“You’ve seen Mick?” Another breath of relief. “He’s okay?”
“Yeah, he’s good. We’re going to need some of the sheets and shit for Arlington if we’re going to handle the rescues for now.”
“Let’s get what you need and go. I want to see all the commanders in New Hope tomorrow—” She broke off, remembering she made a deal. “No, in two days. Flynn, can you pass the word? And let my parents know I’ll be home either tomorrow or the day after?”
She gathered sheets—and towels—with Colin.
“You’re okay?” she asked him.
“A to the okay. Hell of a fight, Fal. Some of them ran like rabbits at the end of it. I had a couple of DUs homing in on me. I’ve got a couple of witches to thank for that block.”
He stopped, grinned. “We took fucking D.C. Who’s president now?”
“Still not you.” And, taking his hand, took them to Arlington.
Fallon toured the houses where they relocated rescues. Volunteers and soldiers had hauled in extra beds, cots, mattresses. In kitchens, more volunteers made soups, teas while medicals treated injuries.
In one large family room, Fallon counted twenty-five beds. Some slept, some ate, others simply sat huddled under blankets.
The air—she could breathe it—tasted of their fatigue, confusion, fears, hopes. Volunteers moved through, offering tea, soup, and sometimes just a hand to hold.
She saw Travis sitting with a woman. Long gray hair, withered face. Murmuring to her as he draped a blanket over her shoulders. Nearby, Hannah tucked in two children together. They clung to each other.
Travis rose and, clipboard in hand, wound his way through the beds to come to her.
“I’m working on getting names, ages, abilities, whatever I can. Stories. It’s … it’s so fucked-up. It’s beyond fucked-up.”
Feeling his fury, she put a hand on his shoulder. “They’re safe now. We’ll take care of them.”
“How do they get through it? The woman I just talked to? Susan Grant. Empath, like me. She was a teacher, lost everyone in the Doom. She got out of Dallas with a small group—a couple of her students with them—and ended up in east Tennessee, where they decided to settle. She started a little school. She said she never explored her other powers because they spooked her. She just wanted to teach, you know?”
“How long has she been in containment?”
“She’s not sure. Five or six years, she thinks. Government forces swept in—night raid. She thinks some got away. They used electric shock therapy on her, Fallon. Put her in isolation—sensory depravation. And she thinks they did some kind of brain surgery. She can’t remember. But after, if she tried to feel, to get a sense of someone, she’d get a blinding headache. They took what she was, and made it pain.”
“They won’t touch her again.”
“How many more?” he demanded. “How many more like her, like the rest we got out today? Jesus, can’t you hear them screaming?”
She did the only thing she could think of. She pulled him into her, pushed calm into him. “You need a break.”
“They didn’t get one. Sorry.” Breathing deep, struggling to settle, he drew back. “It’s getting to me. Some of them can’t even remember their names until I push in deep enough to find them. The bastards did everything they could to erase them. To make them nothing.”
He drew in another breath. “Yeah, you’re right. I need a break or I’m not going to be able to help. I’ll take a walk, get some air.”
“Good.”
“While I’m at it, I’ll pass what I’ve got up the chain for the records. I’ll be back.”
“You could use some sleep.”
With eyes full of feelings, he looked around the room. “None of us are going to get much sleep tonight. I’ll be back.”
When he went out, Hannah came over.
“I didn’t want to interrupt. He’s taking on a lot. These rescues, they’re just so full.” Fatigue leached her face of color, compassion glowed under it as she pressed a hand to her heart. “You know what I mean? And Travis can’t help but take it in. Did you talk him into calling it a night?”
“No, but he’s taking a break. What about you?”
“I’m going to bunk down here. We’re stationing medics in every rescue area tonight.”
“Where are the babies, the rest of the kids?”
Hannah took her arm, drew her a little farther away. “Rachel and your mother took them back to New Hope. Nobody knows who the babies belong to. Some of the women remember being pregnant, but they don’t remember giving birth. They’d