AFTERMATH:
By: ShadowWing
Oh boy, this is a way bit darker than some of the other fics here.
Special thanks goes out J. Wolfman for allowing me to use the events in two of his stories "Wolf's Destiny" and "Bill's War" as the framing for this story. If you haven't read either of these stories, I highly suggest that you do so! They are great stories, and can be found on most of the larger StarFox Fan-Fiction Archives (Edward's Unofficial StarFox64 Page, Fox's Crew, StarFox.org, as well as his own site "The Cornerian Library" have both stories, and Tengi at the StarFox Hotel has Wolf's Destiny) I tried to make this so you could understand it with out reading J's stories, but it's a little clearer if you do.....
Oh and this takes place toward the end and following J. Wolfman's Story "Wolf's Destiny"
Prologue: One Week Ago....
"Early morning role call and duty assignment." silently thought Lt. Beatrice "Boomer" Gray, "What fun." She was sitting with the rest of her unit in the large meeting and briefing hall in Alpha Base less than 30 miles from Corneria City. Role call was a bit longer this morning, since about a third of the Bulldog and Husky Squadrons normally stationed on Katina were here for further training and missions. Though the visitors were eyeing their fellows as normal, most were purposely looking away from Boomer.
Lt. Michael Angel, Mike to his friends, was on Boomer's right and whispered to her under his breath, "I wonder if your brother gave them a stern warning regarding you before any of these guys left Katina."
Boomer smiled a whispered back, "I wouldn't put it past him." By then role call was finished and she quickly faced forward to hear her assignment for the day. She was laying odds she would be the lucky one to teach the visitors about how the new laser systems worked that her team had just finished developing. Mike on the other hand was betting that she would be asked to help with the hand to hand combat training. They had 20 credits on the bet. The announcements came, and Boomer frowned. After they left the room, Mike held out his hand,
"Damn." hissed Boomer, slapping a 20 cred note into it, "How do you do it?"
"My secret," snickered Mike, "and it gets even better, about three forths of the people you'll be working with are from either the Husky or the Bulldog Squadrons."
Boomer busted out laughing, "Oh man....if Bill did give them a warning, having to do hand to hand with me is going to be interesting to say the least. Can't wait to call Bill about it later."
An hour later Boomer had changed out of her uniform and into a pair of comfortable work-out pants and a T-shirt she hid just outside the door as the various personnel scheduled for the extra training filed in. She eavesdropped on the chatter.
"We are so dead," muttered one.
"Hand to hand with the Commander's sister? Who thought this one up?"
"I'm laying bets on the Commander himself."
"He's not that mean! Is he?"
Boomer was fighting to stay in control, Mike was right, this could be fun. Though she doubted that Bill thought this situation up, he would be amused to think his men did. The last few entered the room and Lt. Donald Teller was the last bring with him some of the equipment they would need for the training. The objective was simple, more and more often Andross was resorting to raiding bases with foot soldiers, on the ground pilots were a bit more of a liability than an asset. The recent fiasco on Katina proved that. Therefore the powers that be had ordered that all pilots receive further training on ground fighting techniques. Hence the trips to Alpha Base, and since Boomer was one of the better hand to hand combatants, she was nominated to help.
As she helped Don with the gear, extra mats, pads and so on the various pilots fidgeted. "You wanna start or should I?" asked Don as they entered the room.
"Oh let me." replied Boomer, "Let's make these guys squirm a bit more." Don rolled his eyes, before picking up a staff and getting behind the rest of the group, while Boomer stood in front. Panic was written on everybody's face except one Malamute, she took a mental note of that as she began to explain the reasons for this little session, what they would be going over.
"Now I believe a demonstration is in order. Any volunteers?" Nobody moved, Boomer frowned. "I promise not to tell my brother if anything happens." Still no response. Don began to move behind the group to encourage somebody to volunteer.
