“Matt, you on your way out? Don’t forget your lunch!” Val yelled from the living room as she heard her husband heading to the kitchen. Matthew poked his head around the doorway and grinned at her. She was seated in front of the coffee table papers and files spread out in front of her, glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She was finally reaching the end of the planning for Elliott’s campaign and had decided to finish her work at home so she could be with Matt.

Anxiety for his state of mind since Matt Berry’s execution had plagued Val’s every waking moment and she found she couldn’t concentrate while at the office. The Mayor had also noticed her extra twitchiness and suggested she work from home. She’d fought against his advice until she came home one day a week after the execution and found Matthew laid out in the middle of the gym on his stomach, crying. To see her big, fearless husband lying there, completely broken, shook her to the core.

Of course he would never admit to anyone outside of her, and maybe his friends, that he had lost it. That hard, cold front was always in place once he stepped out the door. Except this day seemed to be different. It were as if he’d finally sorted his mind out. He appeared more at ease. More himself. Val would even tentatively suggest that he was almost back to being the man she had married.

It was nearly a month since the execution and Matthew finally appeared ready to function again. Working on auto-pilot had been the order of the day, getting up, going to the Creed, and doing his daily duties without complaint. But, his heart hadn’t been in it, and a dark cloud permeated his mood and their lives. But now… Valary sensed a dawning sense of hope and anticipation. It just frustrated her that he was still not quite open with her about his plans. He had basically just reiterated what Brian had revealed to her, but not really given any explanation behind it.

Matthew smiled at her as she tried to get through the pile of paperwork before her. “You make enough for the guys to have some?”

Val blinked at him, “What?”

“I’m headed to Syn’s. Not to the Creed.”

“What? Why not?”

Matthew shrugged. “Doc told me to take a day off.” His tone was light as if it wasn’t particularly bothering him. It bothered her, though.

“You spoke to the shrink?”

“Yeah…” his voice took on a guarded edge.

Val grimaced at him. “Did you tell him what you told me?”

“Val,” Matthew sighed, “we’ve been through this already.”

“Did you?”

“Val-”

“Did you?” Val asked, insistently. He rubbed at the back of his neck nodding in the affirmative, but before he could answer the sound of a car horn blaring interrupted his thoughts.

He rolled his eyes. “That’s Zack. I’ll see you tonight.”

Valary pushed her glasses up her nose and arched her eyebrows at him. Matthew blinked at her.

“Val?”

She shook her head, waving a hand. “Go. Do your thing, Matt.”

Matt nodded and made to leave, but paused in the doorway and looked at her, a tender expression in his eyes.

“Talk tonight?”

Val nodded. He smiled then ducked out, footsteps clomping along the hallway. She smiled to herself, waited for a heartbeat then called out again.

“Lunch in fridge!”

* * * * *

Zacky tapped his fingers against the steering wheel as he peered out at the other vehicles that surrounded them on the highway. He was impatient to get to his friend’s place and he knew that Matthew who was sitting next to him, fiddling with the radio was just as anxious.

“Fuckin’ Friday drivers’,” the mechanic grumbled.

Matthew glanced over at him and smirked. “Getting pissed?”

“Can you blame me, Shads?”

“No blame to be had. If I were driving…” he shook his head and chuckled.

Zacky snorted, “You’re terrible.”

“True. Also, I’m a fucking soldier. Tens time worse.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” The mechanic smirked at his friend then growled as the lights changed. “Right…” He floored the pedal pealing passed a shocked cyclist leaving the other drivers stunned in their wake.

Matthew swore then laughed as they shot down the Coast road. “Fuck, V…”

Zachary grunted but didn’t respond as he concentrated on weaving his way through the traffic. He wanted to get to Brian’s and wanted to get stuck into Matthew’s plan. He had met Elijah and seen his studio and the reality of what Matthew had revealed to him was finally sinking in. Zacky still had reservations but he hoped that as they went through the process his nerves would settle. Though after having the consequences of their activities explained to him, he wasn’t so sure that would ever actually happen.

“Shads?” He slowed as they hit the backstreets that heralded the entrance of the estate that Brian lived in.

Matthew glanced over at him. “Yeah?”

“It’s not a joke, is it? Masters is really Eskino’s brother?”

He nodded slowly as he checked the time on his phone. “No joke. That’s why Eli’s off the radar. Immunity, of a sort.”

Zacky whistled softly as he turned into their friend’s street. Of course, it was a no-brainer that that immunity wouldn’t cover them if they were caught. Especially not for Matthew. As a soldier of The Creed, well he didn’t like to think about what Matt had told them about that. It wasn’t a pretty image for one to have in one’s mind.

“It makes you wonder,” he murmured.

Matthew snorted, “About what?”

“What’s really going on in that man’s head,” Zacky muttered as he pulled into Brian’s drive. The poet was standing in the front yard, holding a bottle of his brew in hand, his eyes fixed on their vehicle. Matthew just shook his head as he got out and waved to their mutual friend.

“Don’t think I want to know, right now.”

