"Well, yeah, I know that. I just meant that course you'd know him well, being from here before the world ended and went loco."
'Yeah, I suppose we were always friends. One of the only ones I had really.'
"Did you know his kids then?" JD asked them, without thinking. She knew it was a sore subject around the Oma leader but she knew she wasn't that much older than his daughter - or that much younger than his sister - and she often got the feeling that fact upset the older man in a way.
'As much as I was allowed to know anything back then,' Dove dropped her gaze
JD opened her mouth, then snapped it closed again, for once stopping herself from blurting out.
"So... are there any things you're low on? Or anything you need fixing?" she asked eventually.
"We need flour and the water filters are playing up."
"Filters I can take a look at if you want? Flour's not my thing. Probably best to check with Buck."
"I'll walk over later."
JD nodded. "I'll head back to get my tools and then look at those filters for you," she said, getting to her feet. "You staying here or heading back, Shine?"
"I'm tired, so I might go back." Shine muttered
"I'll walk with you. Unless you don't want company. Which is fine."
"Company would be lovely, thank you," Shine replied. Peopling made her tired but she had to try
"Cool. Dove, do you want us to mention about the flour if we see Buck on the way?"
"Please, we need him to look into it soon," Dove replied
JD nodded. "Will do!" She turned to leave, waiting for Shine.
Shine smiled and ambled after JD.
"So, how are you? I feel like I haven't rambled at you in ages," JD said as they started back to the airfield.
"I...it changes, but I think since last time, with everyone else helping, I'm starting to accept that it's over. They probably aren't even dead, I just got dumped. How are you?" Shine asked
"Sorry. I wish I could help, but I'm better with machines than people." JD shrugged and fiddled with the goggles around her neck. "Me, I'm good. Busy. I like being busy. Being useful."
"You all help, all the time," Shine replied. "It was you found me at the church after all. I feel like I should be more busy, less of a drain."
"Beg pardon? You're not a drain. No way. Besides, you help with the kids. I'd be so bad at that."
"And you keep the lights on."
"Me and Sparks, yeah." She bit her lip, thinking back on what had been said at the kitchens. "So, you gonna see Topher when he ventures over?"
"I'm fine, but Buck will be angry if I don't."
"He does go all grizzly when he's worried or annoyed, doesn't he? Hard to tell which is which sometimes."
"He worries about us, that's all," Shine smiled
"Oh, I know. Great big worrywart. Bear probably would have suited him better than Buck," JD said.
"We'll suggest it."
JD laughed. They crossed the border between Tawa and Oma. "What would you do if they did turn up here? Or someone had seen them?" JD asked after a brief silence. "Sorry, I know most people don't like talking about those they've lost but..." She still hoped she'd see her brothers again one day.
"I don't know, my brothers, I'd yell at them for leaving me behind, ask after the others, go with them if they needed me to, settle them here if they wanted to. Daniel..." She shrugged. "He won't come. We were over, I'm just a nutcase who can't let go. You?" She scratched at her wrists.
"Yeah, but, what if?" JD asked, before she fiddled with her goggles again. She shrugged. "I'd probably punch John and Blair, then hug them, then hit them again."
"If, huh?" She smirked. "Tell him my new name, cry, probably lie to him."
"But you like being here? With us lot?" JD asked tentatively.
"Yes...what I do, when I do it, it's not about you or any of the others. It's not even really about me, because I'm not really even there. It's just 'very bad things' not the real Shine, not even the real Angel," she tried to explain.