"If somebody doesn't come forward soon, Don behind you will pick somebody. I don't bite." Still nothing. Don looked over the group again and picked the Malamute who had be either grinning or smirking at Boomer the whole time. He was also the largest in the group. A well placed poke with the staff soon had him a few steps ahead of the rest. Boomer glared at Don. He grinned back.
"Thank you for volunteering." stated Boomer.
"Lt. Adam Pietor, of the Husky Squadron volunteering as requested" He had the biggest grin on his face. Boomer was wondering what Don had gotten her into.
"Thank you." replied Boomer, "Now try and attack me."
Another grin as he lunged, and he then kissed mat. He fellow members gave a few chuckles. Boomer turned to address the others to explain what she did when their jaws dropped. Boomer turned to see Lt. Pietor tackling her again, this time he made her kiss mat.
"Rule one." he stated, "Never turn your back to an opponent."
"Okay." replied Boomer, "I asked for that, and you just volunteered to be a teacher's aide."
Over the next hour everybody noticed a pattern. Lt. Gray was pulling her punches with everybody but Lt. Pietor, he was doing the same after the session was done. One of his wingmen came over, "Are you nuts?"
Adam raised an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"
"You just tried to beat the crap out of Commander Gray's kid sister." came the blunt reply.
"And visa versa." Before the conversation could continue another member of the Husky Squadron ran up, panting.
"Everybody had to report to the hangers and their jets at once." he announced, "Heron Base was attacked and captured about an hour ago, all Husky and Bulldog Squadron members are ordered back to Headquarter Base for it's defense and preparation to retake Heron."
The room emptied in less than a minute. Don and Boomer beelined for their own supervisors, no doubt a few of them would be ordered to Katina. "Wanted to visit Bill, but not under these conditions." snapped Boomer.
"I agree." as they sped down the hall a private stopped them both.
"Lieutenant Gray?" Boomer nodded, "Commander DeVille wants to speak to you in his office. Now."
"I'll catch up Don." she said and followed the private to the Commander's office.
Commander Leonard DeVille was the commanding officer of Alpha Base, the report just came in on the taking of Heron Base on Katina, that unnerved him. It was the second note on the report that really spooked him. He gave a heavy sigh, and rubbed his temples he didn't want to release the second part on the report until he spoke to Lt. Gray first. She deserved to told in private, before it became public knowledge. A soft knock broke his train of thought. "Come in." he stated.
Boomer entered the Commander's office, comfortable but not overbearing. The older lion motioned for her to sit down as he sat behind his desk. "This is not going to be easy Lieutenant. You have already heard about the take over of Heron on Katina I presume?"
She nodded.
"There was another note that I held back until I had spoken to you first."
"It's Bill isn't it sir." whispered Boomer.
He nodded, "He was at Heron base when it was taken. He was captured and transported to Venom by StarWolf."
Boomer went numb after that, she kept thinking "Not again. We lost each other once, and by luck we found each other. I can't lose him again....."
Chapter 1:
A week later....
Beatrice Gray was pacing in the Great Fox's rec area wondering if she and her brother were cursed or blessed. The day before she had received a call from Fox McCloud, with disturbing news. Bill was alive and Wolf O'Donnell was willing to release him in exchange for a one-on-one dog fight between StarFox and StarWolf.
That was the good news. The bad news was that Leon had some 'fun' with her brother. According to Fox, he looked like hell. His tone told Boomer all she didn't want to hear. Over the past week she had barely slept, and literally buried herself in extra work to keep her thoughts away from what might be happening to her older brother. Discovering he was alive and soon to be released was the first hurdle. Recovery was next.
Mariko was also in the rec area keeping Boomer company. Everybody else was down in the hanger bay gearing up the arwings for the fight ahead. Wolf was to leave Bill in a location a few miles from the battle site on MacBeth, Using a transport Beatrice and Mariko would pick up Bill and get him to the Great Fox's medical area first and wait until Fox and the others to mop up Wolf and company. If things went down hill, Mariko would use her two-seated arwing to get Bill away from the Great Fox, and Beatrice would cover using the Shockwave. If all went well the Great Fox would transport both Bill and his sister to Katina.