Zacky nodded as Brian cocked an eyebrow and asked, “Know what?”

“Oh, we were just talking about Eskino,” Matthew said as he headed for the house. Brian tilted his head then glanced at Zacky who just rolled his eyes as they followed him inside.

Michelle was in the kitchen making meals for her day. She had to go to work but had stayed home a little longer than usual because Brian had been in a complete mess over his work; a piece he was attempting to write for a government advertisement. His official job that no one ever really talked about because it detracted from his own passion and now got in the way of Matthew’s plan. But, it was what he was paid to do. And it was getting on his nerves.

All his notes were strewn across the bench and kitchen table, words written in a scrawl across the pages. Matt raised his eyebrows at the mess.

“Your day job getting to ya, Syn?”

Brian groaned and went around gathering the pages together. “It’s annoying and something I could do without.”

Matthew gave an empathetic grunt and helped his friend pick them up and stack them on the bench. He knew what that felt like; he was fed up with the Creed and all it stood for. But, he had to keep slogging along and keep doing his job, no matter how menial the task was.

As they put the last pages down, Zacky went to the fridge and grabbed a couple of bottles of Brian’s whiskey. He opened them and plonked them down in front of his friends. They each took one giving him thankful looks.

“Where’s Jimmy?” Matthew asked around a mouthful of whiskey. Brian grinned for the first time since they’d arrived.

“He’s in the study, searching something on the net. He’s taken it upon himself to try and see whether there have been any other attempts at campaigns like this one in the past.”

“And?” Matthew lifted an eyebrow.

Jimmy’s light tones filled the room in answer as he walked into the kitchen, “There’s only been two. And both times the campaigners were crushed ruthlessly by the Creed.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Matt growled in disgust. The others shook their heads in agreement with his statement. Zacky sighed as he leaned against the bench. Brian absently toyed with the cap of his bottle, brow furrowed.

Jimmy said, “But, we can’t let that stop us.”

“No, we can’t,” Matthew murmured. He looked at his friends. “I called Eli before I left. He says we’re ready to go.”

The tension in the air seemed to suddenly increase. Zachary shivered and murmured in a low voice his words sending tingles down the spines of the others.

“No going back now.”

Matthew shook his head as he downed his drink and fished his phone from his back pocket. He pushed a couple of buttons, keying in a message to Elijah nodding to Zacky as he did so.

“Nope. This is it. All or nothing…”

Brian held up his bottle and smirked, wryly, “To rock.”

“Indeed,” Matt said as he finished his own drink. He tossed the bottle into the bin and headed for the door. “Come on, we gotta get going.”

“Already?” Zacky frowned. The other three looked at him. Brian rolled his eyes as he put his bottle back in the fridge. Jimmy slapped his palms against his thighs.

Matthew nodded, “Yes. Now, Zack.” He glanced at Michelle who was about to walk out as well. “No point in sticking around here.” She nodded in agreement.

“We all have to work,” she commented before she left. Brian blew a kiss after her then looked at Zacky.

“We’re all anxious over this…but the sooner we get this out the better. Dad’s getting impatient too.” Brian pulled out his keys but Zacky finally animated himself and stalked to the door.

“I’ll drive.”

Jimmy clapped a hand to his shoulder as they made their way out; Brian and Matthew close behind. “Good show, bud…good show.”

* * * * *

“Doc? Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Doctor James frowned over his glasses as he recognised the stocky young man that leaned in the doorway to his office.

“Daniel, you know I can’t discuss my sessions with anyone other than my patients.”

Dan grimaced. “You know what I want to know, then?”

“You’d be better served speaking to him yourself,” the doctor answered as he put away his files.

“Shads and I don’t usually see each other outside of work. Our…relationship changed once we left high school.” Dan shook his head. “I’m just worried about him.”

Doctor James smiled wryly, “As we all are. Do not think that General doesn’t see it. He has all the men’s best interests at heart.” He could tell that the young man didn’t quite believe him. And who would. General Eskino was not known for his compassion, but it was there. He wasn’t as cold as some would think.

“So, you think I should call him?” Dan asked.

The doctor nodded. “Or any of your mutual friends.”

Dan thought for a moment then said, “I could call Zack. He and I talk a lot. He’s always fixing my bike…”

Doctor James chuckled. “I think the Baker business has done well in this town.”

Dan rolled his eyes; they both knew that even if that were the case it wasn’t because of Zachary’s nous as a mechanic. It was all due to his father’s reputation and the fact that, at least, his younger brother was extremely proficient at what he did. Not that Dan personally would complain about Zacky’s service. When it came to the customer, the elder Baker knew how to keep them happy. And he was always the friendly face of the company. But, Dan had a feeling that his old high school buddy wanted more out of life. Not that that had any bearing whatsoever now.

He sighed and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Alright…I’ll call him. If there’s anything youcan tell me?”

The doctor shook his head. “I am truly sorry. But, if the General’s not allowed to know, I can’t let you know.”

“Fair enough,” Dan nodded then punched in Zack’s number as he left the doctor’s office, hoping his friend could give him some answers.