Right as Brie walked out of the Bedroom, fully dressed, pulling her and David's suitcases behind her, the Commandant opened the door. "Ok, Draiman family, let's move. We've got a long drive ahead of us. Well, you do. I'm not accompanying you on this journey. Too many things to do here."
"Not a problem, commandant", David said.
"Please, just tell me that there's a way for us to strap Maddie into a car seat", Brie said.
"There is, Mrs. Draiman. We actually have an SUV for you to take to Oklahoma, and an untraceable GPS with the coordinates to the safe house. You will not be followed to closely by Resistance soldiers, but you will be covered", the Commandant told them
"Are the other guys and their families traveling the same way?" David asked.
"Yes."
"Ok, let's move", David said to his family.
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It took five minutes to move the Draiman family into the Ford Explorer that the Resistance had supplied, and that included loading Maddie into the car seat that was in the middle of the first row of back seats. Malachai sat in the back, because there were no seats in the middle due to the seats for his three younger siblings. It didn't bother him.
David loaded a DVD into the DVD player and then started driving with Brie by his side. She sat staring out the window and it reminded him of the day they met. She looked so helpless and confused. Then, after four years of fighting to get comfortable and find structure and order, just to be uprooted again and have to fight for it all over again. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he knew that nothing he could say would help. He'd been with her for too long not to know that. He just reached across the divide and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
She looked over at him and smiled. "Thank you", she mouthed. he just nodded.
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About fifteen hours later, they finally arrived at the new safe house in the middle of fucking NO WHERE! The other guys were nowhere to be found. About half way through the drive, they switched out drivers, so Brie is the one that pulled up in front of the house. The kids were all asleep, as was David. She took in a deep breath, and sighed. So, this was her new hell. She shook away the thought. "Baby, we're here."
He came awake slowly, lifting his head from the window. He looked at the house. "Geez, it barely looks big enough for the six of us let alone for all four band members and their families. God, what the hell is the Agency thinking?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, honey. But I do know that we need to get inside and get situated before the other guys get here."
He nodded. "Ok, let's get the kids in. We'll just put them to bed and that will be that. They can shower in the morning." They both got out and unloaded the kids, carrying them two at a time, and laying them in the first room that had multiple beds, including a crib. The house was bigger than they had thought, more spread out. David went out and got the luggage while Brie changed Maddie's diaper and got her back to sleep, which didn't take long.
Brie met David in their new bedroom and flopped on the bed. "God, I'm tired", she said, her voice muffled from being face down in the covers.
He pulled his boots off and laid down next to her. "I know, baby. driving seven and a half hours straight sucks. I was starting to feel it after three hours behind the wheel."
She snuggled against the strength of his chest. "That's not why I'm tired."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just tired of this war. I'm tired of not being able to leave my house to do anything. I'm tired of all of it. I mean, today is the first time the twins and Maddie have left that house. They were born in that house. We've been captive in that house for four years, and now, how long are we going to be in this one?"
He kissed her forehead. "Baby, you've been my strength for the past four years, now it's my turn to be yours. When you feel your strength start to waiver, lean on me. That's what I'm here for, ok?"
She nodded against his chest. "I love you, David."
He smiled. "I love you, too, Brie. Now, let's go to sleep."
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