Mariko sighed, "How are you holding up?" she asked the other woman.
"Pretty good considering." replied Boomer, stopping her pacing. "I should be grateful that he's alive. But knowing Leon's reputation..." her voice trailed off.
"We will have Bill back, but he'll never be the Bill we knew again. Like you are not the same person Bill remembered when you two were reunited." finished Mariko.
Fox's voice came over the intercom, "We're in orbit around MacBeth, time to go Mari."
"We'll be in the hanger soon. Oh and Fox?"
"Yes." he replied.
"Be sure to remind Wolf about his dagger and his leg. Please?"
Fox let out a bark of laughter, "Will do."
"What was that about?" asked Boomer, by now the two of them were almost to the hanger.
"I'll tell you on the way to the drop off point." answered Mariko.
Since the transport shuttle she and Mariko were using was a great deal slower than either the arwings or the Shockwave, Mariko had plenty of time to relay the story on her and Wolf's adventure on the newly discovered planet just outside the known Lylat System. For the first time in about a week Boomer had to crack a smile and laugh a bit. "Oh Dear." muttered Boomer. "I wondered what Bill was chuckling about a couple months back." She then checked their location. "We're almost there, can you see anything yet."
Mariko checked the instruments, "Picking up somebody on the surface, alone. Nothing visually yet." Mariko closed her eyes and extended her 'knack' as everybody had dubbed it. This way she could confirm that the person was in fact Bill Gray and not an impostor, as she sensed the person Mariko nearly lost it. Pain, sorrow, despair, hate, anger.....and that was only on the surface and from a distance. But under the emotional storm she could pick up Bill Gray. It was him, and Mariko had a sick feeling that the hell had only just begun. Mariko took a deep breath before speaking, "It's him, and he's alone, believe it or not Wolf kept his word."
Boomer nodded with relief, "Preparing to land, I'll call the Great Fox and relay the news. With a hearty suggestion to mop MacBeth with StarWolf." A few minutes later the shuttle landed a short distance away from where Bill sat on the ground waiting. Mariko got out a jogged toward Bill while Boomer kept the shuttle running, they were not home free yet.
When Mariko reached Bill she almost exploded, it had taken her about two hours to calm Fox down after Wolf's challenge. Now she saw why, Fox's best friend was a mess in the nicest of terms. He was covered with deep cuts and gashes, his tail and ears were almost shredded, he must have lost at least a third of his weight and looked frail enough for a good wind to knock him over. His eyes were almost hollow and blank, Leon had taken the fun-loving, outgoing, Commander of Katina and completely destroyed him from the outside in. Mariko gave thanks that she had Boomer stay inside the shuttle, now her next challenge was to keep her in the Great Fox and away from StarWolf. She carefully helped Bill to his feet and gently guided him to the shuttle.
"Who?" Bill asked in a weak raspy voice. He had almost no strength to fight her.
"Mari." Mariko answered, "Come on we'll get you patched up soon enough."
Behind her Boomer heard Mariko enter the shuttle again with somebody else. She fought the urge to look behind her. She wasn't quite ready for that yet, Mariko called from the back, "Let's get back to the Great Fox." Her tone was controlled, and sharp. Boomer swallowed and gently lifted the shuttle off the surface and back to the Great Fox.
As soon as she finished lnding the shuttle Boomer was out of her seat and making her way to where Bill was. She nearly lost it. Bill was worst than she ever dreamed, it wasn't just the physical that scared her, it was the lack of outward emotion. Bill seemed dead to the world. Boomer took a few deep breaths before getting any closer. "Bill?" she softly asked.
Bill glanced up to see one of the last people he wanted to see. He didn't want his little sister to see him like this, he wanted to get her away, but another part of him was grateful she was there. He couldn't speak, he was too tired. Boomer got under his arm and got him to his feet, he yelped a bit but found the strength to walk out of the shuttle and to the medical bay while leaning heavily on his sister.
