“I sure was. ”
Lenore leaned into Maddie, holding onto her and looking more emotional than most people had ever seen her. Peggy felt awkward about the whole situation. She was torn between being spitting mad and sobbing terrified.
It was her family out there and though they had been trying to do their best for Juan, she was pissed at everyone involved to some degree. She was tired of losing people. Tired of the pain of loss. Tired of the whole damn mess.
“It’s not like we didn’t know the risks,” Linda mumbled. She downed her whiskey and poured more. “We know the risks. Every time we go out there, we know the freaking risks. ”
“Should we cut you off?” Dale eyed the cute little Latina thoughtfully.
“Try it. ” She gave him a sly smile.
“No flirting!” Ken pointed at her accusingly.
“You stop first!”
Dale chuckled as Ken sputtered.
Peggy sighed and stuffed the whole biscuit in her mouth. Dale looked at her with an impressed smile on his face and she chewed the wad of white flour goodness slowly. With a shrug, she said, “I was hungry. ” The truth was she was about to say something that would have pissed everyone off.
She was in a bad mood and knew it. Yet, she didn’t want to be alone.
Looking harried, Curtis walked into the dining room. He spotted them and headed over, his hand shoving his thin blond hair back from his face.
Peggy thought he looked about as pissy as she felt.
“Linda, there you are. I thought you were going to come
down and join me in the communication center,” he said, reaching the table.
“I’m getting drunk,” she answered. Clicking coffee cups with Dale, she dismissed Curtis with a look.
“Oh, well. You could maybe come down to the communication center and we could talk,” Curtis said, a little more gently. He looked peeved at Dale as he drew up a chair and sat next to Linda.
“Felix was such a great guy,” Linda declared. “He was my buddy. And Roger, that fucking perv, taught me how to swear in Klingon and told me all about Vulcans and sex. And Bill. . . man. . . Bill. . . ”
“We don’t know what has happened yet. We shouldn’t start having their wake just yet,” Maddie said gently.
“You didn’t know them. How would you know?” Curtis crossed his arms and glared at the older woman.
“I may not know them. But they’re people and I do care. I believe we should not mourn until we know for sure,” Maddie answered in a tone that was a little more firm than one would expect from her delicate appearance.
“And don’t get in Maddie’s face. She’s a good one,” Dale said shortly. He folded his big arms over his chest. “Besides, who the fuck are you, you punk ass kid. ”
“I am a police officer here in this fort and I will let you know that I know those people who are out there and-”
Peggy put her hand on Curtis’ arm and squeezed. “Shut up. ”
“What?” He looked at her in surprise.
“Just shut up. We’re all sitting here, upset, pissy, and just trying to get a little comfort from each other. We don’t need you wagging your badge or your dick in our faces. ”
Linda snorted whiskey out of her nose, laughing loudly.
Curtis looked at her with a hurt expression on his face.
Slamming her hands down on the table, Lenore glowered at no one in particular. “I did what I thought was right. ”
“I wouldn’t be here if not for you,” Ken said, hugging her arm.