Page 32 of Vaughn

"I'm not God, so I can't answer for sure, but in the experience I have, I think we're going to be fine. We're in a good shelter."

We continue watching the newscast, eyeing as it gets closer to where we are. The thunder gets louder, and the wind picks up.

"It's here." Gabby says.

And that's when we hear the loud moaning of a train. All three of us crouch down on the floor, covering our heads. I hold Val close, speaking in her ear to try and help keep her calm. "You're okay, I've got you. As long as I'm able, I'll protect you. You're not alone."

"I'm so scared." She shakes in my arms.

"It's okay...we're fine." I assure her. Although the power went off a few seconds ago, I know that this building is on an emergency backup, because of what it used to be. Almost as quickly as it began, the loud noise is gone, and the lights pop back on.

Gabby looks around, surprise across her face. "Why did the lights come back on so quickly? I've never lost power since I've been here, is that normal?"

We all stand up, and I take a look at the two of them. They seem to be dealing with everything as best as can be expected. "It is, I take it you've never looked into the history of the building?"

"No..." she shakes her head. "When I started renovating, I just needed to get it done, and I never thought about it."

Opening the door, I block the view in case the place is destroyed, but everything seems to be where it should be. "In the seventies and eighties while they were building Falls County Medical Center, this was basically the labor and delivery wing, although it was off-site. Women came here to have their kids, and that's why the top of the building is broken up into what is basically a handful of studio apartments. They allowed the parents to stay upstairs, while they were waiting for the babies to be discharged. Unorthodox? Yes. But that's how they chose to do things. So this building is on emergency backup. The rest of the block isn't."

The three of us walk toward the front of the store, and that's when we see the devastation across to the other side of the square. "Holy shit." Gabby puts her hand over her mouth,looking grief-stricken. "Did it go over us and then hit across the street?"

"Looks like it." I don't tell either one of them what I've seen when I've helped out putting electrical grids back together. From what I can tell, this is minor, but it's still going to be rough for the citizens of Broken Falls.

"We're going to need to help serve everyone." Val says. "We have power, and there's no telling who does or doesn't, but looking at this damage, there will be people coming to help. Let's get these ovens turned back on, and get some coffee going. It's going to be a long night."

I love her.

Someone who will put their own feelings aside and immediately go to help others speaks to the part of my soul that loves what I do for a living. It's about more than making a paycheck. It's about putting things back together - the way I wish I could've done to my parents' marriage.

"You're right." Gabby says, going over to the front door. When she does, she drags the open board outside, waving at everyone milling about, checking out the damage. "C'mon, we'll have free coffee and food for y'all. We have power."

Val is already in the back starting to prep. Power trucks are starting to appear and I know I'm going to need to go help them, but I have to tell Val something first. She's already getting trays of pre-prepped food out of the same cooler we were taking cover in. "Hey..."

She looks at me, her green eyes terrified, but warm when they bore into mine. "Hey...I don't know what else to do." She shrugs. "So I figured I'd make food."

"I think that's the best thing you can do." I walk over to her, wrapping my hand around her neck, forcing her face around to mine. "I'm going to have to go help with getting this power back on, but I have a few things to tell you."

The tension between us is thick and heavy. I hold her gaze until she breaks it, glancing down at my lips. Her tongue sneaks out, wetting her dry ones. "Okay. I'm listening, Vaughn."

Pushing my fingers up into her hair, I palm her scalp, and make sure she's paying full attention. "Since I met you I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. Now that we've moved in together? Forget it, you're the only thing I think about. Every day I learn something new about you that makes me admire you more."

She smirks. "I'm no one special, Vaughn. I'm just trying to live my life."

"You're so fucking special." I whisper. "I need you to know before I lose my nerve, because I've never said this to anyone before, besides my parents."

"Okay..." The word comes out on a breath that she appears to be holding. "I'm listening to it all."

"I love you, and I need you to know that before I go out and start working. I don't want you to doubt my feelings for you. What we just went through? It could've been much worse and I desperately need for you to understand how you make my life better."

Her eyes are wide and full of tears. "I love you too. You make my life, completely make it. I don't know what life was like before I came here, before I met you."

I hold her tightly, but when I hear a loud noise up front, we pull apart. "What's going on up there?"

Together, holding hands, we walk out, and that's when I see them. Every member of our crew. Every single one of them.

"What are y'all doing here?" Gabby asks.

Kara puts an apron on, and she's got Mav with her. "We're here to help you serve. The truck is damaged, and our other location doesn't have power. You're the only thing open within five miles. You're gonna need all the help you can get."

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