't know is trying to get in, okay."

[Mistress Dizzy]

Jinny nodded, very carefully holding the gun in her hands like she had been taught. "Okay, Mr. Josh." She smiled in a nervous way. She didn't want anything to happen. Honestly, she'd had enough excitement to fill a week. But that didn't mean she would just relax while Mr. Josh and Mr. Richard did all the hard work. She wasn't going to be a useless orphan anymore.

Richard's eyebrows went up, as he watched Josh hand his young companion a gun. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. On the one hand, she was just a kid. She shouldn't have to shoot. But on the other hand, she was just a kid, and in a dangerous place. Better that she could defend herself rather than have to be vulnerable. Right?

[Master Crim]

Josh scanned the houses and allyways as the drove through the town making sure that no one was waiting to pounce on them when the passed by. He was nervous because he knew that tye sound of a car can carry a long way in a silent town. It would be better once they were out and away, but so long as they were here he wouldn't let his guard down for a second. His wound made it difficult to concentrate from the pain and that was the factor that caused him to miss the moving shadows in a garage.

As the truck came close two guys gave the Suburban a push out of the garage and down the drivway. "Watch out!" Josh yelled as The large car rolled right into a car parked on the side of the street which was shoved into a street light causing it to fall on top of both cars then bounce off. The two men then came at them, one with a machete and the other with a pipe. "Go!" Josh yelled as the assailants closed in on them. He looked to the behind and saw two more running at them with similar weapons. "Get down!" He cried to Jinny and he pulled back an arrow and let it fly. The arrow traveled through the air with a whistling noise before finding it's target in the man with the machete's chest. He stumbled and fell causing his follower to trip over him.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Richard said a string of very colorful curse words as his truck careened off the road. The way was blocked, and they were under attack. It had happened so fast... He quickly snatched up his pistol, taking aim from the window and trying to get ready to shoot.

Meanwhile, Jinny made herself a very small target, getting down as low as she could. Josh's pistol was heavy in her hands. An arrow whizzed through the air and nailed one guy right in the chest. The next guy fell over his dead friend. But there were still more. Jinny knew she had to stay hidden, but Josh was outnumbered. She had to do something to help. She sat up very slightly, holding the pistol in both small hands. She took careful aim at one of the attackers behind them, who had a nail studded bat. Her father's voice spoke in her ears. Aim. Exhale. Squeeze.

The gun went off, sending a harsh tingle through her hands, and then arms. The man she'd aimed at was clutching his stomach and trying to control the growing bloodstain on his shirt.

[Master Crim]

Josh had pulled another arrow ready to shoot when he just about leapt out of the truck when he heard the shot from Jinny. He looked down to make sure she was okay then back to see the man he was going to shoot kneeling on the ground holding his gut where a red stain was beginning to show. 'Holy Smokes! was the thought that ran through his mind for just a moment before he came to. He glanced to see the other man regained, grabbing the machete, and coming at them again. "Richard!" He said in a tone that really ment: Do something about him! Josh didn't watch long enough to see Richard do anything, but instead took out the last person from behind making sure that Jinny was safe... er.

[Mistress Dizzy]

There was the distinctive click-clack of a shotgun pump, before a shot rang out from Richard's direction. The man with the machete stumbled back, already starting to bleed from the many bullets that had pierced him. A second shot widened the hole in his chest, and he dropped to the ground, making a horrible, wet gurgling noise.

Jinny was frozen in the bed of the truck, her hands still firm on the pistol. They hurt, very bad actually, because she was squeezing the gun's handle so hard. But she couldn't move her hands. She'd seen the man she shot go down, covered in blood. She had done that. She'd killed him... A tiny whimper escaped her throat.

[Master Crim]

Josh crouched down on one knee scanning the area with one hand hovering about his arrows. Making sure none of them were getting back up he debated on going and grabbing the machete, but without a case he had nowhere to put it so he left it alone, staying in the truck.
"Let's get out of here." Josh paused then added. "Quickly." He put his bow around his body and went to Jinny still laying in the bed of the truck letting out quiet whimpers. He slowly reached for the gun while speaking softly. "Jinny, it's over. Their gone now, you can let go. It's going to be okay." He knew, some what, of what she was going through mentally, but with her being so young he was sure that what she was feeling was at least 2 times harder to process than when he was 14. His hand now around the gun he spoke again. "You can let go now."