Between the two women they were able to get Bill into the Great Fox's medical bay. Mariko quickly went to work, she cleaned up and bandaged as many of the smaller wounds as she could, some appeared to have been caused by a saw of some type. Others were easily identified as knife wounds, small burns and scorched fur suggested a electrical shock weapon, or tazer set on high. Mariko inwardly flinched, "If Leon was a Rogue Knight he'd really be a terror." She then forced her emotions to the background and continued to work, mentally numbing Bill's pain as she went.
Boomer was on the other side of the bed where Bill lay holding his hand and making what little small talk she could. Bill finally spoke, "You don't look so good." he finally got out.
"I've been a bit distracted lately." she replied hoping her voice wasn't cracking. "Here's a bit of good news for you. We were able to re-take Heron Base. The remaining Bulldog and Husky Squadrons were so mad at Heron being taken that they more then made up for being outnumbered by Venom."
Bill tried to smile, but couldn't make it. He swallowed and spoke again, "Stop worrying about me Bea. I'll be fine." At this point some the painkillers the Boomer had given him were kicking in and he drifted off. Once she was sure he was asleep she stepped away from the bed and dropped into a chair. Mariko had finished what she could and walked toward her.
"Want to talk?" she carefully asked.
"Who is he kidding?" Boomer whispered, "Bill will never be fine again." She bolted out of the medical area and made her way to where she found the workout area earlier. That's where Fox found her later beating the crap out of one of the punching bags. Bill did state that his sister was a bit more aggressive than he remembered her being. Now he was starting to believe it. As he saw the petite blond-haired dog fire several high kicks at the bag that would knock anybody out cold.
"Feeling better?" he carefully asked as she paused to catch her breath.
"Tell me that you left StarWolf on MacBeth with smoke coming out of their engines and I'll start." she hissed.
"Yes." he answered.
"Good." she took a few more breaths before continuing, "It was either that bag or me in a jet trying to take down Leon."
"What stopped you?" Fox was a bit curious.
"I hate to admit it, but he's the better pilot." Boomer sat down on a bench, "If it was on the ground, I would have the advantage. Right now Bill doesn't need me to go on a vendetta against Leon, right now he needs me here."
"All we have to do," muttered Fox, "is convince him of that."
Once at Katina, Boomer placed a call to her commanding officer at Alpha Base requesting a temporary transfer the Headquarter Base on Katina. Commander DeVille quickly granted it knowing the reasons why. He joking told her that he'd hope to get her back. Boomer had to force a smile. The magnitude of the effect Leon's torture had on Bill's mind reared it's head less than 3 hours after they got him from MacBeth.
While the rest of StarFox was either resting or repairing the arwings from the battle with StarWolf, Boomer was with Bill in the medical bay reading a book she had borrowed from Mariko. She didn't realize that she had fallen asleep, she woke up quick enough when Bill started yelling and whimpering in his sleep. Boomer launched herself out of the chair and at his side in less than a minute.
"No..." he whimpered, "No more....please..." Bill was thrashing around as if fighting, or trying to get away from somebody.
Boomer tried to restrain him as gently as she could, she didn't want to hurt him. "Easy Bill," she stated, "It's only a dream, wake up..."
Bill's eyes popped open, and they had an almost wild look in them, he launched his fist straight at Boomer's face. Boomer's reflexes took over at that point. She quickly crossed her wrists in front of her face both blocking and trapping Bill's fist. She the switched the block to a firm hold and yelled. "Bill!!"
Bill shook his head as if clearing it, not quite sure what happened. "Bea?" he gasped. "What happened." He slowly laid back down due to his injuries.
Boomer released his wrist and gave a sigh of relief, "You were having a nightmare. I had to try and restrain you to keep you from hurting yourself."
"Oh." replied Bill.
"Want to talk about it?" she asked, "It might help..."
