(xD Yeah)

"As soon as were safely away somewhere, I'll dig out my first-aid kit." Bending over him, she started wrapping the makeshift bandage around his torso. Her head was bowed, her dark hair tousled. Her hands as she worked were deft and sure, but so gentle--she was being careful not to hurt him any more than she had to.

He lifted his head and half opened his eyes, swallowing a little as he watched. He was a bit shocked at how gentle she was being. His brother had been very gentle with him, as she was doing now, and and it reminded him of those first years of having him around.

Electa tucked the end of the shirt in, securing it. The AK on her bicep flexed slightly. "There," she said. Well, now, the lower half of her shirt was ripped off, wrapped around him. Her blue-gray eyes watched him, and for a moment it seemed as if she was going to say something, but she didn't. Then she started up the truck, and in seconds they were racing through the desert again. After creeping along in the Chevy, the truck was like flying. They came to the dried-out riverbed and rocked across to the other side. Finally, they were swinging onto a dirt road, heading north.

He put a hand to the fabric, then looked to the ripped area of her shirt. 'She ... ' He found that he was blushing a bit despite feeling light headed. He leaned back in the seat heavily, not realizing there was blood on his bracelet.

They drove in silence for a while. Finally, twisting in her seat to peer over her shoulder, Electa reached behind her and pulled out a bottle of water from a cardboard case. She unscrewed the top and took a deep, thirsty swig. As she offered the bottle to Vexin, there was something in the corner of her eye but didn't bother to look at it

Vex's vision had fogged around the edges so he lacked most of his peripheral vision. For once not one thought about the risk of germs came to his mind at all as he shakily accepted the water but he was very careful about how much he took in.

She finally looked at whatever was approaching and froze. In the distance, five angels were heading toward them, flying in a starburst formation. Even as she watched, they were drawing closer. They shone against the blue sky with a bright, burning white light, their celestial wings stroking the air.

The truck jolted. There was a squeal of brakes as Electa pulled off the road, bringing the 4x4 to a sudden sideways stop.

Vex was shocked, legs pushing at the car floor to keep from jolting forward. He looked over and he felt his stomach feel sick and weak.

She grabbed Cully's rifle from the back; checked it for ammunition. As she jumped out of the truck and ran around to the other side, the angels were growing larger and larger in the sky.

Pressing against the side of the truck, she sank to her heels. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she centered herself. Opening her eyes again, she took up a position behind the hood, sighting along the rifle's barrel.

It was obvious that she'd handled a rifle since she was a child; she held it as though it were a part of her.

Without taking her eyes off the approaching angels, Electa opened the passenger door and pressed the car keys into Vex's hand, squeezing it briefly. "Just--keep down, okay?" Before he could reply, she said, "Don't worry about me. If anything happens, take the truck and get away from here."

He started shaking, her touch no longer bothering him but rather it felt like something he didn't want to lose. He shook the feeling off, nodding and sinking down to the car floor as he curled up best he could and held the keys. "Please, d-don't leave m a-alone." He begged softly.