[Mistress Dizzy]

Richard didn't need to be told twice, and after making sure it was clear, he started the truck and got them on their way. His pace was much slower and incredibly wary- he'd never thought of using a vehicle as a weapon. It had been wasteful, but utterly effective.

In the back of the truck, Jinny was staring off blankly. The smell of gunpowder and blood filled her nose, and Mr. Josh's voice came at her from a long way away. Her hands were burning with pain, and then the careful weight of his hand closed on the top of the gun. Slowly, weakly, she pried her fingers free of the handle, making another weak noise. Once the gun was completely out of her hands, she dropped her head and a sob escaped her. She'd killed someone. What if the man with the bat had kids? Then she was like a raider, taking someone's daddy away from them. Hot tears began to squeeze their way out of her closed eyes, and she started to shake violently.

[Master Crim]

With not much of a clue on what to do or how to comfort Jinny, Josh gently lay his hand on her shoulder. 'What do I say? What was I told?" He thought back to when he had killed a man for the first time. Granted he was among men and was a bit older than Jinny they told him that what he did wasn't wrong, and that it was either him dead or the other man. He looked to Jinny and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. 'She is an orphan which means her parents were killed by raiders... this just got a whole lot more complicated.' He thought to himself. In stead of saying something he just pulled her into a hug and cradled her. He had no words to say and no clue but hug her and make her feel safe. Thats what his mom did when he was scared and upset.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Jinny was surprised, but very grateful for the hug. She buried her teary streaked face into Josh's chest and wept. Her shaking was uncontrollable, but started to subside eventually. She looked up at Josh, wiped her leaking nose with her sleeve, and shrugged. "I feel bad that I killed that guy. But..." She sniffled slightly. "He had to know that we'd fight, right? So maybe he was okay with dying." The thought was disquieting, but better than thinking that she was a murderer. Quietly, she leaned her cheek against Josh's chest. "...I didn't think it would be so... hard."

[Master Crim]

Josh listened to Jinny as she tried to rationalize Shooting the man. "He knew we would fight back, but don't worry." He searched for an explanation that would sound good, but couldn't tell her it was okay to kill. "You see.. there are going to be people who aee going to try and attack us. The only two options we have are to run or fight. I would prefer to run and not kill anyone, but if we don't have the option to run away or go around then we have to fight back which may mean hurting people." Josh thought that was a good explanation of how they were going to go about their journey then added. "And if we get separated for any reason... I will always find you." He couldn't believe that in just 9 hours the little girl he saw as an anchor he was makig a promise to protect even if it ment death.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Jinny listened to Josh, her dark eyes wide and red from tears. She nodded to his explanation, and then almost started crying again when he said he would find her, no matter what. "I'll look for you. Promise. I may be little, but I know a lot of stuff. And maybe you can teach me more." A tiny flicker of a smile crossed her face, and she wiped her nose again. "One day I'm gonna be strong like my Daddy, and you, too. I'll be able to protect people."

In the rear view mirror, Richard watched the scene unfolding in the back of his truck, while simultaneously keeping his eyes on the road. His chest hurt. It hadn't hurt this way in years. But it did now, and it was like the pain had never left.

[Master Crim]

Josh chuckled at Jinny's statement of being strong like him and said. "One day, one day." He patted her shoulder and look forward to see they were just about to leave town, but as he was about to say something more to Jinny he noticed Richard seeming to be in pain. "Richard are you okay?" He called up. He grip tightened around Jinny as thoughts of swerving off the road came to mind.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Richard grunted in the affirmative. "Just fine." He turned his gaze back toward the road- the edge of town was sometimes more dangerous than being within it. Soon enough, though, they were through. The truck went a decent distance into the thin forest at the edges of the wasteland, before Richard parked and leaned his head against the wheel.

Jinny looked around as they stopped. "We made it..." A hesitant smile appeared on her face, and she slowly moved so that she could knock on the back window of the cab. "You did it, Mr. Richard!" Her smile dropped. "Mr. Richard, you okay?"

"Sure, kiddo." Came the hasty response. Richard lifted his head from the wheel and gave her a weary looking thumbs up.

[Master Crim]

Josh hopped out of the truck and opened the passenger side door. "What is wrong? Are you injured?" He looked from where he stood but saw no blood. "Is everything okay? " Josh was clueless as of what was worng, but what worried him was it appeared that he was having a heart attack.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Jinny got over the side of the truck and dropped down to the ground, following Josh and peeking into the truck on her tiptoes. Her gaze was worried.