"No." came Bill's surprising firm reply, "Not yet."
Chapter 2:
Two weeks later. Bill was in a private room in the main hospital on Katina not far from Headquarter Base. Herself, Fox, plus some of her brother's closer friends had rotated keeping him company at night, when his nightmares were the worst. He was moved to a less populated floor and retraints finally had to be used on him. Boomer swallowed remembering the trigger for that step.
During his nightmares Bill lashed out violently, in his mind he was fighting Leon back in his cell on Venom. This night had both Fox and Boomer watching him. She and Fox were talking and staying awake. When Bill started thrashing again, it was the second time tonight. As usual he and Boomer tried to block Bill's blows without hurting him or getting hurt. One punch got through and Bill nailed his sister good. Boomer was tossed back and Fox had now choice but to practically tackle his best friend to wake him out of the dream, Bill woke up finally. "Not again." he groaned seeing his friend holding him down. Fox tried for a light note.
"Believe it or don't," he stated getting up, "but I think these nightmares are improving your hand to hand combat skills."
Bill scowled, "Bad joke Fox."
"He's not kidding." groaned Boomer getting up, "you landed a good one on me Bill." She was holding her left eye.
Bill was horrified, "Beatrice, I'm sorry..." he whispered, before he could continue Boomer held up her other hand,
"Don't blame yourself Bill, put it where it belongs." she stated, "I wish I was Leon right now, that was a good punch."
The next night nurses and retraints were in place, it was part Bill's and the doctor's decision. He didn't want to hurt his friends when they were trying to help him. Boomer had a nasty shiner that day. At least now she would be able to catch up on some sleep. For the time being Boomer was temporarily head of the weapons development and testing group that was formerly headed by Sergeant Manson at Headquarter Base. So far everything was going well there.
The month passed, and though the weapons development program was in top shape, Commander Gray was not. Another indication of trouble was during Boomer's lunch break, when she went to visit Bill, he was due to be released from the hospital in a few days. As far as she could tell he was almost physically recovered. It was the rest that needed work. Boomer walked down the hall to he brother's room when a salamander nurse came rushing out closely followed by a flying lunch tray. The head nurse at the floor station mouthed 'Not Again.' Boomer walked up to the station, "This has happened before?" she asked.
The nurse nodded, "It mostly happens if the unfortunate nurse or doctor is reptilian."
Boomer just closed her eyes, Leon she silently thought, she let out a deep breath and muttered, "I'll try and calm him down." The head nurse looked relieved.
She carefully approached the closed door of the room, and tried to look on the bright side of things, at least Bill was getting his strength back. She softly knocked on the door.
"Go away!" snapped the irate voice.
"Bill?" she asked, "Can I come in?"
"No." came the terse reply.
"I'll break in." threatened Boomer. No answer. "Fine." she stated and tested the door, as she expected it was locked. She then pulled a hairpin from her head and bent the wire so it would fit into the lock. Most people didn't realize how many uses a bent hairpin had. Fifteen seconds later she had the door unlocked and was walking in the room. "Bill?" she asked sticking her head in. She ducked out when the incoming pillow came at her.
"I said go away!" snapped Bill.
"It's me Bea." replied Boomer, "Can we talk before you scare the daylights out of any more nurses?"
"I know it's you Beatrice." hissed Bill, "I just want to be left alone! Period!" he snarled.
"Oh Boy." whispered Boomer, the head nurse was right behind her, "What triggered this?" she asked the other woman.
"Well," began the nurse, "He's scheduled to under go a month of psychiatric evaluation and at least a month of rest before he can report back to duty."
Boomer mentally groaned, over the past week Bill had been looking forward to getting back to work and getting on with his life. Unfortunately Bill was the only person who didn't realize how deeply the week on Venom had effected him. As such the orders for the psychiatric evaluation to see what kind of treatments and counciling would be needed. What made it worse was that Bill had already refused to take a memory potion to remove the torture from his mind. Over the past month Bill's temper was getting shorter and shorter, and the news about the required therapy didn't help. Boomer was afraid that he was reaching the point that she couldn't even reason with him. By that time another nurse came by with a new lunch tray and was about to go in when Boomer stopped her.