Richard got out of his side of the truck, checking his weapon before heading over to the two of them. "I'm not injured, Josh. Just hurting." He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a worn, folded scrap of paper, that he unfolded carefully. He crouched, leaning his back against his vehicle as he held it out. The scrap was a picture of a young boy. with dark blonde hair and Richard's eye color and a bright smile.

Jinny looked at it, then to Richard. "Who is he?"

Richard smiled, but there was something tired and worn out in it. "My son. He was Richard too, but we just called him Junior." His smile faded, and a shadow seemed to pass in front of his eyes. "...lost him when he was barely older than you, Jinny. It happened quick. One second he was there, the next..." He shook his head, not wanting to scare the girl with the details. Reaching out, he put his hand atop Jinny's head, gently smoothing her messy black hair. "You listen here, little lady. Your Mr. Josh there, he may not be the daddy you were born to, but he looks damn willing to fill the job. You let him take care of you, and you mind him, and... you take care of him, too. Okay?"

Jinny, understanding how much hurt the man must have been feeling, stepped close and offered the man a tight, brief squeeze. "It's ok, Mr. Richard. My daddy's in Heaven, and he's probably protecting Junior like you protected me. So it all works out." She stepped away and smiled a bit. "It'll be okay. My daddy always told me that the people we love... when they die, they have a way of watching us from wherever they go next." While she wasn't entirely sure of what her daddy had meant, it was a comforting thought that he and her mother were somewhere, looking over her together.

Richard seemed unable to speak, and drew his hand across his face in a quick motion. "...my work here is done." He got up, and carefully pocketed the old photo. "Josh." He offered his hand. "You all take care of each other. Be safe."

[Master Crim]

Josh listened and was touched by Richard's telling of his lost son. He had to turn and wipe a tear that had managed to make it out. This made Josh look at the world a little different. Since he had lost his mother Josh had this feeling that everyone had something that he didn't. He was angry and jealous of something they had even though he didn't know what it was, until now. He realized that he thought that everyone's life was complete and unbroken while he was stuck picking up the pieces of his. He knew now that everyone has lost someone or something they just may be better hiding it than he is.

It took a second for Josh to realize what Richard meant when he said his work was done. "No no no, wait." He held up his hand and shook his head. " what do you mean... you expect us to drive away and." He paused looking at Jinny thinking he shouldn't finish that thought. "Where are you going to go?" He asked instead. "You told us you were trying to leave that hell back there for a while now, where do you plan to go?"

[Mistress Dizzy]

Richard's eyes were beyond sad. It was like he'd tired of being sad, and so had just gone on to empty to avoid hurting anymore. "Doesn't matter, really, at this point." He put the keys into Josh's hand. "The gas sticks from time to time, you'll wanna keep it well-greased. There's a lockbox where you all were riding in- full of all the spare parts I could find. Good luck keepin' it gassed."

Jinny tipped her head, her face was puzzled. "How come you're giving us the car, Mr. Richard?"

Richard crouched to Jinny. "Well... I'm gonna join my family."

Jinny frowned, looking even more confused. "But won't it help if you have the car? You'll get there faster."

Richard laughed, but there was no mirth in it. "I'm going to join them in watching over people like you and your Mr. Josh, there. My wife and son are waiting for me."

"But, you said your son..." Jinny stopped short as the pieces fell into place. Her hands clapped over her mouth. "Oh, no.. You can't do that!"

Richard sighed, very softly. "I have nothing left, kiddo. Everything I valued most in this world is in a whole other place, and I... I've gotta go with it. You keep your chin up, okay, Jinny?" He gently patted her head, and gave her a fatherly hug. "You work on that shot, you hear?" He stood, and nodded once at Josh. "...be safe." Then he started walking.

[Master Crim]

Joshua nodded "may you find peace." he said as Richard turned and started to leave. There was nothing at this point that could be done to change Richard's choice. Josh looked down at the keys in his hand then to Jinny. "C'mon we'd better go." He said opening the passenger door for her. "We have a long way drive." Josh's voice was solemn, and his countenance down cast.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Jinny clambered into the truck and managed to get her seatbelt on, before she curled up as tight as she could on the seat. Tears started to roll down her face; she hadn't known she could cry more today. She just stayed quiet. Honestly, she understood, a little bit. She was doing just the same thing as Mr. Richard. Her family was gone, everyone she cared for was dead. If she hadn't run into Mr. Josh and followed him, she easily could have wandered the wasteland for the rest of her life, no matter how long or short that would be.