"I'll take that," stated Boomer, "It'll give me a chance to talk to him about all of this." After taking the tray, Boomer called out, "I have your lunch Bill," she began, "The only way your getting it is if you let me in the room." The head nurse chuckled.
After a pause and a growl, "Come in Bea." Bill muttered.
When she walked in, she asked, "Am I going have to resort to blackmail every time I want to talk to you from now on?"
"There is nothing to talk about." came the terse reply as Bill dug into his lunch.
"Flying lunch trays are not an indicator of something bugging you?" Boomer sighed, "I have heard about the evaluations."
Bill made a snort of disgust.
"Bill every time somebody, regardless of who it is, even brings up the subject of what happened to you, you either clam up or throw something at them."
"I just don't want to talk about it." snapped Bill, "Is that any crime?"
"When it effects that way you treat others?" snapped Boomer, "Hell yes! Bill, half of the nurses here dread coming near you because of your current temper. What's going to happen if you take command under your current state of mind?"
"I can handle it." he snarled.
Boomer shook her head, "If your right Bill, then you'll be back on duty before you know it once the doctors give their okay. If not then you've got some serious problems to deal with, and the first step is acknowledging that there is a problem."
"If there is a problem Bea." stated Bill, "You'll be the first to know."
Somehow Boomer doubted that very much.
Once Bill was checked out of the hospital and back on his own, Boomer was transferred back to Alpha Base on Corneria. She tried to send a few messages to her brother to see how he was doing, but she got no response. She then tried to get the name of the Doctor who was treating Bill, she knew that he couldn't tell her what went on in the sessions, but at least she could find out if it was doing any good.
After another week Boomer, heard two pieces of disturbing news. The first was from Bill's doctor telling her that he had stopped the sessions and the second was found on her desk later in the week.
For the first time in months Boomer went to her standard desk in Alpha Base's main building, usually she set up where ever she was working, but since she was in between assignments she was working there for once. She could have sworn that she took a wrong turn and wound up in somebody's garden instead. Lots of flowers were gathered on top of her desk each arrangement had it's own note. All the notes said pretty much the same thing, her brother was driving everybody nuts and could she please come back?
One note from the head of the Husky Unit, one from the Weapons Development Team, several from the Bulldog Squadron, one from Bill's secretary....the list went on and on.....
Boomer didn't even pause to put her files on her desk, she just went straight to Commander DeVille's office to ask when her next day of leave was. Looks like she would be heading for Katina sooner than she thought.
Chapter 3:
Two weeks later:
Boomer Gray was in full uniform though it was her day off, she practically stalked to her brother's office. Once the Shockwave had landed at Headquarter Base, Boomer could have sworn that a mini party had broken out in the repair bays. Bill couldn't have gotten that bad in the month she was here last could he?
Her answer came as soon as she had entered the main building, she was practically mugged by grateful officers from the Husky and Bulldog units. After she assured him that she would try to talk some sense into him she decided to beard her brother in his den.
She carefully knocked on his office door. "Come in." came the harsh reply.
As she opened the door she took a deep breath before speaking. "Hi Bill. What's up?" she asked.
"Beatrice?" gasped Bill, "What are you doing here?" Inside Boomer's hopes of talking some sense into him fell through the floor, he was not happy to see her here.
As she fought to keep herself calm she spoke, "I heard that you were back on duty and wanted to see how you were doing. Hey, I'm your sister, it's in the fine print that have to worry a bit." She tried for a light note.
"I do not need you or anybody else to keep an eye on me." he muttered, 'I have enough people to do that as is."
"I noticed." replied Boomer in a bland tone. Bill raised an eyebrow, she explained, "Several notes and pleas to come back were decorating my desk on Alpha Base, I decided to see how badly they were over-exaggerating." Boomer knew just by looking at her brother that they had not been exaggerating, Bill had a hardness about him that she had never seen before. It scared her.
"Your Commander cave you a transfer?" Bill asked warily.
"No." Boomer quickly assured, "I just had a few days off and I wanted to visit my brother, is that okay?"
"No." hissed Bill. Boomer took a few steps back.
"Bill?" she asked. "What's happening?"
"Nothing!" he snapped.
Boomer just closed her eyes, he worst fears had come true, Leon had completely destroyed the man she once knew has her brother, she had no idea who the person in front of her was now. All she could do now was step away and hope that he could deal with this on his own and be there when and if he asked for her help. When she opened her eyes and spoke again her tone was a match for her brother's. "If that is the case Commander, I shall take my leave and return to Corneria. If my services are required again on Katina, you know how to reach me." With that Boomer turned on her heel and walked out of the door with perfect military precision.
After the door shut behind her Bill slumped in his chair, the full impact of what he and said and done to sister hit him. A small part of him, the part that for some reason Leon had not been able to destroy mourned the loss of one of the people he loved best. The rest simply tried to move on and forget all that had happened.
After taking off from Katina, Boomer had to put the Shockwave on auto-pilot on the flight back to Corneria, the tears were streaming down her face making it impossible for her to fly. As she flew back she made a silent prayer for both her brother and herself asking whatever higher powers that were out their to giver her brother and herself the strength to get past the barriers that stood between them now.
After she had landed she made a plan, she remembered that a cousin of her and Bill's was stationed on Fortuna. Roverans, was a scientist stationed there to do research to help make the cold and frozen planet more liveable, since the war with Andross things had been pretty slow up there, and since Bill and her had reunited he had told her about their cousin's whereabouts. They occasionally talked, since both were in research they had allot to talk about. She decided to ask Roverans for a favor.
"Bea! How good to hear from you! Please excuse the static, we have a small blizzard here at the moment." The Dalmatian's smiling face was almost enough to lift Boomer's troubled spirit.
"Since when does Fortuna have small blizzards?" quipped Boomer, trying for a light note.
"Well," began Roverans, "Small for Fortuna anyway. For what reason is giving me the pleasure of talking to you?"
Boomer sighed, "It's Bill, Roverans. I assuming that you have heard about what happened?"
"Yes. I've been meaning to call him and see how's he doing. By looking at you I can tell it must not be good." Roverans was concerned, normally Beatrice was an almost uncontrollable bundle of energy since Bill found her again after her disappearance. Now she seemed almost defeated, because of his work and schedule he couldn't be there to help Bill as she did after he was freed from Venom. He was hoping he could help them both now.
"He won't talk to me Roverans, hell, he won't talk to anybody. Not Fox, not his other friends at Katina, not the councilors and the therapists. He's keeping it inside and I'm afraid it'll either get him killed or drive him insane." muttered Boomer.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" asked Roverans.
"I was hoping you would say that." replied Boomer, "I know that Bill's superiors are nagging him to take some more time off, since he won't listen to me, maybe you can get through to him."
"I was just planning to talk to him, but maybe some time away from the military in general would help." stated Roverans. "Look I have some time off soon, I'll ask Bill and see if he wants to come for a visit and stay with me for a bit."
"Thank you Roverans." sighed Boomer, "Just one more favor?"
"Name it."
"Don't tell Bill I told you about this?" asked Boomer
"My lips are sealed." replied Roverans, "Don't worry Bea, I'm sure everything will turn out fine, what could happen here?"
A few days later Boomer received a message from her cousin that Bill would be up to see him in a few days. Boomer sighed with relief, Roverans was right things would turn out fine....
Wouldn't they?
Author's notes: For those of you who keep track of J.Wolfman's Fan-Fiction, his story "Bill's War" takes place right after this one ends. As to the future of Bill and Boomer's relationship, that will be eventually resolved in some of my later stories.